Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns delivers the Weekly GOP Address.
See it here.
While we're at it, Sen. Johanns also had an article published the other day on Politico regarding "Cap and Trade". (Which, if we're not mistaken, was a hip-hop group from the '80s.)
See Mike's article here.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
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Johanns the Republican sheep. Yea, it takes a sheep to call a repug a repug. I mean only a true individualist would be able to parrot Glenn Beck. I mean you must really be able to think for yourself to support a party that turned a $237 billion surplus into a $1.2 trillion deficit. Oh, let's not forget how the repugs doubled the national debt in 8 years and created the worst financial crisis since the great depression or how they gave tax cuts to the wealthiest American while trying to block unemployment benefits to those who need them most. Yes, I suppose you must be freakin' brilliant GEEZ. Repugs don't know anything other than what Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, and Fox Noise tells them. Now, who was the sheep again?
He is talking to two different beings, Americans and Democrats.
"Job growth adjenda" means something different to those who want everyone to work for the US Goverment.
Every Liberal here should have thier sick children cared for by GS workers, by postal employees. You deserve that. Your children don't, no one does. Yet as your social scheme crushes freedom and prosperity and leaves people suffering it is only fitting that you suffer first and longest.
What is it with some of you heartless Republicans that so believe in the myth of the "self made man" that you relish the suffering of others? If you guys had found Lazarus in the street you'd have told him to get off his dead ass and quit blocking your way ... then probably would have kicked him in the ribs.
America has become a strong country because of the willingness of our forefathers to work together, to help one another succeed. Many of our ancestors came to this country thanks to the efforts of their friends and relatives overseas that helped them - physically, morally, spiritually, and probably most importantly ... financially. The Pilgrims and the Pioneers didn't settle on this continent by all being rugged individualists, they managed to survive a difficult life by leaning on one another. All that "self made man" crap is nothing but the fantasies of Hollywood screenwriters and novelists.
Charity is not the same thing as a handout, it is a hand up. Those who have become successful have done so either because they have formed strong alliances with those that worked for them, or, in the case of the worst capitalist piggies, they stood on the bodies of those they exploited. Let me ask, which would you rather be? Don't answer GeosUserer, we already know your reply.
BTO. John Wayne dodged the draft, just like Cheney, Rush Limbaugh and Paul Harvey. But they are all good at writing and acting myths. So when I see the GOP boys talk about how great their values are I just laugh. Kinda of like the Sara Palin family values.
Heartless? Is that what you call people who recognize the soul-crushing hand of the government and try to resist it? Government breeds dependency, complacency, sloth, and inefficiency. In just about every area the federal government has inserted itself into, it has absolutely stomped out innovation and progress and has done so while wasting trillions of dollars. Tell me, what's more heartless: forcing people to get out and do what we were created to do, which is work, which makes us better human beings, or feed them a bunch of bull and make them absolutely dependent on government to make sure that they never rise to anything better than a sure vote. We've already done that experiment here and it led to the creation of a permanent underclass with ridiculous amounts of crime, illiteracy, and illegitimacy. The federal government has thrown away entire generations of poor people and wasted trillions of dollars doing it. Even Bill Clinton recognized how harmful the welfare programs were and signed welfare reform.
These are facts. Another fact is that we do not have the money to pay for Obama's grand ideas. Period. The deficit stands at 10% of GDP right now. The federal budget stands at 24% of GDP. This is unsustainable and when it all comes crashing down and people are left with nothing, is that compassionate?
You Democrats equate money with compassion. I understand that, though, because it makes all the problems out there somebody else's problem. All you have to do is pay your taxes and scream about Republicans and let the federal government handle it. Well, guess what? The federal government is doing a piss-poor job of it. But, hey, you get to sit smugly in your houses and tell yourselves that you are part of the solution. That's got to be worth something, right?
Check out the book by Arthur C. Brooks. Religious conservatives are more charitable than secular liberals.
He starts by asking Obama to tone down the rhetoric, then goes off on a 4 minute rant about how the "admin's promise to help small businesses rings hollow." Johanns must have missed all the coverage of Obama's new bill designed to help small businesses. And the energy tax? Not gonna happen - he is just trying to scare people.
Keep on with your blabbering, Democrats. You seem so scared your bowels are growling.
Keep telling yourselves everything is going to be okay. The polls are all false. Americans who rejected Republicans for acting too much like Democrats, will somehow come to love the triple dose of Obama/Reid/Pelosi laxative that you have been pumping into Uncle Sam for the last few years.
The change that's a'coming won't be pretty for you jackasses.
Democrats are not jackasses, they are donkeys. Hardheaded beasts that will swallow anything.
Actually, the word Ass is very ancient. The word Donkey is recent. Some academics think the word Donkey came from the word Monkey. You can look it up.
Take a look in the mirror, Dems. What do you think? Donkey, monkey or ass?
As a Republican I'm more open philosophically to "Cap and Trade" than any other new tax. Why income tax or sales tax, why encourage people not to work or spend? Why not tax people based on what they burn instead of on what they earn?
I say let's implement a 80% tax on dirty energy, 0% tax on clean energy like wind power and ethanol, get our deficits under control and eliminate income taxes.
Arthur C. Brooks is a master at manipulating statistics. First, Brooks is president of the American Enterprise Institute, not exactly an unbiased think tank. Brooks found that those in red states gave a higher percentage of income than those in blue states. Well, blue states have higher incomes in general, so a higher $ amount could be given in these states though the percentage would be lower. Also, blue states tend to have more social services, so the government is more involved in taking care of its citizens, rather than relying on the hit or miss of charity.
I found it interesting that he railed against Obama for so called issues for small businesses with health care reform (although Sen and Gov. Johanns did nothing to help with health care reform in any of his elected positions) and then he mentions nothing about voting against tax breaks for small businesses This week. What a joke.
MacCrabby - "Soul crushing hand of the government?" Is that Glen Beck's latest catchphrase? Hell, Crabby, you probably wouldn't even be here if not for it. Please move to Antarctica, that is one place you'd be happy for there is no government there. Let us know how surviving on your own works out for you.
Tell you what, let's get all these fat cat Nebraska farmers off of welfare (they call it subsidies) and then sit back and watch Nebraska prosper. I'm with you on it. Let's do it!
I don't equate money with compassion, and I consider myself a Liberal; but, I do equate the ruthless quest for accumulating ever more of it nothing but greed - especially when such greed leaves too little of it to sustain the society that upholds us all.
And just where is it that you plant YOUR fat ass all day MacDiddly?
A 10:48 - Wow!! You are a Master Debater!
Sis - Your getting your curlers too tight again. Didn't Mom tell you not to do that? And with your face, I wouldn't be making comments about what others see in the mirror.
It seems to me we have to have something like when Democrats took a hold of the nation from 1932 to 1952 to get us out of the holes the Republicans get us into. Like the Great depression of the 1920's Then the massive debts of Reagan and Bush. Bill Clinton just barly got us even from the GOP screw ups of the 80's Then along comes another Bush and there goes the Neighborhood. Untill the republicans get some one like Eisenhower in charge they can not be trusted to have any public office. It is much to dangerous to put self centered all they care about is the rich in charge of the government. Their main goal is to see the government fail. If the Republicans had been in charge during World war two we would have been friends with NAZI Germany and watched the world go to hell with their America is First slogans. I have been alive a very long time and the crop of Republicans we have now are not good for America.
Johanns is nothing but a tool and a complete puppet. He has not original thought in his head. Only what's fed into it by his puppet masters. When the health care debate was going, I point blank asked him at a town hall meeting what bill he had introduced or cosponsored with regards to health care, since he kept on telling us there were better ways to do it. He couldn't answer me. He then said he'd have his staff send me the information. When I got it, it was a link to a list for 4 Republican bills. Only 2 had actually been introduced, and Johanns wasn't even listed as a cosponsor on any of them. Of the two introduced, most of the ideas had been implemented into the main bill. In other words, Johanns had no original ideas, had not supported any other ideas and because he was so lame and stupid, he couldn't even answer the question. He's a joke and a loser and I hope he quits soon like he's done with every other job.
Need we remind you people that Mike Johanns, under his watch, nearly tripled the spending on sending USDA employees to conferences that most of the time had nothing to do with USDA issues. And why would you need to spend thousands for several people to go snorkling in the South Pacific to spend a day learning about Mississippi Crayfish? The spending went from $6 Million per year under Clinton to $19 Million under Johanns' reign.
BTO does makes some very good points at 9:04AM. When did being a good-hearted person become a slogan to either flaunt or make fun of as either liberal or
conservative? We're in this mess together and fingerpointing isn't going to get us out.
And, someone must have done something vile in MacDaddy's Wheaties this morning. Yikes.
Hope your day gets better.
Ben Nelson just spotted at Fremont airport getting out of a Cessna Centurion. Headed for the NEGOP convention?
I could see the Republicans letting Ben Nelson join the party. He's got a lot more in common with the Repblicans than he does the Democrats these days. The big question is what kind of trash will follow behind him through the door. His two biggest fans, Kyle Michaelis and Lisa Hannah, might move with him. That would make it one of the best things to ever happen to the Nebraska Democrats.
Don't forget Jane Kleeb and her B(en)old N(elson)ebraska. If the delegates in Fremont reject him, he's always got his backup campaign organizatin already in place.
Oh, the desperation of Republicans actually making up stories that Ben Nelson is going to their convention. How goofy is that?
Wow, BTO. What a class act you are. No wonder you're held in such high esteem among your fellow Democrats.
You think that I'm an anarchist? Not hardly. However, I do reject your assinine idea that because I don't want to move to Antarctica, I have to accept every idiotic idea that comes down the pike from the Democrats. It really just astounds me that you guys have no interest in being good at anything. You are completely content with the pitiful and often harmful efforts that are exhibited daily by our federal government. I'm astounded that you obsess over picayune rules of a political party and yet are completely satisfied when the government is doing a lousy job and think that it should be given even more to do. If that's not the very definition of delusional, it's pretty close.
No matter how much Republicans try to pretend that the high deficits are President Obama's fault, thankfully most Americans are paying attention knows otherwise, and who is rightfully to blame - Republicans!!!!!!! So they can spin away, the only people buying their crap are the low information voters who will believe anything because they are too lazy to take the time necessary to educate themselves. Watching FOX not real news is not education
Bush, the worst president in American history is responsible for the worst recession since the Great depression. Not even the republicans will say his name. His only hope is for President Obama to bail him out. However, the republicans are doing everything they can to stop President Obama from saving America from the problems caused by the republicans.
BTO, you have a twisted view on how the Republicans view welfare and charity. It's been proven that Republicans on balance donate more of their incomes than Democrats do. Heck, Obama gave away hardly more than 5% of his income last year to charities yet crucifies banks for "obscene profits."
Libertarians, as outlined by Ayn Rand in "Capitalism, the Unknown Ideal," insist the inherent goodness of humans to keep a sort-of free market welfare state would be more beneficial to all. Libertarians contend that the current state of welfare is flawed, socialistic, and contradicts the emphasis on negative rights that were embodied by the Constitution. The Lazarus story you pointed out itself shows the importance of free will and charity- God or some other force never forced Dives to give to Lazarus.
If you want to talk about the Founders, you should have picked another battle. Thomas DiLorenzo, an economics professor in Maryland, writes extensively on the relationship between America's great beginnings and private property rights. While it's true there were essentially socialist rulers of colonies, it's true the colonies they managed were disasters.
For example in 1607, within 6 months of the founding of Jamestown, the lack of private property and the colony's emphasis on "communal ownership" led to famine and disease that killed 63% of the colonists. Two years later under the same policies, a second wave was sent to the colony. Again, within 6 months, 88% of the new colonists had died. In 1611, a new governor had created an essentially free enterprise system in Jamestown, increasing production and decreasing famine.
In short, your view on the lack of "self-made men" is greatly flawed. I always ask this of my debating peers: how many Forbes 500 CEOs have lived a good portion of their lives on welfare?
MacGrumpy - You're right, the Nebraska Nelson Party hasn't much use for me, since I'm a Democrat. As for most of the remainder of your drivel, thank you very much but I can put words into my own mouth quite well and don't need your help deciding what I believe. In the case of what ails you, transference neurosis comes to mind.
You live in a society, like it or not, and if you want to be that solitary rock that your fervid fantasy has convinced you that you are, I believe you'd be far more comfortable living where there is no society and no government. Antarctica seemed the logical place for you to practice your rugged individualism.
Jamie - Arguments buttressed by the fiction writer, Ayn Rand, don't hold much water for me. So, just because some people disagree with me, and have written as much, is supposed to make my arguments somehow less valid? We each have the right to our own opinions, unfortunately some of you believe you have a right to your own facts.
Yeah buddy, that private enterprise system, especially the part that allowed people to own slaves, worked out pretty damned well for us, didn't it?
I've been reading and sometimes responding to comments posted here at Leavenworth Street for many weeks now and have come to expect certain points of view from particular writers. Generally, apologists for both the Republicans and Democrats are CORRECT! And generally, both are deficient in that neither appear willing to express the sad fact that both major parties are little more than shills for corporate interests and advancing corporate welfare. The Supreme Court has essentially ruled that corporations are "people," but that ruling is flawed and over time will be struck, IF, we are to continue the social evolution begun in 1776.
Jamie:
I am familiar with the philosophy of Objectivism postulated by Ayn Rand and her writings on capitalism. What we practice in the U.S. IS NOT the free market economy she espoused. Corporate welfare outright and corporate welfare in the form of tax subsidies obstruct the free market process. Also, we need a definition for "charity." When tax subsidies are involved, it's not charity my friend.
Since when is ending tax subsidies for rich people a tax increase? It is simple ending an entitlement program - something Republicans are always more than willing to do to the poor.
I have to laugh at the drivel being posted by the Bold Nebraska crew on this site.
They wouldn't know a winning political point if it slapped them in the face.
Keep up the poor work Boldies! Dick Holland should be proud of your inconsistence.
TAX SUBSIDY??? At what higher rate does a tax subsidy take place. So 36% tax rate is a tax subsidy???
I have no idea what the last three comments mean! When I speak of tax subsidy, I'm speaking of those "economic development" schemes created for Nebraska businesses. And, I'm speaking of the philanthropists who spend their money on civic projects and programs IN EXCHANGE FOR paying their taxes.
Anon 12:48 You have forgotten the last two elections. The Democrats have won them. 2006. Then 2008. Even Nebraska the redest of the red states gave an electoral vote to a democrat. I think Democrats know a thing or two about winning.
This last week as been very interesting. Sara Palins daughter marriage is on then off, maybe on again. While she tries to figure out which one of her daughters father's girl friends is expecting. While Bill and Hillary Clinton's daughter is a graduate of Stanford. Both bride and groom have jobs. Chelesy is waiting to have a child some time into her marriage. They are paying their own bills While the Palins are relying on welfare through food stamps and Native American health care. Now which party is the family values party?
A little lesson for the voddoo economics people
Here is how people paying more in taxes stimulates the economy. If the tax rate for income over $500,000 is 95%, are you going to pay yourself $600,000? No. You are going to take that extra $100,000 and invest it to avoid the taxes. Are you going to give yourself a $10 million bonus? No, and that money will go back into the economy instead of into your bank account.
The middle class was created during the 50s and 60s when the top tax rate for incomes over $400,000 was, at the least 72%, and at the most 92%. Most would agree that those twenty years were some of the most prosperous for ALL citizens in this country's history.
If you want the prosperity of years gone by, go back to the policies that brought that prosperity. Why can't people understand that? I guess it is just a little too simple for some people to grasp.
More facts for the voddoo economics people. Under Jimmy Carter, the debt decreased by 3.3%
Under Ronald Reagan, the debt increased by 20.6%
Under George HW Bush, the debt increased by 15.0%
Under Bill Clinton, the debt decreased by 9.7%
Under George W Bush, the debt increased by 27.1%
There is no accurate measure for Obama, since he is only half way through his term, though he DID ineherit that 27.1% increase from Bush the Lesser (a $1.3 trillion deficit).
THAT is the fair measure of supply-side/trickle-down/voodoo ecnomics.
SO PROSPEROUS THEY HAS THE GREAT SOCIETY PASSED?
Welcome to Nebraska Senator Scott Brown!! Thank you for standing up for women's reproductive rights!!
It's a sad day in the Nebraska pro-life movement when nobody is speaking out about a pro-choice keynote speaker at the NEGOP convention because their leader is tied up in a Hastings School Board race. That's right, NEGOP flies in someone whose views on abortion are no different than Ted Kennedy's or Nancy Pelosi's and there's nothing but dead silence from NRTL. Yet, NRTL sends out a flier to Hastings voters attacking Jane Fleming Kleeb in a school board race.
Abortion on demand will be completely legal, uninhibited and a political non-issue within 10 years with leadership like this. As a pro-choice voter, I applaud Julie Schmit-Albin for filling a role that could be filled by an effective pro-life leader.
Squeal and scream all you want. Dems are going to lose and lose big in Nov. The question is will the R's put a stake through whats left and work to undo the criminal work done to date by the Liberal Progressive Politicians.
Regardless, because of Obama the D's are done for the next decade.
Good point that Scott Brown of Mass. is pro-choice. I knew he was not all that bad.
(By the way, in speaking with the ACLU lawyers in Benson at the concert last night, a challenge against LB 1103 is coming, and look for it's fate to be the same as LB 594. Sad to say though that the Neanderthals in the Unicam will probably come up with another insulting law next session.)
But the point in this post is that if there were anybody more irrelevant in the Senate than Mike Johanns I'd like to see them.
Nobody pays attention to him, so he could go ahead and quit again and nobody would notice.
Ricky From Omaha
Squeal lil Ricky from Omaha squeal. Your party is going to lose more and more......Kind of cool isn't it?
"Abortion on demand will be completely legal, uninhibited and a political non-issue within 10 years with leadership like this."
Um. It's already completely legal and uninhibited. Political non-issue in 10 years? That's a good one. It's been almost 40 years since Roe v Wade. You really think the heat is dying down?
@anonymous
Even Michael Steele doesn't think the Republicans will take control of the House and Senate this term. We Dems may lose seats, but that's normal for the first midterm of a new party controlling the White House. Democrats will squeak past 2010 without losing majority in either house. President Obama's health care program is gaining popularity and by November of 2012 the Republican's candidate Mitt Romney will brag about very similar health care reforms he implemented in Massachusetts.
Roland Burris is easily more irrelevant, Ricky. Al Franken, with his ability to induce eye-rolling and his penny-ante subcommittee assignments would also rank as more irrelevant.
"President Obama's health care program is gaining popularity..."
Only in Bizarro land.
And MacDiddly is relevant ... how? His missives beamed to earth from his bedrooom in his elderly folks' basement induce vomit-in-mouth and fingers-pinching-nose reactions.
I'm glad I have that effect on you. BTW, my missives aren't beamed to Earth. I have high-speed cable access.
Macdaddy, you're an idiot. Abortion is far from uninhibited, Nebraska women are forced to have an ultrasound performed and lawmakers are pushing for more and more restrictions. If Tony Fulton had his way women would be forced to pick out a name for their fetus and paint one bedroom in their home either blue or pink and purchase a crib before they could seek an abortion
I think it's silly to discredit Ayn Rand because she's written fiction (I think some of her writing can be described as prophetic). If you have read Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, you would know it's
A) A non-fiction collection of essays, and
B) Has philosophy laid out by Rand and Nathan Branden, and economics corroborated by Alan Greenspan.
I think it's silly to discredit Ayn Rand because she's written fiction (I think some of her writing can be described as prophetic). If you have read Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal, you would know it's
A) A non-fiction collection of essays, and
B) Has philosophy laid out by Rand and Nathan Branden, and economics corroborated by Alan Greenspan.
Wow! Greenspan! Isn't he the guy that got us into this mess were in?
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