"Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky threw his hat in the ring today, vowing to compete for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination with a sneering speech that used the word "liberty" eleven times. And by "liberty," Paul means that he wants to liberate billionaire-Americans from having to pay taxes. If elected, he'll achieve this goal by getting rid of public schools and the US Department of Education, squeezing "socialist" Medicare, Medicaid, and food stamps into ‘block grants,' and generally taking America back to the 19th Century.
Because there was so much liberty in America until unions, weekends, worker safety regulations, child labor laws, a minimum wage, civil rights laws, fair housing acts, and other godless liberal innovations stifled the ‘freedom' of unbridled capitalists to stomp their boots all over humanity's face. See how that works?"
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
That poll looks to be fairly accurate, but with a moderate pinch of salt.
Carson at 23?....Huckabullshit at 12?
I have a real tough time with that.
Walker on top doesn't surprise me, neither does Rubio.
Ted Cruz is grossly underrated.
Carly Fiorina at -7 isn't bad at all considering she's a virtual unknown, whereas Christie, Graham and Trump are very well known.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I think Marco Rubio "hit it out of the park" with his announcement speech. IMHO - He rises to the top of the announced field of GOP candidates --- and may supplant Jeb Bush as the best choice (IMHO) for the GOP presidential nomination. 2016 should be about the future and not the past.
George Amedore & Christian Klueg for NYS Senate 2016 Pete Vroman for State Assembly 2016[/size][/color]
"For this is what America is all about. It is the uncrossed desert and the unclimbed ridge. It is the star that is not reached and the harvest that is sleeping in the unplowed ground." Lyndon Baines Johnson
2016 Election April 13, 2015 Rand Paul Is Republicans' Best Hope to Beat Hillary By Brian O'Connor
Hillary Clinton, to no one's surprise, announced Sunday that she's running for president. Barring catastrophe, she'll become the Democratic nominee next summer. There is no such clarity on the Republican side, with a new candidate official entering the race every week. But this much is clear: If the GOP want to defeat Clinton next fall, they should turn to the only Republican whose buzz rivals hers: Rand Paul.
The Republican Party is at a crossroads. Its base, bolstered by big-tent conservatism throughout the 1980s and late 2000s, is aware of its own image problem: The “Party of No” is on the losing side in the battle for marriage equality, has failed to convince Americans that it has a clearer plan for healthcare reform, and remains tacitly pro-war when the population is interested in a U.S. withdrawal from foreign intervention. Worse yet, its base is aging and isn't being replaced by younger voters. Libertarianism, however, is on the rise nationally, with 22 percent of eligible voters identifying with the movement in recent polling. Enter Rand Paul, heir apparent to the movement, who pointedly said during in an interview with the Associated Press, “Young people aren't so wedded to party. The kids are probably adrift somewhat. I don't think someone who is an authoritarian, or comes from a much more authoritarian point of view like Hillary Clinton, will attract them.” A fresh brand of libertarian-infused conservatism could be the way forward for Republicans looking to woo the youth vote, and Paul sees himself as the person who can provide it.
Rand might be right. While Clinton has overwhelming support from Millennials who grew up under her husband’s administration, the growth of libertarian ideology among young voters may peel away some of Hillary’s reliable supporters, swayed by Paul’s “leave-me-alone-coalition” of voters, reluctance toward the use of military force abroad, support of medical marijuana legislation, his platform position on criminal justice reform, and his sometimes-unpolished appearance in interviews and stump speeches that connote a sense of “realness” that is uncommon in GOP candidates. Paul gains headlines for what he’s not: a non-threatening Republican with a cadre of platform stances that are nearer to obsolescence than relatability. His brand of digestible libertarianism is made for the post-Obama generation. Hillary, on the other hand, is likely seen as a successor of Obama’s administration; she is the torch-bearer that Vice President Joe Biden would be, were he cut out for the presidency. Young voters who came of age during Obama’s two exciting campaigns may find Hillary to be a less magnetic choice compared Paul—if he finds traction with any Republican voters willing to compromise the beliefs of the base for the betterment of the party.
But therein lies the rub. Rand may be the candidate that Republicans need, but not the one they want. He is a dove in a party of hawks; a pro-marijuana legalization advocate in a party that only tacitly embraces reform. He’s a young, vibrant speaker whom Millennials actually listen to (even if he needs to be trained not to lash out at reporters). He doesn't espouse the conservative boilerplate of his competitors, so he may not stand a chance in Iowa, where his father’s campaign took devastating blows in 2012, or in the GOP primary generally. And yet, polls suggest he would stand a chance against Hillary in the general election. In the latest Quinnipiac poll, Paul leads Clinton in both Iowa and Colorado while a national surveys place him only seven points behind Hillary. Paul leads Clinton in current Iowa polling by two to three percentage points. He leads Clinton on head-to-head polls in Colorado as well, a crucial state during both Obama campaigns.
Jeb Bush is seen as the strongest Republican candidate, given his name recognition, relative moderation, and powerful donor base. But it could be tough to convince anyone outside the party to vote another Bush into the White House, especially after the economy is finally showing signs of recovery. Rand Paul, so far, has said all the right things to make the base warm to him: He calls for a balanced budget every year of his prospective administration, wants to curtail government spending, is decidedly anti-bailout, and would gleefully dismantle regulation before he has a chance to take off his overcoat in the Oval Office. What’s more, Paul opposes abortion, would block welfare grants to states, and takes a dim view of marriage equality initiatives. With the waning influence of Evangelical Christians and the wholesale admonishment of neoliberalism by economists, it may be time for the GOP to cater to a fresh brand of conservatism, even if it means shifting what the base considers “conservative enough.” Savvy Republicans would do well to see Paul’s mixture of likeability and base conservative values as a Trojan horse for swing voters, a demographic which might not want to vote for the obstructionist party after two more years with a sclerotic Congress.
The Democrats have paved a clear path for Hillary Clinton. Few serious challengers exist, and those who do—such as Senator Elizabeth Warren—have indicated their deference to the Democratic heir apparent. Make no mistake, Hillary has proven herself worthy of getting the party’s endorsement: She is by far the most experienced campaigner, has a proven track record of foreign policy expertise as secretary of state, and can capitalize on the growth of feminism and gender equality that now permeates American culture. She is, however, the “establishment candidate” when compared to Rand Paul. A war-averse public may not want a president who is so closely associated with the practices of her predecessor, and worst yet, may cringe at how easily Clinton will ascend above her Democratic challengers. That she might not be in the political fight of her life, as she was in 2008, may even dampen the zeal of those who supported her back when Obama was the “outsider” candidate.
American politics is nothing else if not a spectacle machine; that there does not seem to be a major fight brewing for the Democratic nomination could take the wind from Hillary’s sails before August. And with few other signs of life within the broader electorate, the GOP might need to stop worrying about Rand and come to embrace him as their only viable shot at beating Hillary’s campaign juggernaut. After all, Americans do love an underdog.
Republican presidential hopeful Chris Christie proposed pushing back the age of eligibility for Social Security and Medicare for future retirees on Tuesday as part of a plan to cut deficits by $1 trillion over a decade, an approach he said would confront the nation's "biggest challenges in an honest way."
In a speech in New Hampshire, site of the first 2016 presidential primary, the New Jersey governor also proposed cutting off Social Security benefits in the future for retirees with annual incomes of $200,000 or more. He said seniors who wish to work after age 62 should be exempt from the payroll tax.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
You didn't bother to mention that means testing will begin at $80,000 of non-SS income...So, that will include most good union pensions... I guess all of a sudden, they're rich too.... Also, he wants to move up the full SS age to 69 and the early retirement age to 64 by 2022....but what the heck, Boxy is under the wire, so he won't be effected... as long as the rich get shafted from something they paid into to, Boxy says it's all good... screw the rest of us!
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
You didn't bother to mention that means testing will begin at $80,000 of non-SS income...So, that will include most good union pensions... I guess all of a sudden, they're rich too.... Also, he wants to move up the full SS age to 69 and the early retirement age to 64 by 2022....but what the heck, Boxy is under the wire, so he won't be effected... as long as the rich get shafted from something they paid into to, Boxy says it's all good... screw the rest of us!
TBird reads his agenda into my posts.
Christie's a F'n Republican. The only way he cuts anything for the Rich is if it guts everything for the poor and middle class.
Newsmax Media, commonly called Newsmax, is a conservative American news media organization. It operates the news website Newsmax.com, publishes the Franklin Prosperity Report and Newsmax magazine, and runs a conservative cable news channel Newsmax TV.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Also From "New Smack"... Gov. Christie Fails to Report Income, Avoids $152,000 in Taxes
(It looks like Christie has another Right Winger Enemy in NewsSmack!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
Christie could be a f'ing Nazi, but you'd still get all giddy about the "rich" getting shafted out of something.... and you DID leave things out..anything that would have tarnished your "stunning" headline...This was ALL over the news outlets today, and YOU pick NEWSMAX? C'mon....
Something tells me you would have included the rest if it pertained to you, but screw everyone else...right?
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
Christie could be a f'ing Nazi, but you'd still get all giddy about the "rich" getting shafted out of something.... and you DID leave things out..anything that would have tarnished your "stunning" headline...This was ALL over the news outlets today, and YOU pick NEWSMAX? C'mon....
Something tells me you would have included the rest if it pertained to you, but screw everyone else...right?
I was browsing the headlines and clicked on the link. It happened to be NEWS SmackS. I know you're disappointed that it wasn't something more sinister, but I went there following the link.
"The Rich Getting Shafted By A Republican???" LMAO! Never!
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. John Kenneth Galbraith
I was browsing the headlines and clicked on the link. It happened to be NEWS SmackS. I know you're disappointed that it wasn't something more sinister, but I went there following the link.
"The Rich Getting Shafted By A Republican???" LMAO! Never!
Really???!!! When there was nbcnews, msdnc, and cnn with similar links? Yeah, OK.... Nothing sinister, just your history of posting half truths...
"Arguing with liberals is like playing chess with a pigeon; no matter how good I am at chess, the pigeon is just going to knock out the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious." - Author Unknown
I don't see the Rich getting shafted by the Dems either.
"Approval ratings go up and down for various reasons... An example is the high post 911 support for GWB even though he could be said to be responsible for the event." --- Box A Rox '9/11 Truther'
Melania is a bimbo... she is there to look at, not to listen to. --- Box A Rox and his 'War on Women'