I would suggest ya'll take time and volunteer at any VA hospital....It'll give you a different perspective to hear what all generations of veterans are thinking about many issues you're debating....Considering we listen for a living you can glean quite a bit of information.... Cat
Flying around? What planet are you from?
He got on Airforce One following the protocol for protecting the POTUS. You know, Air Force One, the flying command center of the United States? The VP has a separate protocol and was taken to a separate location. Geeze, maybe you should avail yourself of some information before you post from now on.
He wasn't 'flying around.' Sorry to pop your conspiracy theory bubble, darling, but get your head on straight. And maybe you should educate yourself about the Katrina situation before you open your gob and vomit out the same tired 'bush caused katrina' drivel.
OBAMA IS A WEAKLING. GRAB YOUR ANKLES AND WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.
I am seeing double standards flying
all over the place. yes, it bothers me, including on this board. A lot of this stuff is said so viciously it is amazing. I don't think either candidate has a leg to stand on talking about anybody's housing arrangements. Let's face it, none of them know what kind of lives we are living out here. They all sound like they come from everyday people and can identify with us poor slobs. Nobody anymore is going to set down their axe and get on a wagon to washington. Those days are long gone. Drug crimes are ruining this country, we have so lost any attempt at a grip on this, it is unreal; I know - let's go rip somebody for smoking. They probably aren't armed like a 14 year old might be. I wish both sides would tell the whole truth and not just whatever one liners they choose to take out on exhibit. And I think some of the comments safely said incognito are quite brave in their anonymous attacks, right down to picking on someone's clothing or hair. This is totally unnecessary and really juvenile, like a bunch of high school girls beating up on some poor slob nobody likes. No wonder our kids are doing this, they are learning it from their parents. I guess I am just too old now for all this stuff, all I can think is my daddy would have killed me for picking on someone. Too dog pack for me. I can sense you don't like McCain, well I like him better than Obama because I have yet to hear something more substantial than wanting change. Hitler and Castro said exactly the same thing and the people went for it and got what they wanted. And yes, you think it can't possibly happen again, but it can and does. All of American still harping about slavery, but we don't do anything about the slavery still alive and well in Africa and other places, including USA brought over here by other countries who buy kids to do their housework. Obama says charity begins at home, but not apparently for his half-brother who lives in Nairobi on $12 a year. There seem to be new standards in this country and I just can't agree with all of them. He is a perfect candidate for poster child for pro-life. His mother easily could have aborted him and that child would never have grown up to run for President. I used to think I was pro-choice, but after raising children and now enjoying my grandchildren and looking at the partial abortion diagrams, I have had to rethink this. I know some argue life does not begin until later, but every 6th grader is taught life begins with a cells, whether in a plant or animal or human. If a stranger ran up to a pregnant woman and managed to stab her baby in the back of the head with a pair of scissors, he would be arrested, tried and convicted. It is no wonder so many of our youngsters are confused. We are leaving them a huge mess, and I am not happy with anybody running in this election. I may just vote for Paris Hilton, at least she does not pretend to be anything but what she is.
What about flying planes into buildings...a lot of...
collateral damage there, too.
What about the Nazi death camps?
Sometimes war is necessary, as distasteful as it is. There has been collateral damage in Afghanistan too, but both Obama and McCain say we should be there and Obama said last week we should send more troops there.
Collateral damage occurs in wars. And a lot of the collateral damage in Iraq was caused deliberately by AL Qaeda in Iraq against fellow Muslims. Is that more acceptable than accidental collateral damage by our troops?
Check your own timeline. He was not flying over New Orleans...
when the levee breached. He was on the ground in Arizona. The corps of engineers had been telling New Orleans and the state of LA that the levees would not hold in a bad storm, but they chose to spend the money elsewhere.
Let's be real here. The whole city is below sea level. As engineers have said even since Katrina, in a huge storm like Katrina and gustav, they might not hold. Nothing Bush can do about that.
That is a ridiculous, mean statement. I repeat...if Obama had been present, he would have been going about his usual day as President also, expecting people to do their jobs. And if he suggests otherwise, I would be the first to call him a liar.
The hurricane is what killed people. George Bush did not kill people.
If he had been a Democratic president, would you be saying this? Of course you wouldn't, you would be defending him right down the line.
That is the difference between you a hard line party follower, and me, an independent not beholden to ANY party. I would be defending that President no matter WHAT party he was in. THe people he trusted to do the job failed him. The state and local authorities failed their constituents.
And bottom line...it was the hurricane that killed people and destroyed property. Not George Bush. Just like it will be the hurricane this time, but EVERYONE learned from the last one, including state and local authorities, and the Republican governor of Louisianna has done an outstanding job in moving that along. Former Dem Governor Blanco is no longer in politics. Wonder why that is.
That being said...it was no one person's fault. All can share some of the blame.
But don't see you attacking anyone but George Bush.
Wonder why THAT is?
Why assume that flag-flying was this individual's
There's nothing in the story to support your assumption that flying the flag represents this individual's complete understanding of the notion of patriotism.
On the other hand, flying the flag IS certainly ONE expression of patriotism - a form of protected speech, in fact - and the ONLY question here is not whether this individual has a simplistic view of patriotism, but whether displaying the flag should have been prohibited.
We'll just call this your quota of "straw man" logical fallacies for the week, shall we? You may not post another one until next week.
While the "poo" is flying, let's note I did not make my post about whether...sm
I agreed with the stimulus package, because if you read further back on this board, I have been stating my opposition clearly for weeks, and just what I have problems with! This post was about a thinly-veiled, very inflammatory, crude, demeaning, hurtful "comic," and not just for the President, many African-Americans were hurt by this, and wrong is wrong, I am keeping my post specifically to this one point, I am sick of "pubs" or anyone else clouding issues by dragging other irrelevant issues in. The Post really demeaned themselves by publishing this, and they know it!!
GIVE ME A ROYAL BREAK!!! FLAG-FLYING
Flag-flying IN AND OF ITSELF is not "patriotism"
PATRIOTISM is standing up for one's COUNTRY against all - including the government.
You can show your patriotism in MANY MANY ways other than flying a flag - one of the most important ways is to EDUCATE yourself about how the government LIES good men and women into fake wars to LINE THE POCKETS OF THE ALREADY RICH.
We have not been "fighting for our freedom" since 1776!!
WANT TO SHOW YOUR PATRIOTISM? Get the facts about what your government is REALLY using your tax dollars for and HOW they are really using your sons and daughters... Tit for tat is infantile and not my style.
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Your writing style gives you away....(sm)
You are holier than thou in your attitude. You can't get away by claiming you're not the same "sm" poster, when you use the same phrasology over and over in your posts.
All jokes on the liberal board must be approved by the CONS, and everyone's sense of humor MUST mirror their own. Any deviation from this will result in deletion of the jokes (and any accompanying posts).
It's the epitome of true freedom of speech -- Bush style!
BANGKOK (AFP) - Parliamentary candidates in Thailand's upcoming election are trying to buy the votes of elderly men by passing out free Viagra, a local government official said Friday.
Thais head to the polls on December 23 for the first time since the military toppled the elected prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in a bloodless coup last year.
Residents in Prathumthani, on the northern outskirts of Bangkok, reported some of the candidates were passing out doses of the anti-impotence drug in exchange for promised votes, said Sayan Nopkham, a local government official.
"The villagers told me they have been given one or two pills of Viagra by candidates. Then they come to me to ask for more pills, or sometimes coffee, in exchange for voting for my brother, who is also running for a seat," he told AFP.
Thailand has a long history of vote-buying, but laws banning it have recently been toughened.
Anyone found guilty of buying votes could face up to 10 years in prison while voters who accept money face up to five years in jail.
Charungwit Phumma, an investigator with the Election Commission, said he had received no formal complaints about a Viagra-for-votes scheme.
"It's a funny claim," he said.
Charungwit said the most common complaints filed with his office were voters being paid to join a political party or being promised cash for going to the ballot box.
Sens. Barack Obama & D*ick Durbin Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Gov. Rod Blogojevich House leader Mike Madigan Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan (daughter of Mike) Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of former Mayor Richard J. Daley).....
Chicago is a combat zone. Of course they're all blaming each other.
Can't blame Republicans; there aren't any!
(Look them up if you want).
State pension fund $44 Billion in debt, worst in country.
Cook Co unty ( Chicago ) sales tax 10.25% highest in country.
Chicago school system, one of the worst in country.
This is the political culture that Obama comes from in Illinois .
It really adds nothing when you insult other posters like this. Why can't you accept an opinion, when everyone here who knows politics, is very aware of things that have happened over the past few months? Just because someone doesn't feel like typing out what has been discussed and debated here for the last few months does not make them less intellectual than you.
I rather admire them for refusing to be baited by your antagonistic style of posting.
"Every time Obama opens his mouth, his subjects and verbs are in agreement. If he keeps it up, he is running the risk of sounding like an elitist."
He has already attracted a rebuke from Sarah Palin.
"Talking with complete sentences there and also, too, talking in a way that ordinary Americans like Joe the Plumber can't really do there, I think needing to do that isn't tapping into what Americans are needing, also."
1. Individual income tax 45% of tax revenues.Included in individual income tax category are capital gains taxes, which make up between 4% and 7% of individual income tax revenues and between 2% and 3% of total tax revenues within this category.
2. Payroll taxes 35% of tax revenues.Social insurance (Social Security). Funds used to pay for Federal old age, survivors, disability insurance, unemployment insurance, temporary assistance to needed families, Medicare/Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).Employee's share of this is 17.5%.
3. Corporate Income Tax 15% of total tax revenues.
4. Excise Tax 3% of total tax revenues. Essentially a consumer tax on alcohol, cigarettes and gas.
5. "Other" 2%
So, individuals' share of total tax revenues amounts to approximately 65.5%, employers 17.5% and corporations 15% plus the mysterious "other" of 2%. If you go to the above link and scroll down about halfway, you will find a nifty little chart that shows how much the share corporations paid into total tax revenues has diminshed since 1950. For example, an early 50s spike on the graph show corporations' share to be approximately 30+%...TWICE AS MUCH AS IT IS NOW.
"…tax compliance costs employers with less than 20 employees a total of $1304 per employee as compared to employers with 500 or more employees which incur $780 per employee to comply with Federal taxes.Small entities pay 40% more for tax compliance than employers with 500 or more employees.
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities – How Robust was 2001-2007 Economic Expansion? Figures 1 and 2 will indicate the following information: Based on the 7 economic indicators, Bush years turned in below average growth percentages in every single indicator except for one….CORPORATE PROFITS. The biggest losers….employment (JOBS) and wages and salaries (PAYCHECKS). To make this dry economic data a little bit spicier, 2 comparisons have been shown…Bush years against Post WWII averages and Bush years as compared to the 90s decade. I have run averages on the trough and peak growth comparison data depicted in Figure 2 to come up with the following overall percentages. Pay special attention to the last 3 items.
1. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) down 31% from Post WWII average and down 12.85% from the 90s
2. Consumption down 23.45% from Post WWII average and down 6.25% from the 90s
3. Non-residential fixed investment down 40% from Post WWII average and down 58% from the 90s
4. Net worth down 16.25% from Post WWII average and down 20.1% from the 90s
5. Wages and salaries (PAYCHECKS) down a whopping 55.6% from Post WWII average and down an impressive 40.55% from the 90s
6. Employment (JOBS) down an amazing 68.65% from Post WWII average and down an impressive 46.65% from the 90s
7. Corporate profits up 200% above post WWII average and up 126% from the 90s.
From where I sit, there is clearly something wrong with this picture. I will be voting for the candidate who shares this view and plans to restore a more balanced, equitable and FAIR distribution of wealth. This is not about shifting bucks from one person to another. This is about corporations whose butts are being bailed out right and left by us Joe Shmoes shouldering more fiscal responsibility toward their shareholders AND toward John Q. Public.
By Phil Kerpen
Director of Policy, Americans for Prosperity
The composition of the tax hikes in the 2010 budget is frighteningly similar to the Revenue Act of 1932, the much-maligned Hoover tax hikes that put the “Great” in Great Depression by putting an enormous tax burden on millions of Americans, largely through excise taxes. These taxes, raised even further by FDR, were justified by the promise that the funds would be returned in the form of relief programs, which is to say that some portion of the tax revenue, after administrative costs in Washington, would go back to the states with strings attached, often to further political rather than economic objectives.
As the table below shows, the Obama budget blueprint, like the 1932 act, is split mainly between broad excise taxes and income tax hikes on high income earners. Unfortunately, there were no 10-years projections back then, so I had to use one year numbers, but it’s still an interesting comparison.
The 2010 budget assumes, probably correctly, that the only way to generate a big revenue increase in the face of severe economic weakness is to use a tax mechanism–the excise tax–that is collected in relatively small increments across millions of transactions made by Americans of all income levels. That is a direct lesson of 1932, when the income tax on the rich–then the only people who paid income taxes–was raised to capture as much revenue as possible before high-income earners fled the country or stopped working. Then, as now, that amount was about 0.3 percent of GDP.
Excise taxes did most of the revenue work in the 1932 act, including excises on everything from trucks, tires, jewelry, chewing gum, and soft drinks to gasoline and electricity. Those last two are especially interesting in light of the carbon cap-and-trade proposal in the 2010 budget, which is a DE facto excise tax on those items as well as every other energy technology that relies on the most affordable energy sources: natural gas, oil, and coal.
Despite President Obama’s promise that “If your family earns less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes increase a single dime. I repeat: not one single dime,” his new budget raises 45 percent of its revenue from energy taxes that will be paid by everyone who fills a gas tank, pays an electric bill, or buys anything that was grown, shipped, or manufactured.
While the overall tax hike is smaller than 1932 (0.9 percent of GDP versus 1.6 percent of GDP) and the excise/energy component is only half the size (0.4 percent of GDP versus 0.8 percent of GDP) there is every reason to believe that the bite of the cap-and-trade tax will increase considerably beyond the initial projections, making this plan even more resemble 1932.
The cap-and-trade provisions are designed to get much, much more expensive over time, making the total impact hard to quantify but likely to be as or more expensive than the 1932 Revenue Act. In fact, Obama’s version of cap-and-trade is much more expensive than last year’s already outrageous Lieberman-Warner bill, mandating emissions cuts of 83 percent versus 63 percent in last year’s version.
I didn’t include the death tax in the chart, because there was no revenue estimate for it in 1932, but that’s another eerie parallel. In 1932 the rate was hiked from 20 percent to 45 percent, and in 2010, under Obama’s proposal (which is hidden in a footnote in the budget) it will go from zero under current law to that same 45 percent rate.
If we continue down a path of repeating the policies of the 1930s we risk a repeat of the same results. Let’s hope Congress has the good sense to say no to these Hoover-style tax hikes.
It's a big country - enough sunshine for all of us.
Are you high?
Why don't you blame him for your hemorrhoids while you're at it.
When I was in high school ...
Spanish and French were both offered. They were optional, however. I don't think we should REQUIRE any child to learn a second language. If they want to, fine. And Obama makes the point that most French, Spanish, etc. are bilingual...speaking English AND their native language. Well, duhhh. Of course they do. How else do they cater to American tourists, the lifeblood of several European cities. Or cater to American business. If I moved to France and was going to live there, I would learn French. If Mexicans are going to immigrate and live here, they need to learn English. Where's the rub?
We don't compete with overseas MTs because they are bilingual, trilingual, or multilingual. We complete with them because they will do what we do for a whole lot less money. End of story. Then it has to be run back through American editors to good ENGLISH. Not good INDIAN, FRENCH, SPANISH, et al. Not a real good argument. And I don't know how our children speaking Spanish or French is going to help them unless they plan to move to Spain, Mexico, or France. Last time I checked, speaking Spanish or French did not pay the bills either.
LOL. High regard. nm
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high horse?
nm
Oh, get off your high horse.... I'm sure you
have had nothing to say when McCain and Palin are being kicked about here. Your true colors are showing!
I have to say that I did see a lot of high school age...sm
kids standing behind him at his rally yesterday.
Right, because you are too high on the Obama
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Prices were very high
There were no bargins this summer. Everything was very expensive. Cheaper to shop in US.
Still in junior high?
Be gone.
How can you have a high rating without doing anything yet?
Oh, I forgot. Dems + hook + line + sinker = Fauxbama for Prez.
It is a big venue because of the huge number of people who want to be part of the historic event of our first black candidate's acceptance speech. I see it as a defining moment in our history and I am pleased that he wants to include as many as possible. Wish I were there. Still, the flight suit . . .
~In high school, you usually have a couple of candidates, but it usually narrows down to two. Usually you have one candidate who will promise the stars and the moon in the form of soda machines, more "senior lunches", more time off, etc. Now we all know full and well that a high school class president can't get these things, but he will say he can. Usually the candidate that can promise the most is the one that wins.
~Don't forget, in high school it's also a popularity contest!
~Oh yeah, and if it's two guys, most of the girls don't care what they say, they just vote on the cutest one.
~90% of the voters never even hear what the candidates have to say. They usually just vote off of what everyone else says or who is their buddy.
~In the end, nothing changes at the school. Still the same amount of vending machines with crappy food, still only get one senior lunch per month, and if anything, you lose a few days off.
Everything about Bush's administration was not all bad, but 98% of it was. I did not vote for him for either term, but I did respect him as our country's president. All of the people against President-Elect OBAMA are knocking him before even giving him a chance.
I am thankful for a change. Anything has to be better than what Bush has given us for the last 8 years. People say we are doomed, this country is going down. Bush started that roller coaster ride quite some time ago. President-Elect Obama can now run this country down any more than Bush has already done. Besides, it will take some time to sift through all of the mess that Bush created.
By the way, many have said that Obama will be killed. If no one stepped up to the plate to take first dibbs at Bush for what he has done to this country, Obama will be just fine. He is in God's hands and God will take care of his own.
For once, it would be a great accomplishment if we all came together as Americans instead of being divided, mostly by race. Sad fact is most people are still very prejudice and will never get past the color of one's skin color.
High winds - now that's funny
You know I'd still put Athiest in your name. Last I knew it was a free country and we are free to believe whatever we want. I'm not Athiest, but I'm not Christian or any other religion either.
I'm not so much ashamed of my heritage, I'm more ashamed of the ignorant people (like my brother). He's my brother and I love him but I just wish he would think before he speaks.
I am proud our country has come as far as it has in the fact that we can have anyone as a president and color doesn't matter anymore. America has progressed and that is good, but just the way some people portray it that they don't know anything about him, his issues, voting record, what he's going to do for the country, they're just glad a black man is in there, and then to hear Obama talk race all the time. That's when I think to myself....I'm so ashamed. But am sure it will get better.
Thanks for your words. Look forward to those high winds. HA HA HA
You are living in some high a.. place and I wish
the lake front property I sold about a year or so ago had gone per acre what they said yours was worth, oops, lacking $10 it did sell for that much. Am not good with math. The taxes on that were not much, thank goodness because my own home taxes were quite high. Seems like when 1 place comes down (or off) then somewhere else taxes it back on. Close to me in Atlanta last year water restrictions on due to drought- people followed and now the rates for water have gone up.
I think the risk to the hostage is too high...(sm)
to just storm them. France just did that to another one that had French hostages, and one of the hostages was killed during the raid. I really don't want these guys to get away, but if we're talking about the safety of the hostage, maybe the best thing right now is to pay the ransom and then go after them. I don't think they WANT to kill the hostage because then they get no money. Keep in mind, this is a source of income for them -- that's why they do it.
Fox ratings are at an all time high because...(sm)
as we all know, it's hard to look away from a train wreck.
I think the Simpsons had a big run on ratings like this at one point. That show was also fiction.
Fox ratings are at an all time high because
people are hungry for the truth. You want to believe it is fiction, but the numbers speak for themselves. This is their 9th year and building. Even CNN is 3rd now and fighting back. What do you expect from Immelt and Zucker on MSNBC? Ms. Maddow is really showing her ignorance to say she does not know the purpose of the Tax Day Tea Parties. This is grass-roots America speaking up. I gotta admit, its not nearly as juicy as soap opera using an unwed teen pregnancy to keep the subject off the REAL soap opera that was happening at G20 and tour. That is what was hilarious!
My son is being told in high school
in a lot of his classes that there will not be SS anymore in the near future. SS will be gone.
If it's high you flash it, if it's low you hide it.....sm
like everything else, isn't it?
I heard your most high priestess Cindy S. is saying it
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Cat 
