Wordsmoker

Thanks for posting this LG. Like so many here, I find it nutty and sad how Biblical teachings are perverted by the weak – and this is one of the reasons we non-believers may perceive believers as weak – and used for political gain by those who would corral the fear of the weak-minded. I mean, I just got used to the fact that Obama is a secret Muslim, now the leaflet tells me I need to believe that he’s a super-secret Jew?

Regarding the discussion of fiscal conservatism I think it is possible that many Americans prefer “fiscally conservative” politicians because many Americans are fiscally-conservative in their private lives. But, unfortunately, at least two aspects of the manifestation of this idealogy in government are never discussed in the prominent media sources: first, the practice of the right, at least since Reagan, of defunding the left, and second, the consequences of funding cuts. Not only am I weary of these not being discussed by our largely irresponsible media, I am also frustrated with every day fiscal conservatives who hold up this frugality as an unimpeachable badge of ethical responsibility.

Defunding the left by Republicans is a calculated political move, the cutting of programs in a largely indiscriminate manner that would force the next liberal to take the defunded office to spend more money in an effort to restore a sense of basic justice. Is that what really happens when the Republican leaves an office and a Democrat takes over? A mixed bag, surely. But at least it’s an effort in the exercise of compassion. Then when the Democrat runs for reelection, the Republican can yell from the rafters how “irresponsible” the Democrat was. Because a forced hand is always irresponsible.

Many conservatives scream that liberals want handouts and free rides, but all the average liberal wants is a sense of fair play. Consider this: of all the “first world” countries in the world, the United States has the lowest economic mobility. Born poor in the U.S, stay poor in the U.S. The bootstraps are broken, and what we “elite” liberals like myself want is to simply give the guy a new pair of fucking laces. Conservatives just don’t seem to get that. Take what happens when an actual fiscal conservative gets into office: that conservative darling of Mayberry Bobby Jindal, who took a fiscal axe to the healthcare system in his own state. What happened? People died. Before they should have.

Lastly, most “fiscal conservatives” are not fiscally conservative when they get into office. Actual fiscal conservatism is largely a ruse used to win elections, and, even when it is employed, it is never judicious, it is never with a consideration of the potential harm it does. Show me a fiscal conservative who improves the efficiency of government without leaving people behind, and I would support them. So far, no sale.

And Rachel Maddow, as much as I find her grating at times, is no lying alarmist like Beck or O’Reilly. Maddow or Olberman or the Young Turks or Morning Sedition NEVER suggested we put a stake through Bush’s heart.

One of the more delicious ironies in all this: so many conservatives have disdain for the overwhelming scientific body of knowledge supporting evolution, but there is an element of social Darwinism in every policy they support.

BL: Arming illegal immigrants, are you? For shame!!!!!

Yes, this poll has stupid written all over it

@Chill: The religious right is a huge player in the Republican party and, under the current circumstances, their power is at the high end of the spectrum. A strong Obama means running against him is a high risk proposition with the possibility of a big return. So only the extremists contemplate it (Palin=best example here). The road to victory is simple: win the primary and hope Obama fails and so you have a shot. Winning the primary means appealing exclusively to the base, and the religious right is a big part of the base. So, the longer the shot at upsetting Obama, the more base-based (so to speak) the opposition, and the more power for the religious right. If, on the other hand, Obama weakens, then that opens the door for centrists (if there are any; the Santorum announcement seems interesting here ) and other opportunists, and the calculations shift to the middle (although, of course, there’s still the problem of getting through the primaries).

That’s a partial response to article one (a)(1)(4) of your post, but I’ve run out of wine and energy to pursue the rest right now. Look forward to future opportunities to discuss these matters.