Home > Jay Bookman > Archives > 2008 > October > 05 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USObama tax cuts aimed at the less-than-wealthy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Given what’s happened to the economy in the past few weeks — and the fallout that’s likely to continue between now and January — it’s tempting to take the economic and tax plans proposed by John McCain and Barack Obama and toss them both in the trash can.
After all, the plans were conceived and drafted for an economic reality that no longer exists. The political world in which they were imagined has changed dramatically as well, as have public attitudes toward business and government. Regardless of who wins the election, the next president of the United States will face a situation that few could have predicted a year ago and that even fewer fully comprehend even now.
Understandably, with barely four weeks left in the campaign and the economic situation in such flux, neither candidate has tried to go back and update his plan. However, those plans do tell us something about how the two candidates perceive the economy, where their values lie and how they would generally approach the challenges ahead.
McCain’s plan represents a reversal of sorts for the Arizona Republican. Back in 2001, he was one of only two Senate Republicans to vote against the $1.35 trillion Bush tax cuts, due to expire in 2010.
“I cannot in good conscience support a tax cut in which so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate among us, at the expense of middle-class Americans who most need tax relief,” McCain said at the time.
But seven years later, given the chance to draft a tax plan of his own, McCain extends and enhances the Bush approach. In fact, according to a computer analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, “Sen. McCain’s tax cuts would primarily benefit those with very high incomes. … Many fewer households at the bottom of the income distribution would get tax cuts.”
To conduct its analysis, the Tax Policy Center conferred in detail with top economic advisers in both campaigns, trying to ensure that they got it right. In some cases, as it noted, the platforms described by economic advisers differed from those described by the candidates themselves on the stump.
“Sen. McCain’s proposals on the stump are often far more sweeping than the more measured options outlined by his campaign,” notes the TPC analysis, available at www.taxpolicycenter.org. “Sen. Obama also often proposes new taxes on high-income households to extend Social Security solvency, but his staff insists that no specific policy exists.”
In general, the analysis concludes that “Sen. Obama offers much larger tax breaks to low- and middle-income taxpayers and would increase taxes on high-income taxpayers. The largest tax cuts, as a share of income, would go to those at the bottom of the income distribution, while taxpayers with the highest income would see their taxes rise significantly.”
On specific items, the differences are equally stark. McCain would make the Bush tax cuts permanent for everyone. Obama would make the cuts permanent only for taxpayers with incomes of less than $250,000, allowing taxes to rise significantly for the fewer than 5 percent of Americans with incomes above $250,000.
McCain would leave the current capital gains tax at a maximum of 15 percent. Obama would leave the rate at 15 percent for most Americans, but raise it to somewhere between 20 percent and 28 percent for those with incomes above $250,000. He would also “enact new and expanded targeted tax breaks for workers, retirees, homeowners, students and new farmers,” according to the TPC analysis.
McCain proposes an estate tax of 15 percent on estates greater than $5 million; Obama would set the rate at 45 percent, with no tax on estates of $3.5 million or less. And under McCain, the top tax rate on individual earned income would be 35 percent; under Obama, it would be 39.6 percent.
The TPC also analyzed the impact of the McCain and Obama tax proposals on the deficit. Compared with current tax policy — in other words, if the “temporary” Bush tax cuts are considered permanent — “Sen. Obama’s proposals would raise $800 billion and Sen. McCain’s proposals lose $600 billion” over the first 10 years.
(Under the rules of its analysis, the Tax Policy Center did not adjust deficit estimates to account for spending cuts proposed by either campaign.)
Even in normal times, such campaign proposals would be subject to great change once a candidate takes office and has to compromise with Congress. And again, these are anything but normal times. Under these new conditions, no one can say with any certainty what proposals McCain or Obama would advocate once in office.
But what they’ve proposed in the past tells us that McCain has now embraced the Reaganomics approach that he rejected back in his “maverick” days, and that under Obama, tax increases would be far more targeted and limited than his opponents have tried to claim in this campaign. His general approach — trying to ease the burden on low- and middle-income households, while trying to bring the deficit under control — seems the wiser course no matter what the future may hold.
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Comments
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
In other words, Oblahma isn’t polling well on tax and spend, hahaha.
So now he’s going to lie.
I know, I know, that was “racist.”
By TW
October 5, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the info, Jay. Good ‘cut and paste stuff.’
Don’t quite see how crawlin’ up the wealthy’s butt makes one a ‘maverick.’
By Bud Wiser
October 5, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
Single individuals making $42K or more under Obama’s tax plans will be taxed at a greater rate, not the $250K he crows about..
Middle class taxpayers are going to be hammered. Obama is playing word games, effectively enough for you left wing idiots to fall hook, line, and sinker for it, as he assumed you would. Stupidity is a Democrat virtue.
Obama/Biden ‘08 - making it easy to be stupid-er
By "The Corporal"
October 5, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
B.S.
Doublespeak at its best Jay.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
The TPC also analyzed the impact of the McCain and Obama tax proposals on the deficit. Compared with current tax policy — in other words, if the “temporary” Bush tax cuts are considered permanent — “Sen. Obama’s proposals would raise $800 billion and Sen. McCain’s proposals lose $600 billion” over the first 10 years.
“Lose” 600 billion?
Where do these liberals think it will go?
Into the hands of the people who worked to earn it?
Scary, ain’t it?
I know, I know, that was “racist.”
By Bud Wiser
October 5, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Oh, I forgot to mention that The Token One’s planned tax increases on small businesses, companies that nationwide employ about 90% of all working people, will be hammered even worse.
The Token One’s taxes will effectively shut down many more small businesses, putting more individuals out of work. He’s already blown off your precious”health care” giveaway (thankfully, I might add) and other entitlement freebies because there simply won’t be the money now that Congress has passed this idiotic bailout plan for Wall Street.
I don’t know if any man can lead us through the tortuous times ahead, but I’d rather have one like McCain, who isn’t planning to shut down the economy further by raising taxes, despite his support for the alleged rescue plan for same. How many of you Dimwitocrats out there know people that have already been laid off? You can multiply that figure by a factor of 2 or 3 if The Token One takes office and does what he already says he plans to do.
Some day you idiots will realize that it takes VOLUME of taxpayers to fill the Treasury - quantity as opposed to quality, if you will. Soon the sweating masses on the government take will so far outnumber the ones that still work for a living, and pay taxes on such, that there * just won’t be enough money to tend the entire flock of bleating losers sucking on the government teat: in other words, YOU*.
I know you bleating fools will still vote for Obama, because you are too stupid not to; myself, I plan to make a heavy judgment based upon who voted FOR, and who voted AGAINST the so-called ‘economic rescue plan”. I will not be voting for anyone (other than McCain, since he plans to lower taxes when elected, not destroy the economy further by tax increases like the Token One) that voted for it, and if it means I vote for a Democrat, I will fight the urge to vomit, then cast my ballot. Anyone out there with a brain and more than a hundred dollars in your wallet might consider doing the same.
Obama/Biden - ‘08 making it easy to be stupid
By TW
October 5, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget the $1.3 Trillion McSame will collect by taxing health care benefits over the next ten years.
What a great guy.
God I miss the real Republicans.
By RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
That +800 billion/-600billion number can only be derived by assuming static conditions and no tax policy change ever leaves things static anymore than the economy itself remains static. Too bad Obambi has already far out promised his potential 800 billion in giveaways.
Was that racist?
By getalife
October 5, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
Nobody has a solution for the economic crisis other than throwing trillions to the top to trickle down.
Taxes are the least of our problems.
By Felix
October 5, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Estimate your future tax obligation here:
http://www.electiontaxes.com/
I’ll add more later.
By Midori
October 5, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
sometimes when I visit this blog, I feel like I’m at the monkey cages at the zoo: wingnuts flinging poo all over the place.
you guys look ignorant, bitter and stupid.
the sad part is you’re proud of it.
By CJ
October 5, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
I just want to clarify that, to the contrary of Adam’s Smith’s assertion in the Wealth of Nations (100 years before Karl Marx came along), progressive taxes are necessarily a fairness issue (also contrary to Joe Biden’s explanation in the VP debate). Progressive taxes are pragmatic.
It’s not pragmatic to tax the poor. We need to pull them out of poverty to grow the middle class (and reduce the social ills associated with poverty that affect us all.)
To raise revenues necessary to fund our defense, pay our debts, build our infrastructure, protect our food and water supply, etcetera — we necessarily must tax the middle class and the wealthy. However, if we tax the middle class too much, then we’ll knock them out of the middle class and, once again, add to the social ills that affect us all.
Therefore, we must limit taxes on the middle class, and therefore, have no choice but to impose higher taxe rates on those higher up the income ladder.
One day, when we eliminate poverty and grow the middle class substantially, then we can work toward a significantly flatter federal income tax. Until then, a progressive federal income tax is the only pragmatic way to raise government revenues.
By Charles
October 5, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
How is it a tax break for 95% of the people when over half of them don’t pay any taxes to begin with? Also, why is it a good idea to tax the employers of all Americans? Doesn’t B. Hussein Obama know that companies pass these costs on?
Was that racist, too?
Oh yeah, what about the 95% of blacks who are voting for B. Hussein Obama simply because he is black? Now I KNOW that is racist.
By getalife
October 5, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
Need to get the green job bubble going and Clinton tax rate back.
Look at what worked and the failed ideology of the right should be trashed.
By Mrs.Godzilla
October 5, 2008 5:37 PM | Link to this
Bud…
you are so behind the times. Take your bogus $42,000 claim and stuff it into FactCheck.org.
Your use of the term “Token One” is about as loud and clear a signal that you are one great big snarly knuckle dragging racist as I have ever seen.
Most racists at least try to be subtle in public, you aren’t even that good.
This disqualifies you on the issues dude. For you it’s all about him not being white. You just made that perfectly clear.
CJ
Well done post.
Midori,
How’s it going? It appears that some of these guys are starting to foam at the mouth? Isn’t it erratic?
By RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this
Obama picks up another glowing endorsement.
Let’s keep our eyes on the prize
Don’t they have their own candidate?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OFF TOPIC
Does anybody know where they sell furnace parts, that might be a little hard to find, to the general public in the Atlanta area? I need a start capacitor for a 20+ year old Trane system.
By Mrs.Godzilla
October 5, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
CHARLES
Would you like to back up your 5:26 with some data? Or are you just feelin’ it?
Then google what Obama’s support among Blacks was 20 months ago.
Reading is FUNdamental.
By T
October 5, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Hmmm. So, if I don’t make enough for you too see it as paying into taxes, I don’t count. OK. Now, most of the military makes 50K or less. the majority of the E-4 and below make close to the 25k mark. Oh, I know they bought all of those houses and Fu#$%^ the economy. For shame. You know I think the idiots here are right. Lets make all of those as%ho&(&* pay all the taxes and take all the risk to make the little girls listed above feel all warm and fuzzy.
All of those individuals that happen not to be white fighting in Iraq.. OH, that must be racists.
All the white people on this blog that continue to place hope with racism. Yes, sir. Apparently you are a racist. Don’t worry they make king sized sheets now. Get your hood startched. It will be ok.
I fight for your right to be an idiot.
By G
October 5, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
Trickle-down economics is another name for supply-side economics, which favors the suppliers (businesses) over the consumers and workers (rank & file population).
The premise (or fantasy) is that if the people at the top prosper, then wealth will flow down to the lower strata.
Extreme or “pure” capitalists want to deregulate and privatize everything. To these dogmatic, absolutist folks, a mixed economy is an evil.
In reality, “pure” capitalism is a roller-coaster ride of booms and busts, and only a few people at the top can weather the ride, while everybody else suffers.
“Pure” capitalism needs a police state to suppress rebellion from below. The neo-cons seem to push the “pure” capitalist line more than anyone else. They want jungle economics.
Obama/Biden ‘08
By GodHatesTrash
October 5, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
Hensley-McCain is a Maverick, fer sure.
A 1970 Ford Maverick with a jazillion miles on it.
By RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
T,
Do you realize that everybody is poking fun at an Associated Press writer for saying Sarah Palin was injecting race by mentioning that Obama was pals with a domestic terrorist? Said terrorist is plenty white.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Due to an overwhelming demand for tickets, a rally scheduled for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in Pensacola has been moved. The campaign announced Saturday that the Alaska governor will speak Tuesday at the Pensacola Civic Center, a 10,000 seat arena.
The rally had previously been scheduled at the smaller Pensacola Aviation Center.-Tampon Bay 10
Racist!
By David
October 5, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
I am still confused on the definition of tax cuts. Are they both claiming the making of Bush’s tax cuts as permanent as being a tax cut for their administration? They must be because that is the only way Obama could come up with his tax cut figures. Since we Americans are simple-minded and do not even remember pre-Bush tax rates, can we assume the current tax rates for 2007 as the base and have each candidates plan indicate the cuts or increases they would invoke based on 2007 rates? If you eliminate the Bush tax cut, what base figures are you comparing to?
Also, when Obama talks about $250,000, is he talking gross income or taxable income? Is this per return or is it 250,000 for joint return and 125,000 for singles? If it is return, then he may be responsible for a substantial number of divorces.
By T
October 5, 2008 5:57 PM | Link to this
RW-(the original)
Nope, thank you. Bright red now.
Thats why you shouldn’t drunk blog.
I’m T and I approve that message.
By GodHatesTrash
October 5, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
Here’s part of the October surprise - Hensley-McCain stepping down. Palin to the top of the ticket.
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 5:59 PM | Link to this
RW: Call Shumate, they’ll know.
~~~~~
CARSON, Calif. An enthusiastic crowd estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 jammed the Home Depot tennis stadium to rally for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in Carson Saturday.
That’s racist!!
By GodHatesTrash
October 5, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
CARSON, Calif. An enthusiastic crowd estimated between 15,000 and 20,000 jammed the Home Depot tennis stadium to rally for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in Carson Saturday.
That’s racist!!
No, silly girl, that’s 15,000 to 20,000 racist Joe Sixpacks and their hockey grandma hos.
By Midori
October 5, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
Sir Trash,
keep on keeping it real - explain it to the idiots.
By RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 6:13 PM | Link to this
AJC/DNC-M,
Thanks, but won’t they want to come install it? It’s only two screws and two wiring connections.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dude, where’s my bailout?
Scroll down and you’ll find the new meaning of BFF.
Barack
Fannie
Bfreddie
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
Today marks a very special day at the AJC blogs and we are honored and full of pride being able to mark this anniversary.
It has been 3 years to the day since i r o diM has made a worthwhile contribution to the discussion.
3 years and they said it couldn’t be done.
Here, i r o diM, with our thanks, take this commemorative plaque and stfu.
By getalife
October 5, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
Biden clears his schedule through Tuesday.
“The Obama-Biden campaign today cancelled Sen. Biden’s schedule Monday and Tuesday because of the passing of Jill Biden’s mother, Bonny Jean Jacobs, this afternoon after a long illness. Other details will follow, but we appreciate everyone’s respect for the family’s privacy during this difficult time,” says Biden spokesman David Wade.”
By Hillbilly Deluxe
October 5, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
It doesn’t matter who is elected there aren’t going to be any tax cuts. The money, which never was really there anyhow, has gone to Wall Street. The rich have the know how and the means to shelter their incomes; always have, always will.
By Midori
October 5, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this
Andy,
we mark another milestone: that was your 999, 999, 999, 999th post on this blog in the past 3 months.
you really should get a life, you know.
No matter the time of day, or day of the week, we find you here posting and blogging in all your ignorant glory.
As each post gets more ignorant by the hour, you pound your chest and boast to the world that you’re a simple slug with no life, no friends and no purpose.
Mission Accomplished, Andy.
Mission Accomplished.
What great tales to regale your grandchildren with.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 6:20 PM | Link to this
RW: They’re cool, just ask them where they would buy it.
By RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 6:22 PM | Link to this
Geez!
How did I screw up the 6:13 that badly?
By Felix
October 5, 2008 6:34 PM | Link to this
Charles
October 5, 2008 5:26 PM
That’s 95% of the working people, but that still seems a little high. Maybe a better way to put it would be 5% will see a tax increase.
By Grading Bookman
October 5, 2008 6:47 PM | Link to this
Nice effort, but mostly a mess and nearly a complete and total failure. C-.
You take too long to get anywhere. Once you get there you’re nowhere.
You drown the reader with an insufferable melange of numbers and percentages. We’d rather be waterboarded, sir.
You simply dont know how to simplify the concepts you tackle.
The article could have been a fine conversational expose of campaign rhetoric as it plays out in any administration: “Read my lips. No new taxes.” (and then he raised taxes).
There were many opportunities to shine in this article: your feigned indignation over McCain’s flip flop on tax cuts; the gloss you applied to how Obama’s stump aplomb veils his economic policy’s shortcomings….yet you never developed a theme - it all reveals a lazy journalist’s inability to create an entertaining, yet informative read.
You think you can capture a reader and then insult him with poorly presented dry data which are as indecipherable as smoke signals.
Bookman. Why dont you email me your first draft, and let me edit it and turn it into gold. For free. Just so that the readers get to enjoy something for once.
I formally censure your blog, and forbid you to post anything for a week. Take a vacation, man. Read a book, man. Go see the Wagner Ring Cycle operas…..
Sing Dusty.
Right Turn, Clyde.
jklol (it’s a great article. A+. You’re a genius)
By GodHatesTrash
October 5, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
Hensley-MCain’s better half has her problems:
The McCains soon found themselves entangled in more legal trouble. In 1989, in behavior the couple has blamed in part on the stress of the Keating scandal, Cindy became addicted to Vicodin and Percocet. She directed a doctor employed by her charity — which provided medical care to patients in developing countries — to supply the narcotics, which she then used to get high on trips to places like Bangladesh and El Salvador.
Tom Gosinski, a young Republican, kept a detailed journal while working as director of government affairs for the charity. “I am working for a very sad, lonely woman whose marriage of convenience to a U.S. senator has driven her to … cover feelings of despair with drugs,” he wrote in 1992. When Cindy McCain suddenly fired Gosinski, he turned his journal over to the Drug Enforcement Administration, sparking a yearlong investigation. To avoid jail time, Cindy agreed to a hush-hush plea bargain and court-imposed rehab.
By Felix
October 5, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 6:22 PM
It comes with the aging process. Welcome to the club.
By Analchord
October 5, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Speak for yourself, Felix.
And spread out, RW. You’re crowdin’ me.
jklol
McCain left his wife for not staying 21 and foxy. He found a barbie doll. He forgot his “sickness and health” vow, or “better or worse”.
This man has no character 2B prez.
America will vote for Obama in a landslide.
That’s the only vestige of Reaganism left in America: The landslide victory.
Obama 08: He’s right for what’s left of America.
By RB from Gwinnett
October 5, 2008 7:40 PM | Link to this
Hey Jay, Do you think if you call it “raising” $800MM the dimwits in the dimocrat party won’t know it’s the same thing as stealing money from people who work for it? Call it what it is, Jay. It’s over taxation. It’s the same crap that led people to revolt and come to this nation in the first place. If you libs don’t think you’re giving enough in taxes, feel free to donate more, but I suspect you won’t because it’s always somebody else who should give more. Always those evil rich people. Yawn…..
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
I told you about Danks, didn’t I?
By JAY BOOKMAN
October 5, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Well RB, NOT taxing — or stealing, as you wish to put it — means we just add that amount to the national debt, meaning we’re gonna have to steal from our children and grandchildren to pay it off.
Only they have no choice or voice in the matter.
If you want smaller government, insist that the current generation pay for all the government it demands. But as long as we feel free to send the bill to the future, there will be no pressure to keep government small.
Republicans used to know that, until they got greedy.
By RB from Gwinnett
October 5, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
Question for Midori…
You call conservatives stupid for disagreeing with you on many issues… What about socialism is appealing to you and why? Second question, where in the world is socialism working well?
Looking forward to your HONEST answer.
By Taxpayer
October 5, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
What’s a half million gallons amongst Republicans. Let’s see, I guess the new Republican slogan could be Spill Baby Spill. Maybe Obama will give the oil companies another big tax cut so they can afford to clean up their mess.
WASHINGTON - Hurricane Ike’s winds and massive waves destroyed oil platforms, tossed storage tanks and punctured pipelines. The environmental damage only now is becoming apparent: At least a half million gallons of crude oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the marshes, bayous and bays of Louisiana and Texas, according to an analysis of federal data by The Associated Press.
By Alec
October 5, 2008 8:06 PM | Link to this
All racists are Republican, but not all Republicans are racists, just the ones on this board.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 8:12 PM | Link to this
Since GHT changed the topic and wasn’t banned for it:
The national media have never wanted to understand, much less expose, political corruption here, or examine how Obama prospered under the Daley machine’s guidance. A trip down the Chicago Way would force them to re-examine their ridiculous narrative that sets Obama as a political reformer riding a white horse, or is that a winged unicorn?-John Kass, Chicago Tribune
Aahhh, yes, coming from someone who watched little Oblahma grow up.
I know, I know, that was racist.
By RB from Gwinnett
October 5, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Jay, who added another $100 Billion to the bailout package? There is where the changes need to be made. Both parties need to stop this pork crap to get us back to solvency. And there are a crapload of “prop up the loser class” programs that need to go away. In the big picture, what have they accomplished? Over the past 30 years of “taxing the rich to provide for the poor” why do we still have poor? Not only have liberal policies not eliminated the lower class, they’ve increased it by making it easy to be lazy.
And another thing… Do you really think the liberals want poor people to get out of the lower class and become the targets of their class warfare instead of recipients of it or do you think they want them right there needy and voting? Think about it….
By Taxpayer
October 5, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
Republicans are stupid.
By RB from Gwinnett
October 5, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
Alec,
Is someone who calls a black man a “N…..” a racist in your opinion?
By RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 8:22 PM | Link to this
AJC/DNC-M,
Good thing for Danks. In my pool I had Tampa Bay wrapping this series up in four so I couldn’t afford another Chicago team going three and out.
Jay B,
The other day Obama started saying he was going to audit the Federal government and start ridding it of programs that don’t work. This is a position McCain has had for a lot longer and Obama is new to it. I don’t believe McCain will manage to do it, although I’m inclined to think he has a shot at it with Sarah’Cuda on board. I’m 99.99999% certain Barry won’t even try. Do you believe the latest iteration of Obama?
Trust me, if I believed for a second he would and could cut the size and scope of the federal government I’d vote for him in a heartbeat.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
Those GOP strategists know better: One study after another has shown that voter fraud is, at worst, extremely rare.-Queen Pinko, Urinal
Uh-huh:
A left-wing “community organizing” group called ACORN has seen its employees frequently convicted of voter registration fraud. This year its employees are under active investigation in several states. Perhaps one reason for ACORN’s go-for-broke behavior is that Barack Obama used to be a lawyer and top trainer for the group. In August, the Obama campaign was caught misidentifying an $800,000 payment it had made to an ACORN subsidiary for “election services.”-John Fund, Wall Street Journal
I know, I know, that was racist.
By AmVet
October 5, 2008 8:36 PM | Link to this
Man oh man oh man oh man oh.
Forsooth. All this racist talk!
You gotta admit the Mulatto and the Geezer have got this whole election turned upside down.
And personally, I find that uniquely American.
Just when someone, including ourselves, thinks we have us figured out ….WHAM!
Sure, things look bad right now.
But hell, hasn’t that the been the case before?
This nation will endure.
And thrive again…
By getalife
October 5, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
Both parties need to stop this pork crap to get us back to solvency
Ha. Check out the brain on RB. Apply the rest of your logic to your party and we can finally get somewhere.
RW,
Both candidates promise to reform and change but both vote for the pork laden bailout, how is that change or reform?
If you and your friends like RB incorporate the number one rule in politics, never, ever, trust a politician into your thinking, you just might see that both parties are corrupt and nothing will change.
It will be business as usual and which part of broken government do ya’ll not understand? This makes the partisan arguments silly, don’t ya think?
By RB from Gwinnett
October 5, 2008 8:40 PM | Link to this
Hey Jay, are you going to do a piece on how Obama took almost twice as much in bribe money from the failing wall st. firms we’re bailing out than McCain did? That would make a great opinion piece wouldn’t it? What is your opinion of that? What did Obama do with the $2 million he received from them? I’m guessing you were writing that story for tomorrow, right?
By getalife
October 5, 2008 8:49 PM | Link to this
Yeah RB,
Yet, they both have lobbyists on their campaigns that are are tied into this mess. Do you think they will fire them and return the money?
Again, apply your logic to your candidate. I am sure we will see articles tying both parties to this meltdown.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
Two apparently fictional donors using the names “Doodad Pro” and “Good Will” gave Obama more than $11,000 in increments of $10 and $25, according to Newsweek.
Won’t it be karmatic if opting out of public funding winds up bringing down this dimwit?
I know, I know, that was racist.
By TN Gelding
October 5, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
RB from Gwinnett
October 5, 2008 8:40 PM
Duh, do you think he might have spent campaign contributions on campaigns?
By AmVet
October 5, 2008 8:51 PM | Link to this
Fellow bloggers, please give this man a listen. I assure you, you will be very pleasantly surprised.
He is uniquely and unquestionably brilliant. And personable. His gift is that he takes the political psychobabble of today and makes it very easy to understand what is important. Watch him and educate yourselves to what you will NEVER, EVER hear elsewhere.
Last week, at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, Ralph Nader sat down for a conversation with Tabitha Soren.
Soren is a former political reporter for MTV and NBC.
Soren interviewed Ralph and then took questions from the audience.
It was a dynamic back and forth — and great TV.
It lasted for about an hour.
C-Span will be running that event in its entirety today at 5:30 p.m. EST and again at 9:30 p.m. EST.
Hope you get a chance to watch it.
By RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
gealife,
These folks want you to make a phone call with some instructions to help fix things
Until the Libertarian Party figures out we can’t just be happy isolationists we’re screwed.
By Midori
October 5, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
Bud Wiser,
I may be mistaken, but I don’t recall saying anything or calling you anything. Not today anyway.
I just finished polishing off a half dozen blue crabs, and I must say - you do remind me of them.
Vile tempered and determined to drag others down with it. Which reflects 99 percent of your posts on this blog.
Who the h*ll are you calling stupid? Ever sit back and read your filthy, hate filled screeds laced with name calling and devoid of truth and/or facts?
Perhaps that’s your conscience calling you racist.
I must now busy myself cleaning up the crab shells and other debris. I plan to throw your brazenly idiotic sense of self importance in the trash with it.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
It’s all starting to fall apart:
McCain, R-Ariz., handily defeated Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., 68 percent to 23 percent in a voluntary survey of 4,293 active-duty, National Guard and reserve subscribers and former subscribers to Army Times, Navy Times, Marine Corps Times and Air Force Times.-Military Times
ZOGBY: OBAMA UP BY 4…
Anybody else notice that Oblahma needs Hollywood and rock stars to gin up audiences at his appearances and he is still drawing less than Sarah is?
I know, I know, that was racist.
By Midori
October 5, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
correction:
I may be mistaken, but I don’t recall saying anything to you or calling you anything. Not today anyway.
By AmVet
October 5, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
McCain was for it.
Obama was for it.
Bush was for it.
Pelsoi was for it.
Reid was for it.
Nader was against it.
And so was I.
Why?
Fear mongering of imminent demise and another BIG TIME callous railroad job with nary a dime for you or me.
We have officially become a plutocracy.
By TN Gelding
October 5, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 9:04
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/polls/
Doesn’t mean a thing at this point, but I’d rather be up than down.
Check this out
By getalife
October 5, 2008 9:34 PM | Link to this
RW,
Libertarian eh?
I have no idea when Americans are going to finally say enough.
It took a draft last time.
By RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Did Felix morph into TN Gelding?
By AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
TN: You’re tossing an article at me from August?
You do realize this is October, right?
And check this out, you are now bragging on Oblahma’s stupendous fundraising abilities when he is under investigation for them?
Uh, I know, I know, that was racist.
By ByteMe
October 5, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this
RW: that’s not quite what’s wrong with Liberatarians, although that’s one of the things.
Those who hate government should never be put in charge of it. That’s like having a parent who hates his child. It only leads to bad things.
Liberatarians hate what our government has become, not allowing for the idea that it has become exactly what we the people have demanded it become.
I’m waiting for the “Stop the Screw-Ups” Party: social progressives who are fiscal conservatives. Probably not in my lifetime, since the existing primary parties seem to have as their ultimate goal to preserve the two-party system.
By ByteMe
October 5, 2008 9:46 PM | Link to this
And why would someone voluntarily mention they were a gelding? Ewww….
By getalife
October 5, 2008 9:55 PM | Link to this
Well, this will be the last month of this cycle:
“Democratic surrogates say they’ve been given the go-ahead from the Obama campaign to mention John McCain’s associations with S&L kingpin Charles Keating and other historically tarnished creatures when asked about Obama’s connection to ex-Weatherman William Ayers.
A senior Democrat who has had contact with Obama’s high command points to Democratic strategist Paul Begala’s comments on this morning’s Meet the Press.”
Both sides slinging mud. Then they will ask us to sacrifice during the economic meltdown while blaming each other.
Politics as usual.
By Dawggy Style
October 5, 2008 10:04 PM | Link to this
Georgia’s 2008 Electoral Votes:
McCain/Palin - 15 Dumb & Dumber - 0
Nuff said!!
By TN Gelding
October 5, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
RW-(the original)
October 5, 2008 9:38 PM
10-4. I wanted to use TENNESSEE STUD, BUT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN MISLEADING AND DISHONEST. (Caps unintentional. Who put the CapsLock key next to the Shift key?)
ByteMe
October 5, 2008 9:46 PM
Gelding might help you understand my perspective and mute the harsh criticism.
AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 9:39 PM
Yes, the article was from August, but it showed some military support (from the brass?) for Obama. Warren BUFFETT AND BILL CLINTON’S OLD ECONOMIC TEAM ARE ADVISING Obama. That’s good enough for me.
By Wow
October 5, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Palin told a crowd in California today that ‘there is a special place in hell’ for those who don’t support her.
Time to talk about the Third Wave yet?
Do you mean in hell with all the JEWS, Sarah?
By Mrs.Godzilla
October 5, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
Bud Wiser
You make Ernest T. Bass look like a Rhodes Scholar.
The use of the term “The Token One” is racist.
You posted it. You own it dude.
It’s so “Pettus Bridge” of you.
You are way behind the curve.
By whynot
October 5, 2008 10:26 PM | Link to this
Palin talks about Obama - does she even realize she might be the only VP candidate to ever be indicted? Based on what I have seen - she doesn’t have a clue….
By whynot
October 5, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
Palin talks about Obama - does she even realize she might be the only VP candidate to ever be indicted? Based on what I have seen - she doesn’t have a clue….
By TN Gelding
October 5, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
Eliminating Capital Gains Taxes for Entrepreneurs and Investors in Small Business. Barack Obama understands that small businesses are the engines of our economy, and he will eliminate all capital gains taxes on investments in small and start up firms.
By Mrs.Godzilla
October 5, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
Obama is a better human being than me.
As you may know I have a problem with Norwegians.
Obama doesn’t.
It was 1988, and Mary Andersen was at the Miami airport checking in for a long flight to Norway to be with her husband when the airline representative informed her that she wouldn’t be able to check her luggage without paying a 100 surcharge
I’m proud to be casting my vote for Barack Obama
Although, I bet even he wouldn’t eat lutefisk!
By Drat
October 5, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Obama’s choice of VP is a concern since U.S. corporations incorporate in Delaware to take advantage of loop holes in the state/federal tax codes? In the interest of middle America he picks a running mate whose state robs from the poor to reward corporate america.
By TN Gelding
October 5, 2008 10:43 PM | Link to this
Offering a Small Business Healthcare Tax Credit: To help small businesses compete in the global economy while still providing quality health insurance, Barack Obama will offer a new refundable 50 percent health tax credit on employee premiums paid by employers. His comprehensive healthcare plan will relieve health costs for all firms by bringing down national healthcare costs by $2,500 per family, annually.
By AmVet
October 5, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
Mrs. G, I decided to look up the term token and found this. Granted it is not exactly the same as The Token One but, to me, the similarity is unmistakable.
token black guy - Any fictional character of African-American descent that has been inconsequently inserted into the plot a movie or TV show for the express purposes of creating an image of commercially safe, politically correct, and insipid racial harmony. In eras gone by the token black guys would be the first characters to be killed off. This phenomena of commercial cinema and television that would sacrifice the quality of their storytelling for the sake of attempting the impossible act of offending absolutely nobody, is succinctly satirized by the aptly named south park character, Token. Token from south park, Charley in the TV show Friends.
Any black character in any movie that is neither the protagonist nor antagonist, is unimportant to the plot and does not significantly contribute to it, preferably dies before the end, usually does not end up with the girl. sometimes is the sidekick if the role is unimportant enough, and is very often comic relief (often in stereotype-enforcing manner).
By @@
October 5, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
Again with the racism thang? Consider “The Token One” as it relates to “The Messiah” often used to describe OBlahMa.
In the weeks before the celebration of communion, the church’s elders would visit each member and examine his or her knowledge of the faith and purity of life. Those who met with the elders’ approval were given a small lead token which permitted them to receive communion.
Just an alternative view seein’s how OBlahMa is also called “The Chosen One”.
It’s a religious thing AmVet, so I’m sure you’ll discount it as a possibility.
Apply the negative. It’s so much easier, right?
By TN Gelding
October 5, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
AJC/DNC Management
October 5, 2008 9:39 PM
Under investigation by whom? The RNC hardly qualifies as an investigative agency.
By Old Polack
October 5, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
The trouble with trickle down economics is that it doesn’t trickle down. Why? Maybe it’s because once one’s wealth exceeds a certain amount it is no longer money but power, and who is willing to let power trickle away?
By @@
October 5, 2008 11:09 PM | Link to this
I’m just now reading to see what all the fuss is about.
Mrs. G, my 11:02 is intended for you as well.
All things cannot be perceived through the eyes of a persecuted liberal. Sometimes there CAN be more than meets the “I”.
By N-GA
October 5, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
Slightly off subject….
Did anyone else catch the 60 minutes segment on what caused the economic collapse?
Try going here to read it.
By T.M. Young
October 6, 2008 3:18 AM | Link to this
**The TPC also analyzed the impact of the McCain and Obama tax proposals on the deficit. Compared with current tax policy — in other words, if the “temporary” Bush tax cuts are considered permanent — “Sen. Obama’s proposals would raise $800 billion and Sen. McCain’s proposals lose $600 billion” over the first 10 years.
“Lose” 600 billion?
Where do these liberals think it will go?
Into the hands of the people who worked to earn it?
Scary, ain’t it?
I know, I know, that was “racist.”**
Actually, he means that Obama’s tax plan would allow the government to GAIN $800 Billion. A nice number, considering we just added $700 billion to our deficit. The LOSE attributed to McCain is how much more money will be ADDED to our already astronomical deficit.
Such an analysis has been done several times by various independent financial institutions about both candidates’ tax plans. Look it up.
By DRW
October 6, 2008 3:28 AM | Link to this
Jay,
Always an interesting blog.
Good comments from each side.
In about four weeks, the trash talk will hit the blog.
Obama or McCain, the economy will get better when and if Americans learn to save 20% of their income in cash. In ten years, the entire issue, is well, a non issue. Forget Dave Ramsey, and a entire show to sell seats to learn how to reduce debt. Neal Boortz was correct on his recent statement, “a radio show based on selling a program for the financial obtuse.”
That’s a general paraphrase.
As an independent, elect Obama, elect McCain, better yet, elect, Bob Barr. The man is better qualified than either of the Dem or GOP contenders.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 6, 2008 5:26 AM | Link to this
Why would the Urinal use screaming front page headlines to make it appear as if Wachovia was fixing to collapse at any second:
Legal frenzy hits Wachovia!!-Urinal/DNC
Trying to start a run on her?
You’d rather win an election than grow an economy, right?
I know, I know, that was racist.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 6, 2008 5:32 AM | Link to this
Well, isn’t this special:
The Taliban are furious about the latest apparent U.S. missile strike in Pakistan, indicating a senior militant may be among two dozen people killed, officials and residents said Sunday.-Urinal/Jihad
Did they hold a press conference Urinal, or did you just happen to be in the neighborhood?
I know, I know, that was racist.
By Analchord
October 6, 2008 5:49 AM | Link to this
The 60 minutes piece about the bailout was simply presented, but ultimately misleading.
However, some data should be summarized here: First some terms: Banks who bought the bad paper: Suckers. Financial Geniuses who invented the structure of the bad paper: Physicists and Mathemeticians(true).
The total amount of real-estate securities in der verld is unknown, but best guess is between 40 and 60 trillion. The fact that they dont know what the amount is comprises only a small part of what went wrong here. Not only did the suckers invest in risky mortgage securities, they bought “insurance” (cant legally call it insurance, so they called it “swaps”, thus no regulation. If they had called it “insurance”, they would have had to secure a collateral reserve from which to draw funds to pay off the defaulted mortgage securities that the suckers had invested in.
The physicists who invented these risky real estate securities are also part of what went wrong: It’s impossible to use math to model or predict human behavior. Also, the actual contract that serves as the legal tender of these swaps is an unfathomable tangle indecipherable legalese, thus, not only do we not know what went wrong overall in the big picture we also dont know what is actually required in paragraph seven on page 136, section D.
One ugly face in close up on 60 minutes predicted that the coming storm of economic distress is a once in a century perfect storm, “the real thing”, and we are in for it.
Will our republic survive?
WHen in the course of human misery, scapegoats appear out of thin air, and it becomes irresistable for one people to blame another and thus people become mobs and mobs require police actions and that precipitates the shots heard round the world……..(Thomas Paine’s retarded brother in 1742 after he heard the king had cancelled National Beer Day)
It is nearly impossible to describe this bailout. You can capture but an episode in a 100 volumne encyclopedia. What I just wrote is entirely incorrect, but it opens up an avenue for the journey to understand what happened.
I think.
By AJC/DNC Management
October 6, 2008 5:51 AM | Link to this
I forgot to finish my thought at 5:26, Wachovia is “hit by legal frenzy* because two large financial institutions are fighting over who gets to buy it.
There is like zero chance that Wachovia will need a bail out.
And the libs are trying to propagandize the news, making it appear as though another bank is doomed to fail.
By Ben
October 6, 2008 9:00 AM | Link to this
So Obama is trying to ease the tax burden on low income families, many of which don’t really pay taxes anyway. They get rebates, which is the same thing as saying money is taken from people who earned it and given to people who didn’t.
Sorry, redistribution of wealth is something I’ll never get behind. It’s not financially sound. One, it’s a good thing if the government has less money, that means they can do less to mess things up. Two, I’d rather have money in the hands of people who earned it and know what to do with it.
By Lee Hales
October 6, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
Thanks for comparing the candidate’s tax plans.
The bottom fifth are ahead by 25 cents per hour under Obama’s plan. That’s probably enough to get their votes.
If we consider the middle class to be the 2nd and 3rd quintile — the 40% making between $20 per hour and $40 per hour — they are clearly better off under McCain’s plan — by up to $1.17 an hour in the 3rd quintile.
By focusing on 1.1% of the population rather than 40%, your headline belies the reality of the plans for the middle class.
Additional money in the hands of the 1.1% will be invested and add to economic recovery and growth. That is likely to benefit the bottom 20% by more than 25 cents and hour.
By Cal
October 6, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
What I see is a bunch of people voting for Obama because he is not Bush. That is exactly how Carter got elected. What a fine job he did.
Obama - the next Carter, only worse.
By hogleg
October 6, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this
obama tax increase will be for 50,000 incomes and up .
By Donna
October 6, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
I agree with Ben No redistribution of wealth for me, either. There is no such thing as a tax cut for the poor. More than 50% of wage earners in this country pay no taxes at all. A single person with 2 dependents who makes 28,000 a year will not only get all taxes back, but can also get enough credits at year-end to clear about another 8,000. Also, there is eligibility for social services assistance.
The top 5% of taxpayers who pay 90% of taxes are not recognized as being the country’s employers, they are labeled only as “rich”. The progressive loons have succeeded in embedding a whole new type of class envy into our society. Too bad they will never realize how the whole concept nearly backfired in their faces with the financial “meltdown”. Ignorance is bliss, I guess, and liberalism is gutless, but progressiveness is just plain hedonistic insanity
By New Deal for a Great Society
October 6, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
If Obama is elected and taxes “the rich,” and “big business,” to pay for more than $800 billion in new spending, those two entities are going to collect that tax from the pocketbooks of consumers via the price tag levy.
By RealityKing
October 6, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
Clinton promised the very same Obama middle class tax cut in 1990. Of course, it then took him less than 6 months after the election to reneg on that promise and raise middle class taxes. The largest tax hike in American history.
And this is exactly what Obama will do.., because to a liberal it’s the patriotic thing to do.