While visiting American troops in Korea in 1966, Lyndon Johnson told them in a presumably bonding moment that his great-great grandfather had died at the Alamo. It was a lie. The historian Doris Kearns Goodwin asked him why he’d said it. “God damn it,” Johnson replied, “why must all those journalists be such sticklers for detail? Why, they’d hold you to an accurate description of the first time you ever made love, expecting you to remember the color of the room and the shape of the windows. That’s exactly what happened here. The fact is that my great-great grandfather died at the Battle of San Jacinto, not at the Alamo.” That, too, was a lie. Johnson’s ancestor, Goodwin wrote, was a real estate trader. He died at home. In bed.
But we’ve been going down this presidential Pinocchio for as long as there’s been presidents. Between Richard Nixon’s Watergates, Ronald Reagan’s Iran-Contra contortions, Bill Clinton’s affairs with the verb “is” and George W. Bush’s weapons of mass inventions—to name a bare few—the lies of presidents could re-carve Rushmore by audacity alone.
They had one excuse. They hoped, often with good reason, that they wouldn’t be found out. When people with eminent titles speak, and when they wrap their speeches in patriotic blather, journalists are better stenographers than fact-checkers.
But even lazy journalists have no excuse anymore. Between the Tampa Bay Times’s PolitiFact.com, the Annenberg Center’s FactCheck.org, the Washington Post’s Fact Checker, and other organization’s similar efforts, immediate and sterling fact-checking is now part of the information landscape. It’s no more difficult to access for any reader than the weather, so voters, too, have no excuse for being misinformed.
That’s how we found out that the Obama campaign lied when it ran ads suggesting that Mitt Romney opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest (Romney does not) or that, according to a pro-Obama group’s ad, Romney was somehow responsible for the death of a steelworker’s wife for lack of insurance (there was no connection). It’s also how we found out almost immediately that Romney lied, repeatedly, when he claimed verbally and in ads that Obama was ending the work requirement in welfare (he’s not). It’s how we found out that Paul Ryan, his vice-presidential pick, lied serially and obscenely in his acceptance speech. No need to go through the list. Just follow this link.
The Republican National Convention’s first day was entirely themed around a glaring lie: that Obama had accused business owners of not having built their own businesses, when all he’d done was remind us of the vast support system, much of it government’s, that makes success possible in the United States. Still, the lie stuck and is now a campaign theme, because for all the fact-checking a mouse click away, it takes voters’ willingness to click away from their partisan prejudices. Prejudice by definition defies evidence. The presidential candidates know it, stoking prejudice to the rhythm of their electoral metronome.
And the press, that pandering mollusk, gives lies a pass by immunizing them in euphemisms. The Associated Press called Ryan’s lies “factual shortcuts.” The New York Times had an equally forgiving headline that further diluted the charge with a stab at balance—“Campaigns Play Loose With Truth”—even though the article showed lies to be disproportionately the product of the Romney-Ryan campaign. Reuters didn’t even bother including a fact-checking link to its reporting on Ryan’s or Romney’s speeches at the convention.
Doubtless the Democrats won’t be veracity’s patron saints in Charlotte this week. But what Republicans showed us from Tampa last week is that the age of mere spin, born with CNN of the 24-hour news cycle at the dawn of the Reagan era, is over. The age of outright lies is now upon us, ironically coinciding with the democratization of fact-checking, if not its denigration: “We’re not going let our campaign be dictated by fact-checkers,” Neil Newhouse, a Romney campaign aide, said at a breakfast discussion during the Republican convention.
Let’s not blame only the candidates. Politicians would circumvent God if necessary, as Hamlet reminds us. But it takes voters’ complicity to let them circumvent facts. So far, the Romney-Ryan campaign is coasting on the blindfolds of accomplices.
Pierre Tristam is FlaglerLive’s editor. Reach him by email here, or follow him on Twitter.
Edman says
If manufacturers misrepresent their products in ads they can be held legally responsible. Why do we allow such behavior to continue from our politicians? PACs and politicians who lie to us need to be held accountable; if it is not true it should be made widely known and the ads should be withdrawn. Political product liability is needed.
Nancy N. says
Hmm, who writes laws? POLITICIANS. They aren’t going to expand culpability for themselves anytime soon!
It’s the same reason that political calls are exempted from the Do Not Call law. They wrote it to apply to everyone but themselves!
Frank says
Yes….Obama lies are just as nasty……plus one truth boldly shines through as a result…..NO JOBS AFTER 3.5 years……..6 TRILLION MORE DEBT……I guess King Obambi missed his promise of cutting the deficit in half missed it’s mark by just a smidge….OBAMA YOU ARE FIRED!!!!!
mcstowy says
More jobs were created in 2010 (1.1 mikllion) than in 8 years under Bush (1 million). During the Bush recession, the economy was LOSING 800,000 jobs a month. Obama turned that around and the economy has added jobs every month for 3 years and, but for REPUBICAN governors cutting state and local jobs, unemployment would be under 7%.
Dorothea says
@FlaglerLive
For the most part I wholeheartedly agree with your editorial. However, you make the same incorrect comparisons, supposedly in the name of fairness, that the rest of the media often does.
Regarding Obama’s alleged lie about Romney opposing abortion even in the case of incest or rape: Romney supports the Human Life Amendment, the Human Life Amendment does not makes exceptions in the case of incest or rape.
Regarding Obama’s alleged lie about the woman who died of cancer because Bain closed her husband’s plant and cancelled her health insurance: The woman died four or five years later of stage four cancer. However, she neglected to get check-ups because she had no health insurance and could not afford them.
I agree that these ads are on somewhat shaky ground, but there is some truth in them. Romney and Ryan don’t know or care about the truth, just as long as the lies produce votes.
Jack Howell says
Pierre,
Very insightful thoughts!
Clint says
Instead of The Live Column it shoud be called The Left Column !
rickg says
Thanks Pierre for another informative piece. The term “factual shortcuts” should be placed in the National Archives. The Rs are the best at projectionism. The Ds feel like they have to be less than fully truthful just to keep up.
BIKER says
Obama 2016 – a must see for every american. It explains alot.
Yellowstone says
With contributions in the hundreds of hundreds millions of dollars – is it any wonder to any of us that someone might be interested (demanding) a pay back? In other words, ‘What’s in it for me – for my contribution?’
These guys are on the take and better bring home the goods – no matter what they have to say to you to get your vote.
Folks, wake up! Your homeland is now up “For Sale” – and you are part of the sale. We’ll all be back working for the man in a short time.
VOTE INTELLIGENTLY!!
ohdave says
Hi Pierre, brilliant as always. The GOP doesn’t care about being called out for their lies. They only care about controlling the narrative and labeling their opponent. It’s a disgusting abdication of their moral responsibility in a democracy. But it’s nothing new.
Anonymous says
Check out something, you stated in a democracy where do you live, me I live in the Federated Republic of the United States
DoubleGator says
And Romeny the flip flopping say-anything-to-get-elected ……… you aren’t hired. I enjoyed the article. I agree and wish for the day when the electorate would wise up. But, as is has been said to me by the political insiders, if it didn’t work (on the masses) it wouldn’t be done.
Outsider says
And remember, Bill Ayers was just a guy that lived in Obama’s neighborhood. And Tony Rezko, convicted fraudster who now rots in jail was Obama’s financier; what, just another bone headed move? Why the sudden interest in the truth by the left in this election? Ignore the smoke screen. We have an unaccomplished, unqualified leftist seeking re-election versus a man with a history of accomplishment and success, with a few failures as well. They talk to us like adults and are ready to tackle the enormous economic problems we face, as opposed to Obama, who via Bernanke seem to believe that pumping up the stock market and de facto defaulting on our debt via money printing is the way out of our problems. All they are doing is delaying and intensifying the coming day of reckoning. You seem to be implying that both sides are equal liars, so let’s make a decision on something else, like maybe qualifications?
sam8131 says
(c) Definitions.— For purposes of this section—
(1)the term “national of the United States” has the meaning given in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22));
(2)the term “weapon of mass destruction” means—
(A)any destructive device as defined in section 921 of this title; (this includes small explosive devices, guns, etc)
(B)any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors; (Spray bottles containing any poison is a WMD)
(C)any weapon involving a biological agent, toxin, or vector (as those terms are defined in section 178 of this title); or (putting bug spray in water could be considered a WMD)
(D)any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life; and
(3)the term “property” includes all real and personal property.
Everyone lies. Show me somone who hasn’t lied and I will show you Jesus. Bush invented the WMD that Hilliary, Billy, George Tenent and even the Rusians belived Iraq had.
Additionally, by deffinition WMD was found in Iraq, just not in the quantities that would create a large problem.
As a bomb hunter myself I know how easy it is ti hide and how difficult it is to locate hidden weapons and material. Until erery inch of Iraq is dug up we will never know for sure if they have or had WMD. We will never know if it was shipped out of the country.
So continuing to blame Bush alone is a waste of time. Include the Clintions, George Tenent (Clinton Appointee), John Karry and everyother country in the UN, like the Russians who also believed Iraq had WMD. Our assesment (belief) is only as good as our intelligence.
mcstowy says
NO ONE with half a brain, or who was not politically intimidated, “believed” (it was based on faith, not fact) in WMD in Iraq. It was ALWAYS an obvious lie to anyone who was paying attention. IF you have some relationship to the “national security” complex, that tells us all we need to know about the quality of intellect of those who work there.
Anonymous says
taken from text in a middle-eastern news article: Since the creation of the modern state of Iraq, the history of Iraqi Kurdistan has been one of underdevelopment, political and cultural repression, destruction, ethnic cleansing and genocide.(2) Al-Anfal (The Spoils) was the codename given to an aggressive, planned, military operation against Iraqi Kurds. It was part of an ongoing, larger campaign against Kurds because of their struggle to gain autonomy within the Republic of Iraq. Anfal took place during 1988 under the direction of Ali Hasan al-Majid, Saddam Hussein’s cousin. He became known as “Chemical Ali” because of his use of chemical and biological weapons on Kurdish towns and villages. The best-known chemical attack occurred at Halabja in March 1988. This town is located in the mountains near Sulaimaniya, about 11 kilometers from the Iranian border. Between 40,000 and 50,000 people were living there at the time. The Iranian army had previously pushed Iraqi forces out of the area. During three days, the town and surrounding district were attacked with conventional bombs, artillery fire, and chemicals–including mustard gas and nerve agents (Sarin, Tabun, and VX). At least 5,000 people died immediately as a result of the chemical attack and it is estimated that up to 12,000 people died during those three days.
A man who owns a gun shoots and intruder in 1988, reports are filed and the guns is recorded for evidence then returned. 4 years later a law is passed and he is no longer allowed to own his gun, the government wants it back, they search his home, car, yard etc. and never find it so I guess they should assume it never existed, but low and behold his neighbor was holding it for him.
Samuel Smith says
People seem to forget that the founders were wealthy people that wanted to keep their financial assets intact during the chaotic transition from colonies to full statehood, meaning they didn’t want their property seized in the same manner that people loyal to British did. It didn’t benefit them to have people below a certain economic class to hold office or vote, which meant passing legislation to place restrictions on exactly these things.
If you know your history, you know that in the early days of the United States in order to run for governor in Maryland you needed to own 5000 pounds worth of property (worth about $1.4 million by today’s dollar), or 1000 pounds of property to run for state senator (about $300k). With the exception of Pennsylvania, each state in the union had minimum property qualifications for voting. You have a declaration of independence that says “life, liberty, happiness” but a constitution that protects life, liberty, and property.
So really, the R/R republican ticket isn’t any different that other tickets of either party in the past. It’s more rich people trying to keep rich people in office while pretending that they have the best interest of the jobless and destitute at heart. They don’t, it’s in their best interest to make as much money as possible while in office for themselves and their friends. And if you don’t believe that, then why can congressmen insider trade without consequences, and why are capital gains tax rates so low?
Maybe the only real new thing in this election is that they aren’t even pretending anymore.
question says
One question:
How many posters have moved, no matter how slightly, on their ‘candidate’ for President 2012. Has any event, any new information you learned changed, in any way, your opinion? If so, what info was that?
Camelot says
All the “fact checking” leans to the left. Where are the reputable sources who investigate the facts I.e., Brookings, Cato, and Heritage?
Heritage, who is more conservative, did do their research on the Welfare Reform in regards to the Obama administration claims they were trying to make it easier for citizens in need . However, what the Obama administration did, without Congress approval, allows states to weaken or wave work requirements when applying for welfare. Essentially over turning what the Clinton administration, with the pressure of the Republican Congress put in place in 96′. According to Heritage, “the law is clear that section 407 work requirements are mandatory and cannot be waved.”
Though I’ve looked up to the moment of this writing, I have found no research on this topic from Brookings, who is a little more liberal than Heritage. Neither I have I seen anything from Cato, who are libertarians, and I must say I am disappointed, since getting all the facts help one to make a wise decision or come to a reasonable conclusion.
Regardless if Heritage, Brookings, or Cato do the research they are formed to do, it doesn’t take a scholar to see the damage this current administration has done over the past 3 years. America cannot afford financially to support this current administration. Like any other business, if the CEO isn’t doing their job to the standards of the company, they are let go and the search for a new CEO is on.
Folks, just look around in your own towns and cities, the evidence of a failed adminstration is everywhere.
mcstowy says
If fact-checking leans left, it’s because reality has a liberal bias.
Do you mean the Cato that’s owned by the Kock brothers? That’s where you look for the “truth?”
Dorothea says
@Camelot
Fact-checking is traditionally done by the press. But I did look around and noted that this administration brought us back from the brink of a collapsed econmy, two unfunded wars, an unfunded Medicare Part D, collapse of the auto industry, near collapse of the banks, brought us all the possibility of health insurance, and killed Osama Bin Laden. Barack Obama is the President of the United States, not a CEO, God or a miracle worker. Just think how much more he could have done had the Republicans in Congress had not blocked his every move.
Johnny Taxpayer says
Yea, he would have been a great President if only he had control of both houses of Congress for say, 2 years or so. Oh wait.
Dorothea says
@Johnny Taxpayer:
As I have frequently pointed out it takes 60 votes to pass a bill in the Senate, not a simple majority. So, no, Obama did not have control of both houses at any time during his tenure.
Jim R says
Dorothea
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/09/04-2
Here is your hero’s latest triumph.
“brought us back from two unfunded wars ” is that a joke?
He has advanced the neocon agenda beyond what even Bush dared do, He is bombing six or seven countries, killing innocent civilians and violating international law, and principle six of the Nuremberg tribunal.
None of this matters to Democrats , It’s what Chris Hedges calls Moral Disengagement.
Dorothea says
@Jim R.
I didn’t say Obama brought us back from two unfunded wars, but back from the brink of a collapsed economy, the result of two unfunded wars, etc.
Karma says
If people want to do their own fact checking, I would encourage you to drive through the industrial park on Hargrove rd of US 1 and see how many empty building are there. Check out other cities industrial parks and see same. This country is in real trouble and the last 4 years have not helped. I heard someone once say that 8% unemployment would become the norm for this country and that people would except it because of government entitlement. When was the last time unemployment was under 8% in Flagler county? But then again, I guess many of you accept it. You want 4 more years of the same.
Camelot says
1 .Fact-checking is traditionally done by the press.
a.Allowing the “press” aka: the media to influence ones every thought is just foolish. One needs to research information provided to them for validity. My father used to say, “Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.”
2. But I did look around and noted that:
a.I’m really not sure what that means. Where exactly did you look? State your resources. A blurb at The Democratic Underground blog is not considered valid research.
3. this administration brought us back from the brink of a collapsed economy
a.How did this administration “bring us back?”
4. two unfunded wars
a.Every world power has to engage in military spending. As a nation, we’ve never saved money for future military conflicts, nor taxed enough to “pay our way as we go.
b.From 1940-2010, defense spending averaged 8.7% of GDP. The average “peace-time” spending level stands at 6.4%. Which is approximately 15% of the GDP.
5.an unfunded Medicare Part D
a.It’s still unfunded.
b.Last year, Americans paid $274 billion in Medicare taxes and premiums. At the same time, the program paid out $564 billion in benefits. That amounts to a shortfall of roughly $290 billion. The Obama Administration has done nothing to fix this.
c. Both sides are pandering to seniors. Neither side is going to do anything to cut Medicare – it’s the political “third rail.”
6.Collapse of the auto industry
a.In 2008, the Bush Administration gave GM & Chrysler 17.4 BILLION dollars in bail out money with the agreement they radically restructure how they do business.
b. Apparently they didn’t listen and the Bush Administration didn’t hold their feet to the fire. So the Obama Administration gave them 85 BILLION dollars.
c. The U.S. Treasury is the largest stake holder for GM; which is also known as: Government Motors. Now that chunk of change could have contributed to a 14 Trillion dollar debt. And, stocks are down. We are losing money which is increasing our debt even more.
7. near collapse of the banks
a. The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 enacted October 3, 2008, by the Bush Administration. It is commonly referred to as a bailout of the U.S. financial system. The law enacted in response to the sub prime mortgage crisis authorizing the United States Secretary of the Treasury to spend up to $700 billion to purchase distressed assets, especially mortgage-backed securities, and supply cash directly to banks.
8. brought us all the possibility of health insurance
a. “The possibility of health insurance?” How?
b. If you’re looking for affordable Health Insurance, because you, the citizen should and could be paying your own bill, IF there was a competitive market health insurance would be affordable to all.
9. and killed Osama Bin Laden.
a. If you are against an unfunded war, why would you care whether Bin Laden was dead or alive? Killing Bin Laden wasn’t free and I’m certain it was “unfunded.”
b. I’m not really sure what your point is here. The Obama Administration is not engaged in a “war on terror.” At least not outside the U.S.
10. Barack Obama is the President of the United States, not a CEO, God or a miracle worker. Just think how much more he could have done had the Republicans in Congress had not blocked his every move.
a. Thank you for pointing that out, because it really was a bad example and against what I believe a president of the United State should be.
b. Most presidents served in the military. The job of the government, which includes the Executive Branch, is to protect the people, not to provide bail outs or handouts from lawyers and business men.
Speaking of “unfunded” programs, let me ask you this, where did the funding come from for the stimulus package of 837 Billion dollars? Not one republican voted for it and it passed because democrats controlled both the house and the senate. The Obama Administration had carte blanche his first 2 years in office. He could do whatever he wanted and did. If anyone tried to stand in his way, he simply made it happen with the stroke of the pen.
I’m in no way defending recent former presidents. What I am saying the Obama Administration is not making this a better America; therefore, he needs to go.
Louise says
“We make it possible.” the new slogan for Obama!
Here are some examples.
1. Higher gas prices
2. More people on disability than jobs created
3. More than 6 trillion in new debt
4. Weaker dollar
5. More regulations to strangle small business.
6. More lies
7. Bailout companies that shut down here and open up overseas
8. Give taxpayer money to a brutal Islamist regime it helped create!
Yes we can! GET RID of OBAMA….YOU are FIRED!!!!!!!!
Johnny Taxpayer says
The author claims Republicans are taking Mr. Obama’s words out of context, but are they?
” that Obama had accused business owners of not having built their own businesses, ”
Let’s look at the FULL context of Obama’s remarks. Directly from the politifact website:
“look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there. If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen.”
In full context Mr. Obama believes that the Government has created an infrastructure (who paid for that again?) that by itself allows small businesses to be successful. That it is not because the small business owner works harder than others, and it’s not because he/she is any smarter than others, it’s simply the Government put this great infrastructure in place, and therefore anyone could start a successful small business. Or to sum all that up in Mr. Obama’s own words, “If you’ve got a small business, you didn’t build that”. But then again it is not at all surprising that Mr. Obama would have this view, because he’s never worked in any type of business, not alone a small one. My 8 year old daughter has more of an appreciation for what it takes to run a successful small business than this President because she sees what her mother and I go through on a daily basis. Mr. Obama has never seen that, never experienced that, and doesn’t have the first clue of what it takes to open up shop, find customers, make a payroll, and hopefully at the end of the day have enough left over that it was worth your while to open up in the first place.
I said it 4 years ago, and it holds even truer now. Mr. Obama was not then, and is not now qualified to run a 7-11. There is absolutely nothing in his professional working experience or his education that points to any ability whatsoever to run the smallest of small businesses, yet we entrusted him to run the largest economy in the world. 4 years later the economy is no better than it was then, and yet some seem surprised, or blame the republicans because they control half of 1 of 3 branches of government for the past 18 months.
As Clint Eastwood said the other night, when it’s not working out, it’s time to let him go and find somebody else. This is not working out. He tried his $1 trillion stimulus, he tried his several $trillion Obamacare, he tried his auto bailout by killing bond holders and turning over ownership to the Government and the UAW (how’s GM doing again?), contrary to the popular talking point that house republicans in 18 months in power have blocked everything, (even though he had full control of congress for 2 years) he’s gotten virtually every major piece of legislation that he wanted passed, it hasn’t worked out. It’s time to let him go and try somebody else.
Ben Blakely says
Pierre Tristam is a raving socialist. He is incapable of writing any newsworthy copy and MUST BE FIRED.
If he is so much in love with the failed principals of socialism, then let him go to work for his glorious leader and liar/failure in chief.
GET LOST Pierre. You are toxic and offensive here.
Dorothea says
@Ben Blakely
You who extolled the virtues of the Tea Party and claimed the memberships’ understanding of the Constitution in another comment, now want to fire Pierre Tristam because you disagree with with his politics? You better get back to reading the First Amendment of the Constituion.
However, the thought of Pierre Tristam firing himself does make me laugh. Kind of like Cllint Eastwood’s empty chair speech where Eastwood says, “What do you want me to tell Romney?” Eastwood asked the empty chair. “I can’t tell him to do that to himself … “
Magicone says
OBAMA……One Big Ass Mistake America………..These super Pacs are ruining our democracy regardless of your party. Obama needs another 4 years, because in this economy he won’t be able to find a job. Lets put him on unemployment in November. He has been campaigning for the past year instead of staying in D.C. and dealing with what needs to be dealt with.
Jim R says
Ben
What exactly is Socialism in your opinion? We could use a little socialism to control the vulture capitalism that has wrecked our Democracy. The propaganda efforts of the elites that control the political system have been successful beyond their wildest dreams, convincing millions that them having all the wealth is the way it should be, and sharing some of that wealth with the rest of us is socialism.what B.S.
Pierre is sharing his house with us, do you think asking him to move is a little unmannerly
Vulture says
Definition of ‘Vulture Capitalist’
1. A slang word for a venture capitalist who deprives an inventor of control over their own innovations and most of the money they should have made from the invention.
2. A venture capitalist who invests in floundering firms in the hopes that they will turn around.
Anyone who would blame an investor for this current mess must be in an OBAMAFANTASY parallel universe oblique to reason and sanity.
Jim R says
It’s Vulture Capitalism not venture. Vulture as in something that feeds on a rotting carcass, that rotting carcass is the workers and middle class of America. They created the rotting carcass with globalism and Free Trade deals and the corporate imperative of the bottom line above all else.
jespo says
How easy is it to forget, or pretend to forget, that this country was run for eight years by George Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove; that it was their policys and decisions that started this massive ball of crap rolling downhill? How can Republicans, Neocons, and Tea Party Nationalists look Americans in the eye and state that President Obama and his administration is responsible for the entire dismal state of this country? Where were these men at the recent RNC? Why would they not invite their latest President to the convention? It’s because they’re embarassed by him, know he’s responsible for starting this mess, and want to distance themselves so badly that they would rather drag out on stage a dribbling muttering pop icon of toughness and have him speak to a chair like some doddering old fool for laughs. How despicable.
I’m not a big fan of Obama or his policys, but I’m also not a negro fearing, bible loving, nostalgia yearning, regulation hating, woman despising xenophobic homophobe who wishes to bring my country back to an imaginary place sometime in the past. “Take America back!” Take America back? What a ridiculous thing to say, as if the country went somewhere. ‘THEY” run it now, eh? Who is drawing lines in the sand? Who is being obstructionist? Who is not coming to the table? Who is pouting in the corner like a child? Who doesn’t come close to being the party to run this country when you refuse to own up your party’s involvement in the problem? Authority entails responsibility, and responsibility demands culpability. If you can’t own that, you don’t have what it takes to have authority and be a leader, let alone my President.
Who's next says
The country has been running a deficit and accumulating debt since Lyndon Johnson. The Federal Reserve has robbed all of us while we watched them print money just a little faster than the government could borrow it……how does it feel??? U R cheated……Those people you listed didn’t help the situation and neither did OBAMA……
Magicone says
Obamas new slogan should be “Bend Over Forward America I am not done yet”
RightIsRight says
I always say, “follow the money” to understand people’s motivation and how they will portray their opponents.
Why do liberals want more government dependency? Because they either depend on government handouts or they have a job administering the government handouts. Why are colleges and universities left leaning? Because the government has ensured a huge stream of funds from students that can borrow thousands in unsecured debt. Why do lawyers tend to support democrats? Because more laws will equate to a bigger demand for their services. Why do conservatives want less government? Because they rely on the private sector for their livelihood and want private wealth to stay there instead of in the abyss of government waste and dependency. Why does Pierre write liberal articles? Because liberal policies have put this country on path of destruction that make for interesting reading.
Dorothea says
@rightisright:
You might be surprised to find that many of us have beliefs that are not based on a money trail, but based on what we happen to believe is the correct and most beneficial direction for our country. Your cynicism aside, I don’t believe for a second that Pierre leans either left or right because it makes interesting reading for the Archie Bunker Brigade or the left, but because that’s what he believes.
Anonymous says
Democracy, I see this term bandied about to describe the United States of America’s form of government. We are not nor have ever been a Democracy. The United States of America is a Federated Republic; look it up if you do not believe me. In a Democracy everyone votes on everything, such as in Ancient Greece which by the way failed because when people have access to the money guess what they vote themselves more money by granting more gifts to themselves. A Republic is a form of government in which people vote for representatives to voice their desires and wants upon the government stage. Does this sound familiar? A Federation is a division of power structure within the governmental bodies which consists of the National leadership with more localized divisions below it. Though the National leadership holds sway over the whole and makes policies which affect the all at a national level the lower bodies of government have control over their respected responsibilities. Again does this sound familiar? We are NOT a Democracy! Furthermore read the constitution all of its articles in the original format then read the newer updated version and see the difference. Many say the Constitution is a living document, heard this a lot during the Clinton administration when he was trying to subvert many of its articles to pass bills that violated its mandate. This document is the only reason we as a nation are so great, it gave us the freedom to excel as individuals, to fail as individuals and rejoice in our freedoms and accomplishments as a group. LONG LIVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
forwardthinker says
Dorothea.. thank you for your grip on the facts.. Perhaps it has been forgotten by the ravers above, that it was stated right out in the open by one of the top members of the house, said right after President Obama was elected.. ” Our main objective is to do whatever it takes to prevent a re-election in 2012. Well they have been true to their word.. at the expense of all of us. Their opposition to The Jobs Act bill was disgraceful. Romneycare was introduced and is still working, long before so called Obamacare was mandated. I hope all you ravers about the “truth” have a couple of swiss bank accounts or at least something put away in the Caymans … because if your man gets in.. you are going to have to do some tapping.
Jim R says
Right, it is a republic based on Democratic principles that every citizen has a vote and say so in how the Govt is run. We do it through the representatives we elect. It just no longer matters who we vote for because the system has been corrupted by $