The Hardcore Right - It'll get worse before it gets better

[JakeStarkey]

Quite a number of liberals are racist as well. When one hides behind race to get things he or she wants is racist behavior.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

and you left winger nuts have no influence whatsoever on Democrats..

or I guess we are suppose to think there ISN'T ANY, you all are SO SANE

Good grief, what a bunch of crapola

the circle jerk was cute though

And here’s where you and others on the right continue to exhibit your ignorance. Or this is likely the consequence of being a blind partisan, more interested in whining about the alleged misdeeds of ‘the left’ rather than focusing on getting your own house in order.

Between 1968 and 1988 democrats allowed ‘the left’ undue influence in the Party on a National level – the result was they lost 5 of the 6 elections during that 20 year period.

By 1992, however, the Democratic Party had successfully marginalized ‘the left,’ they could still participate in Party functions, have their say, run a few candidate in hyper-liberal parts of the country, but moderates were then in charge of the Party nationally, the fact that democrats have won 4 of the last 6 elections is proof of that.

Further proof of this is Senate democrats will produce no new AWB; senators and representatives on ‘the left’ will be allowed to propose their bills, make speeches, and placate their base, but since ‘the left’ doesn’t exact an undue influence in the Party overall, nothing will come of the bills and speeches.

Between 1988 and 1992 democrats learned to do something republicans clearly refuse to do: listen to the people, listen when a majority of Americans overwhelmingly reject your agenda, or particular items on your agenda, and respond accordingly.

 

[Oldguy]

Between 1988 and 1992 democrats learned to do something republicans clearly refuse to do: listen to the people, listen when a majority of Americans overwhelmingly reject your agenda, or particular items on your agenda, and respond accordingly.

That's because the Democrats don't have a single, unifying ideology which holds the party together. Being the "big tent" party, new and different ideas are the norm and they know how to respond to them.

Not so with the Republican Party of the past 30 years or so. They preach and practice one official ideology and have ways of enforcing lock step obedience to it. Anybody who steps out of line quickly finds himself cut off from support and financing. For sitting members of Congress, their punishment for daring to question the message is being sent off into the exile of committee assignments with no power and, of course, a committee chairmanship is out of the question.

The upshot is that the GOP has grown rigidly inflexible, even to the point that the inflexibility may prove fatal to the whole party and they're unable to stop it. They've tied themselves to the mast with iron bands of ideology and must either now prevail or go down with the ship.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Between 1988 and 1992 democrats learned to do something republicans clearly refuse to do: listen to the people, listen when a majority of Americans overwhelmingly reject your agenda, or particular items on your agenda, and respond accordingly.

That's because the Democrats don't have a single, unifying ideology which holds the party together. Being the "big tent" party, new and different ideas are the norm and they know how to respond to them.

Not so with the Republican Party of the past 30 years or so. They preach and practice one official ideology and have ways of enforcing lock step obedience to it. Anybody who steps out of line quickly finds himself cut off from support and financing. For sitting members of Congress, their punishment for daring to question the message is being sent off into the exile of committee assignments with no power and, of course, a committee chairmanship is out of the question.

The upshot is that the GOP has grown rigidly inflexible, even to the point that the inflexibility may prove fatal to the whole party and they're unable to stop it. They've tied themselves to the mast with iron bands of ideology and must either now prevail or go down with the ship.

Not necessarily…

Democrats in essence returned to their roots: classic New Dealism, where they successfully put to rest the notion that they forgot the needs and interests of middle class Americans, and are now perceived to be the champions of the middle class.

They successfully expressed their belief that government can play a legitimate and positive role in Americans’ lives, where government is not always the answer, but can often be part of the solution.

They also successfully expressed their belief that government also plays an appropriate and vital role with regard to the most vulnerable in our society: the elderly, those retired, children, the disabled, and Americans adversely effected by economic conditions beyond their control. This is a message which appeals to moderates and independents who tend to be more pragmatic concerning social issues.

Last, the ‘big tent’ motif goes to a fundamental democratic principle of inclusiveness and a celebration of diversity and individualism. Where democrats and liberals have fought for decades in the courts to protect individual liberty and the right of every American to freely express himself. As America has become – and will continue to become – more diverse with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation, democrats will continue to enjoy a political advantage.

The challenge for republicans, therefore, is to abandon the divisiveness expressed by the social right and conservative fiscal extremism and focus instead on a message of economic inclusiveness many Americans will find more attractive.

 

[Mac1958]

Two words come to mind....Alan Berg.

Wow, flashback. I live in Colorado, and I remember exactly where I was the moment I heard he had been shot.

That's a fair point. The Levins and Savages and Becks get these people all fired up, and I guess it would not be terribly surprising if one or more of them did something with their rage and their fear.

All the more important it is then, that the crazies are marginalized asap. The division pimps need to cool it off, for example, but it's like asking a politician to vote for term limits - if they suddenly stopped the hyperbole and became reasonable and adult and civil, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.

So to speak.

.

Right after sandy hook, and up until about a week ago, my FB feed was filled with, what I used to consider reasonable people, frothing at the mouth in fear of gun control. Reasonable people actually discussing civil revolt and using words like dictator and socialist.

It worries me how many mostly normal people honestly believe the president is a Kenyan pinko commie dictator, and if normal people see him as such a threat to America, what about those who's hold on reality is tenuous? :/

The problem is that words and thoughts become ingrained in the culture, another way the division pimps are causing damage. I'll guarantee you there's a percentage of people who now just assume that Obama is a _________ or a ___________ or a ____________, and yet they would have absolutely no idea idea what to say if you asked for proof. Their response would be something like "well, I heard it....."

Who's going to be the leader who puts their foot down and calls an end to this? The clock's ticking.

.

 

[Oldguy]

The challenge for republicans, therefore, is to abandon the divisiveness expressed by the social right and conservative fiscal extremism and focus instead on a message of economic inclusiveness many Americans will find more attractive.

But, they see that as surrender, as abandonment of their principles. They've spent the past 30 years painting themselves into a corner from which they now can't escape without admitting they've been wrong all along.

I don't think they can. In fact, I don't think they would if they could!

 

[rightwinger]

The challenge for republicans, therefore, is to abandon the divisiveness expressed by the social right and conservative fiscal extremism and focus instead on a message of economic inclusiveness many Americans will find more attractive.

But, they see that as surrender, as abandonment of their principles. They've spent the past 30 years painting themselves into a corner from which they now can't escape without admitting they've been wrong all along.

I don't think they can. In fact, I don't think they would if they could!

I would have to agree. Even though they recognize the problem, there is nothing they can do about it. They have made a pact with the devil with the rightwing media. The rightwing media does all their dirty work in attacking the left 24/7 but they also attack any Republican who contemplates compromise

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

The challenge for republicans, therefore, is to abandon the divisiveness expressed by the social right and conservative fiscal extremism and focus instead on a message of economic inclusiveness many Americans will find more attractive.

But, they see that as surrender, as abandonment of their principles. They've spent the past 30 years painting themselves into a corner from which they now can't escape without admitting they've been wrong all along.

I don't think they can. In fact, I don't think they would if they could!

Perhaps, but we need those republican back, for the good of the Nation.

And it’s not an ‘abandonment’ of their principles, it would be a return to the fiscal pragmatism needed to countervail liberal policies. America worked best when democrats and republicans worked together, before the advent of the bane of the social right.

 

[rightwinger]

The challenge for republicans, therefore, is to abandon the divisiveness expressed by the social right and conservative fiscal extremism and focus instead on a message of economic inclusiveness many Americans will find more attractive.

But, they see that as surrender, as abandonment of their principles. They've spent the past 30 years painting themselves into a corner from which they now can't escape without admitting they've been wrong all along.

I don't think they can. In fact, I don't think they would if they could!

Perhaps, but we need those republican back, for the good of the Nation.

And it’s not an ‘abandonment’ of their principles, it would be a return to the fiscal pragmatism needed to countervail liberal policies. America worked best when democrats and republicans worked together, before the advent of the bane of the social right.

One of the problems for the right is that their political rhetoric has been so extreme in demonizing the left that they can never justify compromising with them

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

Wow, flashback. I live in Colorado, and I remember exactly where I was the moment I heard he had been shot.

That's a fair point. The Levins and Savages and Becks get these people all fired up, and I guess it would not be terribly surprising if one or more of them did something with their rage and their fear.

All the more important it is then, that the crazies are marginalized asap. The division pimps need to cool it off, for example, but it's like asking a politician to vote for term limits - if they suddenly stopped the hyperbole and became reasonable and adult and civil, they'd be shooting themselves in the foot.

So to speak.

.

Right after sandy hook, and up until about a week ago, my FB feed was filled with, what I used to consider reasonable people, frothing at the mouth in fear of gun control. Reasonable people actually discussing civil revolt and using words like dictator and socialist.

It worries me how many mostly normal people honestly believe the president is a Kenyan pinko commie dictator, and if normal people see him as such a threat to America, what about those who's hold on reality is tenuous? :/

The problem is that words and thoughts become ingrained in the culture, another way the division pimps are causing damage. I'll guarantee you there's a percentage of people who now just assume that Obama is a _________ or a ___________ or a ____________, and yet they would have absolutely no idea idea what to say if you asked for proof. Their response would be something like "well, I heard it....."

Who's going to be the leader who puts their foot down and calls an end to this? The clock's ticking.

.

Who has the courage, more precisely, to stand up to the radical fiscal right and social conservatives and relegate them to the margins as democrats did liberals.

2016 is an opportunity for a courageous leader to do this, when the voters will be likely ready for a republican administration and the democrats will have few – if any – viable candidates to offer.

A traditional republican can use such an opportunity to take a stand on abortion and acknowledge the right to privacy, and reject any efforts to undermine that right. To embrace comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for those undocumented. To acknowledge the right same-sex couples have with regard to accessing marriage. And to reject the dogma of division and hate used by the extreme right as a means to realize some perceived political advantage.

Again, this would not be an ‘abandonment’ of republican principles, but a return to them.

 

[LoneLaugher]

Quite a number of liberals are racist as well. When one hides behind race to get things he or she wants is racist behavior.

Real examples. Please.

 

[JakeStarkey]

Quite a number of liberals are racist as well. When one hides behind race to get things he or she wants is racist behavior.

Real examples. Please.

Why, you as a lib can give us plenty of examples on both sides.

Don't be shy.

 

[LoneLaugher]

Quite a number of liberals are racist as well. When one hides behind race to get things he or she wants is racist behavior.

Real examples. Please.

Why, you as a lib can give us plenty of examples on both sides.

Don't be shy.

First, your comment:

"When one hides behind race to get things he or she wants is racist behavior"

is bullshit.

Second, you made the claim. You said "quite a number". I asked for some real examples. Please.

 

[JakeStarkey]

Absolute truth: "When one hides behind race to get things he or she wants is racist behavior".

I don't have to justify what is common knowledge to a pathetic liberal, Lone Laugher. You know that.

You guys on the far left are as pathetic as those on the far right.

 

[LoneLaugher]

I am on the far left? Is that how you see it?

How do you come to that conclusion?

 

[JakeStarkey]

How do you see yourself: mainstream?

 

[LoneLaugher]

How do you see yourself: mainstream?

Dude....it would be nice if you would at least try to answer a question.

How do I see myself? As a sane, thoughtful liberal. I dig regulated capitalism and I appreciate it when tax dollars are used wisely. It happens sometimes.

Now...how did you come to the conclusion that I am "far left"? You weren't just talking out of your ass, were you?

 

[Oldguy]

Why are so many conservatives concerned with being called racist?

If the shoe fits.........

 

[JakeStarkey]

How do you see yourself: mainstream?

Dude....it would be nice if you would at least try to answer a question.

How do I see myself? As a sane, thoughtful liberal. I dig regulated capitalism and I appreciate it when tax dollars are used wisely. It happens sometimes.

Now...how did you come to the conclusion that I am "far left"? You weren't just talking out of your ass, were you?

Because you believe that racism is not part of the left of center to far left: to think so is parochial, narrow sighted, blinders on. Yes, racism exists on the left, and you know it.

 

[LoneLaugher]

How do you see yourself: mainstream?

Dude....it would be nice if you would at least try to answer a question.

How do I see myself? As a sane, thoughtful liberal. I dig regulated capitalism and I appreciate it when tax dollars are used wisely. It happens sometimes.

Now...how did you come to the conclusion that I am "far left"? You weren't just talking out of your ass, were you?

Because you believe that racism is not part of the left of center to far left: to think so is parochial, narrow sighted, blinders on. Yes, racism exists on the left, and you know it.

I asked for examples. You have provided none. Are you going to provide some?