I’m surprised no one has mentioned in retort (at least that I saw) that although what you say about Republicans is true, conservatives have been shut out of government for the past 10 years. Each time a Republican is elected to office, conservatives hope and pray that they will actually implement a conservative agenda. Republicans, at least of late, seem to have no identifiable ideology, except of course retaining office like most hollow politicians. Conservatives have been disappointed countless times over the past decade plus. Hope springs eternal however, that we’ll one day get someone in office to actually govern as a conservative. True conservatism works every time it’s tried

That’s actually a pretty typical retort. ‘Oh, these aren’t the real Republicans. We’re the real Republicans.’ Yeah? Well, why do you real ones keep voting for the fake ones? Why is all of this criticism only coming at the tail end of Bush’s Presidency? Because for awhile there, it really sounded like you guys were pretty cool with everything these allegedly fake Republicans were doing. I’ve been arguing with people like you for years that Bush isn’t conservative at all, only to be told that I have ‘Bush Derangement Syndrome,’ or I hate America, or I support defeat, and on and on. Now you’re telling me I’ve been right about him all along, I guess? Maybe you should just take my advice about who to vote for, since you seem to be admitting that you’re very easily duped.

http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=796

On October 9th, 2008 at 9:14 pm, chapoutier said:

Sorry to all those who wanted a link. I should have provided it in the beginning and before I took off:

I can’t find the direct source for some reason, but this link does explain the source and differences in figures.

Again, one can draw their own conclusions from this, whether or not they think that director’s contributions are meaningful or not or whatever. But I am curious as to what the board perception of these numbers when compared to say, Tancredo or Thompson, back in January or February when McCain pretty much hated on this board.

It is odd that the NYTimes doesn’t just link to the sources that gave them the figures. And employees are employees. Why the CRP would consider people that work for different companies as non employees is odd, unless their contributions were a sum based on all of their jobs, for which we have zero data.

The relevant paragraphs:

The total listed for Obama is $126,349 — a tiny fraction of the approximately $390 million his campaign has raised, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. The list shows McCain has received a total of $21,550 from Fannie and Freddie employees. The list includes donations of at least $200 from those who receive paychecks from Fannie and Freddie. It also includes donations from political action committees — pooled contributions from employees. Obama decided early in his presidential run not to accept PAC contributions, but the Center for Responsive Politics’ list includes all contributions for members of Congress dating back to 1989 — including Obama and McCain’s Senate campaigns.

The New York Times has published a separate list looking at contributions from “directors, officers, and lobbyists for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac” for the 2008 campaign cycle. That list — using figures from the Federal Election Commission — shows McCain receiving $169,000, while Obama received only $16,000.

Explaining the difference, the Center for Responsive Politics said on its Web site that it does not include members of the board of directors because they could serve on boards of various companies. Their contributions are listed along with other employees of the companies they work for. And the center says lobbyists usually represent multiple clients as well, so their contributions are listed under their lobbying firms — except in-house lobbyists, who are included in the center’s list.

This last sentence is the most concerning, as they say that “Their contributions are listed along with other employees of the companies they work for.” Well, why not F/F?

On the other hand, given the differences between the candidates on the this issue, both now and in the recent past, it is possible that some of the officers/managers/directors agreed with McCain as they watched their company crash and burn.

I guess we will never really know, although I would be prone to suspect that the NYTimes would present the worst possible scenario for McCain since they are pro Obama. That is purely opinion on my part, though it is reasonably well supported by the NYTimes track record.

Personal Responsibility

On October 10th, 2008 at 12:11 am, Digshot said:
I’m a little unsure why Republicans have anything to be upset about. It’s not like you’ve spent the past ten years shut out of government. And you’re screaming about Obama being a socialist? That is the problem, as you can identify it? Has it even occurred to you that the people you’ve so enthusiastically supported just haven’t done a very good job?

If so, what does that say about the wisdom of your ideology’s voters, given that they so enthusiastically supported these people for so long?

Digshot ~

I’m surprised no one has mentioned in retort (at least that I saw) that although what you say about Republicans is true, conservatives have been shut out of government for the past 10 years. Each time a Republican is elected to office, conservatives hope and pray that they will actually implement a conservative agenda. Republicans, at least of late, seem to have no identifiable ideology, except of course retaining office like most hollow politicians. Conservatives have been disappointed countless times over the past decade plus. Hope springs eternal however, that we’ll one day get someone in office to actually govern as a conservative. True conservatism works every time it’s tried!

mytake said:
I’m going to a McCain/Palin rally in Va Beach Monday and want to carry a pithy sign. Any suggestions?

Oooh, I’m jealous! I wanna see Sarah, too! I’m in Chester, Va., but it’s just a little out of the way.

As for signs, how about

Obama = (swastika)

Obama = Socialist

Obama = 143 Days Experience

or, if you want to go for positive emotion:

McCain/Palin = Americana

McCain/Palin = Red, White & True

Present your arguements; forget castigating someone who’s actions have proved steadfast loyalty to the Ideals of The Founding Fathers!

Argue effectively! If your argument are sound and wieghty enough to strongly answer your detractors, know that since Conservatives decide things by thinking, not emoting, you’ll carry the day with us!

A surplus, i’d remind you, that was “projected”, and on paper.

Even if what you say is true, it was still better than Bush’s guaranteed deficits, that by the way, omit the hundreds of billions of dollars we’ve been wasting in Iraq every year.

I agree with the fact that Republicans need to act like that’s what they are, and not be a huge spending machine. But if you really want to lump in everything that’s going on with the world of presidential spending and blundering, need we go back far into history to see where democrats have done the same thing?

I didn’t think so either.

I think all of them are corrupt. I just like calling it for what it is.

I just don’t think that Herbert Hoover or FDR, having been in charge some 70 years ago, aren’t all that relevant to modern American politics. However, Republicans have been playing the same hand since Ronald Reagan, and even if I’m generous and only compare each party’s two most recent candidates, Clinton still blows Bush out of the water with regards to fiscal responsibility and limited government.

#230
On October 9th, 2008 at 5:53 pm, bansharia said:
Fam,
I think MM herself has set the tone of defeat. There isnt’t a darn thing the man can say that she isn’t snarky about.
…

Pardon me, but: HORSECRAP!

The absolute worst thing we could do would be to screw our eyes tightly closed, and robot-like, vote for JohnnyNeverSawADumbocratHe’dNotRolloverFor!

It is a HARD CHOICE to hunker-down and vote LOTE 1 last time! It takes a Man to make the hard choices, but a Man also get all the intel he can beforehand.

If we paper over anything McDumb&Nasty is weak on, we’ll live to regret it! It will be a place of “soft-rot”, a point where the enemy can concentrate fire. And because we’ve “hoped it would go away”, we’ll be unprepared for the firefight!

During Carter, a hostage rescue left copters burning on the sand. Why? Because Carter let the JCOS know that any questions about His Plan would get the questioner fast-tracked to retirement… their career-ender stamped “Conduct Unbecoming”.

So, no I am sorry, you & others who fault MM for her work honestly reporting JM’s idiocy are as wrong as it is possible to be & still be on this side of the isle.

BELIEVE ME, I don’t like arguing to vote for that McAnti-Conservative! I’ve had to eat a lot of words to do it. I can only do it because I have been convinced beyond my bones that it is correct. But only if we keep at the lot of them afterwards!

We are in a covert war waged on the Founding Principles of our Republic. Most here realize this. Even though “McCan’tFindHisA$$WithBothHands,Mirrors,Spotters,A-Map,&GPS” doesn’t. The proof is he still feels the compulsion to keep reaching across the isle to destruction.

SO: we, each of us, must be his wingman. Work to setup the shots so he can make them: our targets, his shots & his glory. We can be effective only if we’re brutally honest about his boneheadedness!

MisterBee –That’s because McCain is too enamored with his “maverick” image. Reaching across the aisle and all that.
I went to McCain’s website and told them I dont want a maverick I cant trust, I want a conservative that will do right by this country.

Which website is this? Every one I’ve gone to wants $$ and all your personal info to leave a message. I’d love to tell him what I think — namely, what would he do about the 5 million illegals who got bad loans that we’re paying for — you know, “all God’s (LaRaza) children.”