“Throw the bums out” is the mantra of the day. All incumbents? If you mean the Republicans and their message, by all means.

Let’s see how well they’ve done:

• Systematic removal of all the controls (in the name of getting rid of big government) put in place after the Great Depression so it could never happen again. How did that work out?

• Ignoring urgent communications from the outgoing president about the threat of a terrorist attack on American soil and then getting us into a costly war against a country that was of no threat and did not attack us. Unforgivable.

• Downplaying the hazards of climate change and peak oil with the mantra of “burn, baby, burn,” instead of leading the world into new clean future technologies that would give us jobs and security. Now we have an epic environmental disaster of untold ramifications destroying our oceans and livelihoods. For what, the 2 percent domestic? Time we move on.

• When the Republicans were in charge can you name one piece of legislation they passed that favored the person above the corporation? I know, corporations are people too, thanks to the Supreme Court, but you know what I mean.

The greatest travesty of all though is that the Republicans want so badly for this administration to fail they are willing to let the country fail with it. How else could you interpret the constant filibusters, obstructions, voting “no” on everything and not allowing people to get confirmed to take vital jobs. Country first, anyone?

We have to work together for the good of the country or if all they offer is more roadblocks, throw the Republi-BUMS out.

Hallette Salazar

Kingston