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Subscribe to RSS“Congress moved no closer to ending a partial shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday, with frustrations boiling over from the White House to the Capitol and the majority of lawmakers away on August recess,” Roll Call reports. “The finger-pointing — by Senate Democrats, House Republicans and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood — played out like a bizarre epilogue to a months-long, sometimes vitriolic debate over extending the nation’s debt ceiling. At a news conference Wednesday, Senate Democrats bemoaned being ‘held hostage’ by House Republicans in the standoff over extending the FAA’s authorization, which expired July 22.”
“Congressional leaders have until Aug. 16 to name the 12 members of the newly created ‘supercommittee’ to deal with reducing the deficit, but special interest groups are wasting no time in pushing their choices for the panel,” The Hill writes.
Grover Norquist, of Americans for Tax Reform, told First Read in an interview he was confident the committee would not raise taxes, because House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell wouldn’t appoint people who would consider revenues. "The one thing that committee won't do is raise taxes," Norquist deadpanned.
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It will be a glorious day in America when our GOP elected officials can speak to the full financial problems in this Country before they can recite the pledge that Norquist had them sign.
To even remotely act like having 100+ tax expenditures that only benefit the top 4% of the wealthiest individuals in this Country in excess of a Trillion dollars annually and to even consider removing them is tantamount to Treason, is sickening at so many levels it is not even funny.
Seeing Mr. Cantor on tv making his talking points rounds seemed to have an overt awareness of the "...shiny balls of billionaires and millionaires..." in his critique of the President. Now I've never quite heard those words come out of the President's mounth, but with Mr. Cantor's vivid description, I'm enabled to see things happening with his...
Allen:
The Norquist pledge is what matters to the GOP. They don't care about the "full financial problems in this country."
Unfortunately.
the Norquist pledge is far more important than even their oath of office. Signing pledges above and beyond their pledge of allegiance the the country and constitution is a matter of treason and grounds for a recall or impeachment. Just thinking out loud here...
Allen - Omaha "To even remotely act like having 100+ tax expenditures that only benefit the top 4% of the wealthiest individuals in this Country in excess of a Trillion dollars annually"
While we're making up numbers, why not claim that it 'benefits them' in excess of $150 Trillion per year (10 times the DGP)?
The Treasury Department estimated the annual cost of extending the tax cuts to the 'rich' at about $70 Billion per year over the next 10 years. They also estimated that extending the tax cuts to the Middle/Poor classes at $300 Billion per year.
I wonder who would be hurt the most by eliminating the Bush tax cuts - taking $70 Billion from the 'rich', or taking $300 Billion from the Middle/Poor classes?
Where does Grover Norquist get his money? Who does he answer to? Every other prominent person in the media is investigated, so who is enquiring about Norquist? If not, why not? How many people are on his payroll? Are people afraid of him and why would they be? Norquist called putting the $6Billion ethanol subsidy back into the US Treasury a "tax increase".
Norquist or country. That is the choice. Norquist or country?
While we're making up numbers, why not claim that it 'benefits them' in excess of $150 Trillion per year (10 times the DGP)?
=========
Uh, those numbers are from Mr. Simpson - the former GOP Senator and Co-Chair of the President's Debt Commission.
II. Tax Reform
America’s tax code is broken and must be reformed. In the quarter century since the last comprehensive tax reform, Washington has riddled the system with countless tax expenditures, which are simply spending by another name. These tax earmarks – amounting to $1.1 trillion a year of spending in the tax code – not only increase the deficit, but cause tax rates to be too high. Instead of promoting economic growth and competitiveness, our current code drives up health care costs and provides special treatment to special interests. The code presents individuals and businesses with perverse economic incentives instead of a level playing field.
Page 28 of the Debt Commission...
http://www.fiscalcommission.gov/sites/fiscalcommission.gov/files/documents/TheMomentofTruth12_1_2010.pdf
Allen - Omaha
So where was the reference to "that only benefit the top 4% of the wealthiest individuals in this Country in excess of a Trillion dollars annually" in your post?
Oh yes, now I get it - it was your own 'spin' of the quote. Perhaps you should differentiate between what people actually say, and what you would like to think they meant.
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment pretty much covers that the oath of office voids any other pledge or oath taken by any elected official.
I think it should be sent to all of Norquist's signatories.
Section 3.
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Tom, Tamarac, FL "Section 3 of the 14th Amendment pretty much covers that the oath of office voids any other pledge or oath taken by any elected official."
Are you suggesting that trying to bring some fiscal sanity to government spending is an act of 'insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution'? Perhaps that would apply even more so against those who weaken the Country through excessive spending.
I'm saying that to sign onto an anti-tax pledge (especially at this moment in history) doesn't move our country into a direction of actually fixing our problems.
To use that pledge to the extent that the GOP is using it, above the best interests of America, should amount to disregarding their oath of office. To me that does constitute an act of "insurrection or rebellion against the Constitution".
The oath of office should void or make null the Norquist pledge.
Spending isn't the whole problem here, we need more revenues. The spending only thing is an unfounded GOP talking point that too many people are buying into.
ROY WILSON-336103
Allen - Omaha
So where was the reference to "that only benefit the top 4% of the wealthiest individuals in this Country in excess of a Trillion dollars annually" in your post?
Oh yes, now I get it - it was your own 'spin' of the quote. Perhaps you should differentiate between what people actually say, and what you would like to think they meant
===============
http://thelastword.msnbc.msn.com/
He stated when speaking with Lawrence on the Last Word yesterday evening. Click n listen.
Perhaps you should get your head out of your arse instead of believing that everything everyone else is saying is a lie or a spin. The truth is out there Mr. Wilson, stop trying to mold facts to support your perception.
IMO, what you are displaying is what is wrong with all too many in the Country Mr. Wilson. You're not interested in politics to learn anything. You are in it to b!ith n moan and groan about any and everything because you treat it like a right expressly laid out via the Bill of Rights or something.
Constantly you people are screeming at members of Congress specifically those in the Democratic Party about not "reading" anything before they vote on it etc. The fact that I put the link to the Debt Commission on my post joined with your responce not of 'wow...I didn't know...that is a lot of money spent/lost on nothing...' but rather just trying to move on the next thing you think you is a lie by questioning the 4% portion of the comment and then having to post that link to you so your thick head can hear it come from his mouth for yourself, is all too telling.
You're not interested in identifying real solutions or things that really can make an impact for this Country in the positive. You just want to call someone a liar and a bender of the truth. Look in the mirror once in a while Mr. Wilson.
The Senator made a statement and I went and looked to validate his claim. It took all of 20 seconds. I'm not asking you to take what anyone says as gospel, but for goodness sake show some damn initiative and at least try to confirm before you reinforce the old saying that it is better to let others think you are stupid instead of opening your mouth and removing all doubt.
Awesome quote of the day:
Sorry folks, I forgot to mention who made that quote:
“Oh, that heart of mine? Sold it. Those thumping noises get annoying after so many decades! ...what!? I gotta keep up with the cost of oil, too!”
We are entering a recession thanks to the shock of the debt ceiling battle. We have assured our misery with the 2010 election.
We are entering a recession thanks to the shock of the debt ceiling battle. We have assured our misery with the 2010 election.
I hope that during August town hall meetings that the question gets asked:
"I thought that you were elected to Congress to represent the people. How does signing a phoney pledge to Grover Norquist do anything for us? What has he ever done to help this country? Is he more important than the voters who elected you morons? WHERE ARE THE JOBS?"
Economists I've heard comment on the debt ceiling have said: 1. There shouldn't be a debt ceiling. 2. You shouldn't cut spending during a recession, you increase it. 3. Taxes need to be raised along with spending cuts. 4. You can't cure a deficit by eliminating social programs. 5. Increasing public projects will put people to work. 5. The debt ceiling needs to be raised. 6. There shouldn't be strings attached to raising the debt ceiling. 7. Congress needs to compromise. 8. Cutting spending at this time will either deepen the recession or lengthen it. 8. You can't grow an economy with uncertainty and Congress is giving us uncertainty.
On every issue there are always those against and for the smart thing. Anti-intellectualism has infested our politics and from the moment that Sarah Palin became the voice of the conservative movement, this day was inevitable.
The Republic has a choice. Run faster off the cliff or turn away and forge a new path. We shall see what comes of the 2012 campaign.
I await the decision of the GOP. They can win with the Tea Party and lose our future or they can lose this election honestly and gain a future.
Worst Congress Ever.
And that's saying a lot!
Amy---
I agree! And the MSM is playing along by not calling them out on a daily basis. They all treat this as a game.
Whose up? Whose down?
There should be marching in the streets at the downright ineptitude and malfeasance of this Congress!
70,000 people out of work because some foolish Congressperson from Imcrazystan wants to ban unions from airline and rail workers.
Tell me I'm dreaming and this is a nightmare !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I tell you, it’s a darn shame that this Republican majority Congress have turned their back on the American People and walked away from their unfinished business.
For God sake, you people have left 74,000 people unemployed, and $200,000, 000 in revenue, by not approving the bill in order to get these people working.
Come on, your Republican leaders say you are focused on jobs. Sure you are. No, you are focused on killing jobs. Your number one priority has been to make the President a one term President, no matter how many people you hurt in fulfilling this goal.
It makes me sick in seeing the disrespect you Republican Hostage Takers are showing toward the American People by turning your backs.
We the People demand that you get back to Washington and do your God Darn jobs.
We've been betrayed.
Where are those jobs the Republicans promised us. That's what they campaigned on wasn't it? Instead all we see them doing is laying off as many people as they can just because they hate government. This is just another example of them putting their pledge to one ahead of their pledge to America. I guess the order of importance is Norquist first, self second, party third, and the citizens I represent last. It is so frustrating to watch them get away with what they are doing and then listen to them blame President Obama for everything that ails the country - especially the condition of the economy - without including themselves as part of the problem.
I'm sick of hearing all of them defend the tax cuts, the wars, and anything else they did while they had 8 years of unbridled power and then turn around and blame the Democrats for "ramming" things through congress for 2 years. Yep thats right folks, the Democrats destroyed America in 2 years which was their plan all a long. Only the hard working, true American Republicans can stop them.
BTW, what is this blank check they keep talking about. Seems to me that a blank check was given to Bush to run the war, and a blank check was given to Secretary Paulson to bailout his buddines on Walstreet. The current President has had to fight for and justify every single proposal he has made since coming into office. You want to argue that the stimulus was a blank check? It wasn't, almost everything was spelled out in the bill. Was the healthcare bill a blank check? Ummm, no it wasn't. Please tell me where this blank check idea comes from and if you can't give me specific examples, get off my TV.
These new Republicans are a bunch of liars and thugs. They don't care about what is right for the country only themselves. Democrats need to grow a backbone and start fighting back or else they'll drag down the country even further. Fight them on their lame catch phrases (can they call Democrats a bunch of tax and spend liberals one more time please) and start driving the narrative. Being progressive or liberal is NOT a bad word. It only is because we let them tell every one it is.
Arc-
"Blank Check" is just another Repbulican talking point.
They are very good at these little ditties because they are easy to remember and easy to understand by their base. It doesn't matter if they are not true.
Add this one to the others they have made famous...
HCR aka "death panels" or "job killing HCR" or "socialist HCR"
These people have no shame and the MSM refuses to hold them accountable for anything. That is why GW was able to "cut brush" for eight years and the MSM thought it was cute while he was bankrupting the country with "unfunded" everything.
He left the IOU's on the desk in the Oval Office and now President Obama is being beat up everyday because he hasn't cleaned up that mess fast enough.
As Bush has said jokingly, "I'll be long gone by the time they figure out what went on this office".
That is not funny.
Can we get Mastercard up in here. Everything else is priceless.
I think this will be the scenario for the remainder of 2011 and the whole of 2012 leading up to the elections. Republicans will take as many hostages as they can on as many issues as come forward between now and then. I think the American people will see a very clear choice between Republicans and Democrats going into the 2012 elections. The choice will be; do you want legislators who pledge to the American people and the Constitution or do you want legislators that pledge allegiance to certain interest groups , do you want to protect and preserve the guaranteed benefits of Social Security and Medicare for both current and future generations or do you want to dramatically alter these programs and limit benefits, do you want a federal government that invests in its people in the form of infrastructure, education at both the elementary and college level, food and drug safety, research & development, etc. or do you want to curtail the government further and do away with these investments in society. Remember that less government benefits the rich, the powerful, the corporations and more government benefits the people in the lower and middle classes. The choices are very clear and very dramatic.
Whether you're a Republican, Democrat or Tea Party person, you should be an American, first and foremost. Legislators seem to have forgotten this. It has become, "Their Party", right or wrong. Yes, fight for your beliefs but remember legislators work for all Americans and must behave in a manner that benefits all. Grover Norquist is like a puppetmaster pulling the strings for his agenda. Does this benefit America? I doubt it. It benefits a select group but not the majority of Americans.
Vote all the hostage takers out of office. They may not all be up for re-election in 2012, but they will have to be up for re-election sometime. Vote all these goof-balls out of office. Let's send a giant message, that we are mad as hell and are not going to take it anymore.
Not surprising. Obama the Coward will give it away like everything else. Then we get to see how good we look in brown shirts and jack boots.
Folks...
Well, I don't give a rip about any pledges anybody may or may not have given to anyone except their pledge to uphold the US constitution.
However, I might add that my rep gave us voters in this district a pledge that he would not vote to raise any new taxes and that he would do what needed to be done in order to shrink the size of the fed.
Just Saying...
The economy. Shrink the size of the economy. Good job!
Hey Tea Party/GOP, well the dow is down more than 320 points today, how is that no new revenues and holding America hostage working out for ya? Nice work boys, looks like the "Job Creators" you touted so much about that you were protecting from taxes did not like your childish antics much...
Robert...
No problems with you saying anything at all about me and my politics, but you have a definite problem. First, you have a lot of gall, putting the "/GOP" after Tea Party. You have absolutely no ideal what you are talking about! Do you not know (or care to know) that we will vote against a repub just as fast as we will vote against a socialist?
As far as "job creators" - socialist like yourself really put my panties in a wad in that its "your" stupid admin with all the anti-business regulations, and the extensive deficit/debt that has the businesses in such a state that they can't hire when they have no ideal what next stupid thing/reg/tax/whatever will come down I-95 from DC.
You, and others like you, have no right to say anything about jobs when it is your "Messiah" that keeps the businesses from doing what they do best and thats creating jobs.
Enough Said....
tea part fan - Ignorance is a dangerous thing.
Tea Party Fan - Thanks for the same old tired talking point. Would you also like to point out how Obama supposedly raised all the taxes on us or how he took away all our guns too? Time to be an adult and start thinking for yourself. BTW do you even understand what true socialism is? And if so how did you convince yourself that liberals/progressives/Democrats are socialists? Oh wait, you're probably a disciple of Saint Sarah so it really doesn't matter if you know or care what you say.
This problem falls squarely on the shoulders of Teapartiers and the Republicans who enabled them to take our country down this path. Those investors know that this debt deal will not be good for the economy so there you have it. I hope many Americans with 401k plans were cautious enough to move their money early in July to avoid the devastation to their 401k retirements. After all if these TPer's have their way, you'll be getting way less Social Security at a later age and pay way more for your Medicare if it will even exist in its current form. We are going to need to rely more and more on whatever we can manage to save but the deck is stacked against us in favor or institutional traders and the extremely wealthy. We've been had big time. Vote these bastards out of office in 2012 before they destroy us completely.
laurie....
And your solutions is...???? Do you have and solutions at all, other than the socialists talking points of tax, tax, tax, tax. Just how much longer can we survive as a nation with this dumb-ass debt going up faster than a hooker's skirt?
BTW, I have gold and a big veggie garden, 4x4 pickup, guns and plenty of ammo.
Just Saying...
tea-party fan - I'm really not interested in listening to your BS socialist rhetoric. If you were even the least bit educated to the economy of this country you would understand that we are not a purely capitalistic economy but rather a mixture of both socialism and capitalism and for the very reason that pure capitalism breeds social unrest and government destabilization. So take your gold, your guns, and your 4x4 pick up truck and go somewhere where you are not a danger to the rest of us. Oh and BTW yes the solution would be a government works program similar to the CCC and the WPA during the Depression. I suspect you don't know anything about those programs and how they helped lift the country out of the Depression of the 1930's. Perhaps a bit of education in US History wouldn't hurt you.
laurie...
I will match education credentials with you any time you want (MBA Gen. Bus. VCU - 1979) and actually do know a little of what I'm talking about whereas you do nothing but spout progressive/socialists talking points that you heard on PMSNBC. However, having said the above, yes I do realize that we are not a "pure" capitalist country and thats actually OK with me, but what you do not understand is that you cannot just choke the goose thats lays the golden egg. This is what is happening now and your stupid "Messiah" now wants to tax the he!! out of small businesses just because they happen to gross over 250K a year. Apparently, those idiots in DC have never had to make a payroll or try to comply with some stupid/silly/un-needed regulations. And now you worship at and kiss the feet of nothing more than a "community Organizer"...
Congratulations on your lack of common sense....
Just Saying...
tea party fan - I too have an advanced degree education so I know what I'm talking about as well. You've been fed a bunch of propoganda that you've swallowed lock, stock, and barrell and perhaps you should think for yourself. There were plenty of jobs created during the Clinton Administration with way higher taxes than now. So the argument against higher taxes doesn't really hold water. Of course those that have to pay taxes don't wan to pay taxes...too bad. There were many small businesses flourishing during the 1990's with higher tax rates. There was even a robust economy during the 1950's with upper tax rates at 90% so don't preach to me. Get off your socialist bashing and realize that a healthy combination of the two must be maintained. The bar cannot be tilted towards capitalism too far otherwise the middle class will be choked off and the economy will DIE. Because Mr. Tea Party Fan.....it's the demand fueled by the middle class that fills the cofers of the small businesses. They can demand less taxes all they want and they will still go under without a customer. BTW I neither like nor dislike President Obama...I was a Hillary Clinton supporter all the way. I figured she would promote the policies of the Clinton Administration and she was more progressive than President Obama. So don't go assuming that I hang on everything this president does because I don't...I think for myself and I have plenty of common sense.
Just saying right back at ya!
Laurie - anyone who insists on spouting that "socialist" crap is not someone worth the cost of the electronic bits wasted in attempting to "converse" with them. Blather, bluster and bu!!5h1t are all that they have to work with. MBA, and all that, ya know.
It's obvious the truth about home-grown terrorism has struck an extremely raw nerve with the radical-right (Repub's, T-Party, Sean Hannity, El Rushbo, Neil Boortz, Fox News, etc). How else can you explain their arrogant, pompous reaction to being labeled terrorists? America, this is not name calling. Terrorism is an act/action, and can be perpetrated in any number of ways; it is not restricted to physical violence. They are being called out as terrorists for their actions as law-makers; ACTIONS! And the last time I checked, a vote is an action. America, don't ever forget that shortly after the last election, the right swore to take our president out, no matter what it took (got all the sound-bites you could ever ask for to prove it). For all intents and purposes, they put a hit out on Pres Obama. Their actions (voting record) have been the actions of terrorists. They bow daily at the alter of Grover Norquist before they say their prayers. They were/are prpepared to take our country down to the gutter just so they can get their way politically. And they are willing and extremely capable of doing this because they have the $$ to weather any financial storm that may accompany their method of attack. They are not heros, and they are not patriots. They are assassins who are only loyal to their own self-serving, greed-driven selfish existance; everyone and everything else be damned. Breaking news: We will not accept their actions as "Doing what's best for Amerca" as was defined and expressed recently by Sean Hannity and Sen Orin Hatch. They, and everyone like them, are morally/ethically challenged, and have not earned the right to act as the protectors of what they say is in the best interest of our great nation. This is obscene and reeks of hypocracy; their actions betray them. They have historically abused America/Americans at every turn, and continue to do so for their own personal gain. And they show no signs of changing/stopping. Shipping jobs overseas, crushing unions, reducing tax rates for the wealthy, shred Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, drill baby drill, debt ceiling debate, polute the environment, etc, etc, etc. If it acts like a terrorist and smells like a terrorist; it must be a terrorist. Sorry, but the truth really hurts sometimes.