How do they know this? Because Republicans, time and time again, have been able to out-hustle the Democrats on messaging and framing. They'll hit every compliant cable news show and Sunday show and Politico reporter with "the Obama double-dip." They'll frame it as the consequence of the president not allowing their (much larger) budget cuts. The president didn't do enough to cut spending or to roll back "Obamacare," they'll say. They'll hit these points over and over and over and over in complete lockstep. By the way, there far-right conservative talk shows on thousands of AM radio stations across the country. That's a lot. And the older Americans who listen to that crap vote.
It's already bad enough that the Democrats have bought into the budget cutting austerity dementia. And why is that? The Republican messaging and framing apparatus, of course. They convinced enough people that confronting the deficit and the debt is the right thing to do -- despite volumes of information to the contrary indicating that austerity with high unemployment and slow growth is a huge mistake (see also Moody's, Goldman and, you know, Keynes.)
Meanwhile, when the economy dips and unemployment rises, we're all screwed. Again. And independent voters -- the voters who decide elections these days -- will blame the party in the White House and they will vote accordingly.
Why? The Republican messaging and framing apparatus.
I honestly can't think of a more important issue right now. These budget cuts and the impending government shutdown are the stories right now. And we're being out-hustled again by tea party people and the Republican Party -- an unserious PR group that's wrong on facts but strong on yelling.
We have to get loud now. Do not cut the budget. It's a trap. It's a Republican sabotage. Instead, raise taxes on the rich to help pay for the recession they helped to create, eliminate the cap on the payroll tax and kick the military industrial complex squarely in its wasteful nards. End corporate welfare and leave jobs, women, the parks, healthcare, trains, law enforcement and dozens of other valuable programs alone.
After decades of forcing through tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, again and again Republicans are going all in promoting the bullshit that there is a deficit crisis.
Here is how it works:
Ain't Capitalism grand?1) Cut taxes for the rich and corporations (corporate stock is mostly owned by the top 1%); big deficits result.
2) Claim a deficit emergency and use their domination of corporate-owned media to whip the public into a panic, creating the appearance of demand for corporate-approved "solutions." Manipulate the appearance of consensus.
3) With taxes and military "off the table" push through cuts in the things government does for We, the People.Repeat as often as needed to create a plutocracy.
Today's "debt crisis" is the culmination of the long-term "starve the beast" strategy from an organized corporate-conservative movement. By cutting taxes for the wealthy they have starved the government, created massive debt (guess where the interest payments go).
What solutions did the Republicans offer to reform healthcare while they were in total control for so long? Oh that's right, absolutely nothing. And what's their solution now? The same dog and pony show of vouchers and privatization they've been putting on for decades now.
And the winner of the Lying Hypocrite award goes to…Clarence Thomas.
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The AFL-CIO claims there have been windows welded shut (where is the fire marshal?) to block supplies being handed over to protesters in Wisconsin. There have been a few photos floating around online showing what looks like bolted shut windows rather than welded, but bolted windows sound as dangerous as well.
Blocking access to the state capital is a violation of state law, if the law means anything. More from David Dayen at FireDogLake.
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A public union employee, a tea party activist and a CEO are sitting at a table with a plate of a dozen cookies in the middle of it. The CEO takes 11 of the cookies, turns to the tea partier and says, "Watch out for that union guy he wants a piece of your cookie."
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D-Cap: How about a real government for the people?
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We'd avoid the Indian Ocean for a while. "Three Danish children and their parents have been snatched by pirates who hijacked their sailing boat in the Indian Ocean, Danish officials say. Denmark's foreign ministry said the children were aged between 12 and 16, and that two Danish crew members were also captured during the attack. Pirates seized the boat on 24 February and were said to be heading to Somalia. Piracy is a highly lucrative trade in Somalia, where gangs can often demand millions of dollars in ransoms. As of last week, the EU's anti-piracy naval force said pirates were holding a total of 31 vessels, and 688 hostages. Many of the vessels they target are cargo ships sailing near the Gulf of Aden - one of the world's busiest shipping lanes."
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I'll give you a clue about what might be causing this, you dumb asses.
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Palin Fans Organizing Plan To All Pull Over To Side of Road For Some Reason
And in other Palin news, she also has a secret Twitter account so she can follow herself.
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Chef Jamie Oliver targets in on $arah Palin.
Improving what children eat at school alone can have a far-reaching, positive effect on their habits and health as adults, Oliver said at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival.
He said he doesn't have much faith that government will lead the way, but said the administration of President Barack Obama is on the right track.
Mrs Palin, in contrast, "clearly on this issue is a Froot Loop", he said in a reference to the highly sweetened breakfast cereal.
The president recently signed a bill that increases the federal reimbursement for free school lunches and expands the government's nutrition requirements for the free and reduced meals it subsidises to cover all foods sold during school hours.
Palin has not been alone in her criticism of Michelle Obama on the issue of child obesity. For many in the conservative movement, blind hatred for this President has them criticizing anything and everything related to him, be it his administration's policies or his family's actions. Scoring political points is more important to these shallow minded morons than battling child obesity and showing the least bit of concern for the health and welfare of American children. No surprise there. They really don't care
So what's Obama's excuse?
Why are we at war with cave people? And why are we setting things up for action in Libya?
She was lukewarm about the idea of Qaddafi going into exile because "accountability must be obtained for what he has done." Again, unlike "our diplomats" or any other employee of the US government.
Also, Hillary, when you're accusing someone of using excessive force, maybe you shouldn't say about the US's possible response that "nothing is off the table."
Qaddafi, meanwhile, says that all the Libyan people love him and there have been no protests in Tripoli. So that's okay then.
Hey Alan, I have a thunderbolt for you: There is no God.
And if there was, he probably would give a shit about who people lived with.
Can't you find a more positive hobby, like maybe an anti-masturbation campaign?
Or how about a campaign against baggy pants?
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