Neoneocon found this commenter’s cri du Coeur deep inside the Washington Post’s long stream of comments castigating the Journolist quislings it still keeps on the payroll. I've corrected the spelling and punctuation and added paragraphing for pacing. Otherwise I have changed "Syoung809132001" words not one whit.
These words are long, strong, worth reading and absorbing. This is Whitman’s “barbaric yawp sounded over the roofs of the world.” This is an American Citizen speaking, and it is the sound and sign of Democracy awakened. It is the voice of the people betrayed:
I urge the new Republicans who are now running to reach out to the unions. We are weary. We know we are a big part of the problem and we are ready to compromise and work together.
Hell, I used to buy all of the spin. I am guilty of doing too little research and just toeing the party line because I was too busy. I’ve got plenty of time now. I’ve got plenty of will now. To say I regret all of the above doesn’t do it justice.
However, as a penance for the error of my ways, I am willing to take any kind of pay cut, benefit cut, furlough, whatever just to be able to feed my family and not have to worry about the bills and the roof over our heads. I am willing to cut whatever corners are necessary, learn whatever new skill is required to just get people working again.
If I never have to hear the words GREEN JOBS from my governor’s mouth again I would fall on my knees in gratitude. Fancy ideas, cotton candy spun dreams do not materialize into real paying jobs.
Our entire state of Michigan was sacrificed to the green job pie in the sky promise. Michigan now resembles a third world country. Whatever it takes, with whatever party candidate who has a realistic, adult answer will get our union votes.
The rose colored glasses are gone, I am turning accusing eyes at my so called “advocates” and I am bringing a hell of a lot of people with me.
I am an adult. Speak to me as an adult. Do not whine and point a finger of blame at a minority party for your own failure. ADULTS admit when they have made a mistake.
It is becoming clear to me who the irresponsible children are who go on a crazy “who cares” spending spree, and then become irritated when the people aren’t appreciative of their irresponsibility. And it is apparent who the adults are who are standing up screaming: “NO! STOP! YOU IDIOTS!” We will soon see which side the majority of the electorate is on.
I only regret I have one vote to cast. It is a dog eat dog world out there and the Democrat party wrote their own obituary with their utter foolishness. I played a part in that foolishness. I regret it utterly, but thankfully a tragic and deep lesson has been learned. If nothing else, I am grateful to be awake, thinking on my own, and seeing the light for the first time. It is a miniscule silver lining to a very dark cloud.
And here is the same commenter again, a bit earlier (at 11:53:50 AM on the same day, addressing the author of the article where he’s commenting, Ezra Klein who, in his callow way is trying to convince all and sundry that the recession is over and happy days are here again):
This is really pathetic, how old is Ezra Klein?
PLEASE be sure to head over to Michigan’s ghost towns, boarded up shops, and empty parking lots. See the lines teeming at the unemployment offices. See people lined up for food stamps and tell all of those people that the “slow recovery is right on schedule.”
What a complete and out of touch idiot -- one of many tone deaf, over confident fools that seem to make up our media nowadays; the same media who will be stunned speechless when the auto workers of this country turn on the Democratic party, and either vote Republican as a protest, or don’t even show up to vote at all.
We are everywhere in this country, but mostly we are in the blue states. We are beyond fed up with promises. We are beyond fed up with being taken for granted by our non-representing representatives. And we are determined to make a deafening exclamation point at the ballot box on Nov.2.
After being unemployed for nearly two years, I am over the blame game of GOP versus DEM. Who in the heck cares?
It is clearly obvious that NEITHER party has the answer. I am game to vote in someone who has EXPERIENCE RUNNING A BUSINESS, has never served in Congress, isn’t reading a speech off of a teleprompter that someone else wrote, and doesn’t REEK of the stench of corruption.
Maybe that person will rise above the pettiness -- “They are the party of no-wah - we only have a supermajority” -- and for a change do something that WORKS!
I have been a Democrat all of my life. I am a union worker in a generation of union workers. My entire family are union workers. We are all Democrats. Not a one of us has even the slightest problem voting against the democratic party, The democratic party doesn’t exist anymore. We don’t recognize it, we don’t like it, we don’t buy what they’re selling and very soon WE will be giving THEM a pink slip.
And then this, today, in response to the craven Matt Yglesias’ evil and overwhelmingly dense Welcome to the summer of fear .
Pure and utter drivel, Sir.
Let me see if I get this straight: If I disagree IN ANY WAY with the Obama administration, I am either a racist (courtesy of the black caucus), a xenaphobe. (According to Mayor Bloomberg and the other reptilious NY politicians), simply too stupid to understand the complexity of the issue (repeat that again, Reid or Joe Biden?).
This is absolutely hilarious and speaks of a "high schooly" clique of "group think."
Let us come up with a new word that will be in much use come Novemember 2, 2010: OBLITERATION,
We will look back at that once vaunted political party inappropriately named "Democrat" and tsk-tsk while shaking our heads in wonder at the sheer buffoonery of a man with the spine of a ham sandwich for a president; a senate majority leader who single handedly bankrupted his own state of jobs, evicted a huge swath of his constituents with his rubberstamping of an agenda of failed fiscal policies and socialist ideals the country rejected; a speaker of the house so universally loathed that her approval ratings seldom make it out of the teens, a woman who spends taxpayer money like water on libations, flights, bon bons and God knows what else for her friends and family; a congress that acts like pompous sniveling pantywaists worthy of the court at Versailles. Add to them a media with yearlings such as Klein who can't be more than a score and 5 years old; Krugman who is so rabid that only the most lack-wit lemmings put any credence into his overly inflated tripe, and the estimable Dionne, who can be depended on to toss out the race card on, at the very least, a weekly basis.
We will point out a wax doll in a museum of the species titled "Democrat", chuckle to our children, and say, "Child, THIS is what happens to those who underestimate the American people. Should you grow up and try such folly, you too, will one day be an oddity, to be pointed at, mocked, and thoroughly despised as well."
DEAREST Matt, I recall your name on the JOURNOLIST. Please do get back to your partners in crime at the new, but not improved CABALIST, and relay our fondest wishes and the unfortunate news that the gig is up. One has that most fabulous invention called the Internet, where we can do the most amazing trick. We can go from blog to blog, or to this site called Real Clear politics, where we can read 20 articles from different papers AND see the JOURNOLIST talking points in each one, and who the constant repeat offenders are.
Tick tock, simpleton -- only three short ,short months to go.
Posted by Vanderleun at August 9, 2010 7:02 PM
*purrs*
It warms the cockles of my heart. Thank God for Barry, Harry, and the other bitch.
Dear Mr. Vanderleun: I don't know. The second post, the 11:53 one, made me wonder. This self-described long time union member, part of many other union members, sounds false here. How many long time union members that you know would denounce Krugman and Matthew Yug-Soggoth this vigorously? Note, too, the absence of any mention about "card check," in my opinion the most likely horror measured to be jammed through in the mad lame duck session after November. It could be that this commenter has been unemployed for some time and has spent time cruising the Internet, not realizing it was a road to Damascus.
I don't want to turn away any converts. The Right needs every vote in can muster in 210 and 2012. But the tone of the second post makes me wonder about this commenter's real identity. To be sure, said commenter would take a huge amount of grief from former associates if the real name was used.
I could be wrong. I'd like to hear form others if they find this second post's tone off-key.
Sincerely yours,
Gregory Koster
Gregory Koster TROLL?
Posted by: Frank P at August 10, 2010 3:55 AMConverts to the Constitution come in all flavors. Instead of worrying about the authenticity of some particular one, let's take the words as they are; for those words represent the thinking of a large and ever-growing segment of union folks. True, lots of them don't know all the specifics. But they are learning that entitlement thinking and the Democratic Party are the real enemies. We MUST treasure the progress these brave souls have made, encourage them and guide them along the way. Our Republic is at stake.
Posted by: Raincityjazz at August 10, 2010 4:05 AMWhile traveling around the Oregon coast this summer, I happened to see a Republican Party headquarters office in one small town that had a big sign over the front door that said:
ALL ARE WELCOME
People are starting to get it. Long live the Happy Warriors.
Posted by: Zabrina at August 10, 2010 4:49 AMI hope the converts hold strong; that ballots suffice this time. For next time I fear it's bullets.
Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at August 10, 2010 7:00 AMIf we were living with a Republican administration SYoung would have to implore people to go check out what is happening around the country, the media would be broadcasting the misery 24/7.
As a fellow Michigan resident, I could buy the commentor's union bona fides. It sounds like he is pinning hopes on Rick Snyder, the Republican candidate that won the primary and ran on his credentials as a CEO. I know Democrats came out for him (he made appeals to Democrats and Independents in the primary to cross over), and many will vote for him in the general. I don't think I am as excited or hopeful as the commenter. CEO's don't seem to have good track records of governing, especially moderate/liberal types in liberal states. We also still have a couple years of Obama left at the minimum.
Posted by: Ralph at August 10, 2010 7:57 AMDear Koster, I know what you mean and I did do some back checking in case we were looking at a "sock-puppet." It's always hard to know. There were other traces of the handle floating around the net that were previous to these comments, but not many.
That's nothing one way or the other. And at any rate it's the content and the tone that interest me.
Also, as I noted, I did clean the comments up by correcting spelling, punctuation, and paragraphing in order to make the comments easier to assimilate.
Here's another comment by syoung with no corrections, just as it was typed in:
" Comment on: Throwing money at education at 8/6/2010 12:07 PM EDT
It is reading articles such as these that infuriate me. I am an auto worker from Michigan, I install car seats, or at least i did until I was laid off last year. Not only was I laid off, but a large swath of my family was also laid as well,including my father. I was forced to temporarily relocate to the south and used up my savings in the process to follow a much lower paying job.This last spring, I was also laid off from that job. I am a union member, I have always voted democratic,always showed up for rallies when bodies were needed,volunteered for campaigns, and even rounded up and brought other's to polls to vote.Those days are long over. My family, including all of my brothers, my sister,her husband, uncles,cousins,my parents,in laws and everyone got together over the fourth of July and made a pact that unless we are all employed by Nov. 2nd, we will ALL be voting Republican for the first time. I am tired of being patted on the head by my own party and told to be patient, I am tired of receiving emails from Trumka asking for my money, my time, and my vote. I will not attend any more rallies either. You cannot walk down the streets of Michigan's cities without seeing the worried faces, the boarded up shops, the empty parking lots, entire neighborhoods deserted and abandoned. I talked yesterday on a blog with some who told me basically that was too bad,nothing can be done and then they questioned my loyalty and whether I was lying. These were democrats. Our voices are not being heard,instead at the least second dems try to buy us off with money to teacher's unions. It is too late, we will be registering protest votes this Nov for the opposite party. I am willing to give them a try after the disatrous last two years and I really couldn't care less about point a finger in blame if someone can fix the problem."
Obviously anyone can pretend to be anything on the Web but, again, it is what is being said and how it is being said that is important here.
Posted by: vanderleun at August 10, 2010 9:26 AMWhether, he's a union guy or not thank God for the sentiments. The mockery of the propagandists is long overdue in blue states. Went to Detroit last summer and it is Third World. God help us to turn out these venal crap weasels in November or it probably is over for the USA.
Posted by: bill at August 10, 2010 11:02 AMThanks Gerard and Syoung809132001, I needed that.
Posted by: wkimbell at August 10, 2010 1:02 PMReagan Democrats Redux.
What made them go back to the Dems in the first place?
I realize that this is likely a follow-on generation to the previous Reagan Democrats, but still, the Republicans lost them rather than the Democrats winning them back. The first fool Republican to lose them was Bush the Elder, who strangled Reaganism in its crib with his "Kinder and Gentler" fraud. Idiot. Country Club Republican doofus. "A Thousand Points of Light" my ass.
Posted by: Don Rodrigo at August 10, 2010 2:06 PMDon Rodrigo:
Followed by Bush 43 and his "compassionate conservatism", which led to Medicare Part D (a massive expansion of federal entitlements), No Child Left Behind (a cooperative effort with Ted Kennedy), along with "The Religion of Peace". Gag.
Party A screws up. Party B gets elected. The election goes to their heads - "The voters must love the most radical parts of our agenda. Let us implement it."
Party B is now the screw up. And so it goes.
The conservatives think we want theocracy and the liberals think we want socialism. And so we go from train wreck to train wreck.
Posted by: M. Simon at August 11, 2010 2:02 AMConsidering that the poster of this response needs to input an email address to post it, it is certainly within the capabilities of the Washington Post to assign a reporter to contact this individual to find out about his conversion. If the poster does not respond to repeated attempts to contact him directly, I think it would be entirely reasonable for the Post to view this person as a sock-puppet. However, if the background of this person checks out and can verify many of the claims made (of newly awakened conservative voters), then this would actually be a real story that an operation like the Post would really want to be, y'know, on top of because they really are a NEWS organization rather than a bunch of hacks.
So, what is it going to be, WAPO? You have a major story just itching to be told? Is it astroturf, or is it real?
Posted by: pablo panadero at August 11, 2010 10:24 AMLet me tell M. Simon what frosts my shorts. It’s assholes who tell me that because I’m a Christian and my faith is important to me that I’m the leading wedge of a theocracy. You and all the other jerks think that because you drove crèches from the public park and made it a crime for graduating students to mention Christ in their valedictory speeches you have actually struck a blow for freedom. Let me know what party you belong to so I can vote for the opposition.
And that bit about both sides implementing a “radical agenda.” Yeah, that George Bush 1 sure was a radical as he veered as far and as fast as he could away from the policies of Ronald Reagan (kindler, gentler anyone?) and agreed to the Democrats tax increases. And Bush 2 was hands across the aisle all the way with big new entitlement programs for the Democrats (see rickl), plus pushing for amnesty, another one on the Democrat wish list. In fact the only thing he did not cave on was the war on terror. If 9/11 had not happened, Bush 2 would be a RepubloCrat hero.
So, no, radical agendas are not the province of Republicans. And here’s a news flash for you, the Soviet Union really was an evil empire. Take your moral equivalency and shove it.
On my blog, I have commented many times on the damage big unions have done to business and the public sector of our country. Knowing that many of the the individual members may not be in sync with their militant leadership, they still were responsible for their election. Now the liberals, supported by the unions, have almost bankrupted our nation through support of Fannie and Freddie and sub-prime mortgages and now the bailouts of union pension plans and vast increases in government employment.
It is good to see that some of the union workers are finally realizing that, for there to be jobs, there has to be a vigorous business climate. A climate that can only be achieved when business has the confidence that it can profit from its investment of time, money and effort.
The Republicans have made many mistakes, but none that can be compared to those of the past two years. All you have to do is look at the deficit charts elsewhere on the American Digest and you will see that the problems started when the Democrats took over both houses of Congress. The problem was that President Bush did not "just say no". He did not stop the sub-prime lending that began in the Clinton years, and fell for the crises that the so called "ruling class" created in "08".
I don't miss Bush, but I do miss Reagan, a man who loved America, who won through strength, who understood the private sector as being the source of jobs, and who stood by his word.
Posted by: MainStreet at August 24, 2010 12:10 AM
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