Snowden and NSA spying, drone strikes and the feet dragging of closing Guantanamo. Those were legitimate issues that Liberals would've held bush to the fire for but Obama for the large part has gotten a pass. Then there are some borderlines issues like poor execution of Obamacare (which in of itself is actually fairly conservative based policies) or VERY selective handling of the press. Once again, liberals have shrugged off most of them without enough care. Why is this? I came to the conclusion is that there are just way too many attacks from the right that it's actually counterproductive when something actually important gets drowned out in the noise. When you go balls to the wall for things like birther, saying his son would look like Trayvon martin, or criticizing every little thing being done (like taking vacation) and try to make it major issue eventually you get two results from the liberals. One, they become numb enough to most criticisms and the important ones get drowned out by the noise or Two, they've exercised the defensive muscle so much that they will automatically fire back at anything that's a criticism, even valid ones. Constantly antagonizing is really counter productive to healthy discourse and bring to the front real issues.
The repubs signal to noise ratio is way too high -- they are barfing out one scandal allegation after after another without vetting them properly. They are running with every wingnut blog conspiracy that comes out and hanging on too long to issues more substantial that the public is clearly tired of hearing about. We'll just have to wait and see how the 2014 elections turn out, but i'm betting it will be a familiar feeling of disappointment the republicans felt after 2012.
When you're not in office, the best way to get back in is to oppose everything. This provides an alternative for independent voters and an outlet for their anger against the incumbent when something bad happens. Furthermore, since you can't sign or veto bills or issue executive orders, the press, courts, interest groups and protesters are your only tools for effecting and impacting government.
I think there are odd circumstances surrounding Benghazi as well, but like you said no one really cares anymore since the right has cried wolf too many times.
The other thing is the 2% increase in Social Security Tax, it's not huge but another one of those "middle class won't get taxed" and next thing you know, the tax went up.
The tax didn't go up. It was reduced temporarily as part of the stimulus package and then when the stimulus ended, it went back to the rate it was before.
i tend to disagree overall. Both parties supporters overlook their parties shortcomings. I think the key difference is the liberal party did not cannibalize itself in greed and self interest. On the other hand, while I find the tea party on the loony side, at least they had the conviction to go against their mainstream. It would be nice if the liberals would do the same. And while you bring up the birther issue, Travon Martain, and vacations, the reality is the liberals are amplifying the voice of the few. I know this is a liberal misconception, but Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity and other entertainers do not represent the Republicans as a whole. After watching the last few elections and even the morphing of peoples opinions and beliefs, I've come to the rough conclusion that Republicans/Conservatives represent greed, self interest and hypocrisy while Liberals/Democrats are naive, short sighted and gullible. At this point, im not sure which one is worse.
If I say I'm not going to raise taxes, and then I lower them temporarily, only to let them revert back to where they started, I don't think anyone would accuse me of raising taxes unless they were being disingenuous and just trying to score political points.
It's also because politics has been driven deeply within partisan lines. The nation was the most united after 9/11. Has gone downhill after that... The issue I have of this is when a minority faction of Congress has the sheer stupidity to take the nation hostage over an issue that everyone knew they couldn't win if Obama were to take a stand. They still represent Republicans.
More and more Americans have figured the GOP out, and they are freaking out over it. Too late Republicans, your act has worn stale, and your party is on life support. Socialism is America's future, and there's nothing the banks and wall street can do to stop it.
We have a bit of common ground. At the moment, I think the national GOP is trash and I 100% completely despise them. IMO, the Dems are mostly what they've always been and are the lesser evil for now. Pleeeeeease Republicans, save your party from the fruits and nuts so I can vote for you again. Until you do that, my only choice is either vote for the Dems (which is really a vote against you) or sit out. Regarding the original question, I agree Republicans have cried wolf too many times. It's their knee-jerk reaction to everything.
My biggest beef with the GOP is they market to the idiots. Look at all the stupid stuff that gets posted by Basso. He doesn't realize or doesn't care that it actually alienates the middle like me.
If you said you were not going to raise taxes, I would expect the taxes that I was paying before you took office to be the same taxes after you take office. Once again, not a major issue, but 2% is actually a pretty big sum. If you are a middle class taxed at 35%, put away 6% for your 401K, spend 40% on your housing, food and daily expenditures, the extra 2% in taxes is actually 10% of your savings/discretionary funds gone.
Right - what I'm telling you is that's exactly the case. Obama lowered the SS tax by 2% temporarily in the 2009 Stimulus bill, and then it went back up in 2012 because the crisis mode ended. The SS tax now is the same as it was during the Bush years.
Oh.... ok I was wrong then... must've thought the increase was just from my salary Glad I voted for him in 2008 ...
The answer is that Obama is so incompetent that it's become the new normal. Obamacare is his signature policy -- it's been nothing short of a disaster so far. We don't care that the administration covered up the killing of our US ambassador who then got drug through the streets? Race baiting over Trayvon is now SOP? Intentionally ramping up the number of guns sent to Mexico, resulting in the death of Mexicans is now OK? Incompetence has become the new normal from Obama.
This was actually one of the big criticisms of the cut in the first place - people have a tendency to notice the drop in their salary much more than they notice the initial rise anytime there's a temporary tax cut. So politically, it tends to be a losing issue.
