Giuliani: Dems want "nanny government" -- "where government controls your entire life." Huh???

[Sparkly]

If his screeching at the RNC convention in 2004 didn't convince you this guy's a divisive jerk, his campaign speeches will.

In a recent appearance in New Hampshire, he "claimed that Democrats would raise taxes between 20 percent to 30 percent. He offered no specifics to back up those figures."

More made up facts: "John Edwards just said he's going to raise the capital gains tax double that. Last time we did that, we lost 40 percent in revenue."

Of Obama, Clinton, and Edwards, he offered: "I have a picture of all three of them. On an airplane. They're all heading for France." I guess that's supposed to be funny. He also called Democrats the "party of losers." Can you imagine if our candidates spoke of Republicans that way?

But here's my favorite:

He said it's unrealistic for Democrats to expect a system "where everyone be taken care of from cradle to grave."

(snip)

"That's what makes America great, not this nanny government that Democrats want to give us, where government controls your entire life," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070731/ap_on_el_pr/giuliani_democrats;_ylt=AlQY1L0WMqJx.GLcEaBNiX2s0NUE

Let's see... Republicans want to spy on Americans without warrants, make your sex life their business, make your private medical decisions for you, put their religion in your tax-supported public places, tell you who you can and can't marry, tell you what you can and can't smoke, tell your kids' teachers what they can and can't teach, and generally treat us all like a nation of suspects.

Where do they get off saying Democrats want government to control our lives?!?

[snowbear]

1. Screw Rudy.

And the horse he rode in on.

[ninkasi]

2. Cold hearted

mean spirited, hypocritical sociopaths have little trouble lying. He merely proves the point.

[tandot]

3. We have a Nanny Government right now, under Bush.

Big Government, spying on us, trying to control our medical decisions, controlling and spinning scientific findings to keep the people uninformed...

Project much???

[rucky]

4. He's running for Imus' old job.

what a tool.

[mindwalker_i]

5. It's the "small government" thing

Republicans always say they're for smaller government. I've come to the conclusion (a long time ago, actually) that they mean, specifically, less regulation for businesses. When it comes to actual people, they want more regulation. This becomes quite clear with respect to "morals and values" legislation - gays can't marry, no abortion, everybody has to have kids, etc.

Since republicans often don't follow their own "morals and values," and to be fair, democrats don't always follow the republicans own morals and values, I have to assume that they are just making a statement about what would be good. Actually doing it is a completely different matter.

Back to the small government/taxes thing: this is a case where I would say the middle ground is the correct place to be. Government should craft its legislation so that programs exist to help people do well. Financial aid helped me get through college, and unemployment kep my family alive at various times. However, there are people who just work the system. I have a cousin in law with 5 kids who is doing just that. I'll probably get flamed for bringing up "welfare moms," and I don't really mean to use only a mom as an example. But I do believe that there are people who won't put an ounce of effort is helping themselves. That is why I think the middle ground is the best policy here.

-mwalker

[Sparkly]

6. Good points!

Yes, I think you're right that they like the idea, or sound of, "small government" and that they actually only limit regulations on business. I also think they imagine government staying out of their own lives, but like the idea of it butting into other people's lives -- those they see as needing control or something.

Yes also to the idea of government helping people do well, which is an "investment" in the best sense -- not merely an expenditure. While there will always be people who cheat a system, the cost of so-called "welfare moms" or cheats is so minimal -- the cost of welfare itself is so minimal -- compared with other government spending, but it's blown WAYYY out of proportion by rightwingers because it's an emotional hot-button.