This thread is to counter the Republican Nuttery thread. People should post examples of rational, substantive statements made by Republicans to show that their party is not just a smokescreen and sockpuppets run by lawyers and lobbyist aimed at riling up low information voters to maintain capitalist power. Because as I live here in the 21st century, I just can't believe all the crap I see that passes for statesmanship, oratory, and advanced thinking is all there is. What won't impress me is rehashed critiques from Chaney, McCain, Greenspan, Krugman and Netanyahu...people who have made definitively, proven wrong statements for 20 years but still talk like their opinion has value. How many times can you be just dead wrong before you lose you right to speak? Anyway, post away...
I just wanted to point out that this also describes the Democratic party (except for maybe the low information voter part).
Bernie Sanders (I), Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Corey Booker, John Lewis et. al., say you mistaken in your impression. But it's not a lock-step party. please post inciteful republican statements.
Alright, sorry -- you're right, I shouldn't have done anything that may have derailed your thread -- I just couldn't let the statement I quoted pass without pointing out that the Democratic party is just as much controlled by lobbyists and special interests in the name of maintaining capitalist power as the Republicans.
David Simpson, a Republican state rep, just introduced a bill to legalize pot here. I definitely was not expecting that anytime soon here. It probably won't pass but it is a step in the right direction.
Former Senate Minority Leader, the late Everett Dirksen, probably my favorite Republican and crucial to getting the Civil Rights Bill passed. On Being a Republican "I do not know whether I am a liberal. I think I am a garden variety conservative. If I remember my Latin, I think the word ‘liberal' was derived from the word ‘liver,' meaning free, and the suffix ‘al' means ‘pertaining to.' So the word ‘liberal' means pertaining to freedom. If that is it, I am a genuine, unmitigated, unreconstructed, unregenerated, 100-percent, dyed-in-the-wool liberal, in the sense of my devotion to freedom, and that means the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and everything else that is the embodiment of the principles of freedom." [Congressional Record, February 17, 1960. In debate on civil rights bill (S2526)] http://www.everettdirksen.name/print_emd_quotes.htm
Just kidding, reddit reports that it is just a ploy for votes and has no chance. I can't link it because it is blocked on my work PC.
http://www.reddit.com/r/AdviceAnimals/comments/2y0tq8/i_work_for_the_tx_senate_and_can_tell_you_100/ Unverified... but if true, then not surprising.
Does this count? http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/sam-brownback-medicaid-expansion-kansas Kansas is realizing they screwed up their state so much that the only way to fix it might be to accept Obamacare Medicaid expansion.
We have a lot of conservatives but none have posted any examples yet. Feel free to be the first. Just news item or speech where a republican makes a rational point or shows some statesmanship or inciteful thinking. If we weren't talking about contemporary politicians I could fine 10 Goldwater quotes that make sense. Equality, rightly understood as our founding fathers understood it, leads to liberty and to the emancipation of creative differences; wrongly understood, as it has been so tragically in our time, it leads first to conformity and then to despotism. Barry Goldwater Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. Barry Goldwater Where is the politician who has not promised to fight to the death for lower taxes- and who has not proceeded to vote for the very spending projects that make tax cuts impossible? Barry Goldwater The mind is no match with the heart in persuasion; constitutionality is no match with compassion. Everett Dirksen I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times. Everett Dirksen You can't just have slogans, you can't just have catchy phrases. You have to have an agenda. And I think what the Republican Party has to do, if it's going to incorporate the tea party efforts in it, is to come up with an agenda that the American people can see, touch, and actually believe in, and something they believe in. Colin Powell History teaches that war begins when governments believe the price of aggression is cheap. Ronald Reagan
Give us some examples, texxx. I supplied one from a man I admire very much, who happens to have been a Republican. A very powerful Republican. Dubious supplied several others. Surely you can give us some more. Rationality isn't a curse, reticence isn't always a virtue.
You guys are hilarious. Over half the Senate and House are made up of democratically elected Republicans and you're challenging these folks to prove they're rational? Seems to me the democrats show have the burden of proof, given how soundly their policies were routed during the most recent election!
So, IOW, you got tired trying to find one. It's a daunting feat, I don't blame you for giving up either.
I'm surprised. I didn't realize that you had a problem with reading comprehension. You truly have no interest in discussing the topic, a topic that one might assume would provide you with the chance to quote some of your favorite Republicans. You truly can't leave your sole purpose in D&D, can you, texxx. You have no interest in discussion. You only have an interest in disruption. I pity you. With all due respect, it must be difficult being you.
The frustration is all yours! I'm laughing at you. This thread is the pinnacle of hilarity. Frustrated liberals trying to get Republicans to justify that they're rational. Then the liberals get their panties in a bunch when the Republicans aren't tripping over themselves to bow to the liberals' wishes? Color me shocked! Thanks for the laugh, though!
I'm surprised. I didn't realize that you had a problem with reading comprehension. You truly have no interest in discussing the topic, a topic that one might assume would provide you with the chance to quote some of your favorite Republicans. You truly can't leave your sole purpose in D&D, can you, texxx. You have no interest in discussion. You only have an interest in disruption. I pity you. With all due respect, it must be difficult being you.