Letter: Obama won’t ruin United States

The new year has brought us a fresh batch of letters from the far right. I particularly liked the one from a few days ago that said that since there are “holes” in the theory of evolution, we should stop teaching it in our schools. That one sentence not only demonstrated the writer’s lack of familiarity with evolutionary biology, it also proved conclusively that he/she doesn’t understand the fundamental nature of science or the definition of the word “theory.”

I also enjoy the various letters that claim that what we need in order to resolve our gun violence problem is (wait for it ...) more guns.

However, I have to take real umbrage at the latest screed from the Chicken Little branch of the conservative side of the aisle from Billy Arcement. The sky didn’t fall when Barack Obama was elected President of the United States and it isn’t going to fall because he was re-elected.

All of the economic problems that we currently face have been caused by the actions of both Democrats and Republicans. The national debt is made up of money that the Democrats spent to make sure that we don’t have starving children littering the streets and megabucks handed out by the Republicans to defense contractors and the oil companies. After all, Ronald Reagan, the patron saint of the GOP, tripled the national debt in his eight years in office. Neither party can take sole blame for our financial situation. Neither will be able to resolve it by drawing lines in the sand and daring the other side to take a step.

If folks would just stop running around like their hair is on fire, we could resolve this the way we did under President Bill Clinton. Which, by the way, is the method dictated by the mathematics of the situation. We need more revenue and reasonable spending cuts. There’s no other way out.

Just a few other items: The president is not planning to suspend the Constitution. Everyone can continue to worship as they see fit, even if what they worship is their “right” to own a semiautomatic rifle with a 100-round clip. The fact that 20 babies were killed by a mad man with an assortment of weapons that should be illegal in any civilized place will not result in an appreciable decline in the number of privately owned weapons of mass destruction.

Finally, people don’t “ignore” the Constitution as much as they interpret it differently. Some folks see it as a means of protecting everyone’s rights in a balanced fashion. Others see it as a tool to insure that white, male, gun-totin’ Christians stay in charge in this here U.S. of A.

Michael Hale

IT consultant

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by Whatnow - 18/01/2013

Then I guess you are okay with Obama's tyranny, but wasn't with Bush's. Okay.... got it.

2) Comment by MBW - 16/01/2013

Whatnow- Maybe YOU weren't, but your party was. They voted overwhelmingly for Bush's "patriot" act and then demonized those of us who were against it. And now those same people claim to be outraged by Obama's "tyranny".

3) Comment by Whatnow - 16/01/2013

MBW, no, we weren't. Not all of us agree with the Presidents because of party. But, are you okay with Obama carrying it on?

4) Comment by MBW - 16/01/2013

The far right freaks out at the idea of Obama regulating guns.....but they were perfectly okay with letting Bush wiretap our phones with no warrant and hold people in prisons without a trial. Makes a lot of sense doesn't it?

5) Comment by DMJ - 16/01/2013

No matter how many times someone points out to agagent that not every dollar of the increased deficit during Obama's term is because of new spending. I guess he forgot about the financial crash, resulting recession and ensuing depressed revenue. People are unemployed; people lost their investments. This tends to decrease tax payments. But hey, it seems he needs to believe that deficits only happen due to spending to make himself feel good. Who am I to take that away from him? Go 'head agagent, post that stat again, with feeling this time.

6) Comment by nimby? - 16/01/2013

" There is absolutely no question that spending cuts must be made. Both parties agree on that. Entitlements, certainly Medicaid, will be on the table" , would someone please inform the White House of this !

7) Comment by HerbF - 16/01/2013

Nimby, a great portion of the "binge" spending was spending with one clear purpose, and that was to stimulate the economy. Economists seem to agree that without it we would have been in very serious trouble as a nation and as an economy. Stimulus programs ARE spending programs. They were necessary. >>>>Only now are we at the point where we can start to reduce the deficit. Remember, we were at that point, with a surplus, only twelve years ago. There is absolutely no question that spending cuts must be made. Both parties agree on that. Entitlements, certainly Medicaid, will be on the table. There is agreement on that as well. What we are about to debate is "Where" and "How Much".

8) Comment by nimby? - 16/01/2013

the government is binge spending , betting on a half-dead long shot ; China is the loan shark . anyone ever dealt with a loan shark ?

9) Comment by billynurse - 16/01/2013

If it's a process, then it's definately a downward process. I hope to no longer be around when we hit bottom...if there is a bottom.

10) Comment by HerbF - 16/01/2013

If "liberals" want change, and "conservatives" want to stay the same, then we will always move in a "liberal" direction, as change is always necessary. That's why it is a truism to say that yesterday's liberal is today's conservative. >>>>>>> The hard core "Tea Party" views are probably very temporary, and will certainly change over time. >> Currently, spending cuts will be addressed, and cuts will be made. And, probably noone will be happy. Live with it. It's our political process. :)

11) Comment by billynurse - 16/01/2013

"brwonk, et al : The misconception about the worsening political polarization is that the Republicans have evolved to the "extreme right". Nothing can be more untrue. Slowly and steadily over ~ 50 years, and MUCH more quickly the last 5 , the democrats have moved extremely left. The radical left smothered the moderate democrats of the congress. Driven by an OBVIOUSLY biased media, which invented the double-standard on steroids, the nation is perceived to have become left-leaning. Over the same period, the republican establishment began to abandon it's long held standings and submit to watered-down liberalism. That is the true impetus for grass-root conservatives, such as my Tea Party, to develop. Most don't seem to realize that what you call "radical right" was mainstream 30 years ago. Saul Alinsky's "Rules for Radicals" and his followers (ie-Obama) have have been slowly cooking us in the liberal pot for decades. Some of us can step back and actually see the big picture.

12) Comment by agagent - 16/01/2013

Hale, the recession end in about June, 2009 so all that spending "to address the recession" should have stopped back then. The added spending since fits the "slush fund for Democratic Party candidates to buy votes" label better.

13) Comment by agagent - 16/01/2013

Obama increased the national debt by $5.8 trillion in 4 years, and he does not think he has a spending problem. He argues to continue the spending and has never proposed a budget to reduce spending. Even the Democrats would not vote for his bloated budgets so Congress has not approved his spending plans!!! It is past time to cut up Obama’s credit card or everyone will be working just to pay the interest on the national debt. Will the $16, $17, or $20 trillion national debt cause the collapse of America's economy? We would rather not go there with Obama.

14) Comment by brwonk - 16/01/2013

Here is an example of some of the insanity, and departure from any reality and knowledge of fiscal responsibility, occurring in wings of the GOP: “It is pure baloney to say we have to pay the bills for things Congress has already approved," said Amy Kremer, chairman of the Tea Party Express, in a statement on Jan. 14. Here is a fact check on that: http://wapo.st/XdJ1FK

15) Comment by MBW - 16/01/2013

The Republican Party doesn't give a rip about deficits. They only care about deficits when they're not in power. Instead they're motivated by an ideological desire to gut assistance to poor people.

16) Comment by brwonk - 16/01/2013

Yes, billynurse, President Clinton had great success with compromise with conservatives during his second term. However, it is worth noting that conservatives in Congress in the late '90s were more moderate and didn't alienate voters and their peers by coining new terms such as "legitimate rape" and claim women's bodies are capable of "shutting down" following said rape with a complete backhand to medical science and reason. Conservatives of the time were not the "party of no." Conservatives of the time did not waste $50 million in repeated efforts to repeal laws (in the current case 33 attempts to repeal The Affordable Care Act) that they knew had no shot because of a Democratic controlled Senate and the veto power of a Democratic executive. The Republican Party of the time wasn't fragmented with fringe extremists on one side and actual conservatives on the other. Conservatives of the time believed in personal liberty, limited government, and fiscal responsibility. Today, they want to legislate anything but that. A party that wishes to meddle in the affairs of the private lives of citizens is not a conservative party at all. So yes, President Clinton compromised with conservatives, but they were much more sane, sober, and concerned about the well-being of the country at large, not with pandering to extremists, re-election campaigns, and obstructionist attitudes toward fixing problems such as deficit spending. Knee jerk attitudes will not get us out of this mess, which was created over the course of the past ten years collectively by Congress and the past and current president. We are all going to have to go through some less than pleasant times if we truly wish to reduce the debt, cut spending, and get back in the black all while protecting the very fabric of what makes this country great--personal liberty and freedom. The Republican Party must return to its roots, abandon the obstructionist attitude, and propose sane, sound solutions and compromises. Otherwise, as seen in the last election, the party will become more and more irrelevant and dismissed as the party of "old, angry white men" instead of the party of liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, and personal responsibility.

17) Comment by Whatnow - 16/01/2013

Attilla, that's it! Liberal psychobabble! Nothing of substance. I'd laugh if it wasn't so pitiful for our nation and the direction it's going. Billynurse, very well said.

18) Comment by Protean - 15/01/2013

My o my, the right-angled wing have launched into a cackle-fest tonight. Flocked together and scratching through their own droppings. Fox News must have published a new list of approved cliches and metaphors, all certified unoriginal, thought-free and suitable for infinite recycling through all manner of Internet fora.. Alright, you mean and nasty old "libs", whoever you are whatever a "lib" may be, which one of you gave one of them a virtual wedgie and got them going? Stop that!

19) Comment by Attila - 15/01/2013

@Whatnow :When speaking of liberals you said "Their panties get all twisted.".....by God, I think you've got it. People whose panties stay consistently in a wad spend so much time obsessing over it that it affects their thought process, and renders them devoid of logical thinking...hence their propensity to spout psychobabble at every opportunity.

20) Comment by Protean - 15/01/2013

Because you definition of "heck" will vary according to political party, in spite of your claims to the contrary. You are a right-wing ideologue, and you will eat, breath and vote according to what your ideological authorities approve. Here's right-wing "heck" for a Republican: "Well, that wasn't very nice. Don't do it again. Or at least don't get caught." Here's right-wing "heck" for non-right-wing authoritarians: "Incompetent! Criminal! Investigate! Keep investigating until you find (or synthesize) the evidence we expect. Guilty, guilty, guilty!" And thanks for proving _my_ point with your last two sentences.

21) Comment by Whatnow - 15/01/2013

Desensitized? That a good one.

22) Comment by billynurse - 15/01/2013

I never cease to be amazed. Michael, so many seemingly well-informed people like you can't see the forest for the trees. It must be that for so long, you'v been surrounded by "progressive" indoctrination. (progressive is a misnomer, since it implies improving our minds, and personal freedoms). Do you not see the reasons for this nation being the greatest force for freedom and opportunity this world has EVER seen? It wasn't accomplished by class warfare and punishing people who achieve, innovate, and aspire to build a better life for their family. Those who scream about stereotyping others seem to find it easy to do so about conservatives, don't they? ("gun-toting, white male Christians" is intended to bring up twisted images) Twisting the facts is another great "progressive" talent, isn't it? If some argues for protecting the rights of the law-abiding, and suggests a trained security for the schools, it is painted as "pouring MORE guns into the streets" Mr. Clinton's success was in his ability to work with, and compromise with conservatives. Mr. Obama seems to hard-line and demonize others with every issue that arises. The media helps him to say it's his way, or the highway. Mr Obama won't ruin our nation, but he doesn't want interference in putting us in our place.

23) Comment by Whatnow - 15/01/2013

Protean, how do you know I didn't raise heck? I don't give a rat's behind what party a liar is. Bush is no long President. I raised heck when he did stupid things. But, this was beyond stupid and bad intel. This was incompetence or criminal. If it was incompetence, how could Hillary run on that record and if not, someone needs to be tried for the deaths. But, I still believe that Clinton started the war and that Congress and Bush all believed the same bad intel. My son fought in Iraq and believed the same thing. But Bill Clinton explained his authorization of non-U.N.-approved missile strikes against Iraq, using the very same arguments used by President Bush. Yet the silence was deafening. http://www.wnd.com/2003/02/17376/

24) Comment by DMJ - 15/01/2013

It's not that we don't care. It's that we have a sense of perspective. F&F and Benghazi pale in comparison to say....Iraq. I guess we're just desensitized a bit.

25) Comment by Protean - 15/01/2013

Whatnow: Why are you not still demanding that Bush and Cheney be tried for treason over the Valerie Plame incident (if you ever made such demands)? How about "weapons of mass destruction"? Shouldn't your ideological kindred be held accountable? They lied; people died. Look familiar? Right now you have the luxury of a Democrat president, which frees you to raise the standard for accountability way beyond what you'd accept if one of the Rs held the office. You'll accept a great deal of misbehavior only if your "brand" are the perpetrators. So, you see how this works? "THEY did, too, so I win!" Silly, ain't it?

26) Comment by nimby? - 15/01/2013

I wonder who Hillary's going to blame ...

27) Comment by Whatnow - 15/01/2013

DMJ, and didn't it bother you that someone gave the order to step down three times when a chance was there? I just think someone needs to account for that and not just "let's learn where we went wrong so this doesn't happen again BS." And F&F a drop in the well? That sounds about as intelligent and feeling as "A bump in the road." These politicians and their staff cover for each other and are not held accountable by anyone. They use scapegoats and hold themselves in too high regard. They should be held accountable just as you and I would be. They lied and people died and are still dying. But, hey, it's just a curve ball so let it go. Not me, I'm just not that way. I want feet held to the fire and the truth. And because I'm angry, you claim I'm into conspiracies. No, I just demand justice. They get away with too much and not held accountable, change the subject and hope it blows away. I will not shut up, DMJ. We didn't find out what actually happened with F&F because of Executive Privilege and it will be the same for Benghazi. Just like it was for Rove. Coverups and more coverups. It just bothers me that the left doesn't seem to care if our politicians and their staff are held accountable for anything. Why not his time? If it were a Republican pulling these stunts, you would be screaming for blood. And you did. And so did I. But, this is deaths were are talking about. Deaths that could have been prevented. So, I will stay on my soapbox shouting for justice and fighting for Executive Privilege to be revoked. Executive Privilege is nothing but a "Free Pass" for sneaky politicians in Washington and you know it. It may not do any good whatsoever, but I will feel like I've tried to make my country one we can be proud of and I didn't just take their word for things and let it happen.

28) Comment by HerbF - 15/01/2013

I think everyone agrees that spending should be cut. I think President Obama should follow the advice of the congressional leaders, and bypass Congressional approval of the debt ceiling. Then, work hard to cut spending. The Republican Party currently is in the hands of the far right "Tea Party" faction. There is little hope of meaningful compromise in working with them. So, he should either mint the magic platinum coin or use the 14th Ammendment as authority to pay the debts of the United States. Whichever path he follows, serious and meaningful spending cuts must be make.

29) Comment by nimby? - 15/01/2013

just some simple misunderstandings/excuses to be explained at a later date , no big deal , move along ...

30) Comment by DMJ - 15/01/2013

Ah yes... Fast and Furious and Benghazi....cause what REALLY happened, right? I mean...it's not like they had congresssional hearings about these and made the findings public. Wait....they did? Some people just weren't paying attention? Oh. Look...of course Fast and Furious bothers me. It was a screw up that put even more American guns into the hands of the cartels...but the guns in this program were a drop in the well compared to the American guns the cartels get their hands on anyway. At least it was an attempt to track them, albeit an unsucessful one. And Benghazi... what is still unanswered? There was a coordinated attack during a mass protest. The embassy was given bad intel which they relayed on TV and later recanted. Also, they didn't have enough protection. Turns out...hindsight is 20/20. Go figure. Again... It was a screw up. I'll be the first to admit it. I'm just not as hungry for a juicy conspiracy as some, I guess.

31) Comment by agagent - 15/01/2013

"Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America's debt limit."--Senator Obama

32) Comment by Whatnow - 15/01/2013

DMJ, Oh, questions that none of you ever answer or ask, like Fast and Furious and Benghazi. You just don't care to find out either. It's just hopefully thrown under the rug so Obama doesn't get implicated. And those unanswered questions do not bother you at all. Because it's Obama.

33) Comment by Scrooge - 15/01/2013

At the end of the day, Obama is still POTUS

34) Comment by DMJ - 15/01/2013

Meh...kinda funny. Not original, but sort of funny.

35) Comment by LSUinVail - 15/01/2013

DMJ and company should look into maybe getting a girlfriend (not just a Dungeons and Dragons partner either) and moving out of their parent's spare room.

36) Comment by DMJ - 15/01/2013

Whatnow, what questions do you claim are never answered? Could it be that they are answered...over and over...but that you don't get the answers you want?

37) Comment by Protean - 15/01/2013

As I had intended. THEY do it, too! Hypocrite.

38) Comment by Whatnow - 15/01/2013

Protean, you made my point.

39) Comment by agagent - 15/01/2013

Obama claimed credit for previously agreed on spending reductions. Obama claimed credit for money that was not going to be spent anyway. He claimed that Republicans want to gut Social Security and Medicare. The truth is that Social Security and Medicare are on a path to bankruptcy. If Obama opposes reform he will doom those programs to fail. Since they represent the largest unfunded liabilities of the federal government and they are unsustainable they must be reformed. They will not exist for future generations if Obama stops their reform.

40) Comment by agagent - 15/01/2013

Obama is a liar and a hypocrite. As Senator Obama said that raising the debt ceiling was irresponsible and unpatriotic and he voted against it raising the debt ceiling. Yesterday he said the opposite. Obama said that it is irresponsible to oppose raise the debt limit. Spending has often been a part of to debt ceiling debate and yesterday Obama implied it was not.

41) Comment by Protean - 15/01/2013

Whatnow: looks like jedleland got your knickers in a knot, didn't he? And by the way, let me offer one of your favorite tricks: "Wuh, wuh, wuh, THEY do it, too!" Followed by protruding lower lip.

42) Comment by thedudeabides - 15/01/2013

i read this letter on my way out to work. What a bunch of garbage. Obama wipes himself with the constitution every day after going to the bathroom. Now I am off to work so that I may have my paycheck taxed more and more everyday so that millions on welfare can watch daytime television talk shows.

43) Comment by Whatnow - 14/01/2013

Speaking of goobers saying the same half-dozen things to each other every day ad nauseum. Liberals don't answer questions or facts, they just offer more questions and name calling or the past Presidents to change the subject. They never answer why this man gets away with the things he does. Just that it's okay. I guess some people don't care when a President threatens Executive Privilege to take away our Constitution rights. But, there are some of us who do care and we will stand up to him. Morgan Freeman??? When did he become the world's greatest philosopher? An actor who read the words others write and has a good voice? That racist? The name calling belongs to the Liberals, ie goober, right wing mouth breathers and knuckle draggers i oppose - the gun nuts, assorted racists, homophobes, religous crazies, bigots, and ill-educated bible thumps and hate mongers (or if you will conservative republicans). When Libs resort to that, you know you've won the argument. Their panties get all twisted.

44) Comment by wadep66 - 14/01/2013

jedleland: If there were a thumbs up button I would have hit it several times. You are spot on with your analysis. I've posted on a few of these just to see if people were actually willing to have a thoughtful discussion, and they aren't. Confirmation bias, red herrings, racism, homophobia (which as Morgan Freeman says doesn't mean you are scared, just an @ whole), voodoo economics, arrogance, name calling and simply making stuff up to support lame arguments that they can't back up with facts. How folks who love to quote the constitution can't remember that the President can only veto or sign things into law is quite humorous to me. Republicans had control of both houses and the presidency and did nothing other than start some unpaid wars and give us a tax break they never paid for, which agagent seems upset that Obama is doing. They love to ask for statistics on gun control effectiveness but offer none on how we ended the republican era better off or how the deregulation and ineffective monitoring of our financial system led to bailouts they don't like and can't comprehend why they were necessary (and initiated by bush). Politics is religion for folks who can't do their own real research (unbiased) and seem to go to the pulpit of Fox News and Rush Limbaugh to get catch-phrases and clever incomplete truths to spout about. It is entertaining though. I have to throw something in every now and then just to see some fall hook line and sinker for it like I know they will and to see what lame response they have. Passing the time is easy this way.

45) Comment by Duckyluve - 14/01/2013

Nobama wants to limit to magazine capacity of our guns but he has no problem sending high powered high capacity assault rifles to Mexico. He also has no problem with his private army having high capacity weapons. Typical Democrat, do as I say not as I do.

46) Comment by Whatnow - 14/01/2013

Wow, I'll say one thing, jedleland posts are the epitome of every thing I know about liberals. The points most abundantly clear are being delusional, arrogant and egotistical. Sounds like Obama. No wonder libs love him. Birds of a feather...

47) Comment by prbeav - 14/01/2013

My only regret is that I don't have Mr. Hale's talent for writing heartfelt opinion with humor.>>>>That said, I certainly hope some new protections against ownership of war guns and war ammunition are enacted. Owner's boast about how responsible they are, but their guns are involved in a lot of crime and accidents.>>>>Here's a 1940s 'militia' story that takes about 13 minutes to watch: http://voxvocispublicus.homestead.com/Battle-of-Athens.html . It is hard for me to imagine a 2013 story with an acceptable ending.

48) Comment by Dawson - 14/01/2013

So jediland, you are the tolerant one that name calls all that disagree with you? Is that some sort of oxymoron?

49) Comment by Dawson - 14/01/2013

Hey Postscript..Bush? Really? Check what the deficit and debt was in 2007 when the Dem's took control of the budget and spending? I think you will be surprised to know that you have not a clue about what you are talking about when it comes to who in government controls spending. Obama was a part of the 2007 out of control spending imposed by the lovely Democratic party headed by Nancy and Harry. Facts are hard to deal with.

50) Comment by phil - 14/01/2013

I do not really like to use labels, but it seems from reading some of these comments that the " fiscal liberals" here are good at name calling and the " fiscal conservatives" are good at math.

51) Comment by Dawson - 14/01/2013

Michael, can you site a single source or study that says regulating or outlawing gun lessens gun violence? Please link your source here so I can read it.

52) Comment by Whatchange - 14/01/2013

Is anyone talking bout the letter anymore.

53) Comment by nimby? - 14/01/2013

progressives have long toyed with the idea of a standardized equivalency test using intelligence , literacy as a determining factor whether or not a person should be able to vote , works for me ...

54) Comment by DMJ - 14/01/2013

If you don't like the boards, then don't post. Some of us work at night and need something to do during the day.

55) Comment by 8point6 - 14/01/2013

....this will upset all my ‘progressive’ friends......I voted for hussein.

56) Comment by jedleland - 14/01/2013

youre right i did. and smug. and self satisfied. and given to transparent and somewhat juvenile grammatical affectations of intellectualism. feel free to make your own lists...

57) Comment by nimby? - 14/01/2013

you forgot old , self centered ....

58) Comment by jedleland - 14/01/2013

obviously the people i agree with are liberal, progressive, open, welcoming, cultured, erudite, incisive, and of generous sprit, whilst the right wing mouth breathers and knuckle draggers i oppose - the gun nuts, assorted racists, homophobes, religous crazies, bigots, and ill-educated bible thumps and hate mongers (or if you will conservative republicans) are the antithesis off all i believe and hold true. and perhaps they hold an opinion counter to that. in fact i bet they probably do.

59) Comment by nimby? - 14/01/2013

example close to home ; for years I've been critical of CATS , it is no longer my problem so I say nothing . at the while the metro council rules on land regulation in the parish , deciding who can/can't build what or where . yeah , I see your point , majority decides , when convenient ...

60) Comment by jedleland - 14/01/2013

So quit! I’ll make it easy for you and save you all kinds of time the next few months by posting for you here we go: mark marchiafava “land of the free? LOL” DMJ “ugh”, phil “what about the $16 billion sewer project? What about gay evolutionists?” JDK “Tsk Tsk the ‘arrogance’ of ‘man’ that thinks its smarter than ‘god’” nimby “the media will continue to ignore the errors of the administration, offer clarifications…” The Host “come and try to take my guns, c’mon just try” Attila “same as Host” Whatnow “white straight republican Christians are the most persecuted minority in America” tea slayer “whatnow is a bigot” agangent “whatever he can cut and paste” 8point6 “this will upset all my ‘progressive’ friends” Being stupid “teacher unions=communists=democrats=tyrants=liberals=teacher unions” did I miss many? do you see a pattern? You don’t even need to make a comment just put up your name and we can all fill in the blanks.

61) Comment by Whatnow - 14/01/2013

jedeland, whazza matter? Don't worry, we feel the same way about your dozen or so Progressive friends on here.

62) Comment by DMJ - 14/01/2013

Nimby, you're rural/urban thing is mostly bunk anyway. Think about it... Technically, Denham Springs is part of an urban area. I doubt Obama had much support there.

63) Comment by Whatchange - 14/01/2013

Time to move on people, same day, same dollar, same talk, same posters.

64) Comment by nimby? - 14/01/2013

"you people' ? only time will tell who is losing it ....

65) Comment by jedleland - 14/01/2013

i hardly ever post here any more or anywhere else. i realised one day that its just the same dozen goobers saying the same half-dozen things to each other every day ad nauseum. oftentimes they dont even change the wording, i guess just cut and paste froma bank of prepared comments. i remember rachel maddow once said that internet chatrooms and message boards are populated by the 'worst people in the world' and shes right (and gay and probably secretly black) but sometimes you read something thats a total pile and if you see ***** youve just gotta call it out. im done again. go out and live a life guys. arent there enough real kids on your lawn to yell at without coming on the internet and doing it metaphorically?

66) Comment by jedleland - 14/01/2013

Do people get stupider as they get older, or do they just start stupid and get meaner and more scared of people who aren’t mean and scared? Any demographer knows that more than 52% of Americans live in urban or suburban built up areas its closer to 85% so a clean break of 52% mooching urbanites outvoting 48% of self reliant decent hardworking rural dwellers is idiotic at very best. The president actually took many rural votes up to 40% in some polls and took rural states like Vermont, NH, IA, and ME (and they don’t even have black people there so must be a media-organized fraud). In the same way romney took a good share of urban and suburban votes just not enough to win. A fictitious but self serving divide between red white and blue livin-off-the-land rightwingers and mooching deadbeat (probably black) urban loafers is just that a simplistic fiction. Remember without urban and suburban consumers and dwellers what would your subsidized electric bill look like how about your cable and water and internet and phone bills? Imagine if you paid their true cost to wire up the sticks and didn’t have the advantage of those generous subsidies or the economies of scale that the urban centers provide? And imagine those water/power/cable/phone/internet costs weren’t partially paid for by urban moochers and government allowances and rebates to utility companies and grants and ear marks and large scale TSA-style initiatives and the like? Imagine if you didn’t have a public sector pension after years of tax payer-supported employment and cheap publically supported insurance and a guaranteed retirement benefit far higher than you ever personally contributed? How about a college education paid for by urban tax payers (the GI bill). And don’t forget medicare which most users use to the tune of 400% or more than they ever put in? after a lifetime at the public trough (education, career, retirement, utilities and living costs) cradle to grave taking a whole heck of a lot more from taxpayers than you ever paid in any pretense to self sufficient frontierism is just a laughable crock.

67) Comment by DMJ - 14/01/2013

Right... cause people only voted for Obama because they wanted something for themslelves personally. What idiocy. Then again...I think I understand it. Because you people are selfish, you assume everyone is, much like how liars think everyone lies and thieves think everyone steals. Did I get that right? Or lemme guess...you don't like it when I generalize half the country based on nothing but my own prejudices and emotions. I think it's high time we all grew up. What do you think? And nimby... landmass?? ha!! What does it matter how close people live together? You're losing it, bub.

68) Comment by nimby? - 14/01/2013

the 52 percent mandate that re-elected our president are huddled into urban areas making up less than 5 percent of this nations landmass . although they cannot take care of their own problems they know what is best for the rest of the nation .

69) Comment by Attila - 14/01/2013

@slye753: Good question concerning the size of Mike's checkbook balance. It has always been a mystery to me that those who want to tell me who to socialize with, give my money to, where and with who my kids should go to school, and who should be given "preferences" in employment, promotions, and contracts with public agencies are all "rich". They can send their kids to private schools and colleges, afford to live in the nicest and safest neighborhoods, buy top of the line goods, and run in social circles that are exclusive, but lecture to me on the virtues, and supposed advantages of "diversity". Hypocrites; everyone.....and that is putting it as civilly as I can.

70) Comment by agagent - 14/01/2013

Suppose your family has a credit card and you spent $5.8 trillion using the credit card. Your spouse did not want you to putting $5.8 trillion on the family credit card. According to Obama’s logic it is your spouse’s fault that you have $5.8 trillion in debt and your spouse would be more responsible by increasing your credit card limit on the family credit card.

71) Comment by agagent - 14/01/2013

Senator Obama said it was irresponsible and unpatriotic to raise the debt ceiling. President Obama says that raising the debt limit is the responsible thing to do.

72) Comment by DMJ - 14/01/2013

I'm sure the right-wingers won't blame Obama at all for anything that happens after 2016. (yeah, right) Let the gnashing of teeth continue. The responses to this letter are so predictable they're entertaining.

73) Comment by Whatnow - 14/01/2013

Michael, did you write Obama's speech about "clinging to their guns and religion, Faith. Family. Traditions like hunting?" Could have swore that you did. Obama had to backtrack out of that one. It didn't work then and it doesn't work now. Yeah, we are all of that and that's the CHANGE he wanted. We just don't want HIS change.

74) Comment by Whatchange - 14/01/2013

Well nice try to show you are neutral, you say both parties are to blame, then you go on your Republican bashing and your praising of your god Bill Clinton(Democrat). Then you end it with a rant against religion, guns, and white males. I will agree though, President Obama won't ruin the US, we're not losing any freedoms, and the sky isn't falling. Now you really want to read something by someone who is completely neutral, read Charley Reese's Final column!

75) Comment by phil - 14/01/2013

My freedom to NOT buy health insurance will soon disappear and I will even be forced to buy mine plus furnish it to someone else for free through taxes and/or fines. Yes, we are losing some of our freedoms under the leadership of Obama. I agree that there needs to be both cuts and revenue additions to fix the national debt, and that both parties are partly to blame for the problem. Years of spending money we do not have has created a need for more revenue at least long enough to get the debt in order. Of course we can teach evolution theory in school and also point out that NOBODY really knows how it all started. And I also will state that my hair is not on fire and Obama has not ruined this nation - YET. It is hard to say what will happen in 4 more years.

76) Comment by tradewinns - 14/01/2013

cannot argue with the statement both parties are to blame, that is true. i do take exception to blaming bush for todays continuing crisis. it really doesn't matter what bush did, he's gone and can do nothing to influence todays problem. obama is the one in charge and could take the "bull by the horns" and do something to stop the nation's slide into fiscal oblivion. today's doctor can blame the previous doctor for allowing the patient's health to decline, but if the patient is to improve, todays doctor better do something besides complain besides continue the previous doctor's treatment.

77) Comment by DMJ - 14/01/2013

You'll have the hoopleheads in an uproar over this one, Michael. Great letter.

78) Comment by agagent - 14/01/2013

Now the economy has to brace for the Obamacare taxes, Obama’s taxes on the rich, Obama increasing payroll taxes, and another year of trillion dollar deficits. That should really help a struggling economy. Write another letter when those Obama policies take full effect.

79) Comment by agagent - 14/01/2013

Democrats have held the balance of power or were in complete control since January, 2007. They were in control when the crisis hit. The crisis was in banking and finance and Democrats Dodd and Frank ran their respective committess which regulated banking and finance. When regulators reported problems to Congress Chairman Frank said he would "take a chance" on the problem because he was happy that so many mortgages were going to poor people (who could never afford to repay the mortgages).

80) Comment by agagent - 14/01/2013

The Democrats held the balance of power in Washington when Reagan was President. The Democrats in Congress made a deal with Reagan to cut spending. Of course they broke their promise and increased spending. The Bush annual deficit was about $ 170 billion, the FY before Democrats gained control of Congress. Deficits exploded the year Democrats gain control of the balance of power in Washington, and their spending increased the annual deficits to almost $1.5 trillion in just 2 years. You can blame Bush for not stopping the Democrats from reckless spending.

81) Comment by Chucky - 14/01/2013

I do believe Obama wants you to be successful, how else would he have any money to distribute. OK so he can borrow from the Chinese and he can print more money.

82) Comment by postscript56 - 14/01/2013

agagent - you can't blame obama for interest payments to china unless you also blame the bush administratrion for taking us there. that goes for running up the debt, too. the credit downgrade is not due to government spending - because the government has always spent money - but to the fact tea party repubs in the house threaten to not pay the bills. also if you think folks are looking for ways to live off food stamps and unemployment you just disqualified yourself from having any legitimate opinion at all.

83) Comment by 8point6 - 14/01/2013

"Letter: Obama won’t ruin United States" he already has. he has/is taken from the producers and given to the takers. he's not finished, yet. obamacare doesn't fully kick in until 2014.

84) Comment by lovemykids - 14/01/2013

spqr, "the native white, heterosexual, Christian" Natives of this land were not white.

85) Comment by slye753 - 14/01/2013

If Michael agrees with Obamas spending, I wonder what his bank account looks like

86) Comment by agagent - 14/01/2013

Let’s celebrate that the US economy was strong enough to survive fours of Obama’s irresponsible spending. Obama has added $5.8 trillion to the national debt, and he is on track to add another $3 or $4 trillion in his second term. We have had a couple of credit downgrades along the way and more are expected. We are paying enough interest to China to fund their military. It will be enough for China to increase its military to 4 times its current size when interest rates return to normal and after Obama adds more second debt. Obama has lowered the unemployment rate by causing millions to stop looking for jobs because they know there are none available. We have a record number on food stamps and unemployment benefits have been extended for years. All are good reasons for low information voters to celebrate.

87) Comment by dday198 - 14/01/2013

@ spqr, boo hoo boo hoo

88) Comment by spqr - 14/01/2013

That's right, Michael. We all the know the new enemy is the native white, heterosexual, Christian, working, skilled and educated, tax-paying, hard working, gun- toting citizens who have never been on welfare. What an awful group, huh? Let us no longer consider them. Yes, I know the nation will be better off.

89) Comment by dday198 - 14/01/2013

if we are still here after bush we should be ok

90) Comment by postscript56 - 14/01/2013

Thank you , Michael. Good letter. But you won't get anywhere using common sense to appeal to the far right. They only understand fear - fear of their government, fear of their president, fear of science, fear of people with a different perspective, etc.