From (R) Traitor Richard Shelby's Wikipedia page

[leftchick]

http://fray.slate.com/discuss/forums/thread/2213476.aspx

by partizan
12/12/2008, 10:59 PM #
Reply
He opposes government subsidies when it comes to dealing with the American auto industry. "We don't need government - governmental subsidies for manufacturing in this country. It's the French model, it's the wrong road. We will pay for it. The average American taxpayer is going to pay dearly for this, if I'm not wrong." He does favor subsidies to foreign auto companies though. He had a leading role in attracting a Mercedes Benz SUV plant with a $253 million dollar incentive/subsidy package and he's also proud of the Hyundai SUV plant, Honda SUV plant, and Toyota engine plant that received $400 million in incentives. Those incentives were possible because of the windfall of federal spending that Alabama receives, $1.40 return for every $1.00 sent to Washington. In spite of the presence of automotive facilities in his state, he seems to have a poor grasp of automotive issues. He persists in describing the Detroit automakers with characterizations that are decades out of date. At the same time he points to the foreign operations in Alabama as examples of successful ventures at a time when Mercedes has slashed production at their Vance, AL plant, announced that the plant will be shuttered for half of January<2>, and has offered buyouts to all the employees at that facility<3>. The other foreign owned assembly plants in Alabama have also reduced output. Senator Shelby's office refuses comment on whether or not he has received campaign contributions by those foreign automakers.

[elleng]

1. He plays the repug game well;

lie and deny it. Misdefine, misuse words.

The incentives and subsidies mentioned should be further explained: when and from whom.

[FreakinDJ]

2. What a Hypocritical Piece of Shit

[rucky]

3. Red State welfare queens...

[jody]

4. The stats you cite include DoD spending at various military bases. That's not welfare in the typical

sense.

[rucky]

5. I don't see how that should be exempt.

[jody]

6. Paying troops in a state or paying for the various services needed in a state is not welfare in the

traditional sense.

I fail to see how paying a U.S. Park Ranger in a state, e.g. NV or VA, is traditional welfare.

[QC]

7. The reason you fail to understand it

is that you are not here to divide people and pit them against one another.

[jody]

8. Perhaps you are right. n/t

[rucky]

9. Way to elevate the discussion. n/t

[QC]

10. Throwing around the tired and divisive "red state/blue state" business is not a discussion.

It's a cliche that's been done here a thousand times, and it only leads to pointless division.

What is worse, it's not even an accurate way of looking at anything: every state has both red and blue areas. Ever been to inland California? It's the home of Free Republic. (Literally. FR is based in Fresno.) The Mississippi Delta? It's one of the most staunchly Democratic places in America.

We won this election thanks in large part to Howard Dean's and Barack Obama's determination to carry states that many people here sniffingly dismiss as beneath us.

(Does anyone else remember the hell Howard caught here from purists enraged by his remarks about wanting the support of people with rebel flag stickers on their trucks? It's a good thing he carried the day, rather than the prissy types who declared that they would rather lose elections than have such déclassé types vote with us.)

[rucky]

11. Addressing regional differences in culture/history & prevailing ideology

is an honest way of approaching the issues at-hand. Right now, a small handful of Senators are willing to block a solution for the entire country, over an ideology that may work in their area, but will bring down a majority of regional economies. Maps like this illustrate the productivity that we need to restore. There are regional games going on. Here's another dreaded map:



If this is about union-busting at all costs, it's totally fair game to bring regional politics into it. They need to know the consequences of their selfish, abstructionist actions.

[QC]

12. Attacking policies and the individuals responsible for them is a great thing.

Implying that good Democrats who live in those places are to blame, or are some kind of leeches, is not. It's pointless and divisive and counterproductive, but that's what we do when we paint with broad brushes.

I agree with you about so-called "Right to Work" laws. They need to be struck down. I agree that Shelby and Corker and Vitter and all the others are scum. Believe me, you could not possibly loathe Shelby more than I do--I voted for him when he was a Democrat, only to have him switch parties on me. He is a raging hypocrite when it comes to subsidies, of course, and then there's Jeff Sessions and his unfortunate habit of holding forth on "family values" and "the sanctity of marriage" while hanging out at Sammy's Go Go in Birmingham so much that the emcee and all the "dancers" know him by first name.

Please feel free to pile on them and the other people actually responsible for what is happening now, but remember that broad brush attacks only alienate people who would otherwise be on our side.

P.S.: Love the PFLAG avatar!

[rucky]

13. As a denzien of John Boehner's district...

I would never imply such a thing about Dems living anywhere. :)

[QC]

14. Boner's a real piece of work, isn't he?

I'm not much better off.

My rep is Alan Boyd, a "Democrat" who just happens to vote with the Republicans on everything.

[SoCalDem]

16. The "consequences" for many of the states are pretty good

especially the ones who have no state income tax.. They have managed to convince most of their citizens that "right to work" is a good thing..and that unions are "eeeeevil"...

Alabama raided EDUCATION to lure foreign automakers..

can alabama's school ratings afford that?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4643059

[leftchick]

15. holy moly!

nothing like a visual to make an excellent point! Thanks, I will be showing this to my RW family.