The meaning of Brown

By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER   Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
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— On Jan. 14, five days before the Massachusetts special election, President Obama was in full bring-it-on mode as he rallied House Democrats behind his health care reform.

“If Republicans want to campaign against what we’ve done by standing up for the status quo and for insurance companies over American families and businesses, that is a fight I want to have.”

The bravado lasted three days. When Obama campaigned in Boston on Jan. 17 for Obamacare supporter Martha Coakley, not once did he mention the health care bill. When your candidate is sinking, you don’t throw her a millstone.

After Coakley’s defeat, Obama pretended that the real cause was a generalized anger and frustration “not just because of what’s happened in the last year or two years, but what’s happened over the last eight years.”

Let’s get this straight: The antipathy to George W. Bush is so enduring and powerful that … it just elected a Republican senator in Massachusetts? Why, the man is omnipotent.

And the Democrats are delusional: Scott Brown won by running against Obama not Bush. He won by brilliantly nationalizing the race, running hard against the Obama agenda, most notably Obamacare. Killing it was his No. 1 campaign promise.

Bull’s-eye. An astonishing 56 percent of Massachusetts voters, according to Rasmussen, called health care their top issue. In a Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates poll, 78 percent of Brown voters said their vote was intended to stop Obamacare. Only a quarter of all voters in the Rasmussen poll cited the economy as their top issue, nicely refuting the Democratic view that Massachusetts was just the usual anti-incumbent resentment you expect in bad economic times.

Brown ran on a very specific, very clear agenda. Stop health care. Don’t Mirandize terrorists. Don’t raise taxes; cut them. And no more secret backroom deals with special interests.

These deals—the Louisiana purchase, the Cornhusker kickback—had engendered a national disgust with the corruption and arrogance of one-party rule. The final straw was the union payoff—in which labor bosses smugly walked out of the White House with a five-year exemption from a (“Cadillac”) health insurance tax Democrats were imposing on the 92 percent of private-sector workers who are not unionized.

The reason both wings of American liberalism—congressional and mainstream media—were so surprised at the force of anti-Democratic sentiment is that they’d spent Obama’s first year either ignoring or disdaining the clear early signs of resistance: the tea-party movement of the spring and the town-hall meetings of the summer. With characteristic condescension, they contemptuously dismissed the protests as the mere excrescences of a redneck, retrograde, probably racist rabble.

You would think lefties could discern a proletarian vanguard when they see one. Yet they kept denying the reality of the rising opposition to Obama’s social democratic agenda when summer turned to fall and Virginia and New Jersey turned Republican in the year’s two gubernatorial elections.

The evidence was unmistakable: Independents, who in 2008 had elected Obama, swung massively against the Democrats: dropping 16 points in Virginia, 21 in New Jersey. On Tuesday, it was even worse: Independents, who had gone 2-to-1 Republican in Virginia and New Jersey, now went 3-to-1 Republican in hyper-blue Massachusetts. Nor was this an expression of the more agitated elements who vote in obscure low-turnout elections. The turnout Tuesday was the highest for any nonpresidential Massachusetts election in 20 years.

Democratic cocooners will tell themselves that Coakley was a terrible candidate who even managed to diss Curt Schilling. True, Brown had Schilling. But Coakley had Obama. When the bloody sock beats the presidential seal—of a man who had them swooning only a year ago—something is going on beyond personality.

That something is substance—political ideas and legislative agendas. Democrats, if they wish, can write off their Massachusetts humiliation to high unemployment, to Coakley or, the current favorite among sophisticates, to generalized anger. That implies an inchoate, unthinking lashing-out at whoever happens to be in power—even at your liberal betters who are forcing on you an agenda that you can’t even see is in your own interest.

Democrats must so rationalize, otherwise they must take democracy seriously, and ask themselves: If the people really don’t want it, could they possibly have a point?

“If you lose Massachusetts and that’s not a wake-up call,” said moderate—and sentient—Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, “there’s no hope of waking up.”

I say: Let them sleep.

Charles Krauthammer is a columnist for the Washington Post. His e-mail address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com.

reader COMMENTS
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(97)
futurerichguy
Mar 16, 2010 at 10:39 p.m.
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Lets be honest, the bottom line is that the demographics have changed since the 1970's...thanks to Fox News and Glenn Beck.

kiowamohican
Jan 26, 2010 at 3:52 p.m.
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After the Republicans win all these seats come November, the next likely local story is you will hear someone in Janesville went postal, and we will consequently lose a few blog posters here!

RetiredAirForce
Jan 26, 2010 at 3:26 p.m.
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lol, little darwin is getting his political knowledge from the comedy channel.

vatoloco
Jan 26, 2010 at 11:59 a.m.
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Does Obama really need to waste telemprompter time to tell us about the state of the union?

We know what's going now. Nothing he says wil change anyting except if he talks about punishing banks which will crash the markets.

darwin1
Jan 26, 2010 at 10:06 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
kinsohn
Jan 25, 2010 at 2:15 p.m.
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Not about health care. No need to worry. All politics is local. Bad candidate. Demographics not clear. Message is debatable. Voters for Brown concerned about the same things as Obama.

Repeat and believe through November.

Bonzaiiiii!!!

kiowamohican
Jan 25, 2010 at 1:48 p.m.
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One funny thing about the claim that the "smart" people voted for (choose your side). In reality many "smart" people likely did not even vote! Keep in mind a election like this gets well under 50% turnout even with all the hype it got! Just goes to show the utter apathy most now have for politics. Most elections outside a Presidential one, get 30% turnout if you are very lucky.

kiowamohican
Jan 25, 2010 at 1:43 p.m.
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The demographic thing is really laughable. As someone who use to work in polling (I actually worked for both the elephants and the donkeys....Who ever would pay me more, I would go to) I can tell you this thing is a total disaster for the Democrats. The demographics for MA, is heavily skewed Democratic right off the bat. The # of registered Dems out numbers Rep by about a 3/1 margin (37-13). About 50% of the demographic is independent, but historically break heavy to the dems. MA does not have a single house seat filled by a republican (remarkable for a state that size). In the state senate the dems out # the reps by a 30-5 margin.
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This would be like a Dem winning in Utah or Idaho. It's just just a disaster to loose a seat in an area that is so heavily in favor of your party. Sure Coackley ran an AWFUL campaign, but that really should not matter in MA. She has won a state wide race before (as attorney general), was well known, and a TON of late $$$$ and ground effort was throw at this by the DNC. You really should not need to do much to hold a seat where you have such a strong base of support.
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It's a very good sign if you are a Republican. As I told many republican friends of mine who were bummed out after November, it (Mccain, and many republican senators, and house members loosing) was actually the best thing that could have happened for them. As there was no doubt in my mind the pendulum would swing, as the economy fell apart. As normal, it's the economy that drives most all elections. Even when Bush was VERY weak in 2004 with a bad war, and Clinton very weak in 96 with endless scandal, they both won pretty easy because of a good economy. It will be the economy and jobs that are just going to kill the party in power come November. There was no stopping the carnage after what climaxed in October of 08. The dems are stuck on an economy that was sure to get worse and worse. The one good thing they had going for them was the super majorities, and that they could pass pretty much anything, even if popularity shifted big against them. They really screwed that up to. As nothing really even passed the congress other then that huge stimulus bill, that the public thinks has been a huge failure; as unemployment continued to rise and rise. It's really a political nightmare if you are any sort of a strategist. The avalanche is coming, and there is very little you can do about it.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 25, 2010 at 7:18 a.m.
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"So, if you're right about the electorate, then how did a Democrat win that Republican district in New York? Oh yeah, the dimwits forgot about that one."
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How easy slow darwin remembers facts. The Party attempted to run another non-conservative, they thought moderate (McCain like), candidate; something the voters did not want...but keep up with your logic if it makes you feel better.

darwin1
Jan 25, 2010 at 6:55 a.m.
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You mean like the 12billion dollars that was LOST in Iraq, Iraq itself, the department of Homeland security, the bridge to nowhere? Like those pork barrel Republican projects? Republicans like their pork barrel spending wrapped in the flag before they suck it down. Yes, they complained about the stimulus and then took it - that is hypocrisy.

The back room deals and labor unions? If you could be more vague and fact less, you would sound like the usual Republican hyperbole. So, if you're right about the electorate, then how did a Democrat win that Republican district in New York? Oh yeah, the dimwits forgot about that one.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 24, 2010 at 11:59 p.m.
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Yes, I am getting use to watching items go beyond your grasp pretty much on a daily basis princess.

inconvenienttruth
Jan 24, 2010 at 11:16 p.m.
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Senseless things usually do go over people's heads. At least you're used to it.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 24, 2010 at 11 p.m.
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"Ummm"
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Yes, over your head too princess.

inconvenienttruth
Jan 24, 2010 at 5:39 p.m.
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So the media doesn't "get it" because they're...talking about it?
Umm....

RetiredAirForce
Jan 24, 2010 at 3:54 p.m.
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Even the Media doesn't get it. Chuck Todd from NBC today said today on meet the press; "I think the most striking thing about the minority party today...is that a Republican...cannot go home and sell a piece of pork that they got from Washington."

People are sick of Washington politics and bribery. Stop wasting our money and stop trying to buy votes.

916WI
Jan 24, 2010 at 2:09 p.m.
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Darwin....."After a year Obama is doing great"
Seriously???? You're not only a hypocrite, but delusional as well!!!!:) The "Bush card" is completely worn out, the independents are turning on him, the earmarks and shady deals made with labor unions in pushing his joke of a health care reform, go against everything he campaigned for. To sum it up, his first year in office was a complete train wreck. We all expected this though, didn't we?? Excelling at giving speeches can only get you so far.....

RetiredAirForce
Jan 24, 2010 at 1:23 p.m.
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"On Thursday mock pundit Colbert called you people what you are - a--holes."
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You mean the pundit from the comedy channel? Well that explains much of your advance degree...watching the comedy channel to get your political news.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 24, 2010 at 1:21 p.m.
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"he has to work with a Congress that has Republicans who don't know what the word majority means"
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You mean majority as they control everything? They can pass anything they want without the minority...yes they are in charge. To this point they have done a great job; keep up the good work! Someday all voters will be sick of the mess and do something about it.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 24, 2010 at 1:11 p.m.
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"catches typo thinks he now can practice medicine."
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Was that advanced degree a certificate of completion from mistress delusion at the psychic academy?

yourewelcome
Jan 24, 2010 at 12:39 p.m.
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Then there are people like darwin1. Doesnt have a clue, just knows that he has to stick with the democraps. Get over the two party crap and open your eyes fool! Neither party gives a crap about US, all they care about is getting what THEY want and besting the other party. Meanwhile the rest of us get screwed.

yourewelcome
Jan 24, 2010 at 12:33 p.m.
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Maybe duhbama should just stay home instead of trying to use his self-assumed godness to try to get things to go the way he wants. Didnt work for the olympics, didnt work for the senate seat either. Glad to see the American public is realizing that he is definitely not the savior many thought he was. With an approval rating below 50% that is evident. He can only use the "its bushs fault" card for so long, and it seems that time has run out. In the one year duhbama has been in office our national deficit has TRIPLED! And what do we have to show for it? Nothing! Unemployment is still over 10%(he promised it would never go over 8%), we are escalating the war in afghanistan rather than decreasing our involvement(also another campaign lie). I feel like he duped everyone of us that voted for him, and now we will pay for it dearly.

darwin1
Jan 24, 2010 at 10:52 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
darwin1
Jan 24, 2010 at 10:43 a.m.
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Newsflash: RAT catches typo thinks he now can practice medicine.

Shiny Light to Republican'ts: I will lower your taxes.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 24, 2010 at 8:21 a.m.
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" you defend nothing except you own delusions."
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Educated with an advanced degree...

916WI
Jan 24, 2010 at 8:14 a.m.
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I can't believe the hypocrisy in this statement--"Mr Brown is the Republican'ts messiah: inexperienced, charismatic and ran on a message of change. You people would vote for a shiny light if it said it would lower your taxes."

How is your community organizer doing??? Approval ratings have slipped a little lately huh?:)

darwin1
Jan 24, 2010 at 6:22 a.m.
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Yes, dizzygirls, Hitler didn't personally kick out the Jews but explaining details and facts to you is like trying to explain quantum physics to an infant - to much confusion and you won't believe it. You are another waste of taxpayer dollars - you defend nothing except you own delusions. Mr Brown is the Republican'ts messiah: inexperienced, charismatic and ran on a message of change. You people would vote for a shiny light if it said it would lower your taxes.

nemesis
Jan 24, 2010 at 5:52 a.m.
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I wonder how long any new employee would last in a position if all they did was blame the previous person in that same position.

inconvenienttruth
Jan 24, 2010 at 12:47 a.m.
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See, you half-learned something. Impressive, considering it's you. Were you to have been a truly apt pupil, you would recall that I also explained to you that there is a difference between belief and knowledge. Regarding this claim, you posses only the former.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 23, 2010 at 11:18 p.m.
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Common knowledge, guess you are the last one to know...

inconvenienttruth
Jan 23, 2010 at 9:30 p.m.
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"Hence the difference between all and devout."
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And still, it is not true that all "devout" Democrats "NEED" to believe the uneducated vote for Republicans, so your claim was false.

whythink
Jan 23, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.
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whythink
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:52 p.m.
Suggest removal dub190
Jan 22, 2010 at 11:49 a.m.
Suggest removal FOX shows "false video of their rallies" prove it you ignorant liar.

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CRICKETS! Typical!

RetiredAirForce
Jan 23, 2010 at 6:12 p.m.
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"You did not qualify which devout Democrats, and so stating "devout Dem's" encompasses all "devout Dem's."
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Yes, good job princess. But all dem voters are not devout dem's. Hence the difference between all and devout. So much for that fancy dictionary you use.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 23, 2010 at 6:10 p.m.
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"I think RetiredAirForce has a bit of a crush on me...an odd place to get flirty."
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Sure, princess if that makes you feel all fuzzy inside...like the reality of the voters in Mass and the facts behind the meaning of devout and all; the truth is something you're not familiar with.

inconvenienttruth
Jan 23, 2010 at 5:19 p.m.
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"you need to get off the education tangent."
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I haven't really commented on it until now. Others raised it earlier and have been discussing it longer; you'll want to direct your request towards them.
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"Some of the most intelligent and most driven people I know never saw the inside of a college classroom."
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It seems you've jumped to the conclusion that I believe education inherently equals intelligence/drive. An interesting assumption. Baseless, but interesting.
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"Right after graduating from high school(sometimes before) they put boot to ass in the real world and started getting things done."
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Colleges exist in the real world, and I'm pretty sure grades don't earn themselves.
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"Why is it that these people that I know personally always seem to be Republicans?"
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You'll have to ask them. Likely because that's how they were raised.
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"As far as RAF having a crush on you--I seriously doubt it."
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I don't.
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"I think it's pretty clear that he thinks you're a complete idiot"
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Oh, he puts up a good front, but he can't deny that he thinks I'm a "princess." There's such a thin line between loathing and lust.

916WI
Jan 23, 2010 at 5:05 p.m.
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inconvenienttruth--you need to get off the education tangent. Some of the most intelligent and most driven people I know never saw the inside of a college classroom. Right after graduating from high school(sometimes before) they put boot to ass in the real world and started getting things done. The man that founded the company I work at now--one of the most charismatic and business savvy people I had been lucky enough to know--created thousands of jobs and built a company that dominates an entire industry from scratch. College educated? Nope--not even a high school diploma. I've been fortunate enough to meet quite a few people that have built businesses from nothing into something. Why is it that these people that I know personally always seem to be Republicans??
As far as RAF having a crush on you--I seriously doubt it. I think it's pretty clear that he thinks you're a complete idiot:)

inconvenienttruth
Jan 23, 2010 at 4:19 p.m.
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Funny that DwightKSchrute looked at age and income demographics to make inferences about the education demographic, rather than just citing the education demographic.
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"upper class (with few exceptions such as university executives, and some medical professionals) tend to vote republican."
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And why are those "few exceptions" represented by "university executives, and some medical professionals"? Because they're those with high incomes ("upper class") who also have the highest educations!
In at least the past 5 national elections, a majority of those with more than a college degree-level education voted Democrat. A majority of those with less than a high school degree also vote Democrat. All the levels of education in between are in favor of one party or the other by a matter of 1-3% points.

pharm
Jan 23, 2010 at 4:12 p.m.
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Hart Research election day poll; Brown wins non-college vote by 20 points, Coakley wins college voters by 5 points, women college voters by 13. Non-college men voters went for Brown 59 to 32 percent. By a 61 to 33 percentage, voters said they were voting for the best candidate, not "to send a message to Washington." 43% were concerned they might have to pay the "Cadillac" tax.

inconvenienttruth
Jan 23, 2010 at 3:54 p.m.
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"Sorry princess, in this case it does."
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In no case does it. That's what the word "doesn't" is used for.
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"I didn't say all"
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Ah, correction: it is not true that all devout Democrats "NEED" to believe the uneducated vote for Republicans.
You did not qualify which devout Democrats, and so stating "devout Dem's" encompasses all "devout Dem's."
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"In this case it is true princess."
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Since it is not true that all "devout" Democrats "NEED" to believe the uneducated vote for Republicans, your claim is false.
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"Waiting for any proof you have there princess."
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Proof of?
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"No princess this is far from any talking point."
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Yes, you're not even bothering with a correlation, and the "nanny state" is a talking point.
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I think RetiredAirForce has a bit of a crush on me...an odd place to get flirty.
What's the matter, RetiredAirForce? Lose something of importance from a small arms misfire during your service days, and now get laughed out of bed by the bar hags you guilt into taking you home, so you thought you'd start looking online? Attempting to flatter me with pet names won't change your batting record.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 23, 2010 at 3:35 p.m.
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Dwight, yet they insist the uneducated voted for Brown. Its always fun watching the "educated" display the results of their education.

DwightKSchrute
Jan 23, 2010 at 3:25 p.m.
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RAF, I tried to use real numbers and FACTS below, but apparently the lefties attempting to discuss this prefer opinion over fact. Such is life for the uneducated.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 23, 2010 at 2:29 p.m.
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DiGriz...don't tell him. His examples of his advanced degree lern'n are fun to read.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 23, 2010 at 1:59 p.m.
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"Correlation doesn't prove causation."
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Sorry princess, in this case it does.

" it is not true that all Democrats "NEED" to believe the uneducated vote for Republicans"
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I didn't say all, I said devout; take the dictionary out from under you arm and look it up.

" their "indoctrination," not their political party affiliation."
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In this case it is true princess.

"However, if you're insinuating that Brown was elected due to "an educated choice for lower taxes, less government, and more individual responsibility," you are uninformed. "
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Waiting for any proof you have there princess.

"Now you're not even bothering with a correlation, you're just tossing out baseless talking points."
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No princess this is far from any talking point. Read through their posting history and show the overabundance of comments they have that support individual rights, smaller government, and individual responsibilities...or anything else that shows they are against a nanny state instead of for it.

inconvenienttruth
Jan 23, 2010 at 1:25 p.m.
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"People like futurerichguy and socialist darwin NEED to believe people that have no education voted for Brown because they are devout Dem's."
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Correlation doesn't prove causation. And since it is not true that all Democrats "NEED" to believe the uneducated vote for Republicans, your claim falls flat.
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"Their indoctrination is so deep they can't grasp an educated choice for lower taxes, less government, and more individual responsibility."
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Yes, their "indoctrination," not their political party affiliation.
However, if you're insinuating that Brown was elected due to "an educated choice for lower taxes, less government, and more individual responsibility," you are uninformed.
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"The nanny state is the only way these people will survive."
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Now you're not even bothering with a correlation, you're just tossing out baseless talking points.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 23, 2010 at 1:09 p.m.
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Its a senseless argument. People like futurerichguy and socialist darwin NEED to believe people that have no education voted for Brown because they are devout Dem's. Their indoctrination is so deep they can't grasp an educated choice for lower taxes, less government, and more individual responsibility. The nanny state is the only way these people will survive.

pharm
Jan 23, 2010 at 12:06 p.m.
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The poll Krauthammer mentions, 56% made health care their primary issue is true. What he fails to mention is that 53% of that group voted for Coakley.Rasmussen, who did the poll, himself said that issue did not win the election for Brown. Also cited from exit polling, of college educated, Coakley won by 5 points, non-college, Brown won by 20 points. Brown won narrowly on the economy,and easily on taxes, and defense.

916WI
Jan 23, 2010 at 10:37 a.m.
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futurerichguy--those 22-29 year old college grads are probably the most un/underemployed demographic as well. Certainly a segment of the population that would be for "free" health care.......

DwightKSchrute
Jan 23, 2010 at 10:35 a.m.
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Considering you were talking about engineers, @ 21 you're just getting your undergrad degree, perhaps 2 years later you're a civil engineer, at least another 2 years for a P.E.
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I used the 18-29 demographic because it was the only one available. Age 23 MINIMUM for anyone who has a professional degree (I certainly don't know anyone straight out of undergrad with a professional degree). That leaves the 24-29 age group as an exception to that category. If you're telling me all the 24-29 year olds in Massachusetts have more professional degrees combined than the 30-85 year olds, I won't even try to respond to your nonsense anymore.
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By the way, what demographic wants the government health care plan more? Low income and those without good jobs (i.e. no higher education) because they can't afford health care that isn't provided by an employer! 97% of those folks voted for Coakley.
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Demographically typical vote lines get broken down this way (ask any political scientist) - low income voters typically vote democrat, lower-middle typically vote democrat, middle and upper middle class tend to vote republican (with exception to better payed union folks), and upper class (with few exceptions such as university executives, and some medical professionals) tend to vote republican. There's nothing mysterious about it.
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Here are some real numbers... <$15,000 a year voted democrat 63% to 36%. $15,000-$29,999 voted democrat 57%-42%. $30,000-$49,000 voted democrat 50%-49%. %50,000-$74,999 voted republican 56%-43%. $75,000-$99,999 voted republican 55%-45%. $100,000 and over voted republican 58%-41%. http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archive...
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Tell me futurerichguy, who in those numbers has the professional degree? Is it the folks in the lower to lower-middle class brackets who heavily favor democrats? Or is the the $50,000+ demographic that heavily favors republicans?
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Think about that, then let me know if you still think that 90% who voted for Brown have no college education.

futurerichguy
Jan 23, 2010 at 10:04 a.m.
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DwightKSchrute, stick to your beet farming. The demographic of 18-29 year olds are the least likely to have professional degrees? Maybe 18-21 (duh, because they're still in college), but why would you include 22-29 in there? I'll check, but I'm guessing the current 22-29 year old demographic has the highest college graduation rate in history.

916WI
Jan 23, 2010 at 9:54 a.m.
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I don't know about anyone else, but I always get a kick out of Darwin's claim of having an "advanced degree" which always seems to come after one of his mindless rants--It's so stupid, it's funny--Thanks for the laugh:)

darwin1
Jan 23, 2010 at 9:35 a.m.
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vota, Hitler kicked out all the Jewish physicists including Lise Meitner, Albert Einstein and denied the reliability of their research, which is why he couldn't build a bomb. So, much like Republicans Hitler preferred incompetence. If you buffoons knew anything about history, you would know that many of the bomb builders were avowed socialists. Jonas Saulk didn't patent his polio vaccine because he wanted to help people. The preceding statements are what are called facts. That's F-A-C-T-S, which are something you learn about when you get an advanced degree.

winterstinks
Jan 23, 2010 at 8:42 a.m.
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PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED!! Let's get rid of all these sleazy liberals, who constantly take our money, the worst being for abortions! Let's not forget Obama signing, "behind closed doors", a bill for us to pay for abortions overseas!

DwightKSchrute
Jan 23, 2010 at 12:27 a.m.
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Might want to check your numbers futurerichguy. The demographic least likely to have a professional degree (18-29) overwhelmingly voted in favor of Coakley 58%-40%.
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The picture gets even murkier when you look at the correlation between approval of the health care plan.
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Among those who Strongly Favor the plan before Congress, Coakley won 97% of the vote.
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Among those who Strongly Oppose the plan, 98% voted for Brown.
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There was a strong correlation between opinions about the president and votes in the Massachusetts race.
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Among those who Strongly Approve of the way Obama is handling the job, Coakley won 96% to three percent (3%).
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Among those who Strongly Disapprove, Brown won 97% to two percent (2%).
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Find everything you want to know here http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_c...
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and here... http://www.civicyouth.org/

RetiredAirForce
Jan 22, 2010 at 10:39 p.m.
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You are entitled to your guess about demographics and pick-up drivers. Of course you also want to believe only people with one tooth and parents as cousins voted for Brown...the truth is always more difficult to see.

futurerichguy
Jan 22, 2010 at 10:05 p.m.
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RAT, there may have been a few engineers who voted for Brown, but I'm guessing the demographic break-down of those who voted for him would look something like 90% no college education.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 22, 2010 at 6:29 p.m.
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"Scott Brown's victory is a victory for all pick-up driving, education hating non-engineers."
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What about the engineers not driving pick-up's that voted for him? Not a victory for them?

RetiredAirForce
Jan 22, 2010 at 6:16 p.m.
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darwin your intelligence level is displayed with every post you make...keep up the stellar work; a great display of your self-professed advanced degree.

futurerichguy
Jan 22, 2010 at 4:02 p.m.
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Good point vatoloco. I think your statement pretty much sums up the current philosophy of the Republican Party. Scott Brown's victory is a victory for all pick-up driving, education hating non-engineers.

vatoloco
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:47 p.m.
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"Some of them are doctors, chemists and engineers"

Hitler employed doctors, chemists, and engineers. And?

darwin1
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:28 p.m.
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RAT, you lol a lot. Must be because you complain about socialism while sucking off productive tax payers. Too bad the military is such a waste of money. Eight years of war - talk about arrogant.

Thank bob we have tenured professors who are protected from your incompetent ilk. Some of them are doctors, chemists and engineers. Does anyone want a doctor like RAT, voto, or andre?

votoloco is like his name suggests - crazy.

whythink
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:24 p.m.
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RetiredAirForce
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:57 p.m.
Suggest removal lol...so quick to back fox bashing claims yet so silent to when asked to defend their own statements.

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Who are you talking about?

RetiredAirForce
Jan 22, 2010 at 3:03 p.m.
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futurerichguy, your version of reality is only ecplised by your ignorance and reading ability.

kiowamohican
Jan 22, 2010 at 2:21 p.m.
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The great liberal Martha Coackly. So educated and above that ignorant redneck Scott Brown.
Yet her campaign managed to spell Massachusetts wrong in one of their campaign ads.
OOOOOOPS; Gafs like that had nothing to do with the loss, I'm sure!

vatoloco
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:38 p.m.
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916W-This is the liberal rationale, well our candidate Coakley was ill prepared and was not the right candidate. It was more Coakley's inability to sell herself than what the voters were really meant to say. What a bunch of hogwash!

Also, when Obama was interviewed by Stephanopoulos, Obama said, "Well, the same things that made Scott Brown victorious were the same things that got me elected." What an arrogant..........

futurerichguy
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:38 p.m.
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I'm shocked at some of the comments below. RAT even took a jab at tenured professors. Let's not forget that one of the USA's largest exports is university education. RAT is living off the tax-payers adding zero value to our country, where as tenured professors are providing one of the few legitimate exports this country has.

916WI
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:25 p.m.
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Try to stay on point--when you have 78% of the voters in the bluest state in the country voting for a Republican over a specific issue, if you're a sitting democrat you better make damn sure you fall in line on that issue. There is no doubt that this election will resonate throughout the HC reform proceedings. We all need to thank our friends in MA for doing what they did--Good job!!!:)

vatoloco
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:14 p.m.
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Votoloco your name in Spanish is gangster crazy, how socially incompetent is that? And you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to success. Try taking a class with some people who are actually intelligent and see how far your arguments get. I would rather have a competent doctor than a social one.

1. It's vato not voto, voto means he/she voted or vote in Spanish.

2.ooohh, I am scared of those intelligent geek guys. What are they going to attack me with, an abacus? Try growing up in the barrios where neighborhoods are claimed by violent gangsters and your life is in danger everyday. You wouldn't make it darwin. Hence the name vato loco.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:07 p.m.
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"you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to success. Try taking a class with some people who are actually intelligent and see how far your arguments get."
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LOL, yes because impressing a tenured professor is a measure of success.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 22, 2010 at 1:04 p.m.
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"government pays for the roads, military, social security"
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Government spends money, tax payers PAY for everything. What was that, oh yeah, just too stupid to realize this.

RetiredAirForce
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:57 p.m.
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lol...so quick to back fox bashing claims yet so silent to when asked to defend their own statements.

darwin1
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:54 p.m.
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dub Hannity apologized the day after Michelle Bachman's rally that they had used footage from a previous rally. O'Riley says Obama doesn't get the war on terror but the President has mentioned it some 16 times and then O'Riley says he isn't sincere - his reality must be with his invisible Peabody award. Your stupidity is just that - yours. Hitler and Mussolini were fascists not socialists and we ALREADY are a socialist country. Farmers are paid not to grow crops, the government pays for the roads, military, social security and so on. Republicans are just too stupid to realize this.

Votoloco your name in Spanish is gangster crazy, how socially incompetent is that? And you have no idea what you are talking about when it comes to success. Try taking a class with some people who are actually intelligent and see how far your arguments get. I would rather have a competent doctor than a social one.

Republicans will drive this country into the ground with the creation of their Idiocracy.

whythink
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:52 p.m.
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dub190
Jan 22, 2010 at 11:49 a.m.
Suggest removal FOX shows "false video of their rallies" prove it you ignorant liar.
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PROVEN!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8HeJuBcI...
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS1NWYV1i...
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlg9e0BkN...
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjKCuW-Ca...
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Hey dub, you ignorant fool, try watching something other than Fox News and you wouldn't have made such an IGNORANT statement. Heck even COMEDY CENTRAL new about this.
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Darwin, being a liberal, will likely accept your apology.
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Question is, do you have the stones to make one?
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Or like a typical Rep., will you just makes excuses?

vatoloco
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:38 p.m.
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Panama-I brought Hitler and Mussolini into this, and?

futurerichguy
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:11 p.m.
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BillyClydePuckett, a good scientist is always concerned about the implications of their theories. However science is the pursuit of truth, so there is no place for censorship. The hope is that people will use these theories responsibly. Besides, its not a valid argument to claim that because evolution is true, then we should apply it to our social or political policies.

PanamaRed
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:08 p.m.
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Isn't it odd that vatoloco and andre always seem to bring Hitler and Mussolini into every argument. They are obviously fixated by both these men.

BillyClydePuckett
Jan 22, 2010 at 11:52 a.m.
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The funny thing about a liberal who chooses the screen name Darwin is you have to wonder if he (she) has actually read and understands the implications of Darwin's research and theories. Many liberals embrace Darwin because they believe his theories repudiate the histories of most religions including the christian faith. While that is true if they are held to be true, belief in Darwins theories must also involve an understanding that to move forward a species needs to constantly be adapting and evolving while allowing its "weaker links" to perish. From an economic, social and government perspective, Darwinism is the ultimate in a right wing belief system.

MOC0428
Jan 22, 2010 at 11:32 a.m.
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There was a clear message sent and I don't see how any of you can't understand that. Most of the U.S. has good insurance and doesn't want to see what they were doing come to fruition. It really is that simple. What are we now 14.2 TRILLION in the hole yet the lefties keep on spending and borrowing. Don't start with the "Bush started us down this road" crap either. Bottom line is that the Dems keep spending what we don't have. Quite honestly I'm sick of both parties but at least we won't have one party running everything they want through anymore.

kinsohn
Jan 22, 2010 at 11:03 a.m.
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Not a real big victory for Republicans. Not a real big victory for Republicans. Not a real big victory for Republicans.

Not very meaningful. Many mitigating factors. Coakley bad candidate, just like New Jersey and Virginia. Don't read too much into it.

Please repeat and believe through November.

vatoloco
Jan 22, 2010 at 10:28 a.m.
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Thanks andre, we all saw how that turned out for Hitler and Mussolini.

whythink
Jan 22, 2010 at 10:22 a.m.
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OK, I didn't make my point very clearly.
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It wasn't that people didn't know...it was, obviously the Republican Party isn't so strong/popular in Mass. that Brown found it in his best interest to "run to it".
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In addition, most of the polling shows that Brown starting gaining once the "Nebraska deal and Louisiana Purchase" became public knowledge.
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Makes me question if this was a referendum on Health Care or the backroom deals.
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Big victory for republicans, nobody can deny that but how big is up for debate.

vatoloco
Jan 22, 2010 at 10 a.m.
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darwin-Having a high IQ is not a good indicator of success. Please get that through your head. The ability to get things done, relating well to people, and having a track record of showing results are better indicators. You can be a mathematical genius but be a social moron. How can a person like this get a date?

fool_on_the_hill
Jan 22, 2010 at 9:59 a.m.
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The point is, Massachusetts didn't vote in SUPPORT of Republicans, they voted to REDUCE the power of Democrats. Big difference. I think Peggy Noonan's opinion piece about the Nuts and the Creeps explains it perfectly.

darwin1
Jan 22, 2010 at 9:53 a.m.
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Mr Brown is against the universal health care he already has. Tea baggers are a lying fraud. They are a minority who think they are a majority. If they are so powerful, then why does Fox consistently show false video of their rallies?

If the Republicans return to power, you will begin to see a brain drain to more liberal countries. Google, Apple, Microsoft and Genentech didn't come from Mississippi and weren't founded by ignorant rednecks who aren't smarter than a fifth grader. Ignorant redneck states suck off the dole of the liberal more educated and productive states.

fool_on_the_hill
Jan 22, 2010 at 9:47 a.m.
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Nothing juicy, Beeferer. Newbie craigclower22 simply posted an irrelevant comment containing an off-site link to advertising. I suggest removal of any transparent attempt to abuse this forum in that manner.

beeferer
Jan 22, 2010 at 8:39 a.m.
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Welcome to GazetteXtra craigclower22! We hope you are able to follow the rules for posting and eventually get a comment posted!

kinsohn
Jan 22, 2010 at 8:36 a.m.
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They didn't vote for a Republican. They didn't vote for a Republican. They didn't vote for a Republican.

Please keep repeating and believing through November.

whythink
Jan 22, 2010 at 8:18 a.m.
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The Republicans love him yet he had no mention on his website or in his commericals of being a Republican.
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Remember that, they did vote against health care reform because of the backroom deals (Nebraska) but they didn't vote for a Republican.
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craigclower22
Jan 22, 2010 at 12:39 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

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