GOP scales back tomorrow’s convention plans.
GOP scales back tomorrow’s convention plans.
Today, GOP officials “announced they would hold only essential party business required under its rules on Monday” at their convention in Minnesota. Party officials “have decided that Monday’s session will open at 3 p.m. Central time and probably end at 5 to 5:30 p.m. and will be limited to official business like adopting the platform and electing convention officers.” The New York Times reports on what the media will be doing:
The major television networks are pulling some of their top talent out of Minneapolis, promising to diminish, if not upend, coverage of the convention. Katie Couric will head to the Gulf Coast to open the “CBS Evening News” from there Monday night, instead of from the convention hall as planned. Charles Gibson of ABC News and Brian Williams of NBC News are expected to do the same.
“Nightline” on ABC will also broadcast from the storm area, as will CBS News, a sign that all of the major news programs will be focused on the hurricane zone rather than the convention floor adorned with Mr. McCain’s “country first message.” That will deprive him of the crucial perk of wide television coverage of his message that usually comes with a political convention.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) has also decided not to attend, although it is unrelated to the hurricane; he needs “to deal with a continuing stalemate in Sacramento over the state budget.”
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That an that voting for Obama thing. Oh well. That’s means there will be less Republican convention I am not going to watch.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:32 pmThey can thank Focus on the Family for calling on God to intervene in the election process. It appears that God has a liberal bent. Now if he can some how see clear to spare the Gulf Coast since even FotF excepted hail the size of canned hams
August 31st, 2008 at 8:41 pmNote to the GOP. Having the idiot Bush and the older idiot McCain going to the Gulf Coast only causes problems, traffic jams, and police being forced to handle them being in the area.
Sending your sorry selves there is never going to make up for Katrina and more than 1,000 dead Americans like this is Bangladesh and is completely counter productive. Send FEMA, the National Guard and people who know what they are doing (or at least we hope, seeing FEMA and Heckuvajob Brownie, who knows).
You idiots, however, have proved sufficiently you fail miserably in that regard. Stay home, go cut brush, go read books about goats, call your wife a C__t. Do things you have shown some proficiency in.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:45 pmNo one was going to watch anyway. :D
August 31st, 2008 at 8:49 pmHow much more “scaled back” does it get than a ticket that has Old Man Winter coupled with Mrs Brady on it ?
August 31st, 2008 at 9:07 pmJesus is drawing attention to the sins committed by the republicans. They steal, hire prostitutes, take bribes, have sex in bathrooms, and wear diapers. He is trying to tell them to repent and ask forgiveness for their sins.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:11 pmThe irony here is that Republican religious leaders prayed for heavy rain and thunderstorms in Denver the night Obama was scheduled to speak to spoil the night for him and Democrats,but now the weather seems not to be kind to Republicans.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:12 pmAnother McCain birthday brings another big hurricane to southern United States.
Today, GOP officials “announced they would hold only essential party business required under its rules on Monday” at their convention in Minnesota.
This means only the biggest donors to the party like the oil companies and Blackwarter are being “serviced.”
August 31st, 2008 at 9:24 pmKatie Couric will head to the Gulf Coast to open the “CBS Evening News” from there Monday night
Katie Couric? Katie Couric won’t be there? There goes all of the credibility the convention had as a news event if Katie’s not going to be there! Oh, the humanity!
August 31st, 2008 at 9:26 pmIt’s just like the repugs, they are concerned for the buildings cause anyone with any sense has left NO.
the repugs knew their silly little convention is a bust, let’s see how many repugs show up to his arena. HAHAHAHAHAHA
There is no need to stop their silly little party.
The reason why is what we all know…low turn out.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:28 pmblue state bob. This is the argument that Bush using during Katrina. I don’t think it worked for him.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:41 pmSen John McCain said that this was a time for his fellow Republicans to “take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats.”
So, he admits that Republicans normally don’t wear their American hats. I thought as much.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:42 pmIf Republican’s hold the convention as planned, their criticized for ‘having a party’ while people on the coast are dying. But, if they scale back and focus their resources towards the hurricane threat – it’s using the circumstance to distract from a convention that’s doomed to failure.
Wow, that’s easy. Both ways.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:48 pmI just can’t learn enough, fast enough, about the Bristol Palin’s possible pregnancy resulting in the birth of “Sarah’s son” Trig.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:50 pmAs goes the press, so goes McStain.
PEACE
August 31st, 2008 at 9:50 pmbackup Says:
——————————————————————————–
If Republican’s hold the convention as planned, their criticized for ‘having a party’ while people on the coast are dying. But, if they scale back and focus their resources towards the hurricane threat – it’s using the circumstance to distract from a convention that’s doomed to failure.
Wow, that’s easy. Both ways.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Their “resources” ?
I seriously doubt Big Oil is interested in lending a helping hand …..
August 31st, 2008 at 9:53 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
Sen John McCain said that this was a time for his fellow Republicans to “take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats.”
So, he admits that Republicans normally don’t wear their American hats. I thought as much.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Good catch, Wayne. And good post. :)
August 31st, 2008 at 9:54 pmbackup Says:
——————————————————————————–
Note to the GOP. Having the idiot Bush and the older idiot McCain going to the Gulf Coast only causes problems, traffic jams, and police being forced to handle them being in the area.
blue state bob. This is the argument that Bush using during Katrina. I don’t think it worked for him.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:41 pm Recommend (0)
His personal presence was not the issue, it was the lack of any government resources doing anything, the fact he was at a campaign fundraiser as Americans drown. His sorry ass being there wasn’t the issue, his government ignoring drowning blacks and poor whites was the issue. And that said volumes about his government, the GOP, and those d-bags who support him
August 31st, 2008 at 9:54 pmbackup Says:
Note to the GOP. Having the idiot Bush and the older idiot McCain going to the Gulf Coast only causes problems, traffic jams, and police being forced to handle them being in the area.
blue state bob. This is the argument that Bush using during Katrina. I don’t think it worked for him.
The difference here being, at the time of Katrina, Bush was the… oh, what’s the word… president!
McStain/Palin and Arizon Barbie have no current business in the Gulf States.
But thanks for playing “Dial-A-Rationalization”!
PEACE
August 31st, 2008 at 9:54 pmThere are democrat hats too.
Check out the hat parade:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/politics/chi-080825-democrat-hats-photogallery,0,1185737.photogallery
August 31st, 2008 at 9:59 pmNo it won’t.
The only thing mcchimpy will miss are voters.
He might as well say his lies and hope there isn’t a echo. This is so fake and useless, it crys ENOUGH.!
Please everyone Vote for Obama/Biden 08
I hope they don’t chicken out on the debates. Is mcchimpy going to use the same excuse, out of respect for the hurricane victims?
Let’s halt the Oylmpics…these people are the dumbestasses in the world. HAHAHAHAHAHA
August 31st, 2008 at 10:00 pmspencer’s mom. check out the post again.
He’s talking about Bush and he’s still the President.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:01 pmbackup Says:
There are democrat hats too.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Obtuse much?
August 31st, 2008 at 10:03 pmGOP scaled back convention = Low turn out and low ticket purchase.
The RNC will never top the 84,000 people that heard Obama’s speech and 30 million + viewers that saw Obama’s speech on TV. Despite Hurricane Gustav [and I do pray for those victims], this still doesn’t change the fact that McCain is not fit for President, McCain’s agenda is more of the same, and McCain’s platform is another Bush 3rd term.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:06 pmBackup:
Read my post, having Bush on the ground the day after Katrina would have just made matters worse (police were needed to help the people of New Orleans, not guarding his dumb ass), but he did NOT have FEMA, The National Guard, or any federal resources at all. For a week, people died in the Superdome with no water, food, medical help while he did utter SQUAT. Telling the head of FEMA he was doing a heck of a job.
Bush, McLame and The trophy VP choice will do nothing to help residents after Gustav, having FEMA do their job will. This isn’t hard to understand, at least it shouldn’t be.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:10 pmEven McCain says he might not show up now… That’s pretty amazing, Pres Candidate has to distance himself from himself
August 31st, 2008 at 10:10 pmThese repugs are there for photo-ops PERIOD. It’s their form of a “surge” against Gustav (foreign.)
There isn’t a need for them to be there acting like a swarm of gnats. They are indeed a bunch of idiots.
Let’s see what the repugs will do after the storm. NOT A DAMN THING, as usual. They had 2 yrs to repair NO and nothing. They have over 7 yrs to fix the hole in NY. AND NOTHING!
What a joke! What can they do? Stop the Gustav? Dummies!
I hope their shoddy attempt at caring will backfire big time.
mcchimpy and his simple self is saying we are all Americans. IDIOTS I TELL YOU IDIOTS.
What the African-Americans have to worry about is crossing into racist parrish borders.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:14 pmConsidering the last 8 years, that statement bugs the hell out of me.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:17 pmRepublicans are more concerned with appearing to govern, than they are with actually governing. If they can do as little as possible and still make it look like they were doing all they could, then that is what they’ll do. They don’t care if they’re incompetent, they only care that people think they’re competent. And that’s why people should stop voting for Republicans.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:18 pmrepugs are using we old fashion bs and they are frontin’ big time. they are acting as if Minneapolis is near the gulf.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:21 pmHow Gustav Could Benefit the Republicans
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank/archive/2008/08/31/how-gustav-could-benefit-the-republicans.aspx
August 31st, 2008 at 10:22 pmRats jumping ship?
August 31st, 2008 at 10:37 pmWhen the GOP heads decide to put all the pomp and circumstance in McCain’s acceptance speech from “given area of semi-destruction, but with national guard troops all around him”, they better make sure there is no waterway behind him. It wouldn’t look good to have a dead body float by in a. talking about Iraq, b. talking about McCain’s own age, c. or just any part of the sham that will be this propagandized parade, taking away valuable relief resources for Grandpa’s megalomania.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:37 pmThe GOP convention will continue – and a nominee will be named.
I see this converenge of events (much like those after 9/11) could lead to some unanticipated consequences.
Will Rove somehow seize the convention and get someone other than McCain nominated?
Will President Bush intervene and “delay” the election because the GOP didn’t have appropriate time to get its nominee together?
These are dangerous times.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:48 pmHow can you “scale back” nothing? The scale back will prove to be the best thing that happens to the GOP in the coming weeks–they don’t have to shout out to the world the fact that they really have nothing for America (unless more war, death, torture, and debt are “something”).
August 31st, 2008 at 11:04 pmFirst, I wish this hurricane would harm no one. But then one must see the irony – the Repub right-wing radical evangelicals put out a call, asking right-wing evangelicals to pray for bad weather for the DNC. Maybe those right-wing evangelical prayers are blocked?
August 31st, 2008 at 11:06 pmhow come thinkprogress aint promoting the greatest speech never heard?
August 31st, 2008 at 11:08 pmJohn McCain’s campaign manager today accused Barack Obama of practicing politics as Hurricane Gustav bears down on the Gulf Coast.
Told Obama had criticized McCain and Palin on the campaign trail over pay equity, Davis continued: “So he attacks us while there’s a hurricane going on and John McCain suspends his convention basically. What bigger contrast can you have about putting your country first?”
WTF? Obama and Biden have said NOTHING about McCain’s talk of giving his acceptance speech in N.O. Nothing about McCain’s traveling there and disrupting security and evacuation procedures.
Separately, Obama said he would not go there now so as not to interere with evacuations.
On the campaign trail, Obama and Biden talk about pay equity and they get slammed by McCain’s people.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:12 pmThe media are avoiding reminding people that McCain enjoyed birthday cake with Bush while New Orleans was under water.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:14 pm@Marie:
The Official White House photo is still the first Google hit of “bush mccain cake.”
You’d think they’d try and bury it:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/images/20050829-5_p082905pm-0125-515h.html
August 31st, 2008 at 11:20 pmmarie’s link:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0808/McCain_chief_hits_Obama_for_playing_politics_as_Gustav_looms.html
August 31st, 2008 at 11:24 pmLooks like Fu(kus on the Family had the right idea, just the wrong party that the FSM is pissed at.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:34 pmold hack, it has to do with their non-profit status…
August 31st, 2008 at 11:34 pmDon’t talk to it, RUC. That’s just what it wants you to do. Wily little buggers, them trolls.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:53 pmHmm, at this rate, McAncient and his new sidekick, McMooseKillerGal may not even get nominated until after the November 4th Election… Perfect ending to a truly dismal eight years of Bush-Cheney-Rice-Powell-Rumsfeld-et al-ad nauseum misrule… You don’t need a weatherwoman to know that these strong hurricanes tend just go streaming northward a thousand miles up the Mississippi to St. Paul and then just sit there until the GOP cries, “President Obama” and they all go home…
September 1st, 2008 at 12:18 amI see another angle here too. Has it occurred to anyone that they might want to put some distance between Obama’s acceptance speech and the GOP convention and McLame’s speech? Gustav just gave them an excuse. Putting McCain against Obama’s speech in such a short time would provide too great a contrast.
We don’t even have to hear McCain’s speech to know it won’t match up.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:08 amWhy not just cancel it due to lack of interest?
September 1st, 2008 at 1:15 amGustav and Hanna may indeed help McCain: homeless people can’t vote.
I can see the Republican Party initiate a massive caging scheme immediately after the hurricanes hit, then disenfranchise everyone they possibly can.
And if I can think of it, you can bet Rove already has.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:48 amI wonder if this “Republican Fave” from the 2004 convention in NYC, will be gracing the audience with her presence?
September 1st, 2008 at 7:56 amhttp://www.projo.coblogs/shenews/photos/purpleheart.jpgm/
The address should be:
September 1st, 2008 at 7:58 amhttp://www.projo.com/blogs/shenews/photos/purpleheart.jpg
It appears that Gustav has weakened considerably and damage may not be as bad as feared….guess that means McSame and his Soulmate are in a TV studio in Mississippi filming a disaster scene and using their Bush approved bullhorns for their photo-op of compassion.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:34 amCancel?
These folks aren’t about to lose their deposit on their rooms.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:46 amThey probably wouldn’t have beat the numbers viewing the Dem convention, and they know it.
Even with the evacuation going well this time, Gustav is a constant reminder of Katrina… remember that Bush and McCain celebrated McCain’s birthday, while the poor of Louisiana drowned. To see all those Rebpubs partying again during a hurricane would just be too much.
September 1st, 2008 at 8:46 amSInce the news media will have a day off from covering the republican convention , maybe they should cover this :
September 1st, 2008 at 9:19 amIf mz. palin is saying this was a war for oil than she has admitted unambiguously that the Bush administration has committed a war crime.
Spying on it’s citizenry without a warrant ,
torturing (atleast 108 people ….to death !),
suspending Habeas corpus and posse comitatus ,
collecting a vast data base on it’s citizens (USA today),
opening our mail and packages (Seattle times),
kidnapping ,
employing signing statements inorder to put aside the constitution, (which has been called the greatest threat to our constitutional democracy in a generation by the American Bar Association).
creating it’s own private army (blackwater)to the tune of a billion dollars which has already policed the streets of New Orleans guns drawn on American citizens and operates just outside Washington DC (Democracy Now ).
Establishing a kangaroo court system to try ” enemy combatants” outside the courts and reserving the right to declare American citizens enemies of the state .
threatening Russia militarily by conducting war exercises with the Georgian ’s along the russian border a month before the conflict in ossetia and then delivering so called humanitarian aid to poor Georgia in destroyers off it’s coast(McCain’s neo con warmonger and none dare call it treason by Pat Buchanan )which Putin maintains is to influence the Nov elections.
Threatening to curtail free speech through the so called thought crime bill S1959/HR 1955 which would make it a crime to exercise your right of free speech .
This has all happened before in Germany, Italy, Russia and Chile ! Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it !
Good Morning NANCY PELOSI !
Be careful what you pray for…you may get it!
September 1st, 2008 at 9:39 amold_hack Says:
——————————————————————————–
how come thinkprogress aint promoting the greatest speech never heard?=============================================================
There will be others. It was not the first and it will not be the last. Why do trolls act so ignorant?
September 1st, 2008 at 9:45 amSo the Republicans thought that maybe this hurricane could work to their advantage and now it’s down graded to a Cat 2 storm and won’t be as damaging as Katrina. Seems nothing is going their way! At least Bush and Cheney were canceled, that should help them out.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:53 amHmmmm. Looks like TP is taking the holiday off so let’s start a little game on this thread.
The RNC is reprogramming its funeral — er, convention. One of the replacement acts is going to be LaLa Bu$h and Cindy McBimbo describing how to help Gustav victims. I am surprised that they didn’t ask Babsy Bu$h to join them because she demonstrated so much compassion for the Katrina victims (sarcasm off).
This leads me to think about some of the other replacement acts that the republican’ts could line up to fill the dead air zone that is developing in St. Paul.
There are so many creative people here that I think we should generate a list and send it off to McNumbNuts’ campaign manager. You know — a gesture of good will. I will start out the process with a couple:
1. Donny RumsFailed — how to run a successful war and occupation and win the heart and minds of an Arab country
2. Michael Brown — effective emergency response and management
3. Britty Hume — how to be “fair, balanced and unafraid” in this era of bitter partisanship
4. John (”Got Milk?”) Bolton — how to win friends and influence enemies
5. John AssCrack — how to run a Congressional campaign against a dead guy
The republican’ts have so many “experts” on a wide variety of topics. I am sure they can come up with an interesting alternate schedule.
6.
September 1st, 2008 at 9:58 amLOL Tom, I’ll play:
6. Craig – Best pickup moves (special telegram note from Condi Rice on buying shoes that say ‘yes’)
7. John Bolton (round 2) – how to influence friends and win enemies.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:03 amwhat i don’t get is, this is the NATIONAL repug convention…
don’t ALL those delegates have an obligation to their party and country to have a convention and spell out their priorities?
this hurricane is just an excuse… can’t say as i blame them…
it would probably look rather anemic following the dems…
dobson didn’t guess that those prayers for rain would turn into a “small favor” for the goopers…
it’s great though, that even while trying to avoid another katrina catastrophe, that is still brought up every time as an explanation…
September 1st, 2008 at 10:05 am7. John Bolton (round 2) – how to influence friends and win enemies.
While I appreciate the intent of this suggestion, it doesn’t hold the irony that we are seeking because it is something that Bolton is actually good at.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:05 am8. Dana Perino – From the Press Secretary – How to Press grapes for the best whine.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:06 am8. Dana Perino – From the Press Secretary – How to Press grapes for the best whine.
Excellent! Here we go. Perhaps Dana Bimborino could have a second presentation as well. Maybe even a panel discussion with Ari and Scott on how to conduct a factual and straightforward press conference.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:08 amtom Says:
7. John Bolton (round 2) – how to influence friends and win enemies.
While I appreciate the intent of this suggestion, it doesn’t hold the irony that we are seeking because it is something that Bolton is actually good at.
Damn, sorry. Just got up. Although I can’t promise to have any better ones – way too much pressure on a holiday!
September 1st, 2008 at 10:09 am9. colan powell-How to sell a war to the world. Facts are important.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:13 am10. Dobson – Biblical passages to avoid and facts about religion to deny, deny, deny
Tom, great game. I’m going for a hike but look forward to reading later on. Cheers.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:19 amI think the republican position in the US now is funny. I see them as having every advantage right now and they still can’t move away from Obama on the polls.
Every main stream media channel is of course moved on from the dem convention as they were instructed to do. No democrats on any of the news stories, only cindy singing the praises of palin…..
They managed to in effect, cancel their failed convention and still they can’t get ahead in any polls, even their own.
When their failed convention time period is over the adds will start flying and Obama will bury mccain. It will be over soon I predict.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:22 am11 palin-How to be for energy solutions by backing big oil
September 1st, 2008 at 10:26 amI think they are still going to have a convention, they will do the roll call nominate McCain, but they won’t have all the pomp and speeches that would normally go with a convention. Bush and Cheney won’t speak. They will do the absolute bare minimum and call it good.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am12- Tom Foley on how to win the vote of the younger generation.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:30 amHow about a little musical entertainment from Limbaugh, Beck, & Savage-Weiner?
They could bill themselves as “The Three Castrati – It Ain’t Over ‘Til the Fat Boys Squeal…”
September 1st, 2008 at 10:31 amKrazny Says:
It’s the one thing the republicans are good at, lowering expectations.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:32 am12:
September 1st, 2008 at 10:33 amRomney reviews sleeper films including 1987’s forgotten “Stepford Children” and 1996’s oft overlooked “Stepford Husbands”
Way to go, team. Keep up the good work. I will start compiling this list and email it to Rick Davis. I am sure that he will appreciate our efforts as he struggles to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear with this funeral — er, convention — thing. But, then, he is an expert at such things. After all, he’s McNumbNuts’ campaign manager and has lots of experience at putting lipstick on that pig.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:37 amLowering expectations?
Shi-ite… the GOOP has buried them alive at this point.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:37 amDoes it seem at all relevant at this time to ask if those who died in the service of our country made the ultimate sacrifice only to see their grandchildren surrender their constitutional rights without a fight because the neocons yelled boo and invoked boogie man?
September 1st, 2008 at 10:38 amAfter the sacrifices of generations of Americans and directly after 911 ,Bu$h got up on national television and told the American public to do their part in the war on terror by shopping at the mall and booking that trip to Disneyland .
Have we really become such a nation of cowards ?
The great generation’s sacrifice has appaerntly been for nothing !
September 1st, 2008 at 10:40 amIt’s too bad that GDumbya and Darth Cheney won’t be attending. Here are a couple topics for them:
GDumbya — how to recover from alcohol and drug addiction to become a popular and highly successful president
Darth Cheney — proper shotgun handling and tips on safe hunting techniques
September 1st, 2008 at 10:41 amIt’s memorial day but we’ve forgotten .
September 1st, 2008 at 10:43 amIt’s memorial day but we’ve forgotten .
It’s Labor Day.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:43 amprobably.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:44 amHey I can’t even remember my own kids birthdays .
September 1st, 2008 at 10:45 amWhoa some sort of wrinkle in the holiday time space continuum…
September 1st, 2008 at 10:46 amThis is not a new phenomena. If you are a union member through the last 20 years you have watched as your union has ratified contracts with things in them that the previous generation had sacrificed and fought to get.
The mentality of I have a job and if you don’t then it’s your problem has creeped into our unions.
What is a union with a no strike clause? Most contain this inoculous statment now.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:46 amLOL !!!
September 1st, 2008 at 10:46 amFred ,
September 1st, 2008 at 10:49 amEugene V.debbs ….. is still in jail.
dbadass Says:
——————————————————————————–
Whoa some sort of wrinkle in the holiday time space continuum
September 1st, 2008 at 10:50 am….. man , it’s a can of worm holes……. more coffee….
Hey Tom…
The NY Times is playing your game too!!
Check this out over at their website:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/09/01/opinion/20080901_opart.html
September 1st, 2008 at 10:51 amEugene Debbs, Samual Gompers, Bill Haywood, Joe Hill, all men who died or were imprisoned by big business while fighting for workmens rights. We have no such leadership in labor today, sadly.
The 14 Defining Characteristics Of Fascism
10. Labor Power is Suppressed – Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.
September 1st, 2008 at 10:56 amYou all did hear that Cindy McCain also lauded Palin’s foreign policy experience because of the proximity of Alaska to Russia.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:01 amIt’s hard not to laugh out loud at that one – as many did when Steve Doofus said it the other day — Cindy must have been watching.
Hey RofS, thanks for posting that. Hilarious! We need to take that effort on as a challenge to top the NYT effort. Come on, guys and gals!
September 1st, 2008 at 11:03 amMarie Says:
Cindy must have been watching…
_______
While drinking…
September 1st, 2008 at 11:07 amUnions ……the folks who brought you the weekend .
September 1st, 2008 at 11:10 amBasic rights are hard won . The shipping of jobs to countries overseas without a living wage or basic worker protections or pollution laws shows that most Corporations are all too willing to roll the clock back a hundred years .
A fair wage for a fair days work is under assault as are the rights of all ,outside a small club , who can murder millions to advance their economic strategies with impunity.
Take this job and ship it by Byron Dorgan is a quick and terrible read .
Good morning wallmart.
Looks to me like the GOP is glad to have any excuse NOT to have Dubya and Darth appear.
I hear that Palin is also an expert in oceanography because she lived near the ocean.
Fred, you always hear conservatives compare labor unions to Nazis and fascists, when they are the opposite.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:12 amPalin looks a lot like bush did in 2000, which is why she should not be taken lightly.
I was encouraged a while back that there were no direct representations of Big Oil in any of the candidates. Now we see they are powerful enough to influence that selection. Out of all the female republicans, they chose a drilling queen. From what I’ve seen, she’s implying that taking away gov’t restrictions on Alaska will totally alleviate dependance on foriegn oil.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:12 amNo contract in 4 years now but it is illegal for me to strike. So it goes. Happy Labor Day
September 1st, 2008 at 11:15 amsurprised “drilling queen” got past the censors
September 1st, 2008 at 11:15 amJust don’t “anole eyes” the drilling queen…
September 1st, 2008 at 11:21 amquess I had better tell my 9 year old daughter to go in the kitchen now and have her breakfast , she is a little too young to be watching me blog apparently.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:24 amPerhaps she’d enjoy making a chain of colored pipecleaners to hang across he bed and tying pieces of colored ribbon to the pulls of her bureau. That’s what mine are doing… Later on I am gonna have them employ their little hands to weave me a carpet or something. They don’t call it Labor Day for nothing…
September 1st, 2008 at 11:29 amI retired from a construction union early because I eventually became experienced enough to be involved in the running of the jobs…..I found that instead of sending out the next man on the list that the so called union reps would send a list of the names of the men who were out of work to the contractor and they selected who they wanted.
This sounds inoculous at first glance but name calling through a union is a disaster for unions. What happens to the older members just for an example……they are never selected to work. The contractors want young, able and ignorant….just do what we tell you and don’t worry about quality or equality. And it has worked for them.
Unions like this are not unions at all, they are hiring halls for companies and operate at the behest of the companies instead of the membership.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:30 amDon’t worry dbadass , even as we speak walmart has the little brats in India and China doing it for next to nothing so yours won’t have too.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:34 amFred ,
September 1st, 2008 at 11:42 amjust do what we tell you and don’t worry …
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this has worked for government , church , and political parties for centuries . We the peoples ARE the real power but we have been endlessly brainwashed to believe in the myth of , I’m just one person what can I do .
The blogosphere is living proof what the little man can do .
I am essentially of the opinion that when we regain our sense of autonomy ( The spiritual man ) there is virtually nothing we cannot do !
Tom, I’m late to the party, not sure what number we’re up to, but here are some speakers/topics:
Mitt Romney – how to take the family pet on vacation without inconveniencing the family
Cindy McStain/Laura Bush – Resurrecting the “Just Say No” campaign
Jack Abramoff (via satellite) – Why America needs to lobby for prison reform
Duke Cunningham (also via satellite) – How to name a boat to avoid tipping off the Feds
James Dobson – Kicks off the “God Needs More Lobbyists” telethon, announces “800″ number and credit cards accepted
Karl Rove – Why Fiction is Stranger Than Truth, Trust Me
And finally, for the entertainment:
Carol McCain – Sings “Stand By Your Man (and His New Bimbo)”
PEACE
September 1st, 2008 at 11:42 amOh heres one for you in the last week I have recieved 3 packages through UPS , all of which have been opened and sloppily taped back together .
September 1st, 2008 at 11:44 amJust because your paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t watching you !
That was ,I meant to say ,3 packages arriving at seperate times over the last 2 weeks .The national UPS office connected me to the local branch who promised to call back last friday ,which they never did.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:47 amThe delivery guy told me he had informed the local branch and believed that they must have opened the third one themselves … but as yet there is no confirmation of this .
September 1st, 2008 at 11:48 amI still want to see the W tribute film so I can relive the glorious last 8 years. Let’s see the raising of the flag at the 9/11 tragedy…..and what else? Well, I’m serious, what else?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:50 amIt is so interesting to see how they become soooo Humanistic in the election year and then go back to DC to vote for big business, and block legislation that might benefit people.
I quess since have nothing to hide I shouldn’t be worried aye ? Maybe the ACLU can lend me a lawyer .
September 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am10. George Bush, how to show up three years late for the wrong hurrican.
11. Dick Cheney, how to avoid getting booed by your own party by cancelling convention.
September 1st, 2008 at 11:52 amI skype and call Europe and Chile on a weekly basis maybe they don’t like my mother in law ?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:53 amAccording to Naomi Wolf next on the bill is most likely catch and release. s1959/hr1955 if passed would make most of us thought criminals !
September 1st, 2008 at 11:57 amPlease tell the democrats to stand up for the constitution !
September 1st, 2008 at 11:58 amFred, a union is only as strong as it’s members. In Chicago where the electricians, iron workers, carpenters, elevator constructors and more attend every union meeting they are unbelievably equitable and fair to all their members. The unions here with members who don’t go to meetings are weaker.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:02 pmThis is serious stuff folks , make no mistake , these people are dangerous, they have already killed a cool million.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:05 pm12. No speeches on Monday, don’t want to mention LABOR Day. Cheney’s “Didn’t we get rid of LABOR” speech canceled when crates of tomatoes started arriving in Minneapolis.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:06 pmbackup Says:
Note to the GOP. Having the idiot Bush and the older idiot McCain going to the Gulf Coast only causes problems, traffic jams, and police being forced to handle them being in the area.
blue state bob. This is the argument that Bush using during Katrina. I don’t think it worked for him.
I guess you are forgetting that Bush is the President and it was his job to be there. He has the power to make things happen. McBush, on the other hand, is not the President and has no power at all. His being there is nothing other than a photo op and a nuisance to the people who have a job to do.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:08 pmShayne Says:
You of course are not defending the devastation that has been leveled at unions in America since Raygun. You surely don’t believe that what you say is predominant in unions in America.
We went from nealy half of American workforces being union to less than 10%. How can you pick one or two unions in America that are doing ok and use that to imply that unions are doing fine in this country if they would just attend meetings?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:09 pmShayne Says:
Another thing Shayne, even if they are getting equitable pay, if they have a no-strike clause and/or call by name then what you say only applies to those who get called and if you have a no-strike clause you can’t legitimatly bargain for anything further than what the contractors are willing to give, period.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pmFred Says:
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dbadass Says:
No contract in 4 years now but it is illegal for me to strike. So it goes. Happy Labor Day
I retired from a construction union early because I eventually became experienced enough to be involved in the running of the jobs…..I found that instead of sending out the next man on the list that the so called union reps would send a list of the names of the men who were out of work to the contractor and they selected who they wanted.
This sounds inoculous at first glance but name calling through a union is a disaster for unions. What happens to the older members just for an example……they are never selected to work. The contractors want young, able and ignorant….just do what we tell you and don’t worry about quality or equality. And it has worked for them.
Unions like this are not unions at all, they are hiring halls for companies and operate at the behest of the companies instead of the membership.
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I agree that is outrageous. I have been a UTU member for more than thirty years. If they ever call the guy behind me for a job that should have been mine even if it only puts me out thirty minutes later they pay me an extra day. Allowing that kind of shenanagans should be anathema to ANY union.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:14 pmI probably should have noted that the conditions which make it illegal for me to strike are in the form of state legislation and not the product of any contract negotiated clause.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:17 pmI have no way of knowing if this is due to thieves along the line at UPS or not but it 3 times in a row , which is very strange and according to UPS national office an anomaly , as they do randomly open packages but the chances of it happening 3 times ?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:17 pmMakes me wonder if I should buy a lottery ticket.
Debbs ,your out of jail !
September 1st, 2008 at 12:19 pmA freeman !
September 1st, 2008 at 12:24 pmYou’re right Fred I wasn’t implying that other unions have the same ability to stay strong. I’m talking about in Chicago and I’m talking about the construction unions where there is an enormous amount of high rise construction still going on. Those workers go to meetings to make sure the discrepancies you are talking about don’t take place. And it’s not a “right to work” state where they have to allow anybody who shows up to work although I’d feel sorry for anybody who did.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:31 pmdbadass, do you have a Republican governor?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:33 pmQuess I’m just no fun at a party any more .
September 1st, 2008 at 12:35 pmHave you considered dancing on the bar with a lampshade upon your head in some condition of undress?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:41 pmOr maybe dancing on the bar in a dress. Republicans love it when men do that.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:42 pmWhat kind of work do you do that would be so vital to the community that would justify legislation like this?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:49 pmEducation. Apparantly it isn’t so vital other than making sure the other workers aren’t inconvenienced by a lack of Monday-Friday child care.
September 1st, 2008 at 12:53 pmThat is outrageous….another question if you don’t mind, does it apply to all unions in your state or just educators?
Without an ability to strike you are just a group of beggars, no?
September 1st, 2008 at 12:57 pmCNN/Opinion Research Corporation Poll. Aug. 29-31, 2008. N=927 registered voters nationwide. MoE ± 3 (for all registered voters).
“Based on what you know about Sarah Palin, do you think she is qualified to serve as president if it becomes necessary, or not?”
8/29-31/08
Qualified: 45%
Not Qualified: 50%
Unsure: 5%
September 1st, 2008 at 1:03 pmI am not sure how it works for other civil servants. Of course it makes us beggars and breaks the funds of the union if they actually do it since judges can fine the union massively for each day the schools are closed which scares locals into not breaking the law even if they are willing to have their sorry asses put in jail till shit is resolved. Like most folks, teachers aren’t usually in a position to up and leave their homes, relocate their kids, etc just to go find a new job so they are forced to put up with the bullshit. I also live in a state which thinks it is cool to pretend to run a 21st century state with a 19th century tax code. The affluent here just put their kids in private schools that they drop the name of at social functions
September 1st, 2008 at 1:07 pmST. PAUL, Minn. – John McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, an announcement aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin’s youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter’s.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:41 pmAfter 8 years of lies, deceit, stolen elections, loss of civil liberties, failed wars, and economic downturn, the republican party’s convention got rained on! These idiots shouldn’t even be around for all I care.
September 1st, 2008 at 1:46 pmST. PAUL, Minn. – John McCain’s running mate Sarah Palin said Monday that her 17-year-old unmarried daughter is five months pregnant, an announcement aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin’s youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter’s.
You mean she is pregnant again? So much for abstinence only!
September 1st, 2008 at 4:14 pm