‘What Up?’ RNC changes the name of widely mocked blog to ‘Change the Game,’ ditches floating Steele character.
‘What Up?’ RNC changes the name of widely mocked blog to ‘Change the Game,’ ditches floating Steele character.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) had a rough day yesterday as it tried to launch the new GOP.com. Visitors noticed telling gaps on the site (such as an empty “Future Leaders” section), significant distortions (like naming baseball legend and registered independent Jackie Robinson a “great Republican“), the accidental disclosure of RNC passwords and files, and constant outages. But one of the most widely mocked parts of the site was Chairman Michael Steele’s blog called “What Up?”
After facing a day of ridicule, the RNC has quietly switched the name of the blog to “Change the Game.” It also ditched the floating Steele figure that would start walking and talking onto your screen. Robinson, however, is still listed as a Republican, and there are still no GOP accomplishments listed after 2004. Despite yesterday’s missteps, Steele said that he was happy about yesterday’s roll-out — especially when the site crashed and no one could access it. “This thing has exploded off the blocks,” Steele insisted. “It’s a good thing when you get another email from [RNC New Media Director Todd Herman] saying, ‘It’s down again.’” Hot Air’s Allahpundit disagreed, however, noting the universal ridicule the site engendered yesterday: “Way to score an own goal, pal, completely needlessly and amateurishly.”
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Forest had it right – “Stupid is as stupid does”!
October 14th, 2009 at 9:51 amTomorrow, Steele’s blog will be called “The View from Uncle Tom’s Cabin”.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:52 am‘Change the Game,’
When you can’t win, this is what you do.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:53 amWhat a disgrace these people are. I’m sorry, but they’re just not cool and never will be.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:56 amGOP Desperation – goes good with strong coffee for breakfast.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:57 am“What up”????
October 14th, 2009 at 9:58 amI thought the Republicans wanted America to be “English only” so why is Steele embracing Ebonics?
i won’t go there, but in several reports about this site,
i’ve noticed only 4 different pics in the GOP logo…
all white, except for one, which was a historical picture of
a black man, not sure which…
just an observation…
October 14th, 2009 at 10:00 amAt long last! Our troops are out of Iraw!
Unfortunately, the GOP got our troops bogged down in Iraq. Also, they really shouldn’t be boasting about “liberating” 23 million people in Iraq…considering the country had a pre-war population of 35 million.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:00 am‘Change the Game,’
To bad i see they still think this is a game.
shaking my head, i would not call it a game as much as it seems to be. But it like to thing its about life, liberty and the pursue of happiness.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:01 amDear Mr. Steele,
“Ebonics” is not a recognized language or dialect and your white republican colleagues certainly don’t speak it so stop trying to act cool when you’re really the fool.
Such a tool
Plays the fool
Acts real cool
Go back to school
Learn the rules
Ooops forgot, changing the rules is the only way they can try to compete.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:02 amNow, knowing how Republicans, they’ll deny the name of the blog was ever What Up.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:05 amSaw a blog post on the site that was supposedly by Sarah Palin complaining about the death panels, another poster accused the Palin poster as being a fake.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:11 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
‘What’s up’? Does Steele honestly think by acting ‘hip’ he will attract younger people and minority voters? After a Summer of ‘Birthers’ and ‘Tea-baggers’ and ‘912ers’? Time and time again we have witnessed older whites screaming at politicians, mocking people, even heckling a woman in a wheelchair! Sorry Mr. Steele. No matter what you call your ‘Blog’, young people are smarter than what you give them credit for.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:13 amaaronk, huh?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:13 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
huh?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:17 amany trolls on this post?
what up?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:21 amDid they take the admin passwords down?
Honestly I’m surprised the thing didn’t get hacked out of existence.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:22 amjust aaronk trying to pretend that republics have values that will benifit minorities.
what up indeed.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:23 amAbsolutely awful information architecture design. Half of every screen is wasted by “RED!”, I don’t know what half of the sections mean based on the title in the menu section (”Stomping Grounds? Say it Loud?”)… it’s poor.
Anyone want to tell me why the Discuss > Co-Blog menu option goes to a URL of http://www.gop.com/index.php/rnc_women/? Really? You were going to have a section to specifically call out RNC Women? But then you changed the name to Co-Blog? What’s Co-Blog even mean?
I hope Michael Steele is the RNC chairman for the next 10 years. He’s the gift that keeps giving.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:26 amDoes Steele’s flame out suprise anyone? Every task he has been given, he has failed miserably. We kinda saw this coming.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:27 amIt also ditched the floating Steele figure that would start walking and talking onto your screen.
____________
Awwwww, that was the best part! I was hoping they’d release a downloadable Clippy Steele who’d sit on your desktop and interrupt you with helpful conservative-friendly hints:
RIP Clippy Steele – 2009-2009
October 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am“This thing has exploded
off the blocksbadly ,” Steele insisted.It then came crashing back to Earth, where it burned completely, leaving no survivors. In lieu of flowers, please send cash to…
October 14th, 2009 at 10:28 amOh yeah, dem Repubs they be da man! They be da man!!!
/snark
They’re about as cool as toejam.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:28 amMy guess is the GOP website is still doing better than ThinkProgress Watch or Olbermann Watch ever did.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:29 amCan I make a suggestion…that people stop using the term “Republics” to refer to the GOP?
Yeah, yeah. The term “Democrat” is supposed to be derisive. It’s like 4th grade name calling. It sounds so derisive because of phonetics, not necessarily connotation. Trying to get even by referring to republic senators just doesn’t have the same ring.
There are plenty of other nifty terms; I prefer Confederates.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:30 amthat’s self inflicted too.
man, that’s gotta hurt.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:30 amMan, that was hilarious.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:31 amIn addition to being a dentist/lawyer/real estate agent/spy/international punch line, perhaps Orly Taitz also designs websites on the side…
Just a thought…
October 14th, 2009 at 10:31 amthe accidental disclosure of RNC passwords and files,
Does this mean we can finally see Karl Rove’s emails?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:31 amEnnuiDivine says:
There are plenty of other nifty terms; I prefer Confederates.
___________
Freakin’ morons?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:32 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Makes me think of Nixon going on “Laugh-In”. I’m sure he thought at the time that he was in with the cool crowd.
The modern-day equivalent is Bill Kristol’s insistence on serving as Jon Stewart’s punching bag.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:34 amya know, aaronk @13 was a reasonable post…
why discourage the education with reflexive down votes…
i appreciate the glimpses of occasional (R) sanity…
just sayin’…
October 14th, 2009 at 10:34 amThat list of GOP “accomplishments” is hilarious
“Look! We arent bigots! The Democrats are the bigots!”
Yes I remember those bigoted Southern Democrats. What ever happened to them..? Oh yes they re Republicans now!
October 14th, 2009 at 10:36 amaaronk sez:
“not sure about “Republicans” because I don’t associate a set of values with the party…”
______________
Sooooooo… you’re basically saying… that Repubs have NO values?
We already knew that, aaron.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:36 amIt’s easy to predict which threads the trolls will avoid like the plague. More and more, the Republican leadership is embarassing even their trolls.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:36 amI think the concept of personal responsibility is a conservative value…
___________
It’s a concept, and not “a conservative value”.
To label it as such is a bit self-serving.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:38 amchiroptera toasterhead says
October 14th, 2009 at 10:27 am
_____________________________________________________________
Thanks, toasterhead — that’s the best laugh I’ve had so far today!
P.S. You owe me a new Diet Pepsi. And a clean keyboard.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:38 amThese folks have admittedly, intentionally and systematically disenfranchised millions of black voters for decades. Now, Steele wants them to think that Republicans are hip?
Give it a rest Michael.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:40 amBecause at heart, Republican leadership doesn’t respect minorities or their ability to make judgments about their political well-being. They take minority support for the Democrats as evidence of this. So their natural reaction is to ascribe said support to a “cult of personality” or to an inherent inability to see all the wonderful things the modern Republican Party has done for them (see: votes against anti-discrimination laws, Southern Strategy).
That’s why.
Or maybe it’s because the Republican leadership recognizes that they really don’t have anything to offer minorities, so they have to try to sell the sizzle rather than the steak.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:40 amLaszlo Panaflex says:
Honestly I’m surprised the thing didn’t get hacked out of existence.
_____________
Perhaps anyone who went there intending to hack the site quickly realized they were all busy falling on their own swords, so to speak, and just left feeling sorry for them or laughing their heads off…
October 14th, 2009 at 10:40 amaaronk says:
I think the concept of personal responsibility is a conservative value that benefits all portions of society, including minorities. Would you disagree with that?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:33 am
____________
No, not at all. I’d love to see people like Mark Sanford and John Ensign and Larry Craig and David Vitter take more personal responsibility for their actions. It’s so nice when people lead by example, isn’t it?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:40 amI always forget about aaronk. He is the only troll who has no shame whatsoever about his embarrassing Republican leadership.
What is so diverse about a party of white guys who want tax cuts?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:41 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
Laszlo Panaflex says:
Honestly I’m surprised the thing didn’t get hacked out of existence.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:22 am
____________
Well, it’s not like hackers would get anything of value out of it. The only thing they could do is deface the site with really embarassing stuff, and the GOP was way ahead of them on that front. The hackers probably all figured someone else got to it first.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:43 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
OH, you want me to treat them with respect. not happening.
I guess you think that if we show them respect that they will return the favor?
I’m sorry, you are free to feel that way if you want but I’m not going to comply. It’s their turn to show good faith, not mine.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:44 amDidn’t the cut in the Estate Tax help any?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:45 amaawrong says: “…personal responsibility is a conservative value…”
Personal responsibility is as much a true part of conservatism these days as the canard “compassionate conservatism”
Nice labels, unfortunately they are just that…labels.
Maybe they should practice said personal responsibility instead of gleefully abusing their own special brand of corporate socialism. Most Red States enjoy more Govt money coming in than goes out of their states in tax revenues. Repub backed corporations and indusrties enjoy their own handouts in the form of uneccessary over the top tax breaks. Conservatives (the wealthy ones anyway) also enjoy their own socialistic tax code in which they pay a much lower percentage of their income in taxes (the ones that pay taxes at least) than practically any other time in US history. Where is this conservative responsibility that you talk about aaronk?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:46 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
aaronk says:
It’s actions, not party letter that matter.
__________
True… and if you really, really believe that, and ACTUALLY act accordingly, you have NO NEED to call yourself a Republican, or a Democrat, or a Conservative, or a Liberal. NONE WHATSOEVER.
What ever values you choose to infuse your life w/ NEVER exist in titles. They only exist in the actions you choose to take. Taking on a name for name’s sake is like feeling a need to wear Nikes or Ralph Lauren for the sake of the label.
Soooooooo… why do YOU feel compelled to label yourself a ‘conservative”?
October 14th, 2009 at 10:47 amMy nomination for understatement of the year.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:48 amaaronk sez:
I could stereotype dems in a similar manner and say “what’s so diverse about a bunch of hippies want to sit at home and suck on the nipple of hard working Americans”. Would that be fair?
______________
I don’t know if it’d be fair, but it sure would be silly, and DEFINITELY get you laughed at endlessly. Try again…
October 14th, 2009 at 10:49 amor fiscal conservative…..
or inclusive party, etc.
reminds me of all of thier initiatives, like the clean air act which was no such thing.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:49 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
The difference you willfully ignore is truth.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:51 amI don’t know about fair, but it would be really stupid.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:51 amFor someone who denies being a Republican, aaronk sure does spend a lot of time defending the Republican Party.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:52 amaaronk says
October 14th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I think the concept of personal responsibility is a conservative value that benefits all portions of society, including minorities. Would you disagree with that?
____________________________________________________________
In the first place, I agree with ROS that personal responsibility is more of a concept than a value. But if we look at it as a value, why would it necessarily be a conservative one? Liberals aren’t against personal responsibility, Progressives aren’t against personal responsibility, Democrats aren’t against personal responsibility, minorities aren’t against personal responsibility — in fact, I’m really hard-pressed to find ANY group of people who are against personal responsibility (Well, OK — maybe trust fund babies). Trying to grab personal responsiblity as an exclusive “value” for the conservative side is a bit like grabbing patriotism as an exclusive value. It doesn’t work.
Of course, we have to remember that to the right wingers, the term “personal responsibility” is just code for “I got mine”, “Poor people choose to be poor”, and other memes that suggest people who need help deserve to be stomped on.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:52 amanother republic lie. prove it.
you just saying it means nothing. You trying to prove it will be entertaining to say the least.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:53 amHence, the utter futility of aaronk trying to be taken seriously here.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:53 amA Patriot Acting says:
Personal responsibility is as much a true part of conservatism these days as the canard “compassionate conservatism”
October 14th, 2009 at 10:46 am
___________
It’s also a bit of an oxymoron. How can personal responsibility be a public policy? It’s personal, hence the name. It’s not government policy – it’s irrelevant to government.
A political party basing its platform on personal responsibility makes as much sense as basing a platform on oxygen-breathing or heliocentrism.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:55 ammissmolly hits the nail on the head with her velvet hammer, once more.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:55 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
prove it!
October 14th, 2009 at 10:59 amaaronk, quit trying to redefine republics. They have done a good job of outlining what they stand for by their actions.
prove your lie.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:01 am1. The poor have too much money.
2. The rich don’t have enough.
3. All fetuses are sacred, but minority babies can go to hell.
4. Government can’t do anything right, and we will prove it.
5. War is fun and profitable.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:05 am“This thing has exploded off the blocks,” Steele insisted. “It’s a good thing when you get another email from [RNC New Media Director Todd Herman] saying, ‘It’s down again.’”
Amazing.
With this attitude, Steele would have been the perfect spokesman for the Hindenburg just after their little landing problem at Lakehurst, New Jersey.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:06 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
aaronk says:
Individual responsibility, small limited government, liberty, & freedom are concepts that I consider conservative.
October 14th, 2009 at 10:56 am
______________
What a ridiculously meaningless statement.
Individual responsibility, small limited government, liberty, and freedom are concepts that I consider liberal.
Of course, we may differ on the details – what exactly we define as small limited government, how individual responsibility applies to corporations and consumers, and the role policy plays in protecting liberty and freedom as well as preventing one’s liberty and freedom from encroaching on the liberty and freedom of others. But fundamentally we have the same values. It’s utter bullshit for conservatives to adopt “freedom” and “liberty” as values, with the implicit assumption that liberals are by default anti-freedom and anti-liberty.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:08 amTired of being lied to says:
Is steele really bagdad bob?
October 14th, 2009 at 11:08 amWell, that was clearly the fault of incompetent union labor. And who pays the price? The airship company!
October 14th, 2009 at 11:09 amSo you can’t prove it and you are now admitting to just making stuff up again to try to make your point?
We know you lie. It’s been proven. You just proved it again.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:10 amI don’t think we can pick & chose our liberties.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:10 am–
You have to first define “liberties”
They’ve also added some white guys to the “GOP Faces.”
October 14th, 2009 at 11:11 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
aaronk, I’m sorry for busting your chops but you continue to come here and pretend to want a rational discussion and yet you still throw crud out there and pretend it’s true when it’s not.
If you want to be taken seriously you have to think about what you say before you post it or retract it when you find you’ve made a mistake.
Didn’t your mother ever warn you about the dangers of telling fibs?
So that is the rock you have chosen to crawl under? Really? That’s your defense of your statement? Sad and pathetic.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:17 amso… aaronk… before the income tax, how did the government raise revenue?
Any ideas?
How great a share of that method of taxation would have fallen on the wealthy?
Sheesh.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:20 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
I turn Flash off on my main browser and the GOP site is a complete disaster. There are no warnings about Flash being off, no alternate content, just vast empty stretches of screen. The DNC site in contrast seems to work fine without Flash, sans movies of course.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:22 amRalph, it’s even more pathetic than that. aaronk uses an example of when no one was paying taxes to make his point.
It’s like saying conservatives freed the slaves.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:23 amWhat up?
October 14th, 2009 at 11:24 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
aaronk, why don’t you just admit that it was a stupid statement and move on. Pride?
You are willing to give up your integrity before admitting that you are wrong about something?
October 14th, 2009 at 11:26 amOh, I see, you are stupid.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:27 amWhat a bunch of techno-krauts!
October 14th, 2009 at 11:28 amthen how hard could it be to prove? Prove it.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:28 amYou don’t think Abe Lincoln was conservative?
October 14th, 2009 at 11:29 am—
Rumor has it he was pretty liberal what with the buddy of his and all…
I know a lot of posts have passed but I wanted to comment on Katy, comment # 7
katy says:
i won’t go there, but in several reports about this site,
i’ve noticed only 4 different pics in the GOP logo…
all white, except for one, which was a historical picture of
a black man, not sure which…
just an observation…
October 14th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I can testify to them using at least 4 faces of African-Americans in the “O” of “GOP.” Professional Black Man, Younger Healthy Black Woman, Obese Black Woman and Elderly Black Woman. I suspect these people, like all the people in the “GOP FACES” were models purchased from an internet stock photo service like corbis. I was one of the early visitors to the site, and kept refreshing as I wanted to show people the hilarious, no-defunct Steele introductory message. At the time, these 4 images were coming up far more often than the images of any white people. It was almost like they were trying to convince themselves they were more inclusive than they were. At a certain point, I think someone in charge said “guys, we’re not fooling anybody.” Because when I got hom to show my wife the website, I refreshed quite a few times, and it was nothing but white people.
…Either that, or (and bless my naive heart, I don’t know what the internet is capable of), if the website is able to determine where you’re computer is when you log on to the site, it may rotate images based on the demographic breakdown of the location. At work, I’m in NYC, so more black faces, but at home, I’m in South NJ, so more white faces. I don’t know where you reside, but if it’s in a more-reliably Whity McWhitewhite district, therein may lie the difference.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:30 amThis comment has been voted down. Click to read.
This comment has been voted down. Click to read.
So it follows that I should be allowed to dump my excessive Methyl ethyl ketone and assorted other shit in my yard and incinerate my excess asbestos if I so choose, correct liberty boy?
October 14th, 2009 at 11:37 amI see. aaronk wants to focus on insignificant semantic details rather than actually disputing Fred’s contention.
On the face of the evidence, I’d say it’s a smart move. Like MIkey Steele says, “Change the Game”.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:39 amTo be fair, Fred, aaronk giving up his integrity is a little like Britney Spears giving up her virginity at this point.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:41 amaaronk, you have failed once again to meet the simple challenge of backing up one of your ridiculous statements.
the chart you linked to does nothing to seperate the rich from the rest of the population and therefore is worthless in trying to support your statement.
I’m done with your lying ass for today. I just wanted to be sure that no one here that didn’t know you made the mistake of taking you seriously.
bye bye little liar.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:41 amSo, tell us, aaron, dear, to you TRULY think that if slavery were still being practiced today, our current crop of Republics free them…?
Rush? How would he feel about freeing Donovan McNabb?
Um, no – the Republics would be arguing that freeing the slaves would cost way too much, would destroy profits – and they’d all end up “sucking on the nipple of hard working [white] Americans” as you so eloquently put it.
Lincoln would be ashamed of you, Aaron.
October 14th, 2009 at 11:48 amYou’re funny aaronk
Notice the trend of Republican Presidents and lower tax rates for the rich. Also notice that the lower rate eras for the rich were allmost all followed by a recession or a depression.
Top earners tax percentages since 1917:
1917-67 %
1918-77%
1919-73%
1921-58%
1924-46%
1925-1931-25%
1932-63%
1936-79%
1941-81%
1942-88%
1944-94%
1946-91%
1951-92%
1952-1963-91%
1964-77%
1965-1981-70%
1982-1986-50%
1987-38.5%
1988 & 1990-28%
1991 & 1992-31%
1993-200-39.6%
2001-39.1%
2002-38.6%
2203-to date-35%
source: taxfoundation.org
October 14th, 2009 at 11:50 amHey, if no one is using the floating Michael Steele, I’ll take him.
I’m thinking of re-working the old Pong game into a game featuring the floating Michael Steele — I’m calling it “Dork.”
October 14th, 2009 at 11:59 am“Change the Game”
Life is not a “game” especially when repugs cheat, lie and steal to win the game.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:04 pm“Change the game” is so appropriate.
We helped to “change the game” with the 2008 elections, when we tossed those crooks out of control.
Let’s continue to “change the game” in 2010, and let’s throw out the remainder of the repiggie trash still haunting our national legislature.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pmkaty says:
i won’t go there, but in several reports about this site,
i’ve noticed only 4 different pics in the GOP logo…
all white, except for one, which was a historical picture of
a black man, not sure which…
just an observation…
They are probably stock photos.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:07 pmHey look! That pussy and welcher aaronk is still here!
Hey aaronk – What Up?
October 14th, 2009 at 12:11 pmThat Steele daddio is one groovy beat-nik hipster.
Tell us again how you wear your cap, Michael
October 14th, 2009 at 12:12 pmbobcat_grad says:
Absolutely awful information architecture design. Half of every screen is wasted by “RED!”, I don’t know what half of the sections mean based on the title in the menu section (”Stomping Grounds? Say it Loud?”)… it’s poor.
What is with the teabaggers using outdated slang? And “Say it Loud” It’s too close the James Brown song, “Say it Loud I’m Black and I’m Proud.”
This is funny as shit.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:14 pmDoes the Urban Dictionary have a thesaurus?
October 14th, 2009 at 12:16 pmGiven our current political context, would “Game the Change” be more appropriate?
October 14th, 2009 at 12:20 pmaaronk says:
well, we didn’t even have an income tax until I think 1913, but yes over the last 100 years we have seen much higher rates than today.
We have some of the lowest rates right now we’ve ever had! You are a liar and a fool! LOL! ;)
October 14th, 2009 at 12:22 pmaaronk says:
I just think they have no idea what direction they should go and how to get there. This is a classic example of the tail wagging the dog.
You mean like 23% of Americans that are Republicans deciding policy through filibuster? ;)
October 14th, 2009 at 12:23 pmaaronk says:
Fred, are you refuting the history of the income tax? What was the rate that the rich paid in say….1908?
What was it in say 1913? ;)
October 14th, 2009 at 12:24 pmaaronk says:
Another example” I feel that many entitlements actually hurt most of the people they are designed to help because they create dependancy and depreciate the ambition for personal responsibilty and self-reliance. I assume most liberals or progressives disagree with me.
I’m sure people that died from starvation and lack of health care before the government got involved feel your compassion. While we’re on this topic, considering that the US military consumes 56% of our income tax, couldn’t you say that the military industrial complex is “dependent” on our entitlements?
aaronk says:
Another example: I think non-smoking laws are a ridulous attack on our freedoms and an example of the “nanny state”. I think a person should be able to chose if his/her establishment allows smoke, and the individual should chose whether or not they want to go to the establishment or not. I have no idea where liberals line up on this because I have heard them bo to both extremes.
Ah, another self absorbed smoker – figures. Smokers don’t just harm themselves, they harm everyone around them through second hand smoke. You aren’t just poisoning your own body, you’re poisoning your children, family and the public! So if you believe “harming yourself and others” is your right – you’re an even bigger lunatic than I thought!
October 14th, 2009 at 12:27 pmI like the term “Repubs” for Republicans. It sounds like broken valve or something.
“Pubs” is also useful, when you don’t have time to waste syllables.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:28 pmFred – don’t be sorry! If I’ve ever seen anyone sticking their chops out and BEGGING to be busted, it’s the pussy and welcher aaronk.
I wonder how his fabulous company with 25 employees is doing today, with the “boss” spending so much time peeing himself?
October 14th, 2009 at 12:31 pmaaronk says:
I think a person should be able to chose if his/her establishment allows smoke, and the individual should chose whether or not they want to go to the establishment or not.
What about the workers? Even if they are smokers, they are exposed to health threats. Are you saying that people should just destroy their health and work in an unhealthy environment just cause the can’t find other work? Yep. Protecting “workers” not patrons are the foundation of these laws. You don’t give a crap about “workers” do you little twit? You’re a fascist alright!
October 14th, 2009 at 12:44 pmExcellent post, A Patriot Acting.
It appears that Fred owes aaronk an apology. It is NOT accurate to say that the rich pay less now than at any time in our history. It appears that they paid less in the years 1925-1931 and then again from 1988-1992.
I wonder what those two periods have in common, economically speaking, with the past five years?
Anyone?
Anyone?
October 14th, 2009 at 12:48 pmSo let me get this straight. The GOP citicized the ‘government’ in creating new websites for, of all things, tracking the way the government spends money when the Recovery.gov website went up.
Now, the GOP makes their own website, probably costing a few million (no figure yet disclosed to my konwledge) using tax payer money as well.
Talk about hypocritical double-talking. This websites purpose is even less important than Recovery.org. One tracks billions in government spending, the later allows you to read an awfully planned Steele blog.
GOP as I say, not as I do.
October 14th, 2009 at 12:55 pmapparently you are forgetting about 1876 to 1913
October 14th, 2009 at 12:58 pmmeant 1776
October 14th, 2009 at 12:59 pmSure, if you want to compare apples to pineapples.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:03 pmaaronk says:
Another example” I feel that many entitlements actually hurt most of the people they are designed to help because they create dependancy and depreciate the ambition for personal responsibilty and self-reliance. I assume most liberals or progressives disagree with me.
Perhaps numbers would help you. “Feeling” something to be true doesn’t make it so.
Are you saying that my social security and medicare coverage hurts me because I have to work to get them? That makes absolutley no sense. I’m entitled to them simply because I get out what I put in. It does exactly the opposite of what you state it does.
The other programs you may be referring to could be a food stamp or welfare program. If any person/family feels that living off food stamps and welfare is good for them, that’s their choice.
I do however feel that there should be limitations on such programs. While they should exist for the short term, someone who’s taken advantage of these programs for more than a year or two should be cut loose.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:04 pmSo, aaronk, any ideas what lessons we can draw from the data APA posted?
What possible lessons could we draw from history, particularly the economic conditions surrounding the periods in which the top marginal tax rate were the lowest over the past 95 years?
October 14th, 2009 at 1:05 pmAhh, those halcyon days before 1913… no interstate highways, no military spending to speak of, Railroad Barons throwing the little people coins from moving trains, Tarriffs at 40%… good times, good times…
October 14th, 2009 at 1:08 pmapparently you don’t know how to read charts, so I’ll walk you through it. You see, the people who make all the money are the rich, and this chart shows how much those people pay in taxes. Next I’ll teach you how to tie your shoes if you want.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:24 pmHow does the aaronk troll run a 25 employee business if he’s HERE all the time?
Thoughts?
October 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pmaaronk?
No thoughts on the lessons of history that we can draw from APA’s chart?
Nothing?
October 14th, 2009 at 1:25 pmaaronk says:
apparently you are forgetting about 1876 to 1913
Corporations were taxed, as were imported goods and items sold. Mercantilism inherently taxed because were were a “colonial” trading economy. Catch up to reality junior. It’s tiresome constantly having to “educate” you while you “pretend” to debate… ZZZzz…
October 14th, 2009 at 1:27 pmaaronk says:
apparently you don’t know how to read charts, so I’ll walk you through it. You see, the people who make all the money are the rich, and this chart shows how much those people pay in taxes. Next I’ll teach you how to tie your shoes if you want.
LOL! And those charts show rich people used to pay a lot more in taxes than they do now – debunking your own hypothesis! All you can teach someone is how to look like an ignorant fool in public and be too stupid to notice! LOL! ;)
October 14th, 2009 at 1:28 pmplutocrat worship will get you nowhere fast, awrongk.
the very concept is anti-American.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:30 pmWho the hell is talking about respect? I just think calling them “Republics” makes you sound like a damn fool.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:32 pm;-)
Yes, but it is pro-Republican.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:34 pmHere’s my theory. Steele is playing everyone. He’s providing great entertainment for us, but he’s driving the RNC and GOP base absolutely nutz. No one can convince me that Steele is this clueless or unaware of how his performance is being perceived.
Here’s the thing…the RNC can’t fire him without making this a bloodbath. I’ll bet they’ve already conveyed their interest that Steele just ‘go away’. He’s probably holding out for a huge severance package. If they fight it, I bet he takes them to Court for a really hi-profile, hi-stakes suit with plenty of opportunity to damaging discovery. I can see Steele making this a civil rights case…oh, the irony.
He’s shaking these guys down, he’s outconning the cons.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:39 pmHow does the aaronk troll run a 25 employee business if he’s HERE all the time?
Thoughts?
——
October 14th, 2009 at 1:41 pmMaybe it is an eco-jewelry business or maybe it is called kwventures….
I like aaronk’s form of facts. Let’s try it out on other issues. For example, isn’t it true that there were less military deaths from the War in Iraq under Clinton’s Administration than under Bush’s? Isn’t it also true that the Republicans were unable to win the White House for 15 straight Presidential elections and once they did there was a Civil War?
October 14th, 2009 at 1:43 pmUm, I don’t get it…
October 14th, 2009 at 1:48 pmFrom Amanda’s post;
“…Despite yesterday’s missteps, Steele said that he was happy about yesterday’s roll-out — especially when the site crashed and no one could access it. “This thing has exploded off the blocks,” Steele insisted. “It’s a good thing when you get another email from [RNC New Media Director Todd Herman] saying, ‘It’s down again.’” Hot Air’s Allahpundit disagreed, however, noting the universal ridicule the site engendered yesterday: “Way to score an own goal, pal, completely needlessly and amateurishly.””
Exploded is good, not exactly off the blocks though. Kind of slagged them down into the track surface, Mikey. And it is not good when the only mode it runs in is crash-o-matic.
But Allahpundit should ease up; since when have the Republipimps had to live up to any standard of professionalism. Aside from which, they’re having a nervous breakdown now. Please return at some other time…
October 14th, 2009 at 1:55 pm“What Up?”
I’m sure they are trying out some dialect, but that isn’t widely used and sounds really bad to the rest of the population.
Not to mention that this is the party of making English the national language.
And can you look at Steele and imagine him as being hip in the hood ?
October 14th, 2009 at 2:53 pmWell, just looked at gop.com again. Within a few seconds saw the below item. Looks like the repubs are still into ridicule as a substitute for substance (not to mention the thinly veiled racism):
For what other awards should President Obama be nominated?
October 14th, 2009 at 3:04 pmoption 1:1. Heisman Trophy
option 2:2. Hollywood Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award
option 3:3. Bud Light’s Real Men of Genius Award
option 4:4. America’s Next Top Model
option 5:5. Humility In Action Award From Arianna Huffington
If you thought the page looked like it was done by inexperienced volunteers, one of their listed opportunities:
“Yes, we are serious (and, seriously geeky—so, we warned). GOP.com is officially recruiting volunteer coders to work with our API. If you write in PHP (the base code of Facebook), and develop applications that we approve of and use at GOP.com, you will be eligible to join the Founder’s Club, the team that starts-up the first open API effort for any major political party. Members of the Founder’s Club will enjoy direct access to the RNC’s new media and technology teams, product previews and will also visit regularly with RNC Chairman, Michael Steele. For instructions on how to access our sandbox, please give us the information, below. “
October 14th, 2009 at 3:07 pm“and there are still no GOP accomplishments listed after 2004….”
So, they are not proud of the Medicare Prescription plan? Maybe they don’t want to remind Americans about this bill that gives billions and billions of the taxpayer’s money to insurance and pharmaceutical companies? The bill that expanded Medicare?
October 14th, 2009 at 4:27 pmThey must be graduates of Patrick Henry College. “Undergraduate degrees in government and liberal arts. karin ameliyati
October 19th, 2009 at 7:31 amThank you for your sharing.!
October 19th, 2009 at 8:46 am