I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Oh yeah !!!!!

Because the 400 have a LOT of money to buy a LOT of advertising time telling a LOT of people that they are really better off when the rich people have even more money.  Unfortunately a LOT of people are so intellectually constipated that they actually believe it.

You know, just when you think they couldn't get any lower, they do.





From the August 9, 2013, NYTimes Editorial Blog



Unemployed? No Food Stamps for You

By DAVID FIRESTONE



Earlier this year, Eric Cantor, the House majority leader, announced plans to rebrand the Republican Party, improving “health, happiness and prosperity for more Americans and their families.” In case you took any of that seriously, take a good look at the food stamp proposal Mr. Cantor unveiled a few days ago, one of the more brutal actions Republicans have taken against the poor since they took over the House in 2011.



In June, the Republican plan to cut food stamps by $2 billion a year led to the failure of the farm bill—because House conservatives wanted even bigger cuts. House leaders then revived the bill to provide $196 billion to big agriculture, dropping the food stamp program entirely and promising to bring it back “later.”



Later has arrived, and the plan is worse than ever. Mr. Cantor wants to cut $4 billion a year, double the earlier cut, by removing up to 4 million people from the food stamp program. His method of kicking all those people off is particularly diabolical, considering the Republican refusal to stimulate the economy: he wants to punish those unable to find a job. Anyone who is unemployed and not raising children will be limited to three months of food stamps every three years.



This requirement has been on the books since 1996, but it was routinely waived by most states during and after the recession, as high unemployment caused widespread suffering. Mr. Cantor wants to eliminate those waivers, with no exceptions. Under Mr. Cantor’s plan, it won’t matter how hard people are looking for work, or how high unemployment might be in their state.



Mr. Cantor’s plan would slash benefits for many of the poorest people in the United States, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Their average annual income is $2,500; many are desperate for work but cannot find any. Joblessness may have been reduced in the last two years but it is still far too high, particularly among those with the least skills.



“As a result of the proposed cuts, many of these individuals would fall deeper into destitution,” according to an analysis by the center issued on Wednesday. “Some would likely experience hunger as well as homelessness; money spent on food isn’t available to pay the rent, and with income this low, it can be very difficult to do both.”



As David Rogers explained in Politico this morning, the 1996 proposal to take away food stamps from the jobless assumed that most states would offer workfare programs in exchange for the benefits. But Washington never provided enough money to allow states to create those programs. Only five states offered workfare or job training programs last year.



The House Republicans’ pointless and heartless demands for more austerity are holding back economic growth. Now they want to strip government relief for those who are left behind.



-------------------------------------



I guess they miss "the good old days" so much that they want to see breadlines, Hoovervilles and people starving in the parks again. And people keep re-electing them.



Smh.



L

Alex -- hahaha!  I had to take a second look to figure out what you were talking about.  Just proves that we generally see what we expect to see.  Now, about your inkblot.........

No wonder the title to this thread has the word "strange" in it. 

LOL, Blue.  Both the First Lady of the United States and the President of the United States were on official business, speaking to different groups in different places, and makes me kinda think Bo was NOT with either one of them. What a giggle,  remember what President FDR said about Fala....ditto.

Blue, ignore the hypocrisy, Athena used to laugh at it - she was the one who "clued me in" when I emailed her to ask what the phuque you & she were talking about.  Went once to the "other place" - and then was thrilled to call myself a CUB.  Our Pride will never forget how vicious a group of people were, especially when Athena was SO OPEN about all she was dealing with. IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE.  Really, there is no value there.  And if you IGNORE, then there's no there there, either And BLUE LINES keep this a very nice space to be.

Yorkie, the Democratic Party for years ( can't remember if it's in the Platform) have used the words: Safe, Legal, and Rare.  All the blather going on now about the "social issues" reminds me of the hysterical speech Pat Buchannan once gave at a Rethuglican convention.  Bet it's online someplace, really funny.

Joseph Stiglitz & Paul Krugman have good opinion pieces in today's NYTimes.

Oh blue, SSDD.  The vitriol never stops flowing.  It gets boooooring after a while, and so very predictable, like a bad sitcom.  I see the same things repeated in the comments section of the WaPo and on FB.  I think they must get an email every day from Karl Rove telling them what to say.  Certainly none of it involves independent analysis or --  -- consideration of the facts. 

In related and encouraging news:

Missouri State Fair rodeo clown banned for Obama mask

The Missouri State Fair has banned for life a rodeo clown who donned a mask bearing the likeness of President Barack Obama for a mocking comedy act.

The clown's act on Saturday night - during which fans were asked whether they wanted to see "Obama run down by a bull" - drew swift denunciation.

Fair organisers said on Monday the act was "inappropriate" and apologised for the "unconscionable stunt".

A spokesman for Gov Jay Nixon said the clown's act was "deplorable".

Rodeo clowns are an established part of the sport in the US.

In addition to entertaining the fans with comedy sketches between bull riding and other competitive feats, they distract the bulls once they have thrown their riders, in order to give the cowboys a chance to escape.

The most popular rodeo clowns can take in $2,000 (£1,293) per night at the largest events, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In amateur video taken of the event in Sedalia, Missouri, a performer wearing what appears to be a toothy Obama fright mask, jacket, and straw cowboy hat can be seen standing in the middle of the rodeo arena.

The announcer is heard calling attention to him, at which point a voice cries over the public address system: "I know I'm a clown, he's just running around acting like one, doesn't know he is one."

The unidentified clown's numerous detractors have insisted rodeo is a competitive sport and a brand of family entertainment, not a political platform.

"All members of the Missouri Rodeo Cowboy Association are very proud of our country and our president," the association's board of directors said in a statement.

"This type of behaviour will not be tolerated."

State Representative Steve Webb, like Mr Obama a Democrat, suggested the act had "racial overtones", in an interview with the Kansas City Star.

In 2012, Mr Obama lost the state of Missouri in the US Midwest 54% to 44%. But in 2008, he lost the state by fewer than 4,000 votes.

---------------------------------------------------

At least there are some people, whether they like the President or not, who have a sense of propriety.  How many times has the left heard, "You don't have to like the President, but you have to respect the office" when we were complaining about Bush?  Remember the Dixie Chicks, who were threatened with death for expressing an honest opinion?  If this kind of incident had happened during the Bush Administration, that guy would have been torn to pieces on the spot.  But of course, we know fundamentally that it is all about a black man in the White House.  They make that clear, over and over and over.  SSDD.

Because Mr. Obama is black, I think it's easy for Democrats to say it's about race.  I honestly think it's about a lot more than race, though.  Clinton was hated and mocked and pursued (granted, he did make it a little easy - but still) he was white, AND that was twenty years ago.  The right has become much more hateful and vicious in the last twenty years.  I believe that while race is an issue, it is not THE issue for many and possibly most of the people who hate. 

THE issue, is IMHO simply the fact that they (the right) feel they have a God granted superiority over anyone who disagrees with them.  The Dixie Chicks is a case in point.  During the Bush/Cheney years, the right seemed to feel it was their DUTY to trod heavily upon anyone who disagreed with them.  THEY were patriotic, ergo anyone who weren't in lockstep with them were unpatriotic and practically traitors.  That mindset is scary. 

One thing I know well is how some religions can control your thought process.  Most of the evangelical and fundamentalist type religions have a single basic tenet.  They are right.  Anything and everything that is in disagreement in any way with the religion is wrong - and not just wrong, but probably originated with the devil.  Since religions have taken onto themselves political speech and power, things have gotten really squirrelly.  I don't know where this is going to lead - but I honestly don't see it getting better until it gets worse - I'm hoping not a lot worse.  Pay attention to how much hatred some people have towards us - and for what - because we disagree with them.  Hatred is a funny thing - it is, I believe, a form of insanity.  It can cause people to do things they would NEVER consider doing - but because of group hate it becomes not only OK, but actually expected. 

OK.  on to more friendly and happy subjects....

I would LOVE to see that happen!!!

Hi Friends,

Gumby and Lassie ... wholeheartedly agree with you.  Churches that preach politics from the pulpit should lose their tax exempt status.

I loved Bill Clinton. 

Hope everyone is having a good day today.  I'm off to see the dermatologist today.  Have to have a full body check every six months because of all the skin cancer I've had.  I hate it as much as going to the dentist.

hugs to all,
Bren

Libby - I'm not saying that there isn't racism involved - I think there is, but I do believe it is more than "simple" racism.  I think (and of course I could be wrong wrong wrong), that the level of hatred is enabled by the religious element.  Maybe you are right and the racism is the biggest piece and religious piece simply the enabler, but there are people I know who I truly believe are not racists who hate our POTUS and FLOTUS as if they are the devil incarnate - because in their eyes, they are.  I dunno - just what I've seen - or think I've seen - in my little corner of the world.

Oh, GG, I too believe there are people who aren't racists who hate President Obama just because he is a Democratic president.  I'm not saying that every single person who dislikes the President does so on the basis of race.  My old boyfriend who is a Republican (although won't call himself that anymore because of their bad behavior) dislikes the President only policy grounds.  But he also said just the other day that he hasn't seen the level of racism in this country this bad since the 1950s, and he thinks it is even worse.

I do believe there are many more people who ARE racists, who would not be involved and out there with signs and lynching dummies and calling little girls names (which is terrifying to me, harking back to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing) if there weren't a black president.  I believe those people would remain indifferent if the president were white, and I believe the regressive leaders are stoking those fires of racism by questioning his religion and his birthplace and his parentage and everything else.  Nobody questioned whether Bill Clinton was born in the United States.  Nobody questioned his parentage.  I think that the regressive leadership is using his race to whip up their followers into a frenzy -- and they are using his race to recruit more people against the President. 

The Southern Strategy of the Republican Party was based on race.  That hasn't gone away.  Here is an article which contains the entire interview Lee Atwater gave in 1981 about the "Southern Strategy."  I won't even post snips here because it is shocking.  But it is as relevant today as it was in 1981 and gives insight into how they have shaped -- and are still shaping -- their messaging. 

http://www.thenation.com/article/170841/exclusive-lee-atwaters-infamous-1981-interview-southern-strategy#axzz2brZlbTfw

L

RL and C4C.....I agree with your posts.  I read this opinion piece last week.....

"Racist taunts at Obama should worry us all"

"(CNN) -- The political culture in Arizona, my home state, is often coarse, racialized and divisive. President Barack Obama's visit there Tuesday gave the world another opportunity to see it. At times it seems as though the most bigoted individuals in America's 48th state save their most raucous and prejudiced behavior for the 44th president.

The Arizona Republic reported that hundreds of dissenters chose to model their insulting and extremist behavior before some of Phoenix's youngest residents. Assembled outside Desert Vista High School, they mocked Obama's race, singing "Bye Bye Black Sheep" in spirited synchronization. One "patriot" went so far as to deprecate our commander in chief by pronouncing him "47 percent Negro," while another, Deanne Bartram, held a sign that read, "Impeach the Half-White Muslim!".......

........The rowdy gathering outside Desert Vista underscored the nature of race relations in the Obama age -- evolving but oddly static in some ways -- and the particularly bigoted shades of anti-Obama emotion in Arizona. If the age of Obama prophesied a more progressive, multifaceted and refined dialogue about American race relations, the vision has not been realized. Rather, many Americans, particularly xenophobic cliques such as the ones on display in my state, have recoiled back to a pre-civil rights-era temperament and increasingly overt racist outbursts.

As brazen as those in the Desert Vista crowd were, they are merely the most belligerent and public face of a legion of racist anti-Obama persons. These more discreet individuals are smart enough to cloak their racialized opposition in obstructionist maneuvering and public policy that does more damage to the lives of people of color than prejudiced banter. Still, the Desert Vista protest should give everyone pause and put us on high alert. The racist rhetoric heard there reflects inner beliefs and fears that have tremendous potential to do great harm."

http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/08/opinion/whitaker-obama-arizona-race/index.html?iref=allsearch