WHY would anyone even be a Republican???

[LynnTheDem]

The R platform is supposedly small government, fiscal responsibility, small taxes.

BUT...

The BEST REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT did WORSE than the WORST DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT on jobs;



The LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN US HISTORY was perpetrated by Mr. "read my lips" poppa BUSH.

The LARGEST DEFICIT IN US HISTORY is being perpetrated by "duhhh I'm stooopid" bush the Stupid.

TWO Presidents have presided over NET JOB LOSSES; we all know who those two are , don't we, Mr. George HOOVER BUSH.

On every metric -- GDP growth, unemployment, inflation, lower federal spending, national debt, stock market returns -- we have fared better under Democratic leaders than Republicans. And that's a FACT.

SO WHY would anyone be a Republican??? Republicans are just wannabe Democrats. We're the REAL THING.

[Kazak]

1. Perfectly said!

Why indeed?

[Infomaniac]

2. And the answers are:

a) functionally illiterate

b) IQ under 75

c) severe mental illness

d) Daddy was a republican

e) All of the above

[IronLionZion]

5. Not everyone wants people to have jobs

Republicans like to keep wages low and taxes high for the middle and working class. But they like to keep wages high and taxes low for the rich.

[annabanana]

14. f) chicken

and think that daddy W can protect them

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

3. Even as a teenager

(during Reagan) I could see that Republican policies were hateful, hurtful, and divisive.

I knew even as a 15 year old I could never support such a party.

Still can't. Even more so now.

I believe in fiscal responsibility. And I am a huge social liberal. So the Dems suit me fine (except not as socially liberal as I am, but that's ok we'll change that! LOL!).

[IronLionZion]

4. Explain those numbers

because they appear to be misleading. percent job gain doesn't mean much when it's right after a loss and vice versa.

I believe we had full employment under Coolidge right? (over 95% unemployment) so he couldn't really create any more jobs.

And Hoover fucked up so bad with the great depression that the only way to go was up.

[LynnTheDem]

7. Source of those numbers

US Dept Labor statistics @

http://www.dol.gov/

[secular_warrior]

6. when all else fails, there's always HATE

Right wingers are united by one thing - hatred of everything "inferior" to themselves.

Hate/superiority complex is at the core all right wing/conservative ideology:

nationalism - my country
racism - my race
fundamentalism - my religion
corporatism - my money

[gumby]

9. that's just what I was gonna write

only more crudely: my white 'member' rules.

See the latest Kerry/Bush debate.

[bling bling]

8. The "Republicans" are a small group of country-club members

They consists of a small group of white men who use their vast wealth to pitch one of them to the top, who, in turn, uses the high office to take care of the "boys".

They are NOT religious, anti-abortion, or pro-gun. Nor do they give a shit about being fiscally conservative. They ARE, however, racist. They use these aforementioned issues as bones that they throw to the masses. Their followers are typically passionate about at least one of these five issues.

In fact, the Republican club tends to do better (for themselves) when the economy at large is not doing as well. The bad economy gives them an easy "out" to lay off employees and give themselves a giant pay-increase and/or pension, a la Kenneth Lay, for example.

[Piperay]

10. Cause

Clinton got a blowjob.

[LDS Jock]

11. read this gem... "why I am a republican"

Why I Am a Republican in 2003

BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
by Joel S.

I am a Republican.

I am pro-life, as long as it's in the womb. I could care less about it the second it's out of the womb, which is also why I'm pro-death penalty, and anti-welfare. It doesn't matter to me that women of affluence will still be able to obtain abortions in other countries - whether they believe in it or not. It doesn't matter to me that both child and mother are endangered, the second Roe V. Wade is overturned, by unscrupulous "doctors". I believe in an ideal world, and people shouldn't be having sex. Especially if they can't deal with the consequences.

I support the Second Amendment. I don't care if we have already had a number of well-regulated militias. Guns don't kill people; people kill people. And often they use guns to do this. I don't want the government to tell me what type of weapon I can have. I need armor-piercing rounds in the event that I need to defend myself against some of those pesky armor-wearing law enforcement types. I should be able to buy a Howitzer if I can afford one. I don't want the government to check my background - they might find something that would prevent me from owning a gun.

I believe in the War on Drugs. I think a silly slogan - "Just say no" - goes a long way in preventing kids from using drugs. It doesn't matter to me that the War makes the drugs thousands of times more profitable, and provides that much more incentive to dealers and gangs. I forgot that during the 1920's, during Prohibition, there were Gangs and drive-bys and underground "labs" and corrupt police and officials. Forget rehabilitation; you reap what you sow. As I said before, I am an idealist.

I am pro-welfare. As long as it goes to Corporations that don't need it. If it goes to lazy individuals who got laid off, then I'm against it. There are too many people taking advantage of the system. No, not in the Corporations, I mean the welfare people. I don't care if you are lazy and rich. I only care if you are lazy and poor. I don't care if the crime rate will go up if people do not have options. I have a gun. Until they steal it from me because I so responsibly leave it out for burglars. I am a thoughtful person, at heart.

I believe that freedom of religion is one of the things that make this country great. That is why I believe it should be crammed down everyone's throats all the time. I believe it is my duty to save your soul. Even if this interferes with your religious freedom. While I care so much for your soul - I could care less about any other part of you. I don't want my tax dollars going to help the disadvantaged, but I don’t mind if they are used in public institutions to help "educate" the masses. I don't care if Jesus wanted to help the poor and the meek. I only look at the parts of the Bible that benefit me personally.

I don't care about the environment. I will disregard the scientific evidence, because it is only a "theory." Besides, I will be dead before the consequences affect me. My children are good Republicans, survival of the fittest, you know. Even though I don't believe in evolution, I believe they will adapt. It doesn't matter to me that the only reason not to regulate companies involved in environmental abuse is only a matter of their bottom line.

I believe that tax cuts – especially for the most wealthy - will stimulate the economy. I believe that assisting corporations and wealthy individuals is good for job growth. It doesn't matter that if the profit projections are low, or the shareholders are unhappy, that layoffs will occur. It doesn't bother me that CEO's will cut jobs before they cut their salary. They earned it. Even though the performance wasn't there. It doesn't bother me that you can have your pay reduced, or can be fired if you are not performing, but they can’t. I don't believe that the wealthy typically accumulate wealth through continuous investment, and rarely spend the way the middle class does. This holding of assets creates jobs and is good for the economy, right? The wealth disparity in this country doesn't bother me. We all have the same opportunities, right?

I am tired of immigrants coming to this country and taking our jobs. I know a lot of hard-working American lettuce pickers. It doesn't bother me that our corporations are shipping our jobs to other countries for cheaper labor and to avoid labor regulations. I'm tired of paying taxes, which is why I can sympathize with immigrant workers who must stay undocumented. They don't have to pay taxes! I can also sympathize with corporations who profit in this country but operate assets offshore to avoid paying taxes.

I'm tired of minorities whining. They have the same opportunities as every one else. I don't want more educated minorities to have more opportunities. I don't care if they underwent, or still undergo a variety of racial prejudices and injustices. That was in the past; get over it.

I don't want to hear anymore pinko-socialist garbage. It doesn't matter to me that the military is provided to me by the contributions of all taxpayers, and defends me as it defends all. I don't care if the Interstate Highway System was built in this manner as well. Or law enforcement. Or any other number of public institutions. I could care less about Social Security, even if I neglect to realize that it will be there for me whether I need it or not. Hopefully.

I believe in a strong military. I believe in our right to pre-emptively defend ourselves, even if that is an oxymoron. Except when the country proves to be a real threat, like North Korea. I believe that this military should be composed exclusively of volunteer minorities and rural poor whites. I believe dying for oil is a noble cause for our brave minority and poor soldiers. I don’t care if our leaders were able to obtain deferments in past wars, and children of affluence will be able to do the same for the next war. Clinton was a draft-dodger and wagged the dog in Iraq. President Bush served in the Air National Guard heroically protecting the bars of Abilene, Texas. Nor can it be proved that he went AWOL, even though he wasn't there his last year. And he is not wagging the dog in regards to the Iraq situation for political or financial profit for his associates in the energy industry. Or the defense industry. Speaking of which, I do not care if a missile shield has proven unreliable. We need it to defend ourselves against terrorists, whether it works or not.

I believe that our moral decay, and almost all of today's problems, can be traced back to one man - Bill Clinton. It doesn't matter to me that he was elected: twice. It doesn't matter to me that 50% of our nation's marriages end up in divorce, a high percentage due to infidelity. It doesn't matter that almost all politicians lie to various degrees. They shouldn't be lying about their personal lives. Keep the lying in the realm of policy and issues, thank you very much. I will credit the Republican Congress and former Republican Presidents for various achievements when it is convenient. The Democrats hold the blame for everything. Especially Clinton.

I am a Republican, and have forgotten what it means to be an American.

BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY

http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/01/01_Republican.html

[bushwakker]

12. Greed and Bigotry - the two pillars of the GOP

[Toots]

13. I wish there were posters or fliers with your post

That material is devastating to Republican claims of fiscal responsibility. I particularly like the highlighted section. Can I borrow your jobs graphic, I think it is excellent?

[LynnTheDem]

15. URL for jobs graphic :)

americanassembler.com/feature_pics/want_jobs_big.gif

[Pithy Cherub]

16. Republicans have a long history

of catastrophic success in education. The facts that fit their perceptions are in - the ones that disavow their conclusions are slaughtered through lies, inuendo and hate mongering. If the facts won't fit, you must acquit...hence Faux News for their 'faithful' sheep. Truth, honesty and the American way are the preserves of Dems...

[baldguy]

17. Republicanism & conservatism are assets to America.

Personal self-reliance, personal responsibility, limited gov't, etc. These are true Republican ideals. Don't try and fix what ain't broke. They offer a perfect counter balance to the unfortunate excesses of liberalism and allow governance from the center.

The problem is that the people who call themselves "Republican" & "conservative" aren't. They say they want small gov't and little regulation. But not to allow people the maximum amount of freedom possible, but to allow corporations to dominate economic & political life. They put their trust in faceless multi-national conglomerates in which they have no say and over which they have no control rather than their neighbor. They are fascists.

In their irrational fear of any reasonable amount of gov't control - which has been deceptively defined by the corporate media as "socialism" - they've given up our freedom to the tyranny of capital. They've sold their soul to the highest bidder.

edit: AARRRGGGGGHHHHHHH! spelling!

[JPace]

18. On Conservatives...

P. J. O'Rourke:
"The Democrats are the party of government activism, the party that says government can make you richer, smarter, taller, and get the chickweed out of your lawn. Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work, and then get elected and prove it."

Ralph Waldo Emerson:
"Reform is affirmative, conservatism negative; conservatism goes for comfort, reform for truth."

Robert S. McElvaine:
"Most liberals never lost sight of the potential for evil in big government. They have consistently opposed government power in matters of personal and political belief. Liberals are not unconcerned with economic liberty, but they have come to believe that the common good requires that social justice be given a higher priority than absolute economic freedom. Conservatives are—and always have been—on the other side of both questions. They are much more prone than liberals to limiting personal and political liberties, but they place the freedom of an individual to do as he pleases in the economic realm at the top of their concerns. Social justice has held a lower priority for conservatives, from the days of Alexander Hamilton when they favored strong government as a means of protecting their economic privileges to the days of Ronald Reagan when they see government as an instrument of social justice and therefore a threat to their economic position."

William Gladstone:
"Liberalism is trust of the people, tempered by prudence; conservatism, distrust of people, tempered by fear."

Andy Rooney:
"Democrats (I think to myself) are liberals who believe the people are basically good, but that they need government help to organize their lives. They believe in freedom so fervently that they think it should be compulsory. They believe that the poor and ignorant are victims of an unfair system and that their circumstances can be improved if we give them help. Republicans (I think to myself) are conservatives who think it would be best if we faced the fact that people are no damned good. They think that if we admit that we have selfish, acquisitive natures and then set out to get all we can for ourselves by working hard for it, that things will be better for everyone. They are not insensitive to the poor, but tend to think the poor are impoverished because they won't work. They think there would be fewer of them to feel sorry for if the government did not encourage the proliferation of the least fit among us with welfare programs."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt:
"A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward."

George H. W. Bush:
"I'm conservative, but I'm not a nut about it."

[crispini]

19. The Repubs have done a better job

as portraying their party as the party of "values." They also do a better job in using language and framing to control the discussion of the issues.

"When the facts don't fit the frames, the frames are kept and the facts ignored." -- George Lakoff

If you are really interested in finding out WHY the repubs are doing so well, and how to talk to them, please go beg borrow buy George Lakoff's book, "Don't Think of an Elephant."

It's short. It's cheap. If you want to know how they think, and how to win, JUST DO IT.

[unfrigginreal]

20. One word - gullibility

if you're not a greedy fat cat then there's no reason to be a Republican.