How on EARTH did we miss the ULTIMATE trumpcard we've been handed on a silver plate?

[BigBearJohn]

We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to fix Social Security
We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to fix Medicare
We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to provide health care to ALL Americans
We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to help out Americans losing their homes
We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to help all our veterans returning from war

BUT

We DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
We DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to bail out Bears Stearns
We DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to bail out AIG
We DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to pay for an unnecessary TRILLION DOLLAR war


When the LITTLE GUY needs help, they scornfully say, "GET A JOB!"
But when of their BIG GUY CRONIES need a bailout, what do they say?

SURE, NO PROBLEM. Where's the checkbook?

"But what about the debt we're leaving on the backs of our childen and their future?"
"Children? WHOSE Children. OUR children won't have to pay for this. YOUR children will"

The Republicans have had their hands in our pockets for 8 years.
Now they are robbing us blind IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!!!!

The Republicans have shown their true colors and now they expect us to vote them back into office?

What's next? Should we bend over and spread 'em? Oh, I'm sorry, but we've ALREADY DONE THAT!!
SEVERAL TIMES!!!

Let's show 'em OUR color this November:

BLUE

[BonnieJW]

1. Great rant Big Bear!

How about sending it to the O campaign? I send them stuff all the time.

[Pete2069]

54. This was Bush's job with the help of Cheney

To transfer the wealth and control of our government from the
people and hand it over to Global (word GOP used to replace
corporate monopoly)  Corporations.

[PaDUer]

149. They've been doing this from

day one, in the open, and NO ONE did a thing..

[central scrutinizer]

69. Another huge disparity -

To the American public - we don't trust that you have the best interests of America at heart so we need to intrude into your phone calls, your email, your library history, your financial history, your privacy all without a warrant or just cause.

To big corporations with well paid lobbyists - we totally trust that you will have the best interests of America at heart and will police yourselves, so we will completely get out of your way and ask no questions, do no oversight, or anything as long as you keep paying us off.

[BigBearJohn]

83. Grrrrrrrreat idea! How about helping me out? By the way --

Sometime ago I saw an online website that provided
a quick way to write "letters to the editors" online.
Would you possibly know the name of the website?

[BrklynLiberal]

151. Here is a start...

http://www.publishaletter.com/?gclid=CJe22oXG5JUCFQNvHgodhQ-afA

[BigBearJohn]

156. Excellent. Thanks. I'll get right on it!!

[Liberal_in_LA]

172. don't forget about Katrina! We didn't have enough money to rebuild New Orleans!

[BigBearJohn]

227. I'm going to re-do this post and post it on Kos too. I will include Katrina. Thanks.

[liberal N proud]

2. K&R

[ClusterFreak]

3. K&R'd!!!

:kick:

[Minimus]

4. K&R !!!

:applause:

[Venceremos]

5. Kick

[earth mom]

6. If the majority of this country doesn't see the corruption after what's gone on this week,

and doesn't vote against the god damn corrupt rethuglican bastards who are robbing us all blind, then we are absolutely and totally screwed forever and ever.

[howmad1]

153. The majority of this country is too stupid to see anything.

The majority of this country want Sarah Palin to have their babies. The majority of this country have been screwed forever by the rethuglicans and they think they are having orgasim. The majority of this country will never, I repeat, never vote for a black man.
If you think we've been screwed up until now, if Mc Fuddle gets elected, you ain't seen nothing yet.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

184. wrong on all counts

except the last one but THAT is never going to happen, but please, don't let reality stop you ... tell us how you really feel :eyes:

[mahina]

7. Love you BigBear.

That's the recipie.

[BigBearJohn]

70. back at ya Mahina!

:hug:

[99th_Monkey]

8. I've been having similar thoughts lately. The NeoCon Robber Barrons have utterly mugged America.

They've taken all the cash & jewelry & everything else of value ...

And now want another 4 years to pistol whip and kick America while it's down,
apparently just for the fun of it ... hell, there's no money left to steal.

[cyberpj]

10. And they do it every time they're in office while Dems spend any time there cleaning up for the next

rape and pillage by Republicans. This time it's worst than most.

But no on seems to talk about the overall party themes. Probably, partly because the DLC had been just as bad.

[WinkyDink]

109. Looting was their goal. THEIR ONLY GOAL. I am NOT exaggerating.

[Eyes_wide_ open]

185. Yep ... follow the money

it's ALWAYS about the money.

[SammyWinstonJack]

196. It always is with the BFEE. ALWAYS!

[Kurovski]

9. K&R

Nice and simple and easy to remember.

Send it to the Obama site!

[hisownpetard]

42. Mr. K!!!!!!!!!

:hi: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :hi: :hi: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :hi:
:loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[BigBearJohn]

93. I just did How about helping me out and send one too!

[BigBearJohn]

100. I sent several. I hope you do too!

[yurbud]

199. Great photo of Poppy and Wilfred

[classof56]

11. I also note that we DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to send $1B to Georgia.

Republicans: Robbing us blind in broad daylight. I like that--would make a great bumper sticker!

Tired Old Cynic

[1corona4u]

12. AIG was a "loan".

[mb7588a]

169. EXACTLY! This point was lost. See #168. nt.

[RiverStone]

13. What a great post --- would love to see it up on freeper

How the hell would they counter this? :shrug:

BIG K& R

Actually, this should be turned into an Obama/Biden commercial. :think:

[BigBearJohn]

101. Obama commercial YES Does anybody have an "in" that can send this to?

[simmonsj811]

14. What's next?

Should we bend over and spread 'em? Oh, I'm sorry, but we've ALREADY DONE THAT!!
SEVERAL TIMES!!! and i wasn't even told i was pretty!
:smoke: :argh:

[firedupdem]

15. K & R! So True!!! n/t

[Joe Chi Minh]

16. Brilliant.

[cui bono]

17. I don't think WE missed, but the corporate media won't state it like that.

I'm pretty sure the public at large shares your sentiment.

[EnviroBat]

18. Awesome! This should be on billboards everywhere!

[BigBearJohn]

102. I like the way you think. Help spread the word. Email your friends.

[Solomon]

19. I've been ranting about this for a long time. I blow up evertime I

hear the same people ask how we going to pay for fixing the schools, etc, that are willing to spend 10 billion dollars a month on a worthless war. My wife leaves the room when one of these assholes starts talking because she knows I'm about to blow a bloodgasket about it.

Hasn't been missed. It's been all too obvious for a lot of us. It makes me so sick. One oy my biggest pet peeves about us Americans.

[2Design]

147. I rant to when they complain about the entitlement of democrats

while they continue to waste money - these guys behavior is that of an addict

[uponit7771]

20. PLEASE SEND THIS TO OBAMA HQ IN CHICAGO!!!

[MadrasT]

40. Second! PLEASE!

[BigBearJohn]

103. I'd love to. Do you have an email address for them?

[WillyT]

21. Big K & R !!!

:kick:

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. Gold Star for Big Bear John.

[Laelth]

23. k&r

:dem:

-Laelth

[NikolaC]

24. K&R

:kick:

[sagetea]

25. Great one Big Bear but...

I think they (repubs) have had their hands in our pockets for a lot longer than 8 years.

[msallied]

26. Somebody here put it beautifully yesterday regarding the Republican economic policy

They privatize the gains and socialize the losses.

[joanski0]

27. Almost exactly what Senator Dorgan said

on the Senate Floor today. Dorgan is from North Dakota.

[Forkboy]

28. Outstanding!!

:applause:

:kick:

[thoughtcrime1984]

29. Perfect! I'd like to forward this to people, if you don't mind. nt

[BigBearJohn]

105. I would be so happy if you did that. Please send it wide and far.

:hug:

[Imagevision]

30. "We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to fix no child left behind"

[Buck Rabbit]

31. K &R

[JerseygirlCT]

32. It's about priorities, alright

Fat cats or children?
Peace or war?
strength or weakness?

[Born_A_Truman]

33. Amen!

Most people are one or two paychecks from living on the streets and can't get assistance.

No healthcare? Tough Noogies!
Losing your home? Too Bad!
Job outsourced to another country? Boo Hoo!

Big business in trouble? We're here to help!!!!!!

[RoccoR5955]

34. I've been talking up the corporate welfare line for many years now...

...they never listen to me. I keep telling them that there is enough money for the corporations that supply the weapons of war. Enough for the billionaires to ship jobs overseas. I have been saying this all along.

What makes you believe that they will listen now?
Maybe when they personally are broke they will learn?
Maybe when they personally need some help from the government they will learn?

Who knows?

Good points, I hope they work.

[L0oniX]

35. Taxation without representation.

Our taxes are being used to socialize financial corporations who do not represent "we the people". Time for a tax payer revolt and or a huge ass Boston tea party. We need to kick all these muthaf*ckers out and take over our government by force if necessary. It's our government, not theirs. Our fore father had the guts to do it but I bet we won't do a damned thing about all this conniving, cheating, lying, obstructing and stealing. They are ripping all of us off and when they are done they will move to another country or island with all their spoils. It IS class warfare at its worst. I blame Bush, McLame, Phil Gramm and Allen Greenspan for most of this.

[Revlon10]

36. CRAZY

Absolutely right

[chknltl]

37. Trickle Up economics

WE THE PEOPLE, had a pretty good pile of extra cash, cash for fancy expensive cars, cash for vacations, cash for lot's and lot's of frivolities unimaginable by those in the third world. The ultra wealthy coveted this cash and devised methods for redistributing that cash out of the hands of the middle class and into their own pockets. The term for it is de-regulation and it works well now doesn't it.

Think about it from my over simplistic terms: Back prior to the Great Depression there was X amount of $$ in America. WHERE DID IT GO? During the depression that $$ was not in the hands of the poor or the middle class, nor was it in the hands of those who were modestly rich prior to the Great Depression. IT WENT TO THE VERY TOP, redistributed among the ultra rich, much if not most of it went offshore. That X amount of money had been redistributed to the smallest minority-the ultra rich!

Today we are experiencing the same thing. Those who are profiting are not reinvesting this in America-they are squirreling it away all over the world-not spending it. Yes, this is OVER-SIMPLISTIC but it's an easy way to visualize what is going on without needing a degree in economics. I call it: TRICKLE UP ECONOMICS. Only in this case, the trickle has turned into a flood.

The war is merely a tool used by those who were grabbing boat-loads of cash to now grabbing super-tanker-loads of cash. Maybe the rest of us can eat cake.

[ooglymoogly]

209. There never has been nor will there ever be a trickle down economy

Like religion it is one of the biggest scams in history. The only way money is trickling is up and into offshore accounts while the big shots prepare to socialize their huge debt (theft) into bankrupsy which is just an enormous bill to the middle class and their progeny.

[chknltl]

215. I so agree with you! Trickle down economics is:

The rich pee-ing on those who are less rich and laughing about it all the way to the bank! (and may their bank go belly up with all their $loot$ in it!)

Trickle down economics is the modern version of telling the masses to go out on a Crusade for the King in order to insure a spot for themselves in Heaven. (Well it's true ya know!)

Good thing folks who truly believe in trickle down economics are shipping their kids off to fight the terrorists over there so we won't be fighting them over here! I tried to warn 'em really I did-I showed them my magic button which keeps both elephants and terrorists from stomping on me...if I were a republican they might have believed me I suppose.

[silverweb]

38. Bingo!

n/t

[AlbertCat]

39. And while we're at it....

.... let's talk about how big empty states, like Alaska and Wyoming, who's scattered, tiny populations vote Repug, are continually supported with government handouts paid mainly by populated blue states like NY and CA.

[Peacetrain]

41. K&R

[Politicalboi]

43. Yup they are robbing

Us in broad daylight and it's gonna work too.

[MuscleBear]

44. From one bear to another...

GROWLLL

Now that's the real message! Awsome post BigBearJohn!

Nail on the head hitting going on there.

[BigBearJohn]

106. Back atcha MB!

[Abugface]

45. You're just angry because

you're not "too big to fail". ;)

Please don't worry however, eventually you'll benefit from all the trickle down.:scared:

[The Woodpecker]

47. The only trickle down we will ever get will be when the fat cats....

piss off their penthouse balconies.

[TexasBushwhacker]

46. And the GOP supported the deregulation ....

that allowed all these financial failures to happen.

[Somawas]

48. Now, move to the next step:

The Republicans are incompetent, sure.
But why should you guys be trusted to fix it?

This was the question my doc asked me this morning when we were talking about the failure of financial markets and the failure of the republicans to protect the middle class.

[Duppers]

92. was his name

Voljavec?

[Somawas]

133. Bad news.

My doc is a woman. And the question is actually serious. Why should anyone trust us guys to do a better job?

I'm not very big on negative campaigning. Instead of telling me how McCain is a douchehammer, how about telling me how good your guy is? About how he has a plan I can buy into, and not just that "he has a plan." I don't trust anyone any more.

[Marie2]

142. What are their positions?

Do Obama OR McCain have any documented positions OR actions opposing corporate welfare?

I don't know, and I'd like to know.

I know, I can research it myself, but if someone else has, it's so much easier. . .

where do they stand?

[Duppers]

192. marie, marie, marie !!!

Do you read much?

Or do you think our Dems candidates lie like the rethugs? tsk, tsk.

Try this for a start, PLEASE:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/

[Duppers]

191. you said you "don't trust anyone any more" ?!!

Do some research here:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/

[L. Coyote]

49. We cannot let all the tax cuts to the rich go to waste now, on speculations,

and wipe out 8 years of stealing from the government.

Guess we just have to give them the money again, in one lump sum now!!

[vinylsolution]

50. Brilliant post....

... Repeat this to every uppity Repug you meet...

[Vinca]

51. Exactly. When it's a corporation it's a bailout.

When it's for the people it's welfare. How about a healthcare bailout for those of us who can't afford insurance?

[busymom]

52. You are so right!!!!

This bothers me so much. It is one of the reasons that I'm glad to see the financial crisis. I don't just blame the republicans though. I think some dems made this bed for us too!

How can it be that we can afford a useless war, the bailout of major financial markets but we can't create a living wage, equal access to quality education and some form of universal healthcare coverage.

I just don't get it.

Even more though, I don't get the hypocricy. Many republicans that I know act like people should just pull themselves up by their bootstraps regardless of the circumstances in their lives...but watch wallstreet fall apart, their mortgages go through the roof, and there they are standing with their hands outstretched.

It is disgusting.

[volstork]

53. Amen! n/t

[EC]

55. And now Bin Ladin can say he broke Russia and he broke the USA

boy they really hit it out of the park didn't they? (the Repubs that is) Norquist must be coming his pants....

[bdamomma]

122. Bin Laden and Bushie the two biggest terrorists

but this is our own enemy within, and we just bend over and take it, when will it be pitchforks and torches time. Haven't they proved over and over again that the American people mean nothing to them.

[wiggs]

56. Someone needs to say point blank how much of a diasaster this has been...one

catastrophe after another, and more waiting in every policy area.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

57. just like the Savings and Loans scandal of the 80s

These pirhanas are ready to fleece you

[lelgt60]

58. Fantastic post! An inverse "September Surprise", but it's hurting lots of folks

Even people who "don't care" about politics responsd to economic issues: "It's the economy, stupid". Surely this should do it. Obama should be up by 5-10 by the end of this month.

This pisses off some conservatives as well. Bush & friends aren't conservative or liberal. No philosophical underpinnings of any kind. Just dinosaur brains. They got this ball rolling down hill. Don't know where it will stop or who it will roll over.

[Kajsa]

59. Yep! It's a strange double standard

these Repugs dance.

The dance is over!

Excellent Rant, BigBearJohn!

This should be Obama's next ad!

:applause:

[myrna minx]

60. K&R b/t

[TransitJohn]

61. Rec # 170

righteous rant.

[yellerpup]

62. Truly felt and well expressed!

K&R! :dem: :dem: :dem:

[democrat2thecore]

63. K&R!

[progressoid]

64. But, but, but, that money will trickle down to us.

Really! It will!


K&R!! :kick: :thumbsup:

[GoesTo11]

65. Good framing - AND true nt

[geckosfeet]

66. And how about that open season on gasoline consumers - forced transfer of

consumer $$$'s into oil company bonus programs and profit margins? Not a bad scam eh?

Now that the price per barrel has dropped so dramatically, I am sure that the price of gas will drop as well.

[codjh9]

67. That's what my ol' political-science prof Dad used to say, basically!

[OakCliffDem]

68. Kick and Recomended

I will mention this money issue to my Republican co workers the next time the start telling me how good Bush 43 is.

[musicblind]

71. Kick and Recommend

:kick:

[bronxiteforever]

72. Kick & R

:thumbsup:

[TrogL]

73. Don't you get it - this has been their plan all along

With Congress completely bankrupt, there is no funding for social programs.

The money's all in their pockets, soon to be shipped to Paraguay.

[Bluenorthwest]

74. Thanks for that.

god I love DU today. what I get to read, what I learn, the company so oddly and electronically kept. peace to all.

[renie408]

75. K&R!!! No fucking shit!! n/t

[catnhatnh]

76. Congrats Bluebear...

I got to the dance late, but proudly give you recommendation 200 and something for some right smart steps...

[catnhatnh]

77. Dupe/Sorry

[BattyDem]

78. K&R

:kick: :applause:

[faithfulcitizen]

79. Pelosi said this today.

I can't remember exactly what she said, but it was the same basic idea and a great line. I'll look for it...

[SammyWinstonJack]

198. Too bad she took impeachment off the table.

x(

[BigBearJohn]

80. For all of you who support this idea, here's some MSM email addresses:

1. [e-mail]
2. [e-mail]
3. [e-mail]
4. [e-mail]
5. [e-mail]

[proud patriot]

81. k and r

:kick:

[1Hippiechick]

82. Pround to be 210 to recommend. n/t

[BigBearJohn]

84. DU -- I NEED YOUR HELP! A while ago I saw a website that helps you send letters to the editor ONLINE

Does anyone know its name or the address?

Thanks a bunch.

BBJ

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

85. The Obama website used to have that...

I used it once back in March. Either I've gone blind or they've removed it. Come to think of it...didn't DU havew this capability back in 2004? I swear I remember using it then.

Hint to the Admins -- can we get that back?

[KakistocracyHater]

88. awesome & straight to the heart

bull's eye

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

86. Update - Democrats.org

http://www.democrats.org/page/content/partybuilderLTE

Here's a link.

[BigBearJohn]

94. Thank you so much!

:hug:

[Duppers]

87. We're borrowing another $1 + Billion fr China and Japan

to rebuild infrastructure in Georgia (not the state) when we cannot repair our own infrastructure.

(paraphrasing Tweety fr the other night).

Re our funds to Georgia: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7596862.stm



K & R

[varelse]

89. This needs to be a campaign ad

I've passed it along to a few people, hopefully it will put down some roots and eventually "bloom" into a nice viral email :)

Oh, and... :yourock:

[BigBearJohn]

95. You are AWESOME.... a HUGE Big Bear John hug goes out to you!

You are right. If I knew how to make a YOU TUBE video,
I'd have one made already. I think it would get a lot of views.
Any ideas or suggestions on how to do that?

[varelse]

107. I don't have a clue - but if you don't mind someone else working with this script

The guys my sister is working with there are playing with video a bit, and they're all progressives. Maybe they can come up with something - or pass back some tips.

[BigBearJohn]

115. If anyone can make good use of this idea, they have full permission to do anything

with it as long as it promotes democracy.

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

90. Woot! Woot! Mind if I repost this?

[BigBearJohn]

97. Are you kidding? I'D BE HONORED! I've spend the whole afternoon emailing and faxing.

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

110. Aww, thanks for the hug!

I really needed that today!

[Cybergata]

91. I'm so pissed off when I remember it is my tax . . .

dollars that is providing more and more welfare for the rich. I don't mind paying taxes when that money goes to feed a hungry person, or give a child a vaccination, or to provide anyone with an education, or even help bail out people whose mortgages are being foreclosed and they are in danger of loosing their home. BUT all this money going to greedy bastards really pisses me off. All the deregulation done during the Bush years put us in this mess. All the greedy, selfish bastards who gained from the deregulation are to blame, and we the tax payers have been forced to hand them over the biggest corporate welfare check. They stole the election and now they are making sure to steal everything else.

[DissedByBush]

96. Because it's not a good trump

Both parties are in on it, both to blame. Neither can sling mud without it coming right back at them.

If the Democrats bring up McCain's Phil Gramm and all the other skeletons, the Republicans get to bring up Obama's James A. Johnson and Franklin Raines, and the over hundred grand Obama got from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac PACs and employees.

[BigBearJohn]

99. nope. I totally disagree. The principle can NOT be trumped

Principle:

There is always enough money for the big guys
but never enough for the little guy.

[2Design]

148. that is the repuke talking point whenever they are to blame

they always say it was both - someone on the right has been brainwashing that thought into the right wing

[DissedByBush]

216. Sorry, but it's true

Check out Obama's economic advisors, both Fannie Mae CEOs, people directly responsible for the current mess. Congressional Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel was on Freddie Mac’s board before coming to Congress.

Both sides have responsibility, both sides have tons of mud they can sling.

[JerseygirlCT]

98. here's a thought:

How about a campaign where every person gets sent an itemized bill?

War in Iraq, x days - $XXX
Corporate bailouts - $XXX

etc, etc.

Then suggest if they don't want to continue paying, they vote Obama!

[Duncan]

201. Thats good.

I hope somebody in a position to suggest it to the Obams camp reads it.

[JerseygirlCT]

205. Thanks! nt

[Skratchez]

104. I

Bush is probably still putting his smiley ape-face up (if he's not hung-over) and the GOPs are eating it up because he's keeping their spirits up. Attention to those w/ heads up poo-poo holes (their own or someone elses) HE'S NOT OUR NATIONAL MASCOT. He's supposed to be a leader not a GODDAMN CHEERLEADER!

Also yes, there are some DNC hands that have been carefully making this nasty bed alongside those unmentionables. Or giving handjobs under the table, whichever.

HYPOCRISY. There I said it, as did many other posters.

[WinkyDink]

108. Yeah; where's the "INGENUITY" of the BIG INVESTMENT GUYS, McCain?

[Oilwellian]

111. Best rant ever

And hope you don't mind if I use part of it as an LTTE. :D

[BigBearJohn]

113. Everyone and anyone who wants to use this has free permission to take any part and USE IT

I hope EVERYBODY writes a letter to the editor
and mass-emails the networks.

Thanks for your participation. You're awesome!

[TheDonkey]

112. This is America. Ultimately I do not think Americans mind DEBT as much as they mind TAXES

I agree that Rethugs leaving us broke is AWFUL but most Americans would rather see Trillion dollars of debt (a laughable number really) than eeeeeevil taxes that rethgs will say that Obama wants to do in order to raise money.

[jaybeat]

200. We need to remind everyone that public debt IS a tax

And just like credit cards, where paying the minimum means you'll pay off a $1,000 loan over 40 years and paying tens or hundreds of thousands in interest, the longer we put off paying our (public) debt, the more it will cost.

Unless we want to fulfill Grover Norquist's vision, we'd better bite the bullet and tax the rich assholes who got us into this mess while they still have incomes to tax!

And lets have public buyouts, not bailouts. You want taxpayer dollars to help you out? Fine. The taxpayers will BUY YOU, at pennies on the dollar, and you'll thank us and call us "Sir" and "Maam". YOU will work for US, and we won't let you forget it.

I can dream, can't I?

[raisedadem]

219. jaybeat - please use facts

Come on tens or hundreds of thousands in interest? Check the math - at 18% for 40 years if one chose to (and why the heck would you choose to?) $1000 would cost you $6,205.68 in interest. If we are ever going to resolve issues we must stick to facts, not emotions. Tax rich assholes? We tried that already on our watch - yes we in the Blue corner - a luxury tax and all we did was succeed in making those rich assholes quit buying their large yachts and boats and put a lot of hard working americans in New England out of business. We need those rich assholes to spend their money - let's try a different tack here. Encourage rich people to spend. And BTW these were loans - and as pointed out in other posts not all businesses are bad - these are loans not gifts. Maybe we should just let them go belly up and let it all come crashing down. Taxes do not create jobs - let's not lose sight of that, we need to get off this thought that all businesses are bad - who the hell do we all work for anyway? Or maybe I am just confused - make no mistake - the criminal CEOs and crooked bankers - let's hit those guys hard and show no mercy but let's not lump all businesses in the same pot because of a few evil men and women.
But taxes are dangerous remember all dollars come from the people. Where do you think Coca-Cola gets the money to pay its taxes, Exxon gets its money to pay the Exxon Valdez fines, Denny's gets the money to pay its Justice Department fines, or even Microsoft gets the money to defend itself? It all ultimately can come from only one place, and that's from individuals - you and me. We pay it in the price or pay it in the taxes.

[BigBearJohn]

229. Brilliant! Your idea deserves a post of its own. I love it.

[Doug_Orlando]

114. good post*

*

[all.of.me]

116. kick

[Dystopian]

117. KandR. thanks for posting this. eom.

peace~

[Stump]

118. kickd'

[all.of.me]

119. I've been asking this for years.

:eyes:

[bdamomma]

120. we need to slap them down

they have played us for fools, enough.

[mcollier]

121. The Ad for this will be out soon

Great Post....

[BigBearJohn]

125. As they say: "from your mouth to God's ears".. I will be sooooo happy if that happens.

GAME OVER

[mcollier]

123. The Ad for this will be out soon

Great Post....

[RollWithIt]

124. I think we need to be careful, wall street is translating to Main Street

What I mean by that is lots of people, including myself, have money in 401K and IRA retirement funds. We are suffering through this crisis through no fault of our own. I've lost somewhere around 20% of my retirement funds in the last six months. I'm only 32 years old, so my savings is minimal. But lets say I had $200,000 saved for my retirement at age 50. I'd now have $150,000. $50,000 just erased. If the government doesn't step in and try to stop the madness, the $150,000 left for retirement will equal maybe $50,000. Welcome to 70 year olds in homeless shelters.

[BigBearJohn]

126. My best friend lost $200,000 he was counting on for in retirement.

[Marie2]

145. With all due sympathy to your friend. . .

I have been thinking about the housing foreclosures, and how many of the homeowners were counting on the housing bubble to continue to expand. They bet on making 20%, 30%, 40%. They hoped to flip, traded up, leveraged themselves heavily. Many of them have lost, at least at this point.

But if they had won, I don't know that they'd be running about donating it to those in need.

In other words, they were happy to take a risk to make big bucks, but when they lost, they blamed, I don't know the government or the system or whatever.

Now I feel very sorry for anyone who is losing their home. But the fact is I have NEVER been wealthy enough to own property. I know lots of folks who made lots of money on the real estate expansion and none of them ever expressed any guilt over the huge profits they racked up. None of them seemed to be sorry for us when real estate got so expensive you'd need two M.D. - level incomes to qualify for a mortgage on a reasonable sized house in an average neighborhood. I was completely priced out as a purchaser, and as a renter, too, except for the plain old charity of a couple of landlords/friends.

Similarly, many people have made scads of money in the stock market. I'm not talking about cheating, just investing. My mom lives off of her money market fund and is freaking out right now.

But when the stock market was going great guns she seemed to feel it was just her due!

I guess I am uncomfortable that the masses seem to be fine with huge increases but blame everyone and their brother for the big decreases.

It's like getting mad when you lose playing the slots. By all means, play, but don't be shocked if you lose some money.

[BigBearJohn]

158. It was many years of savings in a 401K... poof

[JimDandy]

170. The fact is you were GAMBLING with your money

and calling it INVESTING.

The rest of the taxpayers shouldn't have to bail out companies, which, in good times, scream and yell CAPITALISM! COMPETITION! whenever regulations are proposed and then, in the bad times, WHICH THEY CREATED, beg the government to rob the U.S. treasury blind to bail them out.

You stepped onto their gravy train the minute you gave them your money and now you're riding it with them into the crash.

Use your money to start a business, instead, like I and millions of others did. Create real wealth - PRODUCE something with that money instead of gambling with it.

[Marie2]

175. I like this point

I have not been able to buy a house. I have not invested in the stock market. But, I have been slowly building up a business of my own over the past five years.

I doubt anyone will be bailing me out if it fails!

But I don't bet the farm on it. I work, and I only experiment with ads or whatever when I can afford to lose the investment.

I don't go into debt to invest in it, either. I'm building it slowly.

[JimDandy]

178. That's the way to do it. Yeah for YOU, you smart cookie! n/t

[opihimoimoi]

127. Obama has more than oneTrump Card:: He is Changing the Polarity from "ME" to "WE"

The MEism of the GOP is being blamed for the current mess...the greed, the hubris, and the arrogance is not working

Obamas "WEism" is....its all about WE, the People....the McCains Group don't speak the WE labguage

[lxlxlxl]

128. TAX EVASION IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THIS COUNTRY!

Not only do they not have money for everyone, but they are hiding everything they own.

FOLLOW THE MONEY.

[midnight]

129. Thank you BigBearJohn for unveiling the trump card for me.

[BigBearJohn]

130. You're quite welcome. I sent this to Repub associates and they just shook their heads.

One guy wrote back: "'nuf said. Point well taken"

I sent it as a letter to the editor of many huge newspapers
including the NYTimes, USA Today, LA Times and Wapo.

I've spent the whole day emailing.
Thanks for your support.

[madmusic]

131. k & r

[vanderBeth]

132. K&R

[pinto]

134. Kick

:kick:

[JDPriestly]

135. I e-mailed this to friends. Hope no one minds. It's too good to not e-mail

(and I don't e-mail a lot to people). It's just great.

[BigBearJohn]

138. That's SUPER -- i hope everyone follows your lead Let's get the word out

We need REAL effective change.

:hug:

[Miss Chybil]

136. I've always said their plan is to bankrupt the government

so they don't have to pay Social Security and Medicare. What they don't realize is that by bankrupting the government they are cutting off their nose to spite their face. Who will pay their no-bid contracts when we're bankrupt? Who will pay for the $4000 hammers when we're bankrupt? Who will buy their bombs when we're bankrupt? Who will subsidize their oil wells when we're bankrupt? Food stamps are welfare are NOTHING compared to the money they're stealing from us EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY to further enrich their cronie friends!!!!

You are SO RIGHT! This is THE ISSUE!

K/R a thousand times!

[Seldona]

137. K&R

If this point is pounded home in an effective way by the Obama campaign it is game, set, match.

Nothing scares a repub politician like the truth.

[New Dawn]

139. K&R

[Mark D.]

140. TIP OF THE ICEBERG

This is the tip of the iceberg, we need to go viral with a few things.

1) Phil Gramm, as we know, put into legislation deregulations, when he
was a senator, that opened the door for much of this major crash now.

2) That's not the end of it!

McCain's chief adviser, Charlie Black, is one of 72 lobbyists, that
have worked for/with/or bundled money for John McCain.

3) That's not it either!

The top of the list of those he lobbied for? JP MORGAN! Yes, that is
the company of the globalist banking family. JP Morgan's grandfather
founded AETNA, the first and now largest health insurer. Leader in a
fight we are well aware of, to not allow true universal health care.

JP Morgan himself helped steer the monetary supply to allow a major
Wall Street collapse that ushered in the Great Depression, with the
help of the Federal Reserve he helped get passed (due to a 'scare'
he helped orchestrate on Wall Street). That is the same family...

4) Here is the zinger. Who did Gramm open that door for? MORGAN!

The leading beneficiaries of the massive deregulation Gramm was a
big part of and McCain was fully supportive of was SPECULATIONS.

Energy Speculation is believed to be about $2 of the increase in
our gas prices, raising our food prices, and so much more and it
has put serious breaks on the economy as we all are so aware...

Speculation in Real Estate. The sub-prime debacle. Allow many
sick banker children of the mega banks and the big brother in
the Federal Reserve to run amok, giving out those bad loans.

Then sell them bundled to foreign investors. The biggest of all
of these, by far and away, were HEDGE FUNDS. What is the
biggest hedge fund of them all? MORGAN. I repeat, MORGAN!

Many who believe the monetary policy is the true root of all of
this mess we are in, and the corporate control of govt. by the
lobbyists. And war for corporate and banker profit, and know
of Morgan's major role, with the other two pillars in this
great NWO disaster (Rockefeller/Rothschild) can clearly at
this time, I hope, see that McCain IS their boy.

THE FINAL NAIL in the coffin? The former fundraiser for Hillary who
helped the DNC write the convention platform is now supporting,
and actually out campaigning for John McCain. She's also head
of the Rothschild investment arm of the Rothschild banking and
globalist Euro empire. The elites have their candidates now...

Funny how he may only be in power long enough to put Gramm
in a position economically in his administration to cut loose all
the rest of the chains on that beast so it can maul us into a
Great Depression version two by sometimes in his first year...

Then he can break his hip, and be unable to continue and let a
Dominionist, Theocratic, anti-feminist cave woman take the job.
GOD HELP US. They hack this fucking election and put them in &
there is no outrage to warrant proper investigation or we get a
right wing Supreme Court nixes it, I go to Canada, or to Europe.

We will at that point be nothing more than Feudalist & Fascist.
Disguised as unregulated "Capitalist". As THE military division.
of the Nazi ultimate victory, as when we fall, the world shall
be next. Complete w/ Knights of Malta Blackwater military rule.

[chknltl]

141. Great OP!

Thank You for this.
btw your beautifully written and to the point OP here is absolute proof of something I said in this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=7040723#top
It's good indeed to have you back.
one of yer many fans

[BigBearJohn]

157. Thank you for being here. You really made my day. Don't know what I did to make such a great friend

but boy am I ever glad I did something right.

You are indeed a special person and don't even think for
one minute that you haven't had a great effect on my life
because YOU HAVE. And you live in Tacoma. Did I tell you
I live on Whidbey?

[chknltl]

160. Someday we should hook up- there are others I'd like to meet someday too.

There is a nice lady in Seattle and a Mike in McChord... maybe at some point a 'get-together' can happen, that would be way cool!

Look-there are lots and lots of folks here in DU, some hardly post at all, some post tons of meaningless stuff. Very few consistently post things which make greatest page on a regular basis and few of those particular DUers connect their thoughts to the masses as you do. You are an asset to this forum. Your writing is often inspirational! I thought for sure that we were gonna lose you a couple of months back, that would have been quite the loss to DU imo. You've earned my praises in the same way that that other person I spoke of in that piece has earned my gratitude. We learn from both of you and I suspect that neither of you are aware of this impact you have on us. I'm just that odd person who is not embarrassed to point such things out. Ok well maybe a little embarrased now that I stop and think about it...

It is my hopes btw to be in Washington DC on Abraham Lincolns next birthday. I'm thinking that President Obama might be giving a pretty good speech at the Lincoln Memorial on that day! (You may have noticed he has a way with words and adoring mega-crowds!) I'll bet there will be quite a few DUers there on that day.

[BigBearJohn]

166. Sounds like a great idea. I'm up for it.

Thanks for reaching out. Seems you too are good at reaching out to people.
A trait I cherish in people. Wish I knew about 50 more people like you.

[Triana]

143. They don't call Republicans ROBBER BARONS for nothing!

They earned that moniker - and they continue to.

[Douglas Carpenter]

144. "Ronald Reagan proved that deficits don't matter." -- Vice President Dick Cheney

[maxpower]

146. I hope you don't mind

But I sent this to all the kool aid drinkers on my list. Thanks Big Bear.

[BigBearJohn]

155. Wonderful! I sure hope the word gets out. With more people like you, it just may happen!!

[BrklynLiberal]

150. That should be on a billboard in every city..

[Th1onein]

152. You, sir, are great.

K & R

[Flabbergasted]

154. Hey Thom.......nt

[lisainmilo]

159. u nailed it!!!!

Sad but true! They and they alone have made millions off of ordinary people!

[orleans]

161. those priorities seem to be up the ass of all republikas. go fucking figure.

k&r.

nice thread

[Essene]

162. The problem is that Mccain would agree... so it's a moot argument

After all, Mccain sincerely does talk about cutting SPENDING.

Frankly, this is a hard argument to make this year when Obama's talking about all kinds of fancy new programs to solve everything. It invites the usual counter-punches that make your average american think "socialism."

Frankly, i wish Obama had run on more of a fiscally conservative platform... with an emphasis on the tax cuts matched with huge spending cuts. It would have been smart to pull a Bloomberg, and say we'll pay as we go on further programs.

[Essene]

163. the anti-GOP and anti-Bush arguments only get Obama so far... against mccain

[BigBearJohn]

165. The issue is where the money is being spent -- Seems there is always enough money for the BIG GUYS

but never enough for the little guys.

This message DOES reach people or this thread wouldn't be so popular.

[Essene]

167. this is DU and Mccain doesnt get to respond here. My point being just that...

Mccain would agree with almost all these complaints at the GOP. He'd say the same applies to the Dems in Congress.

This argument doesn't fly so well... in practice.

Sure, it's something that 99.99999999999999% of folks here understand and get thrilled to discuss...

[BigBearJohn]

174. Well, it made an impact on a couple of republicans I sent it to

Say what you want, but I still feel the people will respond to the principle involved.

So many political people get wrapped up in complexity. The idea in this post is easy to grasp.

The general populace can wrap themselves around
the idea and I feel it will make an impact no matter what bullshit McCain utters in response.

[Essene]

181. Simplicity matters, i agree. And im just saying that Mccain would agree with most of the points

it's a great attack on the REPUBLICANS generally, but not a great attack on mccain specifically.

[dailykoff]

164. How much did these outfits contribute to Obama's campaign?

You see the difficulty. :shrug:

[mb7588a]

168. The hell? We're not being robbed.

Equity provisions offset the cost of the loan, and the government can even make money. Also, if a bailed out company continues to flounder, the government's loan is still guaranteed by the company's assets. In AIG's case, the guarantee is, in part, profitable insurance businesses. The government gets an 80% stake in the company. There's also 8.5% interest on the loan. Yes, there is risk in this...

But, I dunno... Coughing up cash to avert a global economic depression isn't all that bad of an idea. This ultimately IS about helping the little guy. Millions of people's loans, credit, retirement, and investments are at risk. It's making sure that credit and insurance is available and capital is not shrunk so much that further ripples reach anyone, crony or not. AIG operates in more countries than the State Department (joke) and has a broad client base.

The cronies are also forced to step aside. Almost all of the high-level management gets replaced and their ugly tactics are stopped.

These bailouts are an absolute last resort - they are not so simple as a crony saying, "Hey, we need some help." The only other option was bankruptcy. The impact of a company like AIG or GSEs like Fannie/Freddie collapsing on any given day of the week or any given hour of the day would be like nothing we've ever seen. They were at that point.

Lehman and Merrill Lynch did not get bailouts because they are beyond the point of return. AIG, Fannie/Freddie, and Bear Stears got them because the government can make a penny off of it and help the overall situation at the same time.

I grant you this is a very complicated and difficult process - many doctoral theses will be written on this. But government bailouts are not always a bad thing and are not at all comparable to the funding of entitlement programs you mentioned (real or not). Entitlement programs require revenue (tax) and outlays (spend) and hoping it works (question return). It's a different money process. It is, however, the same process that accounts for money for the war.

If you want to rant, focus your attention on the deregulators like McCain and Gramm. Rant about the lack of communication between the fed. and Congress and the fed. and the people - it's all closed door! Rant about the nearly unfettered lending power of the chairman of the fed ($800 billion!). Please, continue what you're saying about the war. The war, with its relation to our budget deficit and national debt, are a significant cause of this financial meltdown. It wasn't only the housing issues and deregulation. George W. Bush and his party are directly and nearly entirely responsible for this.

Finally, take a real good look at the math behind what's been happening and consider the consequences of government inaction (depression).

[BigBearJohn]

176. You are probably right about what you wrote, but it still does not invalidate

the basic premise of the OP. That being... there always seems
to be a vast shortage of money when the little guy needs help --
but somehow -- often magically -- the powers that be can
summon up TRILLIONS for the "well-justified" ependitures
they feel are absolutely essential to the well-being of
the populace.

[mb7588a]

180. The pre-premise is where the money comes from.

Social Security is paid out to beneficiaries from the trust fund, which is where excess money paid into the system sits until it is needed.

Medicare is financed by payroll taxes (FICA).

Health care would have to be either a trust fund or a government sponsored enterprise system or a payroll tax.

Bailouts are financed by the treasury, which, yes, is a holding house of the government's revenue (these days it's a place that holds money borrowed from other countries...). However, its responsibility is preventing economic crises.

I'm not an economist or government budget/appropriations expert, but the OP was about vastly different, incomparable concepts. I get your point, yes, and this was a clever play on words that really struck at the heart of people who work hard and don't want to pay taxes for irresponsible corporate behavior. The OP would apply if Congress had passed a law to bail out the irresponsible and harmful Wall St. idiots. But that's not what happened.

You're 100000000% percent accurate about the war. We are being robbed to pay for it. We have also never had tax cuts during a time of war.

[Liberal_in_LA]

171. 816 billion in bailouts and loan supports lately. Good post.

[BigBearJohn]

173. Blame the Victim

"Now they are robbing us blind IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!!!!" This has been the strategy for eight years. The victim often thinks it's her fault after getting raped.

It's the main tool that con-artists use.

I hope they don't vote for the Bush gang for the third time: 3 strikes and your out

[BigBearJohn]

177. FELLOW DU-ERS. I NEED YOU HELP. URGENT. PLEASE READ THIS POST

MESSAGE #173 WAS ((NOT)) WRITTEN BY ME.

SOMEONE WITH SOPHISTISTICATED HACKING SKILLS
HAS FIGURED OUT A WAY TO POST IN MY NAME.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAVE ALERTED THE
MODS.

ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

THIS IS FREAKY. I MUST HAVE HIT A NERVE
WITH THIS POST AND NOW THEY ARE USING
HACKERS TO POST IN MY NAME.

VERY STRANGE.

(I AM VERY SORRY IN MY RUSH I ACCIDENTALLY
WROTE THE WRONG MESSAGE NUMBER. THE CORRECT
MESSAGE WHICH WAS **NOT** WRITTEN BY ME IS 173
THE TITLE IS "BLAME THE VICTIM"

THIS WAS NOT WRITTEN BY ME.

RIGHT AFTER I DISCOVERED THIS MESSAGE, I FOUND
A TROJAN HORSE VIRUS ON MY MACHINE.

ANY ADVICE FROM YOU GUYS?

[JimDandy]

179. # 127 was posted by "opihimoimoi"

Are you sure you have the right post #?

[BigBearJohn]

182. I APOLOGIZE, IT WAS 173 ENTITLED "BLAME THE VICTIM"

I DID NOT WRITE THIS POST.
AND NOW, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
THEIR MISSION OF MAKING ME WORRIED.

[BigBearJohn]

221. Problem was RESOLVED. Read further if interested.

It's been resolved.

What happened is this: My nephew was visiting me six months ago and during
that time I had used his laptop several times (logging on to DU). Then he
went back home and took his laptop with him.

Well, I told him about a post that I had made on Democratic Underground.
So, when he navigated on his laptop to Democratic Underground, it automatically
logged on as me and he thought that it had logged on HIM. Therefore, when he
posted a reply on my thread, it came up as being authored by ME. Since I KNEW
I never posted that particular response, this freaked me out.

Mea culpa for the false alarm.

[yurbud]

183. KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!

KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!
KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!
KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!
KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!
KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!
KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!
KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!
KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!
KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK,KICK, KICK, KICK, KICK!

[FrenchieCat]

186. Preach it, BigBearJohn!

Preach it!

[BigBearJohn]

187. Can I get a witnes?! Say A-MEN!

[OakCliffDem]

188. Kick it

[and-justice-for-all]

189. It is disgusting in the least...nt

[shaniqua6392]

190. Republicans are loving this kind of WELFARE.

They don't like to help the poor single mother by giving her a few hundred bucks a month, but we can bail out their bad businesses with $900 BILLION dollars in just the last few months!!

[Mnemosyne]

193. Hear, hear! Tell it BBJ!

Whoa! How did I miss this?!

Simple truths! :woohoo:

:hi:

[femrap]

194. I agree with you 100% on

the financial analysis...however, there's much in the way of Blue Complicity. A whole bunch, in fact.

[Duncan]

203. Ummm.

Deregulation and lack of oversight of the market which led to this shit was and is a fucking PLANK of the GOP platform and has been foisted on us almost entirely by the GOP.

If you are talking about blue complicity in the decision to do the bail-outs, ok then, but bail-outs might actually be better than letting these big firms go bankrupt as far as overall stability of the global economy. I don't know. It seems all this will end up putting more and more control of the market in the hands of the government. I really don't have a handle on this. I don't know if anybody does.

I do know the meme that BigBearJohn brings up would certainly hurt McCain more than Obama, regardless of any details, because it is well known that McCain and his advisers pushed the Deregulation and lack of oversight of the market which led to this shit and it was a fucking PLANK of the McCain platform until his recent flip-flopping epiphany.

[femrap]

207. The Glass-Stegall Act was

overturned by the Blue....Clinton in '99. I remember this distinctly. This law came from out of The Depression and demanded that Investment Houses and Banks must be separate.

As I heard the other day, "We're more Communist than the Chinese."

[JimDandy]

234. Hey, it's REPUBLICAN, not GOP. Using their sh** gives them cover.

Say it with me now:
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS
the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS the REPUBLICANS

[SammyWinstonJack]

195. Hey FReeps, even you all should be able to grasp this!

No help for you unless you are one of the Uber-Rich! And I am betting that there are a lot more of you that are not, rather than, are. Just like the rest of us working class serfs. DO YOU GET IT NOW?

[Major Hogwash]

197. We need an ad saying this on tv. Now. This goes straight to the heart of the problem.

And every American would agree.

BTW, I didn't want to own AIG.

[BigBearJohn]

214. I agree! Please send an email to Obama's campaign also Move-On

Maybe they will jump on it.

[Major Hogwash]

217. I'm going to do just that on Friday. Move On would be really good at this kind of an ad.

It's soooo Democratic in nature.

It would be easy to do, too.
It would fit in with Obama's theme about change so well.

[Cary]

202. There you go again, talking all logical and reasony and all that stuff.

What the hell is wrong with you?

[BigBearJohn]

213. When I figure it out, I'll let you know. (grin)

:hug:

[shireen]

204. i'd like to see this as a full-page ad in the NYT and other major newspapers. nt

[BigBearJohn]

212. From YOUR mouth to GOD'S ears. That would be my fondest desire.

:hug:

[BaracudaCrusher]

206. Your post is like a slap across the face waking up even everyday Republicans from their stupor!

I hope it's okay that I'm copying your post and sending it to everyone I know and putting it on my humble little blog (with credit to you)?

[BigBearJohn]

211. You betcha. Please send it to ALL your friends (and even some non-friends)

People need to hear this.
:hug:

[kpete]

208. bookmarked

to send to everyone i know,
thanks,
peace,
kp

[BigBearJohn]

210. Thank you. I admire everything you write.

[Major Hogwash]

218. Kick

for the weekenders.

[BigBearJohn]

220. Awfully nice of you. I can't believe this has nearly 26,000 hits.

[DemReadingDU]

222. This is great! easy to remember too! n/t

[SalmonChantedEvening]

223. Another badass post from my friend BBJ!!!

Bootstraps are only for the poor to pull themselves up by. The rich have others pull them up for them.

:applause: :hi: :pals:

[BigBearJohn]

224. Thanks, pal. Where ya been?

:hug:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

228. Sad news I'm afraid

My Dad died tuesday night. Been with the family mostly and posting just here n there.

Why I love DU:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4016955&mesg_id=4016955

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=8101018&mesg_id=8101018

Just reading the names makes things better.

[BigBearJohn]

230. I'm sorry, my friend. I did not know. My heart goes out to you!

:-( :cry: :hug:

[SalmonChantedEvening]

232. Thank you BBJ :)

He didn't suffer or linger, and he died doing what he loved doing most, coming home.

:hug:

[Rebellious Republican]

225. You should have added this video to that great post.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn4daYJzyls

:toast:

[CANDO]

226. One major problem.......

the Repubs will stand back and say, "but your Democratic Congress drew up the bill for the bailouts"! I see it coming already. It is exactly what they've been saying for years about NAFTA... "it was Democratic Bill Clinton who gave us NAFTA". Never mind that it was in cahoots with a Repub Congress.

[BigBearJohn]

231. Yeah, but the Dems are crying about entitlement. The republiCONS are.

[alfredo]

233. This part should be sent as a letter to the editor.

We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to fix Social Security
We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to fix Medicare
We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to provide health care to ALL Americans
We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to help out Americans losing their homes
We don't have ENOUGH MONEY to help all our veterans returning from war

BUT

We DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
We DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to bail out Bears Stearns
We DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to bail out AIG
We DO HAVE ENOUGH MONEY to pay for an unnecessary TRILLION DOLLAR war


When the LITTLE GUY needs help, they scornfully say, "GET A JOB!"
But when one of their BIG GUY CRONIES need a bailout, what do they say?
SURE, NO PROBLEM. Where's the checkbook?
------------
I added the word "one" to the next to last sentence.