I’m trying to figure out why congressional Republicans don’t like this country. Here’s why: I spent the better part of the eight-year Bush presidency watching them support costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — efforts estimated to cost more than a trillion dollars. A big part of how they measured success was telling us how many roads, bridges and schools that U.S. taxpayer money was building in Iraq. I heard that at least 100 times. They also measured success by telling us how the Iraqi economy was improving and that things would get better as people, especially young men, started working.
All that war money was borrowed, and will be paid back by future generations. (That’s because the GOP, which railed against deficit spending when they weren’t in charge, failed to adhere to the pay-as-you-go method when they ran the show.) Fiscal accountability on how all that money was being spent didn’t matter to Republicans, who controlled congress and the presidency.
Now that Democrats are in charge, they want to spend nearly a trillion dollars here at home, doing things like building roads, bridges and schools on U.S. soil — and putting many people, including young men, to work. This money will also be paid by future generations. But there appears to be much more accountability on how that money will be spent, compared to the money flushed away to defense contractors in Iraq.
Who are the real economic patriots? I’m voting for the Democrats.
Nobody who endorses or supports this level of increased federal involvement in- and control over the US economy can be a patriot – or even a true minded American. At best they can be residents within this land; at worst and more common they are domestic enemies of America.
Just because the GOP failed their own principles in funding are efforts to fight the War Against Terrorism somewhere other than in our own streets doesn’t mean the Democrats aren’t traitors to the very founding ideals of our nation.
By: jonolan on February 22, 2009
at 8:37 am
Add Lord Jonolan to King Rush and Prince Sean as the only true patriots. We all know that the founding fathers came to these shores to establish a nation where only their point of view counted. They didn’t need no stinkin’ dissenters or (Rush forbid) the dreaded freedom of speech.
If you’re not white, anglo, and Christian, you are a treasonous traitor. The Rushites would see us scumbags rot in Gitmo or one of their torture prisons.
I’m proud to be an American and have the CONSTITUTIONALLY given RIGHT to disagree with my fellow Americans, both capitalist radicals and socially liberal radicals. When my right to disagree and protest casts light on my patriotism,
I fear the people who cast those aspersions as usurpers of the American way of life.
DON’T TREAD ON ME!!!!
By: JBG on February 22, 2009
at 1:21 pm
I’m having a difficult time trying to follow the logic here. In your post about the Great Depression, you said, “Today the government is helping people stay in expensive homes, whereas in the the 1930s many people didn’t have a home at all. And the government is sending checks to people who aren’t working, whereas before you had to work for your money.”
Yet you now call the Democrats “real economic patriots.”
By: John Levy on February 23, 2009
at 11:58 am
Yes, the war has been more costly than most of us realize . During the entire second term of the Bush administration anyone paying attention to the economic segments of news from Cavuto to Lou Dobbs, consistently heard the mantra, “The economy continues to be very strong, DRIVEN BY THE HOUSING MARKET!” My party, the Republicans’ are guilty of doing little or nothing about the bad lending practices that lead to our current condition. They knew quite well that nothing would erode public support for the Iraq war more than a bad economy. If you don’t believe me, just ask John Mcain !
By: Still FREE MAN,barely! on February 24, 2009
at 11:04 am
“Now that Democrats are in charge, they want to spend nearly a trillion dollars here at home, doing things like building roads, bridges and schools on U.S. soil — and putting many people, including young men, to work. This money will also be paid by future generations. But there appears to be much more accountability on how that money will be spent, compared to the money flushed away to defense contractors in Iraq.” -Paul Sunyak
Ho Boy! I can’t help but think of Bill Clinton saying “depends what you think the meaning of is, is.”
How silly of you to say that there appears to much more accountability now. It’s so silly that I almost died while laughing.
By: Anna Frielman on March 8, 2009
at 1:01 pm
Right, accountability all the way to the AIG execs bank accounts. HA HA. It doesn’t matter if you are a dem or rep, aren’t all politicians in it for the money and power? Just read an article that the Pres was given large bonuses himself for throwin the money to the mighty. And ltake a look just where the stimulus monies went. 85% to large corporations who frauded the American public in the first place by charging the 24% interest.It shouldn’t take us much thought to know that our tax dollars are funding those bonuses. Aren’t we generous? If ya’ll thought Mr. Bush was a crook, then I just have one thing more to say, Ya ain’t seen nothin yet – the best is yet to come. And yes, I am a forlorn and sad Democrat. I might be back Ralph in the next election. Can’t get any worse than this. This new hero is the biggest con man yet.
P.S. Where are those those new jobs anyhow? I need to send a resume in for one.
By: Terry Callaghan on March 18, 2009
at 5:51 pm
I for one cannot understand why you keep harping on this Democrat-Republican issue. As a “Forgotten Democrat” I am not at all happy with what Washington has done for quite some time. This money they spend is our money, always remember the government does not have any wealth. Paul, you have boasted in the past your proud to be part of the “Main Stream Media”, but not once have you asked a hard question of those running our government irregardless of what their party may be.
Was too much spent on the Iraq war, you better believe it. It seems to me that less would have been spent and our troops home sooner if both political parties united with one voice to get the job done, instead of rethoric that caused terrorist campaigns to continue against our troops.
As for the one trillion dollars being spent at home, a very small amount less than 10% is being spent on infrastructure, the rest goes towards social programs that have since 1965 cost 6 trillion American dollars to be spent with not tangable gains.
By: chut on April 10, 2009
at 9:46 am
So now I’ve never asked a hard question of anyone in government? How much history are you trying to rewrite? In case you haven’t noticed, I wasn’t covering the White House. I was covering the Fayette County Courthouse.
By: paulsunyak on April 11, 2009
at 7:19 am