"The party that identifies itself as home to labor unions and middle-class families might be in for a wake-up call. A recent report from The Heritage Foundation says that the Democratic Party is the new 'party of the rich.'

A review of Internal Revenue Service data conducted by Michael Franc, vice president of government relations at Heritage — a conservative think-tank — found that Democrats control the majority of the country's wealthiest congressional jurisdictions, and that more than half of the most affluent households are located in the 18 states where Democrats control both Senate seats."

Democrat millionaires like Bill & Hillary Clinton, Teresa Heinz & John Kerry, John Edwards, Al Gore, Marc Rich and Robert Kennedy, Jr. should feel right at home, whilst jetting about in their carbon-spewing airplanes. What a sick joke they've played on working democrats. Party of the people? Sure, rich people. Now that the cat's out of the bag, who are democrats going to blame now?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312628,00.html

Herb

What the #$)(U&#$^ Herb.

More of the same attack the people, not the actual points they bring to the table.

So, a lot of Democrats are rich. Big deal. In this day of, "money is speech" politics, would a rational person expect anything less?

Want to know who brought some new, not so rich, blood to the fold last cycle? Yeah, that's right, the Democratic party. Interestingly, the established interests are pretty bent over the whole thing.

The idea that some interested people, running blogs and mailing lists, can gather dollars and educate with the best of them is somewhat disturbing, from their point of view.

You don't see this happening in the GOP. Why?

Because the Democratic party, rich or not, happens to still somewhat honor the idea of representative government, checks and balances and debate of ideas.

You can say it all you want, but the history of the last 40 years or so is damn clear. The GOP does not act in the interests of the average American, unless they are bigots, racists, coporatists or some other 'ists that really do us more harm than good.

The policies of the GOP, generally speaking, have brought us increased tension, diminished economic power, and even more generally can be seen as a direct assault on the educated middle class American.

Are the Democrats clean in this? Hell no. Clinton himself signed that horror called NAFTA. We might have actually had a shot at fixing that, but guess who got in the way?

The GOP, led congress that has essentially denied us, the American people, lots of basic legislation that would have likely kept our buying and earning power within acceptable limits. Instead, we lose a lot of ground, are divided constantly, and though such division, often faced with horrible choices.

Approve anti gay legislation and we might consider that minimum wage increase. Allow another big ass tax cut for the very wealthy and we might consider restoring one of the many amendments we've trashed on the back of your raw fear --which we cultivated, etc...

I don't care if our elected representatives are rich. In fact, I really don't think it's such a bad idea, if only to somewhat marginalize the impact paid lobbyists and their dollars might have!

I do care about their voting record and their ideas they put on the table. Rich, poor, whatever, those are the things we put them there for.

The idea that somebody of substantial means cannot help somebody of little means is just stupid, right to the core.

The idea that somebody might be fool enough to buy the former is beyond reasonable description.

Sorry pal. That's a big ass strike.

Tell you what.

Why don't you go dig up some solid info about how good the GOP is gonna be for us? Let's see how they plan to address the core problems that impact every one of us daily.

I want to know, if I vote GOP, what's in it for me, Joe Ordinary American.

Right now the record is bad --really bad, in fact, about the worst possible. Your job should not be all that tough, given about the only way for the GOP to go is up!

Constantly posting a bunch of FUD about how the Democrats are "really bad too", isn't gonna cut it. You see, we know absolutely the Bush Republican majority of the current GOP is bad, bad, bad to the core.

Been there, done that, seen enough.

So, it's an absolute no brainer to change this up, essentially engaging in a safe gamble.

We know the current bad, and if we want more of the same, we can vote GOP. Simple, easy right?

What we don't know is how much better the Democrats might actually be at this point in time!

Given it's actually difficult to envision a party being any worse than the GOP currently is, not voting GOP is a smart wager on just about every level.

In fact, the only people seriously considering the GOP at this point are:

the 23 percenters

the extremely wealthy

the ignorant.

The rest of us are enough to win the day, so long as we don't fall into the ignorant category.

Sell us on how we can benefit from the GOP or go home with your FUD.

"Democrat...party, rich or not, happens to still somewhat honor the idea of representative government, checks and balances and debate of ideas."

Oh, really? Not when they're in power. Democrats are no different than the party whom you Trash N' Bash. Clear back to FDR, who packed the supreme court, and well into today with their partisan gerrymandering, the left takes every advantage possible accused of conservatives....checks and balances be darned. That is, when they're not sticking classified documents in their socks like Sandy Burglar, stuffing cold cash in their congressional refrigerator like William Jefferson, or selling our military secrets to the communists, whilst pardoning infamous tax cheat Marc Rich, like Mr. Clinton.

What should be shocking to labour and unions in general is how the party supposedly representing their interests has sold them down the river. Indeed, democrats are the fat cats and getting fatter, thanks to cutting deals on NAFTA, GATT and the WTO...whilst union members are dying on the vine. Yet democrat leaders still have the gall to insist that they represent working Americans. What a sick joke.

Herb

So if the people you cite were poor, you'd vote Democrat?

No. Of course not. Because that's not REALLY important to you. What's important is pretending to be outraged with and about things that don't even bother you. Then you say what you say as if you expect others to be outraged.

Even though you yourself aren't in the least.

Oh the insurmountable anger, eh? " What a sick joke they've played on working democrats."

Yeah. Who is it that you are trying to convince, exactly? Me? Democrats? Who? Or more importantly, who is trying to convince YOU with that Fox News link?

Love the New Deal.

Give me more of that, over anything the GOP has to offer, any time, any where, any day.

Like I said, quit talking down the Democrats. It's a loser at this point, for reasons already given. To recap, the GOP is the worst possible right now. So, anybody else is highly likely to be better.

It's really that simple.

Talking others down will maybe set the perception that they are equally bad. From there, it becomes all about divisive issues. We've played that game and it's not a winning event!

I strongly suspect a whole lot of Americans have seen the cost and are not gonna ante up for another round.

The divisive card, of course, is the meat for the 23 percenters, but that's really it. The rest of us want to see some action on day to day things that, unattended, are really starting to add up!

Given the record of the last 7 years, a change up is the smart wager, period.

Really, the only thing that's gonna have a significant impact is the idea that the GOP is actually gonna present that change to us. Tall order Herb, but that's the way outta no vote GOP hell.

Oh, and the beauty of that is having to admit the last 7 years were a big ass, really sorry we put him in charge, mistake!

Have fun with that.

If you like what NAFTA, GATT and the WTO has done to our country, just keep voting democrat. You're in the minority, which is getting ever smaller.

Herb

I'm so scared.

I will dedicate this next set to you, Herb. Tune in.

LOL!!!

You've either had too much to drink, or seriously in need of one. Better get that worked out quick, before your entire holiday weekend is at risk!

The "you're in the minority" discussion has been done here many times. I'm not, you are, done, next.

Dude, I don't have the link. Share the love man!

Profile.

Got it!

I'd like to request a dedication. This one goes out to the Herbster from the heart.

"Lonesome Loser"

The only one losing the last two presidential elections is the sell-out democrat party.
No wonder Mr. Gore couldn't even carry his own state.

Herb

Amen Missing!

Wheel of rhetoric, turn turn turn, show us the profit we can earn.

Perhaps we should hijack this thread and have a discussion about poor Republicans.

You know the ones who talk racist drivel in line at the store. Yet, when the Latinos ahead of them get the change from a cash transaction and leave, they whip out the Oregon Trail card and a stack of coupons.

Mebbe they glare at you when they overhear you mocking the Chinese made flags. Or you see them dig through ten shelves of cereal to find the one with the Little E picture on it.

They have the kids with candy rotted teeth, they rent out the trailer that gets raided for cooking meth, and they take full advantage of hushed incestuous abortions at state expense.

The dog bites black people because he was taught to do it. The kid beats up on other kids because he was taught to do it. Stereotypes are everywhere, and for everyone, but white trash conservatives take the cake.

Now, shall we begin a thread that is not just bait and hate?

Your move.

(I want that mix --tell me how to get it!)

Trash N' Bash.
Bait N' Hate.

Classic leftist tactics.
I'm still waiting to hear the democrat excuse for selling out their own party members. NAFTA, GATT and the WTO does not help the party loyal.

Herb

No.

I'm going to do something else.

.

troll: "Democrat millionaires like Bill & Hillary Clinton"

Heh. No wonder this has the troll running around like a bee up his butt. Just a few short years ago the Clintons didn't own a home or automobile and had difficulty making payments on a rented house. And now they're filthy rich and troll isn't.

Ignore the jealous rage from the troll.

It's amazing what kind of cash a former president can raise when he sells his own country out by stripping the military and selling military secrets he declassified, whilst pardoning billionaire tax cheats like Marc Rich. Fits in well with Sandy Burglar stuffing classified intelligence into his socks.

Democrats. The sell-out party.

Herb

I feel really sorry for the poor Republicans!

(and that's poor, as in not of substantial means)

--->Bait & Hate™ added to the list of two word culture happy fun bumper sticker stuff.

Nicely done CJ. I will be listening more often. Appreciated.

I'll plug it, why not?

http://community.loudcity.com/stations/salem-fm

At least I'll be able to find it later!

You missed out on some really great stuff Herb.

I'm not doing it either Herb.

Once again, go and find the stuff that tells us how great the GOP is gonna be for us this next cycle. That's what we need to hear, not how "equally" bad the Democrats are. (they aren't, BTW)

Darktemper -- your dedication is on! Chickenjuggler, you are now among an elite class of disc jockeys who have had a request from DT! Great mix too!

Everybody sing:

Heeeeeeeee's a loser, but he still keeps on trying...

Sweet. Gotta tune out now.

Totally am gonna be listening while enjoying PDXRadio.com more often. It's a nice fit.

"..go and find the stuff that tells us how great the GOP is gonna be for us this next cycle.."

Since you've already stated you'll only be voting for the sell-out party using the sole criteria that they have a d and not an r, there's no point: you've already told us you're mentally checked out.

Maybe after you lose a few more presidential elections....and the supreme court will thus be packed well into the mid-century.

Herb

Wow, eating crow doesn't change one's thinking one bit!

"If you like what NAFTA, GATT and the WTO has done to our country, just keep voting democrat."

Do I have to remind you that NAFTA and GATT were signed into law by George Bush Sr. and are both strongly supported by Dubya, who also supports our position in the WTO?

NAFTA and GATT are both bilateral turds. Folks from both sides got it through, and there are plenty of others from both sides who think it sucks.

Why don't you run along now and go play on the freeway or something?

Great stream CJ!!!
I've been listening all morning.
Working from home these days, I expect to tune in a lot!

Thanks!

"Do I have to remind you that NAFTA and GATT were signed into law by George Bush Sr. and are both strongly supported by Dubya, who also supports our position in the WTO?"

You made my point.

Unlike many hyper-partisan democrats on this board, I call those in my party on their myriad mistakes and both president Bush's have made plenty of them. NAFTA, GATT and the WTO were horrible for all Americans.

Unlike some here, I don't simply vote by selecting the candidate with an r or d. When was the last time any of you democrats actually voted for someone of the opposing party?

Herb

Missing to Herb:

"Why don't you go dig up some solid info about how good the GOP is gonna be for us? Let's see how they plan to address the core problems that impact every one of us daily."

Me: Waiting. (Not holding breath)

See me turning blue holding my breath waiting for a reply!

I don't know about the others, but I've usually voted for whoever made sense.

And that's the point with the GOP right now. Every one of the current GOP wannabes are essentially Bush Republicans. They've got their little differentiators here and there, but that's not enough to see significant change come to the party.

So, generally speaking, it does not make any sense to strengthen that power structure, unless one is happy with the last 7 years.

Most people are not happy, so it makes the best sense for most people to not vote GOP.

This is not a simple partisan thing, like something one should feel somehow bad about, like you imply. It's a rational, reasoned thing, based of of direct experience from the last 7 years!

Only a fool gets spanked, then continues to encourage future spankings! That's the case here Herb.

Again, post up some stuff that cracks that nut and it's a worthy discussion. A GOP vote is not off the table, given some solid support for said vote. You're the fan boy, go bring us the goods then!

Talking down the Democrats isn't gonna cut it. It's just reinforcement for the other 'ists, 23 percenters, or the ignorant, and that's just preaching to the choir. No new votes, that actually matter, will come from that crap.

In fact, it's likely to sway some the other way.

Nobody wants to elect people, who have demonstrated they will bash anybody for the top slot. Look at where that's gotten us!

You can say hyper-partisan, if you want to Herb. I was, until this ass got selected and trashed the nation, a registered Republican, who did vote for lots of different people, leaving party to be a somewhat secondary thing, largely because checks and balances made better sense.

They still do, but the checking needs to be on a larger scale this time around.

The damage is great. So, the correction needs to be greater this time around. Think, "New Deal" kind of great. It isn't as if we don't deserve it after all the crap we've been subjected to.

Then there is accountability. Most conservative people I know are big on this, and also really big on the "teach somebody a lesson", "personal responsibility", "practice what you preach", kinds of ideas.

So, let's apply those huh?

Teach somebody a lesson:

The lesson is, one cannot go for an executive power grab, bastardize the law, cultivate fear, lie, etc... without some level of accountability being applied. So, the lesson is if we cannot see said accountability from the Congress or the Courts, then it's gotta be at the ballot box. The current GOP rubber stamped all this crap, so they need to not get votes, shrink in size, then rebuild, ideally with some people who know better.

Personal Responsibility.

As Americans, we need to make reasoned choices. Doing the same things over and over expecting a different outcome, is one definition of insanity. So, change is necessary and it's not currently coming from the GOP; therefore, if one is really gonna be responsible, one needs to vote accordingly, setting party politics aside for the greater good.

Another GOP vote would mean not really bitching about all the crap going on. Most people are tired of it all, so they need to step up and do something about that, or suck it up and admit themselves to be the spanking boys they really are.

Practice what you preach.

This isn't happening party wide. Most of our core American values are not being honored right now. They are supposed to be working for us, say they are working for us, but continue to only work for small segments of us.

Most real Conservatives, would also not be practicing what they preach, if they continue to support this crap.

Again, not happening in the congress, nor the courts, so it's gotta be the ballot box.

Then we've got smaller government, low taxes, not wasting dollars, etc...

None of these things are happening. Government is bigger than it has ever been, Iraq is bankrupting us, taxes are high and gonna get higher to pay for Iraq mostly, we blow tons on contractors to circumvent the law and our treaty obligations, and that means waste runs rampant.

It's an ugly mess Herb. This is what happens when you put people in charge, who believe government can't work and that private interests will serve us better, for profit.

The simple result is government ends up being a tool to funnel dollars to already fat corporations, whose only real interest BY LAW, is simply getting fatter, no matter who it harms.

The only way I'll ever vote GOP is if we get some people up there, who are actually real conservative Americans. People who will step up and say, "ok, this has been a big mess, let's fix it proper".

Go find these people, advocate for them, and you'll see a more reasonable response. If they are not available, thus leaving you with the only real option of sucking it up and being quiet, or trashing others to limit the damage, you are gonna get what you get.

Sorry, sometimes things suck Herb. This time, it's your boys and their toys.

Amus, what do you do that puts you at home fairly often?

Just curious. I get some at home time, but not nearly enough!

Sell out? You wanna talk sell out??

Let's talk about the $3 trillion sell out that's occurred under Bush in the last 7 years!

Here's the facts: The GOP uses conservative social issues to rally the dumber, lower income conservatives into supporting their agenda. Then the GOP passes laws that benefit only the rich, while fleecing the poor all at the same time. It's been a strategy of success for the most part, but like anything that is UNSUSTAINABLE over the long term, those dumber, lower income folks will eventually smarten up and see that they've been used. And the ones that don't, they deserve to get used again.

Missing,

I'm a project Manager with customers all over the country, and Canada.
They don't really care where I am as long as I answer the phone.

Democrat millionaires like Bill & Hillary Clinton, Teresa Heinz & John Kerry, John Edwards, Al Gore, Marc Rich and Robert Kennedy, Jr.

How about DUHbya and The DICKster. Two of the RICHEST men on planet earth????


Trash N' Bash.
Bait N' Hate.


Kinda like what Rove and Co. did to McCain in 2000???? Coke snortin DUHbya and Rove dismantled one of their own. Just like Sharks THE EXTREME will pounch on their own flesh and blood.

"Why don't you run along now and go play on the freeway or something?"

The Terwilliger Curves is THE place in Portland for freeway playing although the Westbound I-84 split at I-5 is nearly as fun.