Dumbest. Senator. Ever.

[Carson]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid took his GOP-blasting rhetoric to a new level Monday, comparing Republicans who oppose health care reform to lawmakers who clung to the institution of slavery more than a century ago.

...Senate Republicans on Monday called Reid's comments "offensive" and "unbelievable."

But Reid argued that Republicans are using the same stalling tactics employed in the pre-Civil War era.

"Instead of joining us on the right side of history, all the Republicans can come up with is, 'slow down, stop everything, let's start over.' If you think you've heard these same excuses before, you're right," Reid said Monday. "When this country belatedly recognized the wrongs of slavery, there were those who dug in their heels and said 'slow down, it's too early, things aren't bad enough.'"

I guess the Civil War was indeed about states' rights. :doh:

[Tom In VA]

Well the irony(?) is slaves had free healthcare. They had free everything. The plantation "czars" and slaverowners saw to it that the slaves ate, bred, and were healthy to work. Treated like assets - not unlike Western ranchers with their cattle - they were actually more prized and valuable than the "white trash" indentured servants and "free-riders" that flooded the fledgling nation.

If I were a person of importance in the political landscape I would remind Mr. Reid of this fact. Eschewing the double standard of being able to constantly throw the evils of slavery yet ignoring its facts.

[BSmack]

Yep Tom, they sure treated them like "assets".

Problem was, they were human beings.

[Tom In VA]

Yep Tom, they sure treated them like "assets".

Problem was, they were human beings.

No disputing that. Nor will I allow you to twist words and otherwise mischaracterize my post as somehow being an apologist for slavery, I am not.

The slaves' needs were determined by the slaveowner, provided by the slaveowner, and came at no cost - save for their labor - to them

How is that, in principle, any different than the proposals for universal healthcare ?

[BSmack]

Yep Tom, they sure treated them like "assets".

Problem was, they were human beings.

No disputing that. Nor will I allow you to twist words and otherwise mischaracterize my post as somehow being an apologist for slavery, I am not.

Then maybe you should be a little more careful with your words.

The slaves' needs were determined by the slaveowner, provided by the slaveowner, and came at no cost - save for their labor - to them

How is that, in principle, any different than the proposals for universal healthcare ?

You're comparing apples and space shuttles. Get a fucking clue and get back to me. Reid, on the other hand, is spot on with his analogy. The fillibuster is the ultimate tool of last resort for the reactionary.

[Tom In VA]

The fillibuster is the ultimate tool of last resort for the reactionary.

Wrong.

[smackaholic]

tom's analogy is spot on. obama want's see that his slaves (us) have healthcare provided by the plantation (fed gubmint).

reid is a complete jackass. he is nearly as stupid as pelosi. how in the fukkk did the greatest country on the planet end up with barry, harry and skeletor in charge?

we're fuct.

[BSmack]

You're comparing apples and space shuttles.

Yes, as is Reid.

88 beat me to the punch, but Lincoln's party was the Republican party. Seems like the "slow down" and feet dragging have been going on forever.

Yes it has. And the party of the foot dragger is not what is at issue here. The analogy holds because what is at issue here is reaction versus action. And when it comes to health care, the Republicans are the party of reaction.

[Dinsdale]

Here's a novel concept -- get government the fuck out of health care... completely.

They've fucked it up since they first dipped their grimey fingers in it, and it's gotten worse ever since.


The American health care industry was once universally regarded as the best, most affordable in the world. What happened?

HMMM... Uncle Sam put his greedy mitts on it, that's what happened. Been downhill ever since.

Let's see -- the decline in cost/services is in direct corrolation with government involvement. It's now up over 50%, and we can see the results.

But get this... there's actually some rocket surgeons who believe that since giving the government over a 50% stake in health care has caused a severe downturn in the level/cost of care, so naturally... wait until I get done chuckling so I can type more...

OK, there's brainiacs who believe that increasing the government's stake will magically reverse the damage they've done.


Uh yeah, that's solid logic.

[Dinsdale]

, December 07, 2009 Email to a Friend ShareThisAdvertisement
The Senate worked through the weekend on its version of the national health care bill, with President Obama stopping by for a rare Sunday visit, but for the second week in a row, only 41% of U.S. voters favor the health care plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 51% oppose the plan. And as has been the case for months, the emotion’s on the sign of the naysayers: 40% Strongly Oppose the plan, while just 23% Strongly favor it.

Support for the president’s health care plan fell to 38%, its lowest ever, just before Thanksgiving. Followed by two weeks at 41%, this marks the lowest extended period of support for the plan yet. With the exception of a few days following nationally televised presidential appeals for the legislation, the number of voters opposed to the plan has always exceeded the number who favor it.

“This suggests that public opinion about the health care plan is hardening,” says Scott Rasmussen, president of Rasmussen Reports. “Despite the fact that most American believe our health care system needs major changes, most are opposed to what Congress is currently doing about it.”

Rasmussen Reports is continuing to track public opinion on the health care plan on a weekly basis, with updated findings released each Monday morning.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

The Senate is expected to take up the abortion issue as part of its health care debate this week. Earlier polling shows that 48% nationwide want abortion coverave banned in the health care bill, while just 13% want such coverage mandated in the legislation.

Both the Senate and the House have Democratic majorities, which explains why both keep pushing on health care despite consistent public opposition. Seventy-two percent (72%) of Democrats favor the plan, while 83% of Republicans and 62% of voters not affiliated with either major party are opposed to it.

Democrats consistently have rated health care reform as the most important of the priorities listed by the president early in his term. Republicans and unaffiliated voters say cutting the federal deficit in half by the end of his first term is the president's highest priority.

Fifty-two percent (52%) of all voters now say it is at least somewhat likely that the health care plan will become law this year, while 37% believe that is unlikely to happen. Seventeen percent (17%) think passage is Very Likely, but nine percent (9%) say it’s Not At All Likely.

That’s one reason why 71% of voters nationwide say they’re at least somewhat angry about the current policies of the federal government. That’s up five points from September. The overall figure includes 46% who are Very Angry.

While one of the chief stated goals of the plan proposed by the president and congressional Democrats is to lower the cost of health care, 57% say costs will go up if the plan is passed. Twenty-one percent (21%) say costs will go down, and 17% believe they will stay about the same.

Similarly, only 23% think the quality of health care will get better if the plan is passed, while 54% predict that it will get worse. Sixteen percent (16%) expect quality to stay about the same.

Other polling shows that 47% trust the private sector more than government to keep health care costs down and the quality of care up. Two-thirds (66%) say an increase in free market competition will do more than government regulation to reduce health care costs.

Sixty percent (60%) of voters nationwide believe passage of the health care plan will increase the deficit. Seventy-five percent (75%) also think it is at least somewhat likely that middle class taxes will have to be raised to cover the cost of the plan. Fifty-nine percent (59%) say such a tax increase is Very Likely.

Only 27% favor a single-payer health care system where the federal government provides coverage for everyone.

Althoough most Americans oppose the health care legislation working its way through Congress, 42% of voters say the federal government should be addressing health care reform. Twenty-three percent (23%) prefer to see reforms at the state government level, while 17% want both the state and federal government to get into the act.

So, if Congress isn't working to represent the MAJORITY of their constituents, who are they working for, exactly?


Time to start stringing up traitors in the public square.

[Tom In VA]

And when it comes to health care, the Republicans are the party of reaction.

Wrong. They are currently the party of "response", responding to the agenda put forth by the Democrats that many Americans find reprehensible.

The analogy sucks ass and was only used to inflame debate and continue the bullshit tactics of the DNC to cast the Republican Party into the DNC's cauldron of race based politics. The DNC uses the "Big Tent" not to unite, but to control, the Primary period leading up the election proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. They are not the party of Free Thinking People.

They castigate conservative blacks, whilst proclaiming to be the party for "black people".
They castigate conservative women, whilst proclaiming to be the party for womens rights.
They castigate anyone and everyone that disagrees with them by courting the bureaucratic lobbyist groups purported to "represent" people but yet only exist to line pockets of the few and push legislation to do the same.

Disagree with the DNC, you're immediately thrown under the bus or .... "lynched".

They want more and more of individuals' wealth. You work, you are unable to enjoy the fruits of your labor - THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF SLAVERY.

They seek to be the governor of every single "choice" - well except one - as it relates to:

1. What you eat.
2. What you drive.
3. What you read.
4. What you listen to.
5. What you watch.

Ad infinitum.

They're after what you consume in terms of energy.

When all is said and done, between Health Care (if it passes) and Cap and Trade (if it passes) the working public will become slaves. Slaves to a government of the lobbyist for the lobbyist.

Slaves because through taxes and artificially increased costs due to Cap and Trade - CHOICE in what men and women can do with the fruits of THEIR labor, will be limited; if not non-existent.

[Dinsdale]

An excellent article, kind of along the lines of what Tom just wrote --


http://www.minnesotamajority.org/TheIss ... fault.aspx

[LTS TRN 2]

A load of hollow bullshit, Tom. In fact the GOP has defaulted far more than the Demos--Karl Rove being the only example necessary.

[BSmack]

And when it comes to health care, the Republicans are the party of reaction.

Wrong. They are currently the party of "response", responding to the agenda put forth by the Democrats that many Americans find reprehensible.

Call it response, call it reaction. Either way the GOP stands for doing nothing.

The analogy sucks ass and was only used to inflame debate and continue the bullshit tactics of the DNC to cast the Republican Party into the DNC's cauldron of race based politics.

Fuck you. The analogy is apt and instructive to anybody who even remotely understands American history. If you don't like being on the wrong side of history, then do something to change it.

The DNC uses the "Big Tent" not to unite, but to control, the Primary period leading up the election proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. They are not the party of Free Thinking People. Blah blah blah...

Spare me the ad hominems and the debate by anecdote. There is no amount of verbal wrangling that will make clean air and affordable health care into some kind of totalitarian plot to exercise total control over the population.

[Tom In VA]

The GOP doesn't stand for "doing nothing". Why do you lie ?

All you can do is cry, "Fuck You, you don't agree with me, you must be on the WRONG side of history wahhhwahhhhwahh". Why is it you have to resort to these tactics ? Because you don't have a valid argument FOR the proposals the Democrats are currently offering. A bit reactionary of you. Mean to inflame, impugn and otherwise - NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT HAND. The jig is up Bri. You can't hide behind these false allegations and talking points anymore. We're living in "Post Racial", "Hope and Change" America. Republicans at this point just hope to change our march towards - MORE SLAVERY - as they did in the 1800's. Republicans also seek to preserve CIVIL RIGHTS and LIBERTY as they did in 50's and 60's.

"There is no amount of verbal wrangling that will make clean air and affordable health care into some kind of totalitarian plot to exercise total control over the population."

I get a laugh. Crybaby about tapping domestic terrorists phone lines says what ?

EXPOSED

[poptart]

Crybaby

Insert in basically any liberal post and you've just cut to the chase.

[Diego in Seattle]

The analogy sucks ass and was only used to inflame debate and continue the bullshit tactics of the DNC

And the republicans would never stoop that level!

Sincerely,
Obama & the DNC are socialists

They want more and more of individuals' wealth. You work, you are unable to enjoy the fruits of your labor - THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF SLAVERY.

Yeah, the republicans are enslaved....just like me.

Sincerely,

[poptart]

Obama & the DNC are socialists

About every move they've made over the past year has gone against freedom and free markets.

If not socialism, what do you want to call it?

[BSmack]

The GOP doesn't stand for "doing nothing". Why do you lie ?

All you can do is cry, "Fuck You, you don't agree with me, you must be on the WRONG side of history wahhhwahhhhwahh".

Tom, if you can't even quote me properly, then just fucking grab a bottle now and do a little "Leaving Las Vegas" on yourself.

[Tom In VA]

Tom, if you can't even quote me properly

Had I intended to quote you rather than paraphrase your "argument" - and I use that term loosely - I would have used this feature.

[BSmack]

Tom, if you can't even quote me properly

Had I intended to quote you rather than paraphrase your "argument" - and I use that term loosely - I would have used this feature.

Well, you didn't even paraphrase me correctly. I'm sorry that you possess the critical reasoning skills of a house plant, but if you're going to try to analogize the polices of slavery with heath care and clean air, then you're just opening yourself up to ridicule. And if you are then going to pivot and try to mischaracterize what Reid was saying about oppositional tactics and align it with your fantasies about being whipped by Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton, well then you're just going to have to deal with even more ridicule.

[Tom In VA]

Well, you didn't even paraphrase me correctly. I'm sorry that you possess the critical reasoning skills of a house plant, but if you're going to try to analogize the polices of slavery with heath care and clean air, then you're just opening yourself up to ridicule. And if you are then going to pivot and try to mischaracterize what Reid was saying about oppositional tactics and align it with your fantasies about being whipped by Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton, well then you're just going to have to deal with even more ridicule.

Ridicule from you on this topic means nothing to me except, you're done. It has absolutely no effect on me. When I am in error, I admit I am. I am not in error here. You on the other hand abandoned any semblence of adult conversation early on in this post. You're like a teenager crying to his parents that they're "dumb". Like a baby reaching in his diaper and playing with his own poop saying "Look Daddy". When you can carry on debate like a rational adult maybe we'll talk. But even then I don't see the point. You're old, set in your ways and I have yet to see in the ten years posting where you have displayed even the slightest hint of integrity and intellectual honesty.

As for the perceived leverage Reid thinks he achieved by harkening back to a period when the Republican party sought to end slavery, if you think that tactic works and is sound. Keep doing it. The more you do, the more your tactics are exposed for what they are. Enjoy slinging shit, in the end ....

Veritas vincit

[Wolfman]

From NRO:

Isn’t the Democrat’s insistence that health insurance not be sold across state lines like the fugitive slave act? If you live in that state you can’t go anywhere to escape without being dragged back by federal law to the expensive plans in your state! Republicans are attempting to preserve freedom of choice on health care and the Democrats are using all governmental power to shut down this underground railroad to health care freedom!

Silly, but not as silly as Reid.

[smackaholic]

I think that's the closest Tom has come in the last decade to telling someone to go fukk themselves.

rack you, Tom.

[Sirfindafold]

If not socialism, what do you want to call it?

Hoax and Change.

[BSmack]

I am not in error here...

...As for the perceived everage Reid thinks he achieved by harkening back to a period when the Republican party sought to end slavery....

Gee Tom, why is Reid harkening back to the Antebellum period?





Seriously, take a deep breath, pull the shoe leather out of your mouth and stop by the clue section of your local Wal-Mart.

Veritas vincit

I prefer corripe cervisiam.

[Tom In VA]

Gee Tom, why is Reid harkening back to the Antebellum period?

Because he's failing miserably and he hopes making incendiary remarks will somehow save him.

It's not working for you either.