Lally's Alley: HERE'S A GOOD LAUGH

Saturday, July 11, 2009

HERE'S A GOOD LAUGH

Today's chuckle is thanks to Gail Collins on the NY Times Op-Ed page.

12 comments:

JIm said...: Cute! Republicans seem to be into sex; sometimes with girls sometimes with boys. Todays Democrats seem to be into cold cash and payoffs. William Jefferson, Chris Dodd and Charlie Rangel come to mind.; July 11, 2009 at 11:01:00 AM EDT
JIm said...: Here is another item that you may find worthy of a chuckle. Of course it is just Democrats being Democrats.

By Michael Doyle and David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — Supporters of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are quietly targeting the Connecticut firefighter who's at the center of Sotomayor's most controversial ruling.
On the eve of Sotomayor's Senate confirmation hearing, her advocates have been urging journalists to scrutinize what one called the "troubled and litigious work history" of firefighter Frank Ricci.
This is opposition research: a constant shadow on Capitol Hill.
"The whole business of getting Supreme Court nominees through the process has become bloodsport," said Gary Rose, a government and politics professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.; July 11, 2009 at 12:35:00 PM EDT
Unknown said...: These are upside-down times we live in. You have to be white to win racial discrimination lawsuits; and the term "racist" is only politically correct if you use it against a non-white person. The republicans have really changed the way we talk about race.; July 13, 2009 at 12:38:00 PM EDT
magoo said...: i believe that both Rebublicans and Democrats no longer feel obliged to represent The People. I think most of us are well aware of this fact by now.
All the promise of 'Yes We Can', has morphed into ' No We Won't.; July 13, 2009 at 2:51:00 PM EDT
Lally said...: That's a dangerous idea, that Republicans and Democrats are the same. It's what allows people like George W. to get elected, or Nixon in '68, etc. As I have written many times, hundreds of thousands of people died as a result of Nixon's extending the war instead of ending it as he promised, and hundreds of thousands died I am sure in Iraq and elsewhere under W. who would not have under Gore. Obama's administration has already done tons of things have have brought and are bringing all kinds of changes that are needed. Yes, most in the Congress are susceptible to lobbyists and their mostly corporate interests. But the difference between a Democratic Congress and a Republican one has already been demonstrated in the extension of unemployment benefits (which has been saving a lot of friends of mine) that the Republicans were against and wouldn't have been passed if the Democrats were in the minority, and more legislation in the past few months than the previous rightwing Republican dominated Congress passed in years, and most of it helping "The People" as Magoo puts it. Too detailed and extensive to go into here or even in a post, but go to the Congressional Record or other sources and look at what's been passed so far, most of it benefits working people across the board.; July 13, 2009 at 3:14:00 PM EDT
JIm said...: Obama's accomplishments?

The Stimulus bill passed unread by congress and the new transparency administration, because of the urgency to get the money out. Unemployment now approaches 10%, up an additional 4% since inauguration. The deficit is at 1.8trillion a four fold increase. Business and individuals are reluctant to invest in job creating endeavors in the US because Democrats, who are in control of government, are increasing the cost of doing business. US corporate tax rates are the second highest in the world and are going higher with the Obama proposals. China is killing the US economically. China has no capital gains tax and the corporate rate is 15-20%. The International Monetary Funds predicts that the US will start growing again in 2010 at a 2.5% growth rate. China is expected to grow at an approximately 8% rate. The US is becoming more like "Old Socialist Europe" but the Europeans are moving to the Reagan US model of lower taxes. Current US tax rates are at approximately 40%, a full 15% higher than Europe's. The new Obama proposals will raise that to approximately 50%. Through the second quarter the Dow was down 8% while China stocks were up approximately 65% and Europe was plus 6%.

Wow that really s**ks!

PS More and more US military are being killed in Afganistan. Obama the peacemaker label is wearing a little thin.; July 13, 2009 at 4:29:00 PM EDT
Unknown said...: Obama was supposed to fix the economy and win two wars in 6 months! I didn't hear that impatience during the last 8 years, Jim.; July 13, 2009 at 4:58:00 PM EDT
JIm said...: John,
I would be more hopefull,if the Democrats were doing things that would create jobs and expand the economy. Unfortunately, they are only making it more difficult for American business by raising the costs and complexity of doing business. Chinese and European business does not have to bear the cost of Obamanomics.

PS If you did not hear my impatience with Bush and Republican spending, you were not listening. However, they look like pikers compared to Obama and the Democrats.; July 13, 2009 at 5:29:00 PM EDT
Butch in Waukegan said...: “Dangerous idea” - you do have a way with words.

In point of fact, McGoo did not say R’s and D’s are the same. They aren’t. I do agree with what he actually said: “they no longer feel obliged to represent the People.”

The truth is the Democratic and Republican politicians have more in common with each other than they have with the people who elected them.

You promote the fact that unemployment benefits are extended a few more weeks, which is important.

But what about more substantive issues, like health care reform? Democratic Senator Max Baucus*, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has worked overtime to make sure the a single payer plan, the most popular with the citizenry, is not even discussed.

Why? Because a single payer plan will separate the large financial institutions from a very big source of profits.

In a moment of candor a few month ago, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, expressed this dangerous idea: "And the banks -- hard to believe in a time when we're facing a banking crisis that many of the banks created -- are still the most powerful lobby on Capitol Hill. And they frankly own the place."

Or how about Democratic Rep. Colin Peterson’s dangerous ideas: “The banks run the place. I will tell you what the problem is — they give three times more money than the next biggest group. It’s huge the amount of money they put into politics.”

Notice these two Democrats didn’t say it was a Republican problem. Doesn’t that suggest McGoo was right on the money?

*Here is a career list of contributions to Max Baucus:

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cycle=Career&cid=N00004643; July 13, 2009 at 7:36:00 PM EDT
Lally said...: Butch,
I write from my experience and knowledge, that's all. And yes many politicians become beholden to big money supporters often because campaigns cost so much etc. And yes the banks aren't being held accountable as much as they should be, etc. etc. etc. But unless you truly believe that an actual Uptopia is possible where all of your personal ideas and vision for a perfect world could be enacted successfully (and of course those would conflict with my ideas and vision and everyone else's because no two would be exactly alike) you have to go with what's possible. A lot of the more moderate and conservative Democrats come from districts that have voted Republican in the past and they can't swing too far in the direction of rightwing propaganda warnings without losing their next elections (they would, for instance, be labeled as in favor of "socialized medicine" if they agree to a single payer plan etc.) Yes, I wish they were braver and sacrificed their possible re-elections on the altar of what I believe is necessary and for the common good, but most people aren't that brave. Our government is representative, and so our representatives are just as selfish and self-centered at times as most citizens are at times, especially when their jobs are at stake. Obama is still succeeding in reversing many of the most egregious assaults on individual rights and the common welfare by the previous administration and I believe he will do much more. But I also believe that Congress will continue to be a drag on his accomplishing his agenda as swiftly and as completely as he would like to or I would like him to. There's a famous quote from a 1920s' German writer I used to subscribe to: "Given the choice between evil and a lesser evil I choose neither!" But now, maybe it's age and wisdom or maybe not, but now, I would definitely choose the lesser evil if those were my only two choices. Of course I would want everyone to have guaranteed health care and banks regulated so that they can't dump their bad loans on the rest of us or operate like casinos etc. And I believe it will be accomplished. But not overnight. And never if the Republicans regain control.; July 13, 2009 at 7:58:00 PM EDT
JIm said...: Overturning bankruptcy law is an egregious assault on holders of GM and Chrysler debt including pensions of teachers, firefighters and who knows maybe even Actor's Equity. Quadrupling the deficit is an assault on the well being of our children and grandchildren.; July 13, 2009 at 8:44:00 PM EDT
Butch in Waukegan said...: You’ve convinced me:
1 - There are only 2 choices, Democrat or Republican.
2 - If someone is looking for another way, they’re an unrealistic utopian, unwilling to compromise, and could be considered dangerous.
3 - Mankind is selfish, so why should our leaders be any different?
4 - The Democrats can’t actually stand behind and fight for a principle because that would lead to a political fight with the nasty Republicans. And Republicans don’t fight fair.
5 - Obama, our leader, is slowly making things better so give him time. Don’t give up hope. At least he’s not a Republican who would erode our civil liberties with things like preventative detention, or pack his administration with Goldman Sachs alums.; July 13, 2009 at 11:03:00 PM EDT