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It’s war with GOP
TweetI’ve been asked to speculate on what 2012 will look like from a partisan political view. How’s thermonuclear war sound?
I’m not exaggerating. The nation’s two major parties are at loggerheads over a vast array of important public policy issues. In Washington the GOP has been focused on one goal from the moment President Barack Obama finished taking the oath of office: defeating him.
To that end, Republicans opposed health care reform, legislation that forces Wall Street fat cats to treat Main Street families fairly, investments in infrastructure, renewable energy, and education that would have revitalized our economy, and the payroll tax cuts and extension of unemployment benefits working families desperately needed and deserved.
They even tried to scuttle the president’s plan to save GM and Chrysler — a plan that’s kept thousands of Ohioans working, including the members of UAW Locals 1112 and 1114 who are building the incredibly successful Cruze at Lordstown. Clearly they have placed their partisan political goals ahead of working with the administration to create jobs and restore the American Dream.
Secret government
In Columbus, Gov. John Kasich and his cohorts in the General Assembly are continuing to chip away at basic principles Ohioans hold dear. Seemingly unaffected by the humiliating defeat they suffered in November when voters overwhelmingly rejected Senate Bill 5, they have set their sights on open government and democracy. The governor’s scheme to privatize the state’s economic development efforts remains shrouded in secrecy. The one thing we know for sure is that the Kasich cronies who are running the thing have the only good jobs it’s generated.
Secrecy was the also the watchword for the totally undemocratic process that was used to draw the state’s new congressional and General Assembly districts. Worked up by GOP operatives stashed away in a taxpayer-funded Columbus suite and bearing the nicotine-stained fingerprints of John Boehner, the gerrymandered mess that emerged is an affront to the Voting Rights Act and common decency. It is designed to do one thing: rob Ohioans of the opportunity to vote out the bums who are mangling our state and nation.
Add to these basic policy differences the billions — yes, that’s billions — of dollars corporations will spend to buy the White House, Congress, and the General Assembly and you have a scenario for all-out political warfare that will be unlike anything we have experienced before. Corporations, now deemed people by the right-wing ideologues on the U.S. Supreme Court, will run hundreds of negative ads against President Obama, Sen. Sherrod Brown, and anyone else who has had the gall to hold them accountable for their actions.
Newt Gingrich can tell you how Mitt Romney’s dad knifed him in Iowa with such ads. If business and the GOP establishment will do that to one of their own, it isn’t hard to imagine what they’ll try to do to Democrats. Fortunately, we’re preparing for the onslaught of untraceable corporate dollars. We’re ready to tell the truth about the Republicans, their agenda, and who is really driving the bus that threatens to leave tire tracks on the backs of America’s working families
David Betras is an attorney and chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party.
Comments
Dave,
Are you in an oxygen-deprived environment? Is there perhaps a buildup of carbon monoxide in your building?
The Democrats have been in charge of the Mahoning Valley for decades and look at the sparkling gem it is. The Democrats took complete control of Congress in 2006 as well as the White House in 2008. For two years the Democrats had a super-majority and controlled every lever of government. The bottom line is that our country has been under predominantly Democrat control for almost six years. And look at the sparkling gem we have become. Worst recession in a century; more Americans on food stamps than at any point in time; citizen approval at an all-time low; housing crisis completely overseen by Democrats in charge of every agency and committee involved. And you blame Republicans? Who has been driving the bus all this time? Democrats, sir. Democrats. I absolutely DARE you to debate any of these facts.
You better open a window or get outside and get some fresh air because you may be about to lose consciousness since you are exhibiting dementia, Dave!
Betras is a self-centered ego jerk!
We need every person in the entire area to vote this jerk out, not just his appointed cronies!
He knows nothing about nothing.
Perhaps if he takes a bath and cleans himself up, he might, maybe just might look like a better jerk!
"It’s war with GOP" I thought liberal dems were anti-war.
"In Washington the GOP has been focused on one goal from the moment President Barack Obama finished taking the oath of office: defeating him." Similar to when W took office.
I truly miss Strickland's cronies!! It's all about party and never the citizens.
Extreme is Extreme be it from the Left or Right : when did America become so Partisan? For THIS against THAT ! When did we surrender ourselves to ABSOLUTES !
Youngstown is what Youngstown is because you have allowed clowns like this Betras guy to lead you. William in comment 1 is right on the money. Look around. Is that how you want your hometown to look. The only region that looks worse and perhaps is a worse place to live is Flint, Michigan. Another region led by strong labor union losers. You get what you get because you have allowed such poor leadership to go on for so long. This Betras guy is a bafoon as a leader for Ytown.
DAVE BETRAS - YOU AND the Democratic Party have abandoned thousands of your own constituents by now ignoring the injustice done to the Delphi retirees. A man with integrity fights (and doesn't give up) for what he knows is right. You have proven that your words are only that, JUST WORDS! Well, I suppose you think that you can deliver the Mahoning Valley vote for Barrack Obama, the mastermind of the discrimination against the retirees, in 2012. Don't count your chickens, bub! We got the local & state Dems that didn't get the job done. And we WILL get Barrack if he doesn't do the right thing! Take that back Barrack's Ohio campaign manager!!
DAVE BETRAS - Over two years ago, I said said that we would see if you were a man of your words, or if your words were only that...JUST WORDS. Well, we are now seeing that your words were only that...empty promises, lack of continued committment, willingness to abandon standing up for the truth. You are nothing more than a political SLUT! You want to prove that you are a man of your words? Ask for 5 minutes on Channel 21 to speak in defense of the Delphi retirees, and against the decision you know that Barrack Obama made to use taxpayer funds to discriminater against 21,000 citizens! Are you MAN enough? I doubt it!!
Dave Betras has the nerve to talk about another party that "threatens to leave tire tracks on the backs of America’s working families." The Democratic Party could not only NOT restore the pensions of thousands of local Delphi retirees, THEY CAUSED IT!! And Betras has the nerve? Don't believe the hypocritical stance of the Democratic Party that they're "for the workin' man". Just look at the Valley's economy after 50 years of continuous years of Democratic total control. LIARS!!
To many flaws to even begin to reply. Who mentioned first that He [GWB] was not there President/ Think it was a Democrat.
The auto bailout was needed to save plants and jobs. But millions of people are asking Why was it needed? Maybe everyone involved in the industry should be held accountable from the CEO's to the UAW and be applauded for failure.
The renewable energy scheme just proves that you can buy the White House with 100's of millions in kick backs to companies that either declare bankruptcy or move to China.
The valley. the Democrats. already mentioned look around. Number one in poverty only to be told a month later of how our unemployment is lower than the national average. Media painting over rust again.
Three years after Betras, Ryan, and the Democratic Party vowed to fix the injustice done to the Delphi Salaried retirees, and they're bringing in Jay Williams, Obama's auto czar, the man who is supposedly charged with helping communities who were negatively affected in the auto recovery. For THREE YEARS, Betras & Ryan have FAILED to deliver. Can they finally make this issue right? Or will legacy be one of failed promises, empty words, and not accomplishing what they need to do for Obama to win Ohio? Friday's meeting with Obama's auto czar will tell you voters the story. It will allow voters to take the Delphi discrimination issue off the November ballot, or it will give very opportunity to defeat Barrack Obama in Ohio come November.
Bla Bla Bla
Thanks once again Free for showing us everything you know about the topic...LOL.
VOTERS - There are alot of complex issues in the upcoming Presidential election, jobs, Gov't spending, foreign policy, on & on. And alot of these issues are difficult to figure out, as BOTH political parties muddy up the water. The Delphi retirees realize that our issue isn't among the nation's top issues. But what you should realize is that if Barrack Obama CHOOSES to not fix this relatively small issue of basic RIGHT & WRONG, how could you possibly trust his ETHICS to address much the bigger issues that face this nation? On November 6th, the Delphi retirees urge you to check the NO box in President Obama's reelection bid. Watch to see if President Obama upholds our the basic premise that ALL are to be treated EQUALLY by our Government. And until Barrack Obama resolves this, keep the NO box checked beside BARRACK OBAMA's name. We WILL keep you voters informed. Your support of this issue of justice is greatly appreciated on Novemebr 6, 2012.
And what, Fair and Equal?
Willard Romney is going to give a rat's arse about what happens to auto-workers, factory-workers, or any worker?
His first name is "Willard," after the hotel magnate J. Willard Marriott, his father's best friend. He chooses to use a nickname, "Mitt", a deriative of Milton, a cousin.
Education - I'm not sure of the Republican candidates' concerns for our issue. I am sure, however, of two things. First, none of the Republican candidates caused the discrimination against us, now did they? Second, I'm quite sure that Barrack Obama participated in, directed the Treasury Dept, and allowed the discrimination against us. For that ALONE, he deserves to be defeated in November. A president that allows, directs, or particaptes in blatant discrimination against some, while rewarding others, shouldn't even be allowed to represent Americans. Now, I suppose the next question will be, "Who is the lesser of the evils among all the candidates?" And my answer to you is ANY of the three real Republican candidates (including my favorite) would serve the Nation's interests better than Barrack Obama, even if I overlook the fact of Barrack's discrimination against the Delphi retirees. And this comes from the mouth of an open-minded registered Democrat. Thanks for the Romney family history lesson, though.