- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
November 13, 2008 at 5:58 am #646399
AnonymousInactiveIn fact, I would like to add, it will be crucial that Obama reach across the aisle to unite our country. I believe that he can and I also believe that he intends to.
For that, I AM optimistic about our new President. I DO believe in him and want nothing more than to see him prosper.
He did not get my vote, but he certainly has my faith because he is my next President.
November 13, 2008 at 6:22 am #646400
JoBParticipantbeachdrivegirl…
when i want to ask you a question, i promise to address you.
Since you have made a point of addressing me.. i am replying.
I didn’t question your support of Obama…
but i do still wonder why anyone.. you included.. would vote for a democrat if you weren’t willing to support a democratic agenda.
Because that is what you get with a democratic president and a democratic congress.
As for your criticism of Kayleigh2.. who you seem to have lumped with me.. I fear you are off the mark.
I didn’t see anything in that post that specified exactly what legislation should be passed to accomplish what are fairly universal goals for Americans…
aside from her mention of keeping abortion legal.. which is part of the heart of the democratic platform… regardless of your personal views.
do you take issue with a free strong America?
or fixing the health care system?
or keeping jobs in America?
I think you will have a difficult time finding many Americans who do.
talking about issues that are important to all Americans is certainly how you reach across the political divide and begin the kind of conversation that will create mutual goals.
NewResident…
you have a lot in common with your party’s vice presidential candidate. You will enjoy her interview on CNN.
November 13, 2008 at 6:46 am #646401
AnonymousInactiveLovely, as always.:)
To question whether a person believes in a strong America, good health care and keeping jobs in America is useless. That is not up for debate because that’s what everyone wants, regardless of Party.
The question is: What is the best way to achieve all of that (and other issues)?
When you start throwing around Democratic ideals as the ONLY American ideals, you are creating division. That is not productive in aspiring to unity. And, hopefully, that is not the plan for our new Administration.
That’s why what BDG is expressing is so impressive. She has the right idea.
November 13, 2008 at 11:29 am #646402
HeavyMetalConservativeMemberRight on NR!!
If reaching out and finding common ground means abandoning my principles which get roundly (but I assume respectfully) criticized, then count me out. I have tried to articulate my dissatisfaction with my party but I vastly prefer my parties principles to others.
BDG, your post is fantastic but I think we do need two distinct parties. My British wife thinks there should be even more parties. Of course this arguement (2 parties) has gone back to the days of when we founded our Republic. That is not to say that we should not find common ground AND it might be possible that you are right. Maybe not too. Although, I do wish our elected representatives didn’t have seperate rules for themselves. How have we allowed this to happen?
Again, I will give this new president a chance and hope that some common ground can be found. Some issues we can never agree on but there will be many that we can.
If not, then I shall give his presidency all the courtesy that was shown to the man whose term is almost finished. :)
I do not abandon my party, but it needs some minor tweaks.
JoB, what is it that you want? I like your answers, I just disagree with quite a few of them.
Good night.
November 13, 2008 at 1:38 pm #646403
Kayleigh2MemberI’m laughing because, um, conservatives and independents: you lost. The Democrats are in power. On some issues, we won’t have to reach across the aisle. You’ll just have to deal with the fact that abortion will stay legal, we’ll lose our dependence on foreign oil, and people will stop dying because they don’t have health insurance.
Do I believe Democratic ideals are the best for America? Absolutely. I believe that they offer people the most freedom and opportunity and create the most equality. I think the Republican party exists to preserve white straight Christian male wealth and power, and that they use the wedge issues (guns, God, gays, and race) to manipulate people’s fears and prejudices to stay in power. I disagree with the Republicans on ALL of those issues, and with the Democrats on only a handful of issues.
Can Obama reach across the aisle and create comprimises that work for conservatives too? I think so. But I honestly don’t feel like he has any obligation to. The Bush administration was the most partisan one possible. When the Bushies reached across the aisle, it was to smack a Democrat in the head.
BDG, you can lead somewhere else…’cause I ain’t going there. I’m a proud Democrat, not an Independent. :-)
November 13, 2008 at 4:32 pm #646404
beachdrivegirlParticipantJoB, Kaylieh wants to make healthcare a government initiative that is a Democratic not Republican paltform etc.
HMC I think your wife and I could be friends. :) I am defin.in favor of a multi-party choice system.
Kayleigh I would be careful about pushing away Independents b/c without their supports the Democratic party is nothing.
November 13, 2008 at 4:52 pm #646405
WSMomParticipanthttp://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/
“It’s Really Time for That Intervention
Now Palin’s headlining (literally or figuratively, I’m not sure) the Republicans Governors Association conference.
Late Intervention Update: TPM Reader DH begs to differ: “I beg to differ about getting Palin off the center-stage of Republican leadership. The more she solidifies her status in the GOP, the harder it will be for them to move the party towards a pragmatic, centrist image that attracts independent voters in congressional and presidential elections. The GOP is already defaulting to her. That’s good for Democratic candidates. ‘Palin 2012!'”
I quite agree from a partisan perspective. The more Palin the better. But I think we also need to think about this from the broader perspective of national dignity. And simple human decency. You’re at a party and someone’s drinking too much and starting to do embarrassing things. Even you don’t like them, and even if the unlovely part of you thinks it’s kind of funny, still someone should step in. On the other hand, if Rush and Sean, are up for it, maybe we just tap another keg?”
I think it’s time to call a cab!!
November 13, 2008 at 6:50 pm #646406
AnonymousInactiveHmmmm… Is it really about who won or lost?
Shouldn’t America be united and ALL People win?
Obama presented himself as the candidate that would unite America.
No, I didn’t vote for Obama because I agree more with the Republican ideals, but I am all for our country finding common ground; working together to make this the best country in the world.
My Party lost, but, as far as I’m concerned, that certainly doesn’t mean that half of this country are losers. We are all American, hopefully Obama will deliver and every single American wins.
November 13, 2008 at 6:55 pm #646407
JoBParticipantAgain…
this is what Kayleigh2 proposed…
a free strong America
fixing the health care system
keeping jobs in America
you will find i have taken her words directly from post # 31
They seem like pretty universal American goals to me.
The difficulty seems to come from what some of you seem to have decided what she meant by what she said.
regardless of what we have been taught over the last 8 years by our current president… you can’t just make something up… say it over and over.. and make it the truth… that is especially true if you are assigning agendas to someone else’s words and actions.
You can decide to believe what you want in spite of all evidence to the contrary.. but it still doesn’t make any conjectures you might have about the intent behind another person’s words true.
Real divisiveness occurs when people are unable to hear what is being said but instead react to the soundbites echoing in their own heads based on who or what they think of the person speaking.
As for Kayleigh2’s post # 55… her first sentence is dead on. The democrats won the election and if anyone thinks that the democrats who elected Obama are going to settle for some watered down version of a republican agenda.. they should think again.
Yes, it will be necessary to work across party lines to create solutions for the problems that have been created. But the responsibility to make that happen doesn’t rest just on Obama’s shoulders nor does it consist of making Republicans happy.
The key word is solutions.
And it’s impossible to find solutions unless you agree on problems.
Kayleigh did a pretty good job of naming three of the most important issues to Americans at the polls in this election.
I am still wondering why some of you are finding such a simple statement of the issues a problem.
November 13, 2008 at 6:57 pm #646408
JenVMemberthis thread is called “post election fun” – this thread is decidedly NOT fun any more. :(
November 13, 2008 at 7:04 pm #646409
beachdrivegirlParticipant“fixing our health care system so that the burden is not borne by businesses or individuals” this is directly from Kayleighs post. This is the platform of the Democratic party not the Republican party. She is not meeting anyone in the middle she is asking Republicans to concede their parties platforms.
The reason why I supported Obama over McCain and Clinton is because he stated that he wanted to unify America by dismissing a majority of the US population you arent unifying anything. Furthermore, I supported OBama because he was the leader over Mccain and Clinton for bi-partisan support. Most of his accomplishments in the Senate were accomplished b/c he had Republican and Democratic sponsors. Only a true leader can do something like that. I look forward to seeing all of the bipartisan accomplisments that I know Obama will accomplish in office.
Also, more than once she mentioned abortions. Once again a Democratic party platform (her positinon it) not a Republican party platform.
November 13, 2008 at 7:39 pm #646410
JanSParticipantok…so…what I’m hearing here is that it’s OK to ask Dems to abandon their “party platform”, but not Repubs. Finding common ground to me means that they both have to give some. And therein lies a problem. Kayleigh has her strong beliefs and convictions, those on the other side, I’m sure, feel the same. So..how the hell are we ever gonna get something done if no one can give in and compromise some? Abortion? I doubt that anyone will convince anti-abortion (anti-choice?) believers to change their minds…and the same goes for pro-abortion (pro-choice?) believers. So..it’s a moot point in my book.
But there is so much to do, so much to work for if you all would just stop with the Democrat vs. Republican platform schtick. Pretend, if you will, for one minute that there are no parties now…and where do you stand, where are you willing to meet? Hard to do , isn’t it..to forget about parties,and think about what is right and fair for all Americans, be it health care, the economy, the environment. We need to really start talking about these things instead of bickering about “what belief I’ll have to give up”. If no one is willing to hash these things out in real discussion, we are lost.It’s stubborn and selfish, in my book. If Barack Obama can do it, we can do it.
And, an aside. We all realize that there are personal animosities that get into these threads. If somehow those animosities could be set aside at times, everyone has something to say and points that are valid. I find it a shame that sometimes those animosities cloud what could be a really good discussion..that the animosites prevent listening and considering what the other persons are saying. Now, there’s some common ground to find..for everyone.
November 13, 2008 at 7:52 pm #646411
AnonymousInactiveMore than half of republicans polled want universal health care. (year old polling, may have increased with economic downturn) Combined with the majority of democrats, regardless of *The Platform*, Americans want universal health care. This is no longer a partisan issue.
Only 10% to 18% (depending on which poll you read) of all Americans want abortion to be completely illegal for any reason. This means 82% to 90% of Americans want some measure of abortions to be allowed (from all access to rape/incest/mother’s health). This is no longer a partisan issue.
The so called *wedge* issues no longer exist for the majority. The 22% of the electorate that still approves of Bush policies are probably the only ones who are going to feel disenfranchised. It appears that 78% want the change democrats are prescribing. How is majority rule, a republican mantra (the people should vote/decide, not activist judges) being construed as partisan now?
November 13, 2008 at 8:11 pm #646412
JanSParticipantJT…”wedgie” issues? Oh..never mind – lol…that’s another thread ;-)
Statistics..yes…but statistics are one thing..just look at the dsagreement here. While people say those things for polls, getting down to it to get things agreed upon may be a bit more difficult.
November 13, 2008 at 8:23 pm #646413
HuindekmiParticipantRegarding abortion: There is a common ground. One that Obama talked about during the campaign. Whether you feel that abortion should be illegal or a decision best left made by a woman and her doctor – the common goal is to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and abortions performed. The two parties differ on how that should be accomplished (education vs. punishment as deterrence), but the goal remains the same.
Regarding health care: There is common ground here as well. To lower the cost of healthcare and improve it’s availability. This would improve the lives of the middle class, lower the cost burden on businesses, reduce our country’s dependence on emergent care and eventually improve the productivity of our workforce. Once again, the two parties differ on how that should be accomplished.
November 13, 2008 at 8:29 pm #646414
JoBParticipantthank you JT and Huindekmi…
that was exactly my point..
there is a lot of common ground.
and somewhere in that common ground is where the solutions will eventually be found.
November 13, 2008 at 9:05 pm #646415
KenParticipant:)
Back to the future or a late halloween treat for conservatives.
November 13, 2008 at 9:13 pm #646416
JoBParticipantthanks Ken..
the republican nightmare is a democratic dream..
buried in there is a blurb about nationalized oil companies… i doubt it will come to that… but… the oil companies have plenty of money to fund the green revolution… they made record profits last quarter… highest ever made in any quarter by any American corporation at any time.
and part of that record profit came from selling diesel oil to china when there was actually a shortage of diesel in the United States and prices were driven up by the escalating cost of freight due not only to the high fuel prices but to the resulting need for many truckers to simply park their rigs… leading to a shortage of truckers and a rise in freight costs.
i admit it was good for the truckers who were left… but the average American paid the bill for that in every product that was shipped to their local stores…
sorry JenV…
i am having difficulty finding the humor here…
but i will sign off for a while and let others play. too much to do….
November 13, 2008 at 9:24 pm #646417
Kayleigh2MemberLet me get this straight: A respectful conservative (HMC) asks if we can find common ground. I post that yes, I think we can, and I offer some ways to do it. Because I genuinely think that public health and global warming are non-partisan issues that should be approached with health and science first, not politics first.
In return, I get snarked and name-called and accused of the sins of 1. Being a Democrat 2. Having beliefs I won’t compromise on.
Well, color me a proud sinner. :-)
The funny part to me is the losing party now suddenly wants compromise and “what’s best for America”. Um, yeah. Where were y’all for eight years when the country was being driven into the ditch by unfettered neo-conism and corrupt crony capitalism?
PS: Thank you, Jo.
November 13, 2008 at 10:33 pm #646418
JoBParticipantthis will either be funny to you or it won’t..
if you find this ironically funny…it is certainly a joke related to this conversation..
http://bigdumbchimp.blogspot.com/2008/11/chuck-norris-writes-open-letter-to.html
November 13, 2008 at 11:16 pm #646419
WSMomParticipanthttp://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/210356/november-12-2008/the-word—pity-party
“The question we should be asking ourselves is not, why were the Republicans rejected by the voters, but who can we blame for it.” — Stephen Colbert
November 14, 2008 at 1:24 am #646420
HeavyMetalConservativeMemberOne of you said this thread wasn’t much fun anymore. Maybe this will lighten it up.
Better not mess with Chuck Norris.
Check out this link
November 14, 2008 at 1:28 am #646421
JoBParticipantHeavyMetalConservative…
yup.. that’s who i thought was writing…
it’s too bad he has no control key on that computer ;~0
November 14, 2008 at 1:39 am #646422
HeavyMetalConservativeMemberHe might not have a control key but his roundhouse kick does.
How about a movie with Chuck and Schwarzennegger starring? We can call it The Red Gang Outlaws.
These days I think Alec Baldwin and Richard Dreyfuss’ movie would be called The Blue Winds of Change.
November 14, 2008 at 1:41 am #646423
HeavyMetalConservativeMemberYou know Kayleigh2, maybe you are right. Your party doesn’t need the Republicans. For the first time in 30 some years a Democrat got more than 51% of the Presidential vote. Now you are claiming Mandate. Personally, I just want time for a date with my wife. Other people might want a man date. Go For It Baby!!!!
You have also proven my point that we need separate parties for choice. Your leadership might make changes quickly BUT be careful what you wish for, AND if he goes too far, the electorate will change their mind once again and throw your guys out on their butts. I hate to say it but moderation usually appeals to most people.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.