Open Thread: Democrats Struggle to Decide Whose Money to Take
We already know that the punitive tax hikes on a small number of wealthy individuals favored by liberals will do almost nothing to pay off the national debt. What we didn't know is just how divided Democrats are as to who will get the shocking tax increases.
The Hill reports today that congressional Democrats can't agree on who should be targeted to pay more in taxes, those families making $250,000 or more or those making more than that. The prolonged debate (most of which hasn't been too public) reveals just how much of a political game the whole thing is:
Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) doubling down on a $1 million threshold for extending the Bush-era tax rates has re-launched the thorny Democratic debate over who should pay higher taxes. [...]
The budget drawn up by House Democrats earlier this year also included the $250,000 threshold.
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), who has long backed cutting off the tax breaks at $1 million, conceded Pelosi’s move — intended to push back at Republicans —is just the latest step in the party's ongoing search for an effective tax-messaging strategy ahead of November's elections. [...]
That the strategy remains undecided becomes clear with a simple survey of Senate Democrats.
Sens. Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Jack Reed (R.I.) told The Hill Thursday that Democrats should continue to follow the president's lead at $250,000. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) noted that, as a member of the Budget Committee, he'd backed a 2011 plan to adopt a $500,000 cut-off for single taxpayers.
Isn't it nice that people's lives are being toyed with in order for Democrats to come up with just the right political optics?
- Matthew Sheffield's blog
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Comments
Democrats Struggle to Decide Whose Money to Take
Submitted by needle on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 10:16am.
LOL!!! That’s easy! The taxpayers' money. As much as possible; all of it, if possible.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
Consuming your base
Submitted by libBuster on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 10:24am.
Sadly, $250,000 is not a substantial income for the toney areas of New York or Los Angeles. Yet these high income earners are overwhelmingly Democrats. It is an educated and active group that the "Party" does not want to lose.
So they have a dilema. Chuck Schumer does not want angry constituents.
Just another reason.........
Submitted by GregE on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 10:57pm.
........in favor of Federalism. Well, first reason is, that's the design of our system. Secondly, this $250K nationwide crap points directly at why power in our society belongs to states, localities, and people........NOT DC!!!!!! The 8astards in DC want a one size fits all everything, and they want 50 states that are just one big state to which they, the Federal govt, dictate.
I'd love
Submitted by bobsmom on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 10:19am.
to be one of the "middle class" that's making a million bucks a year. I guess my salary puts me at poverty level in comparison.............hey, does that mean I'll qualify for free stuff?
TheBigLie
Submitted by Lamdog on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 11:10am.
I have known $5.00 crack whores with higher standard than Democrats.
Obama shows his...uh...."class" again.....
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 11:33am.
Calls Romney's speech a "cowpie of distortion."
Just showin' how he's down with the farmin' community.....apparently he thinks people in Iowa talk like classless clods.
nothing scientific
Submitted by Agnostic on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 12:17pm.
but since the POTUS is making his case about his financial prowess vs the mess the Republicans made of the debt, I was wondering -
How many people remember that before the 2006 election of a Democrat Congress and then the 2008 coronation that we used to speak of deficits and spending in the Billions?
Agnostic.....
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 5:35pm.
Trillion, it's the new billion.
~ Obama Campaign (in my world)
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Yep, and libs pretended to hate it.
Submitted by GregE on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 11:02pm.
They didn't hate it. The simply hated that they weren't the drivers of it, and that it wasn't big enough. They all 8itched and moaned about Bush deficits, then their messiah burns through the Guiness Book of World Records like it's a pamphlet and they're all for it.
I've had that discussion with a lib. It's hard to even stand it. Idiots vomitting up talking points that spending had to be ramped up..........because Bush got us into this mess..........by spending too much. It's amazing liberals actually believe themselves.
Oh really?
Submitted by jon_torlin on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 11:32am.
Gee, didn't he decide that they didn't need white voters a while back?
Obeyme tries to stop the bleeding with blue collar voters
I wonder if anyone's going to remind them of his racist comments back then?
If I had any faith in the Americans today, I might say yes, but........kinda hard when you don't know which way it'll turn.
-Jon
ObamAA+ is such an expert
Submitted by Free Stinker on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 11:33am.
ObamAA+ is such an expert liar he makes Clinton look like an amateur.
/// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
Gee, Matt, when I read the
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 11:37am.
Gee, Matt, when I read the headline, I actually thought there was some angst over whose donations it was permissible to accept!
Should've known better. They take money from everyone; it's only Republicans they chastise for taking money from "unacceptable" sources.
They weren't going to take
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 3:31pm.
They weren't going to take any corporate money for the convention in Charlotte but donations from individuals have been few and afr between. You will not hear the lamestream media mention that. Duke Energy guaranteed them 5 million in loans. The stock holders were not happy. I get a retirement check from Duke each month so they better not be risking our retirement with the Commiecrats. By the way when I was laid off from Dule I sold all my stock. I am glad I did.
And the beat goes on ....
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 12:15pm.
And the beat goes on ....
The Problem For Leftists
Submitted by HardRightTurn on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 12:23pm.
The Left is a coalition of minorites who must govern against the will of the people. Realists will not allow their lives to be run by people who do not know how to live right. This is the beginning of the end of the Left.
To more fully comprehend the Left, one must read “Leftism As Psychopathy” by John Ray, M.A., Ph.D. Caution, it might scare you a little bit.
http://jonjayray.tripod.com/psycho.html
It makes sense . . .
Submitted by burnadams on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 12:48pm.
Liberal's mentality toward taxes makes complete sense if you think that everything belongs to the government in the first place.
That way, whatever you keep from your earnings is what your loving government is generously "letting" and "spending" to let you keep it. Which is why Democrats can believe Obama is so frugal because the government will be "spending" less by getting rid of tax "cuts"!
L'il Deb's invitation to speak at Miami synagogue cancelled.
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 1:40pm.
http://www.jewishjournal.com/nation/article/miami_temple_disinvites_wass...
Seems like money (Mr. Tate's) talked, and bull$h!t (Debbie) walks--right out of the synagogue.
Way to go, Mr. Tate. You put your money where your heart was, and the synagogue had no choice but to listen. You stopped L'il Debs in her tracks. Let's wait to see how she spins this as "censorship" and adds the "war on women" crap.
Speaking of Lil Debs, Sam
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 5:42pm.
Seems she's on the outs with The Once.
If you want a great take on Florida Politics, Javier Manjarres on SharkTank.net has all of the dish. He's the one cited in this link. Bonus: He loathes Lil Debs.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
She must be one lousy politician.
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 8:18pm.
Reading some of the pieces on line, it appears she whined her way to the DNC chair and proceeded to shoot her mouth off uncontrollably until Earbama's staff got sick of cleaning up after her messes.
I remember her first major gaffe was saying that Democrats own the economy. Talk about the soundbite for her opponent's campaign AND some great background stuff for Romney!
Then came the debacle over her mishandling of every major issue, reportedly sparring with Duncy Pelousy and Hairy Weed in the process.
As we say in Texas, she about to have one huge can of Whup-Ass opened on her.
We must cut spending
Submitted by Scott @ Engage ... on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 2:00pm.
The CBO has reported that if laws remain unchanged the federal budget deficit for this year will be $1.1 trillion (http://1.usa.gov/xju6K9). That number is in addition to total debt over $15 Trillion and projections that by 2021 federal debt will be over $20 trillion (http://1.usa.gov/wt4DPi).
We cannot tax away our debt problem. We need to cut taxes.
Drsam
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 3:35pm.
I can tell you what she is going to say. Republicans, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. The blahs go on for about 5 mintues until the hosts gets rid of her.
You need to be aware of what we're up against on the left:
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 2:04pm.
Today is Introduce Brett Kimberlin Day on the internet. If you haven't heard about this nutjob, read up on him here. Michelle Malkin is keeping a running compilation of blogged pieces here.
This guy has filed more than 100 lawsuits during and since his time in Federal prison. He's a terrorist bomber, drug dealer, and there strong indications of pedophilia (or at least a love affair of a pre-teen girl.) He, or someone affiliated with him, made an illegal call to 911 claiming to be a husband (blogger Patterico) who had just shot his wife. This tactic, called "SWATing" resulted in police (SWAT) descending on the blooger's home, guns drawn, to take him down. He's lucky he wasn't killed. And there's more. So much more.
He does this to silence the Right. He's a scumbag of the highest order. And he's been financed by the Tides Foundation, the Streisand Foundation and Heinz, among others. Go figure.
Be aware.
[Edited to include the last link.]
BK, your SWAT link is dead
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 5:33pm.
Can you fix it? This looks very interesting.
Oh, and check out MOTUS today....I'm sure you'll find some artistic inspiration in her fabulous piece. I love her Wile E. Coyote shiny object meme.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
SWAT link
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 6:09pm.
http://patterico.com/2012/05/25/convicted-bomber-brett-kimberlin-neal-ra...
Hey Bk*
Submitted by cajun2 on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:12am.
I have read that link you posted as well as articles about this story at other sites. If NBers think trolls are just annoying, this should frighten everyone including my hero Noel Sheppard.
Not only is the violent whackjob threatening conservative bloggers but he has shown that he will go after people who "comment" on those blogs.
The most frightening part of this story is this guy, a convicted felon, is being supported by ......George Soros.
Hope all NBers read the link you posted as well as all of the links within the story.
If'n they were so responsive
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:28am.
We would never know about Martin and Zimmermann? Libs are creeps!
Edwards and Alternate Juror Flirting
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 2:15pm.
during the trial. Awesome.
Gee, who wouldn't flirt with Edwards?
Submitted by Radical1979 on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 8:50pm.
He's such a great catch. Cheating on his sick wife, lying to her, fathering another child, involving people they both to doubley embarrass his wife, who wouldn't want such a guy?
➚ Makes sense, Rad
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:22am.
Elizabeth's refusal to share Silky Pony with all liberal women is nothing short of a War On Women.
LOL!
Submitted by Rukus on Sun, 05/27/2012 - 8:20am.
.
How do we package this tax hike?
Submitted by CobraMan on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 2:43pm.
"...the latest step in the party's ongoing search for an effective tax-messaging strategy ahead of November's elections."
In other words, how do we package a general tax hike that won't negatively affect this election? Oh, I know, we'll claim that we'll only tax the Super Rich! Well, until 2012, that is. Then we'll let the "Bush tax cuts" expire, and everyone will enjoy the Democrat's new "tax strategy" of higher taxes for all, especially FICA taxes! That's a winning strategy! Right? Right?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
Yay, Get Your Gaffe #137 right here!
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 2:55pm.
Numbering #80 on the alphabetical list (today, anyway.....he's been adding about a gaffe a day for the past two weeks, so that is a changeable position).
Seems an imaginary girlfriend isn't the only figment of Barack Obama's mind when it comes to people in his life.....he now has some imaginary sons!
Paging Doc Sam. Doc Sam, please report to Bethesda immediately, the POTUS (and no people, it's not the TOTUS, as Boo's done it more than once) needs psychiatric care, stat!!!!!!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Now he's imagining he had sons?
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 3:30pm.
Wow. Whatever "blow" he did in his younger years must be causing some hellacious flashbacks. He doesn't have that much adipose tissue, so either the hallucinogens did not third-space like LSD OR he never stopped taking whatever he was on.
Either way, looks like a good antipsychotic is needed.
Imaginary children? Oy vey.
May not be fake, Doc.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 3:59pm.
They could be "secret" children that he doesn't want the public to know about. Maybe he's been known to slip around on Moochie with other women, when he isn't slipping around with other men?
Interesting idea!
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 5:16pm.
Everything about Obama seems "composite", from his educational status to his personal life. He definitely is the most un-vetted POTUS in history.
My one question about him has always been who is funding all of this. He certainly has never displayed the type of volitional initiative or intelligence or creative capacity necessary to have the credentials he has achieved or that we have been lead to believe he has achieved. The public things that we can verify are not at issue, but what is at issue is just who is really the force behind his unearned and otherwise inexplicable advances in life.
His back story reads like some bad TV drama.
Knowing his background, Sam
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 5:27pm.
I would imagine the communists are involved, and it wouldn't surprise me in the least if there were also foreign nationals involved.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
They could be "secret" children
Submitted by needle on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 5:35pm.
Yeah, they could be; but I bet you are going to have a hellava time getting legitimate copies of their birth certificates.
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
Yes, but..........
Submitted by GregE on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:27am.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypAU28t5Ya0
Blonde - Here's a "Potential Gaffe" for you:
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 5:33pm.
Acording to a story on Drudge, VP Joe Biden will be the guest at Monday's Memorial Day cerimony at Arlington... Nobama has no public appearances scheduled.
If true, it's just another slap in the face.
- Grump :o)
Thanks Grump
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 5:38pm.
As I began reading your post, I once again shuddered at the thought of a Plugs' Gaffe List.
I'm not sure about this GLARING OMISSION being a gaffe, per se.....rather it's an act of galactic hubris.
How I loathe this faux "Commander and Chief" (he's so stupid, he doesn't even know the proper term, ACK!).
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Blonde:
Submitted by Grumpy in Arizona on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 6:00pm.
Agree it's not a gaffe per se... but what if Mr. Once-upon A. Time decides to play golf instead or has a 'private fundraiser' and is asked about that decision...
Oh, wait... the MSM will never ask him about it.
OK, it's not a gaffe... I stand corrected.
- Grump :o)
No Worries, Grumpy
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 6:09pm.
All input gratefully accepted.
Oh....and I just located gaffe #138 (see #44 on my list).....h/t again to Injainjuneer at MOTUS.
TODAY HAS BEEN A BANNER DAY!
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Fred Thompson nails Silky pony
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 3:44pm.
http://fredthompsonsamerica.com/2012/05/25/my-personal-and-legal-perspec...
I can just imagine him saying this in his Tennesse twang.
Good one, Rick
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 6:38pm.
What is this jury up to?
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
So I made this photoshop today
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 7:15pm.
based on Obama's pothead revelations and then posted it to Twitter. Now I'm being followed by The Cannabis Times. Oh joy.
Bk*
Submitted by cajun2 on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 7:31pm.
Since last night, I have been to dozens of websites looking for some information on a particular subject. What I have noticed at almost all of these sites has removed all tin foil hats. It's real. Wish I could link but will give a summary..
Posters at all of these sites repeatedly under different post names but all type the same sentence.
" Obama is a great President and a great statesman"....."Obama is one of our greatest presidents and a great statesman"...."Obama has been the best president in decades , and he has shown he is a great statesman"....
Over and over, dozens of posters with different names but all the same message and all at conservative websites.
Sto' bought trolls is no longer an insult from cajun, it is truth.
Caj-
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 9:04pm.
You can bet Twitter has played a role in that effort. They're still not as good at organizing via Twitter as we, on the right are though.
I just had a conversation with my brother and we were trying to figure out how anyone can look at this guys record and conclude he's been anything but a colossal failure. Even if you're from the left, I don't know how you can find anything really positive to say about him. "Great statesman." What a ruse.
So we have a major doper for a POTUS
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 8:00pm.
It explains much.
If Mittens RINOmney does't jump all over this, he deserves to lose.
And if he doesn't start tearing the Dear Ruler a new one on a daily basis, he is going to.
I'm starting to see the same mistakes that were made by the McRino campaign, and I am getting very worried about the November election, as well as the future of my country.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
From Armistice Day to Memorial Day to War Propaganda Day
Submitted by lrgon on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 10:18pm.
Beginning in WWI and the US "dough boys" that whopped the Kaiser's army has grown a big propaganda campaign for endless war. The politicians changed Armistice Day to Memorial Day in order to get everyone involved in using this day to not question war and to tie even the death of non combat deaths to paying homage to war.
Memorial Day has morphed (due to the politician's insatiable appetite for war) into a day to plug war. War has it purposes and for the politician it has little to nothing to do with freedom. War isn't to liberate but to control the populations of the conquered and the people of the conquerer.
In wartime people foolishly surrender their civil liberites to "fight the enemy." Politicians invent reasons to go to war and they even create their enemies.
Hitler was a creation of Wall Street bankers. It isn't that the evidence isn't there to prove that WWII was a war to increase totalitarianism not to diminish it. President Herbert Hoover knew that thugs like Hitler and Stalin would eventually kill each other off and there was no need to send GI Joe into Europe. But the con artist FDR did it via arranging for Japan to take the Pearl bait in order to save his communist pal Stalin from Adolf's rope. FDR found a way by the back door to get into another European squabble. Had we stayed home communism would not have risen to power. Read Hoover's book if you don't believe me. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0076QSNW8/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_...
During WWII FDR exchanged Nazi control of eastern Europe for communist control. After VE Day the Russian communists consolidated their control over eastern Europe and seized Manchuria and the Chinese communists under Mao took all of China. All this betrayal of GI Joe was laid out prior to Yalta; before the last shot was fired from an M 1 rifle ending Nazi supremacy.
Every Memorial Day Hollywood puts on their war movies on television like Kelly's Heroes and the Dirty Dozen. They are entertaining but sometimes the dialogue tells Americans the truth. In Kelly's Heroes "big Joe" asks the noncom in the German Panzer "what do we get out of these wars?" Good question. A free license plate and a tax dodge on taxes on your house? Maybe a parade and a highway named in your honor. Are these things worth losing our freedom and our heritage over?
The Founders of America said that politicians use war to gain power over all of us.
You, moron, are a disgrace.
Submitted by UpNorth on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:38am.
It's too bad that this isn't a live forum, it would give me the opportunity to spit in your face.
FDR "arranged" for Japan to take the Pearl Harbor bait? You are smokin' the same $hit that Obama smoked. And, Hitler was a "creation of Wall Street Bankers"? You really are too funny, $hitbird.
What's next, FDR and Stalin were secretly brothers, separated at birth by the Jewish conspiracy, who communicated through their handler, Danny Kaye? Why don't you just toddle on back to your Birch Society meeting?
And to paraphrase, you aren't fit to lick the dog crap off of a veteran's combat boots.
Ron Paul
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:50am.
Mike Church, what else can you say?
Everyone can ignore the loon lrgon.
Submitted by The Vet on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 1:51am.
Just like the MSM is now ignoring his King, Ron Paul.
Ron Who?
Submitted by Blonde on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 1:56am.
I am so glad the 2nd coming of Andy Rooney's eyebrows has faded into media obscurity.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)