Top that
The writer of the letter "Clint's classic comedy" (Sept. 9) can defend Clint Eastwood's RNC speech all he wants. He's entitled to his opinion. But I saw the speech and, unencumbered by the writer's imagined influence from "the left-leaning mainstream media," I immediately thought it was "weird" and "bizarre." I think I used those very words as I watched it. And I, too, am entitled to my opinion.
I'm as much an Eastwood fan as any regular moviegoer, but that doesn't make his speech any less weird or bizarre — or unintentionally funny. Eastwood is a talented actor and director, but I can't say much for his improvisational skills.
The letter writer may think he's smart, trying to pass the speech off as being over the "moronic" heads of we poor liberals. The smartest commentary I heard about it, though — and I don't care if it did come from liberal comedian Jon Stewart, it was funnier and smarter than anything coming from the right-wing media — was Stewart's realization that Eastwood's conversation with an empty chair explained why conservatives seem so out-of-touch with reality when they talk about the president: "There is a President Obama that only Republicans can see."
Top that one.
BONNIE G. VAUGHN
Winston-Salem
Negative responses
During his first term, President Obama has endured two powerful negative responses to his performance as president.
First, those in the left wing of the Democratic Party have expressed great disappointment over many of his decisions. I think those in this group did not vote for Obama, but voted for their projections of who they wanted him to be. So many assumed he was a genuine, certified liberal, and they soon learned he was instead a centrist and pragmatist. When their projections were dashed, they withdrew active support and like disheartened children sulked over the collapse of their fantasies.
Second, even before his inauguration, Republicans began constructing their own Obama mythology that was in no way related to reality. They said he was not born in the United States and was a Muslim, as though this was some horrible betrayal. Above all he was a "socialist pig" out to destroy the American way of life. His responses to the failing banks, the near-bankrupt auto industry, and his Affordable Health Care are in reality pro-business. The characterizations of President Obama are so outrageous that a person with minimum critical-thinking skill will know they are fabrications and gross distortions.
Both of these responses have been a disservice to the American people. What we need in these dire times is active involvement instead of childish sulking. We need to summon the most creative ideas we have and the political will to implement them instead of behaviors born of hatred and small mindedness.
CHARLES FRANCIS WILSON
Winston-Salem
Sacred gifts
Until restoring our precious and irreplaceable natural resources (air, soil, sun, water — and yes, spirit) becomes America's number-one priority, we all lose, regardless of who sits in the Oval Office. I cast my vote for nature's sacred gifts!
LYNN BYRD
Winston-Salem
Finish the Thought
Briefly complete the sentence below and sent it to us atletters@wsjournal.com. We'll print some of the results in a few days. Only signed entries, please — no anonymous ones.
"The Democratic Party and the Republican Party are both in a state of flux because …"
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party are both in a state of flux because …" New Deal liberalism is dead and dying from demographics and dollars. Trying to resurrect the dead won't happen no matter how much phony money is printed or funny named legislation is passed. We have a very hard decade or two in front of us as our economy and society change to something "post statism". The Republican party doesn't know what exactly is next, only that what has been is ending. Within that context the "flux" will begin and go on for years. Math always wins in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe flux-capacitor does seem to exist now in the form of the internet and the resulting loss of power and influence of central governments throughout the world. That the fringes can exert so much influence over world events is to me a disconcerting back to the future.
DeleteI know what you mean. A dedicated 15% is all that is needed to control an aimless 25%. Central planners and central bankers have driven the world to the brink.
DeleteBTW, how was your recent inspection of the west coast?
West coast was great, we stayed just long enough to convert to western time zone, and as a consequence I endured 3 days of jet lag.
DeleteOregon was very interesting. It's illegal to pump your own gas there. Consequently, it cost 30 cents more a gallon there than here, but there is no sales tax.
Not sure how they fund there economy. Do all those paid gas pumpers negate the need for a sales tax?
Except for one of the photographers, I never saw an African Americans and I don't recall seeing any Hispanics. Our time was brief, and I'm sure I didn't get a complete picture. The Ducks had not officially started classes so I'm sure Eugene changes when the students are in town, but the parts of Oregon I saw were definitely different, and the scenery was extraordinary. Of course, I have been told that we went during the rare time of year when you can actually have good weather with which we were blessed especially at Crater Lake.
Oregon is nice. California sucks, mainly because of the people, and its over bearing state government. It rains too much in Washington, and Alaska is the best.
DeleteThat's my two cents on the West Coast.
Negative responses. A humorous LTE. "We need to summon the most creative ideas we have and the political will to implement them instead of behaviors born of hatred and small mindedness". You don't have to be creative to know we are over burdened with debt. The over educated will have to yield to the intelligent to realize this and then use common sense to begin repairs.
ReplyDeleteTop that. But yet this impromptu ad lib skit still reverberates.
ReplyDeleteI agree. And it has hit Democrats particularly hard, because even some of them know, that the president has been an empty chair on a lot of serious issues, especially on the economy.
DeleteIdeologically, the Democratic Party is basically where it's always been since 1992, if not 1932. We're changing demographically the same way America is changing demographically...and that's as it should be. The Democratic Party reflects all of America.
ReplyDeleteThe Republicans have just gone batshit crazy. Whether they'll ever come back to sanity, I have no idea.
I doubt you've spent much time studying the history of the Republican Party.
DeleteI have actually. It's really sad what's happened to it in the last 48 years.
DeleteArthur's grandfather was president of the American Historical Association, the Organization of American Historians, and the Southern Historical Association, wrote 30 books, including history textbooks, recipient of numerous awards including 10 honorary degrees; and two Bancroft Prizes. I have no doubts at all that he has studied the political history of all parties.
DeleteArthur, you are partly right--the party is clearly stuck trying to revive its past. Trouble is, there is no funding mechanism nor coming Boomer population to fund their worn out centrally planned vision. It's your future...earn high my friend.
Delete:-) Hopefully I got some of the old man's history genes.
DeleteI'm sure enough trying WW.
WW is right. American's future is yours to crash, or to get it back on the right track.
DeleteIt doesn't take a hot-shot lawyer to figure out where Obama is taking the country.
I'll do what Phargo did...
Delete"...get it back on the right track."
The implication there is that the country was once on the right track.
Please explain when, and how that was the right track and what your plan is to get us there. In detail please.
I hope no one is planning on holding their breathe on this.
Under Reagan our economy was growing at 4,5 and 6%, under Obama about 1.2%.
DeleteI know you're not good with numbers, Rush. But even someone as thick as you, 'should' be able to see the difference.
Here are the actual average annual GDP growth rates by President since WWII:
DeleteJohnson 5.05
Truman 4.82
Kennedy 4.65
Clinton 3.88
Reagan 3.4
Carter 3.25
Nixon 3.0
Eisenhower 3.0
Nixon/Ford 2.6
Bush I 2.17
Bush II 2.09
Obama Incomplete data
Wonder where things went wrong.
Many economists have stated that Reagan's policies were an important part of bringing about the second longest peacetime economic expansion in U.S. history, and followed by an even longer 1990s expansion that began under George H.W. Bush in 1991
DeleteWikipedia
I guess we do know where things went wrong, don't we-dope?
Wikipedia, or any other encyclopedia, cannot be used as a citation in college courses or academic papers, for a very good reason...they are riddled with errors.
DeleteMy friend and I just spent several hours correcting the many errors in the Wikipedia entry on Winston-Salem. There is still more to do.
As to economic expansions, Reagan's lasted a little over six years. Clinton's lasted nearly eight years. My sister and I learned at around age 2 that 8 is more than 6.
Oh, and we're still waiting for your plan to get us back on the right track.
DeleteSilly me, how could I expect the Dunce to have a plan when Mitty doesn't either.
Poverty rate just out for 2011, the rate is the highest in 53 years at 15%.
DeleteThanks Obama
Poverty rate for blacks at 27%.
DeleteThanks Obama
Irrelevant to the discussion at hand, not to mention that Dunce has no idea what "poverty rate" means except that it sounds bad.
DeleteWe're still waiting for that plan. Since there isn't one, why don't you and Mitty and "Rape is just another form of conception" Ryan get together and hatch one up.
Please post it as soon as y'all are done. We could all use a good laugh.
Obama has a destitute half brother in Kenya. Obama doesn't want to give him enough money to get him out squalor. Yet he wants to tax the ever loving pee out of the rest of us for food stamps, unemployment payments, medicaid, and Obamacare.
DeleteThanks Obama. You're a class act.
'Fair share'...please!
DeleteGas prices continue to go up.
DeleteThanks for vetoing the construction of the Canadian-Texas pipeline Obama.
http://in.news.yahoo.com/obama-administration-vetoes-canada-texas-pipeline-044748120.html
Which has nothing to do with gas prices, but Dunce is intent on exhibiting the widest range of ignorance possible.
DeleteSome 21 countries are now involved in riots against America, but the liberal media seem to be obsessed with 'just' what Romney said initially. NO mention of Obama's policies and treatment of these Muslim countries during his tenure as president.
ReplyDeleteWhich I think proves my point. There's no way that Obama would be leading at this juncture in the election cycle if the media was taking a critical and objective look at the president's performance over the last four years.
Without the liberal media propping up this black president, Obama would losing by double digits in the polls.
Why don't YOU mention President Obama's Policies and treatment of these Muslim countries? This should be fascinating.
DeleteFree Speech is one thing, but free speech intended to incite violence is not protected. The film maker had to know that wretched piece of media would incite violence or he is the most ignorant. Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a convicted Felon, is a Coptic Christian. He knew what he was doing.
DeletePhargo made a funny...asking Dunce to actually articulate anything is like asking a dog to stop sniffing smelly stuff. Can't do it...it's in the dna.
DeleteWhen all you know is what Limbaugh/Beck say or what you can copy and paste from sensation seeking headlines, you know nothing at all...zero, zilch, nada...
Bob, I know you do selective reading, but I don't. It's well known, at least to most people, that Obama has apologized for American actions in Muslim countries over and over. And, h pandered to 'his' people in many speeches. These actions have emboldened Muslims across the world because now they perceive America as weak under Obama.
DeleteWake up! Get your mind out of the ditch, and back on the road to making this country better. Vote for a new and better economic path for America. Vote for Romney.
Please either cite specific examples or shut up.
DeleteWhen Dunce says "it is well known" what he means is that the voices in his head are telling him some more crazy shit.
I'll cite what I want. You can cite your lunatic concepts as well.
DeleteSee what I mean?
DeleteExactly, O.T. I've asked several to cite some of Obama's apologies and like the number of apologies, I got zero back.
DeleteWe live in two worlds…reality and denial.
DeleteThe current Republican party lives in the latter…their entire foundation is a pastiche of lies.
They insist that Republicans are good for the economy, yet since WW II the four best Presidential economies have been Democratic, and four of the five worst have been Republican.
They insist that they are strong and the Democrats are weak on national security, yet the last time we won a war of any consequence, a Democrat, Harry Truman, was in charge.
The last time before that, Woodrow Wilson, another Democrat, was at the helm. Last before that, Abraham Lincoln, a democrat, was President. And in the only other one, James Madison, a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, mother of the Democratic Party, was running the show.
The problem is that there are many feeble minded people out there who believe such Republican nonsense.
You guys cite your own cherry picked numbers. I'll cite what I want.
DeleteIt doesn't take somebody very smart to realize that we've had 43 months of over 8% unemployment, and that's not good.
N.C. is also had one of the highest rates of unemployment in country, but that doesn't keep liberal dopes from voting for Obama.
See what I MEAN?
It would be like voting for Carter after four years of his nonsense. But some people call people 'dunces', but some people are REAL 'dunces'.
DeleteTake a look in the mirror Rush.
President Obama's approach to the Arab Spring, to engage with the Islamists and not the secularists, "is seen by our foes as disengagement, while the radicals are not backing off," says Walid Phares, an adviser to the Anti-Terrorism Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives and author of the 2010 book The Coming Revolution: Struggle for Freedom in the Middle East. "When we withdraw, they advance."
DeleteUSA Today
Now explain to us what that means if you can.
DeleteIt doesn't really matter, because the premise that it is based on, that "President Obama's approach to the Arab Spring was to engage with the Islamists and not with the secularists..." is false.
The reason that the Islamists are winning elections is that they have had hard core organizations for many decades, while the secular protesters are coming from many different backgrounds.
In the first round of the Egyptian presidential election, secularist candidates combined had more votes than the two finalists combined, but like Republicans, none of the secularists would compromise to get behind a single candidate, so none of their candidates even made the runoff.
Cut & paste won't get it. You need to have actual knowledge of the subject under discussion.
Oops, almost missed it.
DeleteI want to nominate Dunce's 2:28 post as the best example of his "thinking" he's ever done. Like a picture of the inside of his head.
It won't do any good to delete it now, because I am taking a picture of it...☼...there, done.
Obama was going to meet with Eygpt's president while snubbing Netanyahu.
DeleteWhat a class act you are Obama? Foreign policy?I don't need no stinking foreign policy. I'll just piss everybody off.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Federal Reserve finally has wiped its hands clean of AIG and turned a nearly $18 billion profit for taxpayers in the process.
ReplyDeleteNow it's up to the Treasury Department to sell the rest of the U.S. government's stake in the insurance giant.
In quarterly reports for the first half of 2012 released Monday, the Fed says it generated net income of $47.5 billion in the January-June period, returning $46.4 billion of that to taxpayers.
For all of 2011, the Fed returned $76.9 billion to the U.S. Treasury.
A 76.9 billion cut is like peeing on a Forest Fire. We need REAL leadership on cutting the debt and deficit. We need Romney.
DeleteThe experiment failed.
In the 2011 fiscal year, $76.7 billion in food stamps were distributed. It cover's that cost. Are you saying that the amount in food stamps is just a piss on a forest fire? If so, then why all the fuss?
DeleteIt costs an average of about $3 billion a year to fight forest fires in the US. 1/3 to 1/2 of that cost is attributed to protecting private dwellings
DeleteMaybe if we got up an army of beer drinkers and had them piss on the fires we could save a few bucks.
Many economists credit both Reagan and GHW Bush for economic growth that occurred in the 90s.
DeletePlus add in the housing banking fiasco Barney Frank (D) created, it's no wonder the economy crashed at the end of Bush's term.
Romney ain't perfect, but compared to Obama, he's a polished gem.
DeleteName the economists. Prove your statement about Barney Frank.
DeleteThrowing out a bunch of Limbaugh/Beck/FoxLies® bullshit is not an argument...it is a rant. Add to that the fact that you have been caught lying so many times and you have zero credibility.
Le Bec-fin
Maybe Dunce would be interested in heading up the pissing brigade. He's certainly an expert on the subject.
DeleteAt least, for the first time in his life, he would be doing something for his country instead of crouching in the shadows of his parents' basement complaining about everything.
I can't wait for Rush's daily profound statement where he usually makes himself into the utter fool that he is. It usually comes about this time of day.
DeleteHee Hee....hang onto to your panties folks, I bet it'll be a good one today.
Obama promised he'd improve our position in the world. Hee hee....we'll just throw that one into the junk pile along with the rest of his broken promises.
DeleteIt just never stops.
We're waiting for the names of the economists and many other items while Dunce jabbers on about nothing.
DeleteRasmussen poll: Romney leads Obama in N.C. by 6% points. That means Rush's vote will be meaningless-and that's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteBucky re CA sucks: yes, the state government is pretty bad, but I found the people to be at least as courteous friendly as here, and a damn sight more open-minded. Oregon does have great scenery along the 5. Washington likewise is scenic. We spent some time along the Columbia River, and on San Juan island. Victoria is a congenial city, on Vancouver.
ReplyDeleteI've worked in California on several occasions, and even the people out there know their state is the laughing stock of the U.S.
DeleteI'm open minded. I'm just not open minded to absurdity, outrageous behavior, irrational logic, and government that is out of control.
If you've never been to Alaska, you owe to yourself, and your lady to go there. Take a glass top train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, and stop off at Denali. I don't know anyone that has taken that trip that didn't like it.
Of course, you can always take a trip up to Walnut Cove, like Rush does, and call yourself a world traveler.
DeleteAlaska is on our list. The train trip is a good suggestion.
Delete