Tag Archives: Rick Santorum

Bigotry and hatred as a political weapon

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Terry| 3 Comments
Rick Santorum

Faith, Family, and Freedom? As long as it's a white Christian heterosexual family.

Rick Santorum today urged Mitt Romney to use the gay marriage “controversy” as a “potent weapon” against Obama in the upcoming election.  Santorum says Obama is the one who is out of touch with what America “values”.

If it’s Rick Santorum who is IN touch with what America values…we’re screwed.  If ranting and raving against homosexuality and gay rights is what represents American values…we’re screwed.  If advocating for women to be treated as they were 200 years ago represents American values…we’re screwed.  You can’t build a democracy on a foundation of hate, but that’s what SO many on the Republican right seem to be trying to do. 

It’s not just the gay marriage issue.  It’s bigotry and hatred in general that might as well be the core platform of the Republican party.   Just look at some of the “core” Republican issues over the last decade, as the party swings ever further to the (very radical) right. 

  • Gay rights - Summed up very nicely in a nutshell by Santorum’s comments today.  Gays and lesbians aren’t people in the eyes of the radical right.  Constitution be damned, they’re not to be treated like other human beings.  They’re to be used as a “political weapon”, nothing more.
  • Race – Republicans have managed to lock down the South, helped in no small part by a not-so-transparent use of racism as a political tool.  It even has a very well-established name…the Republicans’ Southern Strategy, a large part of which is based on exploiting racial fears among white southerners.
  • Religion -  Promoting fear and intolerance of Islam, or ANY other religion other than mainstream Christianity has also obviously become a key part of the Republican platform.   Again, Santorum himself could be a poster child for using religious hate as a “potent weapon” in his politics.  Republicans have counted on the “values voters” in the last several election cycles, whipping up paranoia among evangelicals (aka…wackos) about some imagined conspiracy to trample on their religious rights or remove religion from Americans’ every day lives. 

Using bigotry, hatred, and promotion of fear has certainly be a winning political hand for Republicans.  God knows there are enough folks in America who share those views, and blindly follow any idiot who is bold enough to come out and actually campaign on a platform of hate and intolerance. 

But how long can such a strategy last?   I keep hoping that Americans will see the light and realize you CANNOT build a nation based on hate.  I keep hoping that Republicans’ exploitation of racial, religious, or sexual preference issues is a short-term blip, a trend that can’t last in the long run.  But then you see complete wackos like Rick Santorum get a shocking amount of support in the Republican campaign, and it makes you realize just how much fear, paranoia, and bigotry there is out there. 

I’m sure that Biden’s unintentional forcing of Obama’s hand on the gay marriage issue wasn’t something that Obama wanted to touch from a political perspective.  That indeed is why I’ve been disappointed by Obama on many fronts, his lack of conviction on issues such as this, ones where he should be leading the “anti-hatred” bandwagon.   But now that it’s out there, now that Obama has been forced to back gay marriage, I hope he seizes the opportunity. I hope he RELISHES a discussion on gay rights in America. He SHOULD be using the issue as an issue where he can shame Republicans for their platform of hatred.

Given Obama’s wishy-washy nature on tough issues like this though, I’m not holding my breath.

Posted in Culture Wars, Politics

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Pulling for Santorum

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Terry| 3 Comments
Rick Santorum

I would NEVER want Rick Santorum to EVER actually win an election again in his life. It goes well beyond simple political preference, I think the man would be downright dangerous in any position of real power. But for the time being...GOOOOOO SANTORUM!!! The longer he can drag the Republican Primaries out, the better Obama's odds are in the fall.

OK, I admit it. I am actively rooting for Rick Santorum to win Ohio tonight.   I’m actively rooting for Rick Santorum to win as many contests as possible.  No, I in NO way want him to actually EVER serve in any political office ever again.  I think the man is disgusting both as a politician, and as a human being.  But let’s face it, the man is completely unelectable in the general election.   The longer Santorum can drag things out, the better it looks for Obama.  And hence…for the time being…GO SANTORUM!!!!

If you ever want to know which way the political winds are blowing during an election year, don’t look at the polls.  Look at InTrade.  It’s where people “put their money where their mouth is”, in that they’re actually BETTING on the outcome of a political race (well, you can bet on just about anything on InTrade).  It’s interesting to follow the polls, and compare to InTrade, as they are often not on the same page.   More often than not, it’s InTrade that outperforms the polls.

When the day started, InTrade had Romney with a 90%+ chance of winning Ohio.  It’s been fascinating to watch the line on InTrade tonight, as the election results have filtered in.   As I’m typing this, InTrade has Romney’s chances of winning Ohio at only 37.7%.  No matter what, Romney will win the most electoral votes in Ohio, but ONLY because of the organization of his campaign and his money, compared to Santorum. Santorum failed to qualify for delegates in parts of Ohio, largely due to a lack of organization.

My bet…if Romney should indeed lose the popular vote in Ohio tonight, in the morning, he’ll be crowing about his success in winning delegates.  But MAN does Romney have a lot to worry about, delegates or not.  Any momentum Romney may have gotten from his squeaker of a win in Michigan is likely gone, should these results hold and Santorum manages to hold on to Ohio.  He’s also won Tennessee, North Dakota, and Oklahoma tonight. 

The Obama campaign has to be smiling tonight, relishing the thought of many more weeks of Republican infighting.

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Santorum, Romney, McCain: Hairy Old White Men

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Terry| 3 Comments
Grumpy McCain

John McCain gets a little grumpy when we go a few days without the sweet sound of American bombs falling on foreign soil. Hence the calls to start bombing Syria.

You gotta love Repubs for daring to bash Obama for his foreign policy.  After a Bush presidency where we started 2 ill-fated wars and ruined America’s reputation overseas, I find it a bit ridiculous for Republicans to bash the foreign policy of a Obama administration that has overseen the fall of Bin Laden and Gaddafi and conducted a daring  hostage rescue in the past 12 months.  But of course Republicans won’t let little things like facts stand in their way, and so as always, Republicans are tripping over themselves to make themselves sound as hawkish as possible.

Just in the last couple of days, we’ve heard calls from John McCain to bomb Syria.  Mitt Romney, he of zero foreign policy experience, says HE would stop Iran from getting a nuclear bomb.  Rick Santorum also says that HE would be “tougher” than Obama when it comes to Iran.

What the hell is with (again, my wife’s phrase) “hairy old white men” and the need to thump their chests and act like warmongers?  Particularly, REPUBLICAN hairy old white men?   DO these idiots REALLY think it’s a great idea to start another war in the Middle East?   Look at what happened in Afghanistan after we accidentally burned a few Korans.  10 years of “nation-building” in Afghanistan were jeopardized.  We’ve had troops on the ground in the Middle East for FAR too long.  Iraq wanted us out.  Afghanistan wants us out.  If we follow McCain’s suggestion to bomb Syria, or if we start an aerial campaign against Iran’s nuclear facilities, all hell breaks loose in the Middle East.   But I’ve come to believe there are a certain group of “hairy old white men” who are never happy unless America is bombing the hell out of someone.

 The Obama administration has done quite well in the foreign policy arena.  The Obama administration has a lot more information at their disposal, they know what’s happening behind the scenes.  They also know what a complete and utter disaster it would be for America to start another Middle East war.   Do us a favor, Repub “experts” in foreign policy.   Stop acting as if you could magically cure what ails the Middle East, and stick to blubbering about OTHER things you know nothing about, such as gas prices or contraception.

Posted in Hairy Old White Men, Politics

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Limbaugh Sets New Standard – Scum of the Week

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Terry| 5 Comments

Who would have thought it were possible?  After all the ignorant, hateful things that Rush Limbaugh has said over the years, yesterday, he may have just set a new standard for being the world’s biggest pig of a human being.  After a GOP-led House Committee held an all-male panel review of the contraception “controversy”, Nancy Pelosi invited Georgetown student Sandra Fluke to testify in front of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.  Fluke was stricken from the GOP-led House Committee panel list (after all, she WAS a female…can’t have females discussing contraception, right?).   During the hearing with the Democratic Committee, Fluke talked about her out-of-pocket birth control costs (~$3,000) while at Georgetown, since Georgetown University won’t cover contraception costs.

Rush Limbaugh’s reaction to Fluke’s testimony?  Yesterday on his show, he said “What does that make her?” (for wanting contraception costs covered by insurance.)  “It makes her a slut, right?  It makes her a prostitute.”  Limbaugh’s line of “thinking” (I’m not sure you could call it that) is that covering contraception is “paying her for having sex”.  

There’s not a lot I can add here.  Limbaugh’s words speak for themselves.  THIS is the view the increasingly conservative GOP seems to have of women.  

In most ways, the thought of Santorum winning the GOP nomination scares the hell out of me, thinking that he could be one step away from the presidency.  On the other hand…one part of me WISHES Santorum gets the nomination, for the simple reason that Santorum as the GOP candidate would bring even more attention to how incredibly extreme, hateful, and bigoted the Republican party has become.  Issues like the contraception “controversy” would be a part of the campaign, and thus this INCREDIBLY ugly side of the GOP would get airtime for a number of months.  Short of such a public, long-term airing of the GOP’s dirty laundry, short of a longer-term public embarrassment of what the GOP evidently stands for nowadays, it’s hard to see the wacko element of the GOP going away any time soon.

Posted in Politics, Scum Of The Week

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Santorum, Science, and Satan

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Terry| 1 Comment
Satan, Academia, and Global Warming

According to Rick Santorum, Satan "took over" academia "long ago". He also says he's the one who is "pro-science". You know, like the science of the Devil actually being the cause of global warming.

Yes, I know this is about the 29th straight post commenting on Rick Santorum.  But c’mon…the man is a walking disaster, and it’s SO easy to poke fun at him.  It’s also damned scary that this man is getting anything close to a sniff of the presidency of the United States.  You KNOW you’re a wacko if Rush Limbaugh is worried about your wackiness, and is warning you to tone it down.

Limbaugh came out with concern about Santorum’s ability to address some of the wackier comments he’s made in his recent past.  In those comments from 2008, Santorum commented on “Satan’s” war on America.  In a speech that sets a standard of wackiness that is amazing even for Santorum, he states that “Satan” has been the “most and first successful” in taking over academia, going on to say that academia fell to Satan “long ago.”

Interesting comment from someone who might be the flag-bearer for the GOP, when just this week, he came out and said that it’s Democrats who are “anti-science”, while Santorum isn’t.   

Sigh. It’s quite depressing to hear the Santorum revelations.  As a scientist, as someone with a strong academic background, I’m a little disappointed to know that all I learned in college was really just Satan spouting off.  I’m a little disappointed to hear that all of the work on climate change that we’ve done at USGS, and indeed within my current project, is one big lie perpetuated by Satan himself.  What are the implications for a liberal, government scientist who contributes to the science of climate change?

I’m going to hell, that much is obvious.  I really had no chance, with both academia, and my chosen profession, seemingly taken over by Satan.  I just take heart that my young son and any future grandchildren have someone as “wise” as Rick Santorum to lead us from the Devil’s influence.

Posted in Climate Change, Politics, Scientific Awareness

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The Santorum/Graham “Brand” of Christianity

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Terry| 2 Comments
Rick Santorum and "faith"

Rick Santorum and Rev. Franklin Graham to me are a great example of what being a Christian should NOT be about. I find it repulsive that the Santorum "brand" of Christianity, a brand that FAR too many Americans follow, uses religion as a tool to bludgeon those who look, act, or think differently, rather than using it as a tool to promote tolerance.

I really don’t care what people believe personally.  If you are Hindu, Muslim, Christian…whatever.  Believe what you want.  No matter your religion, the underlying morals are generally the same.  Be nice to each other.  Don’t kill each other.   Don’t steal from each other.   All the major religions have the same general moral guidance.   In theory.  In reality?   The words are all there.  The major tenets of the major religions all SOUND good.  But how do “religious” people actually act?

Why is it that those who CLAIM to be the most “religious”, are also very often the most hateful, bigoted people on the planet?  My biggest pet peeve in life…the bigotry, hypocrisy, and pure HATRED that stem from religion.   As we learn more about Rick Santorum, the more I’m convinced he’s NOT just a harmless simpleton with a view of the world right out of the 1600s.  No, as we learn more, the more he opens his mouth, the more I’m starting to realize he’s downright evil.  And, no surprise to me, alot of it stems from what HE purports to be a strength…his religious faith.

There has been a tremendous amount of controversy over comments Santorum has made over the last week, regarding Obama’s brand of Christianity.  You see, for bigots and hypocrites like Rick Santorum, it’s NOT ENOUGH for Obama to be a Church-going, long-time Christian.   No sirree.  He doesn’t have the right BRAND of Christianity.  In fact, from hearing Santorum speak over the last week, you’d think Obama actually was a cultish devil-worshiper, rather than a Christian.

Ok, you say, perhaps it’s just “dirty politics” (is there another kind?).  After all, Santorum is running to become president, so of course, in America, that means you have to talk about your opponent like they’re the worst thing since Hitler (Something, in fact, that Santorum HAS alluded to with regard to Obama!!).    What about a fine, “upstanding”, representative of Christianity?  Billy Graham’s son, “Rev.” (hah) Franklin Graham, talked today about Obama’s faith…or lack thereof.  Graham’s comments?

Graham said he CANNOT categorically say Obama isn’t a Muslim.  He also says that Islam has gotten a “Free Pass” from Obama.  Interesting comment…I didn’t realize that the American President was supposed to go to war with the Islamic faith.  He also referred to Obama as a “Son of Islam”, given that his father’s side of the family came from an Islamic background.

Who could blame Graham for his ignorant comments? After all, Obama is  (gasp!!) BLACK!!  And he once had an Islamic relative!!  Of COURSE he can’t be a Christian!  At least not the same BRAND of Christianity as (old white men) Graham and Santorum.   All of this reminds me of my junior high days, and the “clique-ness” of adolescents.  Religion for FAR too many has become not a place to ponder your humanity or man’s role in some “higher” order. 

No, religion has become the equivalent of that “popular” kid in junior high who wouldn’t let you sit at the same lunch table.   You SAY you’re a Christian?  HAH!!  You’re not MY brand of Christian!!  ESPECIALLY since you LOOK differently from me!  You MUST be a Muslim!!!!  No lunch for you!! Not at MY lunch table!! Go eat with the “heathens” at the end of the cafeteria!!!

As I said, I don’t care what personal religious beliefs people have. But MY GOD, don’t people see the hypocrisy of their actions, compared to what their religion supposedly teaches them?   The BIGGEST BIGOTS in the U.S. seem to be those with a “strong moral foundation”, as provided by Christianity.   One of the most repulsive types of people to me are those that cloak themselves in their religion, all the while spouting pure HATE and vitriol for gays, people of other faiths, people of other races, etc.  

“Reverend” Graham?  Given your actions, I consider you as much a “Reverend” as I do my pet cocker spaniel (not that my cocker spaniel is an evil bigot, but you get the idea).   I could simply state the obvious.  What if Obama were white?  Would Santorum, would “Reverend” Graham, be attacking Obama on religious grounds at all!?!??  I truly doubt it.    

There is SO much hate and vitriol from the right, directed towards Obama.   It doesn’t help that hate and vitriol might as well become the new GOP slogan.  But it goes far beyond political discourse or dysfunction.   Church sponsored bigotry and hypocrisy is just a microcosm of America overall.  The Church CLAIMS to value “the golden rule”, kind treatment of others, etc….but in reality, has become a mechanism to spread hate of ALL other religions.

America?  We CLAIM to be the big “melting pot”, a country that cherishes diversity and views it as a strength.  In reality?  Our actions towards each other speak volumes on the horrors within the human heart and mind.

So, for all you good ol’ “REAL” (hah) Christians out there in America…next time you’re sitting in church for the Sunday sermon, how about actually listening to it?  How about actually taking it to heart?  How about using your religion as a tool for TOLERANCE, rather than as a sledgehammer for breaking down people who don’t act, look, or think like you?

Posted in Deep Thoughts

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Santorum Supporters: He’s just like us

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Terry| 4 Comments
Rick Santorum

Santorum, pointing out his complete lack of understanding of world affairs. However, according to Santorum supporters, he's "just like them". Sadly...I couldn't agree more.

Call me crazy, but when I need to get my car worked on, I go to an auto mechanic.  For my son’s education, I put my trust in teachers.   If I have a leaky pipe, I go to a plumber who has been trained to deal with the issue.  In other words, when I need to deal with an issue, I go to those most qualified to deal with it.

So, when it comes to the presidency of the United States, when it comes to positioning one man to be the most powerful man in the world, call me crazy, but I want someone who is actually qualified for the position.  I want someone INTELLIGENT.  I want someone who knows the issues.  For many people though, actual qualifications for the presidency of the United States seem to be secondary to “folksiness”, other personality traits, or even appearance.  As this story notes, many of those who have come to support Rick Santorum have done so because he seems like “one of them”.   Sure, he’s a millionaire!  He made $923,000 last year.  But…he did his own taxes!! He’s “one of us”!  As people in this story put it, Santorum is “down-to-earth” and “more like us”. 

And sadly, that IS true.  Santorum is a dinosaur of a human being, someone who puts more trust in a book written by a bunch of guys 2,000 years ago than what he sees with his own eyes.  He cares little for future generations, with a complete focus on current economic gain over all other concerns.  Look at the Santorum philosophy noted in this story: “The bible says we don’t need to be worried about these environmental concerns that President Obama is concerned about.” (Holy CRAP is that a scary statement).   He has a view about the place of women in society that is something out of the 1700s. 

In other words…Rick Santorum IS “just like us”, given how many Americans have the same misguided views.  Qualifications to be president?  Unimportant to these folks.   He’s “just like them”.  In other words he’s ignorant, uncaring about those who are less fortunate, and completely uninformed on most world affairs. 

You wouldn’t let your dunderhead, mechanically inept friend fix your car if it’s broken.  Why the HELL would you not worry about actual qualifications when voting to fill the slot of the most powerful man on earth?

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GOD I hope Santorum can somehow win the nomination…

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Terry| 1 Comment
Rick Santorum

Well, at least Santorum is consistent. He's ALWAYS been about "Faith and Family", as long as "family" is meant in the Old Testement, keep the women at home type of sense. "Freedom"? Not so much if you happen to be a female.

It’s stories like this from CNN that have me, and no doubt Obama handlers, drooling over the prospect of Rick Santorum continuing to gain momentum, and win the GOP nomination.  Outside of the fact that ALL  GOP candidates ripped into Obama for last week’s moves on insurance coverage for contraception, it was no surprise that Santorum joined the fray and was among the most vocal of critics.  After all, Santorum has “convictions”, right?  That’s what appeals to evangelical and other conservatives, is that Santorum has always supported a very conservative agenda.

Those “convictions” are winning him a lot of fans in what’s become a very radicalized Republican party.  Those “convictions” have won him 4 primaries or caucuses, and have him positioned for a massive, statement-victory in Michigan in few weeks, a supposed Romney stronghold.  Those “convictions” still are unlikely to win him the GOP nomination, but it’s not out of the realm of possibility anymore. 

Those “convictions” would also result in a Santorum massacre in the election against Obama in the fall.  Last time I checked, half of the human race are females.  Yes, there are very conservative females who would support Santorum.  There are very conservative females who DO share Santorum’s views on women, and their place in society.  Heck, I think back to my now-departed Grandma Sohl, who insisted that the men sit and eat first at family gatherings.  A wonderful woman, but with some views of the place of men and women that were about as “old school” as you can get.  At least on some social issues, Santorum might get the “Grandma Sohl” vote.  But does ANYONE really think Santorum would have a shot in the fall election?  What percentage of women would actually vote for this dinosaur?

Some wonderful Santorum gems from over the years:

On birth control: “I don’t think it works. I think it’s harmful to women, I think it’s harmful to our society to have a society that says that sex outside of marriage is something that should be encouraged or tolerated, particularly among the young. I think it has, as we’ve seen, very harmful long-term consequences for society. So birth control to me enables that and I don’t think it’s a healthy thing for our country.”

About women’s (suppoosed lack of) potential for military combat: “I think that could be a very compromising situation, where people naturally may do things that may not be in the interest of the mission because of other types of emotions that are involved.”

About denying all abortion, even in the case of rape: “As horrible as the way that that son or daughter was created, it still is her child. And whether she has that child or doesn’t, it will always be her child. And she will always know that.”

On equal opportunities for women in the workplace: “Radical feminists have been making the pitch that justice demands that men and women be given an equal opportunity to make it to the top in the workplace.”

On providing assistance to single mothers: “The notion that college education is a cost-effective way to help poor, low-skill, unmarried mothers with high school diplomas or GEDs move up the economic ladder is just wrong.”

Santorum has benefited greatly from being the last “Someone Other Than Romney” still standing.   Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann were originally the favored “someone other than Romney”…until they opened their mouths and people realized with aghast how completely inept they were.  Newt Gingrich was riding high for a short time, until he opened his mouth and started talking about moon colonies as a high priority.  Until the Iowa caucus, Rick Santorum was flying under the radar, and was largely unvetted like most of his opponents.  That’s starting to change, as the media starts to reveal the “real” Rick Santorum.

It’s not a pretty side to the man.  It’s one that makes him completely inelectable.  For Obama’s sake, I also hope it’s a side that stays behind the curtain for awhile longer, until Santorum can somehow procure the GOP nomination.

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Today’s Republicans – Unlikable “Reagans”

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Terry| Leave a comment
Trudeau - Remembering Reagan

How do today's Republicans measure up to their idol, Ronnie Reagan? They're JUST as hypocritical. They're JUST as corrupt. But, they're just not as likable! They can't get away with it like Reagan. Strip above is a Gary Trudeau Doonesbury cartoon.

Sarah Palin came out with a blurb yesterday saying that Ronald Reagan would be ashamed of the way Republicans have acted in this primary.   The point she was trying to make is that Republican candidates have spent much of their time trying to attack and tear each other down.  Given that attacking and tearing people down is the ONLY skill Republicans seem to have anymore, it’s hardly been surprising that they’ve turned on each other during this campaign.

But what about the comparison between today’s Republican Party, and their idol, Ronnie Reagan?   How do the views of today’s Republican Party compare to their idol?  To start, it’s laughable to see Tea Partiers and conservatives and their reverence of Reagan, when Reagan’s actual record was MUCH different from the idealized record right-wing wackos seem to focus on.   Fiscal conservative?  Uh…not so much.  The U.S. debt more than doubled under Reagan.   The THREE LARGEST annual percentage increases in U.S. debt since the mid 1970s?  All during the Reagan administration.  Ethics and morality, a self-proclaimed cornerstone of conservatism?  29 criminal convictions of Reagan appointees, Iran-Contra and other.

So how do today’s Republicans stack up?  From a policy standpoint?  They seemingly would LIKE to emulate Reagan!   They ARE a disaster for the environment (remember James Watts?   A shiver just went up my spine).  They WILL ruin the economy.   They WILL drastically raise the federal debt, just like their idol Ronnie did (a fact conservatives somehow forget)!!  They WILL give tax breaks to the rich, and make the less fortunate suffer!!   There IS ample corruption in today’s GOP, ala the Reagan years.  You want a return of the “good ol’ days” under Ronnie?   The current crop of GOP’ers IS what you want!

The only real difference?  As the Gary Trudeau Doonesbury strip above shows, Ronnie was just so darn likable!!  Sure, he wasn’t very bright!!  But gosh darn it, he was SO likable, a guy you’d like to sit down and “have a beer with” (the same “high praise” given to George Bush).   His flaws?  His wacky astrology beliefs? His complete and utter disregard for the environment, or for anyone other than the rich?   For Republicans, what would you rather have, someone competent?  Or someone you really, really liked??  Obviously the latter!

And THAT is the difference in today’s crop of presidential candidates.  Would anyone really like to sit down and have a beer with Newt Gingrich? Mitt Romney?  Rick Santorum?  Michelle Bachmann?   Herman Cain?    Are ANY of these folks even REMOTELY “likable?!?!?!    

And here lies the biggest problem for Republicans.  They haven’t FOUND their 2012 version of Reagan.  They haven’t FOUND someone with enough charisma, that their actual political qualifications are overlooked.  It’s the Republicans worst nightmare!   Their current crop of candidates are being judged NOT on their personality, but on (GASP!!!!!) their actual qualifications and beliefs!!  And when the American public focuses on the substance and not the fluff, they find the GOP candidates lacking.

Posted in Politics, Uncategorized

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CPAC Madness

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Terry| Leave a comment
Rick Santorum

For once, Rick Santorum is correct! Extreme conservatives and tea-party wackos ARE the Republican Party. And as a Democrat, there's little I've enjoyed more recently than watching the GOP self-destruct. You can't build a long-term political platform based solely on hatred of your fellow (Democratic) Americans.

Nothin’ like a political platform built solely on vitriol and hatred for your fellow countrymen.   But yet that’s what the Republican Party has become, a party built solely on hate.  Nowhere has that been more apparent than the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington this week.  It’s been a WONDERFUL few months, watching the GOP drive itself right off a cliff.

If you had just woken up from a coma and weren’t aware of recent history, your impression from listening to CPAC speeches is that the end of the world was nigh.   HEY!!! Republicans!!!  Did you happen to catch the Clint Eastwood commercial during the Super Bowl?  This is America!! American Pride is still alive and well (at least for Democrats it is)!!   The economy is rebounding!! We’ve killed Bin Laden, and dictators and despots across the globe are falling!! The U.S. is STILL undoubtedly the world’s greatest power!! 

However, in the GOP eyes, America is crumbling before our very eyes…all because of those damned Democrats.  To Republicans, there IS no united America…there is “Republican America”, and then there’s the rest of Americans, who are NOT to be treated as equals, or as partners in governing this nation:

South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint: “Compromise works well in this world when you have shared goals. When you have shared goals, you can sit down together. We don’t have shared goals with the Democrats, folks.”

No shared goals with Democrats?  Given that Republicans continue to discount ANY positive news event under the Obama administration (economy gaining ground, foreign policy achievements, etc.), perhaps it’s true that Republicans do NOT share Democratic goals of building a better America.  A quote from Rick Santorum provides the best synopsis of the CPAC, and of the Republican Party in general.

“Conservatives and tea-party folks,” Santorum said. “We are not just wings of the Republican Party — we are the Republican Party.”

Well said, Mr. Santorum!!  Your party IS becoming the party of out-of-touch, hate-mongering wackos!!  And as a Democrat, I couldn’t be happier about it.   In the short-term, you may be able to win an election or two by focusing purely on hate.   In the long-term, Americans won’t stand for it.   As the CPAC has shown, and as the GOP presidential race has shown in the last few months, the nutjobs taking over the Republican Party will ultimately just end up driving the party off a cliff.

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