Sen. Jeff Sessions: Confederate Flag Represents "Fabulous Accomplishments"

Recently a friend posted the following in response to the attached:

Upon the principles then announced by Mr. Lincoln and his leading friends, we are bound to expect his administration to be conducted. Hence it is, that in high places, among the Republican party, the election of Mr. Lincoln is hailed, not simply as a change of Administration, but as the inauguration of new principles, and a new theory of Government, and even as the downfall of slavery. Therefore it is that the election of Mr. Lincoln cannot be regarded otherwise than a solemn declaration, on the part of a great majority of the Northern people, of hostility to the South, her property and her institutions — nothing less than an open declaration of war — for the triumph of this new theory of Government destroys the property of the South, lays waste her fields, and inaugurates all the horrors of a San Domingo servile insurrection, consigning her citizens to assassinations, and her wives and daughters to pollution and violation, to gratify the lust of half-civilized Africans. Especially is this true in the cotton-growing States, where, in many localities, the slave outnumbers the white population ten to one.

It was his response to, “This is a huge part of who we are and the left is continually seeking, in a host of different ways, it seems to me, I don’t want to be too paranoid about this, but they seek to delegitimize the fabulous accomplishments of our country." In which he asks, "What fucking fabulous accomplishments? Fighting to keep other human beings enslaved?"

I was curious and found the document his cite comes from.  It was a letter from Stephen F. Hale, then a Commissioner from the State of Alabama to Ketucky Governor Beriah Magoffin dated December 27, 1860. Here is a bit more:

If the policy of the Republicans is carried out, according to the programme indicated by the leaders of the party, and the South submits, degradation and ruin must overwhelm alike all classes of citizens in the Southern States. The slave-holder and non-slave-holder must ultimately share the same fate — all be degraded to a position of equality with free negroes, stand side by side with them at the polls, and fraternize in all the social relations of life; or else there will be an eternal war of races, desolating the land with blood, and utterly wasting and destroying all the resources of the country.

Who can look upon such a picture without a shudder? What Southern man, be he slave-holder or non-slave-holder, can without indignation and horror contemplate the triumph of negro equality, and see his own sons and daughters, in the not distant future, associating with free negroes upon terms of political and social equality, and the white man stripped, by the Heaven-daring hand of fanaticism of that title to superiority over the black race which God himself has bestowed,,,

Sad thing is, this is just one of many such documents that highlight "the fabulous accomplishments of our country."

Sen. Jeff Sessions: Confederate Flag Represents "Fabulous Accomplishments"

Scott Walker Is Toast—The Crazy Move that Cost Him the Kochs and Probably the Nomination | Alternet

Good pbservations, but the question remains, is it all just smoke and mirror?s. Walker is their puppet, but the Kochs don't want it to be so obvious.  They don't want to appear as dictating his policy.

So what, exactly, did Scott Walker say that appears to have made the Kochs do such an about-face in record time? Well, it’s a doozy. Walker, you see, was once a “pro-immigration reform” Republican, which is likely one of the reasons the Koch brothers back him. Like most of the more libertarian-minded Big Business Republicans, they tend toward a more moderate stance on immigration. It’s good for business in a number of ways (for both good and bad reasons). Walker, being a proven anti-union, pro-immigration governor, was naturally at the top of their list of nominees. He had recently “moderated” his stance on illegal immigration but it was widely assumed to be a mild feint to the right for the purposes of winning the nomination. It brought him into line with all the other candidates like Rubio and Bush who had once also been pro-reform, so it was no harm-no foul as far as the primary was concerned.
,,,
It’s hard not to fall down laughing (or lose your lunch) over the most notorious union buster in America waxing on about protecting American jobs, but he’s the last person to understand the irony of his comments. But by taking a position against legal immigration, he’s just placed himself to the right of Ted Cruz on this issue. He’s out in Ben Carson land. Not to mention that he’s obliterated the last tattered shreds of a conservative argument to appeal to Hispanic and other ethnic groups: the idea that illegal immigration is unfair to legal immigrants who’ve been “waiting in line” to come to this country. Walker wants to close down the line altogether. Only the most hardcore neo-Confederates like Sessions want to go that far.

Scott Walker Is Toast—The Crazy Move that Cost Him the Kochs and Probably the Nomination | Alternet

VFW attacks the three Republicans who voted against Senate VA bill - The Washington Post

 So remember yesterday when I posted this little gem (summarized):

"At this point, congressional Republicans no longer even try to justify the rhetorical contradictions. When Democrats want to make any kind of public investment, even after a natural disaster, GOP officials insist every penny must be fully paid for without raising anyone’s taxes by any amount at any time."  But yet the House went on to  pass two bills to permanently extend tax credits that expired at the end of 2013 with ZERO offset.  In other words, "if Democrats want to invest in the public, the deficit is paramount. When Republicans want to pass a tax break, the deficit is irrelevant."

Well it seems that Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) have held fast to that mindset in a vote against a bipartisan veterans’ benefits bill this week. Sessions going so far as to say, "I feel strongly we've got to do the right thing for our veterans. But I don't think we should create a blank check, an unlimited entitlement program, now."

Also arguing,

We need to resist the temptation to create more entitlements and more entitlements, which is one of the reasons we are heading recklessly toward fiscal crisis,” Sessions said on the Senate floor before the vote.  He said Congress should instead focus on “reforms and solutions that improve the quality of service and the effectiveness that is delivered.”

Now bare in mind, the purpose of this entitlement program bill is to ease "healthcare delays for veterans by giving them more access to private care and allowing the Department of Veterans Affairs to open more clinics and hire more medical staff."

As Steve Benen writes, and I agree,

So, on the one hand, politicians routinely say the nation must do “whatever it takes” to care for our veterans. On the other hand, here are three conservative Republicans effectively arguing, “But let’s not go overboard.”

I am sorry but no amount of money should be spared when it comes to the health and well being of our military personnel.  Combat loss is one thing, but when you have veterans dying while in the que for help, that is a sad commentary on what we as a nation value.  This should not be happening:

The "cost of war" for me: Missing 1/2 of my left ham string, permanent nerve damage, diabetes from Agent Orange, joints shot from humping super heavy ruck sack, PTSD (nightmares, night sweats, 5 failed marriages, alienated from my family and friends, flashbacks, depression, unable to hold a job because of anger), feet drawn to hammer toes from being shot through both legs, constant pain, two shoulder surgeries, three stomach surgeries. Even after 40 years I am still not considered 100% disabled by the VA even though the Social Security administration does. I am still trying to get a higher disability rating after being denied 4 times. These requests take over a year to get an answer. Currently I am waiting a year on my latest request. (Spitzerone)

VFW attacks the three Republicans who voted against Senate VA bill - The Washington Post