Author Topic: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."  (Read 2168 times)

Benny B

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October 5, 2009

The Politics of Spite
By PAUL KRUGMAN

There was what President Obama likes to call a teachable moment last week, when the International Olympic Committee rejected Chicago’s bid to be host of the 2016 Summer Games.

“Cheers erupted” at the headquarters of the conservative Weekly Standard, according to a blog post by a member of the magazine’s staff, with the headline “Obama loses! Obama loses!” Rush Limbaugh declared himself “gleeful.” “World Rejects Obama,” gloated the Drudge Report. And so on.

So what did we learn from this moment? For one thing, we learned that the modern conservative movement, which dominates the modern Republican Party, has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old.

But more important, the episode illustrated an essential truth about the state of American politics: at this point, the guiding principle of one of our nation’s two great political parties is spite pure and simple. If Republicans think something might be good for the president, they’re against it — whether or not it’s good for America.

To be sure, while celebrating America’s rebuff by the Olympic Committee was puerile, it didn’t do any real harm. But the same principle of spite has determined Republican positions on more serious matters, with potentially serious consequences — in particular, in the debate over health care reform.

Now, it’s understandable that many Republicans oppose Democratic plans to extend insurance coverage — just as most Democrats opposed President Bush’s attempt to convert Social Security into a sort of giant 401(k). The two parties do, after all, have different philosophies about the appropriate role of government.

But the tactics of the two parties have been different. In 2005, when Democrats campaigned against Social Security privatization, their arguments were consistent with their underlying ideology: they argued that replacing guaranteed benefits with private accounts would expose retirees to too much risk.

The Republican campaign against health care reform, by contrast, has shown no such consistency. For the main G.O.P. line of attack is the claim — based mainly on lies about death panels and so on — that reform will undermine Medicare. And this line of attack is utterly at odds both with the party’s traditions and with what conservatives claim to believe.


Think about just how bizarre it is for Republicans to position themselves as the defenders of unrestricted Medicare spending. First of all, the modern G.O.P. considers itself the party of Ronald Reagan — and Reagan was a fierce opponent of Medicare’s creation, warning that it would destroy American freedom. (Honest.) In the 1990s, Newt Gingrich tried to force drastic cuts in Medicare financing. And in recent years, Republicans have repeatedly decried the growth in entitlement spending — growth that is largely driven by rising health care costs.

But the Obama administration’s plan to expand coverage relies in part on savings from Medicare. And since the G.O.P. opposes anything that might be good for Mr. Obama, it has become the passionate defender of ineffective medical procedures and overpayments to insurance companies.

How did one of our great political parties become so ruthless, so willing to embrace scorched-earth tactics even if so doing undermines the ability of any future administration to govern?

The key point is that ever since the Reagan years, the Republican Party has been dominated by radicals — ideologues and/or apparatchiks who, at a fundamental level, do not accept anyone else’s right to govern.

Anyone surprised by the venomous, over-the-top opposition to Mr. Obama must have forgotten the Clinton years. Remember when Rush Limbaugh suggested that Hillary Clinton was a party to murder? When Newt Gingrich shut down the federal government in an attempt to bully Bill Clinton into accepting those Medicare cuts? And let’s not even talk about the impeachment saga.


The only difference now is that the G.O.P. is in a weaker position, having lost control not just of Congress but, to a large extent, of the terms of debate. The public no longer buys conservative ideology the way it used to; the old attacks on Big Government and paeans to the magic of the marketplace have lost their resonance. Yet conservatives retain their belief that they, and only they, should govern.

The result has been a cynical, ends-justify-the-means approach. Hastening the day when the rightful governing party returns to power is all that matters, so the G.O.P. will seize any club at hand with which to beat the current administration.

It’s an ugly picture. But it’s the truth. And it’s a truth anyone trying to find solutions to America’s real problems has to understand.
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Benny B

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They want this country to fail. These people say that they are patriots, but they are not. No matter what the president does, even if it is clearly and unambiguously for the benefit of the nation, what they want to see is loss, failure, missteps, and humiliation. Then and only then they are happy.

If something dreadful (God FORBID) happens to our wonderful president, I do believe that the Becks and the Limbaughs and the kitchen tables et al will be genuinely happy about it. They'll gloat and rejoice.

I did not like Bush at all, but whenever he managed to do anything even remotely decent on behalf of this country, I was glad for him and for all of us. Had anyone ever harmed him, I would have been horrified and grieved. Whether or not I liked the guy, he was the president of the United States of America. I respected the office and I hoped for the best for all of us.

I wish that the people who so devoutly wish for President Obama's downfall would find it in themselves to do the same.


-Cali S.
Austin, TX
October 5th, 2009
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Soul Crusher

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They want this country to fail. These people say that they are patriots, but they are not. No matter what the president does, even if it is clearly and unambiguously for the benefit of the nation, what they want to see is loss, failure, missteps, and humiliation. Then and only then they are happy.

If something dreadful (God FORBID) happens to our wonderful president, I do believe that the Becks and the Limbaughs and the kitchen tables et al will be genuinely happy about it. They'll gloat and rejoice.

I did not like Bush at all, but whenever he managed to do anything even remotely decent on behalf of this country, I was glad for him and for all of us. Had anyone ever harmed him, I would have been horrified and grieved. Whether or not I liked the guy, he was the president of the United States of America. I respected the office and I hoped for the best for all of us.

I wish that the people who so devoutly wish for President Obama's downfall would find it in themselves to do the same.


-Cali S.
Austin, TX
October 5th, 2009

George Whorewell

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What a bunch of nonsensical horseshit.

Both parties act exactly the same way toward one another when the other is in power.

Why Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh are being referenced in this article to begin with boggles my mind. Are Keith Olbermann, Susan Sarandon and Bill Mahr considered the cornerstones of the democratic party?  ::)

If you'll notice the brownosing letter below hailing Obama as "Our Wonderful President". The credibility of that letter goes right in the toilet immediately.

Finally, lets play devils advocate for a second. If GW (most gutless liberals claim Obama's apology tours were necessary to engender good will with the rest of the world) had taken office and immediately went on a hardcore imperialist power tour across the globe pounding his fist on the table and making speeches about America's supremacy-- And then showed up in Denmark with the first lady to convince the IOC to hold the 2016 Olympics in Houston, TX, what would Keith Olbermann's reaction have been when the IOC selected a different country?

Geesh--- It's really a stretch to think that Olbermann or Janine Garafalo, or Sean Penn, or any other liberal entertainer/ political pundit would have said "I told you so" and have celebrated the reality of the situation- Which in this case would be that the presidents strategy in dealing with other countries doesn't work and his inflated ego just had some of its air sucked out of it.






 

  

BM OUT

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Krugman is a typical jewish lib living in New york.Totally out of touch with the rest of the country.

Mons Venus

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October 5, 2009

The Politics of Spite
By PAUL KRUGMAN

There was what President Obama likes to call a teachable moment last week, when the International Olympic Committee rejected Chicago’s bid to be host of the 2016 Summer Games.

“Cheers erupted” at the headquarters of the conservative Weekly Standard, according to a blog post by a member of the magazine’s staff, with the headline “Obama loses! Obama loses!” Rush Limbaugh declared himself “gleeful.” “World Rejects Obama,” gloated the Drudge Report. And so on.

So what did we learn from this moment? For one thing, we learned that the modern conservative movement, which dominates the modern Republican Party, has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old.


I wish I was 13 again
 


I rest my case.

chadstallion

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13  ?!?  thats giving too much credit for a teenager.
I'd say the age group is closer to the 'terrible 2 s'
w

headhuntersix

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Hey war hero..where's ur DD214.....oh wait.....I rest my case.  ::)
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Soul Crusher

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13  ?!?  thats giving too much credit for a teenager.
I'd say the age group is closer to the 'terrible 2 s'

We were having a discussion of 80's metal and other such stuff.  of course mons did not tell you that because he is too busy hoping our soldiers get killed by IED's and making up phoney war records.   

headhuntersix

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Mons is 15 and doesn't remember 80's metal.
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kcballer

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #10 on: October 05, 2009, 11:50:54 AM »
I like how you post a cry baby 333 when it's you who has a posting frenzy cry baby meltdown every time Obama takes a breath. 
Abandon every hope...

Soul Crusher

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2009, 11:52:09 AM »
I like how you post a cry baby 333 when it's you who has a posting frenzy cry baby meltdown every time Obama takes a breath. 

You mean take a puff?  By all measures, Barry is still smoking up a storm.   ;D   ;D  ;D  ;D

Mons Venus

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headhuntersix

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #13 on: October 05, 2009, 12:47:18 PM »
Hey shitbag..where's ur 214. They're going after another dude in Colorado who said he was a Marine Officer...he's facing federal charges. The same guys who found him out are the same guys who will vet ur info on Panama....try not to quake in ur boots pussy.
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Soul Crusher

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #14 on: October 05, 2009, 12:49:50 PM »


Hey Mons:

You challenged me and backed down, do we need to rehash that again? 

I am sure a ton of people around here would love for me to leave permanently.  All you have to do is give HH6 the info to verify your military record and i am gone for good.   


headhuntersix

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #15 on: October 05, 2009, 12:57:24 PM »
That douchbag knows full well he's fucked if he posts anything but the truth.
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Soul Crusher

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #16 on: October 05, 2009, 01:04:45 PM »
That douchbag knows full well he's fucked if he posts anything but the truth.

Put up or shut up Mons.

I will leave for good if you give HH6 the verfiable info.

You leave for good if you refuse.

Deal or no deal?   


Hugo Chavez

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #17 on: October 05, 2009, 01:07:10 PM »
leave the IED deathwish for our troops out of it.  I don't want to see that shit brought up by anyone on the board.  333, fucking drop it.  I warned mons if I ever see that again he's gone.  I just don't want to see that crap here.  it makes me sick. i'm about to ban mons and you just so I don't have to read the daily recap over and over. ::)

Soul Crusher

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #18 on: October 05, 2009, 01:18:50 PM »
leave the IED deathwish for our troops out of it.  I don't want to see that shit brought up by anyone on the board.  333, fucking drop it.  I warned mons if I ever see that again he's gone.  I just don't want to see that crap here.  it makes me sick. i'm about to ban mons and you just so I don't have to read the daily recap over and over. ::)

Hugo - outof respect to you, and you alone, I will ignore him.   

 

Hugo Chavez

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #19 on: October 05, 2009, 01:28:34 PM »
Hugo - outof respect to you, and you alone, I will ignore him.   

 
you don't have to ignore him, I just don't want to hear about the IED crap.  And if you must do it.  Do what I pm'd you about.  I don't want to see every thread mons posts in derailed on the Mons Challenge.  It's not fair to everyone reading the board and the people having their threads derailed.  Start a thread calling mons out on claims he's made or whatever.  Then the people who don't want to read it don't have to and people don't have their threads derailed just because mons posted. 

headhuntersix

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #20 on: October 05, 2009, 01:29:57 PM »
Thats cool Hugo...but i'm not letting this stolen valor thing go. I feel bad about the derailment but the guy has an obsession with me.
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Soul Crusher

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #21 on: October 05, 2009, 01:31:10 PM »
you don't have to ignore him, I just don't want to hear about the IED crap.  And if you must do it.  Do what I pm'd you about.  I don't want to see every thread mons posts in derailed on the Mons Challenge.  It's not fair to everyone reading the board and the people having their threads derailed.  Start a thread calling mons out on claims he's made or whatever.  Then the people who don't want to read it don't have to and people don't have their threads derailed just because mons posted. 

No problem.  I get a little emotional about this since i had a friend die in Iraq from a mortar shot right at him.

So when I hear crap like he posted, it sets me off. 

Hugo Chavez

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #22 on: October 05, 2009, 01:34:18 PM »
No problem.  I get a little emotional about this since i had a friend die in Iraq from a mortar shot right at him.

So when I hear crap like he posted, it sets me off.  
i don't blame you.  it was a fucked thing to say and "just joking" doesn't cut it with me either.  He should apologise but that's up to him.

shootfighter1

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Re: "The Republican Party has the emotional maturity of a bratty 13-year-old."
« Reply #23 on: October 05, 2009, 01:44:32 PM »
So does the thread starter.