The grand old party

[b.c.]

You know, a NUMBER of Trump's supporters aren't racists or bigots or even narrow minded individuals. They include people who may have lost jobs, or maybe haven't seen their incomes keep up with the cost of living, and so they are worried about the future, about the uncertainty, and WHO CAN BLAME THEM?

Good, hard working people, like those in Ohio who I've seen on newscasts expressing their concerns, CERTAINLY have the right, and in some cases good reason to BE concerned.

Problem BEING, they aren't blaming the RIGHT people for their situation.

Because it was those GOP CONGRESSMEN who stood, DELIBERATELY, in the way of job bill after job bill, for the sole PURPOSE of OBSTRUCTING progress and stalling or preventing economic recovery - all in the hope of making Obama's presidency a failed one, in SPITE of the COST to Americans. And that's the PLAIN TRUTH of it.

Here's yet ANOTHER example:

$478B Infrastructure Bill Blocked by Senate GOP | The Fiscal Times

And Trump is going to be no different. Why? Because he's surrounded himself with the SAME people who've dictated CONSERVATIVE policy in Washington for decades. HOW is he going to slash corporate taxes, reduce income taxes to the middle class, build a wall and do all the other things he claims and without TRIPLING the deficit. Answer, HE WON'T.

That's why they call it VOODOO ECONOMICS.

Next: what REPUBLICAN voodoo economics has done for the states of Wisconsin and Louisiana.

 

[b.c.]

As pointed out in my previous entries, the GOP has done a good job of convincing those, who've FALLEN for the lie, that someone other than THEM stood in the way of jobs bills, bills to assist veterans, and other forms of legislation designed to improve infrastructure, provide for jobs, and grow the economy.

And as pointed out previously, while they OBSTRUCTED legislation designed to help PEOPLE, they saw fit to give the WEALTHY the biggest TAX CUT EVER.

How? Because they COUNT on people being stupid.

They RELY upon people's short memory about the SAME kind of TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS THAT TRUMP IS PROPOSING... like that of Dubya's presidency, when the economy TANKED and when people LOST HOMES and JOBS...

... while BANKS were BAILED OUT, and fat cat CEO's skipped away with bonuses and massive retirement packages.

In much the SAME way as TRUMP, who LOST nearly a BILLION DOLLARS, managed to skip out on paying TAXES for over a decade. The guy who was handed a fortune from the get, and who has USED the system he claims to be critical of, and who wants his followers to believe he's "one of them." Yeah... IN A PIG'S EYE (no pun intended).

However the failure of trickle down economics hadn't just played out on a nation stage under Dubya.

And anyone doubting that need only ask the people of WISCONSIN what THEIR hero, the arch enemy of collective bargaining and worker's rights, Scott Walker, did for them... or ask the people of LOUISIANA what THEIR hero and would be president, Bobby (never met a corporate tax cut he DIDN'T like) Jindal, did for US:

Scott Walker’s Wisconsin an Economic Disaster | United WisconsinUnited Wisconsin
How Bobby Jindal Broke the Louisiana Economy
Bobby Jindal Left Louisiana a Disaster, Now Telling Everyone Else What to Do
Bobby Jindal Broke Louisiana So Badly That Even the GOP Doesn’t Want Him | The Nation

 

[b.c.]

Hmmm... seems like my link above "Scott Walker's Wisconsin an Economic Disaster, no longer works. Not to worry. PLENTY of other references:

Scott Walker's Wisconsin Is Sinking into the Abyss - Budget Deficit, Education Gaps, Voter Suppression
Scott Walker has failed Wisconsin and Minnesota is the proof
With Wisconsin in the Gutter, Failed Gov. Scott Walker Trolls The Obama Economy
Even Wisconsin's Republicans Are Getting Tired of Scott Walker | Mother Jones
Scott Walker destroyed his state: Wisconsin’s economic cautionary tale - Salon.com

 

[b.c.]

Most (who've been listening) are familiar with the fact that 9 out of the 10 poorest states are REPUBLICAN controlled, AS are some 95 of the 100 poorest counties. Though there have been various arguments offered to counter the argument. For example a piece once published by Forbes that suggested the reason, in part, was because they are traditionally rural areas in the first place.

Still one can't escape the fact that REPUBLICAN trickle down economics has done LITTLE for their middle class and poorer constituency, and a helluva LOT for their WEALTHY buddies. And that coupled with the economic debacle of George W. Bush's presidency, the bank bailouts, and the subsequent DISMAL economies of REPUBLICAN controlled states like Louisiana and Wisconsin...

(ESPECIALLY when compared to a state like democratically controlled Minnesota for example - as illustrated in one of the stories above - and if you HAVEN'T bothered to READ IT and how it shows the stark contrast between one state operating under GOP ideology, and the other under Democratic principles that GROW the economy and benefit the middle class, then SHAME ON YOU)

... DON'T offer strong arguments in favor of the kind of GOP VOODOO ECONOMICS Trump plans on CONTINUING.

But the damage hasn't been done just on the STATE level. In FACT, as will be examined over the next several entries, REPUBLICAN economic policies, their obstructionism and SABOTAGE, has done DAMAGE TO THE AMERICAN ECONOMY on various fronts:

Republican Obstructionism is mostly responsible for our economy

"Republicans have opposed a lion's share of stimulus measures that once they supported, such as a payroll tax break, which they grudgingly embraced earlier this year. Even unemployment insurance, a relatively uncontroversial tool for helping those in an economic downturn, has been consistently held up by Republicans or used as a bargaining chip for more tax cuts. Ten years ago, prominent conservatives were loudly making the case for fiscal stimulus to get the economy going; today, they treat such ideas like they're the plague."


"Think Progress has this list of things Republicans in Congress have done to hurt the economy:

1. Filibustering the American Jobs Act.
2. Stonewalling monetary stimulus.
3. Threatening a debt default.
4. Cutting discretionary spending in the debt ceiling deal.
5. Cutting discretionary spending in the budget deal.

 

[ActionBuddy]

G.O.P. - Ghosts Of Puritans?

 

[TexanStar]

Republican Obstructionism is mostly responsible for our economy

Nah, this just isn't true.

It's the sleight of hand games that both sides play. If you want to understand what's going on with the US economy, go watch that movie I linked in the other thread about the Federal Reserve. It explains it really well.

 

[deleted15807]

Some excellent pieces by conservative writer Jennifer Ruben:

Sane Republicans should pack their bags and flee the GOP
Trump’s party of angry, white, abusive males
The mainstreaming of racism on Fox News​

 

[b.c.]

Some excellent pieces by conservative writer Jennifer Ruben:

Sane Republicans should pack their bags and flee the GOP
Trump’s party of angry, white, abusive males
The mainstreaming of racism on Fox News​

Well the fact is, that kind of sentiment is what has been driving the GOP well before Trump, as I'll discuss in an upcoming post in this thread.

For now, MORE on how the GOP OBSTRUCTED and SABOTAGED economic growth over the last eight years or so:

The Cost To Our Economy From Republican Obstruction And Sabotage

from the above article:

"The Republican political strategy has been to obstruct efforts to help the economy for everyone but the wealthiest few, and then campaign on complaints that the economy isn’t helping anyone but the wealthiest few. It’s working.

In the House, Republicans have refused to allow votes on anything that seriously would help the economy, instead passing only tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, spending cuts on essential things like maintaining our infrastructure and scientific research, and cutting regulations that protect people and the environment from being harmed by corporations seeking profit.

Republicans have blocked every effort since the stimulus to maintain infrastructure, hire teachers, raise the minimum wage, give equal pay for women, stop special tax breaks for millionaires corporations (especially oil companies), stop tax breaks for sending jobs out of the country, provide student loan relief, help the long-term unemployed, and more. Instead they insist on even more tax breaks for oil companies and billionaires, on cutting environmental protections, deregulating oil companies, and so on.

Here are just a few of the hundreds of bills Senate Republicans have filibustered since President Obama took office — just a few:

• 2011: “Republicans filibuster Obama infrastructure bill”
• 2012: “‘Phantom filibuster’ blocking path forward for highway bill, says Reid“
• 2013: “Bipartisan Transportation and Housing Bill Filibustered“
• Equal Pay for Women
• Minimum wage increase
• Creating American Jobs and Ending Offshoring Act
• Bring Jobs Home Act – stop tax breaks for moving jobs and production facilities out of the country
• Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act of 2011 – rehire 400,000 teachers, firefighters, paramedics and police officers.
• Student loan reform – ease the crushing burden of student loan debt by at least allowing refinancing to lower interest rates
• Extended unemployment benefits – for the long-term unemployed
• Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) — let working people join unions – filibustered in 2007, killed by threat of filibuster 2009
• Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act – let public safety officers join unions
• The Buffett rule – ensure millionaires pay a comparable tax rate to middle-class Americans
• Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act"

 

[b.c.]

Of course any examination of Republican obstructionism and the negative effects of THEIR actions upon jobs, wages, AND the economy would be incomplete without the acknowledgement that their actions were NOT based upon fundamental differences of opinion, or political ideology, but a quite DELIBERATE effort to UNDERMINE America's economic RECOVERY and OBSTRUCT THE FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT.

Republican Obstructionism
The Insane Scenario Unfolding Before Our Eyes
McConnell Admits To Taking Debt Ceiling ‘Hostage’: It’s ‘Worth Ransoming’
Did Republicans deliberately crash the US economy? | Michael Cohen | Opinion | The Guardian
GOP's obstructionism is suicide strategy - CNN.com

Some have even argued that their actions were CRIMINAL. And seeing as how the Grand OLD Party is so heavily into "investigations" perhaps they ought start with investigating THEMSELVES:

Is Republican Obstructionism Criminal? | John Dean | Verdict | Legal Analysis and Commentary from Justia

 

[b.c.]

From the article above "Did Republicans Deliberately Crash the US Economy?"

"Be it ideology or stratagem, the GOP has blocked pro-growth policy and backed job-killing austerity – all while blaming Obama."

"...the most obvious piece of evidence of GOP premeditated malice is the 2010 quote from Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell: 'The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.'"

"Such words lead some to the conclusion that Republicans will do anything, including short-circuiting the economy, in order to hurt Obama politically."

"Republicans have opposed a lion's share of stimulus measures that once they supported."

"...the GOP's refusal to countenance legislation that would help states with their own fiscal crises (largely, the result of declining tax revenue) has led to massive public sector layoffs at the state and local level."

"Republicans have refused to even allow votes on President Obama's jobs bill in the Senate."

"... one of two major political parties in America is engaging in scorched-earth economic policies that are undercutting the economic recovery, possibly on purpose, and is forcing job-killing austerity measures on the states. And they have paid absolutely no political price for doing so. If anything, it won them control of the House in 2010... It might even help them get control of the White House."

 

[b.c.]

More on "criminality" regarding the party of "investigations" (but only when it comes to investigating someone ELSE'S wrongdoing):

Notwithstanding the uncertain legal status of defunding, it could still be possible to violate the broad terms of 18 USC 371 given the leading cases interpreting this statute. Thus, if there is an illicit agreement to obstruct government, which has been undertaken by “deceit, craft or trickery, or at least by means that are dishonest,” the law has been violated. In fact, there is no doubt in my mind that a number of Republicans have agreed to obstruct government and are employing deceit, craft or trickery, or dishonest means to accomplish their objective.

(source: Is Republican Obstructionism Criminal? | John Dean | Verdict | Legal Analysis and Commentary from Justia)

 

[b.c.]

So while the grand old party in Congress and Republicans statewide were busy passing massive tax breaks for millionaires, and rejecting stimulus money, and rejecting the medicaid healthcare expansion,

Due to Republican Obstructionism, 5 Million Americans Will Suffer Without Health Care Virginia Republicans Broke Into Governor's Office To Block State's Medicaid Expansion

and obstructing bills designed to help veterans and provide jobs and stimulate economic growth, what were they doing for AMERICANS who'd lost their jobs and were unable to find another? NOTHING:

Lame Duck Gov. Bobby Jindal Is Using His Last Days To Screw Over 31,000 Unemployed Louisianians | ThinkProgress
Governors reject stimulus money for unemployment - USATODAY.com
Republican opposition to extending unemployment benefits makes no sense.
Why do Republicans oppose unemployment benefits? - CNNPolitics.com

 

[b.c.]

From slate.com, this article, The anguish of being a GOP woman in the age of Trump.

In it, the question posed is, "Why do Republicans choose to defend HIM over women?" It goes on to explain how Republican women feel that in doing so, their party has been disloyal to THEM.

Newsflash to Republican women: WHEN has your party EVER CARED ABOUT YOU?

The record:

State Rep: Democratic Congresswoman Will Lose Because She's 'Ugly As Sin'

Head of GOP PAC targeting women: GOP doesn’t support equal pay laws because “women are busy” - Salon.com

Sanders denounces Republican attack on women - VTDigger

 

[b.c.]

After Saying Women On Medicaid Should Be Sterilized, Russell Pearce Resigns From Arizona GOP

MoveOn.org Political Action: Top 10 Shocking Attacks from the GOP's War on Women

 

[b.c.]

Seems the original link to the story above "Top 10 Shocking Attacks from the GOP's War on Women" has moved. Here is the correct link. And for big red and white "chickens" who can't be bothered to "peck" thru details, I'll summarize here:

1) Republicans want to reduce women’s access to abortion care and are trying to redefine rape.

2) A state legislator in Georgia doesn't want to call victims of rape, stalking, and domestic violence, "victims." They prefer “accuser.”

3) South Dakota Republicans want to make it legal to murder a doctor who provides abortion care.

4) Republicans want to cut nearly a billion dollars of food and other aid to low-income pregnant women, mothers, babies, and kids.

5) Congressional Republicans proposed a bill that would let hospitals allow a woman to die rather than perform an abortion necessary to save her life.

6) Maryland Republicans cut ALL money for a low-income kids’ preschool program. Their logic, "Women should really be home with the kids, not out working."

7) Congressional Republicans want to cut that same program, Head Start, by $1 billion.

8) A RepublicanA spending bill would cut funding for employment services, meals, and housing for senior citizens. Two thirds of the elderly poor are WOMEN.

9) Congressional Republicans proposed an amendment that cuts all federal funding from Planned Parenthood health centers, one of the most trusted providers of basic health care and family planning in our country.

10) Republicans are pushing to eliminate all funds for the only federal family planning program.

Top 10 Shocking Attacks from the GOP’s War on Women | MoveOn.Org | Democracy In Action

 

[b.c.]

The sad TRUTH is, the Grand Old Party even has WOMEN who support anti-women REPUBLICAN obstructionism:

"Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine... said she believed the Civil Rights Act and the 1963 Equal Pay Act provide enough protection.

“I think this bill would result in excessive litigation that would impose a real burden, particularly on small businesses. So I think existing laws are adequate,” Collins said, according to The Huffington Post.

Also, maybe a woman gets paid less because she’s, well, a woman, Collins continued."


THAT has GOT to be one of the SADDEST examples of self-depricating shit faced LOGIC I've ever read.

Why These Republican Women Voted Against Equal Pay for All | TakePart

But then again, no skin off of Collins' back, eh?

"The Republican women in the Senate, like all Congress members except the Speaker of the House and minority and majority leaders, earn $174,000 a year. That’s 4.6 times women workers’ median yearly income but only 3.5 times that of working men.

With equal pay for equal work, it appears that these Republicans can afford to play politics with other women’s economic security."

 

[ActionBuddy]

^ "There's a sucker born every minute." - P. T. Barnum

 

[b.c.]

​

Proof of the GOP War on Women

 

[ActionBuddy]

The truly sad thing is that the "GOP War on Women", has mostly been led by 20th Century "Republican" women.

Ain't history interesting?

 

[b.c.]

The truly sad thing is that the "GOP War on Women", has mostly been led by 20th Century "Republican" women.

Ain't history interesting?

Yep. Has a nasty habit of repeating itself too.

One would've THOUGHT Nazi Germany was lesson enough to last an ETERNITY. What a revelation that some 80 odd years later a certain segment of America's populace are NO BETTER.