A Scathing View Of Republican Politics...

[Meg]

Which, unfortunately, is likely quite correct.

Send in the Clueless

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/05/op...s.html?_r=1&hp

There are two crucial things you need to understand about the current state of American politics. First, given the still dire economic situation, 2012 should be a year of Republican triumph. Second, the G.O.P. may nonetheless snatch defeat from the jaws of victory — because Herman Cain was not an accident.

Think about what it takes to be a viable Republican candidate today. You have to denounce Big Government and high taxes without alienating the older voters who were the key to G.O.P. victories last year — and who, even as they declare their hatred of government, will balk at any hint of cuts to Social Security and Medicare (death panels!).

I certainly don't agree with every word Krugman has to say, but he's got enough of the large picture right to be offering a (hopefully) sobering point.

[luckyhouston]

Republicans need to have the guts to tell the truth. They need to tell people you can't have your cake and eat it too. People have to pay for government. The poor the middle class and the rich. Call for reasonable cuts and the rest needs to be paid for. They are too quick to just borrow.

They should have seized the opportunity in the budget deal, and offered tax increases for real spending cuts. It appears to me they didn't really want to work for a solution.

They need to act like we are really at war. Not say go shopping. They need to act like leaders.

[MikeD]

One can expect a whole lot more of the "scathing" reports regarding Republicans to come. The News Media has had a taste of "blood in the waters" from their so-called "victory" with Herman Cain they'll stop at nothing now. What a horrible political season we're moving in to.

[Meg]

It would seem the allegations against Cain are true. He knew that going in and should have known he wouldn't stand scrutiny. What bothers me most about Cain though is that he set himself up as a church leader. I heard the expression "up front people" in regards to people who push themselves to the front of the church out of pride rather than an effort to serve the Lord. Cain strikes me as that sort as do some other Republican candidates, both this year and other years...

[dave-o]

older voters who [...] even as they declare their hatred of government, will balk at any hint of cuts to Social Security and Medicare (death panels!).

A BIG problem with spending cuts is that D.C. always begins cutting the most from those who honestly need and deserve it the most. Seniors, Vets, schools etc. Shouldn't such things be at the _bottom of the list? Instead the bottom is populated with sacred cows that never should have received a dime the first place.

[OnceWasLost]

What krugman and his ilk never mention is the need for wholesale restructuring of the government. Entitlements last year almost eclipsed total revenue collected and it is going to get worse. People receiving benefits grow and those contributing shrinks, it is a simple demographic shift. Nobody wants to face what needs to be done, and we have become an entitlement driven society. That mentality cannot continue or we become Greece and the rest of Europe for that matter.

We can't run trillion dollar deficits indefinitely, sooner or later entitlements are going to need to be addressed. People like krugman are cheerleading that a Republican steps on that landmine while Rome burns under a second obama term.

[mattfivefour]

Perhaps the US needs to realize that, "inalienable rights" notwithstanding, man is not entitled to ANYTHING! God, by His own sovereign decree, has given us promises we do not deserve, eternal life we did not merit, and blessings and gifts we have not earned. Apart from the goodness of God, we have nothing guaranteed. From the beginning, even before the Fall, God ordained that man should work. And, following the Fall, He ordained that man should live by that labor. Somehow we have created a society in which men look not to God nor to their own efforts to survive, but to governments. Everything that society gives a person is paid for by someone else. I firmly believe that we—both as individuals and collectively as a society—should care for the weak, the poor, the widows, and orphans ... all those truly unable to care for themselves. God's Word itself commands us to do such. But to care for those who are too lazy to work, to decide that somehow it is demeaning to ask someone to labor where possible in return for ongoing charity, is neither helping them nor obeying God.

If anyone wants to understand God's instruction for man in this regard, he or she has only to read God's Word. In God's economy He commanded slaves and servants to be returned to freedom once in every generation (the Year of Jubilee), and at those same intervals all land that a rich man had acquired had to be returned freely to the person from whom he purchased it. The principle is that no man should grow rich at the expense of his brother. Indeed God taught that His people were brothers and sisters of one another and as such should be cared for ... not by making them dependent but by giving them what they needed to care for themselves as much as possible. But Israel did not follow this, human nature being what it is. So I doubt the citizens of a lost world today, or even the majority of the Christians in the United States, will follow it either.

But that was an aside. The problem, as outlined in the first paragraph, is that there are too many takers and fewer and fewer givers. The situation cannot continue indefinitely. There is a saw-off point. thank God that our hope is not in this world but in God's Word and His promises to us. Our home is not here; He has prepared a place for us in Heaven! But, secure in that knowledge, let us go forth in this present world to take the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all everyone can. That is why we are still here. Not for any other reason.

[Sean Osborne]

It would seem the allegations against Cain are true.

Really, based upon what hard evidence?!?! It would seem that folks like me would like to see you cite the evidence you are judging this brother in Christ by. Please cite your hard evidence or offer up an apology.

[Carl]

Republicans need to have the guts to tell the truth. They need to tell people you can't have your cake and eat it too. People have to pay for government. The poor the middle class and the rich. Call for reasonable cuts and the rest needs to be paid for. They are too quick to just borrow.

They should have seized the opportunity in the budget deal, and offered tax increases for real spending cuts. It appears to me they didn't really want to work for a solution.

They need to act like we are really at war. Not say go shopping. They need to act like leaders.

Unfortunately with the de-industrialization of American there are more poor now then ever. And they are being groomed to expect the public dole because that is all they have to look forward to. So for the only chance for a positive election the beat will go on.

[Bobbi]

Really, based upon what hard evidence?!?! It would seem that folks like me would like to see you cite the evidence you are judging this brother in Christ by. Please cite your hard evidence or offer up an apology.

My question is Why did Herman Cain give money to this woman without his wife's knowledge? There really isn't proof one way or the other, but Why did Herman Cain give money to this woman without his wife's knowledge? If he was just trying to help her out, why didn't his wife know about it? Why didn't this woman go to Herman's wife for a hand out and not to Herman? Why did Herman Cain give money to this woman without his wife's knowledge? And another thing, Why did Herman Cain give money to this woman without his wife's knowledge?

[Carl]

One can expect a whole lot more of the "scathing" reports regarding Republicans to come. The News Media has had a taste of "blood in the waters" from their so-called "victory" with Herman Cain they'll stop at nothing now. What a horrible political season we're moving in to.

It does seem a bit one-sided doesn't it? Well I guess that the Republicans are dirtier because they are richer!

[Sean Osborne]

My question is Why did Herman Cain give money to this woman without his wife's knowledge?

You are referring to Ginger White. This is old news from over a week ago, but for whatever it is worth, Ginger White is a financially compromised woman who used to be a friend of Herman Cain's. As Herman Cain has explained, she was not the only unemployed person he provided financial assistance to; he gave freely to fellow church members and to others in his family because he was financially in a position to do so. It's called Christian charity. It is a commandment from our Lord Jesus Christ to assist the poor.

There really isn't proof one way or the other

Oh yes, there is proof. Herman Cain has detailed proof of how much financial assistance was rendered and when it was rendered. Herman Cain's wife knows about the financial assistance and has accepted it for what it was.

Unfortunately, Ginger White is a financially compromised woman. I believe, as Herman Cain does, that some unknown political enemy - republican or democrat, it does not matter - bribed Ginger White with a very large sum of money to concoct the story of a 13-year long affair that she did.

[luckyhouston]

You are referring to Ginger White. This is old news from over a week ago, but for whatever it is worth, Ginger White is a financially compromised woman who used to be a friend of Herman Cain's. As Herman Cain has explained, she was not the only unemployed person he provided financial assistance to; he gave freely to fellow church members and to others in his family because he was financially in a position to do so. It's called Christian charity. It is a commandment from our Lord Jesus Christ to assist the poor.



Oh yes, there is proof. Herman Cain has detailed proof of how much financial assistance was rendered and when it was rendered. Herman Cain's wife knows about the financial assistance and has accepted it for what it was.

Unfortunately, Ginger White is a financially compromised woman. I believe, as Herman Cain does, that some unknown political enemy - republican or democrat, it does not matter - bribed Ginger White with a very large sum of money to concoct the story of a 13-year long affair that she did.

I don't know what you mean by financially compromised. Do you mean poor? Also, he admitted he gave her money and didn't tell his wife that is evidence he was doing something wrong. So there were first settlements then he kept a woman in an apt. Seems he targets with financial troubles.

[Meg]

Perhaps the US needs to realize that, "inalienable rights" notwithstanding, man is not entitled to ANYTHING! God, by His own sovereign decree, has given us promises we do not deserve, eternal life we did not merit, and blessings and gifts we have not earned. Apart from the goodness of God, we have nothing guaranteed. From the beginning, even before the Fall, God ordained that man should work. And, following the Fall, He ordained that man should live by that labor. Somehow we have created a society in which men look not to God nor to their own efforts to survive, but to governments. Everything that society gives a person is paid for by someone else. I firmly believe that we—both as individuals and collectively as a society—should care for the weak, the poor, the widows, and orphans ... all those truly unable to care for themselves. God's Word itself commands us to do such. But to care for those who are too lazy to work, to decide that somehow it is demeaning to ask someone to labor where possible in return for ongoing charity, is neither helping them nor obeying God.

If anyone wants to understand God's instruction for man in this regard, he or she has only to read God's Word. In God's economy He commanded slaves and servants to be returned to freedom once in every generation (the Year of Jubilee), and at those same intervals all land that a rich man had acquired had to be returned freely to the person from whom he purchased it. The principle is that no man should grow rich at the expense of his brother. Indeed God taught that His people were brothers and sisters of one another and as such should be cared for ... not by making them dependent but by giving them what they needed to care for themselves as much as possible. But Israel did not follow this, human nature being what it is. So I doubt the citizens of a lost world today, or even the majority of the Christians in the United States, will follow it either.

But that was an aside. The problem, as outlined in the first paragraph, is that there are too many takers and fewer and fewer givers. The situation cannot continue indefinitely. There is a saw-off point. thank God that our hope is not in this world but in God's Word and His promises to us. Our home is not here; He has prepared a place for us in Heaven! But, secure in that knowledge, let us go forth in this present world to take the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to all everyone can. That is why we are still here. Not for any other reason.

AMEN!!!

[Meg]

Um Sean, I was actually referring to much older news...

Sharon Bialek accuses Herman Cain of sexual harassment as she sought help getting a job - The Washington Post

[YeuEmMaiMai]

Rebuplicans and Democrats difere in name only........pretty much all of them are Godless greedy people whom will do whatever it takes to advance their careers...

[Meg]

Unfortunately with the de-industrialization of American there are more poor now then ever. And they are being groomed to expect the public dole because that is all they have to look forward to. So for the only chance for a positive election the beat will go on.

Exactly, exactly, exactly. They have removed so many jobs, not just manufacturing, but customer service telephone jobs as well, that there isn't much choice but to go on some form of welfare.

I knew this topic would be confrontational, but the Republican party is failing to produce and endorse a realist leader who can deal with this mess, and we are in real danger of seeing Obama reelected by default... That would be disastrous!!!! This op-ed was a hope for a wake-up call. The Tea Party needs to turn off Rush Limbaugh like they turned off Glenn Beck and get real here, and FAST!!!

[Robert]

Frankly, neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have their act together.

[OnceWasLost]

Rebuplicans and Democrats difere in name only........pretty much all of them are Godless greedy people whom will do whatever it takes to advance their careers...

Well I see a vast difference between pelosi and say Paul Ryan. The system is a mess to be sure, but there are vast differences between the democrat party and the a great number of the center right members in the other party.

[Sean Osborne]

Um Sean, I was actually referring to much older news...

Sharon Bialek accuses Herman Cain of sexual harassment as she sought help getting a job - The Washington Post

You consider that hit piece from the Washington ComPost on Sharon Bialek's allegations hard evidence? Are you kidding us? Do you know one iota of Sharon Bialek's personal history? Obviously you do not! In fact you know absolutely nothing about this very sinful woman. Herman Cain made improper advances on this Jezebel of a woman? No way Jose, the exact opposite is very likely true in this instance.

So you still owe an apology for unrighteous judgment of a Christian brother against the say-so allegations of unsaved, unrighteous sinners in satan's service. Shame on you!