Republicans have a plan. They always have a plan. It has nothing to do with making the USA better for the people. It has to do with control. Stacking the Supreme Court has worked nicely for them so far. Retaliation is also part of the plan. Punish the Dems and anyone that supports them. Then there is the part regarding ignoring or using the laws to serve their purposes. Unfortunately the Dems are not planning well. They aren't patient and don't seem to see how easily our laws can be manipulated. Maybe when you have soul, it is hard to think that way. I don't know. But they better start looking at things from a different perspective or all will be lost. Otherwise we will be living in Gilead.
Still waiting to hear the Republican's plan to replace Obamacare. Have since learned to not hold my breath waiting. I've figured out they don"t have a plan. Ditto inflation. I don't like the republican solution for keeping us safe...........more guns everywhere. America will either be in a war zone or back in the wild, wild west. Neither is appealing to me. Canada weeps for what is becoming of its southern neighbor.
I am not sure if I know of one factual gop policy that works
I do know every time they say something won't work, they are caught in a lie
Remember about 27 months ago when they said raising the minimum wage from $8 would destroy America... (someone needs to tell McDonalds they are destroying the economy by paying 15-20 dollars an hour)
Good example. The latest is bail reform and linking it to rising crime. Check out the latest John Oliver on HBO and he does a great job of showing that bail reform actually brings down crime in many places.
It did not seem to be particularly convincing since he refused to talk about Zeldin’s support of Trump. Pataki is a Republican so I suppose it was not unexpected.
People will/could see the picture(worth a thousand words) of Pataki holding a Zelden sign and Zelden holding a Pataki sign and be influenced to vote for Zelden and not know about Pataki's refusal to talk about Zelden's support of Trump.
I suppose that is true. But while Pataki is a former governor, he has been out of the limelight for a long time. I’m skeptical on how much these type of endorsements help.
I think our most important issue is a combination... it still pants elise stefanik and republicans in a lurid light. It also points out how bad democrats are on messaging.
It is a combination of education and nuance.. with the emphasis on education... often educating people on the nuances.
If you look at stefanik/gop stance on everything, the only thing that is transparent is the lack of transparency. Take a look at the worse things in America right now. Forget if it is a big problem or not.
For example crime. No one likes crime. The fact is crime is down over the last 10 years but like so many issues, if you were robbed yesterday you focus on crime. But you have to put it in context. Is crime the biggest issue facing us today... and if it is, why isn’t stefanik and zeldin bragging about how it is down. It is down in New York City and it is down in New York State.
It is up in red states. But those are red states, with more guns and less social programs. and if you ignore that fact, however nuance, you would think republicans had a plan. If you don’t ignore it, if you read; if you educate yourself, then you know -- maybe it is time to stop listening to stefanik/zeldin/gop and realize: they might be liars.
I could go example after example. I have no problem talking about immigration, I know it isn’t a big NYS issue, but it is a big farmer issue. It is a big hotel industry issue. And NYS has farms and hotels. What NYS doesn’t have: a federal government addressing this issue that affects everyone in America.
But back to the beginning. I realized about 10 years ago, when a poll showed that a majority of republicans were believing education was bad, we were in troble. The rush limbaughs of the world worked hard and framed education as a threat to democracy. Oh, and they succeeded in creating a wonderful lie that the gop base now believes. (https://www.the74million.org/article/rash-of-new-polls-raise-red-flags-for-democrats-on-education/)
If you think that is good, then the lack of education has lead you to the fountain of ignorance and you are drinking it in hard.
Let me steal from Jeff Foxworthy
• If 95% of climate say we face major problems because of what we are doing to our planet and you side with the 5% that tell you: ‘don’t worry, stay stupid,’ you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you are willing to ignore that there were 800 arrests from Jan. 6, 2021, That on that day maybe the end of democracy had started, you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you think two teens being shot outside zeldin’s home means we do NOT have enough guns, you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you think not teaching history in public schools is a good thing, you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you think believing what you want to believe, though there are no facts to support it, you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you think living in ignorance is bliss, you might be an ignorant republican.
But how do we change this...? one way would be to expect politicians to be honest with us. When stefanik/gop say education scores are going down and it is because of the democrats, you might be an ignorant republican.
And speaking of ignorance, find one time stefanik has said anything that could be back with facts. Or go to her social media sites and find one of her supporters, who can back what they want to believe with facts, sources and links. (Spoiler you can’t.)
I know saying ‘ignorant republican might offend most republicans and some democrats. But I am old enough to remember when we knew ignorance was bad. If someone suggested you were ignorant, you didn’t use that as a reason to plan a kidnapping of a Michigan governor or try to physically attack the Speaker of the House or build a gallows on the capitol steps so you could hang the vice president.
No, back then, you educated yourself.
And right now, I don’t see a single problem that can be solved by ignorance, but that is the policy stefanik is running on.
stefanik/zeldin/gop has an army of nescient supporters. That would never look up the word ‘nescient’ because they are too smart to look up words.
Excellent Commentary ~ Issues that I care about are that everyone starts bearing their fair share of the tax burden, a decent single payer health care system where all necessary medical issues are covered including dental eye and ear conditions and that the exorbitant cost of higher education be addressed. When a young person graduates from college with a debt load anywhere from $30,000 upwards to six figures the playing field has not been leveled. All other issues are of far less urgency.
Republicans have a plan. They always have a plan. It has nothing to do with making the USA better for the people. It has to do with control. Stacking the Supreme Court has worked nicely for them so far. Retaliation is also part of the plan. Punish the Dems and anyone that supports them. Then there is the part regarding ignoring or using the laws to serve their purposes. Unfortunately the Dems are not planning well. They aren't patient and don't seem to see how easily our laws can be manipulated. Maybe when you have soul, it is hard to think that way. I don't know. But they better start looking at things from a different perspective or all will be lost. Otherwise we will be living in Gilead.
For those who have not watched the Handmaid’s Tale, you don’t want to be living in Gilead.
Still waiting to hear the Republican's plan to replace Obamacare. Have since learned to not hold my breath waiting. I've figured out they don"t have a plan. Ditto inflation. I don't like the republican solution for keeping us safe...........more guns everywhere. America will either be in a war zone or back in the wild, wild west. Neither is appealing to me. Canada weeps for what is becoming of its southern neighbor.
Well played
I am not sure if I know of one factual gop policy that works
I do know every time they say something won't work, they are caught in a lie
Remember about 27 months ago when they said raising the minimum wage from $8 would destroy America... (someone needs to tell McDonalds they are destroying the economy by paying 15-20 dollars an hour)
Good example. The latest is bail reform and linking it to rising crime. Check out the latest John Oliver on HBO and he does a great job of showing that bail reform actually brings down crime in many places.
watched it.
Would like to add that I am catching up with Last Week Tonight...
It saddens me that maga wants to return us to a 1950's racist, misogynist, homophobic society
I believe Rep. Stefanik was one of those who assured us that they had a plan that would be released after the election. It never was.
Ken, would you comment on Pataki’s endorsement of Zelden
While we wait for Ken to comment, I will say: "Welcome to the republican party."
remember stefanik endorsed don the con and carl paladino.
It reminds me of a story I heard..
When the democrats in congress caucus they sit in a circle and have a group discussion.
When the republicans in congress caucus they sit facing forward and there is one leader and they follow.
It did not seem to be particularly convincing since he refused to talk about Zeldin’s support of Trump. Pataki is a Republican so I suppose it was not unexpected.
People will/could see the picture(worth a thousand words) of Pataki holding a Zelden sign and Zelden holding a Pataki sign and be influenced to vote for Zelden and not know about Pataki's refusal to talk about Zelden's support of Trump.
I suppose that is true. But while Pataki is a former governor, he has been out of the limelight for a long time. I’m skeptical on how much these type of endorsements help.
I think our most important issue is a combination... it still pants elise stefanik and republicans in a lurid light. It also points out how bad democrats are on messaging.
It is a combination of education and nuance.. with the emphasis on education... often educating people on the nuances.
If you look at stefanik/gop stance on everything, the only thing that is transparent is the lack of transparency. Take a look at the worse things in America right now. Forget if it is a big problem or not.
For example crime. No one likes crime. The fact is crime is down over the last 10 years but like so many issues, if you were robbed yesterday you focus on crime. But you have to put it in context. Is crime the biggest issue facing us today... and if it is, why isn’t stefanik and zeldin bragging about how it is down. It is down in New York City and it is down in New York State.
It is up in red states. But those are red states, with more guns and less social programs. and if you ignore that fact, however nuance, you would think republicans had a plan. If you don’t ignore it, if you read; if you educate yourself, then you know -- maybe it is time to stop listening to stefanik/zeldin/gop and realize: they might be liars.
I could go example after example. I have no problem talking about immigration, I know it isn’t a big NYS issue, but it is a big farmer issue. It is a big hotel industry issue. And NYS has farms and hotels. What NYS doesn’t have: a federal government addressing this issue that affects everyone in America.
But back to the beginning. I realized about 10 years ago, when a poll showed that a majority of republicans were believing education was bad, we were in troble. The rush limbaughs of the world worked hard and framed education as a threat to democracy. Oh, and they succeeded in creating a wonderful lie that the gop base now believes. (https://www.the74million.org/article/rash-of-new-polls-raise-red-flags-for-democrats-on-education/)
If you think that is good, then the lack of education has lead you to the fountain of ignorance and you are drinking it in hard.
Let me steal from Jeff Foxworthy
• If 95% of climate say we face major problems because of what we are doing to our planet and you side with the 5% that tell you: ‘don’t worry, stay stupid,’ you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you are willing to ignore that there were 800 arrests from Jan. 6, 2021, That on that day maybe the end of democracy had started, you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you think two teens being shot outside zeldin’s home means we do NOT have enough guns, you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you think not teaching history in public schools is a good thing, you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you think believing what you want to believe, though there are no facts to support it, you might be an ignorant republican.
• If you think living in ignorance is bliss, you might be an ignorant republican.
But how do we change this...? one way would be to expect politicians to be honest with us. When stefanik/gop say education scores are going down and it is because of the democrats, you might be an ignorant republican.
And speaking of ignorance, find one time stefanik has said anything that could be back with facts. Or go to her social media sites and find one of her supporters, who can back what they want to believe with facts, sources and links. (Spoiler you can’t.)
I know saying ‘ignorant republican might offend most republicans and some democrats. But I am old enough to remember when we knew ignorance was bad. If someone suggested you were ignorant, you didn’t use that as a reason to plan a kidnapping of a Michigan governor or try to physically attack the Speaker of the House or build a gallows on the capitol steps so you could hang the vice president.
No, back then, you educated yourself.
And right now, I don’t see a single problem that can be solved by ignorance, but that is the policy stefanik is running on.
stefanik/zeldin/gop has an army of nescient supporters. That would never look up the word ‘nescient’ because they are too smart to look up words.
No one should fear any Republican Congressional hearings; they've set the precedent that there's no need to appear.
I thought the event in Cambridge was on the 9th, here listed as the 8th.
It absolutely is the 9th. Thanks for pointing that out. It is Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Thank you Ken for pointing us in the right direction!
Diane Collins
Excellent article! Just excellent!
Excellent Commentary ~ Issues that I care about are that everyone starts bearing their fair share of the tax burden, a decent single payer health care system where all necessary medical issues are covered including dental eye and ear conditions and that the exorbitant cost of higher education be addressed. When a young person graduates from college with a debt load anywhere from $30,000 upwards to six figures the playing field has not been leveled. All other issues are of far less urgency.