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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRats fleeing the ship
Ben Bernanke: Im Ditching The Republican Party Because Of Their Stupid Economic Conspiracies
http://www.occupydemocrats.com/ben-bernanke-im-ditching-the-republican-party-because-of-their-stupid-economic-conspiracies/
Longtime Conservative Actor Robert Duvall Is Abandoning The GOP Mess
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/03/16/longtime-conservative-actor-robert-duvall-abandoning-gop-mess/
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)We sure don't want them in our party.
mountain grammy
(26,621 posts)I'll welcome their vote, but, truthfully, we are feeling enough conservative influence in the Democratic party.
I am a left leaning moderate so I get accused by people to the left of me of being a corporatist or whatever, and I get accused of right wingers, even so called moderates, of being a radical leftist. And I am certain someone here wiill jump down my throat for some nonsense, even though my preferences (as opposed to my view of practical realities) are virtually identical to theirs.
That happens all the time here. Such is life.
Nevertheless I have room for true right leaning moderates. It's the radical right that I have no tolerance for, and have cringed in the past at some radical leftists' ridiculous notion that they actually had something in common with the radical right.
I have something in common with all moderates. If nothing else that's the ability to find some common ground and work towards the general welfare instead of some cockamamie ideology.
The left needs to look at this more practically. The Republican party may not survive this schism, and should not survive it. Why? Because they eschewed William F. Buckley's wisdom and put out the welcome mat for radicals. This is what ideological purity does in our system, which was not designed for ideological purity.
Therefore I welcome Ben and Robert. Let's get something done for a change. Ideological purists of any stripe, feh.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)I don't have this issue with Democratic leadership. My comment is directed at people who are calling me names.
leveymg
(36,418 posts)The ship is the USS United States. It's a rusted hulk tied up at a dock, too far gone to even be painted over and used as a floating casino. Scrap.
dflprincess
(28,078 posts)we don't need anymore that will fit in with the "Third Way" types and pull the Democratic any further to the right than it's already slipped.
I love when I hear people say that these Republican escapees are "socially liberal" and "fiscally conservative". Great if they're for reproductive rights and Gay rights - but you can't really separate the two sides. "Fiscally conservative" usually means they'd be more than happy to put Social Security on table, won't raise a finger to develop an actual safety net for the country and, in the long run, pretty much be a Wall Street/MIC stooge really all not all that much concerned with the 99%.
MADem
(135,425 posts)decades, now.
951-Riverside
(7,234 posts)The NSDAP ...I mean the GOP arent exactly friendly to someone like him. I'm surprised he joined the NSDAP ...ooops sorry, the GOP to begin with.
lark
(23,099 posts)?????????????
wolfie001
(2,231 posts)starroute
(12,977 posts)It's pretty obvious if you stop and think for a moment, though.
eShirl
(18,491 posts)comradebillyboy
(10,147 posts)aka Nazis
George II
(67,782 posts)...their candidate support as "rats fleeing a sinking ship". But that long-standing expression is very appropriate for this situation (and the one weeks ago)
uriel1972
(4,261 posts)I wish the rats a long and fruitfull voyage to somewhere else, far away where they can do no harm.
jalan48
(13,865 posts)lark
(23,099 posts)GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wolfie001
(2,231 posts).....I find it amazing that any of 'em can think clearly. So many tin-foil conspiracies. And they all have a gun at the ready. Pretty scary situation here in 'Merica.
Sheepshank
(12,504 posts)....this is what they have come to.
Could Bernake talk Palin down from her rhetoric? Or Cruz or Trump? Highly unlikely.
HeartoftheMidwest
(309 posts)Quote from Addictinginfo article:
Duvall also blamed Democrats for all the atrocities committed in the South against African-Americans. On this point, Duvall is only partially correct. While it is true that Southern Democrats supported slavery, Jim Crow laws, and segregation, those particular Democrats were conservatives. Republicans were the liberals until they began their rightward turn after the days of Teddy Roosevelt. Democrats started turning liberal around the same time and are now the champions of civil rights while Republicans are now the staunch conservatives who seek to repeal them. The shift, of course, took some time but it did happen. Even Duvall admits that everythings been turned around in a strange way. So Duvall really cant blame todays Democratic Party for terrible events that a totally different Democratic Party committed in the past. It would be like crediting todays GOP for ending slavery.
So he's not terribly far off the Repub talking points.
MADem
(135,425 posts)He's crazy as catshit, though.
I can enjoy his thespian talents without ever feeling a need to take political cues from him.
Quirky, little known film of his, worth a look: The Apostle.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)Bernanke entered the aristocracy, and no longer has to follow orders.
saidsimplesimon
(7,888 posts)Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee
Some say, compar'd to Bononcini
That Mynheer Handel's but a Ninny
Others aver, that he to Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a Candle
Strange all this Difference should be
'Twixt Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee!
written by John Byrom
On this cold day, in the retirement community of Mesa, Arizona, two tall, overweight old men will tower over the plaza. The locked and loaded mountain posse will be on hand to protect and serve their masters. They will be cheering on the two bigots whose star shines brighter than Rick Perrys Texas.
Ok, Im giving them more than the deserved 10 seconds of fame. Trump is really tarnishing his billionaire creeds by hanging out with an establishment politician who takes donations for influence from the highest bidder, and squanders tax payer dollars on his misadventures. Don of the Plaza, open your big ears. Why hang out with losers?
http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/the-long-lawless-ride-of-sheriff-joe-arpaio-20120802
The Long, Lawless Ride of Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Locking up the innocent. Arresting his critics. Racial profiling. Meet America's meanest and most corrupt politician.
By Joe Hagan August 2, 2012
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2015/04/23/joe-arpaio-apologizes-contempt-hearing-day-three-abrk/26240715/
Megan Cassidy, The Republic | azcentral.com
Arpaio: PI hired to investigate judge's wife
http://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/central-phoenix/former-mayor-claims-arpaio-investigated-him-in-political-retaliation
Former Phoenix mayor claims Arpaio investigated him in political retaliation
Katie Conner
Gordon says he became a vocal critical against Arpaios immigration policies in 2008.
As a result, Gordon says Arpaio almost immediately initiated investigations into the citys light rail plans, employees and also into his personal life. Gordon says when he wouldn't give in, Arpaio continued to push him.
Bernblu
(441 posts)bvar22
(39,909 posts)Unfortunately, too many so called "Democrats" are doing exactly that...advancing the agenda of the RICH
at the expense of the Working Class & The Poor.
*Austerity?
*Low Taxes on the RICH? 39.5% Top Rate...during a time of WAR???!!! unprecedented.
*Privatizing The Commons?
*"Entitlement" Reform
*Supporting Union Busting so called "Free Trade"?
*Refusing to Raise-the-Cap on FICA deductions to protect Social Security?
*Forcing every American to BUY Health "Insurance" from For Profit Corporations?
....Not the Democratic Party in which I grew up.
[font color=firebrick][center]
"I dont represent the big oil companies. I dont represent the big pharmaceutical companies.
I dont represent the Enrons of this world. But you know what?
They already have great representation in Washington.
Its the rest of the people that need it.
---Paul Wellstones Last Commercial before he was killed
[/center][/font]
annabanana
(52,791 posts)We end up spending time thinking "what if" and "if only"
bvar22
(39,909 posts)I was privileged to have been a Wellstone Campaign Volunteer during the time I spent in Minnesota.
I still do not have the words to express my grief over his death.
He impacted my life, and that is hard to do to a 50+ "I've seen it all" adult.
This is one of my favorites:
[font color=firebrick][center]"If we don't fight hard enough for the things we stand for,
at some point we have to recognize that we don't really stand for them."
--- Paul Wellstone[/font][/center]
[center][/font]
[font size=1]photo by bvar22
Shortly before Sen Wellstone was killed[/center][/font]
Skittles
(153,160 posts)The Greedy Old Pig party has been fucked up as long as I can remember and they're just NOW seeing it? F*** them.
Liberal Jesus Freak
(1,451 posts)Kick their lying asses dear. I know I would feel better if you did.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)I am reluctant to post this for the same reason I was reluctant to join DU. I just changed my registration a month or so ago from Republican to Democratic. But I did not have to read DU for long to find that there were those who did not want anyone coming over from the other side since they would not be sufficiently doctrinaire.
I am a southern white male, college degree, decent job. Even a Christian. Your stereotypical Republican. And for my entire voting life I was a Republican. But no more. I became very troubled about the language and the direction of the party over the last 10 years of so. Then I came to realize that the only difference between now and 1984 was the language; the goals have remained the same. And those goals no longer reflected my beliefs.
So I am not a progressive. But next fall I will be voting for Democratic Candidates across the board. I would hope that my fellow members of the Democratic Party in Florida would be happy to have me.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)It's all a matter of a marketplace of ideas. May the best ideas win. Personalities are secondary.
So are political parties. We need to consider all the alternatives.
Welcome to the Democratic Party.
By the way, I lived in Europe for some years and so am not nervous about Democratic Socialism as a tag. But our economy now is rigged so that the very richest grab such a huge share of the growth that in my view it is time to even things out a bit. Therefore, although I like business, I do not support the big corporation grab, and that is why I support Bernie.
I believe that capital should be used and invested for the good of those who own it but also and more importantly for the good of society as a whole. I don't think that is the case right now in the US.
This is an aside to the topic of this thread, but I want to welcome you to the Democratic Party and do DU. We Democrats do not always have to agree on all points. That's one of the nice things about being a Democrat. You don't have to follow a party line.
This is primary time on DU. We are not usually this mean to each other.
Welcome.
Laffy Kat
(16,379 posts)pampango
(24,692 posts)a 'big tent'. There is much we agree on though disagreements get highlighted (particularly during primary season). There are a few name-callers if you are not perceived as progressive enough but they are few. Post what you believe.
cprise
(8,445 posts)rpannier
(24,329 posts)Where the hell has Duvall been the last 15 years
Probably whining about needing lower taxes
TrollBuster9090
(5,954 posts)...his real character is most like FRANK BURNS.