30 October 2008
Four more years
Here's a concise little piece I thought said it well:
"..then when Dubya threw Bill Clinton's hard earned surplus down the toilet he left the Treasury Dept no room for maneuver. Another Republican blunder, just like NOT protecting us BEFORE 9/11, NOT killing Bin Ladin, Starting two wars he had no clue how to win, killing wounding and maiming tens of thousands of brave young Americans. Four More Years!!!"
"..then when Dubya threw Bill Clinton's hard earned surplus down the toilet he left the Treasury Dept no room for maneuver. Another Republican blunder, just like NOT protecting us BEFORE 9/11, NOT killing Bin Ladin, Starting two wars he had no clue how to win, killing wounding and maiming tens of thousands of brave young Americans. Four More Years!!!"
Reach across the aisle... Again
The last time the Republicans said they had a candidate an outsider not from the Washington beltway who was gonna reform Washington shake it up, reach across the aisle, cut through partisan gridlock… it was the year 2000 and G W Bush became president shortly thereafter. How much of what was promised did we really get?
Are you going to belive the Republicans in 2008 after the last 8 years of NOT getting reform and integrity?
Are you going to belive the Republicans in 2008 after the last 8 years of NOT getting reform and integrity?
Republican Oil Addiction
If McCain loves renewable energy so much, why does he have a 26-year history of voting against funding for renewable energy technologies? For 26 years he has been voting Against incentives for INNOVATIVE ENTERPENEURS to develop the tools to get us off our addiction to foreign oil. The man has been so wrong for so long that there is no way we can believe him now.
Jimmy Carter had a program to convert 20percent of America's energy production to solar by the year 2000... Reagan trashed that program.
Where would we be now in 2008, if we had listened to progressive Democrats back then?
Jimmy Carter had a program to convert 20percent of America's energy production to solar by the year 2000... Reagan trashed that program.
Where would we be now in 2008, if we had listened to progressive Democrats back then?
Oh I miss Nixon
You know, in all my life, right up until the looting started in Bagdad, it never occurred to me that I would see a worse president than Richard Nixon. Dubya has outdone Nixon many times over.
Now, times have changed... It never occurred to me that I would long for the good old days of Dan Qualye, who couldn't spell, but at least he could sound reasonably intelligent half the time. "Bible Spice" just makes me cry every time she tries to ask a question... she is just clueless... she really doesn't know that sharing a border with Russia doesn't mean having foreign policy experience... and it looks like her handlers are afraid to tell her the awful truth.
Now, times have changed... It never occurred to me that I would long for the good old days of Dan Qualye, who couldn't spell, but at least he could sound reasonably intelligent half the time. "Bible Spice" just makes me cry every time she tries to ask a question... she is just clueless... she really doesn't know that sharing a border with Russia doesn't mean having foreign policy experience... and it looks like her handlers are afraid to tell her the awful truth.
Who is Republican McCain?
Republican John McCain is just one huge question mark. We have no idea who this guy is. He says, look at my record... ok... let's look:
In 2000 he was against tax cuts for the rich. Now he supports them.
A few years ago he was against torturing people. Now he is in favor.
A few years ago he called Pat Roberston an agent of intolerance. Now he's his best friend.
Republican John McCain claims to fight against the corrupt lobbyists, yet he hires large numbers of them to do very powerful jobs, including Campaign Manager, and Head of the Transition Team.
Republican John McCain claims to fight against earmarks and pork-barrel spending and yet he nominates the Queen of Republican Pork to be Vice President.
Republican John McCain tells us for months that experience is critical to the job and Obama doesn't have it, then he nominates a beauty queen, historically the least qualified person ever to get that close to the Presidency.
Republican John McCain wrote a bill to liberalize immigration into the USA, then when it came up for a vote, he voted against his own bill.
Who is this guy?
What does he believe?
It is, I'm afraid, anybody's guess.
In 2000 he was against tax cuts for the rich. Now he supports them.
A few years ago he was against torturing people. Now he is in favor.
A few years ago he called Pat Roberston an agent of intolerance. Now he's his best friend.
Republican John McCain claims to fight against the corrupt lobbyists, yet he hires large numbers of them to do very powerful jobs, including Campaign Manager, and Head of the Transition Team.
Republican John McCain claims to fight against earmarks and pork-barrel spending and yet he nominates the Queen of Republican Pork to be Vice President.
Republican John McCain tells us for months that experience is critical to the job and Obama doesn't have it, then he nominates a beauty queen, historically the least qualified person ever to get that close to the Presidency.
Republican John McCain wrote a bill to liberalize immigration into the USA, then when it came up for a vote, he voted against his own bill.
Who is this guy?
What does he believe?
It is, I'm afraid, anybody's guess.
The Earth is Round
One libertarian said it well:
“Certainly for me the turning point was McCain's selection of Palin. As some liberal blogger somewhere put it, "McCain Loses Key 'Earth is Round' Demographic" with his Palin pick. I've been a Libertarian for 30 years, but always assumed if I didn't vote Libertarian I'd vote Republican. This time I'm voting for Obama. I've never seen such a clear choice in my life.”
“Certainly for me the turning point was McCain's selection of Palin. As some liberal blogger somewhere put it, "McCain Loses Key 'Earth is Round' Demographic" with his Palin pick. I've been a Libertarian for 30 years, but always assumed if I didn't vote Libertarian I'd vote Republican. This time I'm voting for Obama. I've never seen such a clear choice in my life.”
Responding to McCain's question
At the third debate and elsewhere Republican John McCain asks “Why does he want to raise taxes on anybody?” in an effort to deflect attention from the fact that the Republican camp wants to give the Rich another huge tax break, and is pretending that this will cure the country’s ills.
“Why does he want to raise taxes on anybody?” My Dear Republican McCain (I will not call you my friend as you always call me), have you heard of the 10 trillion dollar Republican curse on our grandchildren? Did you know that another 500billion has been added to 10 trillion dollar Republican curse on our grandchildren just in 2008? Duyba has been borrowing from the Chinese to finance his war in Iraq. Who is gonna pay for that war? Joe the Plumber? People who make less than Joe the Plumber? Or maybe people who make more than Joe the Plumber? Is this all over your head? You said Economics was not your strong suit, didn’t you? Ask Governor Palin. She got a D in Economics 101. Surely she can explain it to you.
Was the tax burden on the rich sooooo horrible during the Clinton years that our economy collapsed? Nope. 8 years of peace and prosperity. Dubya hasn’t quite pulled that trick off, eh?
Why Republican McCain do you think that Joe’s boss should get 10 times more in tax breaks than Joe himself?
“Why does he want to raise taxes on anybody?” My Dear Republican McCain (I will not call you my friend as you always call me), have you heard of the 10 trillion dollar Republican curse on our grandchildren? Did you know that another 500billion has been added to 10 trillion dollar Republican curse on our grandchildren just in 2008? Duyba has been borrowing from the Chinese to finance his war in Iraq. Who is gonna pay for that war? Joe the Plumber? People who make less than Joe the Plumber? Or maybe people who make more than Joe the Plumber? Is this all over your head? You said Economics was not your strong suit, didn’t you? Ask Governor Palin. She got a D in Economics 101. Surely she can explain it to you.
Was the tax burden on the rich sooooo horrible during the Clinton years that our economy collapsed? Nope. 8 years of peace and prosperity. Dubya hasn’t quite pulled that trick off, eh?
Why Republican McCain do you think that Joe’s boss should get 10 times more in tax breaks than Joe himself?
Palin's expertise
Sarah Palin has had a special-needs child for less than six months now. All of that time she's been working hard getting "executive experience". She has NO knowledge or experience with the subject. There are folks who have been working with the physically and mentally challenged for 40 years... yet Palin seeing one Downs Syndrome child a few times a week for half a year claims to be expert? Not in the real world.
Republicans are wrong again
With Obama's Tax cuts Joe the Plumber will save about $1000, with McCain's about $75. Which plan is better for working Americans? Rich folks like millionaire McCain and Obama [whose books sell really well] will get millions more in tax breaks if McCain is allowed to extend Bush's idiotic idea that giveaways to the rich will make the economy strong... didn't happen... and won't happen. Republicans are wrong on this issue.
Funny but...
A funny but really stupid anti-Obama ad... It seems so close to parody that it's hard to imagine that some on the WackoRight might actually think it would be effective.
Hanging Chads Were Nothin'
This election will be the messiest in history. Count on several states suing left and right all the way to the Supreme Court. Normal fair election systems is another thing that 8 years of Republican rule has bungled.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-voting30-2008oct30,0,1814361.story?track=rss
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-voting30-2008oct30,0,1814361.story?track=rss
23 October 2008
Expensive clothes?
Who cares how much the Right Wing Wackos spent on her clothes? Who cares how much she stole in "travel vouchers"? If she stole half a million dollars that's great. At least she has proven that she is capable of SOMETHING!!! This woman is SO COMPLETELY incapable of being president. And McCain is about to keel over at any minute, so we must consider a Republican vote a vote for President Palin. Honestly I would much rather have a competent crook, like say Nixon, than ignoramus Caribou Girl with her D in Economics 101 and inability to answer the most basic questions about governing.
Simple tax logic. Wow.
“I do want to roll back the Bush tax cuts for people like me,” said Obama, who became wealthy from his best-selling books. “I don’t need a tax cut.”
Let's get real about redistribution
This is so obvious that it pains me to know that it must be repeated. But please, tell your friends and neighbors the obvious...
"Taxes are always a redistribution of money," the retired general (Colin Powell) told reporters on Sunday after endorsing the Democratic candidate. “Most of the taxes that are redistributed go back to the ones who pay it. In roads, in airports, in hospitals, in schools, and taxes are necessary for the common good.”
"Taxes are always a redistribution of money," the retired general (Colin Powell) told reporters on Sunday after endorsing the Democratic candidate. “Most of the taxes that are redistributed go back to the ones who pay it. In roads, in airports, in hospitals, in schools, and taxes are necessary for the common good.”
22 October 2008
This was predicted
McCain kept saying "The fundamentals of our economy are strong". Dubya said it too. They want to pretend that the mess was unpredicted. That is nonsense. A very quick look at a few old covers of a respected conservative British news magazine illustrates:
http://gawker.com/5065684/the-greatest-depression-as-seen-on-the-covers-of-the-economist
http://gawker.com/5065684/the-greatest-depression-as-seen-on-the-covers-of-the-economist
A quick analysis of talking points
And the Orwellian Brainwashing Network.... "No Spin Zone" Spins out of control for years on end...
http://steveyoungonpolitics.com/scott-mcclellan-white-house-fed-fox-news-talking-points-right-wing-talk-show-hosts-who-were-invited-to-the-white-house-for-a-private-meeting-with-president-bush-just-prior-to-the-2006-election-are/
http://steveyoungonpolitics.com/scott-mcclellan-white-house-fed-fox-news-talking-points-right-wing-talk-show-hosts-who-were-invited-to-the-white-house-for-a-private-meeting-with-president-bush-just-prior-to-the-2006-election-are/
Who is the Republican Party?
Begala and Carville writing for todays Huffington Post:
"They (Republicans) will need to answer fundamental questions: What does it mean to be a Republican? Do Republicans support laissez-faire or nationalized banking? Do Republicans support a balanced budget or half-trillion-dollar deficits? Do Republicans want a "humble foreign policy" like George W. Bush, or preventive war against countries that pose no threat, like, umm, George W. Bush? Are Republicans the party of limited government or a vast Medicare prescription drug benefit? Are they wary of Big Brother or eager to expand warrantless wiretaps? Do they support Christian values or torture? Are they the party that believes that cutting-edge technology can shoot a missile out of the sky or the party that believes humans and dinosaurs walked the earth simultaneously?"
Maybe after they answer these questions, a reasonable voter will be able to decide.
Until then the big unanswered question of this election is:
"Who is the Republican Party?"
"They (Republicans) will need to answer fundamental questions: What does it mean to be a Republican? Do Republicans support laissez-faire or nationalized banking? Do Republicans support a balanced budget or half-trillion-dollar deficits? Do Republicans want a "humble foreign policy" like George W. Bush, or preventive war against countries that pose no threat, like, umm, George W. Bush? Are Republicans the party of limited government or a vast Medicare prescription drug benefit? Are they wary of Big Brother or eager to expand warrantless wiretaps? Do they support Christian values or torture? Are they the party that believes that cutting-edge technology can shoot a missile out of the sky or the party that believes humans and dinosaurs walked the earth simultaneously?"
Maybe after they answer these questions, a reasonable voter will be able to decide.
Until then the big unanswered question of this election is:
"Who is the Republican Party?"
21 October 2008
McCain's record on veterans
Disabled American Veterans grade both candidates (McCain and Obama):
Barack Obama: 80%
John McCain: 20%
Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America Give The Following Grade For Their Voting Records:
Barack Obama: B+
John McCain: D
Barack Obama leads McCain In Military Donations, 6--1
McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans' Health Care
McCain Voted At Least 28 Times Against Veterans' Benefits, Including Healthcare
McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans.
McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs.
McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs
McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders
McCain Opposed the 21st Century GI Bill
Barack Obama: 80%
John McCain: 20%
Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America Give The Following Grade For Their Voting Records:
Barack Obama: B+
John McCain: D
Barack Obama leads McCain In Military Donations, 6--1
McCain Voted Against Increased Funding for Veterans' Health Care
McCain Voted At Least 28 Times Against Veterans' Benefits, Including Healthcare
McCain Voted Against Providing Automatic Cost-of-Living Adjustments to Veterans.
McCain Voted to Underfund Department of Veterans Affairs.
McCain Voted Against a $13 Billion Increase in Funding for Veterans Programs
McCain Opposed $500 Million for Counseling Services for Veterans with Mental Disorders
McCain Opposed the 21st Century GI Bill
President Palin
One Republican at the Denver West had this to say. Mostly I disagree, but there is some honesty there....
"Your reasons for supporting McCain are fine but his choice of running mate combined with his age and health make a vote for McCain a vote of confidence in "President Palin" as well and that is just horrifying. I don't understand why McCain supporters are so reluctant to admit this was a huge failing on the part of him and his advisors."
"Your reasons for supporting McCain are fine but his choice of running mate combined with his age and health make a vote for McCain a vote of confidence in "President Palin" as well and that is just horrifying. I don't understand why McCain supporters are so reluctant to admit this was a huge failing on the part of him and his advisors."
Socialism??? Hardly
Going back to the tax rates of the Clinton years is Hardly Socialism...
By the way, Warren Buffet supports Obama. Does that make him a socialist?? :-))
By the way, Warren Buffet supports Obama. Does that make him a socialist?? :-))
ACORN is clean...
As with lipstick on a pig, and Bill Ayers, and all the rest the ACORN accusations are more of the same WackoRight Disinformation. If you want to stay out of the Reality-Challenged camp, find out about the truth, member that?
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/rnc_on_new_mexico_voter_fraud.php
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/rnc_on_new_mexico_voter_fraud.php
If they hate God...
Quoting http://brownsox.dailykos.com/
"Apparently, as the GOP faces utter humiliation at the ballot box on November 4, it has become the fashion to tar, smear and slander their fellow Americans.
"Apparently, as the GOP faces utter humiliation at the ballot box on November 4, it has become the fashion to tar, smear and slander their fellow Americans.
Trailing handily in the polls to Democrat Larry Kissell, who nearly beat him in 2006, GOP Rep. Robin Hayes has become the latest to go the full Bachmann. Emphasis added:
He yielded the microphone to Representative Robin Hayes, who prefaced his comments by saying it was important to "make sure we don't say something stupid, make sure we don't say something we don't mean." Republicans, he reminded the crowd, were kind people. Plus, he added, the liberal media had shown itself eager to distort such remarks. With the crowd duly chastened and put on best behavior, he accused Obama of "inciting class warfare" and said that "liberals hate real Americans that work and achieve and believe in God."
Hmmm. Good work on, er, "not saying something stupid", Robin, old boy.
So if I understand correctly, this is Robinho's thesis:
- Liberals are not "real Americans"
- Liberals hate Real Americans
- Liberals hate work
- Liberals hate those who achieve
- Liberals hate belief in God.
Actually, rather than simply "going the full Bachmann", Hayes appears to have boldly gone where even Bachmanns fear to tread.
By the way, Hayes' Democratic opponent in this race, Larry Kissell, is a longtime textile worker, social studies teacher, graduate of Wake Forest University, father of two children, and a deacon in the First Baptist Church in Biscoe, North Carolina.
And in two short weeks, he will be the man who kicked Robin Hayes out of Congress on his ass, and brought decency and civility back to the political arena in the Eighth District."
no no no, only the small towns
Sarah Palin [the other name for Caribou Barbie] said that she loves the "Pro-America" parts of America. Take the time to find out what she means. Then ask yourself:
Are you going to let Sarah Palin tell you that YOU are ANTI-AMERICAN ???
Vote Obama-Biden.
Are you going to let Sarah Palin tell you that YOU are ANTI-AMERICAN ???
Vote Obama-Biden.
PRO ? ANTI ? America ?
the WackoRight attacks, with blows to the head
WackoRight Wing Wing Nut attacks Democratic Campaign Volunteer.
Info here
http://www.wisn.com/video/17757962/index.html
The consise explaination:
"Some of these right wingers just don't get democracy. They don't get that you have to be accepting of others' right to disagree. That's the American way. But they don't get it. So, like Republican terror advocate G.Gordon Liddy, they lash out violently at what they don't understand."
Info here
http://www.wisn.com/video/17757962/index.html
The consise explaination:
"Some of these right wingers just don't get democracy. They don't get that you have to be accepting of others' right to disagree. That's the American way. But they don't get it. So, like Republican terror advocate G.Gordon Liddy, they lash out violently at what they don't understand."
Why does he want...?
At the debate and elsewhere Republican John McCain asks “Why does he want to raise taxes on anybody?” in an effort to deflect attention from the fact that the Republican camp wants to give the Rich another huge tax break, and is pretending that this will cure the country’s ills.
“Why does he want to raise taxes on anybody?” My Dear Republican McCain (I will not call you my friend as you always call me), have you heard of the 10 trillion dollar Republican curse on our grandchildren? Did you know that another 500billion has been added to 10 trillion dollar Republican curse on our grandchildren just in 2008? Duyba has been borrowing from the Chinese to finance his war in Iraq. Who is gonna pay for that war? Joe the Plumber? People who make less than Joe the Plumber? Or maybe people who make more than Joe the Plumber? Is this all over your head? You said Economics was not your strong suit, didn’t you? Ask Governor Palin. She got a D in Economics 101. Surely she can explain it to you. Was the tax burden on the rich sooooo horrible during the Clinton years that our economy collapsed? Nope. 8 years of peace and prosperity. Dubya hasn’t quite pulled that trick off, eh?
Why Republican McCain do you think that Joe’s boss should get 10 times more in tax breaks than Joe himself?
“Why does he want to raise taxes on anybody?” My Dear Republican McCain (I will not call you my friend as you always call me), have you heard of the 10 trillion dollar Republican curse on our grandchildren? Did you know that another 500billion has been added to 10 trillion dollar Republican curse on our grandchildren just in 2008? Duyba has been borrowing from the Chinese to finance his war in Iraq. Who is gonna pay for that war? Joe the Plumber? People who make less than Joe the Plumber? Or maybe people who make more than Joe the Plumber? Is this all over your head? You said Economics was not your strong suit, didn’t you? Ask Governor Palin. She got a D in Economics 101. Surely she can explain it to you. Was the tax burden on the rich sooooo horrible during the Clinton years that our economy collapsed? Nope. 8 years of peace and prosperity. Dubya hasn’t quite pulled that trick off, eh?
Why Republican McCain do you think that Joe’s boss should get 10 times more in tax breaks than Joe himself?
19 October 2008
The WackoRight returns to McCarthyism
This WackoRight Congresswoman actually wants to go back to the days of McCarthyism.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/17/gop-rep-channels-mccarthy_n_135735.html
She means it seriously. We need to stop her.
Watch http://www.censurebachmann.com/
and sign the pettition.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/17/gop-rep-channels-mccarthy_n_135735.html
She means it seriously. We need to stop her.
Watch http://www.censurebachmann.com/
and sign the pettition.
... not to mention...
one or two things that we do know about McCain is that he is a horrible manager... His campaign organization has been a mess from the very start. Mix-ups and misfires have been happening every week. His advisors cannot seem to agree on a consistent message. One advisor says McCain invented the Blackberry, another that Americans are just whiners and the Economy is super. A third advisor says neither McCain nor Palin could run a major corporation. Whoops. Palin contradicting McCain's policies about Pakistan, N. Korea, etc. Just Chaos. McCain clearly does not have the leadership skills to lead a large organization like the executive branch of our government.
A quiz
Mr. McCain’s chief strategist, Steve Schmit is quoted in today’s NY Times “Spread the wealth around is a big mistake.” The Republican Camp is planning to use this refrain against Obama.
Here’s a little quiz for our informed voters. Just fill in the blanks:
Exxon-Mobil made a profit of $ ______ billion between 2000 and 2003. Exxon-Mobil received $ _______ billion in tax cuts in the Republican Energy bill.
Executives at the 5 largest investement banks earned $ _______ billion in compensation in the last year.
Of the 5 largest investment banks in the US ______ have needed billions in taxpayer money for a bailout.
______ penny has been returned by the executives of an investment bank saved from bankruptcy by your tax dollars.
Republicans, specifically Bush and Paulson, requested $ _______ billion of your wealth to be spread imediately to the investment banks on Wall Street.
That is “Spreading the Wealth Around” according to the __________ Republican Party.
Here’s a little quiz for our informed voters. Just fill in the blanks:
Exxon-Mobil made a profit of $ ______ billion between 2000 and 2003. Exxon-Mobil received $ _______ billion in tax cuts in the Republican Energy bill.
Executives at the 5 largest investement banks earned $ _______ billion in compensation in the last year.
Of the 5 largest investment banks in the US ______ have needed billions in taxpayer money for a bailout.
______ penny has been returned by the executives of an investment bank saved from bankruptcy by your tax dollars.
Republicans, specifically Bush and Paulson, requested $ _______ billion of your wealth to be spread imediately to the investment banks on Wall Street.
That is “Spreading the Wealth Around” according to the __________ Republican Party.
Who will inform voters?
As so often happens of late the truly important fact is mentioned on the Daily Show first. It is a sad commentary on the state of American Journalism.
Joe the Plumber has already given far more interviews that Wannabe President Sarah Palin. That is scary.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
Joe the Plumber has already given far more interviews that Wannabe President Sarah Palin. That is scary.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/
17 October 2008
All citizens need to see...
A simple lesson in deceiving voters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljrh72Qy1tw&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljrh72Qy1tw&eurl=http://www.dailykos.com/
Sam from the gas station
"How many plumbers do you know making a quarter of million dollars a year?" Barack Obama
Read this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-seery/joe-the-plumber-meets-sam_b_135399.html
Read this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-seery/joe-the-plumber-meets-sam_b_135399.html
about Joe the Plumber by someone already in business
I read this post by a guy named "northern lights". It is Excellent:
So Joe is concerned with purchasing a business that will "make" $250,000 per year and how he will be taxed. As the owner of a small construction company, let me tell you. First, if your gross receipts are $250,000, you can optimistically net 20% - and that's optimistically after all expenses. So now we get $50,000 of taxable income.
But if you are saying your company will have net profits of $250,000, that means your company grosses $1,250,000. (Really). So let's calculate your taxes using the current tax rate of 36% - $90,000. Let's now calculate taxes at Obama's proposed increase to 39% - $97,500 - an increase of $7,500 a year.
Joe, good luck on that business and let me know when it starts making $1,250,000 million!
So Joe is concerned with purchasing a business that will "make" $250,000 per year and how he will be taxed. As the owner of a small construction company, let me tell you. First, if your gross receipts are $250,000, you can optimistically net 20% - and that's optimistically after all expenses. So now we get $50,000 of taxable income.
But if you are saying your company will have net profits of $250,000, that means your company grosses $1,250,000. (Really). So let's calculate your taxes using the current tax rate of 36% - $90,000. Let's now calculate taxes at Obama's proposed increase to 39% - $97,500 - an increase of $7,500 a year.
Joe, good luck on that business and let me know when it starts making $1,250,000 million!
Joe the Plumber Honestly
If Joe the Plumber were honest he would come right out and say that in reality he makes $50,000 a year, and will in reality get a big tax cut under the Obama plan and a tiny tax cut under the McCain plan. He will vote for McCain anyway. That is his choice. But his hypothetical questions about "If I were very rich you would tax me more, wouldn’t you?” just don’t impress me.
Spread the wealth around???
Some individuals get rich. Some individuals get poor. Some have about the same their whole lives. Government policy however isn't about that. It is about the country as a whole.
And [don't believe me, do the research yourself. you will find that it is all true] from 1932 until the early 1980's the gap between the rich and the poor was closing. More and more poor people were joining the middle class. More and more Americans could afford to own their own homes. More and more Americans could afford to send their kids to college. There was really a growing middle class. Maybe the rich didn't do so well. Maybe some rich families had to do without 10 servants and had to settle for only 5. Tough life.
Since Ronald Reagan took office the gap between the rich and poor has been increasing [the statistics are easily available from a wide variety of sources. go and find them if you don't believe me]. That means a smaller middle class. Sure... some bet correctly on the stock market and got rich. Others lost their jobs due to off-shoring. Some kept their jobs but with the prices of food, gas, higher education, and medical treatment skyrocketing, their salaries buy much less now. They are joining the ranks of the poor.
"Wealth transfer" is a funny name for it. But look at the reality. Long-term government taxation policies have a huge impact on our society. We have to ask ourselves.... "What kind of society do we want to be?" Do we want to have an upper class living in castles while the rest of us work as servants? Or to we want a strong healthy middle-class working hard to build our nation to even greater greatness?
Republican McCain's idea that the rich need even more tax breaks now... when our country hasn't even begun to pay for Dubya's War for the WMDs... is absurd.
Republican McCain's idea that the rich need even more tax breaks now... when they have already received trillions over the years from Republican Reagan and Republican Dubya... is just stupid.
Republican McCain's idea that the rich need even more tax breaks now... begs the question... Why tax the rich at all? Why should they pay anything? I mean, it's not like they are members of our society, right? :-)
And [don't believe me, do the research yourself. you will find that it is all true] from 1932 until the early 1980's the gap between the rich and the poor was closing. More and more poor people were joining the middle class. More and more Americans could afford to own their own homes. More and more Americans could afford to send their kids to college. There was really a growing middle class. Maybe the rich didn't do so well. Maybe some rich families had to do without 10 servants and had to settle for only 5. Tough life.
Since Ronald Reagan took office the gap between the rich and poor has been increasing [the statistics are easily available from a wide variety of sources. go and find them if you don't believe me]. That means a smaller middle class. Sure... some bet correctly on the stock market and got rich. Others lost their jobs due to off-shoring. Some kept their jobs but with the prices of food, gas, higher education, and medical treatment skyrocketing, their salaries buy much less now. They are joining the ranks of the poor.
"Wealth transfer" is a funny name for it. But look at the reality. Long-term government taxation policies have a huge impact on our society. We have to ask ourselves.... "What kind of society do we want to be?" Do we want to have an upper class living in castles while the rest of us work as servants? Or to we want a strong healthy middle-class working hard to build our nation to even greater greatness?
Republican McCain's idea that the rich need even more tax breaks now... when our country hasn't even begun to pay for Dubya's War for the WMDs... is absurd.
Republican McCain's idea that the rich need even more tax breaks now... when they have already received trillions over the years from Republican Reagan and Republican Dubya... is just stupid.
Republican McCain's idea that the rich need even more tax breaks now... begs the question... Why tax the rich at all? Why should they pay anything? I mean, it's not like they are members of our society, right? :-)
Raise my taxes?!?!?
Let’s face facts:
Joe the Plumber is really rich.
If he seriously has the means to buy a business, which has a taxable income of $250,000 per year, then as business prices generally go he would likely pay 1.75 million dollars for that business.
If Joe has that kind of money I am very happy for him. But back to Joe’s original question… Won’t Barack Obama raise his taxes? Well, if he has a taxable income of $250,000 per year under the Obama plan his taxes will go up two percent.
How would you feel about a taxable income of a quarter million dollars a year? Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Is it 5 times as much as YOU make? Do you feel that someone like Joe the Plumber, who makes 5 times more money than you, could contribute a little more to help pay for the War for Weapons of Mass Destruction which never existed? (Dubya has been borrowing from the Chinese in order finance it so far. So now WE will have to pay for it with interest)
Maybe Joe the Plumber wants people who make 5 times LESS money than he does, to finance the War for WMD’s. Do you?
Ask you friends and neighbors these questions. I think it is important to have these answers BEFORE we go to vote on Nov 4th.
Joe the Plumber is really rich.
If he seriously has the means to buy a business, which has a taxable income of $250,000 per year, then as business prices generally go he would likely pay 1.75 million dollars for that business.
If Joe has that kind of money I am very happy for him. But back to Joe’s original question… Won’t Barack Obama raise his taxes? Well, if he has a taxable income of $250,000 per year under the Obama plan his taxes will go up two percent.
How would you feel about a taxable income of a quarter million dollars a year? Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Is it 5 times as much as YOU make? Do you feel that someone like Joe the Plumber, who makes 5 times more money than you, could contribute a little more to help pay for the War for Weapons of Mass Destruction which never existed? (Dubya has been borrowing from the Chinese in order finance it so far. So now WE will have to pay for it with interest)
Maybe Joe the Plumber wants people who make 5 times LESS money than he does, to finance the War for WMD’s. Do you?
Ask you friends and neighbors these questions. I think it is important to have these answers BEFORE we go to vote on Nov 4th.
16 October 2008
The Resumés
You are The Boss... which team would you hire?
With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an unusually critical election year. The idea of “leadership” must be broadened from mere “experience” to include knowledge, learnedness and insight.
Let's look at the educational background of your two options:
Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
& Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
vs.
McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899
& Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism
Now, which team are you going to hire ?
With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an unusually critical election year. The idea of “leadership” must be broadened from mere “experience” to include knowledge, learnedness and insight.
Let's look at the educational background of your two options:
Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude
& Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)
vs.
McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899
& Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism
Now, which team are you going to hire ?
15 October 2008
ignorance in government
In his interview with Governor Palin, Charlie Gibson mentioned Entitlement Programs.
Did you also get that feeling of déjà vu? Like somewhere sometime I’ve seen a presidential candidate with the blank expression of a totally clueless bozo, who for a spilt second has one powerful thought “Oh, My Lord!! They expect me to know what government programs are called….. AND what they do?!?!?!? Crap!!!!”
We have had enough ignorance in government; let’s elect some well-educated people.
Did you also get that feeling of déjà vu? Like somewhere sometime I’ve seen a presidential candidate with the blank expression of a totally clueless bozo, who for a spilt second has one powerful thought “Oh, My Lord!! They expect me to know what government programs are called….. AND what they do?!?!?!? Crap!!!!”
We have had enough ignorance in government; let’s elect some well-educated people.
Has your right to vote been stolen?
The deadline to register to vote in many states is coming up sooon.
Find out if you are registered (in some states you may have been kicked off the rolls by Rovian voter caging) and get specific instructions on what you need to do when to register see: http://www.voteforchange.com/
Find out if you are registered (in some states you may have been kicked off the rolls by Rovian voter caging) and get specific instructions on what you need to do when to register see: http://www.voteforchange.com/
eratic but mavericky
McCain is a loose cannon (he says maverick, but it's not quite the same thing). He is eratic. He is dangerous. He is old, sick and half-dead already. He is wildly jumping from idea to idea and desperately hoping that nobody notices his policies are identical to Dubya's. He prays that the voters don't find out about his unstable eratic flipflopping on tax cuts for the rich, tax cuts for the corporations, his position on right wing extremists, his cozying up to lobbyists...
Even his friends say he is totally unpredictable. Even his good buddies from the Senate say that if he is elected we will be in for a wild ride. (source: Michael Kirk, the award-winning producer and documentary filmmaker, who made the film Choice 08 about the two candidates)
We cannot afford a wild ride. We need steady leadership. Obama-Biden.
Even his friends say he is totally unpredictable. Even his good buddies from the Senate say that if he is elected we will be in for a wild ride. (source: Michael Kirk, the award-winning producer and documentary filmmaker, who made the film Choice 08 about the two candidates)
We cannot afford a wild ride. We need steady leadership. Obama-Biden.
14 October 2008
Free market wisdom
There is nothing wrong with markets. Just as there is nothing wrong with football. But both need to be regulated. Without refferees enforcing the rules, sooner or later football players will start using brass knuckles, and then knives, and clubs and what you will get is a bloody mess of dead players. Maybe that is not what we as a people want. We, as a people decide what we want through democratic institutions (that means government. we govern ourselves in this country. remember "of the people, by the people, for the people"?).
The Republicans have been saying for 30 years that Government regulation is the problem. Republican McCain and Republican Greenspan have been effectively deregulating Wall Street to the point that the investment banks basically slashed each other up with machetes (derivitives and other worthless paper or toxic assets, whatever you want to call it) and so now we have a banking sector so hacked to pieces that it cannot provide the necessary services that our citizens and enterpeneurs need to keep us out of The Second Great Depression.
It is time to nationalize all the insolvent banks, throw out their managers and confiscate the millions that they pocketed while driving their industry beyond the point of collapse.
Do not believe anything any Republican tells you. Their disinformation and misinformation about the economy is just as worthless as their boasting "There is no doubt that Sadam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction"
The Republicans have been saying for 30 years that Government regulation is the problem. Republican McCain and Republican Greenspan have been effectively deregulating Wall Street to the point that the investment banks basically slashed each other up with machetes (derivitives and other worthless paper or toxic assets, whatever you want to call it) and so now we have a banking sector so hacked to pieces that it cannot provide the necessary services that our citizens and enterpeneurs need to keep us out of The Second Great Depression.
It is time to nationalize all the insolvent banks, throw out their managers and confiscate the millions that they pocketed while driving their industry beyond the point of collapse.
Do not believe anything any Republican tells you. Their disinformation and misinformation about the economy is just as worthless as their boasting "There is no doubt that Sadam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction"
13 October 2008
domestic terrorist
It is of course a lie that Barack Obama "pals around" with Bill Ayers. The men hardly know each other, but even if they did... let's ask a question...
"If Bill Ayers is such a detestable man, why was he allowed to be a member of the Annenberg Foundation?"
[this question borrowed from http://stephencrosehome.blogspot.com/]
"If Bill Ayers is such a detestable man, why was he allowed to be a member of the Annenberg Foundation?"
[this question borrowed from http://stephencrosehome.blogspot.com/]
Follow Andy Martin
From a NY Times article about Andy Martin:
'But an appearance in a documentary-style program on the Fox News Channel watched by three million people last week thrust the man, Andy Martin, and his past into the foreground. The program allowed Mr. Martin to assert falsely and without challenge that Mr. Obama had once trained to overthrow the government...
...When questions were raised last week about Mr. Martin’s appearance and claims on “Hannity’s America” on Fox News, the program’s producer said Mr. Martin was clearly expressing his opinion and not necessarily fact.'
So if I went on "Fair and Balanced" Fux News [there would also be a program called "Colmes' America" and not just "Hannity's wackoright view of America"] and said that McCain had actually trained in North Vietnam to undermine capitalism from within by becoming US President, nobody would question my facts, or my sanity, and when questioned about it later Fox News would just say that was clearly my opinion, right?
Mythbusting
Our country will get ever deeper and deeper in trouble if large sections of our population continue to buy into the myths propagated by the wackoright...
Please see: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-matzzie/how-mccain-will-steal-the_b_133989.html
Please see: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-matzzie/how-mccain-will-steal-the_b_133989.html
Ayers and the bizzare thinking of the WackoRight
Janus who blogs at the Huffington post said it well:
"The Committee/Board on which Obama and Ayers served was composed of 22 members, from both Republican and Democratic parties. It was funded by a grant of $50 million from Walter Annenberg and his wife (now his widow), both of whom were important Republican Party donors. The Annenberg Foundation, a communications organization, is still functioning mainly at the University of Pennsylvania under Kathleen Hall Jameson.
To follow the "thinking" of the McBush-Shrieking Sarah campaign, it must be true that the Annenbergs, the University of Illinois, the City of Chicago, all the said Board members, and the University of Pennsylvania are palling around with a domestic terrorist. The lunatics who enjoy Sarah's irresponsible bilge as much as Sarah herself enjoys spewing it, will pay no attention to this fallacy. Sarah and her adoring loons speak volumes about her and their mental states."
"The Committee/Board on which Obama and Ayers served was composed of 22 members, from both Republican and Democratic parties. It was funded by a grant of $50 million from Walter Annenberg and his wife (now his widow), both of whom were important Republican Party donors. The Annenberg Foundation, a communications organization, is still functioning mainly at the University of Pennsylvania under Kathleen Hall Jameson.
To follow the "thinking" of the McBush-Shrieking Sarah campaign, it must be true that the Annenbergs, the University of Illinois, the City of Chicago, all the said Board members, and the University of Pennsylvania are palling around with a domestic terrorist. The lunatics who enjoy Sarah's irresponsible bilge as much as Sarah herself enjoys spewing it, will pay no attention to this fallacy. Sarah and her adoring loons speak volumes about her and their mental states."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)