Month: August 2012

The Blue Collar White Vote Up For Grabs!

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The blue collar white vote is up for grabs in states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, and Florida, among other states.

The argument is that blue collar whites are turned off to Barack Obama, with part of the reason being racial, the feeling that nonwhites have been, somehow, gaining unfair advantage in job opportunities, and too many favors and benefits from the government.

That may be the perception that some blue collar whites have, and if so, that makes them resistant to voting for Obama. Of course, Vice President Joe Biden helps greatly to overcome this perception, because of his own roots, and the fact that he is the rarity in politics, not even a millionaire, as most politicians are!

But even if there is a racial component that enters the scene, there is another perception that might make many blue collar whites think twice before voting for Mitt Romney.

Mitt Romney represents to many blue collar whites the image of the uncaring “boss”, ready and willing to fire them and undermine their security and safety, whether young, middle age, or elderly. Romney represents the plutocracy, only interested in making money, and having no concern for human beings and the effect on their lives of what the wealthy corporations and banks have done to millions of Americans!

So to say that blue collar whites will vote overwhelmingly for Romney over Obama is likely to turn out to be totally untrue!

What Republicans Will Never Understand: The Role Of Wealth In Politics!

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Let’s face the facts: People who become politicians invariably are wealthy, or become wealthy, before they serve in public office.

The fact that politicians are wealthy is not a problem. What IS a problem is when they fail to understand the daily struggles of average Americans, and go out of the way to benefit their new status–wealthy Americans, who do not need political favors because they are already privileged!

These politicians in the Republican Party all love to talk about the struggles that their grandparents and parents went through, which is fine and good. Marco Rubio talked about it; so did Tim Pawlenty, Chris Christie, and numerous others who gave speeches at the Republican National Convention. But to get them to translate to the idea that today there are millions of people who are not as fortunate as they are, to be born to wealth as Mitt Romney was, or to live a prosperous middle class existence, and then inherit millions from family or in laws, as Paul Ryan has experienced, shows that they have no concern for the average American who is not born to wealth, or does not inherit money!

Let politicians have their wealth, but let them, as Franklin D. Roosevelt or Ted Kennedy or many other wealthy Democrats, not be so selfish and greedy as to only care about people of their social class, as wealthy Republicans have proved is their only motive in life!

FDR and Ted Kennedy demonstrated real concern and desire to help those not as fortunate as themselves and made America a better place, and that is a lot more admirable than Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan or others in the GOP having no concern about those below their class, and in fact, condemning middle class and poor people to the bottom of the pile, forgetting it is not only adults, but children and the elderly being abandoned in the name of greed, selfishness, and lack of compassion!

The Egotism And Ambitions Of Republican Speakers At Their Convention: Embarrassing, But Also Revealing!

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When one looks back at the Republican National Convention, which finished last night, what will stick out the most in our memories will be the egotism and political ambitions of many speakers at the convention, who touted their own background and credentials to be considered for the Republican nomination in 2016!

It is clear that many Republicans believe Mitt Romney is going to lose the election, and therefore, the battle for the future leadership of the party was in full demonstration.

The Republican speakers were falling over themselves, trying to out brag each other!

This included Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan, Chris Christie, Marco Rubio, and Bob McDonnell. It was embarrassing how much of their speeches was about themselves, only mentioning Romney briefly at the end of their presentations.

The best speeches by far were by Condoleezza Rice and Jeb Bush, who dealt with really important issues, rather than displaying their egotism.

So the battle for the future is in full forward motion, even before the election is held!

Actor And Director Clint Eastwood: Not Really A Republican In 2012

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Actor and director Clint Eastwood made a fool of himself last night with his rambling, weird speech at the Republican National Convention, and it was plain strange that he even was speaking at the convention

Eastwood has voted for Democrats before, and while calling himself a Republican, he does not fit in well with the 2012 GOP.

Why is this so?

Well, Eastwood is pro choice on abortion.

He is pro gay rights and supports same sex marriage.

He believes in global warming and climate change as real.

He was against our involvement in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, and believes America should not be involved in foreign interventions, and avoid being a global policeman.

Is this a Republican in 2012? The answer is NO!

Mitt Romney: How Did He Do In His Acceptance Speech?

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Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, now the GOP Presidential nominee, has given his acceptance speech, and it was a masterful performance in many ways.

He seemed more relaxed and happy than he has ever been in a public speech before tonight, and the teleprompter certainly helped, even though the Republicans have constantly attacked Barack Obama for using a teleprompter.

He certainly wowed the crowd at the convention, but the question is whether he convinced the American people that he is up to the job of being our President for the next four years, as he failed to be specific on his plans, used high powered rhetoric instead, and left us wondering who the “real” Mitt Romney is! At the same time, he seemed ready to commit US military forces against Iran and Syria, at a time when we can ill afford further military intervention, with our longest war in Afghanistan still raging, and the nation tired of war.

An odd but telling moment was when Romney talked about caring about the sick, the poor, the elderly, and the needy, and the convention audience remained totally silent in reaction. This was embarrassing, and showed that the well healed delegates were not what George W. Bush promoted when he ran for President in 2000—“compassionate” conservatism!

At least, Romney told fewer lies in his speech than his running mate did last night, when Paul Ryan told at least six lies or mistruths in his speech, and even Fox News Channel called him out on many of these distortions or pure fabrications.

So the battle is on, and now Romney and Ryan will face two accomplished debaters in Barack Obama and Joe Biden in October, and we shall see how they perform under fire, when they will be questioned on specifics and on their manipulation of the truth on so many areas of policy!

What The Republican Party Used To Be And No Longer Is–Rest In Peace!

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The Republican Party of the past stood against slavery and slavery expansion, and for racial equality and civil rights, in the age of Abraham Lincoln.

The Republican Party of the past stood for progressive reform in the Progressive Era of Theodore Roosevelt, for conservation of natural resources, labor rights, and the rights of women.

The Republican Party of the 1960s and 1970s used the words “moderate” and “progressive” in its party platforms, and backed wage and price controls under Richard Nixon; support for an equal rights amendment for women; called for help for minority groups; federal funding for mass transit projects; advocated voting rights for Washington, DC in the House of Representatives and US Senate; promoted environmental standards; supported civil rights protesters; backed immigration and rights of workers in a broad context; supported expansion of Social Security; called for campaign finance reform to overcome the power and influence of political action committees; and avoided a stand on abortion rights, acknowledging the controversy over it after Roe V. Wade in 1973, but not condemning abortion until 1980.

The Republican Party of past eras—Lincoln, TR, and the 1960s and 1970s—was a moderate, mainstream party, and could work and negotiate with Democrats.

That is no longer true in the age of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, where even a “moderate” Republican in Massachusetts ten years ago is now selling his soul to the emergent right wing of the party, against all of the principles of the historic Republican Party!

One could say that the GOP is in a state where it could be declared RIP–Rest in Peace!

Paul Ryan: Good Delivery, But No Facts Or Truths! Condoleezza Rice: Best Speech, Should Have Been Vice Presidential Nominee!

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Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Congressman Paul Ryan, gave a rousing speech tonight at the Republican National Convention.

There is no question of his oratorical ability and his handsome presence, and the scene of his mom being there with his wife and children was a very pleasing and emotional moment.

But Ryan, despite his great delivery, had no facts or truths, and instead continued to spread propaganda about Medicare, and complained about Barack Obama not backing his Debt Commission, headed by Alan Simpson and Simpson Bowles, but Ryan himself also refused to back the commission results, so it is hypocritical to attack someone for something you also did–rejection of the commission report!

Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave, easily, the best speech of the entire convention, showed brilliance and the desire to promote unity in America, and also spoke on foreign policy, which has been ignored in this convention. She emphasized the importance of education and immigration, not the kind of points that Republicans have been willing to make.

So it is clear that Mitt Romney made a mistake in picking Paul Ryan to be his Vice Presidential choice, and should have selected Condoleezza Rice instead!

Three Subjects Ignored At Republican National Convention: George W. Bush, Foreign Policy And Constitutional Law

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The Republican Party is holding its national convention in Tampa, and so far has not mentioned President George W. Bush by name, or referred to the issues of foreign policy and constitutional law.

It is as if Bush was never President, and instead Democrat Barack Obama is being blamed for everything, including original sin! The economy was apparently fine, until Obama became President in 2009. This is what is called the rewriting of history, and making Bush a non person.

But Bush also took us into two foreign wars that have bankrupted us, and caused a large portion of the national debt growth, but neither Paul Ryan nor Mitt Romney seems anxious to run a campaign on foreign policy, something neither have them have any experience in dealing with. Of course, the critics say what experience did Barack Obama have, forgetting that he did serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for four years, and did important work with the respect and support of Indiana Republican Senator Richard Lugar, who was, for a period of year, the Chairman of that committee. This, of course, probably helped to contribute to the defeat of Senator Lugar in the Indiana Senatorial primary this year, leading to his forced retirement this December.

And, of course, to bring up constitutional law would make people realize that the President, whoever he is next term, will have a dramatic effect on constitutional law and the Supreme Court, and that this matters more than economic policy in the long run!

So the GOP is ignoring these three issues, hoping to sail through to victory on promotion of ignorance of the citizenry, and creating falsehoods and myths about the Barack Obama record!

Will they succeed? That seems highly doubtful!

The Republican Party Totally Changed From Its Founding: More Southernized Than Ever Before!

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The Republican Party started as a party of anti slavery and anti slavery expansion, and became anathema in the South, fighting the Confederacy during the Civil War, and imposing military Reconstruction on the South after the Civil War.

For a century, the South was solidly Democratic in reaction, and the South subjugated African Americans in segregation and discrimination, while the GOP abandoned African Americans after 1877.

In the 1960s, moderate and liberal Republicans supported the passage of the civil rights laws, but southern Democrats started to veer to the Republican Party in reaction to President Lyndon B. Johnson’s advocacy and promotion of civil rights, with Senator Strom Thurmond of South Carolina leading the march to the GOP.

Richard Nixon pursued a Southern strategy, and after Ronald Reagan became President, the trend to “Southernization” continued, and now it has reached full development, even though we have two Northerners–Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Paul Ryan of Wisconsin–on the Presidential ticket.

The Republican Party of 2012, based on its platform and its rhetoric, has hostility toward minorities, promotion of racism against Barack Obama, hatred of national government, belief in exploitation of low wage workers, and promotes religion over science, all reflective of the backward traditions of the Old South, which remains the poorest part of the nation economically, and yet is willing to support the Republican Party out of fear of change and modernization.

But, ironically, this is the last gasp of this trend, as the country is changing to a multi ethnic society, and the white population that is so anti change is rapidly becoming a smaller portion of the nation, and will be so, in a very obvious way, by the time of the Census of 2020 and after, when the Hispanic and Latino population of Texas and Arizona and Florida will likely turn those states “blue”,. from their momentary “red” status.

So the Republican Party is in the death throes of its Southernization, as even Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia are being changed demographically, rapidly before our eyes!

Chris Christie: Great Speech, But Needs To Look At His Own Party Being Cause Of Our Problems More Than He Is Willing To Admit!

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New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie, who could never be the nominee of his party with his socially moderate views, gave an outstanding speech tonight about the need for both political parties to work together, compromise, and bring about solutions to our many economic problems.

The problem is that he fails to tell us that it is his party–the Republican Party—which has stood in the way of negotiation and compromise, and that they have adopted an extreme right wing agenda in their party platform, some of which in his heart, he truly does not support.

So Christie aroused the delegates, but his message will have deaf ears among Congressional Republicans, who have brought about the most unproductive Congress since World War II!

Christie has said all of us must share in the sacrifice, but his party and his candidate, Mitt Romney, are out to enrich the rich and take from the middle class and the poor, so his message falls flat, as pure propaganda!