The Republican Agenda
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-09-29/republican-agenda
Republican leaders have pledged to make dramatic legislative changes if they retake control of Congress in the midterm elections. The GOP's plans for tax cuts, deficit reduction, jobs creation and health care.
Guests
Brendan Steinhauser
director of federal and state campaigns for FreedomWorks.
Naftali Bendavid
national correspondent, The Wall Street Journal; author of "The Thumpin': How Rahm Emanuel and the Democrats Learned to be Ruthless and Ended the Republican Revolution."
Brian Gaston
managing director, government relations practice, The Glover Park Group.
Congressman Phil Gingrey
Republican, 11th District, Georgia.
Comments
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Trickle down economics makes no sense. Why would a wealthy person invest more in American business, if growth (which is driven by the middle and lower class) is slow and abysmal? It would make more sense for the lower-income earners to have more money to spend on day-to-day needs. I believe all studies have shown that rich people stick extra money in their bank account. I guess at best they invest it, but how do we know that these investment companies are working in areas that will help the American economy? It's pure conjecture when compared to a lower-income earner who will either buy things they need or want.
Additionally, I have an cynical view of how our deficit will be treated when there is no talk (from Republicans or Democrats) about reducing Defense spending. No one wants to make such challenges because it seems to be unamerican to do so.
How is it we are supposed trust republicans? How is it we can expect the Democrats to work with the other side after basically being told 'no' for the last two years? Are we looking at gridlock?
-x
So who is FreedomFirst? Who funds them and why are they given this forum? Their web site gives no information about who is bankrolling them and focuses on conspiracy theories. I think we listeners deserve to know the background of the "experts" we listen to on the DR show. I would like to have known from the get-go of your show that this group's founder is a John Bircher. Thank you.
One of the guests made a false statement earlier stating that not one new private sector job was created by the stimulus. This political line has recently been deemed false by Politifact. http://politifact.com/florida/statements/2010/sep/17/rick-scott/rick-sco...
The Tea Party AGAIN??????
I realize the TP has been a force in the GOP primaries, and many Republicans agree with it to some extent (since non-TPers have been drummed out or are jumping ship) - BUT this is at least the third DR Show in the last month or two about this "movement" and its effect on the GOP.
If I didn't know better I'd think "The Tea Party" was the latest Best TV Series Ever on HBO, and the Diane Rehm Show was actually Fresh Air or TOTN.
I almost never do this, but I'm going to have to turn the dial. I really don't need to hear contradictory and false statements from TP and GOP apologists AGAIN.
more tax cuts?? more of the same irresponsible behavior. another attempt to shift wealth to the already wealthy. take away the hard won health care for the rest of us? despicable! where is the specific talk about industry development? why is america doing this to itself?
I had to turn the radio off. Again, the DR Show seems to be taken over by the right. Is Diane being held hostage somewhere? Please, let her go. Bring her back.
It's false to claim that the Social Security trust fund is full of "worthless IOU's." Those are US Treasury bonds, on which the US has never defaulted. In other words, they were invested in low risk, low yield securities.
It is interesting that Teapartiers and Republicans are after all programs that are socially beneficial. None of them talks about our defense spending which is bigger than that of all other countries on this planet combined.
Why is it that whenever there is talk about "hard choices" that most of those choices seem to be the hardest on those not in power, those in lower economic tiers, or those who do not resemble the mainstream (the proverbial WASP)? When I hear talk of "hard choices", I hear talk of the repeal of those things that benefit most people, to preserve those things that benefit an exalted few. For example: repeal healthcare benefits for those who (arguably) need it, preserve tax cuts for those who (arguably) do not. This is not an agenda I find refreshing or forward-looking.
My question to your guests is,
Don't you think it's time for corporations to put patriotism ahead of greed and stop firing, and start hiring a few people again? Thanks.
What is wrong with the Far Right Republican ideas:
Shrink government down "to only what government was intended for defense" that is all.
Get rid of depts. of Education, then move on to EPA , FDA (you all think that the piles of dead chickens and rats in that egg factory was bad just wait), The Far Right shrink government down, will want to get rid or any government oversite t that stands in the way of big corporations doing business any way they want to -if there is any government spending that will take tax breaks it will be only or Big Oil, Big Agra.etc.. ( forget ever giving money back to Black Farmers)
Big Financial systems wont be bailed out any more but there will be plenty more Bernie Maydoffs because the government shouldn't interfere with what Wall Streets wants to do
Remember the melamine in the pet food? Big corporations do all of there manufacturing in China or what ever country they can get cheep labor and in countries where the is no oversight of the manufacturing practices , this will only get worse in the future When the regime of the far right is in charge because it wont be the government that is in charge any more it will be the big corporations -- the rally cry is down with government interference up up with Big CAPITALISM
I want to know what ever happened to "We the People are the government" we came together because "United We Join Divided We Fall"
A political ad features a plain man in a plaid shirt surrounded by elderly women. "There's a few things we agree about," he says, "You want to choose your own doctor." (a pan of nodding heads) "Government is out of control in Washington and spending way too much money." (edited smiles) "we need to cut back spending and make people take responsibility for their own lives." (applause and standing ovation)
Such are the talking points of the current midterm, and I include many Democrats. The Oligarchy plays the tune and the puppets dance. It's the only show in town. If you deconstruct the ad above you might wonder why older women, statistically the poorest part of our population would want to restrict and cut entitlements they depend upon. You might wonder how they'll take personal responsibility and pay that doctor they've picked. You might think that the cat food they'll be eating won't taste too good.
Thanks to Oligarchs, America is beseiged through the concentrated outlets of media with an Hegelian dialectic that negates real solutions while offering gestures to reasonableness. Term limits, transparency of funding, nor even campaign finance reform will make any real difference until the intensifying concentration of income and wealth, the domination of media by a few big conglomerates, and the personhood of corporations, along with the definition of money as free speech are addressed and corrected. Like a teacher in the classroom overcome by family, community and structural economic problems, the few politicians with principles can do nothing until the people understand these problems and demand the real solutions. All else is lip service to greed.
And where were all these geniuses during the Bush administration? Point, no one had any problems with the boomers while they were in the work force when their retirement programs were being scewed for the benefit of financiers. Cut military spending and domestic issues become moot. Switching channels.
I find it difficult to listen to today's show — where is the balance. Where is the point of view from the other side of the aisle. I am very disappointed to hear such bias on the Diane Rehm Show.
Where is the balance in todays program? Where are the experts to refute the Republicans?
The Tea party is the fringe of the Republican party
You need more right wingers. I don't think they have enough power to make a point against the the one sort of moderate.
Repubilcan or Democrat - its all irrelevant, we all know that Congress is in the pocket of big business, special interest groups, and the super rich. The Tea Party movement is a symptom not a cause. Nothing less than a Second Amercian Revolution is going to bring about the sort of change ordinary working Americans want. Why dont we talk about the elephant in the room?
Repubilcan or Democrat - its all irrelevant, we all know that Congress is in the pocket of big business, special interest groups, and the super rich. The Tea Party movement is a symptom not a cause. Nothing less than a Second Amercian Revolution is going to bring about the sort of change ordinary working Americans want. Why dont we talk about the elephant in the room?
Repubilcan or Democrat - its all irrelevant, we all know that Congress is in the pocket of big business, special interest groups, and the super rich. The Tea Party movement is a symptom not a cause. Nothing less than a Second Amercian Revolution is going to bring about the sort of change ordinary working Americans want. Why dont we talk about the elephant in the room?
Please remind the 28 year old gentleman that as soon as you/we, as citizens, believe that you will not realize the benefit of your Social Security contributions, Congress will feel like they can take it away from you. Just be reminded of what Congress has done to Veterans benefits over the years. I was in & out of the car and may not have caught all the discussion, but I really don't trust Congress to do what is right for the American people.
Am I listening to the Diane Rehm Show, or Fox news? Republican congressmen get to sell their ideas and speak untruths about the Health Care Bill and the Oboma Administration and no one is there to refute it.
Considering this is dedicated to Republican agenda, why you don't have a token moderate Republican (a rare species)?
I'm no fan of the Obama health care bill; it clearly was written by insurers and drug companies and does little to address the real issues. That said, I want every Senator and Congressional representative who opposes health care reform and calls it a "government takeover" to explain, in detail, how the health insurance choices they enjoy--and the pensions they are guaranteed to receive even if they are sent to prison--are anything other than , government-administered giveaways funded by the very taxpayers who are supposed to fend for themselves in the so-called "open market" for health insurance.
What happened to Free Market Hemp? The Speak out America response was clear, the number one suggestion was to end marijuana prohibition. Industrial hemp production was how our forefathers created financial independence. We did it before and can do it again. The Tea Party is for Free Market Hemp, grown and processed in every state, providing jobs and a replacement for imported fuel. I invite all true patriots to join me in echoing George Washington's declaration concerning Hemp, he said, "Plant It Everywhere"
Stop talking about taxes and government programs, just get out of the way and we the people will create millions of jobs and restore financial independence to the people.
The representative of Freedom Works said he wants to make the Bush tax cut permanent. The tax cuts were based on having a budget surplus. Without specifically saying what programs he wants to cut, what credibility does his ideas have. Lets see what popularity his ideas have when he gives specifics. Also, his comments on Texas creating jobs. Has Texas "created" jobs, or allowed Texas based companies "steal" jobs from other states that have higher taxes. Are these new jobs or just moved jobs.
One of the guests mentioned the lack of a non-Republican, non-Tea Party guest. Why indeed was the program set up in that way?
The host cannot play the role of opposition while also playing the role of moderator. Without any countervailing voice, the current program appears to be a rally/fundraiser for the Republican/Tea Party organization. Who decided on this approach?
Efficiency of Republican party:
During Clinton era (8 years) more jobs were created than in 20 years of Reagan, Bush Sr and Jr. combined.
I'm with you. Trickle down has never worked, and I don't understand why our governmental officials keep saying that it can.
I'm fed up with both parties, they don't seem committed to the lower and middle class at all.
All this talk rings hollow to my ears considering Republicans were in complete control for 8 years, during which tie the economy was driven over a cliff, and the divide between rich and poor grew unincumbered.