Senator Says Politics Have Reached Civil War Levels

National Journal ^ | September 27, 2013 | Matt Berman

[yoe]

Sen. Tom Harkin to Congress: "We are at one of the most dangerous points in our history."

As the clock ticks down toward a possible government shutdown, Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, isn't holding back.

On the Senate floor before 10 a.m. Friday, the senator gave a speech describing how American politics have reached the level at which "a small group of willful men and women who have a certain ideology"—read: the tea party and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas—have been able to take over the congressional budget debate in the last week. "Since they can't get their way," Harkin said, "they're going to create this confusion and discourse and hope that the public will be so mixed up in who is to blame for this, that they'll blame both sides."

[Nowhere Man]

Remember that it was the liberal media who switched the colors on us. I forget exactly when they did that, but it was because they didn't want to be identified as 'red' because it was too close to the truth of Commie red.

Didn't do 'em any good. Most of us are perfectly comfortable with it now.

THink it started in 2000. IIRC, I remember the Reagan Landslide of 1984 where we were blue then.

[Nowhere Man]

I always favored the idea of testing people before they can vote where they can understand English,do basic math and basic reading comprehension as well as U.S. history. If they pass the test, they can vote. If one is blind, deaf or otherwise handicapped where they need assistance, it will be provided but they must pass the test on their own. If one is on welfare, they lose the right to vote. When they get off of it, after 6 months, they get it back provided they passed the test (although it would be a good idea to retest). If one is on welfare because they are retired or can't work because of a bona fide medical conditions, a waiver will be issued provided they pass the test or have passed it.

Whether one is a coal miner, an industrialist, a housewife or a playboy, as long as they are not living off the system while ablebodied, if they pass the test, they can vote.

[Windflier]

I'd like to also add in the Serb side in me too, we fought the Mooselimbs in Eastern Europe.

E Pluribus Unum!

No matter the genetic alloy, all true Americans are formed from our founding ideals.

Some day, in a far flung future, I hope that all the people of Earth will be Americans.