Hypocrisy thy name be.... Us?

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Monday May 10, 2010 · 6:15 PM PDT

2010/05/10 · 18:15

One aspect of the American politic that I find consistently perplexing is our ability to accept hypocrisy when "we" commit it, but at the same time, rebuke those people with whom we disagree, when "they" commit it.

Case in point: federal spending. When George Bush was elected president, we, for the first time in decades, had a surplus. The GOP promptly introduced budgets that not only spent that surplus, but ushered a new level of debt and spending that history had never seen. Republicans, who historically won elections by decrying excess spending were suddenly silent. Les Bon Temps Roulez! Almost become their mantle. Democrats screamed bloody murder at this spending - and rightfully so.

But then after Democrats took over, did they reduce the spending back to the Clintonian levels that allowed us to regain surpluses? Hell NO! Democrats increased spending, and now the Republicans are screaming bloody murder. The Democrat’s response: "Well, you never said anything when the GOP was spending all that money", so you have no right to say anything now. Effectively the logical equivalent of "But officer there were lots of speeding cars - you can’t give me a ticket"

BillinCSprings

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Sunday January 10, 2010 · 1:04 PM PST

2010/01/10 · 13:04

Last night, as I was reading the sports forums following the Dallas Cowboys' stomping of the Philadelphia Eagles - which ended their season. I was really struck by one particular entry in an Eagles forum. Following such an embarassing loss, many of the posters' contributions were predictable. Many called for Coach Andy Reid's firing; for Quarterback Donavan Mcnabb to be traded, etc. But one in particular really stood out in my mind. The poster said "I hope Andy Reid dies of a heart attack on the plane ride home".... My initial reaction was: yikes! this guy needs to turn that intensity knob a couple of clicks to the left.

As I gave more thought to that however, I thought about a question that I have been curious about for a long time now... What is it about us as human beings that cause us to have such a visceral hatred about people that we disagree with, or that disappoint us?

BillinCSprings

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Wednesday August 19, 2009 · 8:09 PM PDT

2009/08/19 · 20:09

Being a former elected official myself, as well as a person with a number of politicians as personal friends, I can tell you that one of the common phrases you hear is "Is this a hill you’re willing to die on?". It’s basically a variation on the "pick your battles" sentiment, but goes to a far more personal level. That being "Is this issue so important to you that you would be willing to accept the possibility of being defeated in your next election?"

Health care is one of those. The so-called "blue dogs" are being put in the unenviable position of making that choice. It’s a true Sophie’s choice. Most are in conservative districts, and were recruited by Rahm Emmanuel and Chuck Schumer in order to give the democrats a majority in the house and senate.

The political reality is this: If they vote for the health care plan that is being presented, they are going to be attacked mercilessly by the Republican challenger, and have a very difficult time getting re-elected. On the other hand, if they vote against it, the Democratic party will go after them, and refuse them contributions in their next elections - thus they are going to have a very difficult time getting re-elected.

Talk about damned if you do, or damned if you don’t.

Poll

132 votes Show Results

Would you support passage of the house version of health care if you knew it would likely cost democrats their majority?

132 votes Vote Now!

Would you support passage of the house version of health care if you knew it would likely cost democrats their majority?

Yes! This is the prize we fought for all this time

121 votes

No. Losing the majority just isn't worth it.

11 votes

What health care items would you be willing to give up?

BillinCSprings

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Friday July 24, 2009 · 6:57 PM PDT

2009/07/24 · 18:57

What a tumultuous week! In the span of just 7 days, we’ve gone from "we will have health care this year" to "health care reform is on the ropes".

We saw Nancy Pelosi tell us that she had the votes to pass it, only to be told right afterwards that no, she doesn’t. We saw the president give a prime-time press conference on the subject, but the only thing people were talking about the next two days was that he stupidly used the word ‘stupidly’. We were told that healthcare bill will be finished before the congress goes on their August break, only to be told 12 hours later that it won’t even get out of the senate, and then today, we hear that’s get out of the house either. We have heard that the so-call "blue dog" Democrats are essentially controlling the issue. That these 52 Democrats effectively have a stranglehold on the entire process. And finally we hear that every one of the health-care bills will cost a huge amount of money, and at the same time, we keep hearing the president say that he won’t sign a bill that adds "even one dime" to the deficit.

Poll

49 votes Show Results

What items would you be willing to give up if it meant health care reform would become a reality?

49 votes Vote Now!

What items would you be willing to give up if it meant health care reform would become a reality?

Nothing. If we canâ€<sup>TM</sup>t have it all, then forget it!

10 votes

The â€oepublic optionâ€

7 votes

Universal coverage

3 votes

Lower premium & related insurance costs

1 vote

The ability to choose your own doctor

3 votes

The ability to keep your health care plan if you like it

6 votes

Unrestricted medical procedures - e.g. acceptance of â€oerationingâ€

19 votes

U.S. budget deficit tops $1 trillion

BillinCSprings

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Tuesday July 14, 2009 · 5:37 AM PDT

2009/07/14 · 05:37

$1 trillion dollars deficit.... $1 trillion dollars!!!!

This is an unconscionable amount of money. The amount of money being spent in Washington is so beyond the pale, has reached such levels of absurdity that we are all now actively being forced to add wholly new words to our collective vocabularies. Who could have imagined that we would spend so much money that we would go more than $1 trillion dollars in the hole.

And if that number isn't scary enough, by every estimate, it will hit $1.8 trillion by the end of the fiscal year.

Poll

56 votes Show Results

Does the amount of spending concern you

56 votes Vote Now!

Does the amount of spending concern you

Yes, at this rate our great-great-great grandchildren will be paying our tabs

20 votes

Yes, but it's a necessary evil

13 votes

Yes, this spending is threatening other important programs

7 votes

No, if it was good for the Bushies, then it's good for the Obama administration

0 votes

No, by investing, our economy will come roaring back to erase the deficit

15 votes

No, as long as we have partners willing to lend us money, who cares?

1 vote

RSS

Hypocrisy thy name be.... Us?

What is it about Sarah Palin?

Is health care a hill you'd be willing to die upon?

What health care items would you be willing to give up?

U.S. budget deficit tops $1 trillion