There are very few moderates left in the republican party and the ones that are in congress are being purged and thrown out. Several years ago the former governor of New Jersey warned that the republican party was getting rid of the moderates and she was correct. Its sad to see they are welcoming such ignorant loud mouth candidates like palidon who say generally what he is going to do without any facts but just calls everboy names. I can see the angry of the new york voters but I hope they are not that desparate to put this ignoramus as governor. Former governor Whitman also states this is why many former moderates are turning into independents. Its a sad state of affairs

The Republicans only appear to be moving ultra conservative because the Democrats currently in charge have taken our country, in a frenzy as far left as could be imaginable. Republicans are just seeking a status quo in order to preserve the freedom and Democracy that Americans have enjoyed for over 230 years of America's existence.

TO; AFLCIO--1st and 3RD Wednesday of each month

THE GOVERNOR ALLEGES THAT THE STATE EMPLOYEES ARE BREAKING THE STATE--BUT THE POLITICIANS,

(AND THE GOVERNOR--WITH THE $90,000 RETIRED COP ON DISABILITY WHO WAS 'R-E-A-D-I-N-G' TO THE GOVERNOR WHEN SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS READ TO CHILDREN FOR FREEEE!)

ARE AWAY LIVING HIGH PISSING THE TAXPAYER MONEY AWAY OF MILLIONS OF PER DIEM DOLLARS ON THEMSELVES AND THEIR PET PROJECTS IN ABLANY.

The legislatures (AND CONGRESS) get a !!X!! check, approximately $175,000 a year--PLUS ALL THE BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT AND HEALTH INCURANCE. Let them take their expenses out of that. Does the average worker get a per diem check in addition to his pay check? Another example is the judges who receive $10,000 for dry cleaning of the robes. Is this taxable?

THE PEOPLE PROVIDE A HOUSE FOR THE PUBLIC FIGURES TO LIVE IN AND, E.G., THE MAYOR, THE GOVERNOR, OF NEW YORK WONT LIVE THERE. IF THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE WHAT THE JOB OFFERS, DON'T RUN FOR THE JOB.

AND, IF YOU WANT THE JOB, LIVE IN ONE HOUSE, E.G., WASHINGTON, D.C., THE PUBLIC SHOULDN'T PAY FOR ALL THIS AIR FARE BACK AND FORTH--E.G., Nancy Pelosi--prime example. And, the President was elected to do a job for the People--NOT TAKE VACATION AFTER VACATION--HIM AND HIS WIFE TO SEE THE WORLD ON THE TAXPAYER!


IS IT TRUE THAT SIMILAR TO THE RETIREE'S PENSION THAT THE STATE IS MAILING OUT STATEMENTS OF WORTH, AN ASSESSMENT OF EACH STATE EMPLOYEE'S HEALTH CARE BENEFIT WHEN THE W2 FORMS WILL BE MAILED--TO BE TAXABLE TOO THIS YEAR? E.G., $15,000 FOR HEALTH CARE AND $15,000 FOR PENSION= $30,000 WHICH WOULD BE TAXABLE EACH YEAR.

Where is the retireee suppose to get this money? AND THE UNION ROBS THE STATE EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE $10 AN HOUR JOBS OF MANDATORY UNION DUES! FOR WHAT?

THE STATE HAS FLEX PLANS FOR HEALTH CARE, CONTINUING EDUCATION, ETC. LOTS OF PROGRAMS THAT MOST STATE EMPLOYEES GET NOTHING FROM EXCEPT PAPER--LOTS OF PAPER AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE UNION IS DOING DO MUCH PROVIDING PROGRAMS THAT MANY STATE EMPLOYEES ARE IN DEAD END JOBS AND ARE SICK OF GOING TO SCHOOL, BUT LOOKING TO GET A LIFE!

HOW MANY STATE EMPLOYEES ARE WORKING FOR FREEE, OR FOR CAR FARE? Some T&S jobs have the state employee come to work for as little as FOUR ("4") HOURS.

The state hires THOUSANDS of T&S employees--TEMPORARY AND SEASONAL--WHO MAY WORK ANNUALLY-ALL YEAR--BUT ARE STILL DEEMED T&S. Bottom line--the state hires more employees, but who may work ONE DAY OR 20 HOURS A WEEK. LOOKS GOOD FOR THE STATE THAT IT IS HIRING SO MANY PEOPLE OSTENSIBLY AND LOWERS THE UNEMPLOYMENT ROLES--BUT WHO CAN LIVE ON A PART TIME JOB--UNLESS YOU ARE A LEGISLATURE OR A CONGRESSMAN WITH A SO-CALLED PART-TIME JOB, BUT THEY RECEIVE CREDIT FOR A PART TIME JOBS FOR THEIR PENSION AND HEALTH CARE, UNLIKE TEMPORY STATE EMPLOYEES WHEN IT DOES NOT COUNT AND HAVE NO PENSION OR PEANUTS AND THESE STATE EMPLOYEES ARE DOING ALL THE WORK!

Legislatures get a !!!! check like everybody else, BUT, ARE paid mileage, travel expense, WHICH E.G., WORD IS THAT MOLINARO IS FAMOUS FOR, AND food and lodging. Is that taxable or a business expense?

p.S. Small wonder why STATE EMPLOYEES END UP GOING TO FEDERAL ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS, E.G., MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, ETC., AND AFTER THEY WORKED ALL THEIR LIVES, ROBBING THEM OF THEIR PRIDE AND SELF ESTEEM, WHEN THE STATE EMPLOYERS WONT DELIVER TO THE STATE EMPLOYEES WHO DO THE WORK, WHILE THEY ARE ROBBED BLIND. THE STATE LEGISLATURES ARE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK, TWEAKING THE ECONOMY WITH STATE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR NOTHING OR CARFARE, WHO MUST RUN TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO SURVIVE.

ASK YOURSELF: DOES YOUR KID TELL THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR OR SAY TO HIS PARENTS THAT HE WANTS TO BE ONE OF THOSE WORKERS--A BOY-MAN"-- IN DANNY DONOHUE'S CSEA COMMERCIAL. They all look like KIDS! "WE EARNED IT!" PEOPLE ARE LAUGHING!

"W-O-R-K-I-N-G N-E-W Y-O-R-K"

THE OBJECTIVE IS TO GET A LIFE FROM WORKING, NOT PENAL SERVITUDE.

THE RICH ENJOY THEIR MONEY, NOT GLORIFYING WORK--AMERICA USE TO BE ABOUT LUXURY AND COMFORT--NOT SLAVE LABOR WORKING FOR NOTHING.

IF YOU WORKED, YOU WERE REWARDED. A WORK ETHIC. NO WORK ETHIC TODAY.

ONLY JERKS WORK FOR SUCH LITTLE PAY AND BENEFITS.

ARE THOSE 'KIDS' IIN DANNY DONOHUE'S COMMERCIAL SOMEBODY THAT YOUR KID WANTS TO BE WHEN HE/SHE GROWQS UP?

Yes in the Democratic Party

The republicans say they have a plan to get us out of the recession. You mean they waited until election time to present their proposal and let unemployment continue at such a high rate. If they are reelected their main priority will to turn the legislation over to corporations like in the drug bill slash medicare and social security not improving it and put it in a sound fiscal position. all of their nonsense about taking back america to reduce the debt is hogwash. When they were in power they created 12 trillion dollar debt and the last 6 mo in office the layoff rate was 700000 per month. They are really going back to the failed policies of the bush administration. The folks at the tea party are well intentioned but with the wrong party. They should be with the green party.

Yes, there is room for moderates in the GOP but now is not the time. The majority in power are either left or moderate already. We need more GOP conservatives in order to provide the necessary checks and balances. Otherwise, that can be accomplished by the Democrats moving to the right. We already know from these past two years this is not possible, by the way they have ignored the majority of people and anything at all related to conservative principles. So it is time for them to go.

Bye Democrats, maybe next time around you will understand you are elected to serve the people's will and not your own self interests.

Good riddance to them.

Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

Message to Richard French:

I caught some of the broadcast. I heard you refer to Reagan as a moderate compared to the tea party and Republicans of today. You praised Reagan for sitting down with Democrats and that he told the Republicans this is an all inclusive party.

Now hold on to that thought and consider what is different today. It is NOT that the Republicans have moved more right but that Dems refuses too move right. Historically the president and the party in power moves a little in the opposite direction. Dems to the right, Republicans to the left. Can't you see the real reason we are divided now is it is up to the party in power to move toward the people and not the people toward the party in power. Who am I kidding, you must know that already.

"(Congresspeople) are elected to serve the people's will"

I don't know where some people get this idea that congresspeople simply carry poll results to Washington. They could mail them in, if that's all they do. They are elected to serve the public's INTERESTS, which may at times contradict their wishes, their all-over-the-place opinions that are so easily and quickly swayed by silly stories of death panels and communist takeovers.

I'm sure that, despite the Democrats' incessant compromising with Republicans, congress is passing legislation you don't like. News flash: that's exactly how the other half feels during a Republican administration. Oooh, that awful congress, they're not listening to me, and by extension no one else on Earth! Seriously, conservatives have no sense of perspective or proportion. Let one Democratic bill come up for a vote and we have a totalitarian communist regime! Get out your guns and take back our America!

Oy.

Astro Turf at it's finest. Watch the video and see how Breitbart sends them packing. This is the best the Left has to offer? FAIL

IT’S TRUE– Proof That the DNC and Team Obama Are Targeting Tea Parties and Top Conservatives

So, rather than focus all energy on the economy and the suffering of the American people, Barack Obama and democrats are stalking, protesting, and harassing top conservatives and tea party patriots.
Why are we not surprised?

"It is NOT that the Republicans have moved more right"

Even after the Republican Party purged itself of its moderates, the select were still not far enough to the right for the Tea Party. The stated beliefs of some of the Tea Party nominees can only be described as verging on being a Christian version of sharia law.

If Democrats had not compromised so much with Republicans ("moved to the right") the healthcare bill would have been more palatable and would have been passed months sooner. Democrats have not caught up to and overtaken Tea Partiers in far-right extremism, but that does not mean they haven't compromised too much already.

Big Bob brought us some good news; Democrats are FINALLY pushing back against the crap piled upon them by the far right. It's about time.

I don't know where some people get this idea that congresspeople simply carry poll results to Washington...They are elected to serve the public's INTERESTS.. -Mike Q

Yes Mike Q and how do we know they are serving the public's interest? Do we just keep quiet and trust them to do what is best for us because they are in charge? Or, as you write, how do I know its not just me saying, "Oooh, that awful congress, they're not listening to me.."

The way we know whether they are serving the public interests is simple. We measure it by the polls and more importantly, by the elections. If the people of America continue to elect and re-elect these leaders, in spite of what I feel, then either they are the lessor of the two evils or I am out of step with America. If on the other hand they get thrown out, then most likely they are NOT serving the interests of the majority and you are out of step.
I am betting and hoping, most of them will get a firm boot out the door.

"How do we know they are serving the public's interest? Do we just keep quiet and trust them to do what is best for us?... We measure it by the polls and more importantly, by the elections."

Somewhere between selecting which poll results will dictate life for, potentially, a large part of the world, and never responsibly researching the details of a proposed bill, is a medium that will work well. Right now too much is being decided on the basis of made-up stories and culture warring. Bad things were done during the last administration that were not stopped because people didn't know what was going on and what the ramifications would be. Now people want to stop any new action because they were burned once. Googling a variety of sources is better than being satisfied just with partisan websites or those that clearly have an agenda. What I've heard from conversations is people putting their full belief in something they overheard or saw in some odd website. Polls are made of such stuff too much, is what I'm saying. Balance.

I think I figured out what is really the problem. The media and the politicians frame everything as right and left or Democrat and Republican but must people don’t identify themselves that way. The average person votes according their interests and not some party ideology.

Suppose we removed all the labels and just voted according to our class. Surely the middle class makes up the majority of Americans. It is clear, the hard working middle class citizens are carrying the weight and the burden in this country, more then the either the rich or the poor. The middle class is the majority. What if we voted for the interests of the middle class? Who do you suppose represents our interests the most?

For now, I will pick only one issue, health care. The rich can afford the best and the poor have Medicaid but what of the middle class? Nobody can honestly say our system had no issues. While the over all quality was good for middle class interests, it was mainly cost and in some cases access, that was the problem. I cannot argue with the idea of balance, there are forces on both the right and the left that exaggerate the problems solely to support getting elected or re-elected but that does not serve our interest at all. Do I want a Republican or Democrat in power if their policies are going to make life harder for me? No, I want the person in that will represent and support my interests.

So when it comes to Obamacare am I against it because of some brainwashing by the right and irrational thinking? If it is decided for logical reasons Obamacare is worse for me and the majority then what we had, wouldn’t that be a sound enough reason to vote out those responsible, who are not really serving our interests but want you to think they are?

Consider these sound reasons:
1) If Obamacare is better for us then the elite in government should adopt it for their health care program but they won’t.
2) Obamacare does nothing to actually address the high cost of health care itself.
3) It does nothing to bring down the costs of millions of illegal’s on the system.
3) My current insurance premiums / taxes will go up.
4) My overall quality and access will get worse.
5) My choices and options will be less.

Pelosi says it’s a victory for the American people, yet she does not know what is in the bill and what we do know is, it is not a victory for the middle class it is obviously worse. So it turns out the only real positive is it should cover the relatively few people that wanted healthcare and could not get it. Is that important? Yes, absolutely but the only way these politicians could make that happen was by making our middle class health care even worse, without messing with their own elite class plans that the middle class pays for. It simply is not logical nor rational to re-elect them if you are in the middle class and care about middle class interests.

Mike;

Point 1- No one said the bill was better than what congresspeople have. That's not a killer point.

Point 2- Neither does no bill. Meanwhile this bill saves us from being cut off by our insurers just when we need them the most; and other improvements.

Point 3- Could be, I'm not sure

Point 4- Really? If you go to a good doctor you're already waiting and then getting the bum's rush. With more people going to doctors, maybe for a time it'll get a little worse before it gets better. This would happen with ANY system that gets everyone coverage.

Point 5- How? You'll still pay the insurer you choose for coverage. I don't see how this would change for the worse.

As to the diminished middle class carrying most of the weight,- that's why we could use a little more help from the gazillionnaires.

See you in a couple days.

Mike Q, I could drill down further on each response but my point is easily made by the high level view. Obamacare does not hurt or effect the poor or the illegals. It does not effect the Gazillionares, nor the ELITE MILLIONAIRES in the federal government that passed the bill. They either can afford better or are entitled to the same or better. Only the hard working middle class majority gets less and pays more.

Amen. Tea Party stands for "Grassroots" and this country would be better to get back to what our founding fathers wrote.
We, most of Americans, no matter which side of the political spectrum your on is tired of the sickness that has spread among our polititians. Throw all the bums out and start fresh. End the corruption now. Can we please have our country, and liberties back! Stop the attacks on our borders, language and culture. End the stupid-ocracy and the palm greasing for political gains.