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June 4, 2012

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Letter to the editor:

Human life isn’t a pawn in politics

Vernos Branco, Las Vegas

Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.

During the Republican primary debates, I was angered a bit by the callous attitudes of the GOP/Tea Party. Wolf Blitzer presented a hypothetical situation about man who doesn’t have health insurance but gets sick and falls into a coma. “Are you saying that society should just let him die?” Blitzer asked.

“Yes!” some members of the crowd yelled out. How hypocritical, since it was the Tea Party hollering about death panels during the health care debates. Apparently they’ve forgotten their stand against “pulling the plug” on Terri Schiavo.

Just a week earlier, the audience applauded Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s policy about executions, not accounting for the possibility of an innocent person being put to death.

When I wrote about the lack of concern over the Massey mining disaster and the BP explosion that killed people, I was attacked by extremists. Their response was that risk is part of the job. I seriously doubt those individuals realize accidents can be prevented by not cutting safety corners in lieu of profits.

According to Amnesty USA, more than 130 people since 1973 have been released from death row due to evidence of wrongful conviction. In 2003 alone, 10 wrongfully convicted defendants were released from death row.

Human life means little to people who lack empathy; obviously there are Tea Partyers who fall into that category. I thought neocons were a bit much, but these new far-right radicals bring a new definition to crazy.

Discussion: 42 comments so far…

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  1. By dipstick
    Sept. 17, 2011
    4:05 a.m.
    Flag

    i like how the republican chorus re- directs the conversation as ringo blames wolf blitzer and refnever blames vernos for asking the question. the teabaggers dont give a rats ass about any one in a coma nor the american people. look at that cross eyed batsh*t crazy sharon angle, for example, wanting to eliminate medical care for iraq war veterans and abolishing social security. republicans and teabaggers only do ONE thing well, and thats lie their ass off.

  2. By dipstick
    Sept. 17, 2011
    4:30 a.m.
    Flag

    refnv; look at it this way, vernos IS a trusted commenter and shows some guts by IDENTIFYING himself while others, like yourself, hide behind an anonymous name, like most of the republican and teabagger supporters. i support vernos over some unidentified poster who doesnt have the courage to back up his convictions.

  3. By lericgoodman (Leric Goodman)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    4:52 a.m.
    Flag

    Apparently, Vernos, it is. But the bigger cheer was for letting uninsured people die without health care.

    These people tend to call themselves "Christian", but you have to wonder whether they really are more like the Romans who sat as spectators in the Coliseum and cheered as the wild beasts tore apart and ate the unarmed Christians for their entertainment.

  4. By lericgoodman (Leric Goodman)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    5:02 a.m.
    Flag

    And RefNV, re-read the Gospel of Mark.

  5. By ASadTeacher (Nancy Agustin)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    6:06 a.m.
    Flag

    This country was founded with underpinnings of Christian values. When did we start uprooting them? How did we end up classifying ourselves as conservatives and liberals, republicans and democrats, big government and small government advocates? Isn't there anything that could bridge the gap? What is it that we really want? We have lost sight of what we really want as human beings in our quest to ruin each other. Al Qaeda, the Taliban, or any terrorist for that matter do not even need to do anything. We are doing what they want to do to us ourselves!

    If liberals had to fight for anything, why don't you fight for systemic change to mitigate abuses in social services benefits such as food stamps, welfare, Medicaid and the like. Why don't you channel your energies to 'clean up' that mess.

    Liberals should concentrate their efforts to change what has now become a government dole through income no-tax refund.

    If liberals had to fight, why don't you fight for abuses in politics and power that tend to favor those who have instead of have-nots?

    Conservatives yell for small government, yet advocate for government to tell women what to do with their own bodies and who are allowed to get married?

    Conservatives advocate to save human embryos, yet would let a man die because he was not responsible enough to plan for his own medical care?

    Conservatives decry funding of social services as irresponsible government yet advocate tax breaks for the most wealthy?

    If we reflect what we really want and set aside all the hullaballo, we will realize we all want the same thing: A decent life that is relatively free from harm.

    Right now, the terrorists are cheering us on. China is laughing at us waiting in the sidelines without having to fire a single bullet. The rest of the world is watching us with open mouths. Refocus America!

  6. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    6:51 a.m.
    Flag

    "Since 1973, over 130 people have been released from death rows throughout the country due to evidence of their wrongful convictions. In 2003 alone, 10 wrongfully convicted defendants were released from death row."

    http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/issue...

    I have little doubt when the audience resoundly applauded Rick Perry for putting people to death, they thought about an innocent being executed. I, for one, did a 180 degree turn concerning executions when I realized many prosecutors use the system to advance their political careers.

    For you fiscal conservatives, it would be cost effective not to hold executions; but what does a swaggering-coyote shootn-rootn-tootn (I miss the red handlebar moustache) Texan full of himself care?

  7. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    7:24 a.m.
    Flag

    "A jury of citizens unanimously determine guilt or innocence, not the prosecutor."

    Tell that to the Duke University lacrosse team. The DA fudged the evidence and had the lab techs lie in court. I wonder how many cases that happens in, especially if you are a person without funding. You are kidding yourself if you think these people are on the up and up.

  8. By EH122 (Eric Hutson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    7:25 a.m.
    Flag

    Vernos Branco,

    I was born and raised in Texas. I've sat on a Texas jury in Dallas county on a murder trial and saw all the evidence including the crime scene pictures and the DNA evidence. It's no fun convicting someone but the evidence proved the man was guilty. Afterwards, we learned that the same man we convicted was already convicted on two other murder charges that happened that same night(he went on a drug-fueled murder rampage trying to get more money to feed his habit). As a juror, when you convict someone you still feel bad for the family of the convicted person. The only consolation you have is that you served society and made your decision based on a full viewing of the factual evidence.

  9. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    7:43 a.m.
    Flag

    I don't favor the death penalty and would instead like to see life without parole for those we now execute. It would cost less and be open to reversal if a mistake is made. That sounds 'reasonable' to me.

    Others disagree, and sometimes those people are the family of a murder victim, who ask: Why should the murderer of my brother live, while my brother's life is ended? That's a valid question also and I understand that feeling.

    I have nothing against those that favor the death penalty except that I disagree with them.

    Vernos letter is just another attempt to cast the tea party supporters as 'crazy'.

    I'm sure the Tea Party does contain people who hold views that many might consider crazy, but so do all groups of like minded people.

    Vernos and others don't like or agree with much of what the Tea Party stands for and that is as it should be. However, people in the Tea Party that probably support gun rights, the death penalty, making abortion illegal, also support a government that is more responsible with tax payer money, can and does balance a budget, starts to reduce our debt, etc.

    I favor some of what they stand for and disagree with other things. Do I think all of them are 'crazy' and wrong? No.

    We all need to stop labeling and try to see a side other than our own and we all need to be willing to compromise. Our Democracy isn't working very well at the moment and all this polarization is part of the reason why. The tea Party isn't all 'correct', but it also isn't all 'incorrect'.

    I don't always agree with ASadTeacher (Nancy Agustin), but her letter today is pretty much on the mark.

    Michael

  10. By ASadTeacher (Nancy Agustin)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    7:45 a.m.
    Flag

    Ola Frank:

    There was nothing in my post that says about policing the world.

    Please don't call it a "little lecture." Yes. We tend to dismiss SIMPLE TRUTHS because we try to sound like "we know what we are talking about" using fancy words, statistics, data, and "informed knowledge about this and that."

    Come down a bit you "smart people" and think what is really important: Winning an argument? I know more than you do? I have a bigger house than you do? I have more cars than you do? I have more power than you do? My arguments are better than yours? I have a bigger thingy than you have?

    Who are you people trying to impress? No one really is impressed because everone is so busy playing "smart." None of those things make a heck of a difference when you're under 6 feet of dirt. AND THAT IS THE SIMPLE TRUTH!

    While you're still here, make your lives and other's tolerable. That's all that is needed to be done.

    But, these SIMPLE TRUTHS are all "sissy stuff" for you all "powerful men" in your quests to prove you have the biggest thingy of them all!

    And the children are all watching and emulating YOU!

  11. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    8:08 a.m.
    Flag

    "I was born and raised in Texas. I've sat on a Texas jury in Dallas county on a murder trial and saw all the evidence including the crime scene pictures and the DNA evidence."

    Think about this for one minute. You saw what the DA and/or prosecutor wanted you to see connecting that person to a crime. I'm not defending the person, but trying to expose a system that is broken.

    If 130 people were released from death row, how many innocent people were executed?

    Yes Michael I cast some members of the Tea Party as crazy. I am convinced many of them are so steadfast in their anti Obama anti government routine they are incapable of thinking problems through and finding solutions. Think about all the crazy crap Michele Bachmann, Louie Gohmert, Sarah Palin, Sharon Angle and others, that brings cheers from their followers. Just how nutz do you have to be to be a presidential candidate saying outrageous things. If you speak with any logic or reason your poll numbers drop down to 1%.

    It's time some of you looked at the whole picture starting from the presidential debated of 2008 all the way through. those on the far right lost their ever lovin minds when Obama won the election.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again; I'm reminded of the John Birch Society and their battle with William F. Buckley, a true conservative I did admire. It's a damn shame those responsible conservatives who speak up now are ignored or chastised, they are deemed as RINO.

  12. By EH122 (Eric Hutson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    8:24 a.m.
    Flag

    VernosB,

    Video evidence and two witnesses is pretty conclusive evidence. Evidence by the way is collected by investigators, not the DA office.
    I know you're trying to stick with your claim but I just wanted to explain my experience.

  13. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    8:42 a.m.
    Flag

    Vernos,

    The problem I have with you and others is that you do very little to make a distinction between people with 'crazy' views as you call them and others in the Tea Party who are much more reasonable.

    This makes be wonder if you really do think that anyone who supports the death penalty and applauds when Wolf Blitzer asks a death penalty question to which Perry replies 'I sleep fine' are 'crazy'.

    It was a 'loaded' question that he had a right to ask, but I can understand some applause from people who support the death penalty when Perry didn't say 'I cry after every one', 'I was wrong to execute those people' or stare like a deer in the headlights and not answer... all the kinds of reactions Blitzer would have loved.

    I 'm sure he liked the response he got also, since the question was designed to make the guy look bad. This is what passes for a fair debate (on both sides) these days. SAD.

    This where people on both side have gone wrong. Alan Combs said on TV he believes in open borders. I disagree with him but I don't call him 'crazy'. I just think he is wrong. I've not met the man but I've watched, listened and read what he writes. He seems intelligent, and well educated and not 'crazy' at all. I just disagree with him.

    Too many people on all sides watch an event like the debate, see a reaction in a small audience and make a value judgment of 'crazy'! .... based on what? You don't know any of these people, haven't spoken to them, had a discussion, read what they've written, etc.

    Too many of us form an opinion, take a stand, and then glom onto 'anything' that supports what we already believe. If it's a 'leap' to get from A to B, it doesn't matter. If a generalization is required it doesn't matter. If there is contrary evidence it doesn't matter.

    I actually agree with you, not Perry and those that applauded about the death penalty. The difference is that I know I do not know any of these people or even Perry very well, so I am unwilling to brand them as 'crazy', just as I am unwilling to brand 'Alan Combs' 'crazy' because he holds 'an idea', 'open borders' I find to be a 'crazy' idea.

    That's the difference. I try very hard not to 'brand' people or groups. Ideas, yes! People and groups. No. We'd be alot better off if we just stuck to ideas and left our people and group 'branding irons' at home.

    Michael

  14. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    8:45 a.m.
    Flag

    @EH122,

    Like I said, I wasn't defending the criminal, it's the system. DA's and prosecutors aren't held accountable for the mispresentation of evidence that imprisons innocent people. You can't sue them because "it would make them unable to perform their job" is the standard comment.

    "The Innocence Project has facilitated the exoneration of 214 men who were convicted of crimes they did not commit, as a result of faulty eyewitness evidence."

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyewitness_...

    http://truthinjustice.org/child-abuse.ht...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_care_se...

    After executing someone you can't respond by saying, "oops, my bad." The bottom line, what does it say about a society that applauds the death of others, although a few of those others may be innocent?

  15. By jrtsr (John Thompson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    9:10 a.m.
    Flag

    Nancy: How wonderful your post is. I try to look at things in much the same way. It seems that we have all taken the "gothca" to a new level. I blame this mostly on the media. My sons are members of the Tea Party. They look at EVERTHING like Dennis and mred, et al, only from the other side of the political spectrum. I have tried to teach them that NOTHING is black and white yet they look at everything as black and white. They love to watch Fox News. I never get any news from the tv. In my opinion it is a SHOW! It is there for ratings and to sell commercial time. PERIOD!

    I am a veteran (not a retired veteran) and on social security so I believe that I have a valid opinion of the issues. I thought that some of Vernos' post made sense, some didn't. Micheal has a way of trying to look at things objectively. And Nancy, if you want a simple truth, Frank is simple!

    Hey Dennis! I guess we will get to see how well my Tigers do against the "Best Team Money Can Buy" or the Red Flops!

  16. By jrtsr (John Thompson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    9:16 a.m.
    Flag

    It seems to me that the Republicans take on life is: We will do our best to see that you are born. After that you are on your own. The Democrats on the other hand: You have a 1 in 6 chance of being born but if you make it, you can be on the dole forever.

    I believe that abortion is wrong but more than that, I don't believe I have any right to tell someone else what they can or cannot do with their body.

  17. By mschaffer (Mark Schaffer)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    9:24 a.m.
    Flag

    John,
    I am glad you see the detestable stance of conservatives for what they are and should notice that the audience cheering the execution of people in Texas were not, ostensibly, teapublicans. With all that please don't oversimplify the stance that Democrats have on the issue of abortion. After all, if you believe in the christian mythology, god is busy performing abortions all the time.

  18. By dipstick
    Sept. 17, 2011
    9:38 a.m.
    Flag

    jrtsr; i hope it works out they beat the yankees, if it goes that far.

  19. By jrtsr (John Thompson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    10:05 a.m.
    Flag

    Mark: I do not believe in "christian mythology" but I have never berated anyone that did. I am not sure what you mean by "oversimplify"? I would like your take on that.

  20. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    10:16 a.m.
    Flag

    jrtsr (John Thompson),

    You won't hear it from Mschaffer, but many people appear to be less than consistent on the death penalty and abortion. I am one of those.

    I don't support the death penalty but I do support 'abortion rights'. I hate the thought of abortions but I find it difficult to agree that the government should be able to ban them either.

    I can see why people support the death penalty but I don't.

    Thank you for noticing that I try to see both sides and be reasonable (not always successfully). I wish there were more thoughtful people out there. Maybe tomorrow.

    Michael

  21. By jrtsr (John Thompson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    10:26 a.m.
    Flag

    Michael: I can understand why some people want the death penalty. I really do. IF, we could be assured that the person being executed was actually guilty then I think the argument would be moot. It is an "eye for an eye" mentality and I do not think it is necessarily wrong. As Ron White says "If you kill someone we will kill you back". The problem is that we have found many examples where the wrong man was executed and that can never be right.

    Go Blue!

  22. By bobglover (Bob Glover)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    10:40 a.m.
    Flag

    Apparently the crop of GOP presidential candidates, as well as many of their fellow party members believe that life begins at the very moment of conception and ends at birth, as evidenced by their opposition to abortion under any circumstances and rabid, unflagging support of the death penalty.

  23. By wtplv (Michael Casler)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    10:52 a.m.
    Flag

    jrtsr (John Thompson),

    That's correct and how I feel too. I have no disagreement with you on that. But I do understand those that believe in 'an eye for an eye' and especially the feelings of the victim's families.

    Michael

  24. By KillerB
    Sept. 17, 2011
    10:57 a.m.
    Flag

    "This country was founded with underpinnings of Christian values. When did we start uprooting them?"

    ASadTeacher -- and you get that from where exactly? And depend on me to "uproot them" whenever and wherever someone like you keeps shoving them at the rest of us.

    "The founders of our nation were nearly all Infidels, and that of the presidents who had thus far been elected [Washington; Adams; Jefferson; Madison; Monroe; Adams; Jackson] not a one had professed a belief in Christianity.... Among all our presidents from Washington downward, not one was a professor of religion, at least not of more than Unitarianism." -- The Reverend Doctor Bird Wilson, an Episcopal minister in Albany, New York, in a sermon preached in October, 1831

  25. By ASadTeacher (Nancy Agustin)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    12:55 p.m.
    Flag

    Killer B

    YOU WIN! You have the biggest of them all!

    Let's all take up arms and maim each other while the terrorists grin like the Cheshire cat.

    I know it is pointless, I had to try.

  26. By jrtsr (John Thompson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    1 p.m.
    Flag

    KillerB: Perhaps if you were a little older you might understand ASadTeacher's comment. When I was a child the "underpinnings" of religion were obvious anywhere. Today that is not the case. I do not recall her saying that the President stood up and gave us a sermon every week. The ideology of our country was different than it is now. Yesterday at the grocer a lady ran into me with her shopping cart. I was waiting for an apology and all I got was a dirty look because I guess I was in her way. It is all about "me" now and to heck with you. I believe that is what Nancey was referring to.

  27. By Purgatory
    Sept. 17, 2011
    1:25 p.m.
    Flag

    Vernos,

    Only you could hear 'members of the crowd' yell something that NO ONE of EITHER party supports and draw a broad conclusion. On the other hand, you have given me enough information over time to conclude that you are mentally unbalanced.

    Sadly, there are many like you. Please seek assistance.

    Regards,
    Purgatory

  28. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    1:52 p.m.
    Flag

    "Only you could hear 'members of the crowd' yell something that NO ONE of EITHER party supports and draw a broad conclusion."

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meX1EwDXL...

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMHY21VA8...

  29. By Janmara1 (Marvin Adelman)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    2:24 p.m.
    Flag

    I would strongly recommend that every caring person in this country write,call and speak to their religious leaders. The silence is deafening from the clergy.
    Remember the lessons of Germany.
    First they came for the liberals
    then they came for the intellectuals
    then they came for the clergy
    then they came for me
    WE all of us better speak up and a good start would be religious leaders
    I wrote to the evangelical church in Ca. Rev Warren and have not had one single response. Is anyone home????

  30. By jrtsr (John Thompson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    3:31 p.m.
    Flag

    Wow! RefNV, I was left with the same question. What the heck are you talking about janmara1?

  31. By mike_kerns (mike kerns)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    4:24 p.m.
    Flag

    Vernos, good letter and you should also have noticed the crowd booing rick Perry there own favorite to be president over his answer to instate tuition in Texas. If rick Perry does not satisfy these people who can?

  32. By KillerB
    Sept. 17, 2011
    6:10 p.m.
    Flag

    ASadTeacher -- no contest here about who has larger anything, and there's nothing to win. It's just a discussion.

    "KillerB: Perhaps if you were a little older you might understand ASadTeacher's comment."

    jrtsr -- oh, I understand far better than you can imagine. I was actually an ordained minister earlier in life. Now I have no use for organized religion of any kind.

    You seem to suggest one must be religious to be moral and decent. To the contrary, the history of christianity is mostly a history of slaughter. Google victims of christianity. Or check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Requerimien...
    then
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominionism...

    I don't see a lot of difference between the two.

    "The greatest tragedy in mankind's entire history may be the hijacking of morality by religion." -- Arthur C. Clarke, 1999, from "God, Science, and Delusion: A Chat With Arthur C. Clarke" in Free Inquiry magazine

  33. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    6:33 p.m.
    Flag

    "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross." - Sinclair Lewis, It Can't Happen Here.

    "Many conservatives, particularly those who are clearly authoritarians, are not aware of their illogical, contradictory, and hypocritical thinking. If made cognizant of it, they either rationalize it away, neglect to care, or attack those who reveal their human weaknesses. Because such thinking seems to be a reality of contemporary conservatism, anyone operating from a logical mind or has the inclination toward a reasoned judgment will have a problem with this."

    -John Dean (White House Council to Richard Nixon) Conservatives Without Conscience

    "Historian Bruce Bartlett, a former domestic policy adviser to President Ronald Reagan, sat down with MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Wednesday to discuss the national debt."

    "Bartlett said it was a myth that tax cuts are the key to prosperity, noting that Reagan raised the capital gains rate. He was also skeptical that Congress would be able to solve the current budget crisis."

    "I think at this point, there's nothing that can pass the House of Representatives," he said.

    "I think a good chunk of the Republican caucus is either stupid, crazy, ignorant or craven cowards, who are desperately afraid of the tea party people, and rightly so."

  34. By jrtsr (John Thompson)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    7:08 p.m.
    Flag

    KillerB: No I do not think that you must be christian to be moral. Not at all. I am about as atheist as they come. My point was that I think we had a much better attitude toward one another in the 40's and 50's than we do now. I agree that the history of christianity and catholicism in particular has a very violent history. Our values were taught by our parents and reinforced by religion.

  35. By KillerB
    Sept. 17, 2011
    7:31 p.m.
    Flag

    "My point was that I think we had a much better attitude toward one another in the 40's and 50's than we do now...Our values were taught by our parents and reinforced by religion."

    jrtsr -- right, the Red Scare, McCarthy's witch hunt for commies, rampant censorship, everybody in lockstep singing the same songs. I lived it. Glad to have grown out of it.

    Try philosophy instead of religion. I recommend replacing the bible with The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.

    "To sum up: 1. The cosmos is a gigantic fly-wheel making 10,000 revolutions a minute. 2. Man is a sick fly taking a dizzy ride on it. 3. Religion is the theory that the wheel was designed and set spinning to give him the ride." -- H. L. Mencken, "Coda" 1920

  36. By VernosB (vernos branco)
    Sept. 17, 2011
    7:39 p.m.
    Flag

    "The VAST majority of Americans KNOW ...."

    The Tea Party and GOP are full of it. As much as Congress sux, it's those on the right taking up the basement in pollings.

    CBS/NY Times Poll

    Low Marks for Congress
    September 10-15, 2011

    Job approval of Congress has now reached 12% - matching the lowest ever recorded by the CBS News/New York Times Poll.
    Most Americans disapprove of the job both parties are doing in Congress, but they disapprove of Republicans (72%) more than Democrats (63%).
    Looking ahead, just 6% of voters - the lowest percentage recorded in this poll - think most members of Congress deserve re-election, and 84% think they don't. 57% think their own representative does not deserve re-election.

  37. By gmag39
    Sept. 18, 2011
    8:46 a.m.
    Flag

    Good stuff, as usual, from the always astute Vernos...

    Followed by the usual claptrap from the usual propagandists on the 'right'...

    Americans have been manipulated into 2 corners;

    GOOD vs. EVIL.
    RIGHT vs. WRONG.
    MONEY vs. MORALS.
    I! ME! MINE! vs. US, WE, OURS.

    In the majority, Americans are good & decent people.
    However... the evil, greedy, unencumbered by morals, selfish element amongst us is winning the propaganda battle, to be sure.

  38. By its2hot (Tim Wiggin)
    Sept. 18, 2011
    10:01 a.m.
    Flag

    Understanding Liberals -- are they stupid, misinformed, or evil? My point of view, all 3 apply reading their posts.

  39. By its2hot (Tim Wiggin)
    Sept. 18, 2011
    4:23 p.m.
    Flag

    "I was told a thousand times, maybe 10 thousand times, that the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy was creating jobs. If that was true why did we have a recession at all?"

    Repeal of Glass-Steagall, enactment of Gramm--Leach--Bliley Act in conjunction with Community Reinvestment Act all played a role in the financial meltdown that boosted jobs, not the tax cuts. The high unemployment of today has nothing to do with the single family real estate market, the high unemployment numbers is 100% about Obama and the direction he and the liberals are taking America.

    Businesses require planning to succeed, not short term planning but long term, 25 year business model or longer. Long term planning under the leadership of Obama had to drastically change from that of previews administrations where it is impossible and frankly a waste of time and money to plan with his ever changing policies. The economy will turn around in 2016 or 2017, not a year sooner providing Obama is removed in 2012.

    What the Obama's minions don't understand is the commercial lending markets haven't fully collapsed and won't until 2015, this will result in as much as 5 trillion taken from the US economy where the FDIC is shoring up the banks and their reserves to handle for the last two and half years. If banks don't pass the stress test, the FDIC has been closing them down and consolidating them with larger banks that can absorb the clientele seamlessly where the hits are being taken as each closure occurs.

  40. By mschaffer (Mark Schaffer)
    Sept. 19, 2011
    8:27 a.m.
    Flag

    Timmy,
    You will never post anything accurate and factual as long as you listen to gossip radio and watch Faux News. Is there anyone reading and believing the fallacious nonsense of Timmy who isn't a fellow listener and watcher of conservative nonsense?

  41. By its2hot (Tim Wiggin)
    Sept. 19, 2011
    7:26 p.m.
    Flag

    Shaffer:

    I love when liberals like you speak, it's even better when liberals like you beat to the same old drum beat, such as your allegiance to Obama; here is how I suspect you say your pledge of allegiance.

    "I pledge of allegiance to the Obama of the United States of America. And to the Obama which we stand, one nation under Obama, with loyalty and obedience for Obama"

  42. By mschaffer (Mark Schaffer)
    Sept. 19, 2011
    10:05 p.m.
    Flag

    I see no one is defending your rhetorical nonsense Timmy. Your last post was not only cognition free but lame.

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