Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Paul Krugman steps back to compare the strategies used by both sides in the health care debate.

Just a portion of this fascinating opinion piece from the New York Times:

And let’s be clear: the campaign of fear hasn’t been carried out by a radical fringe, unconnected to the Republican establishment. On the contrary, that establishment has been involved and approving all the way. Politicians like Sarah Palin — who was, let us remember, the G.O.P.’s vice-presidential candidate — eagerly spread the death panel lie, and supposedly reasonable, moderate politicians like Senator Chuck Grassley refused to say that it was untrue. On the eve of the big vote, Republican members of Congress warned that “freedom dies a little bit today” and accused Democrats of “totalitarian tactics,” which I believe means the process known as “voting.”

Krugman really does no more than state the obvious, but he does so in a way that is quite enlightening and demonstrates just how badly Republicans may have damaged their brand in the long run in order to battle a program that is going to gain universal acceptance in just a matter of months.

And while I am on the subject of the Republicans damaging their brand I thought I would bring you this amazing open letter to conservatives from Talking Points Memo. It does an amazing job of laying out almost all of the hypocrisies demonstrated by the GOP recently and how they can start to repair their image.

After all, we really DO need a two party system in this country.

3 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:22 AM

    Orly Taitz, the Birther in Chief, has filed her own lawsuit claiming that the Health Care Bill is unconstitutional. This makes the GOP look even more crazy than usual.

    They are now defined by people who shout "You Lie" and "Baby Killer" on the floor on Congress. This might energize their base, but I hope that it turns off everybody else. It is hard to imagine their campaign slogan for this fall, "I hate you!"

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  2. Anonymous7:28 AM

    When I read that Sarah was going to sign a deal with Discovery at a million dollars an episode, I was angry. Promoting the state of Alaska was her job when she was governor, but it obviously didn't pay nearly enough money. Sarah was not a faithful steward of nature; she denies climate change and its impact on the environment. And, Sarah really doesn't have any special talents. Her voice is irritating, she has overdone her looks and she has never bothered to put in the time to study and know about her subject, politics or science.

    Then I realized that this is really a good thing. Fox continues to put Sarah out there as a political spokesperson. The fact that she has chosen to be an entertainment celebrity instead of studying serious political issues detracts from anything that she has to say on Fox. For that matter, Fox could get the latest American Idol or Dancing with the Stars contestant as a spokesperson, and they would have the same credibility.

    Sarah has made it clear where her interests lie; it really is all about the money and she doesn't care where she makes it. I doubt that Dog the Bounty Hunter, the guys who make motorcycles or the gal who does tattoos are going to end up on Fox talking about politics. For that matter, the Ice Road Truckers, the Fishermen at Deadliest Catch or the Survival Guy are not the most likely guests at an important Washington DC political function.

    So, thanks to Sarah for joining the weird show lineup on Discovery. She may be raking in the big bucks, but her political opinion has just taken a nosedive.
    Maybe she will drag the other right wing nuts down along with her.

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  3. Anonymous7:43 AM

    Krugman nailed it.

    Obama - do the right thing.
    Republicans - Fear & lies.

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