In The Land Of The Delusional
Posted: March 2, 2012 Filed under: 2012 presidential campaign, Austerity, double-speak, Economy, income inequality, Mitt Romney, religious extremists, Republican presidential politics, the GOP, U.S. Economy, War on Women, Women's Healthcare 16 CommentsIn the Land of the Delusional the Koch brothers are principled citizens who merely disagree with Democratic policy stands and are aghast at the
vindictive slurs leveled against them and all other sincere, freedom-loving Republicans. In the Land of the Delusional, the hate and rage on review is a product of pink-bellied Lefties, Alinski acolytes, looking to take down American virtue and reduce the country’s might and glory. In the Land of the Delusional bankrupt ideas, economic mayhem and privateering can be obscured by attacks on woman, gays and the down and outers.
March is living up to its reputation—coming in like snarling Lion. Rush Limbaugh exposed a full Monty of misogyny, his comments on Sandra Fluke provoking even House Speaker Boehner to suggest the diatribe was ‘inappropriate.’ What inspired the outburst? Several weeks of desperate frontal attacks on women’s healthcare issues, thinly veiled and wrapped beneath ‘religious liberty’ arguments.
Let’s not kid ourselves! This is little more than shifting the conversation from discussion over economic issues, for which the Republican party has no credible position. The US Budget Watch has reported that Republican plans to slash taxes on corporations and high-income earners would explode the national debt up to $3 trillion. And for all the ballyhoo by the Norquist group the Washington Post reported [as well as many other sources] that the country’s revenue-collection has eroded to a 60-year low.
From the WP report:
Polls show that a large majority of Americans blame wasteful or unnecessary federal programs for the nation’s budget problems. But routine increases in defense and domestic spending account for only about 15 percent of the financial deterioration, according to a new analysis of CBO data.
The biggest culprit, by far, has been an erosion of tax revenue triggered largely by two recessions and multiple rounds of tax cuts. Together, the economy and the tax bills enacted under former president George W. Bush, and to a lesser extent by President Obama, wiped out $6.3 trillion in anticipated revenue. That’s nearly half of the $12.7 trillion swing from projected surpluses to real debt. Federal tax collections now stand at their lowest level as a percentage of the economy in 60 years.
Trickle Down Economics in Nature
But why let facts stand in the way. Paul Ryan, the Republican’s designated ‘serious thinker’ certainly doesn’t.
Ryan also complimented Romney’s economic plan. The congressman’s stamp of approval has been important for Republicans since he earned praise last year for his ambitious budget — which would dramatically change Medicare— from strong conservatives.
“Very credible. They are talking about entitlement reform. They are putting specifics on the table on Medicare and Social Security reform. The president, knowing that these are the big drivers of our debt, is ducking it,” Ryan said of Romney’s proposals.
Ah, yes. The ideologically blind leading those blinded by ambition. That certainly gives me confidence.
But as Paul Krugman suggested a mere 10 ten days ago, Mitt Romney let slip a truism in the swirl of Michigan campaigning when he said:
“If you just cut, if all you’re thinking about doing is cutting spending, as you cut spending you’ll slow down the economy.”
Over which the ideological purists set the dogs loose. The Club for Growth immediately denounced the Romney slip, insisting that it was a clear indication that Mitt was an imposter, not a ‘true’ limited government conservative [translation: not willing to drown all government in that Norquist bathtub].
What’s a candidate to do? Retreat, of course, in the same way Romney flipped on the Blunt Amendment, breaking all records, I would guess. In less than an hour, Candidate Romney twisted from ‘not going to go there’ to ‘of course, I support it.’ Enough to make your head spin. This is a political party in the death throes.
So, what’s the best way to distract?
Let’s pillory the women, start calling them sluts or suggest they film sexual exploits for the sake of some overweight, mean-spirited shock jock. Or let’s pretend that the perceived decline of the Nation rests squarely on the shoulders of the Gay Community and their screechy insistence that they too expect and deserve [can you believe the gall of these people] basic civil rights. And don’t forget the statistics on the ever-expanding numbers of Americans slipping into poverty. We tried calling them losers and moochers. How about we deny they exist, the way a North Carolina legislator recently announced. Yes sir, that’s the ticket!
In the Land of the Delusional schizophrenics rule the day, magical thinking replaces reason and bare-foot and pregnant is a very good thing. In the Land of the Delusional all things are possible.
Except the truth.
peej
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Hi Peg,
I don’t think the war on women is a deliberate distraction by Republicans. Maybe that’s not what you’re saying? The attacks on abortion and birth control in the states have been going on for the past year–perhaps even funded by the Koch brothers.
There are other bad things happening right now–the NDAA is coming into effect and there is a new law being proposed that will prevent people from protesting anywhere near someone who has Secret Service protection. There are some people on twitter who are telling people to stop talking about the war on women because it’s a distraction from loss of civil rights (which the war on women is about too!)
Whenever there is a strong push for women, it is called a distraction. To me it is a primary issue involving basic human rights.
In any case, Limbaugh has now lost three sponsors, and I applaud that heartily!
http://thinkprogress.org/media/2012/03/02/436852/rush-limbaugh-advertisers/
I heard the news on Limbaugh’s advertisers. May he lose them all!
And no, I’m not saying it’s pure distraction. The GOP has always been negative about women’s rights, gay rights, human rights in general. But it’s a great way to change the conversation when you have no credible economic position. The Republicans have used social issues each and every GE. 2010 was all about: jobs, jobs, jobs. And what have they done? Nada. They’re back to the old familiars–women and their sexuality, gay rights and forgetting [or denying] the ever-growing poverty in the country.
I read an interesting article about Breitbart yesterday from a GOP admirer, who said that Breitbart realized that the cultural wars was where the battle would be fought to defeat liberals. It’s all based on fear-mongering, sexism and bigotry.
That’s one thing the Republicans are very skilled at. And no, for women this certainly isn’t a distraction. It’s where we personally live. That’s why it’s so offensive.
BTW, I also agree with Sandra Fluke that this line of attack–the Limbaugh diatribe–is the traditional strategy to shut women up.
Only it doesn’t seem to be working this time.
As far as the Twitter warnings, this is not unlike the men who insisted we listen to Ron Paul because he would pull us out of foreign entanglements, even though his position on social issues are straight from a 1900 handbook. I think we can walk and chew gum at the same time: reject the sexism and bigotry and attack the collapsing, failed neoliberal system that’s brought the world to its knees.
I agree.
I’m gonna try one more time and then give up because reason isn’t working.
Barack Obama Waives Rule Allowing Indefinite Military Detention Of Americans
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/28/indefinite-military-deten_n_1308129.html?ref=mostpopular
What does “lawful permanent residents living in the U.S.” mean? I wonder why it doesn’t just say “U.S. citizens?” So he can still rendition American citizens who are overseas and have them killed?
Because “lawful permanent residents living in the US” includes both American citizens and legal aliens is broader and the most obvious answer. But fuck it, I give up.
I agree with you here…BB. This has been coming on for a long time, and the right has been planning and plotting this for years. They are serious about this war on women, and it isn’t some meme brought up by the left media either.
Anybody heard from Minx? Lots of tornado warnings throughout the south.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57389399/tornadoes-strike-as-storm-system-sweeps-south/
The weather is bad right now. We’ve been on a tornado watch all day and there’s another line moving east from Nashville.
Not nice down here. Haven’t heard from Minx, but it’s probably not great in banjoland either.
I got an e-mail from her awhile ago, so at least then she had power.
I’m here! Thanks y’all…we are in tornado watch, and I see a big blob coming our way now. The evening news post will be up shortly.
😉
Glad to hear you haven’t blown away, minx :0). Nasty out there, isn’t it? I’m going to be really ticked off if I have more house damage. It took me over six months to get the work completed on last year’s storm.
The fun never ends!
Charles Pierce … http://www.esquire.com/blogs/politics/free-checking-accounts-boston-7025358
I’m in PA and was able to send a message to Pa radio stations who carry Rush via this link:
https://secure3.convio.net/pn/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2063