So, so true, and so nicely explained, as usual. Just makes me want to throw up....
From The NY Times:
Just Think No
Why do Republicans have a gender gap when they ascribe superpowers to women, like the ability to block rape sperm with sheer willpower?I cannot believe in this day and age the Republican Party actually has as part of their platform that a woman must give birth to the baby even if the result of rape or incest. So revolting. What kind of people are these? Who supports this bullshit?! At this point, I think the Republican Party should just be ruled illegal - it is an affront to decency.
They're a bunch of insane people, basically. And don't me started on the closeted Republicans who vote against gay rights/marriage. Meanwhile, they are diddling with interns and strangers in public restrooms.
ReplyDeleteAnd for every Republican, there is a Democrat who is equally insane. The burden of problems does not rest on one party. It is shared between Democrats and Republicans.
ReplyDeleteI would also note that there are a number of vocal Republicans who support gay rights and the rights of a woman to have a choice. Dick Cheney is a vocal supporter of gay rights and several Republican women who are legislators and governors support choice.
I don't agree at all.
ReplyDeleteAnd also, then why does only one party - the Republicans - have a platform with such anti-woman hate as a part of it?
And the scandal du jour, courtesy of a DEMOCRAT:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57498516/minn-lawmaker-in-rest-stop-scandal-wont-drop-bid/
Why are you unable to respond? The Republican Party has adopted platforms of hate (anti gay marriage, anti women's right to choose). The Democratic Party has not.
DeleteAnd there are Democrats who are opposed to that too. You need look no further than NYC. Our own Ruben Diaz is a vocal opponent of these issues. In fact, he was one of the Democrats who caused concern during the Freedom to Marry Vote. Let's also not forget Dov Hikind, another local Democrat who stands in opposition to these issues. As a Republican, I do not generalize people by their party. That is the sort of black and white mentality that Democrats often accuse Republicans of, and I stand in opposition to it, especially because myself, and many other Republicans that I know are strong supporters of same-sex marriage and freedom of choice. The reason that it is not reflected in the current platform is because this more libertarian-oriented view is prevalent among young Republicans and as we start to take more roles of leadership, I think the platform will change to reflect that.
DeleteGood. Nice to see you coming over to our side. It will be a boring world, however, when you and your friends take over the Republican Party. Sounds like it will be indistinguishable from the Democratic Party of today. What will be the difference? Just lowering taxes on the richest 1 percent? Will that be your new Republican Party's only platform when you take control over it?
DeletePersonal freedom and individual responsibility. And civil rights don't have a "side." Civil rights are for everyone. I must say, you do yourself or your party no favor for being combative. It seems to me that now that we have established that no one particular party has ownership on any issue, the only way that you can address it is through sarcasm and rage. Think of how an outsider would view this discussion that we are having. Do you really think that you are making a good impression on the behalf of the Democratic Party?
ReplyDeleteThe readers of my blog are not stupid. You shouldn't speak for them.
DeleteWhen you and your party get over your anti-science, religious fundamentalist, love the rich screw everyone else, wacko crap I'd be happy to have a nice conversation with you.
That would be a nice sentiment if that actually reflected the members of the party. I myself am a female, Hispanic, and pro-science. And yes, I support tax cuts. I work for small business owners. I do their payroll. They are a sub-S corp. I watch them get screwed week after week by the government because their corporate status puts them in the so-called 1%, even though they make nowhere near an amount that anyone would call rich. If all these qualities make me a bad person, then I will wear that label with pride.
ReplyDeleteI happen to read your blog regularly, Drake. I live in Forest Hills and I care just as much for the community as you do. I also know that you have a vocal and dedicated following of readers. They aren't afraid to speak their mind. I don't see anyone jumping in to defend you from the Big, Bad Republican.
You are right. Your readers are not stupid.
You're actually very funny. You expect me not to be angry when talking to someone who identifies themselves in this day and age as a Republican? The Republican Party is an extremely destructive force for our country, and for our world. It has been for many years now. I see your party as the root of many of the problems facing this country today. Good lord, I was just in Washington DC and the freakin' ceilings are collapsing in what used to be a beautiful Metro system! Any freakin thing that is for the majority of people in our country, your party blocks. Anything to make life easier for the vast majority of people in this wonderful nation, your party tries to prevent from happening. There would have to be something wrong with me if I wasn't enraged.
DeleteAnd how is the maintenance of Washington DC the fault of the Republican Party? DC has its own government, led by a Democrat mayor and an all-Democrat legislative body. They have their own taxes and appropriate them as they see fit. I fail to see the hidden hand of the Republican Party there. Perhaps you can tell me where the Republicans are in the government of the District of Columbia?
ReplyDeleteI find it funny that the Democrats are supposed to be the party of tolerance, yet are intolerant when it comes to opinions that are different from their own. I respect your right to believe what you wish to believe even though I don't agree with some of what you say. Clearly, that respect is not a two way street.
I judge the individual, not the party he is affiliated with. It has served me well, because I know that both sides of the aisle have good people, and both sides have people that I absolutely detest.
While we are on the party topic again, why is it that I have offered a counterargument for each point that you have raised, yet you choose to redirect with uncivil language rather than respond and discuss? I have been very accommodating and courteous. Why are you unable to engage in discussion without hostility?
I'm flattered that you think that I can singlehandedly change a party. I never knew that I had that much authority.
DeleteAnd again, I have demonstrated clear counterarguments to your positions. Why won't you respond to them? Why don't you address that Dov Hikind and Ruben Diaz voted against same-sex marriage while Dick Cheney supports it? Why don't you acknowledge that in NY, some Democrat legislators voted against these issues while some Republicans voted for them? Why don't you acknowledge that the world is not as cookie-cutter as you wish it to be? And if my party is the hateful entity, why are you advocating hate for my party? I don't think that hate-on-hate is an exception to the rule.
I know that it is hard for you to accept that things are not as clean-cut as you wish them to be. But when you open yourself up to the fact that not every person fits a specific niche, I think that you will be able to argue with facts rather than pure rage.
As a lifelong gay Republican I have always found your rants somewhat boorish and more along the lines of typical knee jerk. The whole idea that you would refer to people as 1% clearly demonstrates the resentment and hate you have for those who are willing to take sacrifice and risks for the opportunity of success. Yes our taxes should be lower, that's why so many jobs have gone off shore over the last 20 years. But the jobs that have gone off shore were typically lower paid/ lower skilled. The jobs going off shore next will be the highest paying jobs. Why? Because we are the ones smart enough to go where we will be welcome and not be expected to support places like the City of DC because people like you think we have an obligation.
ReplyDeleteWhat if Atlas shrugged?
K
To my Anonymous counterpart: Thank you, I couldn't have said it better.
ReplyDeleteSadly, you will both find out that we are all in this sinking ship you have built for us together. And we will all go down with it together. The 1% and the rest of the 99%. In fact, we already are. If that's the future you want for yourselves, so be it. Just don't blame others for the situation your party has created.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't go on with that crap that you worked so hard to get to where you were. Try walking in another person's shoes who may not have had all the advantages you had started out. Can you honestly say you weren't helped along the way by at least one other person in your life? You accomplished everything you did by yourself?
And then there is the whole question of what you consider to be a "success." Is it wealth you base that success on? If so, I feel sorry for you. That is a pretty empty way to go about living.
Do you know how your government works? It's not that hard. If the government is split between two parties, one has the ability to block what the other one wants to do. President Obama has plenty of ideas to move us forward -- and has been blocked at every single turn by the Republicans. It's not that hard to understand this. But I suppose for you, it's easier to just say everyone sucks. Try reading.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, if you want proof of what I am saying. Watch in the months following the election. There is a good chance the Republican Party will get trounced in the election, they have alienated by now so many different segments of our population. Watch how much progress we start to make in a relatively short time when the Democrats once again control both houses of Congress and the Presidency.
ReplyDeleteAnd how is that any different from when Democrats had complete control of Congress under President Bush? Same procedural tactics. And again Drake, why won't you answer the questions that I have posed to you? Perhaps it is because you will be forced to concede the point. At least I am honest enough to admit that my party has its problems. You think that the Democrat Party can do no wrong. Rather delusional, actually.
ReplyDeleteNot delusional. Just very clear-minded. The problem is not the Democratic Party. It's your party, the Republicans. Has been for decades now.
DeleteHow many times do I have to repeat the same thing?
I already told you, I can't have a serious discussion with someone who supports a party whose platform supports Hate against gay people and women. I find it a waste of my time actually. Sorry. If you want to read my blog, fine. But I don't really consider someone who would support such garbage worthy of this much of my time or energy.
While we are at it, let's talk about progress. Despite having control of Congress during the 110th and 111th sessions, the Democrats' attempts to pass legislation were woeful. They were not even able to produce a budget despite having control of both Houses. At least the current House Republicans have passed a budget. The Democrat controlled Senate has not even bothered to vote for an alternative budget of their own creation, much less even bother to bring the House version to the floor for a vote. The Democrat delegation is factioned and without a clear voice. There are factions because there is dissent. Dissent is what Democracy is all about.
ReplyDeleteTake the broader perspective - it's all you need for clarity. Remember, life is actually very simple. It's people, like yourself, who complicate it.
DeleteRepublican Party Platform today: Anti-gay, anti-woman. Hateful. Religious Fundamentalist. Anti-science. Anti-progress. Stuck in the 19th Century.
Democratic Party Platform: Tolerant. Empowering. Progressive.
That's all I need to know.
And again, you avoid the questions that I have posed to you, and still, no one has come to defend you. Maybe they would have if you you didn't sound more ignorant and intolerant than the people whom you say are worse.
ReplyDeleteDidn't realize there are so many republicans in forest hills....yikes...scary. Time to move back to the east village.
ReplyDeleteYes, unfortunately there is a severe reactionary population in some of Forest Hills, and it's even worse in other pockets of Queens. All the progressively-minded people has scared the bejesus, literally, out of a lot of Queens residents over the years.
DeleteWhich continues to show that liberals are only accepting of people who are just like them. Way to embrace diversity.
ReplyDeleteI obviously embrace diversity. However I do not embrace diversity when it offends and hurts others. Being "open and accepting" to a group of people that are anti-gay, anti-women, anti-progession, anti-efficient energy etc etc is definitely not ok.
DeleteI'm offended by how the Democrat Party treats minorities. As a Hispanic woman, the Democrats have constantly told me that I am inferior to my peers. According to them, I do not have the resources or the know-how to take care of myself or run a business. Does this mean that I disdain Democrats? No. I work towards understanding through reason, something which our friend Drake does not seem to embrace. Everyone gets offended by something. That doesn't justify outright hate or generalizations. To our new guest on the thread, do you believe, as Drake does, that every single Republican holds that same view? Are we all hateful people just because of party registration? Do you too hold the belief that the Democrats can do no wrong? Maybe you can answer why some Democrats voted against same-sex marriage in New York while some Republicans supported it. Drake doesn't seem to want to take up the burden of responding to that point.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious as to why you would want to support a Party whose men want to order you what to do with your own body as a woman?
DeleteI support them because the Republican Party wants me to succeed on my own. They want me to to take responsibility for my decisions in exchange for having freedom that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world. And I support them because I and others like me have been working to change the old guard and return the party to its roots and not this abomination of imposed moral beliefs. I will agree that there are lots of people in my party who are insane (ie Michelle Bachmann) but my generation of Republicans are not like that. We want economic freedom along with social freedom. When the old guard goes, that will be the face of the Republican Party.
ReplyDeleteOk, Well, that makes a lot of sense to me. And I do think you have the power to help change your party. You are very articulate in your positions, so I can't imagine why you wouldn't be able to have some influence.
DeletePersonally, I do not see the difference, however, between what you are saying and what the Democratic Party is today. While some would like to make believe the Democratic Party is not about personal responsibility, that is a lot of bull. I think pretty much any healthy-minded person values the satisfaction that comes with standing on their own two feet and making it on their own. Unfortunately, there are many in our society who will not be able to make it on their own. They start too far behind and they need a little help from the rest of us. I think the Republicans are too black and white in their thinking when it comes to vilifying such people. They are too harsh in their judgments of the underprivileged in our society.
Well that is because we really only focused on social issues. I imagine that we will be polar opposites on economics and defense. I appreciate your last comment, because that is exactly the type of discourse that I work for.
ReplyDeleteTo the Hispanic woman, why are you so offended that the democratic party would offer to provide you with extra help? Just because you have the means to support yourself and move on doesn't mean there are others who are at a greater disadvantage who wouldn't benefit from programs for minorities. Don't let your own pride get in the way of the needs of others. As a Hispanic woman, I'm surprised you could be at peace with a party that supports laws that would require you to carry ID to prove you are a US citizen when you know a white person would never have to. Arizona seeks to close their borders, but in doing so would turn Hispanics into second class citizens, almost like freed slaves who had to walk with their papers. And you can't say the law was only for law breakers, i can't name one person who hasn't jay walked. What i do not understand is for a party that claims to be for less government involvement in our lives, the republicans sure do support measures that are very intrusive in our lives by trying to define marriage (which is not an unchanged institution - it used to be illegal for non property owners to marry, then illegal for slaves, then interracial marriage was illegal), banning access to low
ReplyDeletecost OB care (planned parenthood actually does more work in contraceptives an female health than abortions but the republicans want to throw the baby out with the bath water), singling out Muslims for surveillance (Peter King was the lead on this one I believe) etc. While I know not every republican is crazy, I also see that no republican candidate for federal office can get the nomination without appeasing the crazies. I am a democrat, but wasn't always so and changed my affiliation because of the behavior I've seen from the republicans. I've voted for some republican candidates in the past but what has come down the pipelines in the recent years with sarah palin, santorum, Bachman, and the like just twists my stomach in knots. Until the republican party starts treating all Americans like, well, Americans, they will continue to disgust me. It's sad that every candidate now has to placate to the set of '"Christian values" some of which seem so unchristian to me. I am a catholic, but I in no way want the pope to set my government's laws.
I'm a Republican and I live in FH. However, I have voted across party lines lately because I disagree with the party's stance on many issues namely:
ReplyDelete-reducing expenses that benefit mainly middle and lower class people while allowing taxes to rise on the wealthiest 1% of the country.
-taking a stance of no abortion under any situation - even if the life of the mother is at stake. For a party that promotes pro life, how can they choose the life of one over the other? I guess that means they are against capital punishment too? Isn't that a life?
To the reader who is Republican/woman, etc. ... there are Republicans/Democrats who differ with the party on views such as taxes, gay marriage, abortion, etc. That's not the point. The point is what is the party's official stance? In fact, if you look at upcoming convention, there are planks that the party has documented that include no abortion under any situation.
I became a Republican because of Reagan. I bet if Reagan was alive today, he'd be ashamed to call himself a Republican. The party has refused to compromise and runs under that edict - no compromises. It's either their way or the highway. Which means they take on the view that their opinion is the only right way. I'm sorry, things are not that clear in life. Not everyone practices the same religion and has the same views.
Hi, I work in the South Bronx and live in FH. In my experience, a lot of Hispanics are devoted Catholics who see being Catholic as a more important part of their identity than being a "minority" (which they really aren't, in terms of numbers). I can't tell you how many times I've been "prayed for" and been consoled by "let's pray to God." This sect is ripe for picking by the Republican Party. A number of them haven't been in the country long enough to have the big picture of who the Republicans are, they just see them as the "God-respecting" group. The fact that this particular population keeps growing is not good news for the Democrats. Many liberals condescendingly think, "oh, they're underprivileged people of color, they must be with us, not against us." They need to think again.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally horrified by Jeffrey T. Johnson shooting his ex-boss, which led to innocent bystanders also getting shot near the Empire State Building. How many more shootings and deaths will it take to realize that we have grown completely apathetic about gun deaths?! I will never vote for any Republican or Democrat that doesn't support the strictest gun control laws. There is literally no reason why any private citizen needs to own guns, other than living in the wilderness. All gun lovers should move to their own country and endanger each other with their beloved guns.
ReplyDelete