Orrin Hatch

The Strange Relationship Of Joe Lieberman And John McCain

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The story of the strange, odd relationship between Independent Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona continues to amaze.

Lieberman was the Vice Presidential running mate of Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential election.

After September 11, Lieberman became very fixated on national security, including giving full support to war in Iraq and Afghanistan, joining McCain and many Republicans in that view, including Vice President Dick Cheney.

By 2006, Lieberman had alienated many Democrats, lost the Democratic Senatorial primary for another term, and ran as an independent Democrat, winning back his seat.

By 2008, he had antagonized the Democratic Party further by refusing to support Barack Obama, and endorsing John McCain for President.

He was on the short list of McCain to run for Vice President, which would have been a path breaking bi-partisan ticket.

There was some consideration by the Democratic Party to deny him a chairmanship because of his disloyalty, but Obama made clear that he did not support such an action.

Lieberman and McCain have continued to be the best of friends, and on national security and defense, they are united.

But as McCain turned further right in order to win back his Senate seat, Lieberman continued to be a liberal on domestic issues, other than homeland security.

So Lieberman is working very hard to end “don’t ask, don’t tell” in the military, while McCain is leading the charge to keep it the policy of the defense establishment. Lieberman has even said that he is working on McCain but is having no success in changing his mind.

The two men are on opposite ends of the abortion issue as well, along with all other domestic issues, and yet they remain good friends and socialize a great deal with each other.

A book will be written someday analyzing the strange, odd friendship and alliance of Lieberman and McCain–of how a basically liberal Democrat and conservative Republican could become such strong allies on things they believe in common, and strong opponents of each other, in a very civil way, on issues that they totally disagree on.

This may be the greatest, but oddest relationship of two opposing Senators since the famous one of Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy and Utah Senator Orrin Hatch!

Unemployment Compensation, Tax Cuts For The Wealthy, And The Problem Of The Deficit!

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Republican Senators and Congressmen are actively involved in condemning an extension of unemployment compensation as wasteful, not paid for, adding to the deficit, and promoting laziness and shiftlessness in those people who need to have the “work ethic”!

But, at the same time, they claim it is essential to continue to promote massive tax cuts to the wealthy, even if it adds to the deficit!

If one is to back the idea of the deficit as a major crisis, which it is rapidly becoming, then it makes no sense to assert that tax cuts are acceptable, when these wealthy people have had major increases in income in the past ten years, while the average American either pays more in taxes, or has only had a small decrease in taxes!

When people who are unemployed receive unemployment compensation, it keeps them “above water” and gives them purchasing power, which helps to promote a revival of the economy! It is NOT the same as working, and to say that people who receive part of their salary as unemployment compensation, are living “high off the hog” is an outrageous, uncaring, despicable fabrication! 🙁

But still, Senators Jim Bunning of Kentucky, Jon Kyl of Arizona, and Orrin Hatch of Utah, along with numerous Congressmen and radio talk show hosts and Fox News Channel, continue to spread the word that the rich need more tax cuts, and the poor unemployed be damned! 🙁

What kind of country that calls itself advanced and civilized would allow such a circumstance to continue to exist? If the top one percent already have 17 percent of all income in the country AFTER taxes, is not that enough? 🙁

Debtors’ Prisons For The Poor: Is That Our Future In America? :(

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There are some conservatives and Republicans who are advocating the concept of “debtors’ prisons” for those who renege on their debt, in the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression! 🙁

It is a fact that six states already allow jail time for those who have not paid debts as low as under $100!

These states are Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Washington! This is beyond belief! 🙁

People who bring down the Wall Street economy get a slap on the wrist, but are bailed out, and there is no plan to imprison those who have caused massive suffering for millions of Americans! 🙁

But if one fails to pay a small bill as low as under $100, they can be jailed, and the idea is spreading as a way to promote “responsibility” and “accountability!”

As it is, Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican of Utah, is trying to prevent further extension of unemployment benefits to people unless they prove by a urine sample that they are not on drugs! 🙁 This has been reported by Daily Kos, and is an idea to be condemned!

Are there any limits to our mistreatment of those less fortunate in our society? Apparently to Senator Hatch and six states that have created “debtors’ prisons”, there is no limit! 🙁

The Hypocrisy On Health Care Of Republicans: Totally Embarrassing!

Ronald 1 Comment

Rachel Maddow on MSNBC has just revealed the total hypocrisy and lack of embarrassment of two GOP Senators and a Senate candidate on the issue of Health Care Reform.

Senator John McCain of Arizona, who has four times in the past twenty years voted to cut Medicare spending, and spoke up on the need for Medicare and Medicaid reform during his 2008 Presidential campaign, now is trying to stop health care reform by working to guarantee that there are no future cuts in the Medicare program, just the opposite of everything he has always stood for!

Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, who last September said he agreed with 80 percent of the Obama health care plan, now says he does not agree with any part of it, that it is all “junk” even though the administration has included a number of GOP suggestions in the revised health care bill, and in theory, he should, by his own earlier statements, agree with more than 80 percent of it now!

And GOP Senate candidate Sue Lowden, running for the nomination to oppose Senator Harry Reid in Nevada, put out a campaign commercial that opposed federal government intervention in health care, as that would threaten Medicare! The problem, of course, is that Medicare IS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! Does Lowden think the Nevada population is that stupid, and could it be that all three Republicans mentioned have a problem with being honest and truthful?

The Republican party continues to embarrass not only itself, but its history under Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Eisenhower and even Ronald Reagan. This party is proving to be bankrupt of any ideas or vision, and it is hard to imagine the American people being bamboozled by their propaganda and lies! If that does indeed happen, it is more because of fear and ignorance than anything else, and would be a sad commentary on the future of the country! 🙁

President Obama’s Call To The Nation On Health Care Reform

Ronald 1 Comment

President Obama gave a fantastic, inspiring speech this evening, fully explaining all of his goals on health care reform, attacking the myths and lies that have been spread by propagandists and critics, and calling on the country to unite around the need to give this nation what every other democracy in the world has–a commitment to health care for everyone.

He gave credit to Republicans who have worked on various aspects of health care in the past, including John McCain and Orrin Hatch. He called for bipartisan cooperation to promote a plan that would protect all Americans from illness and injury. He invoked the memory of Ted Kennedy as a leader who felt the moral cause to insure all Americans for the basic right to good health care.

It was disturbing to see most Republicans most of the time sitting on their hands, looking bored and uncaring. Some seemed distracted by their Blackberrys, leaving a terrible image for the younger generation, that it is acceptable to be rude and avoid listening to a person presenting a speech. House Minority Whip Eric Cantor particularly stood out in this regard, and that is not the type of image he should be wanting to present. 🙁

Health care propaganda has just been designed to insure continued high profits for the health care industry, and many Republicans have been well supported by lobbyists for that industry, and that is not going to be a benefit to their party in the long run. The GOP stands out as the party of NO, the party of no interest in solving this problem, and showing an image of being uncaring and mean spirited.

The hope is that the President’s eloquence and passion will finally lead, as he stated, to action on a subject that was first promoted almost one hundred years ago by Theodore Roosevelt during his 1912 Progressive Party campaign for President.

In conclusion, this moment hopefully will be a watershed moment on the way to true health care reform!