Print
E-mail
Share
iPod
del.icio.us
digg
Newsvine
FacebookJon Ralston warns of the Great Flood to come
Sun, Apr 13, 2008 (2:01 a.m.)
As Gov. Jim Gibbons and lawmakers announced a new round of cuts last week, a pesky fact clouded the sunshine of bipartisanship: It’s still raining.
And yet the state cannot buy any more umbrellas to shield the public from the coming downpour, with everything saved for that proverbial rainy day having been spent. As the deficit creeps toward $1 billion, the man charged with bailing the water out of the ship of state told legislators last week the respite probably is only temporary.
“I would caution everyone that this may not be the end of this,” Budget Director Andrew Clinger lamented to the Interim Finance Committee. And he added this ominous assessment of what will happen when the fiscal weather turns stormy again: “At this point we have cut just about everything we can cut.”
Before all the salivating conservatives unsheathe their budget broadswords to disagree, understand what Clinger was intimating: When the next numbers come out six weeks hence, if the economy does not rebound, they are left with few options but to slice into operations. That is, they execute more across-the-board cuts, lay off employees or call a special session to take away raises.
But if Gibbons and the Gang of 63 can agree again on how to continue sliding backward into Third World status, they can hold a news conference and congratulate one another as the rain falls down. Together, they can cut anything — oh, the rapture.
I understand legislative Democrats’ seeing the reality of the hard economic times and trying to minimize the damage to education, health care and social service agendas. But that’s a stopgap, myopic approach. As they publicly lamented their complicity last week — “There goes six years of work,” Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley said ruefully after one program disappeared — the Democrats are surrendering to death by a thousand cuts.
This is years of inattention and timorousness coming home to roost, with the failure to rely on anything besides gaming and sales taxes causing one of the worst deficits (in proportion to the entire budget, not raw numbers) in the country. So now we have the perfect storm:
A governor who spends a billion dollars while claiming to be a fiscal conservative and now knows the only way he can survive politically is to blindly hew to his no-tax pledge.
Legislators who levied the most taxes in state annals in 2003 and then, as the economy recovered, went on breathless spending sprees in successive sessions without stepping back to debate how the state expends and raises money.
A grow-grow-grow mentality by the business and gaming communities, without regard to the strain on every kind of infrastructure, that has stirred a gurgling tax-by-initiative movement.
And now a downturn that has crystallized all of this, provoking the governor to propose long-term cuts by finding the holy GOP grail of wasteful spending as the 2009 Legislature comes up against a cap that could devastate the state.
Are you feeling wet yet?
At some point, you expect some leader, elected or otherwise, to stand up and declare, “Enough is enough.” Oh, there are a few voices in the wilderness, but they are like trees falling in the woods.
At the risk of roiling the sectional waters, I ask how many of the projects that will survive all this slashing will be outside Clark County? I find it metaphorically apt that the flood control funds for Reno, which helped cause last year’s special session because northern lawmakers wanted the money, were spared. Only in the upside-down world of Nevada could the rain fall more plentifully in the desert as southerners have less protection from the coming high water, thanks to a northern governor and powerful northern lawmakers.
So what should they be doing?
When Clinger’s cautionary predictions come true in late May, the bipartisanship should continue with the only solution that has made sense for a long time — a special session to put everything on the table: cuts and taxes. And has everyone forgotten that the dam holding back those billions of dollars in unfunded retirement liability is about to burst?
If the state’s Democrats are true to what they claim their beliefs are, they would stop being the Neville Chamberlains of the state and take a stand before they see whatever practical and political gains they have made prove evanescent.
I can guess how Gibbons feels about this, probably having his Louis XV moment — Apres Gov. No New Taxes, le deluge. As for the lawmakers who wail about the terrible consequences and the progress lost by the cuts, they are simply too scared to come in out of the rain.
Discussion: 22 comments so far…
Post a comment
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Woman arrested in fatal stabbing at Bally’s
- Halverson’s condition improving after husband’s attack
- Man arrested for attempted sexual assault
- Buyout keeps Cosmopolitan in play
- All the theatrics, and a ‘killer speech,’ too
- Palin energizes skeptical base
- Why attack on city bus met inaction
- Officers fatally shoot man wanted in Clark County burglaries
- Fire at Land Rover dealership under investigation
- Las Vegas trio guilty of drug trafficking in Hawaii
Blogs
Culture Blog
Las Vegas Philharmonic will back Placido Domingo
Sports: UNLV
UNLV hires Manarino to coach softball
Bloggity, Bloggity, Bloggity
NASCAR drivers included on list of 50 most hated sports figures (2 Comments)
Winning The West
McCain energizes Republicans (5 Comments)
Protesters interrupt McCain (15 Comments)
Culture Blog
Welcome back to (a cooler) First Friday
Now and Then
Las Vegas team to be named later could outdraw its parent club -- if it's the Marlins
Culture Blog
Tributes to Four Seasons, Supremes and Sophie Tucker in Summerlin
Calendar
- Harvest Festival at the Cashman Center (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
- "The New Generation" boxing match at Star of the Desert Arena (5:30 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.)
- Jeff McBride Magic at the Edge at Palace Station (7:30 p.m.)
- Alice Cooper's Psycho-Drama Tour at the Orleans Showroom (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.)
-
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
I couldn't agree more Jon! It's way past time for our elected representatives to become real Statesmen and Stateswomen!
What we're seeing is the nightmare from too many naively believing in the false theory of "trickle down" Regan-nomics - it was BULL from moment one it was uttered by Newt Gingrich and the rest of the radical, right-wing, neo-con, nut-case, selfish, sociopaths incapable of compassion who openly do NOT believe in the good of government - and it's been driving us into debt and destroying our democracy for nearly three decades!
These are the people that got elected, abused their powers, appointed their families and friends and have done everything they could to suck the soul out of the system, undermine the democratic process, shred the social safety net and cause government to fail! Then, they have the audacity to repeat the stupid self-fulfilling prophecy, "See, government doesn't work!" It's nothing short of socio-economic TREASON!
Enough is ENOUGH? We're beyond that point, this is a catastophic crises - it's TOO MUCH!
The Democrats need to do their duty, fight their political fears, stand the hell up and do the right things, by simply saying "Damn the torpedos" and start fighting back, smart and hard - NOW!
This is an election year, and we need to make sure the people know how infamous guys like Bob "Give 'Em Guns" Beers (in State Senate District #6) and Jon Porter "The Puppet" and "Bush Bag Boy" (in Congressional District #3) are from the factual record of how they've only supported their wealthy donors and raped the people they are supposed to serve!
That will give us a Democratic majority in the State Senate and get Shelley Berkley the ally she needs in the U.S. House of Represenatives - FINALLY!
Then we need to work to VOTE THE BUMS OUT, like Senator John "Insignificant" Ensign, Congressman Dean "Who Me?" Heller and Governor Jim "Put Out or Else" Gibbons!
Even then, it will still take years to remove or retire their crony family members and friends who continue to wreack havoc and continue the pox on our houses!
here's a few things to look at.
THERE'S BLESSING IN REGRESSING!
I'm delighted that we will have the opportunity to hack the fat out of the budget. Chuck Muth has a thousand cuts already outlined with more on the way. It's a dream come true for those of us who have watched as the Dina Taxus and her merry tax and spend pals have LARDED UP THE BUDGET YEAR AFTER YEAR!
Just imagine, we'll actually live to see pay cuts for all of those overpaid government employees who retire at 50 with 80% of their pay for life and the 3 BILLION dollar liability that comes with them.
I'm drooling at the opportunity to see some of the cuts included in Chuck's column actually eliminated. My bet? We won't notice a twits worth of difference if all of them are eliminated, but we'll sure save a hell of a lot of money on worthless bureaucratic whims.
GO BOB BEERS, GO CHUCK MUTH, GO JIM GIBBONS
ooh Johnathon, you're getting awfully upset aren't you? You're awfully bitter aren't you?
Don't you think you should be on meds and get into an anger management class? Why, it's just sad to see how emotional you are over these issues. Tsk, Tsk, Tsk.
Helen you're so pathetic it saddens me how selfish and soul-less sociopaths like you are - I'm not even going to start a running debate with you about pharmalogical or behavioral therapies as you probably don't have the basic cognitive ability necessary (you didn't even take the time to notice how to spell my name correctly) - that's the problem with sociopathic people, you just don't "get it" do you?
I've seen so many people like you in my life - but, when they experience a catastrophic event, lose their wealth, and/or their health - even then, very few are able to understand the full cost of selfishness and greed - it's really sad!
I'm NOT bitter Helen, I'm just one pissed off patriot and angry American who's very disappointed in our uncivilized society at-large that doesn't know the true meaning of "loving your neighbors" or "brotherhood" or "sisterhood" let alone being "keepers" of one another - it's just really sad that so few are able to do so little for so many, while the rest just turn a blind eye and deaf ear - especially when it doesn't have to be this way in the greates country on the face of the earth - AMERICA!
The way I see it, the less money these clowns have the less they can waste!
But, then "Angry Postman" how would you be able to deliver the mail? How about we stop letting simpletons elect clowns in the first place?
Helen, first of all State employees get 2.67% for 30 years and 25 years for police/fire. State workers also do not have collective bargaining like your beloved county and city workers, who have been milking Las Vegas for years. Do some research and find the facts before posting. How would you recruit teachers to a place, when you start in the 20k range and homes in a decent neighborhood cost 300k plus? You get what you pay for?
OK Dark Horse. What I see is firefighters everywhere but working. At Gold's Gym, buying lobster and steaks at Coscos for feeding the boys while they sit in their rented
Barka Loungers to watch the big screen tv. They
work? 24 hours one day a week. More than 1/2 of them make over $100,000 a year, all the Captains
make $500,000. They can retire at 50 and do.
I know that state employees can retire at 50 including teachers because I was in the Legislature when Maggie Carlton was agast at the
thought of them not getting fully paid lifetime health care benefits for them and their family.
She gasped: "But what about the ones that retire at 50??" 50??? Give me a friggin break. And another thing, teachers starting pay for 8 or 9 months a year of work plus benefits at $20,000
is not a bad price. My very talented neice finished college and has not been able to find a job yet that pays that kind of money. Besides
the average teacher makes $55,000 a year. That's
alot more than I make and I don't see why we should have to pay for the retired people and the
current working people.
Frankly, I'm with Vin from the RJ that it is time to eliminate publically funded education and let kids go to private schools of their choice or home schooled.
I'm also REALLY TIRED of all the whining from the teachers, no sick of it. If you don't like your job QUIT! QUIT asking for more money.
All of the rest of us non government employees
and ESPECIALLY non government UNION employees
are SICK OF BEING STUCK WITH THE BILL, YOU ARE RUNNING US INTO BANKRUPTCY AND YOU CAN'T DENY THAT!!!
To Johnathon, Jonathon, JOHN-A-Thon, Whatever!
YOU ARE A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE AREN'T YOU??? NO WONDER YOU WANT TO SUCK MORE MONEY FROM THE REST OF US, YOU GOT YOURS RIGHT?
HOW MUCH MONEY, OUT OF POCKET DID YOU CONTRIBUTE LAST YEAR WITHOUT BEING ASKED?? CHURCH DOESN'T COUNT! HOW MANY PEOPLE DID YOU TOUCH BY SOMETHING YOU DID PERSONALLY? HOW MANY PEOPLE THANKED YOU FOR DOING SOMETHING REALLY SPECIAL FOR THEM LIKE TAKING A HOMELESS GUY OUT TO LUNCH
OR INVITING HIM INTO YOUR HOME AND GIVING HIM SOME MONEY TO GET A MOTEL? OR RECORDING HIS MUSIC AND PUTTING IT ON YOUTUBE? OR KEPT IN CONTACT WITH HIM? OR CALLING SHADE TREE AND INVITING A DISPLACED WORKER TO STAY IN YOUR HOME UNTIL SHE GOT ON HER FEET? OR GAVE $20 TO
A HOMELESS PERSON? OR HELPING OUT A JAMAICAN FAMILY? HUH, JOHNATHON???
DID YOU DO ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
I DID.
THE DIFFERENCE IS I DON'T WANT SOME BUREAUCRAT TO TAKE THEIR SHARE AND LET THE REST TRICKLE DOWN. I BELIEVE IN DIRECT GIVING.
BY THE WAY, I'VE HAD NUMEROUS CATASTROPHIC THINGS HAPPEN TO ME IN MY LIFE. BUT I DIDN'T
EVER GO TO THE GOVERNMENT WITH MY HAND OUT.
WHAT I'VE NOTICED IS THE PEOPLE THAT REALLY NEED THE HELP FROM THE GOVT DON'T GET IT. IT'S THE ONES THAT KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME THAT DO.
AND THEY REALLLY REALLY LIKE TO MILK IT FOR ALL IT'S WORTH.
MOSTLY THOUGH, I GET REALLY SICK OF HEARING PEOPLE LIKE YOU TELL ME I SHOULD BE MORE GENEROUS BY PAYING MORE TAXES SO WE CAN HIRE MORE
BUREAUCRATS TO PUSH PAPERS AROUND AND RETIRE AT 50.
Oh Helen, you obviously don't know who you're ranting at - and had you just correctly spelled and "Googled" my name, you wouldn't have stuck your foot in your mouth, let alone pushed it clear down your throat!
In fact, I've done everything you ASSUMED I haven't done - and far, far more! But, er, thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt there smart gal?
I am NOT a government employee - I'm a 22 year disabled Army vet that spent my youth, risked my life, time and again, and gave my best years to defending Democracy, liberating the oppressed and protecting the peace for lovely, compassionate, selfless people like YOU that have sacrificed sooooo much for American society!
So, how many times have you advocated for getting the V.A. fully funded for our Disabled Vets AND ensuring the American people keep THEIR promise to my community?
Had you done a little research on me, you'd know I'm totally ANTI-BUREACRACY and a Veteran's Advocate, Activist and Columnist and I fight FOR Disabled Veterans AGAINST the Veteran's Benefit Administration constantly - and I've helped thousands of Disabled Vets and Military Families since my retirement in 1998.
Though I do live on a modest pension and my unfortunate disability benefits (which are NOT welfare by the way) - I give thousands of dollars and hundreds and hundreds of hours of volunteer time every year - one hour, one day, one week, one month, one quarter and one year at a time!
Oh, I must admit, I've bought steaks and lobster tails at Costco for a special occasion, now and then, too - I hope that's O.K. with YOU?
So, tell me, tell all of us, PLEASE list for us ALL of the wonderful work you actually accomplished while you were in the Nevada State Legislature? BTW: Did you cash YOUR State checks or donate all of YOUR State payroll to the needy?
Seriously Helen, you need to get a realistic sense of scale about how large our societal challenges really are - and you might work on your lack of compassion too - just a subtle suggestion.
Helen,
Please stop the yellin'.
Those of us who, like Mr. Ralston, advocate a reworking of the entire Nevada tax structure do so not because we think everyone else should be more generous. We do so because we see the magnitude of the problems facing this state and understand that cutting taxes and programs will do nothing to solve them.
Further, we also understand that raising taxes means raising our own taxes.
Those of you who say we are free to send the government any additional money we want above and beyond our taxes are being disingenuous. You want the benefits without any of the responsibility. Our infrastructure here in Clark County is crumbling, our traffic will soon be gridlocked perpetually, our educational system is a shambles, our water problems are going to be acute very soon, and all you have to say is "fix it woth somebody else's money" and that "I'm tired of paying for this, that, or the other thing."
Guess what? we'd all rather not pay taxes, even those of us who see the necessity for higher ones. But screaming about how everyone besides those who believe as you do are worthless parasites isn't doing a d***ed thing to fix what is wrong. Don't you get it? You are what's wrong! Being doctrinaire is all well and good, but while you stand on your narrow-minded, short-sighted principles (No more taxes! Ever!), our quality of life is fast deteriorating.
I swear this state ought to change it's motto to "I got mine. Screw you."
Fair enough Johnathon, I am a big advocate of
fully funding health care for the veterans, my husband is one. I am NOT a legislator, I am a citizen who visited the Legislature and was disgusted at what I saw.
I have plenty of compassion. I contribute my time and my money to individuals whenever I see a need. Yes, I did keep my rebate. I needed it.
I get no government check, never have, and I'm 55
and still working and probably always will.
I have NO PROBLEM with soldiers or military who
are on disability, however, if you are 22 years
old don't you think you are still capable of working? Do you really plan to be on disability for the rest of your life? You're obviously capable of writing. Why don't you take some computer courses and do an online business?
My webmaster is 28, in a wheelchair but doesn't take any government handouts and actually works for a living.
That is my problem with disability. It turns a productive citizen into someone who stays on it for the rest of their lives. Most seem to take money under the table to supplement their income.
I'm not saying you are but I've had many discussions with many people on disability that do. One raging Democrat in California has been on ss disability since the age of 25 when he saw
his father get murdered. Somehow this qualified him to go on disability? He's now 55 years old,
is a world reknowned artist, takes $5,000 to
$20,000 under the table for his artwork in cash,
never pays any taxes, recently inherited $300,000
from his aunt but is still allowed to remain on disability for the rest of his life. He gets free
healthcare, the doctors give him Vicodin at taxpayer expense which he says he needs for his back. He saves them up then does 3 at a time,
rents a bunch of movies, makes a steak and lays
in bed getting high on our public funding.
Yes, he hates the President, our country, Republicans, and believes he should be entitled to all of it.
Here's another example, Guy is on disability
for something that happened 10 years ago. He
is also a pot dealer, he has a medical marijuana
license in California where he is allowed to carry large amounts of marijuana. He makes his cash on the side, sucks off the health care system and gets his pharmaceuticals at public expense which he uses to get high.
As I said the ones that need it don't get it
the ones that get it mostly abuse it.
Are you really going to tell me we should be funding this?
Also, I have NO problem with anyone eating lobster and steak on THEIR dime. Do you really believe we should be paying for them to eat lobster on OUR dime?
Helen, why are you so greedy and self-centered?
Obviously Helen I don't write well enough - as you still haven't noticed how to correctly spell my name and you failed to notice that I stated that I served honorably in the Army for 22 years - or, maybe, the problem is with your reading and comprehension abilities?
I served 12 years as a Heavy Weapons, Anti-Tank Specialist in the Infantry, Cavalry and Mechanized Infantry (as well as a Scout) and about 10 years as a Combat Trauma Medic in a Special Operations Command Pathfinder Platoon, and in Ambulance and Field Hospital as well as in Staff positions at the Company, Battalion, Group, Brigade, Division and Army Corp Command levels - since you probably can not even imagine the sort of work required of soldiers like me - let's just say, no civilian has much room to gripe about how hard their job may be!
I should also point out that I not only served on Active Duty, I've also served in the National Guard, Reserves and Active Guard/Reserve program (which comprises every component of the U.S. Army) - as well as worked as a Professional Military Contractor. All-in-all, I served from age 18 (in 1971) to age 45 (to 1998).
I tried to work for about 10 years as a Disabled Vet while waiting for the V.A. to eventually process my claim!
Now, before you jump to another assumption, let me explain the math -that's a 27 year span that includes 3 years in Inactive Ready Reserve status and about a 5 year break in service (as PMC's are prohibited from being in active military service while serving in contracting positions with these corporations holding government contracts).
I've been fighting for Veteran's Rights since I came home from Vietnam (at age 19) in 1972 - and I've been very active since I moved to Las Vegas in 2000 - I'm now 55 years old!
Without disclosing my personal medical history - I'm not able to work more than a few hours a day, some days are so bad it's all I can do just to get to the toilet, take my medications and eat just enough to sustain myself.
I don't understand why people like you can not compassionately discuss people who are legitimately disabled without, first, using the broad-brush of ignorance and immediately jumping to the few extreme examples of waste, fraud and abuse - oh, wait, that's what Republicans DO! It is all about immediately changing the subject and re-framing the question so you can waste everyone's time with sophmoric rhetoric and NOT address the real concerns originally laid out - let alone come up with any solutions!
Why don't you people just say "I don't want to discuss it - and be openly candid about your desire to live in denial?
Wow, and what's really stupid is that so many stupid people think we're all soooo S-T-O-O-P-U-D! Guess what, we're NOT!
And you didn't answer my question about what YOU actually accomplished while being a "citizen" in the legislature?
To Johnathan, Thank you for your service to our country. At 55, not 22 which is how I read it,
you sound like you truly deserve to be on ss disability. Probably the only one I've ever met that I agree with. So my hat is off to you.
That however, doesn't mean that I am in favor of
the freeloaders getting disability and there are
many.
What I learned in the Legislature is that they care far more about "their" employees than the
taxpayers who are paying the bills for them.
I learned that they wasted an entire day of the Legislature personally thanking each and everyone of "their employees" and putting it on the record. I learned that they refused to make any modification of the government employees or future government employees lifetime health care benefits for them and their families. I learned
that Dina Taxus, Maggie Carlton, and Bob Coffin
are ONLY concerned with "their" government employees and do not care a twit about the burden they are placing on the people of Nevada
or their children's future as they continue to
add to the $3 Billion debt currently owed by the taxpayers to allow them their retirement at 50.
Other than that I didn't learn a thing, because they spent their entire session that day thanking all "their" employees and putting it on the record and voting down any modification of future health benefits for "their employees".
What I did accomplish for myself is first hand knowlege that Nevada needs to cut the fat from the bloated budget and get a grip on the out of control spending that will kill this state.
To that end, I will continue to bitch and protest
JUST LIKE THE FOUNDERS OF OUR COUNTRY. REMEMBER THE BOSTON TEA PARTY? REMEMBER WHY WE FOUNDED THIS COUNTRY? Our founders would be agast at the
socialist country we have become. By the way, I
am a LIBERTARIAN, stay out of my pocketbook and my bedroom! The kind of Nevada citizen that this state was made for. I lived in California and I moved here for the freedom and lower taxes and lake of nanny staters. Unfortuneately, that is slowly going away as more nanny staters move in.
The ss disability is paid by the Federal Government, I see no need to add more state benefits to bring more slackers in.
Helen you are focusing on the 1% to 5% of fraud, waste and abuse cases that none of us support - and there are mechanisms to check and catch these people. But, you're ignoring the 95% to 99% who truly need their disability benefits - and if I'm the only one you've heard of, well, that just tells me you don't have much experience at all - just an overly emotional opinion!
As for the government employees, the employment contracts they entered service under should not be changed, after the fact, and the benefits package they signed onto, and have planned their lives and future on, should be honored!
You do believe in keeping your word and sticking to contractually agreed upon terms don't you?
I gotta tell you Helen, after doing a little research, you've got a reputation for your yellin' - one person told me you're the local "Fruitcake Lady" (that's the old, mean, nasty gal that's now nationally known for her demonic demeanor and lack of etiquette - she's a real jokester on the late-night talk shows)!
Now, in all seriousness, I didn't intend on starting a running conversation over the inter-net with you, so, let's just stick to the topics and the facts shall we? For example, we have not "met" - we've only exchanged commentary here - please, stick to the facts!
Oh, and I'm glad you got your foot out of your mouth - now, please, try taking some deep breaths, breath in deeply through the nose, hold it, then exhale through the mouth and repeat that process until you calm down and return to a rational, fact based perspective - getting in a tizzy by making gross assumptions and going over the top is bad for your blood pressure and can lead to a stroke or heart attack!
Same to you! YOU SEEM VERY CAPABLE OF RANTING.
GUESS WHAT, I DON'T CALL IN ON THE LATE NIGHT SHOWS! SO WRONG AGAIN BUCKO!!! THERE ARE PLENTY OF PISSED OFF PEOPLE LIKE ME!
WHEN IT COMES TO SS DISABILITY SCAMMERS, MOST ARE PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF WORKING FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN. IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT MOST ARE LEGIT THAN YOU ARE JUST STOOOOPID!!! YOUR SPELLING NOT MINE.
I've also been offered a position writing for a living for a VERY reputable NATIONAL publication on viewpoints with nationally known
writers and commentators who agree with MY point of view, not yours!! Here's a FACT, we don't live in a country that was founded on socialism
and I'll do my best to keep it that way.
You don't know who you're dealing with either!
Since the age of 26, I HAVE BEEN A PROFESSIONAL WRITER, EDITOR, TELEVISION PERSONALITY AND NATIONAL TALK SHOW HOST MYSELF (4&1/2 YEARS).
I'M DEVELOPING A NEW POLITICAL PERSONNA RIGHT NOW SO HELL-ON-WHEELS IS COMING AT CHA! BOO HOO!!!! WHAAAAAA!!!!
If you are ANY indication, I will be raising LOTS of blood pressures along the way! Mine is
fine 116 over 66. In fact, I find that venting is a perfect way to release my frustration with
victim mentality people like you.
Take a deep breath!!! NOW WATCH GLEN BECK!!!
READ IT AND WEEP, THERES' ALOT MORE PEOPLE WHO THINK LIKE I DO THAN YOU DO. OF COURSE, WE'RE WORKING FOR A LIVING TO PAY FOR ALL YOUR BENEFITS! FROM THE RJ, MY PAPER, THE BIG ONE, THAT HAS THE READERS THAT ALLOW THE SUN TO PIGGYBACK ON THEIR SUCCESS!
GOP House members push a national TASC
Republicans lost control of Congress because they lost their way. The Contract with America, the list of detailed policy proposals, accountability measures and limited-government promises that swept the GOP into power in 1994, was shunned at the start of this decade in favor of Rep. Tom DeLay's six-year, "everything for sale" pork fest.
That Democrats offered voters no specifics beyond "change" in 2006, but that was irrelevant to an angry electorate -- if Republicans wanted another chance at majority status, they'd have to re-embrace the philosophies of Goldwater, Reagan and Gingrich.
So the keys to Capitol Hill were handed to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and -- to borrow the famous news conference rant of ex-football coach Dennis Green -- they are who we thought they were. The "change" promised by Democrats has been more of the same tax-hiking, big-spending, over-regulating, anti-capitalist, redistributionist, "blame America first" rhetoric from decades past.
Now, just in time for the 2008 election, they've inspired a growing band of conservatives to counterattack with fresh ideas.
Helen, you're a "professional writer, editor" who apparently can't use spell check or afford a functional keyboard.
As far as a victim mentality, you may want to take a look in the mirror. You're victimized by evil, terrible taxes, social security "scammers," the legislature, Dina Titus, Tom DeLay, Bob Coffin, etc. Give me a break.
This country is victimized by blood suckers like you who think the world owes them a living. Must be government employees, union of course.
P.S. That article above is from the RJ, duh!
Sorry, I'll add government employees and everyone who has ever been in a union to your list. I forgot about them. Who else?
Meanwhile, how's your Ron Paul Revolution working out, Helen?
And wasn't it you who referred to Obama as a "reformed homosexual" on Bob Beers' blog? Good to see you work above the fray.