Tag Archives: Republicans

Fall Sunday Stats #5: Ronald Reagan, Commie Scum; John McCain, Terrorist Fundraiser.

Posted on November 2, 2008 | 3 comments

The Republicans have pushed me over the edge with their latest lunatic ranting.  The most impressive thing about McCain’s — very funny — appearance on Saturday Night Live last night is that he managed it without visibly looking under the Weekend Update desk for commies hiding under it.

I’m not going to link to all of the videos of Republican candidates and talking-point spewing mouth breathers slandering Obama by calling him a socialist, Marxist, or communist; they’re available on in the ‘tubes.  Google “Obama socialist” and you’ll find plenty.  Let me get through the stats for the week and I’ll give you my rebuttal.

Miles run today:  None.  The Mrs. is singing excerpts from the Faure Requiem at church this morning, and I don’t miss her performances except for emergencies.  She’s got a wonderful voice.

Words written:  590 words of the short story I’m working on.  Between a tough week at work and election coverage at night, I haven’t been getting much writing done.  Back on track after Tuesday!

And now, my Keith Olbermann-style special comment:

REAGAN WAS A SOCIALIST!

Okay, Republican neo-McCarthyites, what in your mind makes Obama a socialist? Is it his support for the progressive income tax structure (increasing marginal rates as income goes up)? McCain/Palin support the same structure, they just differ over the rates. Let’s assume that you don’t believe we’re living in a socialist state today.  The top marginal income tax rate is currently 35%.  Obama has proposed raising the top rate to 39.6%, which is where it was during the boom years of the 1990s. Are you saying that the line between a capitalist society and a socialist society is crossed somewhere between 35% and 39.6%? Where is that line, exactly? Is it 36%? 37? 38.2%?  Were we socialists during the tech boom?

I also think that it’s unfortunate that you’re defaming Ronald Reagan by calling him a socialist. If Obama’s a socialist for proposing a 39.6% top marginal rate, Reagan must have been positively Stalinesque in his support for the communist system, because under his self-proclaimed “tax reform” the top marginal rate from 1982 through 1986 was 50%. What a pinko! Now, to give credit where credit is due, maybe the Gipper saw the light, because in 1986 he signed another tax bill that lowered the top marginal rate to 38.5%. Perhaps that’s the line we should never cross – 38.5%=capitalist market economy, freedom, and the shining city on the hill, while 38.51% = socialism, tyranny, oppressed masses, and another Evil Empire.  Who knew the red revolution would be so subtle, and yet so well defined?

All tax systems are redistributionist, even a flat tax.  Back in 2000, McCain called the Bush tax cuts “irresponsible.”  So is going back to the pre-2001 top rate “socialistic” or simple fiscal responsibility?

MCCAIN FUNDED RADICAL PALESTINIAN TERRORIST!

As for Khalidi, while McCain served on the board of the International Republican Institute, that organization gave Khalidi several hundred thousand dollars in grants in the 1990s. Obama spoke at a dinner where the guy was in attendance, and says that in a couple of conversations Khalidi challenged some of Obama’s biases. Assuming Khalidi is some kind of radical terrorist (a charge for which there doesn’t appear to be any evidence), which association is more offensive?

Let’s get this straight:  Obama, not a socialist, not someone who pals around with terrorists.  He’s just the guy who’s kicking Republican ass.

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Safety, Prosperity, Peace, and Drill, Baby, Drill: The GOP Convention Is Finally Over.

Posted on September 4, 2008 | 3 comments

I’m starting this as McCain is giving his speech — a protester just threw off his opening.

Another protester.

And another one.

Who’s the dumbass who gave these people credentials?  The Republicans can’t even run their own convention, how are we supposed to trust them to run the country?

Strangely, I was not roused by McCain’s speech.  I expected to be typing a vituperative rant during the entire thing, but honestly, he hasn’t said anything that makes me really angry.  A little misrepresentation of Obama’s positions here, a few gratuitous slaps at unions there, but … whatever.  So far, the most annoying thing he’s said is to repeat his party’s ridiculous insistence that we can drill our way to energy independence, leading to another round of “Drill, Baby, Drill” chants from the delegates.

There was some good stuff about how, as a former navy officer from a navy family, he hates war and wants most of all to work for peace.  More about his very impressive personal story, of course, but the rest of the speech was reheated, leftover GOP talking points, not delivered terribly well.

The speech is probably most remarkable for being so incredibly at odds with every other speech at this convention.  The previous speakers have been angry and sarcastic, for the most part, without any realization that their words would be heard by anyone outside their echo chamber in St. Paul.  McCain had a few snarky moments, but was mostly very earnest in cataloging the failures of his own party.

I would like to point out John McCain has been in Congress for 28 years, and his party has been in the White House for eight years — would someone please explain to me how he’s the outsider?  He may have been a maverick eight years ago, and he’s had some skirmishes with President Bush, but let’s not forget about his voting record in the Senate:  90% of votes with the Bush administration.  He’s not an outsider, and when Republicans run against Washington in 2008, they’re running against themselves.

The conventions are finally over — just like Peggy Noonan and Mike Murphy say the McCain-Palin campaign is.  Thank goodness.

One final note:  worst of all, Mrs. Unfocused points out that the music in McCain’s video (and Palin’s, too) was ripped off from the theme for Dallas.

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Another Rant. It’s Short. I Promise.

Posted on September 3, 2008 | Leave a comment

Rudy Giuliani just mocked Obama for — allegedly — mocking Palin’s hometown for being too small.

Giuliani was major of New York City, for crying out loud, and mocked smaller cities regularly.  Come on.

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Rant While Watching the Republican Convention.

Posted on September 3, 2008 | 3 comments

I’ve had more than enough of the Republicans going on about veterans and the military, as if the military is a branch of the GOP, but something Huckabee just said is making my head spin around.  He just told a looooong story, the punch line of which was that we should be grateful to our veterans because they “gave us our freedom.”

Horse. Shit.

During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army fought for our freedom.  Since 1783, our military has defended our freedom.  At no time did the military “give” us our freedom.

It’s right there in the damn Declaration of Independence, you ignorant Republican twits:  “WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness[.]”

The identity of the Creator is left as an exercise for the reader, but I don’t think any of us would suggest that title belongs to the military.  I have a great deal of respect for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, but let’s not deify them.

While I’m flaming the Republican National Convention, I want to mention the photo I have taped over my desk in the study:  it’s a close-up picture of me, 50 pounds heavier than I am now, that I keep up as a reminder to keep my face out of the refrigerator.  The picture was taken at a Democratic campaign event in October of 2000, and I’m standing with the nominee for Vice President.

Last night, I came very close to shredding that picture.  I didn’t; it’s still up, because it’s a pretty good reminder to keep my face out of the refrigerator.  But it’s also a reminder that revenge, while it may feel good in the short term, can be very self-destructive.

Last night, Lieberman said he was speaking to the Republican National Convention because, as an American, he honestly believes that it is important to elect John McCain President, because he has the experience and judgment to govern the most powerful nation in the world in these dangerous times.  I was skeptical but hey, McCain’s his buddy, so what the hell, it’s his career.

Then he told us all how great Sarah Palin is, and the non-partisan mask disappeared.  He came to the convention to talk about McCain’s experience and judgment, and then he started talking about Sarah Palin?  No, this was revenge for losing the Democratic senate primary in 2006, so that he had to run as an independent.  He has turned his back on the Democratic party but the Republicans will never, never, accept him.  I don’t like making predictions, but just this once, I will:  I predict he’s going to be kicked out of the caucus, he’ll lose his committee assignments, and I sincerely doubt the Republicans will give him any of their precious few minority party committee slots.  I predict that as of January 3, 2013, he’ll be the least popular law professor at the University of Connecticut.

And now the delegates are chanting “Drill, Baby, Drill!” at Rudy Giuliani.  Who the hell does this appeal to?

Feh.

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