this is one problem with calling social security and medicare entitlements...the recipients are "entitled" to receive payments because they have paid into these systmes for years of their work lives, and also their employers paid into them...at least that is how we hope it is being handled but i have heard of many illegals drawing on these benefits without paying into them...the difference with "entitlements" of welfare and even medicaid is that one has not paid into a specific program if they have paid taxes at all....yet recipients seem to feel "entitled" to be supported by taxpayers.

Originally Posted by janmcn

What's next? Drug testing social security recipients, testing medicare recipients, testing medicaid recipients? Where do you draw the line? I thought republicans were the party of small government?

If Ron Paul wins, this will be a moot point because drugs will be legal. We can only hope.

We draw the line at people who should be in the workforce and aren't for one reason or another, and are asking their fellow citizens for a bail out. These people are never going to be productive citizens again if they're drug abusers.

You want my help, I can set conditions. You don't like it?; the door swings both ways into the Welfare Office.

Originally Posted by coralway

Your statement MAY be true IF - and this is a big IF - welfare recipients CHOOSE to be on welfare.

If recipients choose to be on welfare, then there may be some validity to requiring drug testing. I believe there is a very strong body of evidence to support the argument most welfare recipients have no choice.

Yes. They DO have a choice. You ALWAYS have choices.

Nobody is rounding up indigents and forcing them to take public money. These are people who, for whatever reason, have chosen this (presumably) last resort.

I'm not saying they chose to be poor or anything like that. I'm saying they chose to go to a public office and seek relief.

My daughter is an example of this. She's 19 and works but cannot afford everything in her life - school, car, rent. So what did she choose? She chose to live with her mother despite some family friction. She chooses dealing with the friction so that she can make her car payments and keep going to school rather than giving up school.

She could easily choose public assistance and chooses NOT to.

I understand that people feel as though they may have no other choice, but no outside influence is forcing them.

Besides, to use an old saying, if they have money for drugs, tobacco or alcohol, they don't need mine.

My daughter lives under a 'no drugs' rule (not that it's an issue since she's very anti-drug) and that comes from her mother (and it would come from me if she lived under my roof). Why should relief recipients be exempt?

Originally Posted by janmcn

What's next? Drug testing social security recipients, testing medicare recipients, testing medicaid recipients? Where do you draw the line? I thought republicans were the party of small government?

If Ron Paul wins, this will be a moot point because drugs will be legal. We can only hope.

If there is any place where routine drug testing ought to be required, it's in Congress.

Drugs with booze is the only explanation for their suicidal spending and borrowing habits.

After Romney's two big wins, the tea-partiers I saw on TV today are beside themselves. It seems there's a meeting of 150 evangelicals this week-end trying to come up with a plan. I don't know what the choice is since none of the other candidates appear to be very viable. Anybody know?

Originally Posted by janmcn

After Romney's two big wins, the tea-partiers I saw on TV today are beside themselves. It seems there's a meeting of 150 evangelicals this week-end trying to come up with a plan. I don't know what the choice is since none of the other candidates appear to be very viable. Anybody know?

Here's what I'd do:

Use the group clout to make a quick deal with Gingrich and Perry to drop out now, and throw all support behind Santorum. South Carolina is the last chance to advance a conservative candidate. It's lights out if the conservative vote is still split and Romney "landslides" with 30%.

Originally Posted by janmcn

After Romney's two big wins, the tea-partiers I saw on TV today are beside themselves. It seems there's a meeting of 150 evangelicals this week-end trying to come up with a plan. I don't know what the choice is since none of the other candidates appear to be very viable. Anybody know?

We must watch different news because I have no idea what you're talking about here. Did MSNBC search out someone calling themselves a teapartier for a soundbite? Do you just label every conservative or Republicans or any non-Democrat a "tea partier"? Evangelicals are not necessarily "tea partiers".

Romney's tracking well now, but South Carolina and Florida are coming up. We'll see how it goes in South Carolina before jumping to your assumptions on what constitutes a viable candidate.

All the liberals love Romney. Gives me a warm feeling all over.

Well, I was just watching a few minutes (all I could stomach) of Fox News and Neil Cavuto was trying to browbeat some correspondent who said in a laughing tone that Ron Paul might form a 3rd party and run for president on that ticket. This would take lots of Republican votes away from the real GOP candidate and would insure another Obama victory. Cavuto was just sputtering at the end that it had not happened yet.

Yes, it does look as though Romney is running away with the votes. Shows that the American voters do not want extremists like Perry or Bachmann. It was very funny to see Bachmann got only 4 % in Iowa and Perry got 1% in New Hampshire.

Originally Posted by RichieLion

We must watch different news because I have no idea what you're talking about here. Did MSNBC search out someone calling themselves a teapartier for a soundbite? Do you just label every conservative or Republicans or any non-Democrat a "tea partier"? Evangelicals are not necessarily "tea partiers".

Romney's tracking well now, but South Carolina and Florida are coming up. We'll see how it goes in South Carolina before jumping to your assumptions on what constitutes a viable candidate.

All the liberals love Romney. Gives me a warm feeling all over.

You caught me. I was watching MSNBC and saw this woman from Atlanta identified as head of some tea party group, and she was just about in tears. When the reporter asked her about Nikki Haley supporting Mitt Romney, she said Nikki Haley should be recalled.

Then a few minutes later I heard on another show that 150 evangelicals are meeting in Texas this week-end to come up with a plan, like I said earlier.

Originally Posted by janmcn

You caught me. I was watching MSNBC and saw this woman from Atlanta identified as head of some tea party group, and she was just about in tears. When the reporter asked her about Nikki Haley supporting Mitt Romney, she said Nikki Haley should be recalled.

Then a few minutes later I heard on another show that 150 evangelicals are meeting in Texas this week-end to come up with a plan, like I said earlier.

If you say so. Sounds kind of fishy to me, but knowing MSNBC I already know not to quite believe their reporting methods.

In tears?.............please.

Originally Posted by buggyone

Well, I was just watching a few minutes (all I could stomach) of Fox News and Neil Cavuto was trying to browbeat some correspondent who said in a laughing tone that Ron Paul might form a 3rd party and run for president on that ticket. This would take lots of Republican votes away from the real GOP candidate and would insure another Obama victory. Cavuto was just sputtering at the end that it had not happened yet.

Yes, it does look as though Romney is running away with the votes. Shows that the American voters do not want extremists like Perry or Bachmann. It was very funny to see Bachmann got only 4 % in Iowa and Perry got 1% in New Hampshire.

Liberals are dying for a 3rd party. Only sure way to get Obama reelected. Does Ron Paul want to be the most hated man in America?

Paul is not going to form a 3rd party - he would kill his kid's career.

Romney, after campaigning for 6 years, could not even muster 40% in a R primary. Any way you spin it - that is a very, very poor showing.

Originally Posted by chachacha

this is one problem with calling social security and medicare entitlements...the recipients are "entitled" to receive payments because they have paid into these systmes for years of their work lives, and also their employers paid into them...at least that is how we hope it is being handled but i have heard of many illegals drawing on these benefits without paying into them...the difference with "entitlements" of welfare and even medicaid is that one has not paid into a specific program if they have paid taxes at all....yet recipients seem to feel "entitled" to be supported by taxpayers.

Chachacha: "entitlement refers to the mebers of congress who feel entitled to use this alleged trust fund to pay for their pet projects so they can get re-elected

Originally Posted by janmcn

How are those tea party candidates working out for you?

Scott Walker - being recalled
John Casich - had his union busting bill overturned
Rick Scott - most disliked governor in the country at 26%
Nikki Haley - approval rating 34%

Not to mention the tea partiers that cost the republican party control of the US senate: Sharon Angle NV, Christine O'Donnell DE, John Raese WV, Ken Buck CO, Carlie Fiorini, CA, Joe Miller AK

Not to mention that nut case that ran for governor of NY (name escapes me)

Seems like lots of people have buyer's remorse. Keep up the good work.

you mean as oppsed to voters favorite such as Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, charlie Rangel, Anthony Weiner, Maxine Waters...you mean like that...I'm running out of space so need to stop with the Dem names Oh yea Barack Obama

Originally Posted by rubicon

you mean as oppsed to voters favorite such as Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, charlie Rangel, Anthony Weiner, Maxine Waters...you mean like that...I'm running out of space so need to stop with the Dem names Oh yea Barack Obama

I was speaking of tea-party candidates who lost or are on their way out. I don't see what this list of democrats has to do with that subject.