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Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 | 2:01 a.m.
Another view?
View more of the Las Vegas Sun's opinion section:
• Editorials - the Sun's viewpoint.
• Columnists - local and syndicated writers.
• Letters to the editor - readers' views.
Have your own opinion? Write a letter to the editor.
A common theme from some Republicans is that their party has drifted away from its core values and that they need to return to the days of Ronald Reagan. They believe that if conservatives would only embrace the Reagan agenda, they would be able to nominate small-government candidates and start winning elections.
Lest those on the right with no recollection of history forget, here are just a few of President Reagan’s achievements: He signed 11 tax increases into law during his tenure as president; he granted amnesty to illegal immigrants; in his eight years, the U.S. went from being the world’s largest international creditor to being the world’s largest debtor. In 1981, the deficit was $74 billion and the national debt was $930 billion. By the end of his presidency, the national debt had spiraled to $2.9 trillion. He strongly supported the 1991 Brady bill and threw his full support behind the 1994 assault weapons ban.
After President Barack Obama’s first inauguration, Republicans in Congress said their top priority was to make him a one-term president. After his second inauguration, they whined that his speech wasn’t more bipartisan. With hypocrisy like that, it’s no wonder the Republicans begin their new session with a 73 percent disapproval rating, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll last month.
As a Democrat, I personally would welcome someone with Reagan’s political acumen. A significant portion of today’s crop of Republicans in no way resemble Reagan-era Republicans. So, yes, by all means, let’s return to the good old Reagan days. Perhaps, then, things will actually get done in Washington.
"Every dollar($1) of increased tax revenue since 1980 has been matched by a dollar & a quarter($1.25) of increased spending( by the government)"
Reagan on tax increases
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJtH9-ADU...
note: Reagan did not have control of the house & senate during his two terms, therefore, could not control government spending.
"After years of unstinting praise from the right, and unrelenting criticism from the left, historian David Henry finds that by 2009 a consensus had emerged among scholars that Reagan revived conservatism and turned the nation to the right by demonstrating a "pragmatic conservatism" that promoted ideology within the constraints imposed by the divided political system. Furthermore, says Henry, the consensus viewpoint agrees that he revived faith in the presidency and American self-confidence, and contributed critically to ending the Cold War".
Reagan on Wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidency_...
Even Obama likes Reagan
Reagan worked well with Democrats. Reagan never tried to annihilate the opposition.
Reagan never made a deal and then lied and walked away from it
----
Obama's Inauguration speech re-ignited and inflamed the negative tone in America.
This was Obama's annihilate the Conservatives speech
No - I repeat - No Obama call for National Unity
Obama in his WE THE GOVERNMENT inaugural speech told us he won again and his manifesto would expand the liberal progressive bigger government agenda.
----
Can't wait to hear Obama blast conservatives in the State of Union speech
"By the end of his presidency, the national debt had spiraled to $2.9 trillion."
-----
Golly Gosh
Obama after just four years in office Obama has a national debt of $16.5 trillion
Obama raised the national debt by $6 trillion or $1.5 trillion per year
---
Obama wants to get out of the sequester deal calling for more taxes. Pure hypocrisy
Well tough - it was Obama's idea, Obama signed the bill, Obama failed to lead the Super-committee to a revised deal, and Obama had over a year to plan an orderly implementation.
Obama conceived the the sequester bill (The Obama Budget Control Act of 2011) to resolve the debt limit process in 2011 and Obama SIGNED THE SEQUESTER BILL August 2, 2011.
Furthermore the agreement established the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, sometimes called the "super committee", to produce deficit reduction legislation by November 23, 2011, that would be immune from amendments or filibuster - and yet Obama FAILED TO LEAD A DEAL TO AVOID SEQUESTER.
Every time a budget crisis comes along like the fiscal cliff Obama wants to use the sequester as hostage in another deal
Now in February 2013 after an 2012 election in which to win Obama took full credit for the budget reduction, Obama does not want to implement the budget reduction sequester bill he signed
Jim Graham,
I'm not fooled by your effort to ignore today by reaching back to yesteryear. Americans are now waiting for the extra tax revenue of $40-$60 billion annually from top wage earners to now speed up our economic recovery, lower unemployment and appreciably reduce deficit spending. Let's see what happens Jim.
As usual, it seems impossible for people to take a fair look at Reagan, Obama or Congress. Reagan spent on the military to end the cold war. He was mostly successful but didn't raise taxes enough or control spending enough to keep the debt from rising substantially.
Obama spent in order to try to mitigate the effects of a recession. The effects were mitigated but he has not raised taxes or controlled spending enough to keep the debt from rising substantially.
Congress holds a great responsibility for the failures of both men regarding deficit spending and debt.
We needed and need an electorate that holds Presidents and members of Congress responsible when they refuse to make tough and unpopular decisions regarding spending and revenue.
This is why we need term limits, public financing of campaigns and lobbying reform. We also need many fewer 'cheerleaders' for Reagan, Obama, Democrat members of Congress and Republican members of Congress.
Michael
Letter writer forgets that Reagan inherited double digit inflation and high unemployment from President Carter. A brand new economic phenomenon called "stagflation." And President Reagan turned it around with one of the longest periods of economic growth in American history. However, President Obama and his Administration constantly remind us what President Bush passed on to him. And after 4 years, no change: Unemployment still hovering at about 8 percent, economic growth at a dismal 1.5 percent and both predicted not to change for the next year. Double standard. One for Republican Presidents and another for President Obama. Especially by the media.
CarmineD
Jim, Jim, Jim -
Now you've done it. You know how annoying actual facts can be to some of our commenters. Those facts keep getting in the way of a perfectly good story that begins "Once upon a time......"
Yes it seems that the facts are annoying and often overlooked. Carters economy was out of control, Reagan worked with a Democratic Congress, and he also ended the cold war. Currently this administration has 8% un-employment (if you believe 8% its more like 15%), a middle east thats out of control, no budget for 4 years, which is a requirement that has yet to be met by Obama and Weber wonders why some posters are annoyed.
@ Casler: I don't know about you but my taxes have gone up substantially.
Mr. Graham, are you aware that your letter to the editor is causing heads to explode all across Wingnutville? To deluded conservatives, it's blasphemous to speak of Saint Ronald's penchant for raising taxes and creating massive debt. The true-conservative Reagan myth must not be tarnished with silly things like facts and figures. That history was rewritten long ago.
Fairy tales and reality cannot be mixed. If you don't believe me, just ask all those republicans who live inside the bubble.
Chuck333,
'Enough' is the operative word in my letter. Taxes have gone up and I recognize it. The truth is that to tackle the debt and deficit issue, higher taxes and less and more prudent spending are required. Democrats are unwilling to reduce spending on anything but defense and even in that area, seem reluctant. Republicans are against any tax increase.
It's my opinion that the stand of most Democrats in Congress and most Republicans in Congress makes them undeserving of continuing to serve. Most will be re-elected anyway and that is a big part of the problem.
Michael
Very good Jim Graham, very good.
Mr. Graham, you stated facts about Reagan. Even today, we continue to feel the affects of the Ronald Reagan policies. Especially the decision on immigration by Reagan. And the debt, and the Tax Increases, and the spending.
I did not read a respond from the regular "so-called number crunchers" to Mr. Graham stated details about Reagan. Instead, they prefer to blame President Obama for all of the problems from the past.
My favorite Saint Ronald tale is the one called "The Collapse of the Savings and Loan Industry". It's the true story about the S&Ls, lending institutions that had served local communities without a glitch for decades -- until the arrival in the 1980s of the right-wing Deregulation Movement.
Then all of a sudden, sh...stuff hits the fan! Bailouts, lawsuits, vanished retirement accounts, and so on. Sounds familiar, huh?
Black Panthers march with guns in California, Governor Reagan signs a Bill banning the ability to march with guns. (something Californians could do since the State was a Republic) Then as President Reagan signed a bill restricting machine guns, even though they were used in .00001 percent of crimes. Then he supported the Brady Bill. Reagone a big gun grabber and you t bags lick his boots. (i like that he signed a very liberal abortion bill years before ROE v Wade) chumps like Sean Hannity are ignorant fools when in comes to Reagone.
Last Throes,
The savings and loan crisis was terrible and there was a Bush involved in that one too, Neal Bush.
Interesting history for those who didn't experience it.
"Lest those on the right with no recollection of history forget, here are just a few of President Reagan's achievements. . . . ."
Graham -- you forgot to mention the rank hypocrisy of that president and this nation, it's actual support of actual terrorists. They were called Contras.
"Fear is the foundation of most governments." - John Adams "Thoughts on Government" (1776)
Every president has his share of headaches. They do the best they can to deal with them. Inflation, deflation,demographics, rapid growth, slow growth, wars and revolutions are all part of the global economic process. It's difficult to compare one president to the next because the problems vary tremendously from year to year.
Reagan had very little international economic competition. He had a young vibrant workforce. The nation was on the brink of a massive technological explosion. Some of the biggest companies in the world today like Apple were nothing in the 1980s. Today these high-tech companies represent a substantial chunk of the entire country's worth. Reagan also had very little in the way of entitlements to deal with because the baby boomers were still young and medical hyperinflation was just in the beginning phases.
Obama has mature economy with an aging workforce. 30,000 people a day signing up for various government programs with nearly 147,000,000 signed up so far, and another 36 million baby boomers to go. Medical cost trillions today. It was a pittance when Reagan took office. In addition globalization is in full force and international competition is staggering.
It's a completely different world!
Enough of us Republicans can't get over modern day social issues such as gay marriage and abortion rights. The GOP now represents a minority view. The GOP will be hammered (again) in 2016.
Reagan introduced supply side economics " Reaganomics " and it worked for a small sector of the population, the wealthy. That was his intention all along and the republicans still think to this day that by decreasing taxes it will increase revenue.
But still, Reagan remains the only republican worth remembering since Eisenhower.
Great letter & 100% factual...
I'm not surprised by the reaction of the right-wingers on this board to the letter. They live in a huge bubble & are incapable of moving forward with their thinking.
The "gipper" was more a moderate on most issues than a conservative. Remember, Ronnie was a New Deal Democrat for at least half of his life.
He became a conservative on some issues when it fit his pocket book and his political goals.
The major thing that Reagan had going for him was the fact that he made people feel good about themselves.
His experience as a Hollywood actor (B ranking at best) put him at ease before a camera and made it easy for him to tell a joke & swap a story....
Toward the end of his presidency there's all kinds of evidence that Reagan was losing it mentally.
His cabinet often made decisions for him & then they would wake him up from his nap and tell him that they agreed with what he had said previously on a particular subject....
He, at one point, didn't know/remember that we were giving aid to the rebels who were fighting the Russians in Afghanistan.
Yes, he helped win the Cold War but the cost of doing that was very, very high. He increased the defense budget by approximately 60% & used Social Security funds to pay for it....
He NEVER make good on his promise to decrease the size of the federal government....actually the size of government grew on his watch as well as the national debt.
St. Ronald has only been canonized by todays fading Republican Party. In a poll taken by Sienna college, 238 historians and political scholars ranked both President Clinton and President Obama higher than Reagan. Remember Raegan traded arms for hostages and did not respond to the terrorist attack on our marines in Lebanon. Trickle down economics never worked and most of his second term was run by his subordinates due to his Alzheimer's problem.
Get real Republicans, before the Tea Baggers ruin the party completely. Don't let the GOP symbol turn into a fat, gray haired white southerner with a rifle.
Good letter Mr. Graham. I'd remind those on the far right that Reagan would not recognize this GOP and they wouldn't accept him because he compromised. The Reagan they speak of is a myth they conjured to support their ideology.
They must think Americans are stupid. They now believe if they no longer say the stupid things they have, means they no longer think the same. Really?
"This ain't your father's Republican Party!"
Future - "Reagan never tried to annihilate the opposition."
The party is doing fine cannibalizing itself, they need no help.
We readers should believe every comment posted about the republican party from the left-wing democratic posters above. Always believe what the opposition writes. LOL
Is this an example of demonizing the party you oppose? Oh Yes!
Hey Moo
"Is this an example of demonizing the party you oppose? Oh Yes!"
Kinda like Fox "News" Oh Yes!
Only Obama is President TODAY
The only thing that matters is what is Obama doing every day
Well we know he has his team feverishly writting new rules and regulations everyday
We know he is leaving American overseas including our troops and diplomats in harms way
We know he is raising taxes on the middle class
We know he is spending more everyday
We know he has not approved the XL pipeline
We know he is failing us
We know he is a bully
We know he want to annihilate fiscally responsible conservatives
What bush, Clinton, bush, Reagan, Carter, Johnson, Ford, Nixon, Kennedy did is NOT IMPORTANT FOR WHAT OBAMA MUST DO HERE - NOW - IN THE MOMENT
I'll take Fox News any day over MSNBC much like the rest of the American viewers have decided to do.
Cable News Ratings for Thursday, February 7, 2013
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/02...
Hy Moo
Quality Of News Reporting.
Using the most prominent honors and awards in journalism as the criteria for comparing several news organizations. To level the playing field, these results only included awards since 1997, FOX's first full year as a "news" organization.
The News & Documentary Emmy Awards is a major national broadcast journalism competition. It promotes journalistic excellence by awarding the coveted Emmy to the very best news reports. PBS wins again, with 88 total Emmys. CBS has 73, NBC 40, ABC 36, CNN and HBO with 17 each, CNBC 11, and MSNBC 10.
How many Emmy Awards for Fox News Channel? Zero.
The Pulitzer Prizes are a household name, but they do not cover television broadcast journalism. The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards are considered to be the most prestigious broadcast journalism awards, and the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prizes.
PBS has 23, WBGH in Boston has 21, and National Public Radio has earned 17. CBS and ABC each have 13, NBC 7, and CNN 6. MSNBC and Court TV have two, and National Geographic , CNBC and Current TV all have one.
Fox News Channel? Zero.
The George Polk Awards honor special achievement in journalism. ABC News leads with five Polk awards since 1997; CBS has three; NPR, NBC , CNN, Bloomberg, and BBC each have two.
Fox News Channel? Zero.
The Gerald Loeb Awards honors journalists who make significant contributions to the understanding of business, finance and the economy.
These awards have been dominated by New York Times and Wall Street Journal. CBS, NBC, and Bloomberg each have four Loeb awards, followed by CNBC with three, ABC with two, and CNN with one.
Fox News Channel? You guessed it - zero.
The Edward R. Murrow Awards demonstrate the excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the electronic news profession.
CBS News has 25 Murrow awards. NPR news and ABC each have 11; NBC 10; the Associated Press seven; ESPN four; and three for CNN.
Fox News Channel? Zero.
The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award honors those who report on issues that reflect human rights issues, and social justice. NPR news and WGBH-TV each have seven RFK Awards. ABC has six, CBS three; and NBC, HDNet and PBS have one each.
Fox News Channel? Zero.
The annual Investigative Reporters and Editors Awards recognize outstanding investigative work. NPR and CBS each have five; ABC and NBC have four each; Bloomberg and MSNBC have two each.
Fox News Channel? Zero.
The Peabody Awards recognize distinguished public service by radio and television stations. Reflecting excellence in quality rather than popularity or commercial success, the Peabody is the industry's most competitive honor.
PBS is the king of the Peabody, with 50 awards.
How many Peabody Awards for Fox News Channel? Zero.
WHY? Because FOX News is a joke and exists to divide our country in their quest for corporate income.
FOX NEWS, RATINGS
January 2013 Ratings: Fox News Down Compared To Last Year
By Alex Weprin on January 29, 2013 5:43 PM
With January complete, Fox News has completed 11 straight years of being number one in cable news in both primetime and total day. That said, the network saw significant ratings declines in January--particularly in the pivotal adults 25-54 demographic--though its perch remains unthreatened for now.
Fox News was down -6% in total viewers and -22% in the key adults 25-54 demo in total day in January, the lowest demo numbers since July 2008. In primetime, the network was down -17% in total viewers and -40% in the demo, posting its lowest demo numbers since May 2006.
Rachel Maddow's Surge Is Fox News' Worst Ratings Nightmare
By David Wagner | The Atlantic Wire -- Mon, Dec 31, 2012
After prophesying a landslide win for Mitt Romney, Fox News has seen its ratings decline a lot more than usual since the election -- and Sean Hannity's viewers in particular keep disappearing, while Rachel Maddow's continue to tune in over at rival MSNBC.
Dumping Beck, Palin, Morris, Rove, and other losers will not save FAUX "News" until a complete change in their divisive and partisan policies change
Mr. Tanner,
FoxNews does not usually win these awards. However, if you go to the following link:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/randy-hall/...
it indicates that many people watch FoxNews. You may not like it and Fox's competitors may not like it, but many viewers do.
No awards but high viewership. You have to kind of wonder .... why the disconnect.
Michael
Willie,
The Occupiers tried to divide our country and failed.
The occupiers have disappeared from view. They were too radical and obsessed with other people's money.
Michael.
"No awards but high viewership."
Kind of scary isn't it?
Awards or viewership? It's hard to ignore the commanding lead Fox New has over MSNBC with twice as many viewers.
Years of sensationalism and dumbing down viewers has FIXED News leading the pack.
I think Jerry Springer is still on the air due to high ratings.
I'm sure most Fox viewers have Springer on their remote control's "favorite channels" list.
St Ronald was an opportunist who liked to win and if he were alive today he'd have no choice but to change his party registration to independent or Democratic. Why? Because by the standards of today's GOP, Reagan's kind of conservatism would make him an unclean RINO.
But that hasn't stopped wingnuts from believing their favorite Hollywood matinee idol was exactly like them -- loony, uncompromising, and flat out wrong on 99% of the issues.
RefNV;
Lots of people watched those 3 Jackass movies too.
FOX's news model has very little to do with fact based news. It's innuendo and partisan commentary. Shepherd Smith is the only real news show on their air and he has come close to being fired for not towing the FOX line.
A quote from Station Manager Dan Boylan of Fox Affilitate WTVT in Tampa - "We paid $3 billion for these television stations. We will decide what the news is. The news is what we tell you it is."
NVRef: "It's hard to ignore the commanding lead Fox New has over MSNBC with twice as many viewers."
Wingnuts love their daily red meat which is why Fixed News serves it up by the ton for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Here's what's hard to ignore -- Fixed pundits (Rove, Morris) who shilled for Willard, even going so far to predict an easy win for the pathetic Etch A Sketch candidate. That's hard to ignore for those of us living outside the GOP entertainment bubble.
Mr. Tanner,
It depends on how you look at it. I think we have many uninformed Americans so you could surmise that all the uninformed watch Fox. I also believe we have a large part of the media in this country that hold views that are pretty far to the left of center, so you could also surmise that these people are not going to rate a right leaning network very highly or give it media awards.
I suspect that there is an element of truth is both views.
Michael
President R's top adviser, on Nevada Newsmakers last week, said Reagan's largest mistake was the 1986 amnesty for 3 million illegal invaders--was supposed to stop the invasion. Instead of helping, we now have 15-20 million (ICE data) additional illegal invaders. Let's repeal 1986 amnesty, go after employers of illegals, stop providing endless food/housing/health care for illegals....ENFORCE our laws so our economy can recover.
LastThroes/Willie,
It's too bad you guys can't extol any positive reasons why someone should watch MSNBC. MSNBC has less than **half** the viewers of Fox News. It's not even close guys.
MSNBC vs the Benghazi Network? MSNBC is fact based.
RefNV: "It's hard to ignore the commanding lead Fox New has over MSNBC with twice as many viewers."
Good luck proving causation ... You're trying to claim that viewership = accuracy.
If you want right-wing news on TV, Fox News is your only choice. If you want middle of the road or left-wing news, you have ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC. So Fox News gets the entire right and the rest of us are split across the rest. And yes, MSNBC's pundits suck.
"Does the human being reason? No; he thinks, muses, reflects, but does not reason...That is, in the two things which are the peculiar domain of the heart, not the mind -- politics and religion. He doesn't want to know the other side. He wants arguments and statistics for his own side, and nothing more." - M. Twain
You have to put cable news ratings into some kind of context. When I was growing up nearly half the country watch the news every night. Today the most popular cable news program draws similar ratings to "Hear comes Honey Boo-Boo." The O'Reilly show has a great segment where he sends his producer out to talk to the common folk about history and current events. People can't name the vice president and almost no one could figure out when we were liberated from the British. Some people believed the 1950s. For the most part the news is dead and entertainment is in. Americans, especially the young, are as ignorant as can be.
In terms of the alien invaders Ms. Anderson needs to watch the segment Larry Kudlow did with Haley Barbour. Poultry is one of the biggest industries in the South. The biggest industry in Mississippi. All of the poultry work is done by Hispanics and they need more, a lot more. Hispanics provide us with affordable food and low construction costs. There are thousands of homes currently being built in Vegas. I ride my bicycle through many projects on my weekly bike rides. Other than supervisors you will be hard-pressed to find anyone that speaks English. There is a union job going on at the south pool on the Mandalay Bay property. I spent a lot of time at Mandalay Bay and wanted to know what they were doing. I couldn't find anyone to ask because I don't speak Spanish and the workers don't speak English.
Blacks, Orientals and Hispanics have been doing the heavy lifting in this country since the early 1800s. If they leave Americans are going to be in for a backbreaking surprise.
I liked Reagan because he was a Big Tent Republican who readily reached across the aisle to make deals. I think people tend to get carried away by his strong Conservative rhetoric - which made him sound far-Right. But, in practice, Reagan ruled as a Moderate - abandoning Conservative principles when it was politically expedient to do so.
It takes workers, machines and technological innovation to have strong economic growth. Immigration is going to be more important than ever going forward. The birth rate in America is the lowest in history. People can't afford to have children anymore. Check what the population was when Ronald Reagan was in office compared to the population today. The doubling of our population since World War II is a big part of the strong economic growth this country has experienced.
Countries like Germany and Japan are paying women a fortune to have babies because populations are stagnant and they don't have enough young people to support the old and fill various jobs as folks retire.
10% unemployment and the only think offered is immmigration reform ? Can it be denied that we're a totalitarian corporate state ?
I'll remind most of you, Fox News was designed by Roger Ailes as a right wing propaganda outlet. He wrote about in a memo to Richard Nixon entitled "A Plan For Putting the GOP on TV News" in 1970. Then again some of you won't believe that fact because you're incapable of absorbing data such as evolution or climate change. You'd rather buy into Obama's fictitious war on Christmas, or that he did away with National Prayer Day.
Fools, the lot of you. Which is why you've lost the election. The Republicans undermined themselves and self destructed in the 1930's, again in the late 50's, 60's, and 90's. You'll never learn until you readjust your thinking and realize the country in just left of center. Of course there is the option of cheating. Which is what some Republicans are working at, trying to eliminate our democratic process. The party basically has no legs to stand on, and a number of life long Republicans have bailed.
Vernos, what are you smoking?
Willie, what is Faux and Fixed News?...and MSNBC is fact...hahahahahaha....
FWIW:
Ronald Reagan began his political career as a Democrat.
Ronald Reagan's 'Peace through Power' administration violated law by facilitating the illegal sale of weapons to Iran to fund Contra rebels fighting a Communist regime in Nicaragua.
In 1967 as Governor of California, Ronald Reagan signed into law the Mulford Act which prohibited the public carrying of loaded firearms.
Ronald Reagan owned an AR-15.
In a 1975 issue of Guns & Ammo, Ron Reagan indicated that "in my opinion, proposals to outlaw or confiscate guns are simply unrealistic panacea -- efforts to curb crime should target those who misuse guns, similarly to the way laws target those who use an automobile feloniously or recklessly -- saying the Second Amendment leaves little, if any, leeway for the gun control advocate -- adding that the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms must not be infringed if liberty in America is to survive."
In 1986 Reagan signed into law the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986 which amended the Gun Control Act of 1968 by repealing parts of the original act that were deemed unconstitutional -- yet, was criticized by gun owners for signing legislation which an 11th hour house amendment 777 to H.R. 4332 was added by New Jersey Democrat William J. Hughes containing a provision banning civilian ownership or transfer rights of any fully automatic firearms not registered by May 19, 1986 -- any such weapon manufactured and registered before the May 19 cutoff date could still be legally owned and transferred by civilians.
Ronald Reagan later supported an ineffective Brady Bill and Assault Weapons Ban which was overturned.
Like many politicians, Ronald Reagan clearly hoisted his sail in the direction the current political winds were blowing while sailing his power, influence and public position in contradicting and illicit means which forever questions his competency as a public servant, senility as a human being, and ability to simply "understand" that attempts to control firearms through prohibition doesn't strengthen America's "peace through power" constitutional mantra.
: {
NO, we don't need another Reagan again and we also
don't need another republican in the White House,
ever again.
Reagan started the trickle-down economy that
destroyed our entire economy and middle class.
And Reagan was anti-union.
NO THANKS.
Thank God we now have the best president and
leader in our lifetime.
PRESIDENT OBAMA already turned around the HUGE
MESS the crazy republican party created.
PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT ON
MOUNT RUSHMORE.
And thank you PRESIDENT OBAMA for saving GM and
CHRYSLER.
The Cadillac, the Chevy Corvette, the Chevy Camaro
the Chrysler 300, the Dodge Charger and the
Dodge Challenger are the most awesome cars on the
face of the earth!
And PRESIDENT OBAMA got Bin Laden.
PRESIDENT OBAMA is the man.
We're lucky to have him.
LIVE BETTER/WORK UNION!
Harley.......
The majority of Americans, already polled, want
new and better gun regulations and a new ban on
military style assault weapons.
It will be done.
republicans are out-voted again.
republicans have no common sense.
And thank God the new republican party is
destroying itself from the inside out.
Yes, the crazy teabaggers are getting that job
done.
DEMOCRATS FOREVER!
Teamster, unchained!
Teamster:
I opine you are suffering from sleep deprivation by the times of your posts and their content. Unions are getting crushed, sad to say: Appellate Court ruled against the President's 3 NLRB pro-union appointees as unconstitutional. Loss on Michigan ballot in Nov 2012 for union collective bargaining. Wisconsin's Governor breaking the backs of public unions with public support in his favor for doing so. Ohio's Governor too. And Michigan next. Not to mention all the right to work States and companies beating unions for new jobs. You're a dinosaur. Wake up and smell the coffee. It was a good long ride. But it's coming to an end. I feel your pain but I recognized the inevitable 10 years ago. Collective bargaining my friend is a legal privilege not a legal right.
CarmineD
MSNBC vs the Benghazi Network? MSNBC is fact based
Ha, ha , ha, LOL---Tanners lost it.
teamster is my favorite sane commenter on this site. On the crazy rightwing side, there are so many to choose from that it's difficult to pick a favorite.
Thom Hartmann: Yeah my first change would be to roll back the Reagan tax cuts.
Robert Reich: But it's not policy, well yes, you roll back the tax cuts, you roll back I mean you expand the Earned Income Tax Credit which is a wage subsidy, you raise taxes on the very, very top to pay for it, you invest in education and infrastructure. But behind all the policies is a bigger issue. How do you change politics to get those policies. (Get Casler, Freeman, and DiFazio a political lobotomy)
Thom Hartmann: Oh boy.
Robert Reich: And that's where mobilizing, energizing, organizing the vast American 99% comes in. I mean nothing good happens in Washington, I know this from my experience. Nothing good happens in Washington unless people outside Washington are energized, mobilized and organized to demand that it happen. Otherwise, the special interests take over.
Thom Hartmann: So that's us, that's here, that's now.
Robert Reich: That's us, that's here, that's the mobilizations that are beginning around the country.
Thom Hartmann: That's the people listening and viewing.
Robert Reich: And that's a lot of people who are listening right now who are cynical, who say well nothing I do is going to make any difference. Cynicism is the greatest enemy of social change. Because if people give up then the other side wins.
Thom Hartmann: And it seems that with everything from ALEC to you know newspapers and magazines being basically subsidized and all these right wing writers, you know the books at the New York Times bestseller lists because Richard Mellon Scaife goes in or whoever and buys 40 thousand copies. Magazines like I believe the National Review is still losing money. The Washington Times has lost over a billion dollars. FOX NEWS LOST 100 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR FIVE YEARS before they made any money. This incredible infrastructure seems dedicated, in the minute we have left, to demoralizing as well as to putting out the message.
Robert Reich: Well they're dedicated to two things. One is telling big lies. Such as trickle down economics or you've got to shrink government to create jobs. I mean this is absurd. But big lies said often enough have the effect of big lies. People start believing them. The second goal of the radical right is to demoralize and create cynicism among everybody else, so that we do not respond. And that is what today is all about, that's what the demonstrations around the country are all about. That's what we have got to, all of us, dedicate ourselves to in the years ahead. It's not going to be easy but unless we are organized, mobilized, nothing fundamentally is going to change. The right is going to prevail.
Thom Hartmann: Right. And in general, the way it works is, you know, when the parade going down the street gets big enough, the politicians start jumping in front of it with a flag saying this is my parade.
Robert Reich: Exactly. Exactly.
Willie Tanner,
You placed facts and figures for the leading commentators to respond. Yet, not one reasonable response from Michael Casler or ReFreeman. Not one.
We all know this is only a comment board to express one's opinion...right or wrong. However, day in and day out, commentators like Casler and ReFreeman try very hard to impose their views and try to position themselves as having the greater insight on the politics of America.
Well, Mr. Willie Tanner just showed that much of where you lay your head in terms of getting news and updates is jaded, intentionally slanted, and unworthy of being called real news or ethical reporting.
The expected response from Casler is to ride the middle and stay Luke Warm. And...ReFreeman will blame President Obama. And of course, they both will turn to Foxnews for additional updates.
Longtimevegan: Thank you for noticing the absence of intelligent comments on Fox's lack of journalistic achievement! Proves the adage that "you're entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts."
FOX "News" is directly responsible for the divisiveness in our country today. And to think a money grubbing Austrialian is the reason. I'm amazed no news agency other than MSNBC takes them to task for the blatant lies FOX puts out. They are constantly apologizing for their "mistakes" and "technical errors" but continue to spew bipartisan innuendo without facts.
The fact that they have so many viewers really scares me.
According to President R's adviser Ty Cobb on Nevada Newsmakers (last week), the biggest MISTAKE R made was amnesty for 3 million illegals. It was supposed to STOP THE INVASION. Now we have 15-20 million more (ICE data) stealing our jobs, our economy, our social welfare, our K-12 solvency, our safety, our cultures.
Roslenda, I can agree with your statement that illegals impact our social,welfare programs and our schools, but taking our jobs is a stretch. Americans will not do the jobs the illegals do!
http://factcheck.org/2010/05/does-immigr...
Ty Cobb? Wasn't he a baseball player?? A substantial part of all job creation comes from immigrants. When they stop coming economic growth will grind to a halt and you will be paying 5 bucks for a tomato. Good luck I hope you can afford it.
The news is all biased. That's why folks watch CSI and Swamp People.
Mr. Tanner, you can see how quick the hate mongers on this board run for cover when the truth is told. There are many on this board who do not believe in American. They only wish to complain, throw out numbers they cannot explain, ride the middle, and blame President Obama.
Fear is what Foxnews sales to the America public. The weak minded, and those who have prejudices and bias are the majority who watch Foxnews. The sad part, many of Foxnews viewers actually believe what Foxnews spews out daily.
On election night the "big lie" was exposed. Foxnews had their viewers on edge thinking President Obama would lose the election. The viewer believed all the lies Foxnews told the last 3 years. The viewers saw Karl Rove in full denial, a melt-down revealing the "big lie". Foxnews is still telling the "big lie."
Mr. Tanner, I thank you for bringing a clear picture of how the Bubble People receive their message. Indoctrination on the highest order is taught daily by a major news cable network, Foxnews. Freedom of Speech...yes indeed, we all need it. Freedom of Speech is helping America see the truth. People of reasonable mind and thought are slowly coming out and speaking out. Speaking the truth.
Foxnews is a major problem in America. An American, a true American, would say Foxnews and staff is Un-America in their approach. An approach which has violated the trust of America's honesty. A honesty which allows opportunity for all people in legal standing living America. Foxnews has violated the trust time and time again.
Mr. Tanner, thanks again for your time and your offering of truth.
Compassionate conservatism, 2012:
Willard Romney -- "I'm running for office for Pete's sake, I can't have illegals!"
Reagan might have been a massively overrated president but he wasn't stupid, at least, not stupid in the sense that's become common in the GOP today.
Zippy, try researching Sam Shad. (He's on facebook and can email shad at shad dot reno dot nv dot us.) They discussed, with a couple Dems how illegals hurt our lower-income workers more than anyone else. I may have dyslexed the name but I don't think so. Aside from that, appears Mr. Amodei and others are willing to do the temporary agriculture work permits in any volume needed--without passing on citizenship.
RoslendaZippy: No go on the email address and I have a life so I don't use Facebook.
Do you realize that all the money that illegals pay in SS taxes with their phony ID's will never see that money? I wonder where it goes? Do you?
"Just like its actual ratings, Fox News has hit a record low in the four years that we've been doing this poll. 41% of voters trust it to 46% who do not. To put those numbers into some perspective the first time we did this poll, in 2010, 49% of voters trusted it to 37% who did not."
http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2...
Reagan illegally supplied arms to our enemies in Iran just after they had taken our diplomats hostage. This effort was headed by Oliver North, Facist Pig, who should be in prison for it to this day, but instead walked and now has a job at FOX!
The sad fact is that the wash up movie star did away with the new deal. Clinton and Obama remain supporters of supply side economics. I feel like Reagan when he left the democrats; although I disagree with him in every possible way.
Tanner says: Longtimevegan: Thank you for noticing the absence of intelligent comments on Fox's lack of journalistic achievement!
Tanner do you really think that some award for journalism given to ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC or whomever makes them better. Fox News has more viewers than all of them combined. Controversial people refuse to go on O'Reilly because he'd take them to task on whatever the subject and they're scared. I'd pay to see Obama, or Reid or Pelosi or any other left wing politician go on O'Reilly's show and answer questions. It won't happen. Why? Becuasde they'd be exposed something that your favorite networks refuse to do. Oh and tell me whom on one of your networks has had "3" best selling books on the list at the same time.
Love it when I hear the president likens himself to Lincoln, King and Reagan.....all Republicans. LOL
Chuck even though your a low life Republcan you got a point; Obama's more like a bad Woodrow Wilson. He may as well locked us up like Eugene Debs- calling us the professional left and retards and all. Dirty harry's just as bad pulling us along about the filibuster and knowing full well he's not going to do nothing about it.
Well Mr. Kelley thanks for at least admitting I have a point. "Low lifes" questionable but at least we semi agree on something.
By the way I don't think anyone that opposes my view is a low life. Actually I welcome their opinions, it helps me either change my view or it reinforces it.
Michael Kelley observed:
"Chuck even though your a low life Republcan you got a point; Obama's more like a bad Woodrow Wilson. He may as well locked us up like Eugene Debs- calling us the professional left and retards and all. Dirty harry's just as bad pulling us along about the filibuster and knowing full well he's not going to do nothing about it."
I say:
His major accomplishment at this point is not being President Romney. I concur with your diagnosis and add that the SCOTUS shouldn't become the Koch bros. little poodles with Obama there.
PS, Don't let Chuck333 off the hook so easy. He still LIKES Billo the Clown.
Harley ---thank you for the info, i remember that now, the Mulford Act. Labor unions used to march with guns too. The marine barracks in Lebanon was Reagan's Benghazi
I always refer to Reagan as "president platitude."
The man promised much & delivered next too nothing!
He NEVER produced a balanced budget in his 8 years and he borrowed like a "drunken sailor on leave."
He greatly increased the national debt and he watched as the size of the federal government grew & grew! Of course, he had promised to decrease the size of the federal government if elected...
He greatly increased the defense budget & borrow from Social Security to do that....
He actually believed that "trickle down economics" works but there's no real proof of that....
He was a light-weight at best and its a shame that he was allowed to serve 2 terms......
chuck333.......
Some facts for you.
PRESIDENT OBAMA is a lot like Lincoln.
And if Lincoln were here today, he'd be a
DEMOCRAT.
King was a DEMOCRAT.
And Reagan was a DEMOCRAT before he was a
republican.
Our DEMOCRATIC presidents are WAY SMARTER than
republican presidents and it shows.
John F. Kennedy I.Q. 174 Genius.
Jimmy Carter I.Q. 175 Genius.
Bill Clinton I.Q. 182 Genius.
Barack Obama I.Q. 172 Genius.
Ronald Reagon I.Q. 105 Average.
George H. W. Bush I.Q. 100 Average.
George W. Bush I.Q. 95 Below average.
Teamster:
Your IQ scores for Presidents are BS. I'm not talking about Bachelor of Science either. Try again when you have facts on Presidents' IQ's and not fiction.
CarmineD
teamster not to beleager the point King was a Republican. Look it up!
Obama is "NOTHING" like Lincoln.
Reagan wised up and dumped your party and became a Republican. This after being in a union and realizing that unions are useless.
Oh and your IQ test, if thats what you call it shows Clinton as having the highest. MMMM Impeached for lying, cheats on his wife "disgraceful" NAFTA, dotcom bubble, well I could go on but you get the point.
There is a far-left agent writing a letter to the editor of the local Las Vegas Sun newspaper of the workers union sympathies. The writer says that Reagan increased income taxes and in 8 years boosted up the national debt by almost $2 trillion. How the history gets corrupted in the recounting. First, that bloviating gasbag Carter left the country staggering under an inflation rate of 13% and an unemployment rate of 10% (anybody remembers "the misery index" of 23% which is the sum of the two?). The prime rate for the best companies was 21%; the regular 30-year mortgage rate was 16%. Reagan cut all the income tax rates in three stages (the Democrat majorities in Congress would not let him do it in one swell swoop). After 8 years the tax receipts by the IRS doubled. The Dow Industrial Index went from 550 to 4,000. To "save" the failing savings & loan companies Carter allowed these to engage in commercial building lending (the repeal of Glass-Stiegel laws), thus resulting in massive failure of those S&L companies; to reimburse their depositors Reagan was forced to spend $560 billion, adding that amount to the deficit. Carter also introduced the so-called Community Reinvestment Act which resulted in the crash of the housing market in 2007-8 when pushed by the Democrat majorities. Reagan's budget proposals to the Congress were met with derision: the Democrat leader Tip O'Neill would come out on the steps of his building every year carrying Reagan's budget books, and saying DOD ("dead on arrival") would throw them into a conveniently placed garbage bin. By the end of his presidency the budget was in surplus; the inflation was below 4%; and the unemployment rate was 4.5% (normal rate in boom times). That boom carried into the end of the Clinton presidency in 2000. Reagan's increased military expenditures caused the fall of the Soviet Union's slave empire in 1990-91. And the Sun writer calls this a failure?
Jeff says: PS, Don't let Chuck333 off the hook so easy. He still LIKES Billo the Clown
I like any politician that works to get this country in a better economic situation. Kelley at least admits some, thats called compromise. You on the other hand prove post after post you're blinded by the president shining light you see. Your attitude "IS" the problem with our Congress.
Obama is a failure when it comes to jobs, deficit and debt. Numbers speak for themselves. No looking back. He knew what he was getting in to, excepted the job so no excuses.
It's nice to be reminded how smart democrat presidents are. So difficult to tell otherwise. The genius has built the most anemic economic recovery since the great depression. He owns it. Tonight he'll propose another stimulus which will look a lot like the first failed stimulus. But more government is desperately needed.
Chuck333 said:
"Jeff says: PS, Don't let Chuck333 off the hook so easy. He still LIKES Billo the Clown
I like any politician that works to get this country in a better economic situation. Kelley at least admits some, thats called compromise. You on the other hand prove post after post you're blinded by the president shining light you see. Your attitude "IS" the problem with our Congress.
Obama is a failure when it comes to jobs, deficit and debt. Numbers speak for themselves. No looking back. He knew what he was getting in to, excepted the job so no excuses."
I say:
Billo the clown is not a politician, Billo is Bill O'Reilly.
If you read my posts you would know I am WAY more anti republican than pro Obama.
My attitude is to get rid of people who don't think right, like you, or to re-educate you. Either way, you will be neutralized.
The problem with congress is that it represents America, roughly a 50/50 split and both sides have dug their heels in.
You guys want to make major changes in the way we administer our country, we want to build another great middle class. If you guys had EVER given Obama carte blanche your criticism would have merit, but you have obstructed him every time. So the jobs, deficit, and debt get hung around your necks, not mine, not the democrats, and assuredly not Obama's.
No looking back?
Okay, let's fix our bridges, Let's re-do our electrical grid. Now. Are you guys ready?
Nope, Obama will get credit, you are afraid of the Black face going on Mount Rushmore before the Sainted Ronald Reagan's. And that is where you guys are at.
You.
Hate.
All.
Things.
Obama.
Jeff wrote:
"Nope, Obama will get credit, you are afraid of the Black face going on Mount Rushmore before the Sainted Ronald Reagan's. And that is where you guys are at."
The more we see Republicans vote again items they once championed and believed in, and changing positions when President agrees with them, the more it become apparent that Race is at the heart of the decision making in the House of Representatives on the Republican side, as well in the Senate.
@Chuck333,
"Tanner do you really think that some award for journalism given to ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC or whomever makes them better. Fox News has more viewers than all of them combined."
That statement has absolutely ZERO facts to back it up.
Ratings for ABC, NBC and CBS News:
ABC 8,258,000
NBC 9,220,000
CBS 7,232,000
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01...
Fox's highest rated program:
The O'Reilly Factor 2,925,000
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/02...
There's 25 MILLION people watching other news programming (not even counting CNN and MSNBC), than watching FOX.
Not only that, but O'Reilly isn't even in the top 25 highest rated programs on CABLE.
(000's)
1 WWE Entertainment USA 5267
2 Pawn Stars HIST 5002
3 Pawn Stars HIST 4949
4 WWE Entertainment USA 4927
5 WWE Entertainment USA 4863
6 Gold Rush DISC 4698
7 American Pickers HIST 4609
8 COLLEGE BKBL REG SSN ESPN 4035
9 Big Bang Theory, THE TBSC 3976
10 SpongeBob NICK 3908
11 Moonshiners DISC 3874
12 Big Bang Theory, THE TBSC 3857
13 JESSIE DSNY 3838
14 Phineas and Ferb DSNY 3765
15 SpongeBob NICK 3710
16 Big Bang Theory, THE TBSC 3648
17 SpongeBob NICK 3567
18 SpongeBob NICK 3462
19 SpongeBob NICK 3452
20 NCIS USA 3429
21 Big Bang Theory, THE TBSC 3417
22 SUITS USA 3360
23 A.N.T. FARM DSNY 3306
24 SpongeBob NICK 3269
25 BIG BANG THEORY, THE TBSC 3222
http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/02...
Maybe once FOX can beat Sponge Bob, you can possibly talk about being ratings worthy.
@bf1lv, went to your links. Thank you for proving my point. Every single category has FNC rated way higher than any other cable news network.
Jeff says: My attitude is to get rid of people who don't think right, like you, or to re-educate you. Either way, you will be neutralized.
Jeff please come back to reality, you sound almost threatening.
Chuck333 - "Fox News has more viewers than all of them combined."
Most Americans have an IQ of 100 and can't read beyond the 8th grade level. That is why "reality shows" are popular because there is no social or educational value to them, just television eye candy.
As of Febuary 2012 the percent of U.S. adults who can't read is 14%. Number of U.S. adults who can't read is 32 Million. Percent of U.S. adults who read below a 5th grade level 21% (1/5th of the country). Percent of high school graduates who can't read 19%. The numbers speak for themselves, and one reason why Fox is popular.
Posted 8:10pm Feb.10th - "Fox News was designed by Roger Ailes as a right wing propaganda outlet. He wrote about in a memo to Richard Nixon entitled "A Plan For Putting the GOP on TV News" in 1970."
Vernos we can go on all day long with IQ's and 70's reasonings etc. but at the end of the day, we have a debt of $17 Trillion, the mideast is out of control, Health Care is a tax (of course if they read it before it passed they would have known) and middle income peoples taxes went up.
Not very good for hi IQ's I'd suspect.
Values seem to be baffling. Every president is here really loved by citizens; at the election time; everyone has their shining aureola and one time opportunity to speak and to be heard.
chuck333 - "Vernos we can go on all day long with IQ's and 70's reasonings etc. but at the end of the day, we have a debt of $17 Trillion, the mideast is out of control, Health Care is a tax (of course if they read it before it passed they would have known) and middle income peoples taxes went up."
Americans having little or no knowledge of American history has under educated people tuned into places like Fox or Limbaugh, who entice, misrepresent or incite them to vote against their own best interest.
We could have many of these issues settled, but you can't deal with people who don't believe in evolution, climate change or science in general because of some talking head on the boob tube.
Vernos again lets restate. If the un-educated only listen to Fox who you say mis-represents the current affairs, please explain why Mr. Obama was elected president, why we voted for $17 Trillion of debt, Health Care was not sold to us as a TAX and whats happening in the middle east. Please address these issues, if you believe fox reports falsehoods.
Don't dance around the question. Just tell me why the educated citizens voted for the above issues. They are true, real numbers and are reported on Fox almost everyday, unlike mainstream media.
"please explain why Mr. Obama was elected president"
Obama was reelected because the country has moved center left, and many on the right missed the boat. They are still living in the Cold War era.
"why we voted for $17 Trillion of debt"
Exactly who voted for $17 trillion in debt? Remember we had two wars and many fiscal policies were left over fom the Bush years which added to recent gov't. spending. Most programs signed by a president have a ten year life span.
"Health Care was not sold to us as a TAX"
Obama care was designed by the Heritage Foundation and is the same law implemented by Romney in Mass. There is no tax added, it's a penalty as noted by the SCOTUS.
"whats happening in the middle east"
Every president had to deal with middle east unrest and violence. "From the Halls of Montezuma
to the shores of Tripoli" is a referrence to Thomas Jefferson bypassing Congress to take the nation to war against Libya in 1801.
Fox lied about Fast and Furious, a program started under Bush. They allowed Glen Beck to call Obama a racist. Fox fabricated Obama's war on religion and Christmas. It was Sean Hannity who initiated the conspiracy rumor that Obama was born in Kenya, and on, and on, and on. They even relabeled Republicans as Democrats when they screwed up or weren't popular with the far right. I'm willing to bet many Republicans voted for Obama because they couldn't stand Romney and would never fess up to that fact.
chuck333.......
You can make laughable statements all day.
They are not facts.
And you republicans have nothing to say about I.Q.
The DEMOCRATIC presidents I listed have way higher
I.Q.S than the republicans, PERIOD.
And Bill Clinton gave us the best economy in our
lifetime.
This is a center-left country from here on out.
republicans will NEVER fool us again.
DEMOCRATS FOREVER!
Carmine.......
Your no-facts comment is BS.
I stand by mine.