Socialism Baaad!

Republicans have turned "Socialist" into a bad word and stripped it of all meaning. It is the 25-cent word for "doo-doo head" on the political playground.

They offer no substantive criticism of socialism or even a coherent definition. They even give it a partisan slant, as Bush doing the same things is not a "socialist", but a Democrat is.

Socialism is the government ownership of the means of production. The problems inherent in socialism are not because of government, but because it creates government-owned monopolies. Contrary to popular mythology, government officials are not incompetent dolts incapable of reasonable actions. They are just working in a non-competitive environment.

Private monopolies are far worse than socialism. At least public monopolies are subject to popular elections, whereas private monopolies are subject only to shareholder profit-taking motives. Monopolies stifle innovation, raise prices and are tone-deaf to consumer needs.

Instead of braying about the evils of government, Republicans should ensure that we have competitive and fair markets to prevent monopolies, public or private, from strangling our economic growth. Republicans sound more like the sheep from Animal Farm, bleating "Four legs good, two legs baaaaaad!"

Fantasy Reagan

Republicans need to forget Fantasy Reagan. They remember the guy who declared war on Big Govt, brought down the "Evil Empire" and destroyed the Democratic Party.

They forget that Reagan signed treaties with Gorbachev, raised taxes in 1986, appointed liberals like Kennedy to the SC and was the head of the biggest Hollywood union. He nominated the guy who coined "Voodoo Economics" as his VP. He was largely an actor playing a role, while he compromised behind the scenes. Republicans are so enamored with Fantasy Reagan that they forget most of his successes came not from his Rambo image, but from compromising with Democrats. After all, Tip O'Neill ran the House under Reagan and Democrats retook the Senate in 1986 under Lloyd Bentsen's guidance.

Republicans need to realize that bloviating and rhetoric are only half of politics. Getting things done is the other half. Republicans fantasies about Reagan's rhetoric made them forget that he had to compromise to get permanent changes in Washington. Instead, they listened to Dick Cheney's lies that "Reagan proved deficits don't matter" and turned Reagan from a politician into a Super Hero. These myths are costing Republicans dearly, just as the JFK myth cost Democrats for decades.

Roomba Driver

And now for something completely different!

Olbermann's Special Comment on Prop 8

Amen!

A Night To Remember: Barack Obama Elected 44th US President

Yes We Did!

Fox News: Palin didn't know Africa was a continent

How hard is it to guess which 3 countries are in the North American Free Trade Agreement?

VIVA OBAMA 2008