The Republican Approach to Government: Authoritarian Rule

[Rinata]

Oh really? Forcing people to buy a product from a private company under the penalty of jail time if they refuse is not authoritarian? That's just one of many examples.

I have a better example. People with no insurance that go to the emergency room and have a serious condition that requires immediate attention. Like surgery. Whom do you think pays for the surgeon, doctors, nurses, radiology, lab, meds, and other miscellaneous??

I have an even better example....24 year old kid right out of college gets a nice $65,000 a year job. When asked if he want's health insurance he says no thanks, then he goes out and buys a BMW and a condo. Now multiply that by 15,994,347 million. Who do you think pays for his healthcare when he needs it?

My point is that it is a lot more expensive to care for sick people for free than it is for them to buy health insurance. I haven't the slightest idea what point you are attempting to make.

 

[PatekPhilippe]

Wrong....it's a lot more expensive to care for sick people PERIOD. The insurance companies haven't got a thing to do with it. When you charge $60 dollars for a wooden tongue depressor and $400 dollars for a surgery sponge....it adds up real quick.

If you're an illegal alien, who are THE PRIMARY USERS OF EMERGENCY ROOM CARE, where... exactly...are they supposed to buy health insurance.

 

[Rinata]

Wrong....it's a lot more expensive to care for sick people PERIOD. The insurance companies haven't got a thing to do with it. When you charge $60 dollars for a wooden tongue depressor and $400 dollars for a surgery sponge....it adds up real quick.

If you're an illegal alien, who are THE PRIMARY USERS OF EMERGENCY ROOM CARE, where... exactly...are they supposed to buy health insurance.

What are you talking about??? I said exactly the same thing in my post!!! It was my whole point. Geez.

As far as illegal aliens, I think they are going to be covered after they are made citizens. It sounds as though tha issue is still up in the air. I wish our government would do something to stop letting them in. This wole issue of illegal aliens is a mess.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Anyone remember that comment attributed to someone in the Bush Administration about "we make reality now"? And Karl Rove - remember him? - and his push for a one party (Republican) state in the US? As piss poor as the Dems are they ain't authoritarian.

Oh really? Forcing people to buy a product from a private company under the penalty of jail time if they refuse is not authoritarian? That's just one of many examples.

I have a better example. People with no insurance that go to the emergency room and have a serious condition that requires immediate attention. Like surgery. Whom do you think pays for the surgeon, doctors, nurses, radiology, lab, meds, and other miscellaneous??

Actually, that's not a better example, but that's easily fixed. All Congress has to do is repeal the Federal provision requiring hospitals to treat people who can't pay.

Update: Actually I take that back. In the context of this thread, you did give a good example.

 

[California Girl]

It's highly entertaining to have one bunch of authoritarians telling another bunch of authoritarians that they are the authoritarians.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Yawnnnnn, these hate thread just never stop.

Brgrn, a true hater.
"John Dean says republicans are mean!!"

LOL

Get a LIFE!

Why?? Nixon was guilty. Yes, John Dean was one of the first White House insiders to fully cooperate with the official investigation, and the first to directly implicate the President. He testified that Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up of the break-in at the Watergate Hotel, and that he and Nixon had discussed various aspects of the cover-up on at least 35 separate occasions. For his testimony, Dean was either lauded for his courage and honesty or pummeled for betraying political loyalties. To this day, he remains a hated figure in Republican circles.

I was very young when Nixon resigned. The same age as his daughter, Julie Eisenhower. I was not particularly happy about his troubles. The night before he left the WH, there was footage of Nixon and Julie crying and hugging each other. It was so sad because I understood how much she loved him.

But Nixon was guilty. So nobody should hold anything against John Dean. He didn't make it all up!!! But that is a typical Republican reaction, isn't it??

LOL

Libs with righteous indignation are really FUNNEH.

Bad Nixon! Bad! He Lied to the American People!

Nixon: Patron Saint of every Democrat political since his resignation.

The Clintons and Obama make Nixon look like an amateur

Nixon lied eeeeeek! I'm an outraged Dem! OUTRAGED!!! OUTRAGED I TELL YOU!!

I like how the Clinton's handled their John Dean, l never knew where Fort Marcy Park was.

 

[rdean]

Oh really? Forcing people to buy a product from a private company under the penalty of jail time if they refuse is not authoritarian? That's just one of many examples.

I have a better example. People with no insurance that go to the emergency room and have a serious condition that requires immediate attention. Like surgery. Whom do you think pays for the surgeon, doctors, nurses, radiology, lab, meds, and other miscellaneous??

I have an even better example....24 year old kid right out of college gets a nice $65,000 a year job. When asked if he want's health insurance he says no thanks, then he goes out and buys a BMW and a condo. Now multiply that by 15,994,347 million. Who do you think pays for his healthcare when he needs it?

24 year old kid right out of college making 65,000 a year? What kind of job did he get and where is it? Besides, why would Republicans care? They are anti education. You won't see any of them being that kid.

 

[rdean]

Actually if you want to talk about sinister and evil look at Hillary, Whitwater, and the Vince Foster scandal.

Republicans spent 40 million of taxpayers money trying to connect the Clintons to "Whitewater". What ever became of that?

Since Bill Clinton left office, he has made a hundred and seven MILLION dollars giving speeches. He always knew he would make that money. So thinking he would go after peanuts while president is, well, for lack of a better word, "stupid". Of course, that's how Republicans think. One thing, they know this won't work on Obama. Because Obama will make three times as much as Bill Clinton.

The entire world is afraid the American Confederate Republican Party. To the rest of the world, the American Confederate Republican Party is more dangerous than al Qaeda.

 

[Bfgrn]

Yawnnnnn, these hate thread just never stop.

Brgrn, a true hater.
"John Dean says republicans are mean!!"

LOL

Get a LIFE!

Why?? Nixon was guilty. Yes, John Dean was one of the first White House insiders to fully cooperate with the official investigation, and the first to directly implicate the President. He testified that Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up of the break-in at the Watergate Hotel, and that he and Nixon had discussed various aspects of the cover-up on at least 35 separate occasions. For his testimony, Dean was either lauded for his courage and honesty or pummeled for betraying political loyalties. To this day, he remains a hated figure in Republican circles.

I was very young when Nixon resigned. The same age as his daughter, Julie Eisenhower. I was not particularly happy about his troubles. The night before he left the WH, there was footage of Nixon and Julie crying and hugging each other. It was so sad because I understood how much she loved him.

But Nixon was guilty. So nobody should hold anything against John Dean. He didn't make it all up!!! But that is a typical Republican reaction, isn't it??

LOL

Libs with righteous indignation are really FUNNEH.

Bad Nixon! Bad! He Lied to the American People!

Nixon: Patron Saint of every Democrat political since his resignation.

The Clintons and Obama make Nixon look like an amateur

Nixon lied eeeeeek! I'm an outraged Dem! OUTRAGED!!! OUTRAGED I TELL YOU!!

I like how the Clinton's handled their John Dean, l never knew where Fort Marcy Park was.

The problem with Nixon isn't that he lied...LBJ was a bigger liar...

The problem with Nixon is he was a small, paranoid and insecure man that was very vengeful. And he took it out on the American people he FEARED...

 

[rdean]

Why?? Nixon was guilty. Yes, John Dean was one of the first White House insiders to fully cooperate with the official investigation, and the first to directly implicate the President. He testified that Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up of the break-in at the Watergate Hotel, and that he and Nixon had discussed various aspects of the cover-up on at least 35 separate occasions. For his testimony, Dean was either lauded for his courage and honesty or pummeled for betraying political loyalties. To this day, he remains a hated figure in Republican circles.

I was very young when Nixon resigned. The same age as his daughter, Julie Eisenhower. I was not particularly happy about his troubles. The night before he left the WH, there was footage of Nixon and Julie crying and hugging each other. It was so sad because I understood how much she loved him.

But Nixon was guilty. So nobody should hold anything against John Dean. He didn't make it all up!!! But that is a typical Republican reaction, isn't it??

LOL

Libs with righteous indignation are really FUNNEH.

Bad Nixon! Bad! He Lied to the American People!

Nixon: Patron Saint of every Democrat political since his resignation.

The Clintons and Obama make Nixon look like an amateur

Nixon lied eeeeeek! I'm an outraged Dem! OUTRAGED!!! OUTRAGED I TELL YOU!!

I like how the Clinton's handled their John Dean, l never knew where Fort Marcy Park was.

The problem with Nixon isn't that he lied...LBJ was a bigger liar...

The problem with Nixon is he was a small, paranoid and insecure man that was very vengeful. And he took it out on the American people he FEARED...

Sounds like Republicans haven't changed much from the 60's.

 

[PatekPhilippe]

I have a better example. People with no insurance that go to the emergency room and have a serious condition that requires immediate attention. Like surgery. Whom do you think pays for the surgeon, doctors, nurses, radiology, lab, meds, and other miscellaneous??

I have an even better example....24 year old kid right out of college gets a nice $65,000 a year job. When asked if he want's health insurance he says no thanks, then he goes out and buys a BMW and a condo. Now multiply that by 15,994,347 million. Who do you think pays for his healthcare when he needs it?

24 year old kid right out of college making 65,000 a year? What kind of job did he get and where is it? Besides, why would Republicans care? They are anti education. You won't see any of them being that kid.

rdeanieweenie...please step into reality....I can name 2 jobs right off the top of my head where 22 year old college graduates are making 6 figures....degrees in Marine Engineering and Marine Transportation are highly lucrative and offer LIFETIME employment....and FYI....I think we know who the Party of dumbasses are...look who they elected in 2008.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Besides, why would Republicans care? They are anti education.

Really? Name one.

 

[Bfgrn]

LOL

Libs with righteous indignation are really FUNNEH.

Bad Nixon! Bad! He Lied to the American People!

Nixon: Patron Saint of every Democrat political since his resignation.

The Clintons and Obama make Nixon look like an amateur

Nixon lied eeeeeek! I'm an outraged Dem! OUTRAGED!!! OUTRAGED I TELL YOU!!

I like how the Clinton's handled their John Dean, l never knew where Fort Marcy Park was.

The problem with Nixon isn't that he lied...LBJ was a bigger liar...

The problem with Nixon is he was a small, paranoid and insecure man that was very vengeful. And he took it out on the American people he FEARED...

Sounds like Republicans haven't changed much from the 60's.

White House Conversations Reveal Prejudices, Culture War Behind Nixon's Drug War

The Former Governor Delivered An Honest, Thorough Report. The President Wanted Something Different.

Washington, DC: "We need, and I use the word 'all out war,' or all fronts . . . ." That was Richard Nixon's reaction to his national commission's recommendation that marijuana no longer be a criminal offense, according to Nixon's Oval Office tapes. The year after Nixon's "all out war" marijuana arrests jumped by over 100,000 people.

(Download a PDF copy of the CSDP Research Report, CSDP Research Report, "Nixon Tapes Show Roots of Marijuana Prohibition: Misinformation, Culture Wars and Prejudice," as well as text transcripts of portions of Nixon White House taped conversations

Highlights of Nixon comments on marijuana:

* Jews and marijuana: "I see another thing in the news summary this morning about it. That's a funny thing, every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish. What the Christ is the matter with the Jews, Bob, what is the matter with them? I suppose it's because most of them are psychiatrists . . ."

* Marijuana and the culture wars: "You see, homosexuality, dope, immorality in general. These are the enemies of strong societies. That's why the Communists and the left-wingers are pushing the stuff, they're trying to destroy us."

* Marijuana compared to alcohol: marijuana consumers smoke "to get high" while "a person drinks to have fun." Nixon also saw marijuana leading to loss of motivation and discipline but claimed: "At least with liquor I don't lose motivation."

* Marijuana and political dissent: ". . . radical demonstrators that were here . . . two weeks ago . . . They're all on drugs, virtually all."

* Drug education: "Enforce the law, you’ve got to scare them."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nixon initiated America's War on Drugs based almost solely on personal hateful racial bigotry and a profound level of ignorance of history.

Nixon was recorded telling his chief of staff:

"You have to face the fact that the whole problem is really the blacks. The key is to devise a system that recognizes this while not appearing to."

 

[Freedomlover]

You have got to be kidding using John Dean as a source for describing conservatives. This man of dubious character is still sore because he got thrown under the bus during the Wateregate era. He comes out from under a rock ever so often to spout his view of conservatives. I did notice you found this in a 2008 article which I remember reading back at that time. I ignored it then as I do now.

I have been a conservative since my college days, which has been longer than most of you have been alive. I watched as so called freedom fighters took over nation after nation in southeast Asia and Latin America under the guise of bringing freedom to the nations they were trying to take over. Every time they did the people of those nations lost whatever freedom they had to totalitarianism. They use sly democratic words and descriptions to gain support and then when they come to power all freedom was stamped out over time, not too unlike when Castro came to power, or most recently Chavez in Venezuela. They were not right wing "nuts" as you would decribe conservatives but were left wing dictators who hate freedom for the common man. In my life time I have seen this happen over and over in other lands, and now I see it beginning to happen in the "land of the free and the home of the brave". It is not something new in this country it started in the early 1900's and Democrats and some Republicans have tried to move this socialist agenda forward since that time. Take some time to google Eugene V. Debs 1912 Sociailst Party platform. Among other things you will see is "nationalized healthcare". I would agree there are some things from that platform that have been good, but the planks that infringed on personal freedom and responsibility have been opposed for a long time. The Democrats did not invent nationalized healthcare. It came out of the Socialist Party platform.

Democrats today, for the most part, are left wing totalitarians looking for permanent majorities to impose their views on the public that they know better how to run your life than you do. They hate the basic principles upon which this nation was founded and want to replace them with a new order that leaves them in power for decades, much as the European socialists have been able to do. Look at the economic mess they are in.

The important thing, if you are capable enough to discern it, is to look into a candidate's political philosophy during a campaign and if you do and discover they want more and more control over your life, the lives of your family, the economy, healthcare and the like you should run fast away from that candidate, whether a D or an R and go to the one that promises to keep you free. For in my mind freedom trumps everything that government might want to try shoving down my throat saying this is good for you and the country.

Conservatives are thoise who still believe in the founding principles which were, and still are not, authoritarian. Liberal, Progressives, whatever you might want to call them have turned their backs on the founding principles, they have rejected the concept of this nation being a republic of individual states and have diligently tried to concentrate power in Washington, D.C. I would predict somewhere down the road those who want to be free will take steps to separate themselves from those who think government is the answer to their problems. At that point the United States as we know it today will no longer be. There then will be "the land of the free and the land of the kept"

 

[Freedomlover]

I would rather pay for it that way than have government dictate to me how I must submit their one size fits all government run health plan. Remember, what government gives it can also take away. Just look at gigantic cuts they are making to Medicare, once thought of as untouchable. For years they even campaigned on "those nasty Republicans are going to take your medicare away "scaring old people to voting for them. It now is no longer untouchable, and if they suceed in passing Obamacare they will use that in their campaigns "that those nasty Republicans are going to take your healthcare away".

Let me tell you this. The healthcare debate is not about healthcare at all. It is about control. Democrats want to control all they can so that they can have power for the sake of power. When is the last time you heard a Democratic candidate give a speech on freedom? To my recollection it was JFK fifty years ago.

 

[_NH]

The Evidence Establishes, without Question, that Republican Rule Is Dangerous: Why It Is High Time to Fix This Situation, For the Good of the Nation

By JOHN W. DEAN

Friday, Oct. 31, 2008


The Republican Approach to Government: Authoritarian Rule

Republicans rule, rather than govern, when they are in power by imposing their authoritarian conservative philosophy on everyone, as their answer for everything. This works for them because their interest is in power, and in what it can do for those who think as they do. Ruling, of course, must be distinguished from governing, which is a more nuanced process that entails give-and-take and the kind of compromises that are often necessary to find a consensus and solutions that will best serve the interests of all Americans.

Republicans' authoritarian rule can also be characterized by its striking incivility and intolerance toward those who do not view the world as Republicans do. Their insufferable attitude is not dangerous in itself, but it is employed to accomplish what they want, which is to take care of themselves and those who work to keep them in power.

Authoritarian conservatives are primarily anti-government, except where they believe the government can be useful to impose moral or social order (for example, with respect to matters like abortion, prayer in schools, or prohibiting sexually-explicit information from public view). Similarly, Republicans' limited-government attitude does not apply regarding national security, where they feel there can never be too much government activity - nor are the rights and liberties of individuals respected when national security is involved. Authoritarian Republicans do oppose the government interfering with markets and the economy, however - and generally oppose the government's doing anything to help anyone they feel should be able to help themselves.

In my book Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches, I set forth the facts regarding the consequences of the Republicans' controlling government for too many years. No Republican - nor anyone else, for that matter - has refuted these facts, and for good reason: They are irrefutable.

The 'Tea baggers'

The leading authority on right-wing authoritarianism, a man who devoted his career to developing hard empirical data about these people and their beliefs, is Robert Altemeyer. Altemeyer, a social scientist based in Canada, flushed out these typical character traits in decades of testing.

Altemeyer believes about 25 percent of the adult population in the United States is solidly authoritarian (with that group mostly composed of followers, and a small percentage of potential leaders). It is in these ranks of some 70 million that we find the core of the McCain/Palin supporters. They are people who are, in Altemeyer's words, are "so self-righteous, so ill-informed, and so dogmatic that nothing you can say or do will change their minds."

The Problem with Electing Authoritarian Conservatives

What is wrong with being an authoritarian conservative? Well, if you want to take the country where they do, nothing. "They would march America into a dictatorship and probably feel that things had improved as a result," Altemeyer told me. "The problem is that these authoritarian followers are much more active than the rest of the country. They have the mentality of 'old-time religion' on a crusade, and they generously give money, time and effort to the cause. They proselytize; they lick stamps; they put pressure on loved ones; and they revel in being loyal to a cohesive group of like thinkers. And they are so submissive to their leaders that they will believe and do virtually anything they are told. They are not going to let up and they are not going to go away."

While not all conservatives are authoritarians; all highly authoritarian personalities are political conservatives.
Robert Altmeyer

By Authoritarian do you mean as in Obama's Nazi handler's (Soros) policies?
Devvy Kidd -- Obama's Executive Orders and the constitutional militia

 

[Bfgrn]

You have got to be kidding using John Dean as a source for describing conservatives. This man of dubious character is still sore because he got thrown under the bus during the Wateregate era. He comes out from under a rock ever so often to spout his view of conservatives. I did notice you found this in a 2008 article which I remember reading back at that time. I ignored it then as I do now.

I have been a conservative since my college days, which has been longer than most of you have been alive. I watched as so called freedom fighters took over nation after nation in southeast Asia and Latin America under the guise of bringing freedom to the nations they were trying to take over. Every time they did the people of those nations lost whatever freedom they had to totalitarianism. They use sly democratic words and descriptions to gain support and then when they come to power all freedom was stamped out over time, not too unlike when Castro came to power, or most recently Chavez in Venezuela. They were not right wing "nuts" as you would decribe conservatives but were left wing dictators who hate freedom for the common man. In my life time I have seen this happen over and over in other lands, and now I see it beginning to happen in the "land of the free and the home of the brave". It is not something new in this country it started in the early 1900's and Democrats and some Republicans have tried to move this socialist agenda forward since that time. Take some time to google Eugene V. Debs 1912 Sociailst Party platform. Among other things you will see is "nationalized healthcare". I would agree there are some things from that platform that have been good, but the planks that infringed on personal freedom and responsibility have been opposed for a long time. The Democrats did not invent nationalized healthcare. It came out of the Socialist Party platform.

Democrats today, for the most part, are left wing totalitarians looking for permanent majorities to impose their views on the public that they know better how to run your life than you do. They hate the basic principles upon which this nation was founded and want to replace them with a new order that leaves them in power for decades, much as the European socialists have been able to do. Look at the economic mess they are in.

The important thing, if you are capable enough to discern it, is to look into a candidate's political philosophy during a campaign and if you do and discover they want more and more control over your life, the lives of your family, the economy, healthcare and the like you should run fast away from that candidate, whether a D or an R and go to the one that promises to keep you free. For in my mind freedom trumps everything that government might want to try shoving down my throat saying this is good for you and the country.

Conservatives are thoise who still believe in the founding principles which were, and still are not, authoritarian. Liberal, Progressives, whatever you might want to call them have turned their backs on the founding principles, they have rejected the concept of this nation being a republic of individual states and have diligently tried to concentrate power in Washington, D.C. I would predict somewhere down the road those who want to be free will take steps to separate themselves from those who think government is the answer to their problems. At that point the United States as we know it today will no longer be. There then will be "the land of the free and the land of the kept"

The 'conservatives' you speak of no longer reside in the Republican Party. The party is controlled by authoritarians. People that admire authoritarians like Mao. I suggest you educate yourself on C Street and the Family. I understand your attempt to dismiss John Dean, because otherwise you'd have to confront the truth.

Don't like Dean? How about a lifelong Goldwater conservative Republican who worked for Goldwater and was a speechwriter for George H.W. Bush?

The hijacked GOP
Victor Gold, former speechwriter for George Herbert Walker Bush is a Goldwater conservative...his book explains how the GOP was hijacked away from conservatives by far right theocrats and far left neocons...starting in 1980...

Book Review:

Invasion of the Party Snatchers

By Victor Gold

After four decades as a Republican insider, Victor Gold reveals how the holy-rollers and the Neo-Cons have destroyed the GOP. Now he's fighting to get his party back.

As a man who served as press aide to Barry Goldwater and speechwriter and senior advisor to George H. W. Bush (in addition to co-authoring his autobiography), Victor Gold is absolutely furious that the Neo-Cons and their strange bedfellows, the Evangelical Right, have stolen his party from him. Now he is bringing the fight to them.

Invasion of the Party Snatchers is a blistering critique not only of the Bush-Cheney administration but also of the Republican Congress. Gold is ready to tell all about the war being waged for the soul of the GOP, including the elder Bush's opinion of his sons work domestically and abroad, the significance of the newly elected Congress, and how Goldwater would have reacted to it all. Gold reveals, among other explosive disclosures, how George W. has been manipulated by his vice president and secretary of defense to become, in Lenin's famous phrase, a "useful idiot" for Neo-Conservative warmongers and Theo-Conservative religious fanatics.

Although there have been other books by dissident Republicans attacking the Bush-Cheney administrations betrayal of conservative principles, none have been by an insider whose political credentials include inner-circle status with Barry Goldwater and George H. W. Bush.

Review:
"Make no mistake: author Gold, a former speechwriter for George H.W. Bush and aide to Barry Goldwater, is one disgusted Republican. The GOP of the 2006 midterm election, he writes, is 'a party of pork-barrel ear-markers like Dennis Hastert, of political hatchet men like Karl Rove, and of Bible-thumping hypocrites like Tom Delay.' Gold looks to Goldwater, 'a straight-talking, freethinking maverick,' as the yardstick by which to measure just how far the party of Lincoln has fallen.

He traces the beginning of the end to the 1980 Republican National Convention and the presence of 'a militant new element...personified by Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.' The other half of the equation, the neoconservatives, are embodied by Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, 'two cuts from the same Machiavellian cloth.' In efficient prose, Gold scrutinizes a significant swath of recent GOP history, in particular Newt Gingrich's 104th Congress and the Bush II White House, without losing momentum.

He also has choice words for 'the Coulterization of Republican rhetoric,' the revolving door between Capitol Hill and K Street, and 'sideshow' legislation like the Flag Protection Amendment. Gold sees a promising future for the Republican Party, but not until they lose some major elections and are able to keep down a slice of humble pie; for those disillusioned with the state of the GOP, this quick, uncompromising polemic provides substantial support, along with a large dose of cold comfort." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:
The last real Goldwater conservative in America attacks the current state of his movement and his party.
Powell's Books - Invasion of the Party Snatchers: How the Holy-Rollers and Neo-Cons Destroyed the GOP by Victor Gold

Victor Gold grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he attended the public schools, and Tulane University. After working as a reporter-correspondent for the BIRMINGHAM (Alabama) NEWS, he earned his law degree (J.D.) from the University of Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, 1950-52.

In 1958 he moved to Washington, D.C., and joined the public relations firm of Selvage & Lee. Six years later he became Deputy Press Secretary to Senator Barry Goldwater during the 1964 presidential campaign.

In 1965 Gold opened his own political public relations firm in Washington, listing among his clients then-Republican House leader Gerald Ford and Senator Bob Dole. At the Republican conventions of 1968 and 1976 he worked with press secretary Lyn Nofziger on behalf of the presidential candidacy of then-California Governor Ronald Reagan. During the Nixon administration he served as press secretary to Vice President Spiro T. Agnew until January, 1973.

In 1980 Gold joined the staff of Republican presidential candidate George H. W. Bush as a speechwriter and senior advisor, a position he held during the Reagan-Bush campaigns of '80 and '84. He served on the Bush vice-presidential staff in 1981, and as a Bush advisor in the campaigns of 1988 and 1992. In 1992 he received the Distinguished Achievement Award for Political Communication from his alma mater, the University of Alabama.

In 1989 Gold served as a member of President Bush's election-oversight delegation to the first free Romanian elections.

A frequent speaker on the national political and campus circuits, Gold has also appeared on numerous network television shows. His articles, covering politics and sports, have appeared in NEWSWEEK, HARPER'S, ATLANTIC MONTHLY, PLAYBOY, CONNOISSEUR, READERS' DIGEST, NATIONAL REVIEW, THE WEEKLY STANDARD, NEW REPUBLIC, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, and THE WASHINGTON POST.

 

[Rinata]

Yawnnnnn, these hate thread just never stop.

Brgrn, a true hater.
"John Dean says republicans are mean!!"

LOL

Get a LIFE!

Why?? Nixon was guilty. Yes, John Dean was one of the first White House insiders to fully cooperate with the official investigation, and the first to directly implicate the President. He testified that Nixon had been deeply involved in the cover-up of the break-in at the Watergate Hotel, and that he and Nixon had discussed various aspects of the cover-up on at least 35 separate occasions. For his testimony, Dean was either lauded for his courage and honesty or pummeled for betraying political loyalties. To this day, he remains a hated figure in Republican circles.

I was very young when Nixon resigned. The same age as his daughter, Julie Eisenhower. I was not particularly happy about his troubles. The night before he left the WH, there was footage of Nixon and Julie crying and hugging each other. It was so sad because I understood how much she loved him.

But Nixon was guilty. So nobody should hold anything against John Dean. He didn't make it all up!!! But that is a typical Republican reaction, isn't it??

LOL

Libs with righteous indignation are really FUNNEH.

Bad Nixon! Bad! He Lied to the American People!

Nixon: Patron Saint of every Democrat political since his resignation.

The Clintons and Obama make Nixon look like an amateur

Nixon lied eeeeeek! I'm an outraged Dem! OUTRAGED!!! OUTRAGED I TELL YOU!!

I like how the Clinton's handled their John Dean, l never knew where Fort Marcy Park was.

You should really be embarrassed for that one.

 

[Rinata]

Oh really? Forcing people to buy a product from a private company under the penalty of jail time if they refuse is not authoritarian? That's just one of many examples.

I have a better example. People with no insurance that go to the emergency room and have a serious condition that requires immediate attention. Like surgery. Whom do you think pays for the surgeon, doctors, nurses, radiology, lab, meds, and other miscellaneous??

Actually, that's not a better example, but that's easily fixed. All Congress has to do is repeal the Federal provision requiring hospitals to treat people who can't pay.

Update: Actually I take that back. In the context of this thread, you did give a good example.

Okay, thanks for saying so!!!

 

[Diuretic]

Anyone remember that comment attributed to someone in the Bush Administration about "we make reality now"? And Karl Rove - remember him? - and his push for a one party (Republican) state in the US? As piss poor as the Dems are they ain't authoritarian.

Oh really? Forcing people to buy a product from a private company under the penalty of jail time if they refuse is not authoritarian? That's just one of many examples.

I have to admit I prefer the policy of people being covered by a universal health care system but I have no doubt some would argue that's authoritarian as well. But that has nothing to do with my previous comments about the attitudes of that person, widely reported at the time, and Rove's one-party state comment.