Comments on: Fox News Makes Up New ‘Minority Speaker’ Position For Defeated Conservatives http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:27:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: John Konop http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1130539 John Konop Tue, 14 Nov 2006 11:49:56 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1130539 Open Border Chairman Martinez to lead GOP? The GOP base was sent a shock wave by picking a pro-amnesty Mel Martinez as the Republican Party Chairman. It seems clear now, that President Bush will push his open border agenda with the help of Nancy Pelosi lead Congress. Mel Martinez job will be to control GOP Party decent from Congress, with the promise of new Hispanic voters. Palm Beach Post Signaling a new direction for the Republican Party, which had heavy losses in the Hispanic community in last week’s elections, Florida Sen. Mel Martinez appeared ready Monday to become the party’s new general chairman while retaining his Senate seat. Martinez thrust himself into the contentious debate over immigration, helping craft the Senate version of a comprehensive immigration bill that would offer a route to eventual citizenship for longtime illegal residents while requiring others to leave the U.S. Michele Waslin, director of immigration policy at the National Council of La Raza, is hopeful Martinez and his GOP allies will make the right moves. Is the GOP selling-out the Base with pushing an open border agenda? Does anyone think that the GOP lost the election due to the immigration issue? Open Border Chairman Martinez to lead GOP?

The GOP base was sent a shock wave by picking a pro-amnesty Mel Martinez as the Republican Party Chairman. It seems clear now, that President Bush will push his open border agenda with the help of Nancy Pelosi lead Congress. Mel Martinez job will be to control GOP Party decent from Congress, with the promise of new Hispanic voters.

Palm Beach Post

Signaling a new direction for the Republican Party, which had heavy losses in the Hispanic community in last week’s elections, Florida Sen. Mel Martinez appeared ready Monday to become the party’s new general chairman while retaining his Senate seat.

Martinez thrust himself into the contentious debate over immigration, helping craft the Senate version of a comprehensive immigration bill that would offer a route to eventual citizenship for longtime illegal residents while requiring others to leave the U.S.

Michele Waslin, director of immigration policy at the National Council of La Raza, is hopeful Martinez and his GOP allies will make the right moves.

Is the GOP selling-out the Base with pushing an open border agenda? Does anyone think that the GOP lost the election due to the immigration issue?

]]> By: Matt http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1129128 Matt Tue, 14 Nov 2006 02:55:07 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1129128 I'd post the errors in on-screen graphics on Olbermann's show on MSNBC, but nobody watches it anyway. Do you guys really think it's a big deal that some intern/producer idiot made a mistake with the on-screen graphic? If you do, I suggest that you find a more productive way to spend your time. I’d post the errors in on-screen graphics on Olbermann’s show on MSNBC, but nobody watches it anyway. Do you guys really think it’s a big deal that some intern/producer idiot made a mistake with the on-screen graphic? If you do, I suggest that you find a more productive way to spend your time.

]]> By: DarqueWing http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1109152 DarqueWing Fri, 10 Nov 2006 20:33:03 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1109152 Paul - I don't know that this will make anything much better. I'm no Democrat. I was forced, thanks to this useless two-party system, to vote Democrat in order to force out the outrageously corrupt Republican Party. Will the Democrats be better? Probably. For a little while, and then they'll be just as corrupt after a few more years. This moronic cycle keeps our country in thrall while truly important decisions are ignored. My leaders? No, Paul, just the lesser of the two evils that the two-party system requires me to choose. My leaders would be the ones that would spend their careers hunting to extinction the party system in general, so that government can finally proceed with what it was supposed to do - represent the people, instead of itself. So, being that independent, I must sit back, wait, and hope that the equilibrium stays in a sweet spot, where the parties are so hopelessly deadlocked that neither one can pursue their dreams - whether it be the Republicans' corrupt world domination, or the Democrats' insatiable appetite for taxes. Don't mistake me for a partisan hack, Paul. I'm exactly what James Madison had in mind when he told George Clinton, before the Constitution was ratified, that there were too many viewpoints in such a large republic for any political faction to gain too much power. Turns out George Clinton was absolutely right - even more than two centuries later, we're still just as susceptible to the mob mentality that political parties use to manipulate voters. Being inundated with the pervasive message that we must choose one side or the other is not just a logical fallacy, but the most insidious kind of political forgery. As long as this deception continues, and as long as people are consistently distracted, ignorant, or apathetic enough to fall for it, the best that I can hope for is a divided government, one that is shackled by its own clash of party affiliation that it is rendered powerless. THAT is what I voted for, Paul, and that's what I got. Paul – I don’t know that this will make anything much better. I’m no Democrat. I was forced, thanks to this useless two-party system, to vote Democrat in order to force out the outrageously corrupt Republican Party. Will the Democrats be better? Probably. For a little while, and then they’ll be just as corrupt after a few more years. This moronic cycle keeps our country in thrall while truly important decisions are ignored. My leaders? No, Paul, just the lesser of the two evils that the two-party system requires me to choose. My leaders would be the ones that would spend their careers hunting to extinction the party system in general, so that government can finally proceed with what it was supposed to do – represent the people, instead of itself. So, being that independent, I must sit back, wait, and hope that the equilibrium stays in a sweet spot, where the parties are so hopelessly deadlocked that neither one can pursue their dreams – whether it be the Republicans’ corrupt world domination, or the Democrats’ insatiable appetite for taxes. Don’t mistake me for a partisan hack, Paul. I’m exactly what James Madison had in mind when he told George Clinton, before the Constitution was ratified, that there were too many viewpoints in such a large republic for any political faction to gain too much power. Turns out George Clinton was absolutely right – even more than two centuries later, we’re still just as susceptible to the mob mentality that political parties use to manipulate voters. Being inundated with the pervasive message that we must choose one side or the other is not just a logical fallacy, but the most insidious kind of political forgery. As long as this deception continues, and as long as people are consistently distracted, ignorant, or apathetic enough to fall for it, the best that I can hope for is a divided government, one that is shackled by its own clash of party affiliation that it is rendered powerless. THAT is what I voted for, Paul, and that’s what I got.

]]> By: paul http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1107205 paul Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:35:36 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1107205 DarqueWing. I support the new leadership. I believe in the system. I'm happy for you that you believe this change will make things better. I hope they will. I will prepare for this incredible implosion. Here's something you should prepare for. Having you leaders make decisions that are equally unpopular, and then, having noone to blame. DarqueWing. I support the new leadership. I believe in the system. I’m happy for you that you believe this change will make things better. I hope they will. I will prepare for this incredible implosion. Here’s something you should prepare for. Having you leaders make decisions that are equally unpopular, and then, having noone to blame.

]]> By: DarqueWing http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1106722 DarqueWing Fri, 10 Nov 2006 14:03:11 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1106722 Paul wrote: "#94. Juan C. I have been to Buenos Aires, it is beautiful. And there is no debate about the women in Argentina. But, I believe, that what you see as inflamed patriotism is just a reaction to the drumbeat of anti-American sentiment coming from many here. If we were on a site that discussed Argentinian politics, and almost everything posted was about how corrupt the country’s leadership was, how evil it’s corporations were, how terrible its economy was, how ignorant half its population was, how terribly it effected the rest of the world, etc; I believe you may from time to time react to defend the country you love. Paul, if everyone in my country was talking about how corrupt the government was, and actually had the proof... If everyone talked about the brazenness and arrogance of its leadership, and the leaders really were that bad... If half the population thinks that a trained monkey can assume the mantle of leadership despite being unable to speak, read, or write at a high-school level... If my country imbalanced the entire world's geopolitical atmosphere for the sake of oil and their dead god... I wouldn't be angry at the people saying it, Paul. I'd be angry at the people DOING it - the people actually perpetrating the crimes, not just the ones crying foul. In fact, Paul, if my country were that bad, I'd be thinking seriously about revolution. Fortunately, my country isn't that bad anymore. This week, the corruption level of our government just went down a notch. We just got rid of the Republican majority here in the US - isn't that great? Now, it's awfully easy to throw back all those same snide, rude, arrogant comments that we've been pelted with for the past six years as the right wing rose to power and then imploded under the weight of its own malevolence. So easy that a lot of people - like, millions - will gladly do so, so you might want to get ready for that, Paul. Paul wrote: “#94. Juan C. I have been to Buenos Aires, it is beautiful. And there is no debate about the women in Argentina. But, I believe, that what you see as inflamed patriotism is just a reaction to the drumbeat of anti-American sentiment coming from many here. If we were on a site that discussed Argentinian politics, and almost everything posted was about how corrupt the country’s leadership was, how evil it’s corporations were, how terrible its economy was, how ignorant half its population was, how terribly it effected the rest of the world, etc; I believe you may from time to time react to defend the country you love.

Paul, if everyone in my country was talking about how corrupt the government was, and actually had the proof… If everyone talked about the brazenness and arrogance of its leadership, and the leaders really were that bad… If half the population thinks that a trained monkey can assume the mantle of leadership despite being unable to speak, read, or write at a high-school level… If my country imbalanced the entire world’s geopolitical atmosphere for the sake of oil and their dead god… I wouldn’t be angry at the people saying it, Paul. I’d be angry at the people DOING it – the people actually perpetrating the crimes, not just the ones crying foul. In fact, Paul, if my country were that bad, I’d be thinking seriously about revolution. Fortunately, my country isn’t that bad anymore. This week, the corruption level of our government just went down a notch. We just got rid of the Republican majority here in the US – isn’t that great? Now, it’s awfully easy to throw back all those same snide, rude, arrogant comments that we’ve been pelted with for the past six years as the right wing rose to power and then imploded under the weight of its own malevolence. So easy that a lot of people – like, millions – will gladly do so, so you might want to get ready for that, Paul.

]]> By: anonymous http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1102807 anonymous Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:14:10 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1102807 There is no such thing as a "Minority Speaker", as many have already pointed out. There is a Speaker of the House (currently Hastert), there is a Majority Leader (Boehner), Minority Leader (Pelosi), Majority Whip (Blunt), Minority Whip (Hoyer). There is a President Pro Tempore of the Senate (Stevens), Majority Leader (Frist), Majority Whip (McConnell), Minority Leader (Reid), and Minority Whip (Durbin). The specious argument that the Minority Leader "speaks" for the minority means nothing; there are official titles for the leadership in Congress, and Minority Speaker is not, has never been, and will never be one of them. 115: You're expecting Congress to talk about the issues substantively when the elections aren't over yet? How fast do you think they work? There is no such thing as a “Minority Speaker”, as many have already pointed out. There is a Speaker of the House (currently Hastert), there is a Majority Leader (Boehner), Minority Leader (Pelosi), Majority Whip (Blunt), Minority Whip (Hoyer). There is a President Pro Tempore of the Senate (Stevens), Majority Leader (Frist), Majority Whip (McConnell), Minority Leader (Reid), and Minority Whip (Durbin). The specious argument that the Minority Leader “speaks” for the minority means nothing; there are official titles for the leadership in Congress, and Minority Speaker is not, has never been, and will never be one of them.

115: You’re expecting Congress to talk about the issues substantively when the elections aren’t over yet? How fast do you think they work?

]]> By: Hank Essay http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1102499 Hank Essay Thu, 09 Nov 2006 22:09:21 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1102499 Rehthuglican median whoredome is like crack...hard habit to break. Rehthuglican median whoredome is like crack…hard habit to break.

]]> By: Mitch Rapp http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1102166 Mitch Rapp Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:55:34 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1102166 We can just use their own words: Don't like it, leave the country. We can just use their own words: Don’t like it, leave the country.

]]> By: Mitch Rapp http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1102074 Mitch Rapp Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:35:26 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1102074 Man, oh, man! It justs keep gettin' better and better every day. I am surprised the Aruba story is not back on Faux News. Anything to shield the mindless cult followers from the news that once again: America has a Democracy. Man, oh, man! It justs keep gettin’ better and better every day. I am surprised the Aruba story is not back on Faux News. Anything to shield the mindless cult followers from the news that once again: America has a Democracy.

]]> By: paul http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1102026 paul Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:25:22 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1102026 #93 and 113. WisePiper and Richelle and Democrat Soldier. Thanks for adding some reason to the noise, you're the bomb. My mind is open. If I saw a change in the tone and conditions improving, I would admit it, applaud it and jump on board. I am an American first and a Republican second. I am confident politics will evolve to a more civil place, maybe now is the time and Democrats can lead the way. #93 and 113. WisePiper and Richelle and Democrat Soldier. Thanks for adding some reason to the noise, you’re the bomb. My mind is open. If I saw a change in the tone and conditions improving, I would admit it, applaud it and jump on board. I am an American first and a Republican second. I am confident politics will evolve to a more civil place, maybe now is the time and Democrats can lead the way.

]]> By: Leftside Annie http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1101773 Leftside Annie Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:41:00 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1101773 Oh...my...freaking...God. There's a serious case of stupid going on at FAUX. But...we <em><strong>knew </strong></em>that, didn't we? Oh…my…freaking…God. There’s a serious case of stupid going on at FAUX.

But…we knew that, didn’t we?

]]> By: IHL http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1101728 IHL Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:31:49 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1101728 Why don't we just raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour then we all could join the middle class? Why don’t we just raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour then we all could join the middle class?

]]> By: KrankyVet http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1101710 KrankyVet Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:29:19 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1101710 Yesterday afternoon, while trying to find some Va. numbers, I came across some swarmy fool with a glazed look that usually comes from a crack pipe, ranting on Fux Snooze that this was "ONLY A MID TERM ELECTION," and in 2 years we will have a "REAL" election. I wonder what issues are of concern in the State of Denial... Yesterday afternoon, while trying to find some Va. numbers, I came across some swarmy fool with a glazed look that usually comes from a crack pipe, ranting on Fux Snooze that this was “ONLY A MID TERM ELECTION,” and in 2 years we will have a “REAL” election. I wonder what issues are of concern in the State of Denial…

]]> By: magikpowerwoman http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1101651 magikpowerwoman Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:13:17 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1101651 I haven't heard anything from the dems about rolling back the Military Commissions Act (so habeus corpus can live again), or taking away all the powers the prez has decided he above all others has. I mean yes, minimum wage is important but the constitution is much, much more important to us all. Are they too afraid to talk about it? And in all the news coverage of the election no one (not press or candidates) talked about the attack on the constitution. I am breathing again after six years, feeling some ease but also not quite trusting that the dems will do the most important work. I haven’t heard anything from the dems about rolling back the Military Commissions Act (so habeus corpus can live again), or taking away all the powers the prez has decided he above all others has. I mean yes, minimum wage is important but the constitution is much, much more important to us all. Are they too afraid to talk about it? And in all the news coverage of the election no one (not press or candidates) talked about the attack on the constitution. I am breathing again after six years, feeling some ease but also not quite trusting that the dems will do the most important work.

]]> By: Richelle http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1100380 Richelle Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:58:37 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1100380 To IHL, francais and others: What convenient <em>logic. How interesting that Fox News never once referred to Nancy Pelosi as the minority speaker in previous years. They are obviously grasping to comfort their ultra-right, ignorant, deluded, GWB-worshipping viewers.</em> To IHL, francais and others: What convenient logic. How interesting that Fox News never once referred to Nancy Pelosi as the minority speaker in previous years. They are obviously grasping to comfort their ultra-right, ignorant, deluded, GWB-worshipping viewers.

]]> By: Richelle http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1100336 Richelle Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:55:29 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1100336 Hi Paul. I would like to echo Democratic solidier's comment regarding your gracious words and am a bit disturbed to see some of the replies you have received from others. I'm very much hoping that we of the liberal majority can begin immediately to show how much we are not like the conservative minority and try to hold our crowing to a minimum. After all, the Democrats now have Congress, but haven't actually done anything yet. My mood has gone from gleeful celebration to cautious optimism. And we have to remember that there is another election in two years which could again change everything. (god, I hope not) Hi Paul. I would like to echo Democratic solidier’s comment regarding your gracious words and am a bit disturbed to see some of the replies you have received from others. I’m very much hoping that we of the liberal majority can begin immediately to show how much we are not like the conservative minority and try to hold our crowing to a minimum. After all, the Democrats now have Congress, but haven’t actually done anything yet. My mood has gone from gleeful celebration to cautious optimism. And we have to remember that there is another election in two years which could again change everything. (god, I hope not)

]]> By: Bent Corner » Blog Archive » Fox News makes up new position in Congress http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1100037 Bent Corner » Blog Archive » Fox News makes up new position in Congress Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:22:07 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1100037 [...] (photo stolen from Think Progress) Fox News, Minority Speaker, Politics [...] [...] (photo stolen from Think Progress) Fox News, Minority Speaker, Politics [...]

]]> By: IHL http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1099529 IHL Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:19:33 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1099529 The minority leader "speaks" for the minority therefore speaker and leader are in fact interchangeable. Take a logics class you idiots. The minority leader “speaks” for the minority therefore speaker and leader are in fact interchangeable. Take a logics class you idiots.

]]> By: Chris http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1099516 Chris Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:14:06 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1099516 Maybe Denny can be the wrestling coach for the Rethugs. Think of all the good moves Mark Foley taught him. Maybe Denny can be the wrestling coach for the Rethugs. Think of all the good moves Mark Foley taught him.

]]> By: Bretttido http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/comment-page-3/#comment-1099511 Bretttido Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:12:54 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2006/11/08/hastert-minority-speaker/#comment-1099511 Hahahaha, god they are stupid. And no, Minority Speaker is not interchangeable with Minority Leader. There is the House SPEAKER, the MAJORITY LEADER, and the MINORITY LEADER(s). There is only ONE speaker of the house, but there are multiple leaders for each party. Hahahaha, god they are stupid. And no, Minority Speaker is not interchangeable with Minority Leader. There is the House SPEAKER, the MAJORITY LEADER, and the MINORITY LEADER(s). There is only ONE speaker of the house, but there are multiple leaders for each party.

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