Spreading the Wealth

I wonder how much of that was “earmarked”?

No one hit the Palin with that question at any time during the campaign. Even George Will at one point said that Alaska was sinking under the weight of federal dollars, but no one would call her on it. Maybe they will show more bravery this time around.

Republicans = card carrying hypocrites.@ NanoT – I’m not holding my breath.

That was very well put, unfortunately most Americans don’t get this, which makes it that much more significant that Obama spoke to us like adults while Jindal thought he was talking to 4th graders(as Nate Silver said, today’s 4th graders might be the next adults to cast any votes for republicans).That’s why Obama stresses education. Educated voters would see right through the BS of the GOP.

I foresee a problem with the coming electoral cycle…2010…2012…These fuckers are now so weak and pathetic the best they can hoark up is a Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin.That’s just fucking dangerous.Never get into a fight with guy you have to kill to win the fight.You pop out his eye…he comes at you.Shatter his collarbone…he comes at you.At some point, you just run away from the flopping bloody mess in order to avoid having to kill it.The GOP…with the vapid twin set of Caribou Barbie and Bobby Fife at the front…are the political equivalent of a wounded wolverine.Wasps in October.Winter is coming, they know they’re gonna die…but they’re fucking well gonna sting the shit out of something before they go.

I’m not as frightened as I once was of the Jindal/Palin types being thrown up by the GOP. Sure, the base loves them, but the conservative base continues to shrink as the population ages, and the polarizing figures certainly aren’t winning over any converts.Not to say they’re not dangerous, but I’m almost happier to see the Pepubs putting these far-right doofuses (doofi?) up on a pedestal rather than pushing for someone with more widespread appeal. I’m not worried about anyone who didn’t like Bush suddenly deciding they like these caricatures that are even more conservative (and I don’t mean fiscally).

The obvious gorilla in the room is that republicans completely and totaly rely on voters being idiots. That is it. They need people to be stupid so they can exploit that stupidity because without it they dont stand a chance.

I’m thinking along the same lines, Kyle. While we might have to endure caricatures like Jindal, Palin and McCain for time being, they are no real threat. I think the party knows this on some level and any real talent is just waiting patiently for 2016 because they know they don’t have a chance against Obama. They need to wait for the Democrats to field a weaker candidate in order to gain any lost ground.

you’re right, politically the jindals and palins pose no threat. but as cousinavi said, they aren’t going away quietly. I worry they’ll be desperate enough to do something unthinkable. I can’t even think what it would be, that’s why it’s unthinkable.

EVERY red state in the country – states that voted for McCain in 2008 – is a beneficiary state, except for Texas – ie, they receive more, significantly more in most cases, federal spending than they contribute via taxes (www.taxfoundation.org). Sounds a lot like “re-distribution of wealth” to me, no? So I guess all of those red state conservatives only hate taxes if they are the ones being taxed and only hate spending when they aren’t the recipients; but they have no problem with the blue states subsidizing them.

Additionally, while the repubs may only have caricatures – the media will fully enable these types by providing a forum for them.In the media marketing mindset, this is the kind of thing that grabs peoples attention. It’s good “drama” and that sells just about as well as sex.So, while they may be impotent, they (Palin, Jindal, et al) will continue to have a platform.

Agreed, spacecowboy, but the caricatures are always the go-to people for the media. The Tom Delays, Newt Gingriches, and Harold Ford Jrs (I only include HFJr in that crowd because losing an election guarantees you a commentator slot on virtually any talking head show. Also, because he’s not a real Democrat and I can’t stand him.) will always figure prominently on the teevee machine because they manage to pass themselves off to the talking heads as credible. With the exception of a few standouts like Rachel Maddow, the talking head shows love them because they are not interested in meaningful discourse or truth, just tv drama that might maybe go viral on the YouTubes. There is no shortage of platforms for their manufactured rage and indignation, and the talking heads are happy to indulge them in accusing everyone else of their own behavior.

@NanoT: Great moment on RMS last night when Rachel asked Nancy Pelosi about the Repubs controlling the media debate on the stimulus and Nancy was just like: no they didn’t, they looked like idiots when they tried, and everyone likes us better. Next.If more Dems get behind that message–the people like us and the media has nothing better to do than to try and stir up trouble–it won’t matter what the Jindal/Palins do. As long as we can keep the people who like them from doing something remarkably dumb.

Today’s favorite pork “Removing Tattoos in L.A.”Of course, the tattoos in question are gang tattoos. Having the wrong gang tattoo can get you shot holmes. The funding request arises because attempts to get people out of the gang lifestyle is succeeding to some extent but if you leave the tattoos in place there are many complications.More leveraging of ignorance to make something useful and good for society sound frivolous and silly.Republicans are evil prick bastards.

“The obvious gorilla in the room is that republicans completely and totaly rely on voters being idiots. That is it. They need people to be stupid so they can exploit that stupidity because without it they dont stand a chance.”There is so much irony in this statement that it would be impossible to list all of it. I’ll just list a few.1. ALL politicians rely on people being stupid. How long have both parties been talking about Social Security needing to be fixed? Looks like you’re still buying the Democratic excuse for why they’ve done NOTHING, NADA, ABSOLUTELY, COMPLETELY, AND IN ALL OTHER WAYS, ZILCH.2. Look at the demographics for who votes for what party. Then, look at your statement again.3. With all the information we have available on who donates what to each campaign and party, it still amazes me that any of these clowns, Republican or Democratic, are still winning reelection. Now that’s stupid.

John Bolton still proving he is a complete idiot..http://tinyurl.com/at6bjhDavidCornDCMoJo just posted on how John Bolton at CPAC joked that a nuclear attack on Chicago would teach Obama a needed lesson….from Twitter

OT…This is some good stuff.Pot calling the kettle black.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123561484923478287.html

I’m not afraid of pepublosers like Jindal and Palin, but I am frightened by the far-right’s apparent lust for some type of an attack to “teach Obama a lesson.” I’ve never seen such political contempt, and its frightening to think there are “patriots” who hate the president more than they like this country.

I hear you Kyle.. it is scary isn’t it.. according to the article he got a huge laugh out of it… and lots of applause.I am sure the entire CPAC is full of lots of Obama hate.. and Palin/Jindal love.

Spacecowboy, your link to Karl Rove’s disconnect with reality or descent into some alternative reality was as usual trippin’.

In his inaugural address — which was generally graceful toward the opposition — Mr. Obama proclaimed, “We have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.” Which Republican ran against him on fear, conflict and discord?

Appearently the RNC sent him no mailers filled with fear, conflict and discord!Oh, I forgot, he wrote them.

When or if he ever shows up for the subpoenas he keeps ignoring maybe someone will ask him…lol

Red States = Blood Sucking States.LA is the Asshole of America.Here are the great citizens of LSU showing there ignorance.Enjoy.http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhd8ZDMJpRuU7eLrhB

@Jeff/JM: absolutely correct. Must. educate. Every red cent spent on tuition assistance increases the blue vote.

Either all states should get the money or no states should get the money. It isn’t by itself being hypocritical to take what a highly centralized federal government gives you, just so that you can remain competitive against the other 49 states and what they are getting, especially within such a major crisis that was caused BY the federal government. Red states shouldn’t be held to a higher standard to work outside the system just because they weren’t successful with their votes in Washington. That’s the system we have to work within.If I’m a fiscal conservative governor who is not in control of the levers in Washington, why should I argue with getting back some funds, that which could be considered reparations, from Washington, who were the ones that screwed things up?Jindal was stupid for saying what he did. His ideals may be otherwise, but as the system is currently designed, it would disproportionately harmful to his state’s citizens to turn the federal money down.Not to be sarcastic, but we all know that the Obama administration knows what’s best for all 50 states, so regardless of how much a fiscal conservative might disagree, he might as well let Obama’s newfangled centrally planned design work completely or fail completely. We wouldn’t want to interfere, lest the proponents of it could just say we didn’t allow it to be properly funded.Also, just because the Republicans may not support specifically how the bill was configured,that doesn’t mean they should be held to a higher standard individually. Having blue states call the red states hypocritical for not denying the money, while they themselves do receive it would be the double-standard.

“OT…This is some good stuff.Pot calling the kettle black.http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123561484923478287.htmlPosted by: thespacecowboy at February 26, 2009 2:14 PM”I hate Karl Rove as much as you do, but his criticisms of Obama in that article are completely based in logic; Barack does have a tendency to build up straw men. I don’t doubt that Karl Rove has also used straw man arguments in the past, though.