And after saving the slimy lenders that contributed to the toxic loans, it turns out that the Republicans this week didn't join in to extend unemployment insurance, which ends very shortly, and just might be something appreciated by the 159,000 workers that lost their jobs while watching the Feds hire a lot of the same jerks who won't have to resign their golf club memberships. If there was ever a time that a little money would be handy; this is it. $112 billion extra dollars spent on Samoan tax cuts, rum manufacturers, movie makers, and toy arrows: No problem. A tad for the auto worker losing his house: Are you nuts! We aren't socialists and with this current mess, we are a little worried that even with our barbell-shaped election districts, we aren't sure of getting the vote. God forbid that the people won't throw a life raft to the very people that poked holes in the boat.

Charlie

Well....I've become hard left on a few issues because of the horrible types the GOP sticks in charge of the party to win. Of course health care is my favorite issue. Censorship and loving America but hating Americans is another.

I voted for Ronald Reagan once but only once because the GOP decided to turn into a party furthering far far right politics in order to get back the Congress after 40 years. They discovered that a lot of churchy types don't like to rock the boat and long for 1955. That worked and of course brought out some really despicable characters that use their flock just for elections. The Republicans aren't really much interested in creationism or even abortion, as they would have them think. They drop this stuff like hot potatoes after they use them to win, as nationally, both are significantly minor positions.

Of course because of the GOP's need for all those purists in the party, we get a bunch of Sarah Palins running around embarrassing a man like McCain....although I still can't believe he put up with it. I do believe the theory that the McCain of 2000 wouldn't vote for the McCain of 2008.

It's too bad as the GOP has had some great people but the libertarian wing is not allowed in what's left of the party. I hate what they have become.....just the opposite of their tradition of leaving us alone. It's now a party of intolerance, censorship, and one that likes a dumbed down electorate. There is no civility in politics when ideological purity trumps necessary pragmatism. Because of this, the Democrats have had to dumb down too. Now both waste time on social stuff that for 100 years was left to local politics. There are few adults in Washington. They spend all their time speaking about evolution and Janet Jackson rather than deal with the real world. It's why George Bush and Dick Cheney run all over vowing to force democracy on people that hate the very idea. Should Iran or Iraq get free elections, just what do you suppose they will do with it? They will elect the same bunch of religious lunatics that they have now. They are comfortable with it.

Anyway, I think of myself conservative on some things but liberal on others but forced farther left with each new Republican ticket. It ain't all my fault.

Charlie

My my my.   Okay kids:

Being a lefty is good. It's the place to be. You're right. I wasn't forced out but I surely have nothing to be ashamed of getting out a party that is currently headed by people that represent little of what I find admirable in this country...intolerance of contrary thought even within the party itself and political grace are things of the past. This sad state of affairs is especially encouraged by the far right that have made politcs a blood sport. Cross aisle friendships are considered treason by them and all but gone.

My feeding my brain with leftist ideas is nowhere near as silly as the "polls" taken by FOX news after the last debate. The idea that there is something useful in polling people predisposed to watch FOX is what is absurd.

Charlie

I'll have to defer to you since you were there. I know the turnout was very high. My thinking was that they would have to vote for more Islamic radical lunatics. I don't know who else would run successfully and that the three groups would present not much real choice.

Also, to clarify what I meant when I said in the other post that "it wasn't my fault." That doesn't refer to my leaving the party going to the left; it refers to the Pat Roberstons and Jerry Falwell types when at first they blaming the World Trade Center bombing on homosexuals and pro-abortion activists as God's revernge. That is what was despicable.

Charlie

OK Mel. I think of Bill Frist as a hard right Republican. There are those that fall into extremes that even many Republicans find scary. Tom Delay, is the classic example. Jesse Helms is banging on that door as well.

Charlie

My info is macro rather than from the ground. It's all I have.
I know only a couple kids.....to me they seem like kids anyway that did tours over there. Like so many of them, they aren't crazy about getting into it. I know there's a huge disconnect when they step off the plane and are asked what they want at McDonalds. I can't imagine. I read the other day about vets4vets, I think it's called. Scary stuff.

Even I don't buy into all the supposed atrocities we hear about now and then. That does look like slow news day headline gathering to me.

Charlie