Republican friend says, "Democrats have been in charge for 2 YEARS and broke the economy"

[Pryderi]

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should I just stop talking politics with him?

[NJmaverick]

1. Remind him the PRESIDENT, our nation's leader

and the one veteoing Congress is a REPUBLICAN

[Winterblues]

2. Ask them to be specific and name a particular thing Democrats did

And what we need to do to fix it..That usually makes their eyes glaze over..

[MadrasT]

8. Yep, good advice.

I don't even get excited any more, I demand specifics and they usually have to go away with their tails between their legs, because they can't. name. one.

[FVZA_Colonel]

3. Tell him we're finally seeing the results of years of Republican mismanagement of the economy.

You can't blame this on the Democrats, who have been obstructed at every opportunity on every issue.

[Caliman73]

22. I'd go with the that too.

2 years of Democratic majority in the House and razor thin majority in the Senate aren't going to fix a step by step dismantling of the New Deal over the past 28. This crisis is a result of deregulation to the point that corporations were making up the rules as they went along. This was a greed driven departure from the fundamentals of a proper economy. The Republicans thought that an entire economy could be made without producing anything tangible. Wealth was built on speculation and crooked accounting. A house of cards that was bound to fall. I think some Democrats were complicit in this fiasco, but the masterminds behind it were definitely Republican.

[seabeyond]

46. trickle down didnt trickle especially when they started taking regulations off allowing

companies to horde and be greedy

and the whole trickle. 80% of the nation gets a trickle? while the ten get a nice full lake. they damned it up so we didnt even get the trickle

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

4. Yes.

He's a moron. I could go through all sorts of arguments you can use with him, but what's the sense? I mean, that is the new squawking head argument, so you know where he is getting his worldview.

[d_b]

5. They controlled congress for 12 of the last 14 years

Bush has veto power, Dems can't overcome that.


/end of discussion.

[Pryderi]

13. True. Also, Repugs can block anything that goes to the Senate.

[Xipe Totec]

6. By not impeaching the son of a Bush n/t

[tridim]

7. I'd suggest smacking him upside the head..

But that probably wouldn't do much because apparently your friend has no brain.

[glowing]

9. They can't do anything when the Senate Republicons fillibuster and ole'

Georgie vetos everything that's good for America when it does get to his desk.

[NMDemDist2]

10. they (the Democrats) tried to solve the mess, the Repukes blocked it

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a7KV5FZNOcG0&refer=home

They also would establish tax incentives for businesses to invest in new equipment and increase the size of mortgage loans that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can buy to add capital to the housing market.

[hadrons]

11. If the economy was so great before '06 elections, why did the Repukes lose so badly???

Hit him with the that and what specifically have the Dems did to break the economy, other than that accept the fact that this is what he WANTS to believe

[JHB]

12. Only stop after asking him one more question:

"Are you really -- REALLY -- that stupid?"

[sinkingfeeling]

14. Ask if he supports Reagonomics. When he says yes then tell him this is it at it's finest.

[bdamomma]

49. Mentioning Reagan I think is the best, if they supported

Reagan you can definitley see how messed up they really are. One liners are the best, that is the only thing they understand, more than that their brains may explode.

[codjh9]

15. Yes, quit talking to him. What an idiot.

[GOPBasher]

16. Ask him exactly which piece of legislation it was the ruined the economy?

Since the Republicans have set a record for fillabusters, the Dems have not passed one single piece of significant legislation. So, what, exactly, caused it?

[Indenturedebtor]

17. Specifics, ask for specifics. Then explain what the pukes did

Then back it up with economists articles if he still doesn't get it. Rub his nose in it!

[Pryderi]

19. I tried mentioning Phil Gramm and John McCain's deregulation and he said

that dems voted 90-8 for that deregulation and cited wikipedia. :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gramm-Leach-Bliley_Act

The final bill resolving the differences was passed in the Senate 90-8-1 and in the House: 362-57-15. This veto proof legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999. <3>

It's so nuanced, I don't understand.

[Indenturedebtor]

23. Explain to him that at first pass the Dems were deadset against it

Which is why the initial vote in the Senate was 54-44 along party lines. However, as you only need 2/3rds for veto proof majority, when it became clear that a few Red State Dems were going to cross over, the veto proof majority became inevitable. This is how our government works. When a bill becomes inevitable - most politicians cave in knowing that they can more easily get help on their legislation/agenda, and will most often fare better by going with the flow.

McBush was of course a supporter of the Gramm Leach Biley Act. Republicans created this bill, pushed it through, they own it.

Explain it to him very simply - If I have 55 friends and you have 44, and me and my fellow goons hatch a plan to do something really stupid and corrupt and convince you to come along for the ride, who is more at fault?

[Pryderi]

26. Thanks. I've really been struggling with my "frame". :)

[Indenturedebtor]

44. My pleasure hehe. I only have a frame because I had to make one for my brother :D

He tells me he's likely going to vote Obama this year (after months of work), but he still clings to a lot of the Chicago Economics bullshit.

[tabasco]

47. That's a fucking lie.

Only one Dem voted for the piece of shit legislation.

Do your homework and/or stop lying.

[tn_eagle]

54. senate vote was 90-8

...on the final bill after amendments and conference. The
Senate vote was on November 4, 1999. Here a link:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00354

It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November
12, 1999.

[tn_eagle]

link working?

Sorry that the link was not clickable. I'll try again.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=106&session=1&vote=00354

[Lex]

56. LOL! It was Bill Clinton fault.

That's so tired.

[tn_eagle]

57. it would have become law...

...whether President Clinton signed it or not since it passed with veto proof majorities in both the house and senate.

[Old and In the Way]

18. You're right.

He is a Republican.

[Rob H.]

20. Heard a similar line on fundagelical radio this afternoon

only in that case it was a claim that the price of a gallon of gas has risen 76% since the Democrats gained control in '06. They conveeeeniently neglected to mention that the price of a gallon of gas has risen just over 250% since Bush took office. (Based on $1.46/gal. regular in 2001, $3.75/gal today where I live.)

[Ghost in the Machine]

21. I think you should kick him in the teeth, then tell him the friendship is over...

... sorry, I'm having rage issues right now...

[Vickers]

24. Tell him the President signs off on legislation sent by Congress.

:eyes:

[4lbs]

25. Most of the deregulation happened with a fully GOP controlled government.

Deregulation of the airlines.

Deregulation of energy.

Deregulation of the financial industry.

Deregulation of the mortgage lenders.

Deregulation of the insurance industry.

Combine that with tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and corporations, and the switch from a $350 billion surplus to a $500+ billion deficit in just 6 years.

All happened with a Republican POTUS and Republican controlled Congress, from January 2001 to December 2006.

[Frosty1]

27. Arguing with these people

is like trying to teach a pig to dance. It frustrates you and pisses off the pig. Said pig is wearing lipstick I assume.

[Marr]

28. You know, I think I'd just laugh and tell him the super wealthy depend on suckers like him.

Absurd claims shouldn't be dignified with a counter-argument. They should be mocked and ridiculed.

[ColbertWatcher]

29. Ask him if he can count. Then ask him which number is bigger 6 or 2. n/t

[dkofos]

30. He obviously wasn't paying attention for the last 28 years.

[knitter4democracy]

31. Just laugh in his face and tell him to visit Michigan.

Republicans have helped destroy this great state, and we led this damn recession. It's been far more than two years, trust me.

[guitar man]

32. 28 years ago

This shit started with their beloved saint Ronnie Raygun. "Trickled on" economics has come to its full fruition. :grr:

[ljm2002]

33. Ask him who WROTE THE BILL...

...that repealed Glass-Steagall. Why, it was none other than Phil Gramm, of Gramm-Leach-Bliley fame who wrote that bill, and who also snuck in another poison deregulation pill into some legislation in 2000, that deregulated energy trades and brought us the Enron debacle -- which his wife Wendy made a cool $2M on, while she sat on Enron's board of directors, while they plundered from their customers and from their own employees, until there was nothing left to plunder.

After you've cleared that up with him, point out that Mr. Gramm is McCain's chief economic advisor, and would probably be the U.S. Treasurer under McCain. Talk about putting the wolf in charge of the hen-house!

On the other hand, your friend is probably hopeless. Don't bother unless you are up for it. I don't know if I would be...

(on edit: fixed typo: repeated -> repealed)

[OmahaBlueDog]

34. Right, because Congress selected the Treasury Secretary, the Fed Chair

the Controller of the Currency...oh no..wait.. these are Presidential apointees.

Never mind ;-)

[AllieB]

35. It takes more than 2 years to break an economy this badly.

What a moran. :eyes:

[Bake]

36. Punch him out first, then stop talking politics with him.

You DID punch him out, right? I think I'd have HAD to ...

Bake

[DailyGrind51]

37. Remind him that Republicans are the Party of "deregulation".

[doc03]

38. That must have been the talking points memo yesterday

I heard two people say the exact same thing yesterday. They must have picked that up from Rush or some asshole on Fox.

[McCamy Taylor]

39. One word "VETO". One phrase "SEC Oversight".

[PerfectSage]

40. Back in 2005 Warren Buffet said derivatives are financial weapons of mass destructon

Your friend is full of self righteous shit.

[ThoughtCriminal]

41. It's like a drunk blaming us for the hangover

We'd feel better if you had let me keep drinking!

[Heather MC]

42. Let it go, We are in America, people have the freedom to be stupid

[PA Democrat]

43. Ask him why Bush's Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

filed a lawsuit against states who had passed laws to protest consumers from predatory lenders. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Bush administration, making it easier for predatory lenders to screw consumers and now the taxpayers.

[Meshuga]

45. Ask him how so... Since he knows so much, ask him for his analysis.

That would be interesting to watch him trying to explain. :-)

[bdamomma]

48. who has been in charge of the government for the last 8 years,

republicans, and blocking all the Bills that the Dems have put forward, it has nothing to do with the Dems. We only have a slim margin of democratics in the Senate, but next year should be different we will gain more control. I hate the repigs.

[radfringe]

50. I'd smile at him and say

"Glad to hear you are in favor of more regulation and not mccain's deregulation party. If more people felt like you, maybe we can get things back on track and have real oversight, real accountability. Now we can get rid of reagan's trickle-down economics. Does this mean you'll vote for Obama?"

[raccoon]

51. "There is none so blind as he who will not see. " nt

[lpbk2713]

52. They were saying that bullshit two WEEKS after the November elections.

RayGunomics is still trickling down on us.
BushCo simply took over where RayGun left off.

[Joanne98]

53. Republicans are pathological liars.

[tsuki]

55. Yes. nt

[spanone]

58. tell him he's totally full of shit.