Old Fogey's Quotes for Friday

"We have a national policy that says if you work for less, lose your health care and lose your pension, then we can compete. The No. 1 way we could help employers in this country is to change the way we fund health care."
Democrat Debbie Stabenow, Michigan state senator
In Michigan, a Sale the GOP Can't Close
[Globalization was billed as a way for poorer countries to be able to raise their standards of living. However, the trend seems to be reducing American workers' wages and benefits. Who is going to have the money to buy the products being made?]

"The bill the president signed today represents the worst in election-year politics. It is an empty gesture for the sole purpose of sending a false message about the security of our nation."
Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Tex)
President Signs Border Fence Bill
[It seems that the fence is authorized by this bill but not paid for in it. Why don't the Republicans just pass a law providing everyone health care--without paying for it?]

"It sounded like arrogance. It was as if he were saying, 'I can say this again and nothing will happen to me.' . . . He's a bully, and somebody had to stand up to him."
Miami Beach lawmaker Gustavo A. Barreiro (R), referring to his fellow Republican state Rep. Rafael Arza's repeated use of a racial slur word
Fla. Lawmaker Faces Racial-Slur Inquiry
[There is merely a thin veneer of sensitivity hiding the ugly truth of racism among many candidates for public office. A lot seem to be drawn to the party that always carries the white male vote.]

“This notion that elections are stolen and that elections are rigged is so common in the public sphere that we’re having to go out of our way to counter them this year.”
Donna Brazile, a Democratic strategist
Democrats Fear Disillusionment in Black Voters
[Many black and poor voters don't believe their votes will be counted. A number also can't afford to stand in line for hours because their precinct doesn't have enough voting machines. All the while we preach democracy to the rest of the world]

"You're going to see more of this sensational, off-the-wall stuff. If you get people disgusted, they might withdraw from politics, and that's the real goal these days."
Shanto Iyengar, a Stanford professor who studies political advertising
The Year Of Playing Dirtier
[It's really pretty sad when turning off voters becomes a political tactic. How much lower can you go? Unfortunately, in recent days the Republicans seem to be finding new depths of disgusting partisanship. Let's get the election over with, before there are no holds barred.]