Amen to this!

I like her hair too, and I'm from Texas! She needs to watch Smith's music video 'Whip my Hair' and brush those comments off :)

I'll jump in with a "me too" on the hair - I think its gorgeous (I'm a frizzy redhead). And I really am enjoying Ms. Harris-Perry's guest stint. Dare I say I prefer her? She seems just easier to listen to, lest bombast, though I do like Lawrence O's show.

Maybe she'll get her own show? Or more guest hosting at least.... thanks for a great show. Rene

Steve, those might be fighting words to Melissa.

I was kidd'in John... after her repeating several dozen times she's NOT related to him I kinda got the picture.

you know, paul, you may be right. but i have read other similar things on facebook in regard to this President-put there by people that i know. i have also found the discussion in regard to this President very naive and ignorant, and much of it based on the fact that he is an african american AND the anti-christ. people REALLY believe that. i find this unbevelievably disturbing, because not only is he unique as our first african american president, there are racists who feel he simply does not deserve to hold that position. and then when religion is dragged into it, people feel justified in their dislike, even hatred of him.

as our first african american president i suppose he must pay his dues.

the republican/bagger party is making sure that he does.

Yeah- I remember reading one about throwing Bush off the side of a mountain and making everyone happy. Nothing new under the sun, just the people making the jokes in one era are upset about the jokes spinning around in their direction in a new era. If a Republican happens to get elected next time, you can expect it to be used on him/her. And if it is a "her", then the Republicans will cry that it is sexist in nature because the Left has claimed it is racist.

I never said anything about throwing Bush off the side of a mountain. I was tempted to throw my shoes at him the way that guy in Iraq did. But it never once cross my mind to harm G.W.Bush. Never!!!! You see I dislike Bush's policies, not because of the color of his skin. If the truth be told, if these people could be given a lie detecter test, I bet most of them would come out showing these people dislike President Obama because he is BLACK.

rusty, say what you will, but the jokes and rhetoric made by the baggers and the republiKKKans have been racist in nature, and the fact that you can't see it, makes me think that you either see it and are denying it, or that it is so much a part of who you are, that, to you, it is just normal and should be expressed.

are you telling me that there has been nothing, or that you have seen nothing racially hateful directed at President Obama?

Oh heaven's sakes alive people- Of course there are racists in this country. Interesting that you think they only vote Republican, or that they are the only people with a problem with Obama's policies.

The issue with your opinions lie with your implied assertion that all Rs are racists, all people who disagree with Obama are racists, no-one who is for Obama's policies is racist, etc. You will find people with race issues under many rocks, out in the open, and behind trees, lots of places. For you to imply racism every time there is a policy disagreement is ludicris. There were so many jokes- really hatred- about Reagan, about Clinton, but escalated against Bush II that it is funny to see you've all forgotten that. Annie's point about her not wishing Bush II harm is interesting. Do you not think that there are many people out here right now that fear what Obama's plans are for this country, but don't wish him harm? Many are just like you.

in the south in the 1960's, a time of civil unrest, democrats there were pretty solidly racist and wanted to keep their racist system in place. after President Johnson signed civil rights legislation, he knew that the south would become "republican" as they now saw the democratic party standing up for the blacks. after the civil rights legislation, the voters and the politicians in the south changed to the republican party, making it even more conservative and racist than ever before.

as the south was changing its political stand from democratic to republican, they also changed their approach to religion. they changed to a more personalized, evangelical (born-again) religion, whose ministers did support racism and slavery. as the division between the two parties grew, the republican party represented the rich, the south, and a big portion of the middle class and the working class who were concerned that african americans were getting too much privilege in this country. i lived in the south (savannah, georgia) in the 1970's, and went to a huge baptist church while i lived there. i was very young then, but what i have learned about the south since then fits; hindsight is 20/20.

what i have written above is a very condensed version of what happened in the south in the "60's, but i understand how people might feel threatened by african americans getting more and more privilege, when they are used to seeing them in a certain way, in a certain place. when people have lived in a world where blacks are "less than" all of their lives, this isn't really a concious choice for many people, it is simply the way it has always been and people are reluctant to change, it is difficult, because it has become a part of who they are. they may feel less secure, they may feel there is not enough to go around, that african americans will be taking things that should rightly go to white americans as privilege for black americans grow. pat buchanan has made this very accusation against president Obama and affirmative action.

but, i do question their inability to change and grow, and to adopt a religion that fits their racist views. i saw this in savannah georgia when i lived there as a very young and naive woman, but i made sense of it much later. i accepted what they taught when i was very young.

i see very clearly how republicans have been more racist than democrats over the years, and i understand it, in a way. i don't excuse it, not that i am judge and jury.

but i really see that President Obama has faced fierce opposition, and at times i have been very judgemental of him, wishing he would do things differently, you know, more like W. bush, who was no leader in my book.

i have always said (but sometimes forget) that President Obama understands himself as the first african american President, and he does not understand himself, as we THINK he does, or more importantly, as we think he SHOULD. like President Obama, the first black mayor of Chicago faced antagonism from most white alderman in the city. part of President Obama's role as President is to break down the wall of obstruction. because of him, our next african american president, or our first female president might not have so much resistance.

President Obama is paying his dues, unfortunately in a time of great stress and economic difficulty for the american people.

President Obama is acting like MLK during the Civil Rights Movement. but for those of you who think racism is dead and gone in washington d.c.. where we have seen bigotry shining through, President Obama understands the inequality that still exists between him and mitch, and eric and john. he is revealing the differences that exist between him and republicans/baggers. by not saying a word he is showing the world the difference between their ideals and their actions; they do not match up.

as a white liberal i am trying to understand better the politics of the african american never-ending battle, so i can appreciate and recognize what our first african american President is trying to achieve and "how" he goes about getting it done.

i love al sharpton. we need al to counter fox and to call the republicans out in the way that only al can.

melissa is young. i am sure her turn will come soon if she if wants it.

You call Radical the republicans because they don't agreed with your RADICAL liberal/marxist /communist ideology. Like Bubama blames the Tea Party because they don't agreed with his Radical agenta ??

The Tea Party has a radical anarchy agenda to destroy our government from with in, of course I don't believe in that like most people with common sense. I believe in our Constitution and they are trying to destroy our Constitution. That is President Obama. Please refer to him with his proper title since he is the elected Representative of the people. I am not a comunist, and I do not have any communist idology. I am a socialist who believes we should fight against social injustices. I believe food, medicine, education and a place to live are basic human rights and I believe that the government has a responsibility as God commanded to provide these. I believe in the people of this great nation to be better than they are. I believe we should do what we can as a Nation to help each other achieve our inner greatness. If that makes me a radical socialist I'll gladly wear that badge. "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. JFK

Please- every repeat after me:

President Obama, President Bush, President Clinton, President Bush, President Reagan.

Now if the Left does this, and the Right does this, and the Left quits misnaming Republicans and the Right Democrats- we just might get somewhere. Standing- would you please stand with me and lead the way. Please type "President Bush was my President". I'm stating that President Obama is my President- so it is your turn and I think you will comply based upon the content of your letter.

Sorry aint going to happen. I did not like President Bush. He lied about who was responsible for 9/11 and lead us into 2 unjustifiable wars. He wasn't elected. He sued to become president. The man is very anti-gay and anti-Native American. President Bush was the worse president in the past 50 years and has done more to hurt this country than any president I can remember. Regan was a far better president then he was. He passed DOMA. He passed the tax credits for the rich and a medicare drug insurance plan that helps the drug companies more than the people on it. I am sorry but I will not claim this man.

Limbaugh has called Obama a "street thug,"and a "little punk." Remember the previous cries of "how dare you.... respect for the Commander in Chief" when Bush was criticized?

Bush was never really President since he had to sue to become president. That is very typical of right wing radio. Limbaugh is a racist, homophobic jerk who just likes to hear himself talk. He is not a credible person to go to for information. Besides Bush said when he was President, "If the Indians don't like living here in America we can ship them off". He never stated where he wanted to ship us. Bush does not deserve any respect. He's a racist, homophobic, uneducated, unintelligent, childish mouth piece for the Republican Party.

Standing Turtle- It is fairly easy to point out hypocrisy of the Left under many conditions. You've entered a new low, though. If you read your original post- demanding the opposition give Obama his due respect- then your refusal to give others their due respect- because in your opinion, they are not due respect. Well- there may be people in this country (maybe lots of them) that don't think Obama is due respect.

When you demand something for your side, but refuse to give the same to the other side- you come across as, well, not so good.

He sued to become president. He violated our democratic processes. He was never President and he doesn't deserve the title. President Obama is an elected official who is kind and good to the people. He's a good man above reproach unlike Bush who is racist, homophobic uneducated bigot. Bush does not deserve any kind of respect. Ever.

Standing Turtle- I love arguments with people like you because then all of the liberal world can see firsthand how their own really are.

Seems you, as a liberal, have views about Bush's legality of President. Yet, I would also bet that you would toss anyone on the Right's views about Obama's legality out the window (ie- Birthers). You feel you have the right to deny who you don't like, yet you refuse someone else's right if they are on the other side. Sounds pretty much like a hypocrite to me.

Also- could you prove that Obama is a good man? Your proof needs to be as substantial as your proof that Bush is a bigot, racist, homophobic and uneducated. Well- I guess that is easy for you because you provided no proof for your slanderous statements.

Fellow liberals- why don't you all come to Turtle's defense? Demand other's respect Obama and demand your own right to not respect Bush. Also- I've seen MSNBC take down slanderous, baseless, meanspirited responses such as his numerous times. Of course, those were from people who disagree with MSNBC views.

Here I am, defending. It's late now, but I promise you the slapdown's comin' tomorrow am. My English teacher will be here for a lesson, too.

Grow up. One your looking for a fight and two your starting an old argument which has been proven false. I think the media have proven the man that Bush is.

Furthermore, Here is your proof:

1. Bush is responsible for for the torture and death of unknown number of Muslims without proof that they did anything wrong. Bush is a criminal and needs to stand trial for war crimes and crimes against American Citizens.

2. Bush invaded 2 countries without proof and he LIED about WOMD in Iraq.

3. He blackmailed Americans into supporting his crimes by saying." If your not with us than you are with the terrorists". Encouraging hate and fear against Muslims.

4. He violated the American Constitution with the creation of the Patriot Act which violates the rights of Americans.

5. He passed the DOMA which discriminates against gay Americans and their families.

6. He sat there and did nothing when Hurricane Katrina hit and destroyed New Orleans. Some could say there is an act of ethnic cleansing and disposal of the poor in New Orleans.

7. He passed Tax Credits for the rich and corporations which place us in this mess we are in now. Chaney has been quoted as saying." It's are time now. We deserve this."

8. He lied and his father covered up his so called service in the Air Force Reserve.

9. He vetoed a bill for Stem Cell Research which could have helped millions with cancer and spinal diseases and injuries.

10. Bush withdrew American support of treaties with several of our allies including Russia.

Bush is the WORST president we have ever had except for maybe Andrew Jackson who had an entire tribe (his own tribe) slaughtered for the land. Bush deserves to be in jail not living in Dallas TX freely.

rusty,

i get so sick of hearing crap from the birthers.

as turtle wrote above, bush was annointed president by the supreme court (most of whom were his daddy's friends) while they took away the voting rights of the people of florida.

when he ran for his second term, there was computer hacking going on in the state of ohio, not to mention the swiftboating they did on an american hero, john kerry.

and everyone knew that dick cheney was the man behind the brainless W. bush, running the show because bush didn't know what to do, and he was always on vacation.

i could go on, but it seems you agree with me.

President Obama produced his birth certificate.

I love it!!!

To put this in perspective-

A) Turtle is saying people need to give President Obama respect because he is the President of the United States. Turtle is angry because some people have intentionally misspelled his last name and generally showed him disrespect.

B) Turtle vigorously defends people's right to disparage President Bush because Turtle has the opinion that Bush wasn't legitimate as President (in that during the 2000 elections, a lot of scrutiny was placed upon Florida) Turtle ignores that Bush was elected without controversy of that ilk in 2004. Turtle also ignores that if Gore had won his home state, it would have been moot.

C) Rusty points out that Turtle wants to hold the Red side of the nation to a higher standard than she holds herself or the Blue side.

C1) Rusty agrees that Obama is his President, and Rusty respects the office and even the man. Rusty has no reason to believe that Obama wasn't born in Hawaii. Rusty just disagrees with some positions and directions the President espouses. Rusty doesn't think that this makes Rusty a racist.

D) Suzie and George agree with Turtle and they are going to give Rusty a "slapdown", presumably so that Rusty and others will now agree that it is ok to disparage Presidents that Turtle disagrees with but not ok to disparage Presidents that Turtle agrees with.

The way I see it you cannot handle criticism of your own party especially when that criticism is deserved. Look at Eric Cantor holding back hurricane Aid unless his party gets more spending cuts. Seriously? The Republicans are awful to people of the US. At least Democrats try to help the people. Republicans block any help to the people. Republicans only want to help the rich and corporations. That's the truth. I posted the truth about George W. Bush. He wasn't even fairly elected in his 2nd term. There was voter fraud going on. There is something seriously wrong with our systems of elections. I am sick of this birthers crap too. Grow up dude. The fact is you and your Party cannot handle a BLACK Democratic President. Republicans are so racist its actually palpable. Republicans don't like or support minorities and poor people. They don't support 90% of nation --the working class. I don't know why your party has gone insane but it has. Yes your party is about to get a slap down in 2012. One that has not been felt in 50 years, and its going to hurt. The sins of the Republican Party is going to come back to haunt them. The American people are going speak and your not going to like it.

I abstain. Others have slapped down at least as well as I.

rusty-

here is rusty's slapdown- when rusty refers to himself in the third person he appears to be a narcissistic personality with an exaggerated view of how great rusty thinks he is. rusty appears to be using this as a way to condescend to others, to apply pre-ordained distance between himself and every liberal on this blog.

rusty is taking the moral high ground, as the bible says, the heart of the wise turns to the republican/bagger right, unlike the liberals who are foolish and turn to the democratic left.

rusty knows what to expect when he comes to this blog, but he comes here anyway, because rusty likes to stir the pot. no one here has said the things that rusty has implied, that all republicans are racist. but i feel that the republicans in office now in washington are racist. they have made it difficult for president Obama to govern, though he has tried very hard.

we are not stupid or bad people because we believe that bush was annointed president in 2000 and stole the election in ohio in 2004 due to computer hacking. W. bush was/is stupid, and he had the backing of the entire republican party, and many democrats who i felt shouldn't have backed him, especially in regard to the iraqi war. but, democrats are more willing to give a republican president what he wants, and do not seek to impeach a republican president, like the republicans do whenever there is a democrat in office.

i don't know how old rusty is, but rusty is looking at things very superficially if he can't see how things really are in washington.

rusty needs to get down off his perch, or else leave this blog and go to fox news.

rusty should respond to my post in response to his # 6.5.

we are saying that the republicans in washington and the baggers are racist. show me where they are not.

Actually- you folks are not stupid or dumb at all. The truth is (but- as we know- you can't handle the truth! - Jack Nicholson) that you are hypocrites.

What other word would you use to describe the case where you demand people who disagree with Obama to respect him, yet when you disagree with a President, you don't feel you have to show respect? Come on folks- be just a little bit honest with yourselves. Don't shoot the messenger.

rusty,

we are NOT demanding that rusty respect President Obama. we are just disagreeing with what rusty writes.

rusty is doing what he is accusing us of doing, of not being able to handle the truth.

the reasons why i don't show respect to W. bush is because the election in 2000 was an annointing of bush, the people didn't get to decide. instead the republican party went to the supreme court, most of whom were daddy bush's friends. oh, big surprise there. they annointed W. bush. we all know what happened in 2004 with the computer hacking in ohio. he didn't win 2 elections, yet he was president for 8 years. why should we respect a man who shouldn't have been our president? then after he got the job, he was horrible at it.

i have told rusty before that i disagree with much of what our President Obama has tried to do. it has nothing to do with agreeing or disagreeing. it has to do with "what kind of man do i preceive this president to be"? i have also seen how the republicans/baggers who come on this blog get so upset when we cry "racism". i don't understand how rusty does not see that mcconnell, cantor, boehner and most of the republicans in washington are letting their hatred of this democratic president, be it due to race or the fact that he is a democrat, get in the way of governing this country. they are using this debt, and the fact that we have an african american democratic president as a way to turn their backs on programs (medicare, social security) that they hate, and give money to the rich, turning their backs on the most vulnerable american people.

i am being honest with myself and with rusty. i feel very comfortable with my democratic, liberal, progressive beliefs, even though, according to rusty, they do not have biblical backing.

in my opinion, W. bush does not deserve respect because of how he got to be president, and what he did afterwards.

"That is President Obama. Please refer to him with his proper title since he is the elected Representative of the people."- Standing Turtle

Suzette- this is the statement that started the whole element on the blog entitled "Fixing the Lack of Civility in Politics". It's hard to take that any other way, but you have backed away from your support of it, so it seems. From there- I totally agreed and merely suggested that the same rules should apply to all. Now that you've clarified you never meant to take Turtles idiotic position, we can move forward. I have noticed though, that you jump astraddle me for positions I have never espoused yet you let silly positions slide from others so long as they agree in a liberal mandate along with you.

No you just wanted to criticism and attack someone who doesn't believe in idiotic and insane Republican ideas. You disrespect Pres. Obama by misspelling his name as all Republicans do. You make up this "cute" nicknames for the President to insult him because you cannot handle that a BLACK Democratic man beat your candidate. So your party find ways to attack him. He is a good man who is trying to help the people. Insulting him because he is black doesn't hold to your position, it makes you look like a Child like the rest of the Tea Party. Grow up and leave the poor guy alone. It's like Rick Perry and his comments about the man not loving America. He loves America more than the Republicans do. I am just tired of hear a racial slur and insults come from the Republicans--the Party of Hate. It needs to stop. You are only hurting your party.

Now we might be back on. I find it amusing because liberal bloggers love to stereotype conservatives (all racist, all call Obama names, all are Tea Party people, all...). So here we have liberals granting people the right to disrespect Obama (as stated by Suzette) and then demanding that Obama is respected (Turtle). Guess you liberals can't be stereotyped. Would you consider the fact that that you can't stereotype conservatives either?

BTW Turtle- you've conveniently chose to ignore what I think of Obama.

Hello? Are you insane? Am I the only one seeing the Hate in the Republican Party? Their attacks on the President? Their attacks on the poor and working class? I am just stating what the Republicans are DOING. I can post videos on here of Tea Party rallies calling Pres. Obama the "N" word and "F" Lover". Your trying to claim that Republican Party is not racist when there is media showing that are. They have been quoted saying some very hateful statements. Herman Cain has been quoted as saying some very hateful statements about Muslims. The Republicans are complaining that Chris Christie has appointed a Muslim as a Federal Judge. The Tea Party has been quoted as saying they want to "hang" President Obama referring to the KKK in the 1960s who used to hang black men. The Republican Party has drafted a party platform that states that they want to put gays in jail and their families too. The Tea Party has said they should put gays to death. This is not stereotyping. These are things they actually said and done. They are by far the most racist group I have ever seen by their own words and actions. The Tea Party is backed by StormFront a former KKK group. Stop crying foul. The problem with 21st century is that there is cameras everywhere and someone at sometime is going to catch you on tape. That it the problem with hate groups. They always get caught saying hateful things on tape where it cannot be refuted.

There is more. Some Democrats are even saying hateful things about Republicans. There is a lot of hate all over the place. Notice- I said some. Other Democrats are more civil and less evil in their thoughts and statements.

Ultimately, elections matter. The strength of America is that accepting this is ingrained in our culture. Lately though, this conviction seems to be eroding. So now, one question seems to be: Who is more illegitimate, Obama or Bush? This discussion is a bit disturbing. OTOH I guess it's nothing new.

All of you, this is still OUR COUNTRY.

If I had a signature here, it would be "I can disagree with you without calling you mean or stupid."

I do not understand why you keep saying the same thing. I apologized for calling you insane. You could actually join the discussion instead of saying the same thing. No one can truly deny how hateful the Republicans are. You rarely hear a Democrat ever say those things. Sorry but you are wrong. Democrats are more accepting of gays, the poor , the working and minorities. Next November you will hear the people speak and it will be a backlash against Republicans for all the mean things they have said and done to the people.

rusty,

no, i have not backed down from anything. posting on a blog is much different than sitting down with someone and having a conversation where you have much more to go on than the written word, like eye contact, like facial expression, and immediate feedback. i don't come here to disagree with liberals, as by and large i agree with MOST of what they are saying. i also don't come here to argue with baggers, but sometimes their comments i find so ridiculous and contrary to what i believe, i just have to respond.

i am sure that is why you are here, to stir the pot. you think it is funny to get the democrats "all riled up". you disagree mostly with what we believe, and you love to come here and point out our faults on the way we post. does suzette feel as strongly today as she did yesterday, is she backing down on her statements? is turtle calling me names?

you know what i think is funny? that you take a bible verse from ephesians that was written thousands of years ago about wise to the right and foolish to the left, and think that god has chosen the republican party to 'RULE THE EARTH" (barton?). if you really believe that, which you have said that you do, then there is no point in discussing anything with you or with any other member of the republican party.

it is very convenient to take a book, a book that many people use to find spiritual and emotional sustenance, and USE that as a basis for the beliefs of YOUR poilitical party. that is BLASPHEMOUS and you are using that to exploit the american people and to scare them into believing that like god and the wise, voters should also turn to the right.

repeat after me:

religion is good, gov't is bad, and please be sure to mix the two. drag republican morals and judgements into everything.

as turtle wrote above, democrats are the less judgemental of the two parties. though imperfect, they at least try to help those who cannot help themselves.

of course, i realize this means nothing to you. this goes against what republicans believe. this goes against the "me me me" mantra of the republican party.

Suzzette- thank you kindly for refraining from being judgemental about conservatives in your rant about conservatives. lol

Okay 1. I am not a Christian. I am Native American.

2. You guys are weird. I am not even sure what your even talking about. You have gone on a tangent that has nothing to do with the current topic. I am the same way in person. I will tell you to your face how mean the Republicans and why they shouldn't be in power. Most of all I will use examples and expose their lies and hate.

Turtle- confused? I'm not for sure what you are talking about?

"grammar"

No its just being childish. You wanna attack someone's grammar and spelling, but did you ever give thought to maybe they have a disability? I doubt people like you ever do.

Turtle- Suzette is your typical neo-con in wolf's disguise. Give her heck!

You love her hair ??? I see you have a good taste ?? What else you like about her the fact that she is a liberal/marxist like you ???

LOL.

You say that like it's a dirty word, and I'm not sure that Marxism is what you think it is.

One think that Marx did say is that Capitalism, because it drives wealth into only a few pockets, would ultimately fail because those without would only tolerate that for a short period. I wonder if he was correct.

Many Americans define Marxism by the communist regimes in Russia and China. Neither was a true communism. Each was a oligarchy with a few controlling the majority. The power of those few was based on birth and relationships. We are seeing something similar in America, only it's a plutocracy (based on money/birth and relationships, specifically business relationships). I'm not sure why that is better than what happened in Russia and China?

Them civics courses I took in high school suggested that we were a republic/democracy where the majority ruled. The notion of second amendment remedies to decisions made by leaders who were duly elected by the majority was anathema.

By the way, no true communism can exist IMO, it is counter to basic human nature.

Wow that was really mean Greg. You owe Mellisa Harris-Perry an apology.

Most Republicans don't know the differences between Marxism, communist, socialist, Capitalist, oligarchy and plutocracy. Anything other than Capitalism is considered evil and substandard. The Problem with Capitalism is it promotes greed and turns the people on each other. Ultimately you are right it turns it into an oligarchy or Plutocracy. In which Capitalists become what they hate the most. In the end power is bought by the people with the money and control the corporations. They create a working class that is forever subservient to the Corporation and they grow wealthier and wealthier on the backs of the people. At the expense of the people. By paying them minimum wage, no insurance, no retirement, they ensure a working class generation after generation with no hope ever sharing the wealth. In other words--slaves to the corporation for life. Generation after Generation. There is no trickle down wealth. The few people who do manager to make into the circle of wealth got there through college Education and other means. So the Corporation tries to limit the number of graduates so they don't have to share the wealth. So they make education expensive and only open to a select few--and only a few will make it select multimillion dollar Corporate funded Universities like Yale. That the problem with Capitalism. It takes away being HUMAN. It takes away caring for the people. We mean more than a number and the insignificant funds in our checking accounts because they don't pay enough. We mean more, and they fear that. They are afraid that we the slaves will rebel against our masters. That's why they fear Unions and pay to destroy them. Capitalism is not what they say it is. It makes us weak and it makes us greedy. Ultimately it turns us against our neighbor in a competition to see who can reach the top of the food chain first. That is wrong.

lyle,

thanks for your comments about communism. i don't think anyone reads them when i post them here either. people are really confused about what communism really is, and why it can never be.

Yes 1667 but its much much more than that US lived 29 yrs under Reaganomics, unfunded corp cuts- debt- failed wars for profit, - 1986 amnesty for cheap illegal wages - Bush GOP global crash 2008 700 billion TARP joke on taxpayers We paid top dollar for Wall ST Banks & AIG JUNK RATED MORTGAGES. We were duped screwed scammed royal every which way Get educated on true history of Reagan Bush 1-2 - con judges- & GOldman Fed boys wealth favoring policies, failed wars / huge corp cuts - loopholes Corp media will not tell you the whole story Not Fox Not even CNN covers it all

Amen

Cheap labor is the issue. If it can be shipped in a container, US manufacturing is history.. When we make nothing in the US watch the prices rise even at Wallchart.

they make money off of behaving badly, they get to say hateful things and then they are rewarded for it.

many in the "public" must feel the same way.

Yes that is true. Michelle is a history teacher and she over looking the Federalist Papers, Common Sense, and many many other papers written at the time of the founding of this country. Even our founding fathers did not like each other and had "special names" for each other. Our founding fathers often swore in there correspondence to each other. So really swearing isn't irrelevant. There is just a time and place for it.

Uhm???? What the bleep are you talking about? I can tell you I am demon free thanks. Although Republicans think Liberals have demons in them. I don't believe in Demon as in the false Christian sense of a distorted creature wearing red and black with horns and tail. I think that is the Sunday school version made up to scare little children. I am no child and I don't buy into that. I do believe in angels of light and angels of darkness. Angels are beautiful creatures created for him. He would never created something as grotesque as a Demon. I question the whole Demon Possession as well. Anyone into the Paranormal? I think what is misunderstood as demonic is an actual spirit that has taken over the body at the request of a fallen angel. This spirit once lived on but as mean and hateful person. He did some evil deeds. When he died his spirit because something other than human. I think its these spirits who take possession of a person under the control of a fallen angel. Anyone interested in discussion the paranormal let me know.

What the HELL did old people do to deserve freebies just for turning 65? The very IDEA of Medicare is ridiculous on the face of it. Nearly HALF of our Congressmen are over the age of 65 and are THEY too old to work? Cripes, I kind of wish they were, because then they wouldn't be wasting my tax dollars a million different ways per day.

Welfare is destructive and goes to undeserving people. It goes to druggies, and single mothers who can't keep their damned legs together. Welfare goes to convicted felons who can't get a job because nobody with a lick of sense would trust them with the keys to a cash register.

We're sending food stamps around in a nation where 2 out of 3 people are overweight and obese, and the lunatics who want to save this stupid program fattening up the nation say that people are about to starve. The last WELFARE QUEEN I saw at the store was so damned fat she'd take TEN YEARS to starve.

Then stupid Democrats come up with "handicapped parking" which really ought to be named "fatass parking" because that's the only thing wrong with the hippos with those damned plates. They ought to be parking at the OTHER END of the parking lot and walking for the first exercise they've had in over 20 years.

Everything Liberals have proposed or done over the past 200 years needs to be wiped out and undone. Liberals act like they've done great things, but it's all STUPID!!

Take for example the liberal masterpiece, the "Civil Rights Act". That's some stupidity right there. Have you ever heard of anyone going to jail for violating that stupid law? Of course not, because it's USELESS IDIOCY!!

I want the budget to be balanced and the fastest way to do that is to utterly DESTROY every piece of legislation proposed by liberals over the past two centuries. Then we can use the budget we had back in 1811 which will underspend this budget by over a TRILLION BUCKS!!

meangene,

maybe you have lots of money and won't need medicare, but medicare came about because elderly people were having a hard time getting insurance. no inusrance company wanted/wants to cover them, the costs for the insurance company were/are too high, and they weren't/wouldn't be making any money.

and meangene, i love your analogy about welfare mothers who can't keep their legs together, as if men have absolutely no responsibility in the making of a baby at all. poor men. its not their fault, they are just the victims of these damned women who sit around with their damned legs apart. these poor men, who, if they took responsibility for their child, we wouldn't need welfare. but of course, men are blameless. they cannot control their appendage. but that is not their fault. their appendage has a mind of its own.

can you say or write any other words other than "stupid" or "dumb" or "fatass" or "lunatic" or "idiocy"?

medicare should be means tested, and those who can afford to pay for their health care, or who can afford insurance, should buy it. of course, i see nothing wrong or stupid with taking care of the elderly in our country who cannot afford health care.

the fastest way to balance the budget is to continue helping the vulnerable in our country with some cuts there, and let the tax cuts end for the rich, and stop sending all our money overseas on defense.

why are you so bitter and angry?

you must be a bagger.

@suzette-3194003, I have enough money to do as I please, and medicare is useless to me anyway because I will not live to the age of 65. No one in my family lives that long. I had 3 brothers, and 2 of them are already dead. Medicare was a ripoff to them same as it is to me. I know for an absolute fact that I will never need Medicare because I didn't win the genetic lottery that lets me live that long.

As for the women, yes it is all their responsibility. That's what the Roe V. Wade decision that liberals adore so much said. WOMENS BODIES, WOMENS CHOICES. Daddy has no say in whether the woman does or does not get an abortion, because it is, after all, her body and hers alone. So, men are freed from all responsibility. Only women have responsibility for babies now. Their bodies, their "choice", means their full and total responsibility. Men are freed of any liability by the decision liberals hail as a giant leap in women's rights. The bra-burners got exactly what they wanted, and with it came exactly what they deserved. Nope, men don't have any obligation to kids anymore, not until Roe V. Wade is struck down.

Yes, I can say other words. I have an extensive vocabulary in excess of 18,000 words. I read and write at college level. I don't even need a spell check program, as I never screw up a word.

Here's the evil of Medicare in a nutshell: It doesn't pay the whole bill, what it pays is 80% of the bill. Now, let's say that Doctors aren't idiots, after all, if they were then they wouldn't be Doctors, right? So, if a Doctor wants $100 payment and knows he'll only get $80 if he asks for $100, then do you think the Doctor is too stupid to figure out that he gets his $100 if he bills Medicare $125 and gets 80% of that? That's EXACTLY why Medicare is the root cause of sky-high medical bills in this nation. Get rid of Medicare once and for all and the costs will drop because they won't be padded anymore.

The fastest way to balance the budget is to take voting rights away from those who benefit from government programs because they're not voting for the good of the nation, but rather voting for their own self-interests. If a politician did that, and voted for his own self-aggrandizement, then the word for that is "CORRUPTION". Therefore, letting people on government assistance vote leads to corruption. Get rid of voting rights for those who take government checks and the budget will balance itself as the public votes for the interests of the nation instead of the interests of themselves.

Why am I bitter and angry? Because every two weeks I see my paycheck depleted by over $1000 for government and it's the most expensive budget item I've got. My government is twice more expensive than my house payment and car payment combined. That ticks me off more than a little bit.

I'm a Republican, fifth-generation. Every member of my family has been Republican for over 100 years. I would sooner gnaw off my own right arm than to vote for a despicable Democrat. I don't even vote Democrat when they're the only candidates on the ballot.

I feel sorry for you. I really do. I am sorry you have lost so many family members I know what its like. I also know what its like to have a mother on medicare and a mother in law. Neither one would be able to afford healthcare if it wasn't for medicare. It may not be be perfect. They need to combine medicare and medicaid so it pays 100%. I am happy for you that you don't have to use spell check. Some of us are dyslexic and not so lucky. As for handicapped parking it does what its supposed to but it is often abused just like every other program out there. These programs are not bad. They were created with the intention of helping others but got abused by others. As for the Civil Rights Act, its the greatest Amendment to the Constitution. It freed the Slaves, but the Act does something else as well it makes sure that everyone is treated fairly and equally. The reason why you never hear anyone suing under it because its not that kind of law. When a company violates the Amendment, that violation gets sent to federal agency that handles. I had such a thing happen to me. I am disabled. My school violated the Civil Rights Act and they paid dearly for it. I was not the only student they discriminated against and it cost them millions of dollars in renovations of the course of 5 years. So yes the Acts do work that Congress passes often behind the scenes. One of those Acts is to make sure you get paid fairly. To make sure your not discriminated against. To make sure everyone has fair chance not just in a job but in the marketplace as well. That house you have or the apartment you have you got because of the Fair Housing Act which prevents landlords and creditors from discriminating against you preventing you from having a place to live. Without these laws, many people would end up on the streets. Many people would not be able to go to school or get a loan. So yes they do a lot of good. Most of all they make us free and equal. So what do they do for you? Well sometimes you don't know because they work in the backgrounds behind the scenes. They rarely get any credit. Republicans claim that they don't work, but that is only ignorance on how they work. If we take voting rights away from people then we wouldn't be America. They are voting for the people as a whole, and for the good of the people. Only the Rich and Corporation for own selfish interest. You should like one of those people. You are a GREAT example on why I don't like Republicans. You are also proving my point on how mean and selfish Republicans are. Thank you for that. If you not rich white and Christian, Republicans believe you shouldn't have any rights and only they can run the country. That is not a Democracy. That is a Theocracy or an Oligarchy. Those have been tried and they have failed. They don't work. So the next time, you see a handicapped person at Walmart, you see that tax deduction on check stub, or that truth in lending statement, you can think of us Democrats who protect the interest of the Majority of the poor and working class. We are here to make sure that people like you---Republicans don't discriminate or take advantage of the people. We will always be here. At the next election, you go ahead and vote Republican, I promise you will be in the minority of those who do.

OK, meangene, i think i understand your anger a little better. so you are saying that because you will not live to a ripe old age, that others who do should not have benefit of health care?

it is not ALL the woman's responsibility if she gets pregnant. it does take two to perform the sexual act that makes a baby. Roe V. Wade has nothing to do with responsibility. that has nothing to do with a man putting on a condom or "getting clipped" if he doesn't want to be responsible for having a child. oh, but a condom interferes with the pleasure, and getting clipped is getting a little too close to the family jewels. and that makes some men feel impotent if they can no longer "make a baby", i mean it makes them less of a man, i guess. you are using Roe V. Wade as another excuse for your anger, directing it at women, who are only 1/2 of the problem, if that, since men have a much stronger sex drive and sometimes use violence to achieve that end.

this is not what the bra-burners wanted, and as far as abortion goes, the republicans are making sure that abortion is no longer a choice for a woman, or even birth control, for that matter. women bear the brunt of an unwanted pregnancy during cases of rape or incest, and the republicans believe that god has blessed the act of the sexually depraved rapist. republicans believe that god follows teenagers into the backseats of cars and blesses the resulting pregnancy, and then the resulting child who is raised to be beaten and abused or thrown in a garbage dump. i believe that in many cases abortion is the lesser of two evils. it is not as simple as the woman only being responsible, and the man getting off scott free, because the woman has enticed the man by spreading her legs. many of these children are born to drug addicted youn mothers who will abuse them after they are born. but the republicans don't care about these children after they are born, or the young mothers either. IT IS TIME FOR THESE BABIES TO PULL THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS.

i agree, medicare needs reform. so does the health insurance industry.

get rid of voting rights for those who get disability checks? or for those who are on medicare? well, thats what the republican party is trying to do. i guess you can take some comfort in that.

my house is paid for; that is a relief, so is my car.

i'm sorry about your anger, but it is understandable.

i am a registered nurse, which is part of the reason for my interest. you don't have to tell me, of course, but do you have some sort of genetic condition that determines how long you live?

it is hard to lose brothers and sisters.