OOPS! Mitt's Dad George Romney and Saul Alinsky

'When slum organizer Saul Alinsky, with the West Side Organization's militant Negroes and clerics, wanted to meet with the white Detroit rulers, Romney indirectly arranged the meeting, and attended. Democratic Mayor Jerome Cavanaugh avoided the rough company'.

"I think you ought to listen to Alinsky," Romney told his reluctant white friends. 'It seems to me that we are always talking to the same people. Maybe the time has come to hear new voices." Said an Episcopal bishop,
'He made Alinsky sound like a Republican.'"
From : http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/002418.htm

Unfortunately this is the real problem. We can't have open discussions anymore.

Why NOT listen to other perspectives?

I make an honest effort to not harp on the Conservatives having been raised as an Eisenhower Republican that turned Democrat and then turned social Liberal and fiscal Conservitive.

But honestly, the Conservitive movement has turned so hard and so far 'right' and turned so hard and far on not compromising that it's becoming less a persepctive then a realistic view.

If we refuse to talk or listen to others simply based on an ideological stand, then we lose so much of the World and so many of it's possiblities.

Female Veterans and Limbaugh

'Female Veterans Call For Military Radio Channel To Drop Rush Limbaugh After 'Slut' Remark'

'A group of female military veterans issued a statement on Monday calling for Limbaugh's show to be pulled from the airwaves of the American Forces Network. AFN is a government-run media service that provides television and radio programming to American service members overseas'.

"When many of our female troops use birth control, for Limbaugh to say they are 'sluts' and 'prostitutes' is beyond the pale," the women wrote. "It isn't just disrespectful to our women serving our country, but it's language that goes against everything that makes our military work."
From : http://www.votevets.org/news?id=0506

If You’ve Had Pre-Marital Sex, You Can’t Be A Republican

'Before you can join the Laurens County Republican Party in South Carolina and get on the primary ballot, they ask that you pledge that you’ve never ever had pre-marital sex — and that you will never ever look at porn again'.

'Last Tuesday, the LCGOP unanimously adopted a resolution that would ask all candidates who want to get on the primary ballot to sign a pledge with 28 principles, because the party “does not want to associate with candidates who do not act and speak in a manner that is consistent with the SC Republican Party Platform.”

And some of those 'manners'? -

You must favor, and live up to, abstinence before marriage.

You must be faithful to your spouse. Your spouse cannot be a person of the same gender, and you are not allowed to favor any government action that would allow for civil unions of people of the same sex.

You cannot now, from the moment you sign this pledge, look at pornography.
From : http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/03/sc_county_gop_if_youve_had_pre-marital_sex_you_can.php

First Lady Barbara Bush vs. possible First Lady Ann Romney

First Lady Barbara Bush -

 “I think the rest of the world is looking at us these days and saying, ‘What are you doing?’” she said'.
From : http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/park-cities/headlines/20120305-barbara-bush-bashes-2012-presidential-hopefuls-in-first-ladies-conference-at-smu.ece

Ann Romney -

"We can be poor in spirit, and I don't even consider myself wealthy, which is an interesting thing. It can be here today and gone tomorrow."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR4aXOth9hQ

'The Romneys made $20.9 million last year and are estimated to be worth $250 million'.
From : http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/03/05/extra_bonus_quote_of_the_day.html

Another 'Fight' for the 'Right'

I've only sorta been following this. I like some and I repeat just some of the op-eds that come from some of the writers from The Cato Institute.

I DON'T like it when they or anyone begins to misinform or disinform. ANd to me that is the bulk of what comes out of Cato.

But I spotted this : 'There’s every indication that they (and their proxies on the board) think Cato would be more useful if it were integrated more tightly into the Koch portfolio of advocacy groups—Americans for Prosperity, etc.—for which it could serve as a source of intellectual ammunition in the ongoing struggle to defeat Barack Obama and the Democratic Party. Indeed, they’ve said as much, more or less verbatim, to the chair of Cato’s board. I don’t think it’s the end of democracy if people want to throw money at that cause, but I doubt Cato’s the right place to do it, and I know it’s not what I signed up for'.
From : http://www.juliansanchez.com/2012/03/05/cato-and-the-kochs-a-presignation-letter/

That's from Julian Sanchez. You have to admire someone sticking to principle over politics.

And it's a very good example of why we as a Nation are slowly failing. We can't actually discuss compromising policies because of our uncompromising  politics.

Limping with the Limbaugh advertisers

Think Progress has a run down on who is still advertising on Limbaugh.
http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/05/437601/list-advertisers-sticking-with-rush-limbaugh/

Lear Capital(Gold Coin Pro) and LifeLock.

Clear Channel will not drop Limbaugh nor do the devoted listeners really care if sponsors come or go. They will keep listening.

This may well turn into a somewhat strange 'boycott' of 'If you sponsor, we will boycott'. (Sorry. It's baseball season so what can I say.)

I do have some mixed feelings about this : Pittsfield Mass. Radio Station Drops Rush Limbaugh After Contraception Controversy
From : http://nepr.net/news/pittsfield-mass-radio-station-drops-rush-limbaugh-after-contraception-controversy

I am a very firm advocate and believer in the freedom of speech. Even when I don't like the speech.
Limbaugh needs to be heard and has a very large audience. He also needs to be challenged and on the same level.

We NEED this debate in America. It can't be degraded into 'right' of 'left' but NEEDS to be debated for the moral and ethical standards we as individuals and we as a Nation need to stand for and advocate.

And if common decenecy isn't a standard of ethics or morals, then we are all in trouble.

On 'Blogging'

(GRINS!)

"They want to bomb Iran, but they're afraid of Rush Limbaugh."

George Will :

"Mr. Boehner comes out and says, Rush's language was inappropriate. Using a salad fork for your entree, that's inappropriate. Not this stuff... And it was depressing, because what it indicates is that the Republican leaders are afraid of Rush Limbaugh. They want to bomb Iran, but they're afraid of Rush Limbaugh."
From : http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/03/04/bonus_quote_of_the_day.html

And still losing more advertisers :
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LIMBAUGH_ADVERTISERS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

What Republicans need to start asking themselves is OK Rush lost a few advertisers. So he'll get others. But what about rank and file Conservatives that frankly find this offensive.

What about moderate Conservatives that find it offensive.

What about Independents that find it offensive.

What about most women who find it offensive.

What about most men who find it offensive.

This is an election year.

Can or will you as politicians speak for yourselves?

Or will you let Rush speak for you?

The BREITBARTOCALYPSE!

It is a 'truism' that in hard times, people turn Conservative. It is becoming a 'truism' that people are smart enough (or are getting tired of the rhetoric) to want actual policies over blaming.

Ummmm. We've figured out, well most of us, that blaming, true or false, doesn't put food on the table, pay the mortage or provide ANY actual living benefits.

But to go back for the 1000th time to Saul Alinsky?

Really.
'Charles Johnson'
'Wingnuts • Sun Mar 4, 2012 at 8:44 pm PST'

'Before his death, Andrew Breitbart had been promising a true BOMBSHELL revelation about Barack Obama, a STUNNER that would finally put an end to Obama’s reign of terror. Some whispered darkly that this may have been the reason for Breitbart’s sudden mysterious collapse'.

'Tonight, Breitbart’s fearless heirs have unleashed the BREITBARTOCALYPSE! And Barack Hussein Obama can only cower in terror'.

'The earth-shattering scoop that will blow this baby wide open can now be revealed: 14 years ago Obama attended a play in Chicago'.

'Yes! A play'!

'The subject of this nefarious play: the dreaded Saul Alinsky'.

'It’s over, Barack. You should just resign right now like Sarah Palin; you’ll never recover from this blow. It was fun while it lasted'.
From : http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/40015_Everything_Is_Different_Now_-_the_Breitbartocalypse_Is_Upon_Us

A Conservative 'playbook'?

From 'We the people' to 'lower their expectations'.

In a very real sense, this is the 'culture war' we are in right now. The role of Government IN a 'free enterprise' economic system.

Does Government 'manage' the people while limiting the regulation or 'management' of business?

Or does Government 'regualte' business so that the playing field, the access to the same opportunity extend to all while broadening the tax base so that the 'people' also have a level playing field, equal opportunity?

Is the standard, quality of 'we the peoples' lifes of equal, greater or lesser 'value' then business?

Gordon Lafer : http://www.epi.org/people/gordon-lafer/

'Why was 2011 the year that brought such a ferocious assault on labour standards? At the most macro-level, the legislative battles of the past year must be viewed in the context of the long-term economic decline experienced by working- and middle-class Americans'.
'If the country continues in the broad policy directions of neoliberal trade, privatization, de-unionization and deregulation, there is no possibility but that living standards for most Americans will continue to decline, as the country is slowly but inexorably competed down to the level of less wealthy trading partners. This broad reality provides the fundamental background framing contemporary politics. For the economic elite, the primary political challenge is how to manage the politics of decline – that is, how to advance an ever-more-radical neoliberal agenda without provoking a popular backlash'.
'In part, conservative business elites have encouraged a revolution of falling expectations. When people come to feel lucky just to have a job with health insurance (and then just a job even without health insurance, so long as they can pay the rent); when 25 or 35 kids in a class comes to seem fortunate because others are in classes of 50; when retaining fully funded Social Security and Medicare even without a pension from one’s job seems lucky – all these shifts serve to lower people’s expectations of the economy and their demands of employers'.
'The great unknown in this drama is how the vast majority of anxious, insecure, non-union American workers will make sense of these issues. To this end, it is critical to understand clearly the past year’s legislative battles for what they were: the leading edge of an ambitious agenda that extends far beyond anti-unionism and that, if successful, will transform the nation to the detriment of almost everyone'.
From : http://www.radicalphilosophy.com/commentary/class-warfare-in-the-usa

Personhood! - 'forbidding every man from destroying his semen'.

'The council for Delaware's largest city passed a resolution by an 8-4 vote Thursday calling on the Delaware legislature, other state legislatures and the U.S. Congress to pass laws granting "personhood" rights to eggs and sperm'.

"[E]ach 'egg person' and each 'sperm person' should be deemed equal in the eyes of the government and be subject to the same laws and regulations as any other dependent minor and be protected against abuse, neglect or abandonment by the parent or guardian," says the resolution. "[L]aws should be enacted by all legislative bodies in the United States to promote equal representation, and should potentially include laws in defense of 'personhood,' forbidding every man from destroying his semen."
From : http://infofeeder.info/latest-information/87147-wilmington-des-city-council-passes-protest-resolution-every-sperm-is-sacred-crooks-and-liars

This was actually a 'protest' vote over the current battle over women's health care access and the absurdity that we are even discussing it.

Why Romney lost in Michigan - Blame the Democrats

Will he lose Michigan? We'll know in 24 hours but with Santorum running ads hitting the 'workers' hot button and calling on Democrats to vote for Santorum, Romney may well lose.

And a defeat here, even a close one, will make a much, much bigger splash then Romneys big victory in Arizona.

So what does Romney do?

Well he could stop talking -
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2012_02/mitt_keeps_digging_in_michigan035674.php

Describing an event he was at that occured before he was born is kinda weird.........

Maybe that's why he doesn't excite his base.
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/02/28/romney_quickly_losing_conservative_vote.html

Or more accurately he doesn't have a base to excite. 

But instead he'll blame the Democrats.

Michigan is an 'open primary' State so anyone can vote for any candidate.

And if I lived in Michigan, I'd vote for Santorum. Why?

Something HAS to wake up the Republican party. The party of Eisenhower and Reagan.

So if the Republicans won't wake up, discipline themselves, maybe the Democrats should step up and do it for them.

It's not just the Republicans losing the Presidential election, it's America losing what should be the real and intelligent debate between two differing opinions as to the economy and the  direction of our Nation.

And instead, we're getting ideological crap from the fringe of the Republican party. A fringe that with each passing day, is gaining credibility because no one in the Republican party will (or can) stop it and redirect the energy of the Republican party back to the real issues of ALL Americans - the economy.

Not going to college.

Not contraception.

Not seperation of church and State.

Not name calling.

But - 'It's the economy stupid'.

So why is this happening? How could a moderate Conservative like Romney lose to a biblicial Constitutionalists like Santorum?

Go back to 1970 -
http://gawker.com/5814150/roger-ailes-secret-nixon+era-blueprint-for-fox-news

Roger ailes proposes a National news network for the GOP to Nixon.

In 1996, Roger Ailes launches Fox.

To boost ratings (for profit) Fox attaches and promotes a small political movement called the Tea party beginning in 2009.
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2011/12/21/the-fox-in-the-tea-party/

From the beginning, Fox was the 'dog wagging the the Tea party tail'.

Fox gave the Tea party 'credibility' even thosugh there was very little credibility.

The Tea party took the lead in the 2010 Midterm elections and Republicans soared. Then it fell flat on it's face.

Good rhetoric does not equal good policy.

But the toothpaste was already out of the tube.

Fox is now toning down it's rhetoric but the tea party which proved to be a failure, has been taken over by the fringe religious right that has waited oh so long for this opportunity.

And that's why Romney lost in Michigan (maybe).

The Republican party embraced the popularity of the Tea party (profit for Fox) over the practicality of policies giving credibility to now fringe religious right.

But blame the Democrats.

So while Romney lost in Michigan (maybe), Americans are the real losers.

We've lost the needed debate about the economy for our future to the need to go back to our religious foundings.

The new Republican party song :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=He82NBjJqf8

The 'Faith' of the coming Culture Wars

I found this great piece (and site)
http://www.philipvickersfithian.com/2012/02/culture-wars-are-real.html

In it he asks -

'How can democracy flourish without civility, respect for those with whom we differ, and a sense of mutual understanding'?

And that is and will be the bottom line if you will.

Respect for those with whom we differ.

We are a diverse Nation of people. It is not MY Country - it is OUR Country.

And this is why we are failing.