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271 Comments
- voxlisa999, on 09/11/2008, -6/+139FTA:
Without raising an antitrust finger they have permitted fantastic concentration in the various industries that buy the farmer's crops. They have undone the New Deal system of agricultural price supports in favor of schemes called "Freedom to Farm" and loan deficiency payments -- each reform apparently designed to secure just one thing out of small town America: cheap commodities for the big food processors. Richard Nixon's Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz put the conservative attitude toward small farmers most bluntly back in the 1970s when he warned, "Get big or get out."
A few days ago I talked politics with Donn Teske, the president of the Kansas Farmers Union and a former Republican. Barack Obama may come from a big city, he admits, but the Farmers Union gives him a 100% rating for his votes in Congress. John McCain gets a 0%. "If any farmer in the Plains States looked at McCain's voting record on ag issues," Mr. Teske says, "no one would vote for him."
Now, Mr. McCain is known for his straight talk with industrial workers, telling them their jobs are never coming back, that the almighty market took them away for good, and that retraining is their only hope.
But he seems to think that small-town people can be easily played. Just choose a running mate who knows how to skin a moose and all will be forgiven. Drive them off the land, shutter their towns, toss their life chances into the grinders of big agriculture . . . and praise their values. The TV eminences will coo in appreciation of your in-touch authenticity, and the carnival will move on. - inactive, on 09/11/2008, -5/+127GoP is all about big business and making the rich richer. They always have been.
How they trick the majority of America into thinking that the rich really need those tax breaks more then everyone else is really sad.
People need to wake the ***** up. - inactive, on 09/11/2008, -8/+129Cliff Notes version: YOU are mere livestock for the rich and powerful.
- Hillsfar, on 09/11/2008, -4/+80I've yet to see a Republican express shame about the McCain campaign LIES. If you look back at all the past campaign ads for President, you'll notice a disturbing trend. The Republicans are the ones putting on the sleaze and flinging the ***** and appealing to patriotism while hurting the common man.
- davidpdx, on 09/11/2008, -11/+79Using the word "small town" and "family values" is GOP talk for white trash people
- voxlisa999, on 09/11/2008, -3/+61Yes, and the MEDIA are the ones dishing it out to the masses. They are just as culpable as McCain and ROVE. The guy who took over Russert's job (RIP) said yesterday " media powerless in face of McCain campaign's ability to "driv[e] the news cycle" They are really starting to disgust me. They all have multi-million dollar contracts and don't have to worry about a thing so all they want to talk about is lipstick, pigs, smears and slime. They sold us the IRAQ WAR remember? Someone needs to call them out!
http://mediamatters.org/items/200809100029
Mark.whitaker@nbcuni.com - inactive, on 09/11/2008, -3/+59AT LEAST GAYS CAN'T MARRY!!
During the last Presidential elections, I talked with one of my elderly neighbors and tried to persuade her not to vote for Bush. She said, "I don't care, I am just so disgusted at the thought of those gays getting married, there's nothing that would make me not vote for Bush."
A couple of days ago, she was complaining about the rise of her insurance costs, prescription costs, gas pricess and that her son's job was outsourced and he was in foreclosure and now bankruptcy because he couldn't sell his home for what he paid for it. I looked at her and said, "Well, I'm sure the fact that gays can't marry makes it all worth it."
She just looked at me, went into the house and slammed the door!
I'm glad the old bitch got what was coming to her as will a lot of other fvckers that thought stopping queers from getting married was more important than getting that stupid prick out of the White House! - GRTWHT, on 09/11/2008, -1/+56I've been forced to come to the conlusion that the US population is (mostly) too stupid, lazy or apathetic to actually pursue the truth or even care what it is.
It appears that the vast majority simply take in the rhetoric as spewed by their favorite radio or tv show host, their party's chosen figurehead and the MSM without ever considering that they are being lied to - the idea is 100% inconceivable to them!
The worst part of it all: this article and comments are proof positive of what I suggest above - not because it proves that republicans have been lying to the republican supporters, but because the democrat supporters don't realize that they're victims of their party's lies as well. Both sides honestly believe that only 'the other guys' are corrupt and never conceive that the entire system is.
It truly is sad to realize there's no hope for the future because the majority keep falling for the same old *****. - keigwyn, on 09/11/2008, -4/+52And the GOP have the audacity to claim that their tactics are in the cause of "freedom" and "liberty" when all they are doing is liberating your money to their pockets!
- JenniferInMO, on 09/11/2008, -2/+42Forget abortion, gay marriage, wars, etc. We will not have a country to be able to fight for or against those issues if the economy gets worse. Our economy is destroying families, causing mental breakdowns and hardship. Unless you are in the top 1% of income earners in this country McCain and the GOP will only make your life worse. Forget party lines, forget racism, forget it all. As a nation we must survive to fight another day. To all of you who are thinking about McCain "It's the Economy, Stupid!" McCain's "economic plan" has few specifics. He has thrown in a few bones on the tax plan to pretend that he is addressing our problems, but when it comes down to it, he has nothing but slogans. EVERY credible source that has compared McCain's tax plan to Obamas have come to one conclusion: Obama's tax plan is far better and far more advantageous for the lower 95% of Americans AND his plan costs us $1.7 TRILLION less than McCain's policy.
It is a no-brainer folks! - stevedriskill, on 09/11/2008, -1/+40Sad but true. Repubs are brilliant at screwing the little man and making him think he's on their side.
- voxlisa999, on 09/11/2008, -5/+44Coltrane68: Totally!
America if we don't rise up now, then when? The Media is out-of-control. They are out-of-touch along with McCain. They sit around all day gossiping about "infighting" with the Clinton's! When are Bill & Barack going to talk? OMG! Oooh! Look at this nasty McCain ad that is totally false- let's show it over and over and over. Let's have on guests who just repeat lies over and over and if we dare ask them a real question (Tucker Bounds) then McCain pulls out of an interview on Larry King! Boo Hoo! Campbell Brown was so mean.
Note: I am referring to MSM here. Not your local reporter.
With their multi-million dollar salaries, and vacays in the Vineyard, Hamptons, Telluride- they spend more on a pair of Manolo's than most folks yearly clothes budgets! The don't get it! Even folks with college degrees are having to make hard choices. But the Media people don't ever need to worry about how they are going to afford braces for their child or a new car or skyrocketing medical costs. They don't think about how much that daily Starbucks costs! They don't have a clue. Most of them come from Ivy League Schools and privileged backgrounds. Which is fine. There is nothing wrong with making tons of money and spending it. It's the American Dream. I've done it. But, for them to ignore the facts, the issues, the real problems to report on every hissy fit that McCain's people put out each day, every nasty statement and obsess over it all day is MORALLY and ETHICALLY repugnant.
They should ignore the *****- refuse to show the FALSE web-ads McCain puts out every day and focus on the issues in-depth. All they need to do is ignore the FALSE STORIES. It is amazing to watch. So many of them say from time to time "We shouldn't be talking about this." But they keep doing it. It's like they are being controlled by alien forces. That's how they act. They do entire shows on "pigs and lipstick" all the while saying that it's a distraction and not important!!! Yet, they keep doing it. I pray that someone, I don't know who- but someone with authority comes out and says ENOUGH to the MEDIA! Walter Cronkite? I know he's 92 but my Grandmother is 91 and has more energy than me! Is there anybody who can say ENOUGH and get their attention? Please post any and all suggestions and I will contact them. I can contact anybody...LOL! - SheilaNoya, on 09/11/2008, -2/+40But, but, but... McCain said if cut taxes for major corporations and remove all business regulations, then his "Free Market" approach will cure everything and good things will eventually trickle down to the little people.
Oh wait... we just tried that with the banking industry and now we have record foreclosures, banks failing, and people losing everything they had.
Maybe that's why McCain suddenly stopped using his favorite term, "Free Market Solution", in his recent speeches. - sfgamergirl, on 09/12/2008, -5/+35My bleeding heart goes out to the small towns of America, but their religious beliefs are destroying our nation and democracy. No one tells them what they should and should not do. Why can't the give the same respect to "thy neighbor"? I don't want to assume that they're all racists, but it makes me wonder why this election is so close... Not with this many lies and bad policy coming from the GOP.
- cedarbaydave, on 09/11/2008, -1/+29Many of these red states are pro-life only voters. Though I disagree with them, I respect them for their passion on that particular issue. Unfortunately for them, the people they elect could give a rats ass about them, but they know they can bank on their vote.
Why do you think McCain just changed his opinion on abortion? - TheR3dMenace, on 09/12/2008, -2/+27But But Jesus, and and Baby Killers and the Gays
- CrushThemTorg, on 09/12/2008, -3/+26Small towns vote for republicans. Republicans destroy small towns.
This problem fixes itself. - cedarbaydave, on 09/11/2008, -1/+22Perfectly put!
and to side with Triumph... George H W Bush is married to the Quaker Oats dude anyway, so they have to change their stance on that. - failedpimp, on 09/11/2008, -3/+22No it's not.
- absurdist, on 09/12/2008, -1/+18Apocryphal story, but still completely valid.
- kingUssop, on 09/12/2008, -1/+18Partly yes, but there's the Hank Hill's as well who are just hard working people but get duped into the pile of rhetoric.
- TheLoneWolf071, on 09/11/2008, -1/+17The GOP is Faith Based through and through. From "Pro-life" To Tax Breaks, Which believe that the rich, who get the breaks, will trickle their money down to the lower classes. Personally I believe it's all crock.
- inactive, on 09/12/2008, -1/+16the only thing that'll save the US farmer is parity. Parity is a law still on the books, passed in 1933. Every administration including FDR have ignored this law. Blame for the demise of the farmer lies with both parties.
- sugarazor, on 09/12/2008, -5/+20How long until the McCain nimrods come in and bury this as inaccurate and call the WSJ a "liberal rag"
- grobinson, on 09/12/2008, -1/+15I'm really happy and surprised this came from the Wall Street Journal which is normally Right-leaning, and Big Business-leaning.
I don't know when it started but somebody, maybe Regan, started lying to "small-town" Americans that voting with big business helps them, and every time they get betrayed. I just don't understand how people see that Palin talks like Bush, McCain votes like Bush, they see what Bush has done to their town, and somehow they blame liberals, and elites. - Insightful, on 09/11/2008, -4/+17What? GOP does not care about the common man? No way!
How about this: "Palin Backed A Two-Year Extension Of The Export License To Export Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) To Japan And Other Asian Countries".
"The companies will be allowed to export up to 98.1 Bcf to Japan and other Pacific Rim countries over a two-year period through March 31, 2011...The application came under fire from local end-users, including gas distribution companies Enstar and the Chugach Electric Association, as well as fertilizer maker Agrium, all of which claimed the exports would exacerbate the problem of declining gas reserves in south-central Alaska. " This is from the issue of "Inside FERC" by Platts, the authoritative guide to gas pipeline used by the industry, not a partisan source.
Well, guess what happened? Reserves of gas in producing fields in Southcentral Alaska are declining, posing concerns for supply to local utilities. A manufacturing plant on the Kenai Peninsula owned by Agrium Corp. recently announced it would close because the gas shortage.
Here is what Palin had to say: Agrium announced yesterday that the plant will close in December due to a shortage in the supply of Cook Inlet natural gas, leaving about 100 of the 140 employees without employment. Its unfortunate to see the closure of a facility that has provided so many jobs that support families on the Peninsula, said Governor Palin. I am heartened to hear that Agrium is willing to keep its options open if sufficient long-term supplies of gas can be found. We know there is more gas to be found and developed in Cook Inlet, so I remain hopeful that those jobs can be preserved. [Palin press release, 9/26/07] http://gov.state.ak.us/archive-21079.html
So. Sell US energy to foreign countries while local companies close shop and lose jobs. McCain said this yesterday in to NBC affiliate Portland Maine:
Q: "What experience does she have in the field of national security?"
A: "Energy. She knows more about energy than probably anyone else in the United States of America. …. And we all know that energy is a critical and vital national security issue."
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFWnxFiFNh4
That is right. Palin will see you out. And because Alaska is next to Russia so she has foreign policy experience too. - chuckDontSurf, on 09/12/2008, -4/+17I don't care. Just make sure that no one can have abortions.
- coltrane68, on 09/11/2008, -1/+14It's gotten to the point where my wife and I cannot watch the network news nor any of the cable networks. The only news that feels comfortable is "The News Hour" on PBS.
- PHiZ187, on 09/12/2008, -6/+18Warning: The Content in this Article May be damaging to Republican electoral prospects.
Readers have reported that this story contains information that may expose Republicans for the blood-sucking frauds that they really are. - chuckDontSurf, on 09/12/2008, -1/+13Christ people, do I really have to add a /sarcasm tag? I thought it was obvious.
- DangerCollie, on 09/12/2008, -1/+13They didn't trick anyone into believing anything. Or, if they did, they didn't have to work very hard at it. America looked at a genuine statesman and war hero and made the thoughtful decision that a drunken Connecticut frat boy pretending to be a religious fighter pilot from Texas was a more qualified leader.
How clever to you have to be to outwit that kind of brain power? - nickrct, on 09/12/2008, -2/+13Karma's a bitch Heartland. Thats what you get for voting Republican.
- mytealjacket, on 09/11/2008, -3/+13GRTWHT, I know what you're talking about, but I have to disagree. Something is happening in America right now. People are stirring. There's something in the air... and people are getting the feeling we're being sold a pack of lies.
I know the democrats aren't perfect by far, but I do believe Obama has integrity and would help the country get on the right track. Did you hear how much money people donated to Obama after PALIN'S speech? $10,000,000. I went to an Obama new volunteer meeting last night, and it was PACKED! People are freaked out, we feel it. A coalition is forming, from diggers, to farmers, and even honest republicans! No ones values are being supported by these neo-cons, except the corporations and ultra powerful.
We can't sit down now. We can't give up in this 11th hour. There are 54 more days till the election people. Can you keep going for 54 days? Can you do one thing every day to help Obama and fight for our country? I'm going to be working my ass off.
DON'T GIVE UP NOW! - theodicey, on 09/12/2008, -0/+10Except the worse it gets in small towns, the more small town voters turn to the only thing they know how to do: religion. Increasingly fundamentalist religion.
Or they leave the town for the exurbs and, lacking any other community, go join a megachurch and start following some nutbag pastor.
Anyway that's what Thomas Frank, who wrote the linked article, would say. - Dalhectar, on 09/12/2008, -1/+11If there was no racism in a society, I would agree with you.
But
If a society had a history of disenfranchising minority ethnic groups, and that bias continues (or at least the effects of that bias still resonated) to this day, then ethnic slurs toward the disenfranchised have a greater affect than ethnic slurs toward the enfranchised. - JinnRikki, on 09/12/2008, -0/+10Don't forget, prayer in schools, teach our children creationism and we all must carry assault weapons. That's what's important dontcha know!
- inactive, on 09/12/2008, -0/+10QuadZeroRoute,
Like Palin having exposed herself as ignorant on the very basics of foreign policy this evening, you have exposed yourself as ignorant of the very basics of Obamas health care plans.
You should stfu until you do some opposition research, because you sound like a sputtering fool at this point. - tucsonwc, on 09/12/2008, -0/+10@QuadZeroRoute
You do realize that the HMO's are FOR PROFIT companies that exist to maximize their profit on selling you heathcare coverage and minimizing the payouts and procedures they cover when you need care.
Ask yourself WHY people are going bankrupt when their healthcare expenses exhaust their life savings and they are driven out of their homes.
Why is it fine with you to instead spend $10 billion per month on Iraq?
The biggest problem with the HC proposals are that the HMO's have a seat at the table at all. - algaeturd, on 09/12/2008, -2/+10WAIT! the economy is strong! I've heard McCain say it over and over so it must be true!
***** idiots. The greatest trick the GOP ever played on America is somehow convincing the poor people to support a group of old rich white men who would do everything in their power to watch these poor people get poorer.
When the sheep get dumbed down, they're easy to lead. Hence a bunch of people voting to put a hockey mom with no experience in the White House.
ANYTHING but this, people. ANYTHING.
You fools are throwing your future and your children's future away because you can relate to some woman who has as little experience as YOU do when it comes to government. You think these toothless ***** rednecks who support her would make a good president?
They have about the same amount of experience. - 17999, on 09/12/2008, -2/+10Abortion rights != civil rights. The tragedy is when women have to get them for health of the mother or sexual assault reasons.
Most of them, however, are because women are simply sexually active and can't be bothered with the consequences of their actions. A sorority girl who gets knocked up at a frat party and doesn't want to tell her parents isn't exactly comparable to Rosa Parks refusing to get off a bus. - thegrantman, on 09/12/2008, -0/+8Homosexuality is not immoral. People are born gay. Perhaps you should work that into your "theory" of intelligent design.
- brown2hm, on 09/12/2008, -3/+11I wish I could digg this article 10 times.
- changedmind, on 09/12/2008, -1/+9Why? Ask most of McCain/Palin supporters and it is aboortion is #1 issue.
- Evanmontegarde, on 09/12/2008, -2/+10Because Reaganomics have worked so well over the past 8 years...
- novenator, on 09/12/2008, -0/+8I noticed this way back in the 80s when Reagans economic policies decimated family farmers all over the midwest. Big agri-business bloomed while the rural areas and small towns were depopulated because of massive foreclosures and extremely tough times. It is extremely unfortunate that most of my rural friends cannot see the cause and effect behind this, and continue to vote republican, the party that does not have any of their interests in mind.
- regeya, on 09/12/2008, -0/+7@QuadZeroRouteQuadZeroRoute, after income taxes, Social Security (HAH!) and medical insurance, I get to take home less than HALF my pay.
I'm not overly concerned with universal healthcare raising my taxes, as it would mean I could tell Blue Cross, and hospitals who get away with charging $100 for administering Tylenol, to go ***** themselves. - dickybrown, on 09/12/2008, -0/+7As a conservative and voting republican, I think the gov't should stay the hell out of it.
I don't think they should be in the bedroom and I don't think they should make medical decisions for anyone either. - Evanmontegarde, on 09/12/2008, -0/+7I wouldn't say "always." Remember that T.R. and Taft were the original trustbusters. Post-Eisenhower GOP has been all about making the rich richer, though.
- redfan, on 09/12/2008, -1/+8Hospitals are closing because of the increasing number of uninsured who require treatment. Unless your superior conservative policies involve cutting payments to zero, no amount of caps will help. Meanwhile another CEO gets a golden parachute for leading his company's employees and shareholders down the tubes.
http://www.midwestbusiness.com/news/viewnews.asp?n ... - huxleyan, on 09/12/2008, -0/+7The guy that wrote this article, Thomas Frank also wrote a book called "What's the Matter with Kansas?"
A few quotes:
Kansas gloats when celebrities say stupid things; it cheers when movie stars go to jail. And when two female rock stars exchange a lascivious kiss on national TV, Kansas goes haywire. Kansas screams for the heads of the liberal elite. Kansas comes running to the polling place. And Kansas cuts those rock stars' taxes. (pg. 249)
"Rural America is pissed," a small town Pennsylvania man told a reporter from Newsweek in 2001. Explaining why he and his neighbors voted for George Bush, he said: "These people are tired of moral decay. They are tired of everything being wonderful on Wall Street and terrible on Main Street." Let me repeat that: they are voting for the Republican in order to get even with Wall Street.(pg. 23-24) -
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