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Valley Forum
The election of 2012 resolved the core political issue at stake: social contract vs. social Darwinism. We ratified our faith in the social contract and now the task ahead is to strengthen the social contract through promoting economic democracy and streamlining the processes of government to deliver cost-effective, measurable results to protect our social and environmental commons.
The newly emergent progressive majority coalition of millenial youth, Latinos, blacks, white working class union members, gays, old school liberals, progressives, and cultural creatives has broken through the demographic sound barrier.
Let’s face it; Mitt Romney was president of conservative white America. That’s why they were gob-smacked by the Obama victory. In their closed-loop Fox News media system, and their narrow circle of acquaintances, everyone was opposed to Obama. Y’all need to get out more often, turn the dial once in a while.??
Let’s hope that this defeat marks the high water mark of the obnoxious Tea Party buccaneers who high-jacked the Republican Party and drove it into the ditch with their intemperate, hate-inflected slash-and-burn style of politics. A succession of hard-right Republican political operatives, from Lee Atwater to Newt Gingrich to Karl Rove, have perfected the dark arts of mean-spirited, fact-free, bully politics.
Their preferred mode of demonization precludes a thoughtful and respectful political culture. They have polluted the body politics with their special brand of venom. We would all like to see the end of it, on any side, thank you very much.??
I predict that the House Republicans will have a “come to Jesus” meeting with their corporate overlords, the Fortune 500 CEO’s, who do not want to see a repetition of the debt ceiling fiasco of 2011, when the Tea Party House, in a fit of partisan pique, tanked the AAA credit rating of the U.S. for the first time in our history. That dumb stunt even appalled old-school money Republicans.
Do not mess with the money. You will have to pay more taxes if you’re rich. Get used to it.
The gracious and prayerful concession speech by Mitt Romney, and the stern and civically-responsible tone struck in Obama’s acceptance speech, would be a good place to start a new chapter in our politics.??I was moved by President Obama’s call to get on with the civic task of self-governance in the generational work of building a 21st century America. Our best days can be ahead of us. Can we all get along?
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Ben Boyce is a resident of Boyes Hot Springs.
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First, I'd like to point out that it is not Conservatives who are always pointing out the skin color of people, Democrats have this little issue that is prevalent. I am of the 'content of character, not color of skin' side of life. The only thing the election of 2012 shows is that there is truly a Chicago Way of politicking. The corruption was glaring, that is, esp. if you sourced your news from the main stream media.Pssst...FOXNEWS is kicking it in the ratings...why???? They provide news, FAIR AND BALANCED. Mitt Romney was representing that with hard work you can succeed and prosper. He wanted that for all Americans, not just the chosen few, and he didn't have to assassinate his opponent's character. I am opposed to Obama not because of any media, but because his leadership skills are sorely lacking. He surrounds himself with people who do his bidding, and show no character or conscience. The Tea Party did not 'hijack' the GOP, we see it is time for leadership who support The Constitution (that little law of the land the democrats would love to cast aside). Please provide facts about how the Tea Party behaved with any hate inflection, slashing and burning style of politics. Ben, you can spew all the untruths you want...I'm the new fact-checker in this lil town, and I'm not putting up with these liberal lies anymore (and any other conservatives who want to jump into this pool of fact-checking, the water's fine). The House Republicans better hold strong and not allow liberalism to take hold. Ben, who is going to pay for all your social programs? The successful? Don't forget there are also small businesses who are affected by these tax hikes. The successful will just move or layoff workers. The point of a business is to make a profit, in order to be able to possibly expand and hire more workers. In turn, the more workers, the more taxes, spawning a thriving economy. Basic economics 101. You can't spend more than you take in, the successful can't fix this economy.
False premises, followed by a false dichotomy, then banal race baiting, false accusations, elitist platitudes without substance, mean spirited ad hominem, half-truths, all followed by a call for us all to get along...or else.
Thanks for the good laugh Mr. Boyce.
Great comments Ben, and I think you’re right; we’re in the middle of a demographic revolution that’ll transform our elections and way of life for years to come. In fact, many smart Republicans are already beginning to sound like Democrats.
Tea Party candidates are in decline, while Democrats and Progressives are in the ascendancy. But this has been the history of our country, by Democrats taking us two steps forward with child labor laws, minimum wage laws, civil rights laws, voting rights, five day work weeks; and one step backward with Conservative attempts to end Medicare, privatize Social Security, tear down our public school system, and end social programs designed for the poor and disadvantaged.
To answer your question, yes we can all get along….but I’ll sure miss those cocked hats with all the tea bags hanging from them.
Elizabeth, you said: “First, I'd like to point out that it is not Conservatives who are always pointing out the skin color of people”
Are you sure about that? “I mean, let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite: slavery built the South. I’m not saying we should bring it back; I’m just saying it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.” -Rush Limbaugh
“Why should blacks be heard? They’re 12% of the population. Who the hell cares.” -Rush Limbaugh
"Our blacks are so much better than their blacks" -Ann Coulter
Elizabeth, you said: “The only thing the election of 2012 shows is that there is truly a Chicago Way of politicking.”
No, it shows that when given a choice, the majority of Americans prefer Democrats over Republicans for President. Wonder why, when you consider the catastrophe of the Bush administration.
Elizabeth, you said: “Mitt Romney was representing that with hard work you can succeed and prosper. He wanted that for all Americans, not just the chosen few.”
“There are 47% who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims.” -Mitt Romney. Does that sound like all Americans to you?
Elizabeth, you said: “I am opposed to Obama not because of any media, but because his leadership skills are sorely lacking.”
I guess you missed the news when Obama killed bin Laden, ended Bush’s fiasco of a war in Iraq, created Romneycare (sorry, Obamacare, can't tell the difference), bailed out the banks, saved GM, repealed DADT, supported civil rights for gays and lesbians, and began the slow process of turning our economy around after eight disastrous years of Republicanism that brought us the greatest economic downturn since 1929.