What are Republicans so "scared" of?

[Anonymous]

I posted about this elsewhere.... I am seeing a number of my conservative friends saying they are "scared". Seriously, what are you REALLY scared of? I'm talking about realistic fears here.....

The economy? Are you really worried that such a highly educated person will do a WORSE job than has been done so far?

He might raise your taxes? But really, how much worse off do you think you truly will be? Do you think he's going to intentionally bankrupt you? That with 4200k or so a year you won't be able to eat, pay your bills, just because he raises your taxes?

National security? Do you actually fear that he'll be less competent in running the machinery of international security than the current administration? Worried that his "Dove" leanings will incite further instability around the globe?

Social issues? I don't understand how, if the country becomes more pro-choice or pro-gay, how does that SCARE you? It's not like Obama can force you to have an abortion or marry someone...



I understand the disappointment, and that you don't agree with Obama. But FEAR? I'd really like to understand this. Can anybody resist the urge to write ugly, unrealistic exaggerations and put some logical responses up?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted about this elsewhere.... I am seeing a number of my conservative friends saying they are "scared". Seriously, what are you REALLY scared of? I'm talking about realistic fears here.....

The economy? Are you really worried that such a highly educated person will do a WORSE job than has been done so far?

He might raise your taxes? But really, how much worse off do you think you truly will be? Do you think he's going to intentionally bankrupt you? That with 4200k or so a year you won't be able to eat, pay your bills, just because he raises your taxes?

National security? Do you actually fear that he'll be less competent in running the machinery of international security than the current administration? Worried that his "Dove" leanings will incite further instability around the globe?

As a John McCain supporter, I have mixed feelings. I honestly feel that either candidate would do a good job. I have hope that Obama's presidency will help heal racial divisions in our country and the resentment that some minorities feel towards Caucasian Americans (see the White Privilege thread).
However, I fear that personalities like Reverend Wright, Louis Farrakhan and others will view this as a justification of their hate-based messages and that Obama will try to appease them and buy into their ugly rhetoric. (yes, he did finally denounce both individuals but not until he was backed into a corner) During the campaign he was accountable to the other candidates and to the electorate, but now that accountability is gone.
This is a mild fear, I hope and pray it won't happen, but it is definitely a nagging uncertainty in the back of my mind.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you for the thoughtful response!

[Anonymous]

I am scared that we could easily get to a place in this country where more than 50% do not pay any income tax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am scared that we could easily get to a place in this country where more than 50% do not pay any income tax.

Thank you.

I am wondering, you are referring to the bottom 50% yes? Don't they represent like, between 1 and 5 percent of the overall wealth in this nation?

Just curious, if they effectively are exempted from income taxes, their contribution would be so small anyway.... how would losing these revenues hurt the rest of us?

[Anonymous]

I am not a Repub, but if the election had gone the other way, one of the things I'd be most scared of would be the judicial appointments. I suspect a fair number Rs feel the same way about the judges Obama will nominate -- especially with a strong Dem majority in the Senate.

[Anonymous]

If I have any fear about Obama, it's the unknowns about him... the people behind him, his lack of national experience and accomplishments, etc. It just seems as if there are a lot of unanswered questions.

[Anonymous]

It's not the revenue, it's the fact that you would now have an electorate of more than 50% who does not have any incentive to keep spending under control. You would now have an electorate of 50% who might decide to elect a leader who vows to tax people making over, say $150,000, at 50%. And if 50% of the electorate wasn't paying anything to begin with, why wouldn't they vote themselves another payment from the "rich".

I personally think that everyone should pay income taxes so they have some skin in the game and a stake in this country. It doesn't matter if it is a nominal amount. It's the principle. And please do not equate sales taxes and payroll taxes with income taxes, they are not the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not the revenue, it's the fact that you would now have an electorate of more than 50% who does not have any incentive to keep spending under control. You would now have an electorate of 50% who might decide to elect a leader who vows to tax people making over, say $150,000, at 50%. And if 50% of the electorate wasn't paying anything to begin with, why wouldn't they vote themselves another payment from the "rich".

I personally think that everyone should pay income taxes so they have some skin in the game and a stake in this country. It doesn't matter if it is a nominal amount. It's the principle. And please do not equate sales taxes and payroll taxes with income taxes, they are not the same.

Makes sense. I agree it is offensive to one's sense of fairness, when I see the gobs of money coming out of my paycheck...

[Anonymous]

I voted for McCain. I am not scarred but I am not happy either.

I worry that Obama will push bigger gvmt mingling into private sector affairs. Presidents do not create jobs (as he was non-sensically promising during campaign), they create environment for it. His policies do not seem to be lending themselves to job creation. Gvmt mingling in my mind led to current situation with the whole affordable housing/ownership push of Clinton, and more gvmt in the future really really worries me.

His whole spread wealth around - please! What is the incentive to try to get rich and be successful? How stifling!

His lack of principles - for example, he promised some things in the beginning of the campaing, and later changed his mind as he saw popularity of the issue change. He promised he will use public funding for his campaign to show responsible campaigning...to later change his mind as he sniffed money coming in. Where is the principle?
And other issues....

His seems an easy pushover for tough guys out there in the world. Is he another Jimmy Carter complaining Oh, those Russians lied to me? Of course they do and will. I worry he may be an easy target for them.

But I have my hopes up. I agree he needs to be given chance and prove himself. I hope he will be a bridge between dems and reps in population. This was not a landslide, and he needs to bare it in his mind.

[Anonymous]

It was a landslide, actually.

And the King of Big Government has been George W. Bush. Ask the many Republicans who voted for Obama who they think the real conservative is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was a landslide, actually.

And the King of Big Government has been George W. Bush. Ask the many Republicans who voted for Obama who they think the real conservative is.

yep! I'd rather have a president in bed with social programs than with big business. There's no such thing as a trickle down effect. For as wonderful as democracy is, the underlying principle is based on greed. We've been pushed so far over to the right that it's almost impossible NOT to embrace a somewhat socialist view just to balance things out.

"Power to the People" is what gave us Civil Rights and Equal Rights! How can anyone argue against that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His whole spread wealth around - please! What is the incentive to try to get rich and be successful? How stifling!

His lack of principles - for example, he promised some things in the beginning of the campaing, and later changed his mind as he saw popularity of the issue change. He promised he will use public funding for his campaign to show responsible campaigning...to later change his mind as he sniffed money coming in. Where is the principle?
And other issues....

His seems an easy pushover for tough guys out there in the world. Is he another Jimmy Carter complaining Oh, those Russians lied to me? Of course they do and will. I worry he may be an easy target for them.

But I have my hopes up. I agree he needs to be given chance and prove himself. I hope he will be a bridge between dems and reps in population. This was not a landslide, and he needs to bare it in his mind.

His emphasis in "spreading the wealth" was that more of us should have opportunity, not htat the opportunity of the most fortunate should be limited.

His overriding principle since the speech at the 2004 DNC has been that we are not red states and blue states, but united states. That has been consistent. The rest is commentary. For those who don't recognize that phrase, it harks back to Rabbi Hillel, who identified the Golden Rule as the fundamental message of the Torah. Since Hillel lived shortly before Jesus, he should be recognized as part of the shared heritage of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

As to the tough guys out therre, he managed not to get pushed around by the Clintons or John McCain and the Bush campaign apparatus. That's pretty good warm-up for the "tough guys out there".

I should add that PP's comments were reasoned and thoughtful, and I hope my response came across as respectful. As Obama said, he may not agree with those who did not vote for him, but he hears you and will be your President as well as mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not the revenue, it's the fact that you would now have an electorate of more than 50% who does not have any incentive to keep spending under control. You would now have an electorate of 50% who might decide to elect a leader who vows to tax people making over, say $150,000, at 50%. And if 50% of the electorate wasn't paying anything to begin with, why wouldn't they vote themselves another payment from the "rich".

I personally think that everyone should pay income taxes so they have some skin in the game and a stake in this country. It doesn't matter if it is a nominal amount. It's the principle. And please do not equate sales taxes and payroll taxes with income taxes, they are not the same.

I am a Republican and I agree with the above post. I am not scared, however, as the Senate can still keep gridlock in Washington. Frankly I think we are best off when the Congress has trouble getting things done!

I wish Obama the best and I hope he exceeds my expectations. He will be my president too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Ask the many Republicans who voted for Obama who they think the real conservative is.

I am pretty sure they don't think Obama is a conservative any more than W.