The End of Empire | (ed: Plutocratic Rep. loses it & screams at mother of 2 with 2 jobs trying to finish a degree who asks about Pell Grants )

bonos_rama:

Wow. He had no problem going hat in hand to the federal government for a school loan, but nobody else can?? Disgusting hypocrisy!

Bonos, Rep. Womack is a MILLIONAIRE who still took the taxpayer's money to go to school.

The guy served in the military, THUS EARNING his educational benefits. It doesn't matter that he is a millionaire.

You that have never served act as if military people do not pay taxes. I am retired and still taxed.

Are they still taxing military retirement pay? IMO, they shouldn't. You guys and gals EARNED that.

Thank you for your service, btw. Am very much and sincerely grateful to all of you who have served.
-------

I'm floored by the tirade and complete lack of composure. It was a simple, straight forward question that deserves an answer. I too am curious why he (and others) have voted that way. She deserves an honest answer. (We all do) She also deserved some applause for working 2 jobs, and furthering her education WHILE raising her 2 children. She is being a "responsible" citizen, acting like an adult. Instead of sitting on her behind collecting welfare checks, she is actively doing something to improve her and her children's financial situation. Also, with greater income (except, it seems, for corps and the 1%'ers) comes paying greater taxes. Which in turn also helps everyone.

WTF is this guy's problem. Can't stand the "entitled" attitude these Tea party folks have. They all need a serious wake up call come November when they find themselves voted out of a job.

Well texass, I SERVED in the military, and if that two bit PR-CK had done that in front of ME to some working mother, I'd have asked him to step outside, assuming the coward would step out from behind his hired thugs, and I'd say he has a good 10 + years on me. And as for his "military" service, I'd like to see EXACTLY what that jack-ss supposedly did - something along the lines of Pat Robertson's duty during Korea, guarding a geisha house in Tokyo.

ryoushi:

Your assuming to much. How do you know this man is a coward? He may step outside and knock your azz out. A lot of people have barked like you are doing and the outcome wasn't good for them. You do not know anything about those REQUIRED bodyguards to label the as thugs.

I was in special operations for 22yrs and a REMF with 22yrs receive the same retirement pay. It does not matter what MOS he held; he earned his benefits.

BTW: What MOS did you hold and how long did you serve?

The guy served in the military, THUS EARNING his educational benefits.

So what? He served in the Arkansas National Guard, and was able to take advantage of educational benefits commensurate with that service, which people like this audience member paid for… along with his training, health care, retirement pay, and now his salary as an elected representative. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, because you’re absolutely right. He honored a contractual obligation and had every right to collect those military benefits.

But none of that answers the question… why did he vote to cut pell grant funding, but defends oil company subsidies? If there’s a legitimate answer to that question, then I’d like to hear it. Wouldn’t you? And by legitimate, I mean an actual answer, not the “for-public-release-talking-points” bull@!$%# that his public affairs staff coached him to say.

See, it’s not about tax dollars and government spending. I mean, I’m sure in twenty-two years of military service you saw plenty of ill-conceived and wasteful spending. So really it’s about what spending is worthwhile for the majority and what isn’t.

You’re of course entitled to your opinion, but personally, I see the community benefit of providing education funds to someone who actually needs them, and is willing to take full advantage of them. If this person is asking for a “hand up,” and not a “hand out”; if she’s asking to “learn how to fish,” and not “asking for a fish,” then why is she not entitled to an explanation when that opportunity is taken away from her?

What kills me about seeds like this, and in our country’s political discourse in general, is that the ensuing conversation always devolves into a right-left debate about God-freakin’-knows what. Stupid is stupid. And an elected representative – of any political party – who shouts down a constituent asking a legitimate question is an @!$%#. If that’s how he has to resort to the scrutiny of his policies, then that might be an indication that his policies don’t hold water.

She also deserved some applause for working 2 jobs, and furthering her education WHILE raising her 2 children.

She is never home, and therefore isn't raising her kids at all. She should give them up for adoption.

She is never home, and therefore isn't raising her kids at all. She should give them up for adoption.

Any credability you might have had, not that you had any, from every issue I've seen you comment on is gone.

Talk about priorities being FUBAR.
*shakes head*

MeanGene, unless you have access to a great deal of personal information about this woman, you have no idea what you are talking about. Perhaps she IS married and her husband is disabled. Perhaps she WAS married and her husband walked out. She is supporting her children via two jobs. She is working toward a college degree so she can get better jobs. And you feel the government should not be "encouraging crap like this."

I guess you would prefer that she remain uneducated and vulnerable to requiring food stamps, public health care and all the other things required for survival by people living at the poverty level. Personally, I'd rather my tax dollars supported Pell Grants instead of any form of corporate welfare or entitlements.

Glad to see you in fine spirits MeanGene.

Happy New Year to ya!

She's probably one of those idiotic pro-lifers, MeanGene. Better to have babies you can't afford then be responsible. It might very well stem from some whacked out "religious beliefs", on top of that. Those people and their lack of responsibility will be the death of this nation.

Ha! Careful Bonos_Rama! Without a sarc tag you may get a FR from MG!

I'm betting Gene got enough coal from Santa to heat his house for the season!

Someone set their trolling phaser to "kill". Next time, try stun, MG, and you won't be so obvious! I nearly believed you were serious.

MeanGene:

Wow, you're such a sweetheart.

You went to college, earn several times more than your brother earns, have no kids to support -- where did all your anger come from? It's having an adverse effect on your brain cells.

What are the Effects of Anger and Stress on the Brain? Anger comes from the amygdala, the reptilian part of our brain. Resilient people are able to make rapid recoveries from stress, with their prefrontal cortex working to calm the amygdala--which is the remnant of our reptilian emotional brain, the brain that cannot negotiate itself out of an emotional rut; instead it floods the body with a cascade of cortisol or stress hormones. The effects of anger and stress on the brain cannot be ignored.There is evidence that chronic stress can alter brain function at the cellular level

http://www.help-your-child-with-anger.com/effects-of-anger.html

I guess it's true: Money doesn't buy happiness and a college degree is no indicator of intelligence. Seems to go along with a theory that regular church attendance and bible-reading does not necessarily make people compassionate or forgiving.

Perhaps she WAS married and her husband walked out.

Maybe she was married to Rep. Joe Walsh and is still waiting on the child support.

MeanGene-3334839

Actually, I'd prefer that she gets told "tough luck, dumbass!" at the welfare office and sent off empty-handed. She doesn't deserve to be rewarded for her stupid decisions. Her mistakes should cost her and her children, not me as a taxpayer. I didn't do anything wrong, she's the one who made the bed and she should have to sleep in it.

Personally, I'd rather keep my tax dollars in my pocket and to Hell with the welfare state.

Mean Gene, I love the way you're ready to invent a whole history for this woman and condemn her for successfully working two jobs to get an education to provide for herself and her children. I hope you'll keep posting. Most of the posters who share your particular set of beliefs are ashamed to admit it because they realize that most Americans not only do not share these sentiments, but would be appalled by them.

That you, and a few others of your ilk, are surfacing without your masks and with no pretense of anything but self-interest in the politics you practice gives the rest of us a chance to look at your agenda and vote NO, NO, NO.

MeanGene-3334839

Well, you were bound to say something I agreed with if you kept typing. Yes, you're right. Irresponsibility will be the death of this nation. It sure didn't do Rome any good, and it crumbled from within just like the USA is doing now.

And so were you. I agree. Irresponsibility has brought America to the situation Americans are experiencing today and will be the death of the nation if the people as a whole do not come to their senses. By irresponsibility, I mean the refusal of a large segment of the populace to take responsibility for paying for the wars they engage in, for idolizing the practice of tax evasion, for allowing the roads and other infrastructure to deteriorate and undermine the ability of Americans to compete on the world market, for providing tax credits for companies that move jobs overseas, for allowing the top 1% of the population, through privatization, to rob Americans of services they have paid for.

People like you have allowed the philosophy of me-me-me to bring the country to the point of insolvency because of your reluctance to pay the taxes necessary to run the country you live in and profit from.

#3.11:Maybe she was married to Rep. Joe Walsh and is still waiting on the child support.

Ouch! Ouch!

But true. Nonetheless.

Gene, someday you will be rewarded.

#Well back in the day, I was married with 3 children. I was able to feed, clothe them, we provided everything they needed based on my husband's income from the church. That collection plate paid quite nicely..... one for the church, one for me. It provided quite a nice standard of living.

However, that all changed when my husband died of a heart attack while in the ass of a choirboy. Funny, how that town turns on you, when you're in the middle of a scandal.

So, now, Mean Gene doesn't like the fact that I was able to afford the kids when I had the kids.....

#not intended to be a factual statement or anecdote#

You just never know what someone's circumstances are when you make foolish statements....

Maybe she was married to Rep. Joe Walsh and is still waiting on the child support.

Good one Pat!

MG probably think Walsh is just wonderful despite being a breeder.

krounded,

FR received and sent! :)

LOL! When Womack gets the boot, something tells me he'll have a distinctive walk when he leaves!

Great Monkey! Very happy to see you in blue!

Womack is a pud. He probably will be a choice piece.

wonder if we'll see any scandal between womack and frothy icky ricky santorium.....they seem to be birds of a feather. Jusat wonder HOW close......

MeanGene is the most persecuted person in the history of his own imagination. Personally, he just cracks me up. He makes ignorance an art form.

Sam Spade "MeanGene is the most persecuted person in the history of his own imagination. Personally, he just cracks me up. He makes ignorance an art form." I love that last sentence. I know so many "artists."

BTW, I reared my 2 kids, held THREE jobs, and went to school full time. I would have asked exactly the same question, but I doubt if I would have kept my cool in such a dignified manner. Further, even if I disagreed with the truthful answer the candidate could have given, I would have at least respected him if he had given me a straight answer. Avoidance and beating around the bush are not qualities that I admire, and I won't vote for the person(s) who default to that status.

zapper45701,

Further, even if I disagreed with the truthful answer the candidate could have given, I would have at least respected him if he had given me a straight answer. Avoidance and beating around the bush are not qualities that I admire, and I won't vote for the person(s) who default to that status.

...it could not be said better, well done.

MeanGene... makes ignorance an art form

I'd have to agree with that one. The more I read, the more I agree with the folks that say the character "MeanGene" is a fairly sophisticated piece of messageboard street-theater.

(On the other hand, many of the so-called conservatives in the public sphere seem to be hell-bent on making themselves into caricatures of themselves as well...)

Santa Claus is obviously a Democrat. He wears red like a commie

Like this bunch of unabashed Commies?

http://www.wfrw.org/day_at_capitol_agenda.htm

Or maybe this collection of Marxists?

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cspg/smartpolitics/2011/03/whats_in_a_photo_a_political_a.php

The time to get a college degree is BEFORE having kids, not AFTER.

SO after you have kids you should stop learning?

Only married people should be able to get any sort of government assistance at all, and only then if they have zero criminal record,

Have you ever heard of divorce it is the number one reason for single parents to be poor. She may have been a stay at home mom and here dead beat husband sleep with ever woman he would meet in a bar. We don't know why she is an only mother. but their are more then one factor to why you may have a single parent.

That would be her fault too. She was a crummy judge of character.

Have you ever heard of scam artists? Men and women both do this to "catch one". Also their are more than one way a marriage can brake down then just being a slim ball the stress of having kids could cause fractures to form in any marriage. and don't say they should not have kids then you don't know if you can handle it until you have one. What if here husband was a cop and was shot and killed now she has to support the kids on her own because he did not have life insurance. ore he was a solder and was on his bike with out his helmet and died she would have no benefits and would be thrown into the street (happened at the last post we were at he was an E-6).

Actually, I'd prefer that she gets told "tough luck, dumbass!" at the welfare office and sent off empty-handed. She doesn't deserve to be rewarded for her stupid decisions.

Welfare has never been a reward. She is not on it because she works 2 jobs. I admire any one who wants to work themselves into a better life. The Grants are not that much.

Personally, I'd rather keep my tax dollars in my pocket and to Hell with the welfare state.

So you would rather we all dive on dirt roads? how about we all have out houses? or no pluming. Your right we should have let Germany and Japan walk all over the world.

Children are expensive. I remember having this discussion with my brother when he was complaining about his $500 per month child support payment as too much money.

Not really they can be very cheap. it is called spend money smartly. we pay 1,200 a month for child care however we make about 90-115K a year.

That's why he's dumb enough to owe child support and I'm too smart to have kids to worry about.

So your brother is the slime ball you were talking about. I personally would say your not smart for not having children they are awesome and so is being married.

He wears red like a commie, he gives gifts that other people bought and takes the credit, he's a well-known tree hugger and he hasn't paid taxes in five hundred years.

He his keeping his well earned tax dollars :<) sounds like he is running a Big cooperation like Exxon or GE and not paying taxes.

I'm a grumpy 40-something guy living alone in a three-bedroom house same as I've done for the past 20 years.

Why am I not surprises some one wallowing in the own self caused misery.

TOO DAMNED MUCH MONEY!! Tax the CRAP OUT OF GENE!!!

Sounds like in all of your grand education you have not learned how to take advantage of the tax system.

Screw them. If I get no deductions, then NO ONE should get deductions. If I have to pay outrageous tax rates, then EVERYONE should have to pay outrageous tax rates.

Sounds like your a OWS protester. have you been out their protesting?

America needs to stop being the land of the free ride and get back to being the land of opportunity.

It has never stopped being the land of opportunity. Every ride has a price that is paid wither you see it or not.

It is my sincere wish that people like this woman, VOTING people like this woman, pay attention and stop supporting the GOP.
The Iowa Caucus 'win' by a whopping eight votes went to Romney because of all the negative ads paid for by his campaign against Gingrich. (I personally wish each of them would campaign in Hawaii and fall into a volcano). Seriously? Voters are making crucial decisions based on TV ads? Bumper stickers?

C'mon, people, start educating yourselves. If you don't, you'll find yourselves on the other end of a GOP party that only has K-Y jelly for you, and they'll charge you for it up the... Well, you know.

What if here husband was a cop and was shot and killed now she has to support the kids on her own because he did not have life insurance. ore he was a solder and was on his bike with out his helmet and died she would have no benefits and would be thrown into the street (happened at the last post we were at he was an E-6).

any evidence of either scenario? She is probably just one more career-obsessed bimbo and I hope her ex-husband fights her and gets full custody.

any evidence of either scenario? She is probably just one more career-obsessed bimbo and I hope her ex-husband fights her and gets full custody.

And if your scenario is true I hope he does. However I just want to post that fact that we don't know about this woman.

any evidence of either scenario? She is probably just one more career-obsessed bimbo and I hope her ex-husband fights her and gets full custody.

It really does not matter. Upton responded to the scenario as presented. There is no way he could know any more than he was told. His reaction to that is the issue.

Bravo to her!

Seconded!

Make that Thirded!! This woman has more courage and integrity in her fingertips than this Wmack idiot does in his whole body.

It was a legitimate question which deserved an answer, not the tantrum she got.

Maybe it's time to turn things around.

The constituents set up the town hall meetings and publicly invite the representatives to the events.

When they refuse, it should be the indicator to not invite them for the next term, while at the voting booth.

That is a fantastic idea BH, and one that should be implemented immediately. It sure would be an eye opener to a lot of the misinformed fox entertainment viewers. Probably wouldn't change their thoughtless votes but it sure would be a good way to get to the undecided and independent voters to pay attention.

The reps setting their own pay to go to meetings and agendas, needs to be done away with. Your plan is an excellent step in the correct direction. Hopefully, this can become the new norm. Sure would give the politicians a lot less wiggle room in avoiding being asked the hard questions.

mike the vet , correct me if I am wrong . The middle class constitutes the majority in this country how on earth did all these knuckle-heads get to run most of this country and states ?

cozmose, the answer is simple, money and lies.

I remember something else Groucho Marx said, "I'd never join a club which would have me as a member."

I expect my elected leaders, like any leaders, to be better than I am. I want the best of the best, and when I'm in the hot seat as "the best of the best" it makes me freak out because there's got to be a better choice than me, isn't there?

The problem is that most elected leaders think they're better than they really are. Basically they're 99% ego and 1% ability, and those are the guys who get in the hot seat because they want to be there. I don't, you couldn't gift-wrap a Senate seat and hand it to me because I'd say the same thing... there's got to be a better choice than me, isn't there?

I don't know if you've ever been in a position of the high-visibility screwup. My last one was holding the controls for the nuclear warning sirens for the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station in Arizona for a drill and going "GENE DO NOT SCREW THIS UP." There's got to be a better choice than me, isn't there?

I think it was Robert Heinlein who opined that the worst politicians are the ones who actually want the job. The ideal politician would be somebody who didn't want the job, because he wouldn't be a powercrazed maniac type. He'd be like a draftee, doesn't want to serve but gots to do it.

Gene, very revealing.

There's got to be a better choice than me, isn't there?

Depends upon the job you are asked to do. You are the best MeanGene there is; good or bad, there is no one else like you and you fulfill a function in this world. In the morning you're the one who looks at the face in the mirror and at the end of the day, only you can assess whether you lived up to the best you knew you could be. And it's exactly the same for everyone else in this world.

MG

I bet your porn collection is awesome!

lol

Just like the BEST businessman is the one who DOESN'T want to get rich and have power over others, but just provide the best product or service they can.

Wouldn't you agree, mean?

And take care of their guys, ryoushi.

Thats the way I rolled.

We had good equipment, great customers, and a lot of fun.

MG

I bet your porn collection is awesome!

That would assume that I like people, relationships or sex. That would be a wrong assumption to make. I make a point out of being incredibly antisocial. The last time I said "Hello" to anyone was in 1994, and that was an accidental impulse. I'm usually not that polite.

The last time I said "Hello" to anyone was in 1994, and that was an accidental impulse. I'm usually not that polite.

mg.....how come I am NOT suprised.

Yet here he is, on a social site.......

well all I can say is we should follow the example of the Iraqi who threw shows at gwb, my only regert was that he missed

I was rather amazed at Pres. Bush's speed at ducking both shoes! Impressed I was.

While I do believe we should show more maturity than these elected, egotistical, self entitled types, the visual alone of throwing shoes at them is pretty satisfying for sure.
: )
Thanks cozmose, I'm going to be enjoying that fantasy for a long while!

Haha - You just made me laugh. Thanks, I needed that, it's been a long day of studying - now back to studying about poop (seriously, we're doing the GI system right now). :) Have a great evening Oom

now back to studying about poop (seriously, we're doing the GI system right now).

Maybe you can come across why the politicians like the one this article describes seem to have their has GI system work in reverse! I have never seen so much @!$%# spew from their mouths. It seems to be an epidemic with these guys!

They also give a new definition to the expression of talking out of one's ass!

Excellent Friend Fla Pat, that is one hell of a cheeky post. -(8^D>

that is one hell of a cheeky post.

Just trying to get to the bottom of things Loozerio!

It just makes me sick to hear some of this. Remember when Cantor told the lady whose relative needed surgery for cancerous tumors and needed assistance that she could always appeal to charity?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Hqa30inu_A&feature=related

If a need for legislation does not put money in oil or defense industry corporations pockets or cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans, you, as a middle class working stiff (or God forbid jobless and poor), are S.O.L. with these guys.

Just trying to get to the bottom of things Loozerio!

....and if the Womack types weren't so toxic, they would just be the butt of jokes. They can be found, though, at the bottom of the ethical barrel.

Maybe you can come across why the politicians like the one this article describes seem to have their has GI system work in reverse! I have never seen so much @!$%# spew from their mouths. It seems to be an epidemic with these guys!

They also give a new definition to the expression of talking out of one's ass!

Haha - another good laugh on (another) study break!! LOL

Assuredly, we should start colon on all Viners to take the heinie road and refrain from butting in with such a loose discharge of punnery. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but subtle humor is a hot commode-ity these days. I just don't want to see anyone roll craps, lest they be left bringing up the rear.

Boy, I'm pooped. I apologize for this post being so...corny.

amen jerry !!!!