Really wish I knew how to combat this kind of simple-mindedness.

[Versailles]

From a Facebook "conversation". Clearly FF ignores every single salient point I'm making about the topic at hand and latches on to the one simple example I use with the same tired disproven rhetoric. There really is no reasoning with that kind of mind...they are so caught up in what they "know" they refuse to acknowledge what is staring them in the face.

Friend's Status - Republican Senate Leader quoted saying "we are not trying to create jobs, we are trying to keep this president at one term."

ME - That alone should be enough for just about anyone to NOT vote republican. They care more about the politics of staying or gaining power than about those they are supposed to represent. It also puts a large number of the faults of the president at suspect. How different of a president would he be if he was not hampered by obstructionism for political gain? How many times have republican leaders sat down to "compromise" only to move the goal posts on the president and then demand he give in...and if the president doesn't, they put out press release after press release that says Obama is unwilling to work with the other side of the aisle and he is working against the will of the people. I guess I have to admire the republican leadership's ability to spin reality and dupe the average voter into believing the spin...
11:01am (12 hours ago)

Friend's Friend (FF) - Ok, looked this up. No such quote was said. What time, location and context was this said in? Who reported it?
2:56pm (8 hours ago)

FF - the Quote I read said, "Well that is true, my single most important political goal along with every active Republican in the country. But that’s in 2012. Our biggest goal for this year is to get this country straightened out, and you can’t get this country straightened out if we don’t do something about spending, about deficit, about debt and get this economy moving again. So, our goal is to have a robust vibrant economy that will benefit all Americans"
3:00pm (8 hours ago)

ME - Sooo, in the next 2 months, despite the holiday breaks, we should expect to see the republicans passing a huge number of bills that will help the economy and jobs right? If that happens and I see them putting forth viable bills and voting in a non-partisan manner in regards to the economy, then I will apologize and retract my criticisms of the republican party...I won't hold my breath based on past experience.

Regardless of what the exact quote was, the sentiment was/is proven through action, or lack thereof. The republicans in the senate/congress have done very little, if anything, to help their constituents. Their actions have spoken louder than their words. Despite an overwhelming call from their constituents to raise taxes on the the richest Americans (something like 80% support if I remember correctly, and even a 70% support among millionaires), they have filibustered, obstructed, spun, and otherwise tried to make everything supported by the president fail so that they can then turn around and blame the president in 2012 during the election cycle. The number of filibusters since Obama became president has been higher than the rest of US history. Looking at the partisanship that has crippled our country during a time of crisis, it is hard to deny that while the actual quote suggests that they are looking out for what is best for the citizens, their actions show that the paraphrased quote is actually closer to the truth. At least in my opinion...
5:14pm (6 hours ago)

ME - Just to add to that prior statement, it would appear that other republicans have been a vocal in their support to do anything to sink the current president.
"I am sorry our country is not doing well, from a political standpoint I think it’s a problem for the president and his party.’ ‘I think the president owns the economy and I think he owns the political problems associated with it" Senator John Cornyn http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/09/cornyn-politica.php?mrefid=site_search

In regards to the Presidents jobs bill - Senior House Republican: 'Obama Is On the Ropes, Don’t Hand Him a Win.' According to Politico, a senior House Republican Aide said, 'Obama is on the ropes; why do we appear ready to hand him a win?'http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0911/63214.html
5:29pm (6 hours ago)

FF - Raising taxes on the rich? They ALREADY pay 95% of all taxes! Ask the average "Middle Class" family how much they pay in taxes. And they will say, at a federal level they get back almost all of their taxes.
8:52pm (2 hours ago)
F
FF - if not MORE due to EIC.
8:52pm (2 hours ago)

FF - No country in the world has ever got itself out of a recession due by going into more debt. How are we going to fund the programs? We are not a socialism. You make your own way, forge your own path. Get off your ass, Get off the lawn, and create your own destiny. There are thousands of stories of people during the great depression who became millionaires. My great-grandfather was one of them, by taking junk furniture, repairing it, and reselling it. Stop blaming the woes of the world on a race, religion, Political party, birth, or anything else. This generation ( I am a Gen X by the way) is the laziest the world has EVER seen. They want everything handed to them, and not want to work for it.
8:59pm (2 hours ago)

[gateley]

1. How is it possible to hate someone I don't even know? And

it's not even MY F's F!

When they cite the "they pay 95% of all taxes" is that because of the dollar amount?

It's the percentage that's killing us. 35% of $50,000 hurts that family far more than 35% of $500,000, or $5,000,000 families.