The Respectfully Republican Conversation

IBC and Shirley -

My parents are just two of thoe UAW retirees that you seem to be so disgusted with.  Sorry you feel that way.  They are not welfare or charity cases.  Between the two of them, they spent 65 years working in factories for an hourly wage with the *promise* of a decent health care package during retirement

Sure - you may think that it is excessive to provide my mom, a veritable "southern belle", who worked her ass off on an assembly line and often came home covered in grease, with health care benefits.  I respectfully disagree.

The reason that the auto companies are in need of help is because there wasn;t a good business case for "going green", and the government wasn't providing an incentive.  Other countries, like Japan, subsidized their auto manufactureres to retool to stay competitive. 

If we provide incentives and subsidies, US auto makers will be able to produce more energy efficient vehicles, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, remain profitable, and continue to fund the retirement benefits of people like my parents.

Lord knows, I wouldn't think any American begrudges promised retirement benefits for people who worked long and hard for them. The question could be "Where do government bail-outs stop?" Aren't some of these funds coming from Social Security, the only pension fund many people have? As a centrist, I pray that we can do the most good for the most deserving citizens.

I am posting a short comment written by a friend who was the Secretary of Transportation under Reagan, as requested by the American Spectator. I hope it provides one DC insider's viewpoint, not a topic for attack. I don't think it includes offensive, abusive, inflammatory content to annoy the censors. I believe this is a civilized forum for Republicans and other interested board members to discuss the many changes planned for the New America.

Having grown up in the South during the last years of segregation,  Senator Obama's election is a remarkable, and positive, commentary on how far we have come as a nation over the last 50 years.  Unfortunately, the first African American President may also turn out to be our most radical President. 

Although he skillfully portrayed himself as a tax cutter during the campaign, even getting to Senator McCain's right on health care related taxes, he  also signaled his  belief that the tax code should be an instrument to redistribute wealth.  From his opposition to any restrictions on abortion, to his  declared intention to use a cap and trade system to outlaw new coal plants, and with his support for changes in labor laws to expedite the rapid re-unionizing of the private sector work force, he underscored his standing as the most liberal member of the Senate.

An early indication of whether he intends to pursue a comprehensive radical agenda will be his key personnel appointments.  Obviously, Cabinet  Secretaries and agency heads are extremely important, both substantively and symbolically.  But the work horses of any Presidency are senior White House staff; Deputy Secretaries and Deputy Administrators; and Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Administrators.  If President-elect Obama fills these positions with members of the professoriate, union activists, environmental extremists and the like, then the country will be in for a very rough ride.

Donna,

Nobody here blames or is "disgusted with" the UAW retirees. 

It is the automakers and the union bosses who wasted no time post election going to the public till with their hands out that earn people's ire.

 djd wrote:

IBC and Shirley -

My parents are just two of thoe UAW retirees that you seem to be so disgusted with.  Sorry you feel that way.  They are not welfare or charity cases.  Between the two of them, they spent 65 years working in factories for an hourly wage with the *promise* of a decent health care package during retirement

Donna, why must you think you that you can read minds so well?  I despise being made to feel I have no compassion.  DONNA, if you want to hear a sad story come to my house and I'll give you an earful.

My dh used to belong to a union until he had a promotion and went into management.  He worked for Bell South.  When he first started working with them an old timer told him what it was like before they had a union.  I'm not against all unions.

At&T bought out Bell South as you know, and I'm sure you've seen my post about our health care plan now.  Someone who belonged to the union told my dh that AT&T would take care of us.  Yeah, they took care of us okay.  They changed our health insurance so drastically I sat for days trying to figure it out.  I was horrified!  Where was the union members when this drastic change happened?  Usually whatever the union asked for and got it was also given to management.  Of course my dh has been retired so who knows if they screwed us even more.

I feel for anyone who has lost their pension and/or health care.  Back in the old days we worked for companies for teh benefits.  It's different in today's world.

Like IBC we don't want some corrupt "boss" handling that money. 

Donna, you do not know me.  I have different political views than you do.  It's okay for you guys on the other thread to write, say, criticize, make fun of, yada yada, but if we dare go over to
the other thread we are told to leave.  Or that I, Shirley Hughes who has the same name and will not change it,  was close to attacking someone. I'm sick of this mess.  Yes, we have said things over here and most of the time it's true.  And some things may not have been the nicest, but please don't pretend that you guys NEVER, NEVER say anything wrong.  Ya'll (southern talk) have picked on Palin like she's a complete idiot.  Watch out.  She'll be back..be very, very afraid.

So, would you please stop coming over here attacking us?

Like I told you some time back, I've always had respect for you and empathized with many of your situations.  Please don't ruin that for me.  I talked to my dd about your brother's case.  She used to work with the domestic violence shelter as a court advocate until she she decided to go to law school.  So, Donna, I'm not a monster.  Just because your ideas are different than mine doesn't make me any less of a person than you.  It doesn't mean I/we don't have a heart. 

A short story..dd and I were in the D.C. area a few years ago when she was looking at law schools.  We ended up in downtown D.C. one night...I was driving and we had no idea where we were going until OOps we where we were. Anyway, I had never eaten at a Hard Rock Cafe (surprising!) before so we stopped to eat there.  A homeless man was lying on the side walk all comfy.  When we came out of the restaurant I wanted to give him some money (SERIOUSLY) and my dd stopped me..unsafe.  I can't stand see people suffer. 

The problem is we can't save everyone from their losses.  I'll be standing in line for our handout because our money is about gone.  So, believe me...I KNOW!

Have a nice one.

Shirley

I am so proud of President...yes, President...Bush.  I've heard that this transition will happen much smoother than any other in history.  He will not tolerate "Os" being removed from keyboards..LOL  Seriously, he's doing anything and everything to make sure the next president that's taking office knows as much as he can offer.  The Obama's are taking a tour of the WH on Monday.  I'm so proud of our president.  He also knows how very delicate this process will be and wants to keep Americans safe. 

Shirley

Paulette,

As soon as we refine it down some, I'll submit it for consideration.  They are in a give-away mood today, so we must be quick.

We aren't democrats, I had forgotten myself there for a bit, so I have to get fiscally responsible. So a million to every man and woman, making under $1 Million, and incorporating your idea of age 18 and up.  There we go.  Still college gets paid for, and all the rest.  All I have to do is figure out how many of our numbers are making more than a million.  Or would it be easier to figure out how many make under $1 mil?  It's still a plan though.

For everyone's enjoyment, Sarah Palin's first interview on an Alaskan radio station. Its in 4 parts:

http://www.bobandmark.com/audio

Rosemary and Paulette, you have me salivating.  I want that million.  My friends want that million. 

Shirley

Shirley...I personally think Bush is a class act...he may have a Texas twang but he is a class act! And I still think Laura Bush is one classy lady!

Rosemary, I haven't listened to the interview yet.  I will later. 

Oh, I hope she goes for it.  She'd show them "good ole boys."

I wont' hold my breath for you to move from the great state of Texas to California.  It would be nice seeing your face out there instead of the Madam!

Shirley

Well I'm not a Bush fan but I would go tea with y'all!

So Obama brings change??? His first pick is from Clinton's staff! A real insider!!!! Apparantly, according to Rush, a man known for doing the dirty work and O can keep his hands clean.

I hope she resigns.  I'd like her to reach across party lines...no reach into the Congress, and get in Pelosi's face.  Why the heck was Pelosi coming out BEFORE Obama talking about the stimulus package?  His he going to be a puppet to her?

Bush wants to ensure a smooth transfer to Obama
By BEN FELLER
Associated Press
November 7, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush and Barack Obama on Monday will hold their first substantive talks about the nation's daunting priorities as the transition to a Democratic administration accelerates. Bush, soon to return to Texas after two terms in office, ordered employees on Thursday to ensure a smooth transfer of power to Obama. The transition is a delicate dance in which the White House keeps the president-elect in the loop, and even solicits his input, but the decisions remain solely the president's.

On Monday's discussion list for the current and future presidents: the financial crisis and the war in Iraq.

"We face economic challenges that will not pause to let a new president settle in," Bush told a gathering of hundreds of employees from the presidential bureaucracy, gathered on the back lawn of the White House.

"This will also be America's first wartime presidential transition in four decades," he said. "We're in a struggle against violent extremists determined to attack us, and they would like nothing more than to exploit this period of change to harm the American people."

That sobering depiction came as Bush and Obama firmed up plans for their first meeting since Obama defeated Republican John McCain in Tuesday's election.

Bush and first lady Laura Bush will greet Obama and his wife, Michelle, at the White House on Monday afternoon. Bush and the president-elect will meet in the Oval Office while the first lady gives Mrs. Obama a private tour of the White House residence.

"I thank him for reaching out in the spirit of bipartisanship," the president-elect said of Bush in a statement.

The Obamas' two children won't be there, but White House press secretary Dana Perino said, "We very much look forward to meeting them."

Bush's comments to his staff, under a gray sky on the South Lawn, also had the feel of an early goodbye with 75 days left in office.

He stood with the Cabinet, the first lady, and the vice president and his wife by his side. By the time he finished speaking and offered a wave to the crowd, Bush grew emotional. Laura Bush leaned in to give him a hug.

The White House signaled that after months of staying out of the politics of the 2008 election -- often enduring a pummeling from Obama -- it would soon start speaking up to defend Bush's record on education, energy, the economy and other issues. The focus will be a natural turn to Bush's legacy.

Meanwhile, the shift from one White House to the next is fully under way, with Bush setting a serious tone and expectations for his staff.

The Bush administration has already arranged security clearances for key Obama transition staffers and is providing work space and policy briefings as well. Career employees, who keep their jobs even when administrations change, have taken on extra work to prevent any disruption in essential services.

"We must keep our attention on the task at hand, because the American people expect no less," Bush directed the executive employees.

Officials at the Department of Homeland Security caution that the U.S. is in a heightened state of alert against terrorism. The fear is that enemies could exploit the transition period to test the country's defenses, as Bush himself warned. No specific threat has been presented to the public.

Preparation for the complex transfer of power has quietly been unfolding for about a year. It accelerated with the landslide election of Obama, the Democratic senator from Illinois, over McCain.

Obama on Thursday got the first of what will become regular briefings on highly classified information from top intelligence officials.

World leaders are seeking out Obama by calling Bush's government. Perino said officials are working with Obama's team to make the connections.

Bush also suggested there will be no tolerance of pranks during the transition.

When he took office in 2001, some aides found their computer keyboards were missing the W key -- a nod to the middle initial in George W. Bush. Staff members of outgoing President Bill Clinton were suspected and criticized for acting immaturely.

Bush told the big gathering of employees on Thursday: "I know that you will continue to conduct yourselves with the decency and professionalism you have shown throughout my time in office."

During the campaign, Obama relentlessly blistered the Bush administration for what he called failed, tired policies that have harmed the country. The White House has sought to make clear that politics will not affect the transition in any way.

Bush sounded wistful as he looked out at a lot of familiar faces, including some people he's seen at work each day for nearly eight years.

The president recalled that before his 2001 inauguration, he said that he and his wife would never quite settle in Washington.

"While the honor is great," Bush said, "the work is temporary."

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

What a piece of work that man is.............He is definitely teleprompter challenged.

Wow, we see two different people.  I saw his press conference and I saw a man unmatched in eleoquence and charisma going back to the time of John Kennedy.  .  Mccain lost, thank god, and we now have real hope for the future.

Blaest wrote:

Mccain probably would have been an okay president but if he died in office, and good chance he would have, Palen as president would be the same as have the Oakie from Mscokie as President.  A scary thought indeed.

Why did you wait so long to come here to speak out?  Your candidate won.  So?

First of all you need to learn spell PALIN. 

You are reading or listening to reports made by anonymous sources.  Why don't they come out of the woodwork like the cock roaches they are and say these things publicly?

Greta Van Sustern is a democrat.  I know she was a Hillary supporter.  You should have watched her show last night.  She's been livid about the way Palin has been treated...sending 100s of people over to Alaska to find trash about her....NONE!  She spent a little time with her and found her to be very intelligent..although she didn't always agree with her policies..that's fair.  She also thinks Hillary was treated unfairly.  If Palin had been out shopping wouldn't you think reporters would have followed her all over the place?  Greta asked where were the reporters.  And anyone who wants to remain anonymous is a coward.

Now, tell me about YOUR candidate.  Tell me exactly what he has done in the State Senate besides voting to have babies die after a botched abortion.  Tell me what he has done in the US Senate.  One accomplishment.  Tell me WHO he is.  WHO exactly are his friends. 

Palin wasn't running for president and McCain wasn't dead and wasn't expected to die anytime soon.  Let's talk about Biden and his gaffes.  You know that resaurant he talked about where he'd eat and talk to the folks..the restaurant has been closed for at least 20 years.  Did the media blas him for that?  NO!  How 'bout..no coal mines......NONE!  He was being a bit of a rogue, right?  I don't want Biden to end up being my president.

The media has trampled all over Palin and McCain.  If you couldn't see, hear, tell that then you are deaf, mute and blind.

Shirley