By E.J. Dionne Jr.
Monday, October 11, 2010

The 2010 election is turning into a class war. The wealthy and the powerful started it.

This is a strange development. President Obama, after all, has been working overtime to save capitalism. Wall Street is doing just fine, and the rich are getting richer again. The financial reform bill passed by Congress was moderate, not radical.

Nonetheless, corporations and affluent individuals are pouring tens of millions of dollars into attack ads aimed almost exclusively at Democrats. One of the biggest political players, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, accepts money from foreign sources.

The chamber piously insists that none of the cash from abroad is going into its ad campaigns. But without full disclosure, there's no way of knowing if that's true or simply an accounting trick. And the chamber is just one of many groups engaged in an election-year spending spree.

This extraordinary state of affairs was facilitated by the U.S. Supreme Court's scandalous Citizens United decision, which swept away decades of restrictions on corporate spending to influence elections. The Republicans' success in blocking legislation that would at least have required the big spenders to disclose the sources of their money means voters have to operate in the dark.

(To hear Harvard Law School professor Lawrence Lessig's position on potential changes in campaign finance, watch his video interview with The Post's Fred Hiatt. )

The "logic" behind Citizens United is that third-party spending can't possibly be corrupting. The five-justice majority declared that "this Court now concludes that independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption. That speakers may have influence over or access to elected officials does not mean that those officials are corrupt. And the appearance of influence or access will not cause the electorate to lose faith in this democracy."

You can decide what's more stunning about this statement, its naivete or its arrogance.

(For more insight on campaign finance by E.J. Dionne Jr., read "Repairing Citizens United becomes a test for three GOP senators" and "A bipartisan push to clean up the Supreme Court's mess.")

If one side in the debate can overwhelm the political system with clandestine cash, which is what's happening, is there any doubt that the side in question will buy itself a lot of influence? If that's not corruption, what exactly is it?

And how can five justices, who purport not to be political, sweep aside what elected officials themselves long ago concluded on the subject and claim to know what will or will not "cause the electorate to lose faith in this democracy"? Could anything undermine trust in the system more than secret contributions to shadowy groups spending the money on nasty ads? The good news is that the class war is bringing a certain clarity to politics. It is also another piece of evidence for the radicalism of the current brand of conservatism. This, in turn, is forcing Democrats to defend a proposition they have been committed to since the days of Franklin Roosevelt but are often too timid to proclaim: that government has a legitimate and necessary role in making economic rules to protect individuals from abuse.

It has thus been both entertaining and educational to watch Republican Senate candidates in Connecticut, West Virginia, Alaska and Kentucky grapple with the impact of their bad-mouthing minimum-wage laws.

Conservative academics have warred against the minimum wage ever since FDR declared the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 perhaps "the most far-reaching program, the most far-sighted program for the benefit of workers that has ever been adopted here or in any other country."

These critics have never gained traction because most people think it's simple justice that those who work for a living be treated with a modicum of respect. Many voters who express skepticism about government in the abstract nonetheless favor laws that give a fighting chance to individuals with weaker bargaining positions in the marketplace.

The minimum-wage battle underscores the difference between 2010-style conservatism and the conservatism of Dwight Eisenhower or even Ronald Reagan. The 2010 right actually imagines a return to the times prior to the New Deal and Teddy Roosevelt's Square Deal, the heady days before there were laws on wages and hours, environmental concerns and undue economic concentration.

The country doesn't need this class war, and it is irrational in any case. Practically no one, least of all Obama, is questioning the basics of the market system or proposing anything more than somewhat tighter economic regulations -- after the biggest financial collapse since the Great Depression -- and rather modest tax increases on the wealthy.

But even these steps are apparently too much for those financing all the television ads, which should lead voters to ask themselves: Who is paying for this? What do they really want? And who gave them the right to buy an election?

ejdionne@washpost.com

Right....

You notice, the only one who seems to be having issues with everyone else lately? The WH and the Democrats. Poor babies, they can't accept the blame for their own faults, so they have now started attacking everyone else. And then they turn around and say they are being attacked.

Fucking lol.

They are the biggest bunch of whiners I have seen - and this current batch led by Obama seem to have taken whining to all new levels. Everyone else did it - the poor democrats are just the 'victims' of the vast right wing conspiracy. LOL. Yeah, more like even their defender the NY Times have turned against them and don't backup their stupid claims these days. Pretty frickin sad. But leave it to the WAPO to carry the liberal torch.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

These are the facts. You can take it as whining if you please but they are indisputable. The GOP wishes to win elections by buying their way into the offices. They then wish to repeal all of the reforms that have taken place over the last 60 plus years. Greed knows no bounds.

You mean, LIBERAL STUPIDITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS.
YOU FAGGOTS MUST BE AFRAID THAT PULLING OUT ANOTHER
RACE CARD WON'T WIN YOU LOSERS ANOTHER ELECTION.

Awwwwww poor babies. TOUGH SHIT.
.

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.

pas'ion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> These are the facts. You can take it as whining
> if you please but they are indisputable. The GOP
> wishes to win elections by buying their way into
> the offices. They then wish to repeal all of the
> reforms that have taken place over the last 60
> plus years. Greed knows no bounds.


Yeah, I know the Democrats would never take money from the Chinese... Oh wait. Or the labor unions... Oh wait.

STFU idiot.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another." - George Washington's farewell address, 1796

Registered Voter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pas'ion Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > These are the facts. You can take it as
> whining
> > if you please but they are indisputable. The
> GOP
> > wishes to win elections by buying their way
> into
> > the offices. They then wish to repeal all of
> the
> > reforms that have taken place over the last 60
> > plus years. Greed knows no bounds.
>
>
> Yeah, I know the Democrats would never take money
> from the Chinese... Oh wait. Or the labor
> unions... Oh wait.
>
> STFU idiot.


They would never take any money from Soros either would they? How
about all those illegal aliens in the SEUI?

This is simply put, Corruption. Buying power and influence with extreme amounts of Money.

Georgie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Registered Voter Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > pas'ion Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > These are the facts. You can take it as
> > whining
> > > if you please but they are indisputable. The
> > GOP
> > > wishes to win elections by buying their way
> > into
> > > the offices. They then wish to repeal all of
> > the
> > > reforms that have taken place over the last
> 60
> > > plus years. Greed knows no bounds.
> >
> >
> > Yeah, I know the Democrats would never take
> money
> > from the Chinese... Oh wait. Or the labor
> > unions... Oh wait.
> >
> > STFU idiot.
>
>
> They would never take any money from Soros either
> would they? How
> about all those illegal aliens in the SEUI?

But you are able to identify Soros and the Unions and figure out how much they gave the Democrats.

US Chamber is actively seeking large donations from Bahrain, India, China and making "promises". The money is co-mingled with other monies in the Chamber's main account and they will not tell anyone where it is coming from. They do have "internal controls" and assure us that foreign money will not be used on the mid term elections. Ahuh.

And all you "conservatives", remember what Warren Buffet said “There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning.â€

It's high time the people in this country stood up and took back what is theirs.

It's pretty fucking sad that only the rich and famous get elected to run a country that favors the rich and famous. Laws are written to favor the rich and famous. It's a 3 card Monty sidewalk game, one the every day Joe will never win.

When will people say enough is enough? Did they believe that when they elected obama? Has he really, truly, done anything different that everyone else before him hasn't done? Has government spending been curbed? Are taxes any lower? Are the job prospects brighter?

Things need to change, and soon.

"Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories."
Thomas Jefferson

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them."
Thomas Jefferson

"My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government."
Thomas Jefferson

That's the thing. The Rich and powerful have controlled the Government for so long it's no longer the middle class and poor who elect officials. Politicians on both sides do not care what the Middle class wants or needs. They are bought and sold by special interest groups, wall street, large corporations. It is laughable to say that Conservatives are helping the working man through Capitalism and that Democrats are trying to turn America into a Socialist state. Neither statement are true. The Democrats and Republicans are fine with the status quo. They are just trying to advance the causes of the rich over the middle classes and poor.

How can you say that? Obama did an excellent job of recruiting the poor to vote for him. They all bought it. Hook, line and sinker.


pas'ion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That's the thing. The Rich and powerful have
> controlled the Government for so long it's no
> longer the middle class and poor who elect
> officials.

Why do you cheer on the Party that votes to PAY companies to send your job overseas?

Why do you applaud the Party that spends a significant portion of its time excoriating the unions that made the American workers' lives livable?

Why do you shill for the people who have created an economic climate where you lost everything and they actually INCREASED their wealth?


Why do you accept as wisdom the insanity of people like Sean Hannity who tell you we'd've been better off if the government (both the Bush and Obama administrations, AND Congress, before and after the election) had allowed every major bank in the country to become economic Hindenbergs?


Why do you think it has been a good idea to block nearly every attempt to improve the lot of the middle class in America?

pas'ion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Why do you think it has been a good idea to block
> nearly every attempt to improve the lot of the
> middle class in America?




+1


The Republican party is quickly turning into some odd combination of super-wealthy individuals and clueless rednecks and naive Mid-Westerners (Tea Baggers.)

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> The Republican party is quickly turning into some odd combination of super-wealthy individuals and clueless rednecks and naive Mid-Westerners (Tea Baggers.)

Ever since I stupidly voted for Bush in 2000, the Democrats have moved into a mainstream political agenda while the GOP has moved into a mental institution.

pas'ion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> These are the facts. You can take it as whining
> if you please but they are indisputable. The GOP
> wishes to win elections by buying their way into
> the offices. They then wish to repeal all of the
> reforms that have taken place over the last 60
> plus years. Greed knows no bounds.


These aren't facts, this is an E.J. Dionne op-ed.

A Troll Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pas'ion Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > These are the facts. You can take it as
> whining
> > if you please but they are indisputable. The
> GOP
> > wishes to win elections by buying their way
> into
> > the offices. They then wish to repeal all of
> the
> > reforms that have taken place over the last 60
> > plus years. Greed knows no bounds.
>
>
> These aren't facts, this is an E.J. Dionne op-ed.

His opinion is backed by these facts.

pas'ion Wrote:

> The 2010 election is turning into a class war.

It certainly has.

THE GREAT DIVIDER SPEAKS:

Radiophile Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> But you are able to identify Soros and the Unions
> and figure out how much they gave the Democrats.
>

Yeah, remember the Obama 'internet' donation spree? They never came clean on all those donations either. So seriously, cry me a fucking river. The Clinton campaigns were heavily funded by the Chinese - and I don't remember Johnny Wu (wasn't that his name) going to jail for any great length of time despite funneling large amounts of Chinese money to their campaign (and the Democrats) via strawmen. But yeah, let's distract everyone with a non-story about outside money influencing an election. Like that has never happened before.

I thought the Democrats had all these accomplishments to run on - yet I don't think I have seen any of them run on healthcare, bailouts, or anything they 'accomplished'. No, instead all we hear is the continued 'blame everyone else' BS. Which is why, in November, the Democrats are going to get their asses handed to them.

But you all keep drinking the koolaid :)

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University
Attachments:

Yes keep voting for people who are eviscerating the working, middle class and poor.

pas'ion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yes keep voting for people who are eviscerating
> the working, middle class and poor.


Yeah, the Democrats are doing a good job proving they are just as bad at is anyone else they try to demonize. But instead, they will also take the money and create a Federal government that will bankrupt us as well.

That's one way to do it - make us all poor - then at least the class warfare card will go away. With the current leadership we are heading that way.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/12/2010 02:01PM by Registered Voter.

pas'ion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why do you cheer on the Party that votes to PAY
> companies to send your job overseas?

The demokrats and kongress promised for years to reform the H1B program, just elect them and they'll get it done. They didn't. John Kkerry ran on that years ago as did Obama. Nothing.



> Why do you applaud the Party that spends a
> significant portion of its time excoriating the
> unions that made the American workers' lives
> livable?

This one is just rich. Did you see what Obama did to the GM/Chrysler unions? They steered the result into a total union-busting scenario, having those two declare bankruptcy PRIMARILY to destroy union agreements over retiree healthcare and pensions.



> Why do you shill for the people who have created
> an economic climate where you lost everything and
> they actually INCREASED their wealth?

Barney Frank sat on CSPAN and bragged, BRAGGED that how during the downturn he invested in Massakhusettes municipal bonds, avoiding the downturn and not subject to the tax hikes they are about to put in place come Jan 1.



> Why do you think it has been a good idea to block
> nearly every attempt to improve the lot of the
> middle class in America?

The demokrats held votes on minor oil piping specification regulations but did not extend the Bush-era tax cuts to the middle class. Middle-class America is about to get a crushing tax increase, breaking all promises by Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Emanuel about not increasing taxes on the middle class. Only the Republicans can save the middle class from that increase, once in power in Jan and can pass a retroactive correction. But that delay will damage job growth over the next three to five months. Good job demokrats. The demokrats have written the profits of health insurance kompanies into legislative stone. No kongress or Congress before this one has done more to damage the viability of the middle class for generations than this one.

------------------------------------

twitter @EyeAmU

conVince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pas'ion Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why do you cheer on the Party that votes to PAY
> > companies to send your job overseas?
>
> The demokrats and kongress promised for years to
> reform the H1B program, just elect them and
> they'll get it done. They didn't. John Kkerry
> ran on that years ago as did Obama. Nothing.
>


Kerry lost the election. How was he to do anything if not even in Office as President?
>
>
> > Why do you applaud the Party that spends a
> > significant portion of its time excoriating the
> > unions that made the American workers' lives
> > livable?
>
> This one is just rich. Did you see what Obama did
> to the GM/Chrysler unions? They steered the
> result into a total union-busting scenario, having
> those two declare bankruptcy PRIMARILY to destroy
> union agreements over retiree healthcare and
> pensions.
>
>
This is just sheer folly. The CEO's came to washington ASKING for a bailout. The unions did NOT.



>
> > Why do you shill for the people who have
> created
> > an economic climate where you lost everything
> and
> > they actually INCREASED their wealth?
>
> Barney Frank sat on CSPAN and bragged, BRAGGED
> that how during the downturn he invested in
> Massakhusettes municipal bonds, avoiding the
> downturn and not subject to the tax hikes they are
> about to put in place come Jan 1.
>

Are you surprised that a democrat can be fiscally responsible with his money or did you think that only GOP can be wealthy?
>
>
> > Why do you think it has been a good idea to
> block
> > nearly every attempt to improve the lot of the
> > middle class in America?
>
> The demokrats held votes on minor oil piping
> specification regulations but did not extend the
> Bush-era tax cuts to the middle class.
> Middle-class America is about to get a crushing
> tax increase, breaking all promises by
> Obama/Pelosi/Reid/Emanuel about not increasing
> taxes on the middle class. Only the Republicans
> can save the middle class from that increase, once
> in power in Jan and can pass a retroactive
> correction. But that delay will damage job growth
> over the next three to five months. Good job
> demokrats. The demokrats have written the profits
> of health insurance kompanies into legislative
> stone. No kongress or Congress before this one
> has done more to damage the viability of the
> middle class for generations than this one.


THe GOP started TWO wars. Cut Taxes for the rich. This sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. Also no worse than what Reagan did in the 80's with social security and capital gains taxes.

What would you do if you pissed in a cup a couple days ago that is
sitting right next to you now, and the smell is starting to bother you?
.

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.

pas'ion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Kerry lost the election. How was he to do
> anything if not even in Office as President?

"I will support a temporary increase in the H-1B visa program" - B. Hussein Obama, Nov 26, 2007. There went your middle-class jobs, a demokrat supporting foreign worker visas to take the place of domestic middle-class jobs.


> This is just sheer folly. The CEO's came to
> washington ASKING for a bailout. The unions did
> NOT.

Nope, wrong again. Obama took it over once GM management and the unions couldn't come to an agreement and screwed the bondholders. Obama's Car Czar solution disbanded the union agreements. Obama busted the unions! Wow, what support!



> Are you surprised that a democrat can be fiscally
> responsible with his money or did you think that
> only GOP can be wealthy?

When I see a fiscally responsible demokrat I'll let you know.



------------------------------------

twitter @EyeAmU

"When I see a fiscally responsible demokrat I'll let you know."

++++

what about all those fiscally responsible republicans from about, oh, say, 2 years ago? you know, the ones who ran up the deficit, blew the budget and spent recklessly for much of the last decade. hypocrite much?

convicted Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> "When I see a fiscally responsible demokrat I'll
> let you know."
>
> ++++
>
> what about all those fiscally responsible
> republicans from about, oh, say, 2 years ago? you
> know, the ones who ran up the deficit, blew the
> budget and spent recklessly for much of the last
> decade. hypocrite much?

All of that became moot when Obama decided to put out a deficit larger than almost all those years combined. And the whole 'well they did it so we can too' is really kind of kindergarten isn't it?

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – A federal judge has issued a worldwide injunction stopping enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, ending the military's 17-year-old ban on openly gay troops.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips' landmark ruling Tuesday was widely cheered by gay rights organizations that credited her with getting accomplished what President Obama and Washington politics could not.

U.S. Department of Justice attorneys have 60 days to appeal. Legal experts say the department is under no legal obligation to do so and could let Phillips' ruling stand.

Phillips declared the law unconstitutional after a two-week trial in federal court in Riverside. The case was brought about by the pro-gay Log Cabin Republicans.

+++++

thank JEEBUS for republicans! ha!

The OPEN faggots should have their own platoons on the front lines.

Make us proud SISSIES!

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.

I agree with pas'ion.

Just the wars and the bush tax cuts alone – two major initiatives of the Bush administration – will add $7 trillion to the debt from 2010-2019. This does not include trillions associated with Medicare.

There was a projected suprlus of 6 trillion when Bush and Republicans took over The white house and Congress.

Look at the job creation rate under Clinton and the job creation rate under Bush. When Clinton was in office (where the rates were before the Bush tax cuts) job creation was over double that of Bush. Makes it tough to argue the tax cuts create jobs when we have bundles of evidence over last 2 decades that proves they do not

Wow, same old shit, different day.

2000 Recession (y2K downsizing)
9/11

Nah, those wouldn't have anything to do with loss of jobs... oh wait...

Under Clinton we had a huge dot com bubble that broke at the end of his two terms - lots of layoffs were going on before Bush was in office. So all of Clinton's job creation was going out the door - so that would have had negative effects on the 'surplus' in any case. The defense downsizing under Clinton had a lot to do with all of the supposed 'surplus' also - of course, they were also using Soc Sec to show they had a surplus. 9/11 had a huge impact on the airline industry and many others.

But hey, all those small notes aside... yeah, you are still an idiot. Blame anyone else you want - that won't get old. It is actually funny watching you push the TPM for the Democrats - but keep trying, one day you might overcome your shortcomings.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

and what of the deregulation of wall street, and the Mortgage crisis that led to the recession that currently grips the world economy? Wow might those things dwarf anything to do with Y2K, or the internet bubble bursting? Yes the current recession which is "the worst since the great depression" makes y2k, 911 and internet bubble bursting small.

there's no need for name-calling, Registered Voter.

+1 miz, he's trying to overcome his own shortcomings! wayyy too many to list.

There just isn’t any pleasing some people. The trick is to stop trying

Registered Voter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> But hey, all those small notes aside... yeah, you
> are still an idiot. Blame anyone else you want -
> that won't get old.




That's not fair and balanced RV.

Mr. Misery Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> there's no need for name-calling, Registered
> Voter.

You're a fuckin idiot - that is the truth. Not really name calling.

Go back to your endless postings of meaningless threads and comments. You have enough of your own.

If you can’t model the past, where you know the answer pretty well, how can you model the future? - William Happer Cyrus Fogg Brackett Professor of Physics Princeton University

pas'ion Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Democrats in an act of desperation.


Obama’s buddy, John Podesta, manufactured this story on his liberal blog, Think Progress, which is funded by George Soros.

It was then heavily promoted by Obama and Co.

Big surprise!

Even the "smart" folks from the "smart" news organizations... the ones who gushed at pictures of his biceps and touted him as the wonder boy, have called this a lie.

Whoop de fucking doo!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/us/politics/09donate.html

I hated the new class...


Signatures are for fags

Harry Tuttle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I hated the new class...
> http://sharetv.org/images/saved_by_the_bell_the_ne
> w_class-show.jpg

the college years were even worse.
Attachments: