GOP Agenda: Demean 1/2 of the US, Ignore Veterans, Block Legislation

The last few days have revealed the GOP agenda for the US.

The GOP candidate for the US President, Romney demeaned 1/2 of the adult population of the United States. He did it in front of that tiny enclave of incredibly wealthy supporters. Romney people.

The supporters each paid $50,000 to meet him, listen to him, speak with him, probably secure favors for their huge contributions to his candidacy.

$50,000 is more than the annual income earned by 75% of all income earners in the US. I repeat. The small group of fancy, well dressed supporters at that meeting, served by a wait staff dressed elegantly to provide them with drinks and Hors D'oeuvres, and clear the dishes for them...each gave more money to the Romney campaign than the annual earnings of more than 75% of all income earners in the US per the 2010 census. source: the census bureau

Romney demeaned roughly 1/2 of the US population calling them takers. His commentary about this group receiving some type of government support and including people whose subsistence levels of income, and tax benefits in part boosted by the Bush tax cuts, puts a whole new radical conservative spin on these people. Only 11 years ago the GOP told these folks they wanted to reduce their taxes and put more money in their pockets. Today the Radical GOP calls these people "takers".

The Romney commentary simply expresses his opinion that the US is made up of the wealthy and all others. All others is a class that is demeaned.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, Republican Senators have filibustered and blocked legislation designed to help Veterans, and specifically post 9-11 veterans from getting work. The legislation has been bipartisan with significant elements contributed by GOP senators. It is paid for, unlike the War in Iraq, pushed by the GOP, unpaid for, costing about $1 trillion, and essentially changing nothing except for about 4500 American soldiers dying and officially over 33,000 injured.

Having pushed this war on the American public, the GOP now is officially blocking any legislation that would assist the veterans of this war from getting a little assistance in getting work.

In bellowing against this legislation, following a filibuster, GOP Senator Coburn said the following...

Apparently, as a member of the GOP legislative apparatchick he already knows that goose stepping anti Democrat, anti Obama Republicans will automatically vote down this legislation. Their only interest is to attack the administration and any legislation that will have any benefit to the nation. They have been doing this consistently for two years, non stop.

Eleven years ago the Bush administration pushed through tax cuts that included increased tax credit benefits for those that took care of children or dependents while the family providers/income earners were either working or looking for work. The GOP told those people it was there to help them.

Today the GOP calls these people "takers".

The GOP is simply an increasingly radical, conservative, extremist party that has little or no use for most of the population of the US, but does treat its incredibly wealthy financial supporters with fancy Hors D'oeuvres and drinks, while soliciting their money.

 

I wonder if the Democrats knew it wouldn't pass, and are just using veterans to gain votes. > ie "Republicans hate veterans!" I don't know why Republicans don't support it. But I will say what I think about it. It's a billion dollar job training bill to funnel veterans into parks and recreation, police and fire fighting jobs. I think they already have hiring priority in these fields. In addition, there are existing programs in place for education and job assistance. I do think it's important for veterans to have support. On the other hand, not to be mean, but I don't see that the veteran job bill would help the economy as a whole. There are limited amounts of police, and fire, and parks and recreation jobs. So, I think that would just give the job to a veteran, and take it away from a non-military American. Which is okay. But really what I think would be exciting is for our economy to improve as a whole.

 

Wow. Its a shame I can't add 100 to your reputation for that post.

 

The Senate voted down the bill. Rather than a straight up and down vote the Senate applied its cloture rules. 42 GOP Senators voted against passing the legislation. 58 Senators voted for the legislation, including Democrats, Independents and Republicans.

Once again, the Senate Super Majority rule has led to a minority ruling. Not exactly a terrific example of Democracy in action.

The US Congress has become the MOST DO NOTHING Congress in History, passing less legislation than any Congress at any time in modern history. It is simply a function of an obstinate GOP stance that has decided to block any Democratic initiative in any way.

Then the GOP claims the Democrats are being obstructive and partisan. The bill in question included a majority of provisions provided by a Republican Senator. It was completely non partisan. It was paid for by changes in administration rules to flow revenues to the program.

The funding stands out as the war in Iraq, completely pushed by the GOP was completely unfunded adding to what will probably total $1 trillion to National Debt.

Meanwhile about 1 million US servicemen and service women served in the war. That is about 1/3 of one percent of the nation's population. Often once sent to Iraq they had repeated forced reassignments. Unlike Vietnam, National Reserve members were taken from their homes and forced to serve repeatedly in Iraq.

The cost of the unfunded Iraq war, whose costs in aftercare to injured soldiers will be about $1 trillion. The cost of this bill at roughly $1 billion was funded.

Meanwhile the national unemployment rate for servicemen and women who served in the Post 9/11 wars is higher than that of the National Average.

It is no less than a disgrace to not reach out to these people who sacrificed their time and their lives.

The bill would have given preference to post 9/11 grads in various fed govt jobs and extended that program to states to increase opportunities for a wide variety of jobs.

The last minute minority blocking of the legislation was prompted by a statement by one GOP Senator that the $ 1 billion program would exceed the allotment of $109 billion to the VA.

How preposterous.


Who cares? The $1 billion is funded. And recent Vets are unemployed at higher rates than the rest of the nation. Are they not owed any help at all? Are they to be used and abused?

What kind of thinking prevails among the GOP? Earlier this year the Senate blocked an effort to cut tax subsidies to big five Oil Companies by $4 billion. Again that vote was dominated by an obstructionist minority using Senate Cloture rules. 51 Senators voted to end the subsidies and a minority of 47 blocked it.

Meanwhile, using the oil companies own financial statements they respectively had record profits of $135 billion in 2011. Do they need those tax breaks? Who could better use the $1 to $4 billion...the oil companies or the vets who put their lives on the line on behalf of the United States?

If you go back over a decade the big 5 oil companies who get that federal funding, had profits for the decade that approached $1 trillion. American tax payers, with rising debt helped support that.

In 2005 the retiring CEO of Exxon was given a retirement package of $400 to 450 million. American taxpayers helped support that through continuing tax breaks.

The big oil companies could easily afford to hire up to 20,000 well trained disciplined vets in various jobs at $50,000/year...pay them a total of $1 billion/ eliminate any burden on tax payers...have no effect on their bottom lines, and make a serious dent in the ultra high unemployment rate for post 9/11 vets. The payback to vets would be reasonable in light of an incredible run up on gas prices, oil company revenues, record profits, and a war whose rationale basis was to try and create a new balance in the oil dominated mid east.

It accomplished none of that...but it did probably have a huge positive impact on rising oil prices over the entire decade of the 2000's and the enormous profits oil companies made.

The oil companies aren't doing it.

Look, Rebecca: I've spent most of my business career as a business person getting things done. I made hundreds of deals. It takes willingness to get things done.

The GOP congress is only showing a willingness to block progress.

Its an extraordinary American disgrace.

 

Gosh, hidden video proves Romney thinks Obama's base is largely composed of losers who will vote for him regardless?
Who knew he'd been reading my posts.

Face it, the guy had majorities in congress 2 full years of his term, so just blaming doesnt pass the smell test. He pledged to cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term... HIS promise, not one someone else thrust on him... yet he grew it.

His foreign policy is damned sure not congress' fault, and we have 20 embassies under siege. Guess being an apologist wasn't as successful as he thought, or maybe he played the I Killed Osama card a few times too often. Turns out merely electing him did NOT solve world peace like he suggested in his acceptance speech.

If I were Romney I'd make that "hidden video" into a campaign commercial.

 

Just because a man is worse as a liar than acting president, does not mean he will be worse as a president. On the other hand, I don't think really Romney wants or aims to win this election-- he didn't spend a penny of his own money on this campaign, ( $40 mln on the last one ) and he chose that useless idiot as a co-runner, assuming he wasn't appointed. Perhaps the owners of the United States intend to keep their lackey monkey longer.

 

If the existing programs to help employ vets were working, there wouldn't be such a high unemployment rate for vets.
No, dems are not using vets to get votes, dems are actually trying to help vets, Why pubs won't help is beyond me.

 

The naivety of people always amazes me.

 

It's not naivety , it's simple bull propaganda . This creature show up only when there is a political debate that could play in the favor of the ass party .

Look at CNN's comment section until a month ago it was filled with debates and pretty conservative comments . Nowadays it's full off "OBAMA RULLEZ" , "MITH SUCKS" and other 2 bit propaganda . I guess no one told them that the Gaddafi regime did the same thing on Yahoo News .

 

I really have no clue how you are so full of rage regarding the US Elections first you are thousand of miles away from the US and second you are not even a US VOTER or least a US Resident. Whoever wins the elections may it be the right or the left US Foreign policy would not change that much. I'm shaking my head in confusion.

 

Because the US is the only leader the freeworld has . A weaker US means that demonic governments like China will bend the world over to their will . I don't know about you but i have a major problem with anyone pointing nukes at my ass .

A strong , stable and prosperous US was the main reason the Easter Bloc gained democracy . A weak US mean that one more freedom will have to be defended by a major blood tribute . That moronic sh*ts will come out of the shadow and try to impose their demented doctrines on everybody . For the next 80 years Europe needs a strong US if we are to successfully avoid a major conflict . While the US economy and politics don't have an immediate impact they do hit us just as heavy as they hit the average US citizen .

In other words we Europeans don't have the luxury of ignoring the inner workings of the blue giant .

 

China ? You worry so much about China, which has nothing to do with you or Romania.

Man your so paranoid. A country pointing a nuke into your ass is like hitting the grand draw for the Christmas Lotto 10 times in a row.

Communism was crumbling even when it started so US prosperity has nothing to do with it.

Obamanation hasn't started anything yet but I will watch and see.

LOL ! You guys need to stand on your own feet and stop relying on US help everytime someone bitch slaps you.

Average US citizen don't beg in streets.

 

Naivety is a kind way to put it.

 

@Jude - You're right about US citizens . It's far more likely that some of these might become beggars or hookers .

 

I'd get banned if I posted my real response.

So all you brilliant people, why is the vets unemployment rate so high? What do you suggest be done about it? Not that it matters, you don't have any power to do anything about it, and your leaders don't care.

 

According to Obama, the unemployment rate is still high because so many people have not yet given up trying to find work. I would imagine Vets are at the forefront of this category that refuse to quit. According to Obama, the solution is simple. Give up looking for work and the unemployment rate will drop.

Of course they will still show up on the labor force participation rate chart, from which they won't disappear until they die or are unable to work, but at least Obama can get them off of that horrible 8.3% unemployment chart that is impacting his reelection chances.



Wake up Kaethy. 25 Million people in this country are unemployed. Most have given up looking, which is what makes the Vets stand out.

 

No, Obamas solution was a jobs bill for vets. ya know, part of the original topic of this thread.

What do you have against veterans?

 

Apparently you didn't understand the answer. Let me rephrase.

Borrowing a few billion dollars from China to put Vets at the front of the line for government jobs while 25 million people are unemployed is like pissing on a forest fire. The creaters of the bill understand that completely. They could give a crap about Vets, their concern is having somethig to yell at Republicans about in an election year where Democrat stewardship of the economy has failed.

If you still don't get it, let me put it a a different way. Black people have nearly double the unemployment level of white people in this country. Obama and the Democrats have created no legisliation to help them, and you are not pushing for it. What do you have against black people?

Is it sinking in yet?

 

I just find it sad that we have over 20 diplomatic posts under seige and the faithful followes of the boy king think Romneys clearly insulting language about Obama devotees are the big story of the week. Imo, he doesnt insult obama's faithful near often enough. He oughta pull out the stops and go for it.

I dont see them starting threads to wonder aloud why the arabs hate our guts even after we elected obama like they told us to. Apparently obama fans are very lacking in curiousity on selective topics.


Suggestions for Barack on Muslim Riots
--- Maybe obama hasnt apologized for our first amendment enough times yet...
--- Or perhaps he just needs to ridicule muslims for clinging to their god and guns.
--- Oh wait... I know, he could protect our diplomats by posting a few gun free zone signs.

 

How come you mind the nukes but not the other things? Is it because they pay?