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Politics
Grover Norquist Crushes Them
Bush tax cuts move to center stage and no one understands their political might better than the Democrats’ favorite hate object.
“We’ll run against their tax increase, and we’ll crush them.”
With those bracing words, Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, and the nation’s leading opponent of excessive taxation, framed what is becoming the great issue of the 2012 presidential campaign.
With the demise of the super committee, and on top of years of excessive, extravagant over-spending, the matter of the repeal of the Bush tax cuts is now front and center in the public arena.
Democrats do not assess the state of play, or the upcoming elections, the same as Mr. Norquist. They quote polls supposedly justifying their plans to limit tax increases “only” to “wealthy” taxpayers making over $250,000 per year. In other words, they appear to be fine with the Bush tax cuts expiring, across the board, unless the “rich” are taxed at a higher rate. And, yes, entitlements are untouchable.
Unfortunately for the Democrats rescinding or even threatening to rescind the Bush tax cuts for taxpayers at all income levels, not just whomever they deem to be inordinately or inappropriately prosperous and successful, may be a Pyrrhic victory at best. More likely, it will be the political equivalent of Chernobyl.
The Bush tax cuts expire after the election. If the Republicans hang tough and campaign as Grover Norquist envisions, just how do you think independent swing voters will break? Will they vote based on class resentment, holding out for a Bush-Lite tax cut for those the Democrats deem worthy? Or recalling the last four years of spending, taxing and over-regulating, and seeing the expiration of the Bush tax cuts as a seamless web, vote Republican, or more accurately, anti-Democratic, out of concern for four more years of the same? The question answers itself.
Maybe liberals and Democrats simply can’t comprehend the toxic nature of taxing and spending to the American middle class, which is what most independent voters are. Ezra Klein, one of the Washington Post’s “progressive” columnists on economic and domestic policy, believes that the Republicans in Congress are in a double bind, facing “two triggers” which, presumably, are a kind of “nightmare” for them. He is referring to the automatic sequestration of $1.2 trillion, set to go off on January 1, 2013, bleeding both defense and domestic spending in equal measure, and, number two, the “extremely progressive trigger worth $3.8 trillion that goes off” on the very same date — the automatic expiration of the Bush tax cuts.
The Democrats have to do nothing to achieve substantial increases in revenue and deficit reduction, claims Klein.
Klein says “the Democrats are in the driver’s seat.” Yet, he is mystified that the “Republicans don’t seem particularly worried about the triggers, and Democrats don’t seem particularly interested in pressing their advantage. At least for now.”
In truth, Klein hedges his claim that the White House and the Democrats in Congress are sitting pretty. He admits, in a masterpiece of understatement, that “Letting the Bush tax cuts expire is not a popular policy. Nor do crowds cheer for automatic sequestration.” Still, if a deal is impossible, and the tax cuts in their entirety are rescinded, does the White House “really think that would be a bad outcome? Or is it a better one than they could have imagined?”
Republicans might find themselves asking, “Is this a trick or what? How could we be so lucky?”
Klein’s political tin ear or cluelessness characterizes, not just liberals and Democrats, but also many inside the Beltway at least as it relates to anything as massive as a $3.8 billion tax increase which will result from letting the Bush tax cuts evaporate into a mist of spending and entitlement growth.
Grover Norquist and Ezra Klein are reading the electoral tealeaves in very different ways. Norquist seems to be relishing the thought of crucifying the President and the Democrats on a cross of tax increases. Klein seems to think the repeal of the tax increases, in toto, especially those for the “wealthy” or productive Americans, redounds upon the GOP and benefits of the White House and its congressional allies. Or something.
I’m putting my money on Grover.
The Wall Street Journal recently opined in an editorial entitled, “Thank You, Grover Norquist,” expressing their gratitude to him for “reminding Republicans of their antitax promises” and “helping to expose the real reason for the super committee’s failure: the two parties disagree profoundly on a vision of government.”
About the Author
G. Tracy Mehan, III served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the administrations of both Presidents Bush. He is a consultant in Arlington, Virginia, and an adjunct professor at George Mason University School of Law.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (87) | Leave a comment
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Mimi| 11.28.11 @ 7:58AM
Heh Tim....This post would make a terrific campaign commercial...The Repub's need your expertize!
Timothy L. Pennell| 11.28.11 @ 8:38AM
Where have YOU been?
Timothy L. Pennell| 11.28.11 @ 4:53PM
Yeah. Except it was removed.
That's 2 today.
Maybe I'm at the wrong site?
Pecos Pete| 11.28.11 @ 7:47AM
Projection: Elections in November 2012 send a majority party of Republicans to both houses of Congress in January 2013 and a Republican to the White House. Result: The "Bush Tax Cuts" which the democrats allowed to expire are reinstated as the first act of the new Congress. The new President signs the law immediately.
Their 2nd act is to repeal ObamaCare.
RCV| 11.28.11 @ 2:10PM
I wouldn't count on it, Pete. The American people have seen what Tea Party obstinance and Grover Norgquist's "don't tax the rich" philosophy has done, and they don't like it one bit.
The latest Polls: Rasmussen's latest has Obama beating both Romney and Gingrich by 6 points. A poll taken only last Friday by Quinnipiac shows the public favors Democratic control of Congress by 4 points, a dramatic shift from only 2 years ago.
Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 11.28.11 @ 2:43PM
I don't bother with silly sanctimonious hypocritical Tea Party obstinance, as the nation belatedly comprehends what I so astutely revealed here at 'American Spectator', well over a year ago, on October 23, 2010 at 9:30PM, matters:
"I abhor sanctimonious conservatism of the tea party brand, an ideology wholly lacking in intelligence or a shred of real Christian love and compassion. Every policy it espouses is dangerous, damaging and detrimental to our country and it's future. It will have a lifespan much like its intellectual forebearer, Know-Nothingism."
RCV| 11.28.11 @ 2:56PM
Well-said on October 23, and true today, Skip.
Moe Blotz| 11.28.11 @ 3:24PM
Do you think you are Taxed Enough Already?
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 3:53PM
Not really ... and neither are you. Not if you want to enjoy the benefits this country brings you.
Reprobate Charlatan Pimplepuss| 11.28.11 @ 4:49PM
'Cost-Benefit Analysis' reveals the 'costs' of the 'benefits' are not worth the 'investment', much less 'sustainable', not to mention even 'constitutional' for that matter, but I don't have to worry about it until 'Principles of Economics 101' and 'Principles of Government 101' next semester at the local community college, and besides, I'm having to much fun 'Occupying' my butt off instead of hanging out in the parent's basement to give a crap.
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 6:05PM
as if you're doing anything the sort. If you don't think the cost is worth the benefit, tough. It's not for you to decide.
Reprobate Charlatan Pimplepuss| 11.28.11 @ 6:32PM
It's not for you to decide, my local community college lecturer has informed me, because he and I are among those who are the self-appointed stewards of our national culture, and I know he is correct based on both my intelligence and honesty and on my humility.
carnot| 11.28.11 @ 11:56PM
or you. or the 45%+ who pay no taxes. what kind of crap are you peddling when it comes to "benefits" the country provides in this context.
pack sand. when the moment of truth arrives and it all collapses or sinks into abysmal stagnation and mediocrity...you are the among those who will be sought out for accountability.
RCV| 11.28.11 @ 4:41PM
No, not in our present deficit situation. I'm in the highest tax bracket, and slighter higher rates may cause me to cut back foreign vacation trips a few days or so. But cutting medicare or unemployment benefits will have far greater disastrous effects on those who can least afford it.
carnot| 11.28.11 @ 11:58PM
florida university.
there's no argument for rational allocation of scarce resources in anything you post. donate your discretionary income in toto instead of taking those vacations you closet fascist.
RCV| 11.29.11 @ 4:40PM
I wasn't aware of the link between fascism and vacations.
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 4:39PM
Settled issue: SIZE OF GOVERNMENT
http://www.house.gov/jec/growt.....nction.pdf
A: HALF OUR CURRENT SIZE
Canada 1994-5 is an excellent "4th Example" to add to that paper's 3 examples of "Cutting Government Spurs Growth."
Don't worry, P.Punk, it with soon be over.
Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 11.28.11 @ 4:19PM
I don't bother with silly sanctimonious hypocritically idiotic statements, on abhorring tea party conservatism, and on real Christian love, not to mention on real Christian compassion, without also reiterating this golden nugget of mine, revealing how wholly unlacking in intelligence I am, and revealing how wholly unlacking in real Christian love I am, not to mention revealing how wholly unlacking in real Christian compassion I am, what with belonging to a party espousing every policy wholly undangerous, undamaging and undetrimental to our country, this gem revealed almost one year ago, on December 7, 2010 at 6:27PM, matters:
"At least, Skippie, I belong to a party that cares about human beings AFTER they're born."
RCV| 11.28.11 @ 4:42PM
Also true. And Skip, man up to your own posts.
Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 11.28.11 @ 5:06PM
I man up by not bothering with silly being meager and insistent on having the drive to endlessly repeatedly man up when endlessly repeating myself with meager idiotic thoughts and with insistent idiotic feelings caressingly fondly while manning up matters:
"A liberal is a person whose thoughts are so meager and whose feelings are so insistent that his caressing fondness for those thoughts and feelings drives him to repeat himself endlessly." (the magnificent John II 9.3.11 @ 5:17PM)
RCV| 11.28.11 @ 6:05PM
Snore...snore...snore...
Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus| 11.28.11 @ 6:50PM
I (zzzzzzz) also man up by not bothering with (zzzz..zz..z) silly meagerness and insistence, caressingly fondly endlessly (zzzzz..ZZZ...........z) repeatedly, like my comrade Reprobate Charlatan Pimplepuss, with self-scholarship awareness and self-conscientious awareness, as we steward on your behalf, caressingly (zzz), fondly (zzz...z), endlessly (zzZ...Z), repeatedly (snore), now eat your meagerly insistent tax the rich for jobs and other benefits peas (yawn), matters:
"A liberal is a person of small learning and large ego who is eager to be counted among the self-appointed stewards of a culture slouching toward degeneracy." (the magnificent John II 9.4.11 @ 5:31 PM)
carnot| 11.29.11 @ 12:00AM
lmao!
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 4:40PM
Excellent.
Clint| 11.28.11 @ 7:12PM
" Public Policy Polling:
Asked whether they have a higher opinion of the Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street movement the Tea Party wins out 43-37, representing a flip from last month when Occupy Wall Street won out 40-37 on that question. Again the movement with independents is notable- from preferring Occupy Wall Street 43-34, to siding with the Tea Party 44-40."
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.
carnot| 11.29.11 @ 12:03AM
and this despite the near apoplectic efforts of the MSM to demonize and discredit the TP!
at the very least...we are going to have a Republican Senate and House in 2012. If Obama wins.....4 years of an "un-do everything Congress" will suit me just fine.
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 4:35PM
Wednesday, Oct 30, 2012:
Rasmussen Poll, Likely Voters
Gingrich 45%, Obama 43%
Given the well-know "undecideds break against the incumbent" phenomenon, Obomba is in serious trouble.
Mimi| 11.28.11 @ 7:51AM
Grover did a terrific job yesterday on the Sunday talk shows.....thank God for someone to speak -up against the Democrats insistance, of taking away FREEDOM for the people by taxing.
Their game of deliberatly calling upon the GOP to dishonor their pledge is an election ploy to get back power.... and gain votes ...the smell of defeat is driving them crazy...The repub's need to call them out!
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 3:59PM
Trouble with his performance yesterday is David Gregory is a lightweight wimp - he let Goober NeverQuist pose any argument and didn't call him on his omissions. He blamed Democrats for not cutting spending under the Reagan administration, but never bothered to mention the huge military budget increases under Reagan that were not paid for, resulting in huge deficits for the time.
This guy is the worst kind of divider - and couldn't care less about the country as long as he "wins" his game. The Congresspeople that signed that pledge should know better - they took oaths to uphold the Constitution and serve the country - not the Republican party or Goober N.
TrueBlue| 11.28.11 @ 7:33PM
You act like those oaths are mutually exclusive, yet nowhere in the Constitution does it say Congress has the power to take money from one citizen and give it to another of their choosing, which is exactly what Welfare and government subsidies does. The common welfare clause was meant for government projects (beyond the scope of the individual states) that positively affect citizens, NOT as a way to transfer wealth.
Increased taxation as a way to pay off SS, Medicare, and Medicaid is ILLEGAL. They were passed during a time when people were looking for help so the Supreme Court of the day screwed up and didn't do their job preventing this mess from starting, and now nobody has the backbone to get rid of them because it would destroy their political careers.
------------
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; (general Welfare does NOT mean to take money from one citizen to give to another because then the government is negatively affecting the Welfare of one citizen to attempt to positively affect another, after removing the government operating costs...)
To borrow money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and Post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; (note it doesn't say anything about subsidizing Science or Arts here)
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years;
To provide and maintain a Navy;
To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; And
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
Article I, Section 8
------------
There are your powers of Congress, that's all they are allowed to do. "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." Amendment 10 - Power of the States and People, 12/15/1791
Heck, neither the Legislative nor Executive branch has the power to create new departments if you want to REALLY get into it. But the Constitution DEFINATELY does not say the Executive branch has the power to create new agencies that may pass regulations enforceable by law without having to be voted on by Congress. Since all laws must be passed by Congress, that'd also make pretty much every regulation illegal.
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 4:42PM
Purple just got Punked. Again.
JimP| 11.28.11 @ 8:46AM
Also, let's not forget inflation. My clan hasn't had an income increase or COLA in nearly five years and thanks to federal inflationary policies we are falling ever father behind the income/outgo curve. Add to that things like autos that are 5 years older and need more and more maintenance and repair, not to mention "the money pit" maintenance/repair costs, the loss of value and any growth in our retirement investments which have been essentially been stagnant, the kids have college debt and no job prospects, three generations now living in the same home by necessity, food costs...... heck, you name it. Let the Dems delude themselves and let Boehner and Cantor continue looking unbelievably inept and more and more like what they apparently are- part of the "Ruling Class". I see a Republican win next year and increases in Tea Party type representatives.
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 4:52PM
Which is what this country need, Jim.
1. Continued PURGE of Establishment, Big Spender RINO's in the Republican Party
2. Utter shocking shellacking of the Communist Party, sorry ... Democratic Party, in 2012
And THEN they actually HAVE TO DO WHAT WE'RE SAYING.
Two policies ALONE would create an economic boom:
1. Repeal Obamacare
2. Drill everywhere, immediately
However, we sure could use:
3. Tax reform -- simpler, flatter, broader
4. Entitlement reform -- delay, means-test, private options
5. Scrapping of any regulation that doesn't pass cost-benefit analysis (start with EVERY regulation passed under Obama)
Now ... when Obama came in I saw the horror-show scenario: Economy recovers, Obamacrats take credit (a la Clinton 1993), Permanent Democratic Coalition forms.
But THEY KILLED THE RECOVERY.
So now their cornered, getting fierce, mean, lying, unleashing purple trolls, goblins, everything. But the fact remains:
Winning the TRIFECTA, then DOING #1 AND #2 above (and hopefully #3-5), will create the economic boom that could, SHOULD END 80 YEARS OF SURREAL FANTASY SOLD TO SCHOOLKIDS THAT BIG GOVERNMENT CAN CREATE PROSPERITY.
As I said, ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS #1 & #2, though we'd like more.
If they do, TRULY LIBERAL -- AKA LIBERTARIAN -- POLICIES WILL BE RESTORED AS THE BASIS OF GOVERNMENT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
Restored. Because those principles are WHAT MADE AMERICA NUMBER ONE IN PROSPERITY.
And LIBERTY, for those who GIVE A CRAP ... (ie. are not purple).
Petronius| 11.28.11 @ 9:09AM
Don't hand me that line of crap that the libtards are clueless about the effects of over taxation. Their intent is to force people to vote for them or face destitution. It's long passed time the disenfranchised middle class held a necktie party for this pack of despots. The only way to break their power is to end all tax with holding.
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 4:01PM
Good Luck with that one Chuckles...
Quartermaster| 11.28.11 @ 7:15PM
No luck involved in that one Purple. If you get your way there will be violence. And you libtards will pay a serious price for your idiotic mendacity and political incompetence. There is a huge difference between the current situation and the 60s. When you directly threaten the people that are trying to mind their own business, earn a living and raise families, then you will get push back. Some of those libtards, like yourself, will get a birds eye view while you are swinging from a lamp post.
The current generation has been cheated out of what should have been their birthright. That is why they are ignoramuses sitting in parks thinking they can bring a country down with an anger generated by their idiot profs who have indoctrinated, rather than educated them. Worse, they went deeply into debt to hear the nonsense spouted by some credentialed, uneducated moron.
So, keep whistling past the graveyard. It won't do you any good.
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 8:56PM
Let's try my .50 caliber on that idea of the lampost ... idiot.
If the current generation lost anything, you can thank the Reagan revolution over the last 30 years... and guess who put us deeply in debt - Reagan, Papa and Baby Bush ... 10.7 Trillion worth. So get your facts straight before you open yourmouth and prove you're a fool for the right.
axbucxdu| 11.28.11 @ 10:19PM
"...Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher in May
2008 entitled “Storms on the Horizon”, which cited $99 trillion of long-term unfunded entitlement payments."
Some recent calculations indicate the present value of total unfunded liabilities in 2011 dollars of the USG are in excess of $200T. Looks like ole' Ronnie had lots of help. But what's several dozen trillion here or there to a prog, it's always someone else's money anyway.
carnot| 11.29.11 @ 12:07AM
ahhhh...the ignore Obama lie appears again!
Reprobate Charlatan Pimplepuss| 11.29.11 @ 1:35AM
Let's try to clarify my .50 caliber on that idea of the lampost ... for all you idiots.
And prove you're all, every one, a fool for the right.
Besides, it's all extra credit according to my local community college lecturer of my 'Liberal Factology 202' night class.
So getting your facts straight, before you worst kinds of dividers open your mouths, Baby Bush alone put us so deeply into debt even a blind, ignorant, stupid, evil conservative can see that immediately after the Baby Bush tax cuts that put us so deeply in debt,
total federal revenue in 2003 was 1.782314 trillion dollars,
and that after 4 years of these Baby Bush tax cuts that put us so deeply in debt,
total federal revenue in 2007 was 2.567985 trillion dollars,
and even you worst kinds of dividers before opening your mouths can tell that this,
an increase of more than 44% in total federal revenue in these 4 years,
immediately after Baby Bush's tax cuts that put us so deeply in debt, is all the facts you need, for you worst kinds of dividers to see, how Baby Bush put us so deeply in debt, before, during or after opening your mouths.
Even blind, ignorant, stupid, evil, idiot, fools for the right, Fox News watching conservatives can see these facts from the Office of Management and Budget, on the website at whitehouse.gov/omb/.
Hahahahaha...
atypicalamerican| 11.28.11 @ 9:14AM
Is anyone concerned that the MSM working closely with the Dems and the protesters (however they drag through the winter) will beat on the public with a narrative that extending the Bush tax cuts simply feeds the "1%" The (mostly policy illiterate) public seems easily influenced and (even if they are oversampled) polls are starting to swing the other way. Is this why the Dems and their lapdogs like Ezra Klein seem so confident? R's better have a very well-crafted message of education to the public (not just on Sunday talk shows) to straighten out the public during Spring and Summer
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 5:20PM
The fallacy you all live under is that since the words "liberal", "progressive", etc. have been propagandized by the right so much and for so long, many people who are liberal minded won't own up to it. Nevertheless, when they vote, you see the real people standing up for the liberal and progressive point of view.
After what happened during the Bush years, the American People are sensitive to the Republican playbook. Add the American people hearing the Congressional Republicans trying to kill Medicare Insurance, privatize Social Security Insurance, their penchant for bringing the country to the brink of financial disaster over and over again, and add to that the Republican field of NeoCons running for president echo GW Bush's "strategeries" and the various States trying to remove collective bargaining for the working people and you have a perfect storm against the Republicans - again.
Quartermaster| 11.28.11 @ 7:20PM
Propagandized? You need to go into stand up comedy. I doubt you'd make it however.
What you are doing is engaging in "newspeak." Only uneducated ignoramuses like yourself buy that. I am warning people, however, they should not overestimate the intelligence of teh US electorate. What they are looking for is some one to tell them that a little tweaking will allow the system to perk up and they can go back to being clueless, while you "progressives" make worthless mulch of the country.
Worse, one day it will be such a mess you'll get a Hitler or Stalin. If you are lucky, you'll just get a Hitler.
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 8:58PM
It's not the US electorate that is less intelligent - just Fixed News watchers - it's a fact - they are less knowledgeable about News than those that don't watch news programs at all. Misinformation rules at Fixed News and with Rush Loudmouth, but you're either too ignorant, evil or stupid to know. Hahahahaha ...
Reprobate Charlatan Pimplepuss| 11.29.11 @ 12:34AM
For you ignorant and evil not to mention stupid conservatives' general fund of knowledge I faxed my above posts to my local community college lecturer of my 'Social Justice, Tolerance, Diversity, and Minority Studies' class, and he said they were so scintillating they merit an A++++ for 25% of my semester grade, just like I got for my participation in 'Occupy Places Not Parental Unit Basements'.
Hahahahaha...
He also noted that with another 20 or so more posts just like these I will be able to assume the additional responsibility of actually providing a source for all my sparkling analysis and facts, and they won't be from some lame source such as Fox News either, the news network consistently rated most objective among ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, CNN, and MSNBC. He said my obvious intelligence and honesty really shines through in all my scintillating posts.
Hahahahahaha...
If you ignorant and evil not to mention stupid conservatives can believe it, my local community college lecturer on 'Social Justice, Tolerance, Diversity, and Minority Studies' said I will be even more brilliant 3 and a half years from now after completing my 5 year program of an Associate's Degree majoring in Liberal Douchebaggery while also simultaneously minoring in Liberal Asswipery too boot.
Hahahahaha...
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 7:11PM
"I will be even more brilliant 3 and a half years from now after completing my 5 year program of an Associate's Degree majoring in Liberal Douchebaggery while also simultaneously minoring in Liberal Asswipery too boot."
But will you be PURPLE...?
Negro X| 11.29.11 @ 9:12AM
Back to the personal attacks as always, you offer nothing, as usuak.
carnot| 11.29.11 @ 12:09AM
yes...the whole Obamacare legislative process is such an exemplar of principled Democrat/progressive processes.
previous quotes vis self delusion are so apropos. you are the poster child!
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 7:12PM
Poster Punk, you mean.
IQ of a child, I'll give you that.
big bob| 11.28.11 @ 9:27AM
go ahead and put your money on Grover. I don't know whether you are betting to place or show. But unless you factor in the media and their undermining of all things conservative, you will lose all your money. The media is sure to misrepresent tax cuts, (aka IRS federal expenses!) and will give no voice to the truth or any version thereof. Careful of the how much you bet...the odds are might not like what happens when the dust settles.
Matthew Quigley| 11.28.11 @ 9:33AM
What is AmSpec's fascination with this jihadi slug? So what if he wants the Bush tax cuts to be reinstated and made permanent? That matters less than his pro-shari'a agenda! The guy's an enemy sympathizer at the very least!
http://www.examiner.com/conser.....m?mid=5371
http://shariafreeusa.com/grove.....ran-lobby/
So again, WTH is Spectator pushing this traitor so damned much?
DTOM| 11.28.11 @ 10:59AM
Matt;
These for illuminating that target for me. I'd missed Mr. Norquist's subversion.
Remember, Muslim is NOT a religion as it seeks to rule this world, not the next. So no First Amendment protection for them.
Seek| 11.28.11 @ 2:47PM
Of course, Islam is a religion. It's just not one with any real humane tradition. And, yes, Muslims do seek to rule this world AND the next. As do on a lesser scale, Christian and Jewish extremists.
DTOM| 11.28.11 @ 3:21PM
So does the Koran direct the good Muslim to kill apostates or not. Does it or does it not define anyone who converts away from Islam is an apostate? Does it or does it not direct corporeal punishment for crimes that generally fall under the jurisdiction of civil authorities?
It does and does so in direct competition with local government authority. Make no mistake, sharia law is at odds with our Constitutionally based law. Islam does not respect the rights and freedoms we have in our law and seeks to end them, using sharia law. Any other interpretation is hubris and a lie. This is borne out every day in the daily news events from Islamic countries and Western countries where sharia law is being espoused.
We must not ignore the honor murders that have occurred in England, France, Europe, and Canada. Honor killing is not condoned by our law. Islam intends to restrict severely the rights of women.
It may call itself a religion all day long, it does so to avoid direct response from established governments. But it demands that it control civil authority - therefore it is NOT a religion, it is a political system, every bit as much as communism is. Even if you call a dog's tail a leg, a dog still has only four legs, not five.
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 7:17PM
Precisely. I await the "Definition of Religion Act" because, as you know, the term is used in the Constitution, but not defined.
Oh and I have a little clause to slip in there, too:
"No person, who does not have one or more parents that are legal residents of the United States, shall be subject to the jurisdiction of any law or government body within the United States of America for a period lasting ONE MINUTE PRIOR TO, AND ONE MINUTE FOLLOWING, THEIR BIRTH.
That should take care of another pesky problem....
Quartermaster| 11.28.11 @ 7:23PM
Christian "extremists" do not seek to rule the next. That's the sphere of God's son. I'm sure when you meet him in final judgment you will really want to call him a Christian extremist.
Herb| 11.28.11 @ 11:30AM
Grover Groundhog's Islamic connections need to be ferreted out and highlighted whenever he is depicted as Mr. Conservative. There's a wealth of info on this homegrown jihadi and his Muslim wife, and risking zot for plugging, I recommend Robert Spencer as a primary source.
DRed| 11.28.11 @ 10:03AM
You guys do know that Obama has cut taxes, right?
DTOM| 11.28.11 @ 10:57AM
You betcha!
He put those tax cuts under my pillow, along with the quarter for my wisdom teeth.
A temporary decrease in the withholding taxes has almost no impact on anything. People paying withholding taxes do not create jobs, they do not increase their spending, and the unpaid withholding taxes are being taken out of small businesses through radically increased unemployment taxes and other special taxes.
The unpaid withholding taxes are replaced with government borrowings that simply suck up the last available credit so that no one else can borrow and create demand. Identifying that inevitable result of government deficit spending as "crowding out" is what won Milton Friedman a Nobel prize for economics. He was right, and remains so.
No business does makes any decision based on a temporary tax plan. That is what is so frustrating about these so called tax cuts.
Yeah, Obama, thanks for pushing a counter-productive tax cut that simply impoverishes upcoming generations while doing nothing to move the economy forward.
Yes, we knew he "cut taxes." We also know he is systematically destroying the economy by demonizing wealth creation and wealth creators.
Ever hear "the rich are not paying their fair share?" Are the poor paying ANYTHING? How can that be fair, if the poor don't pay taxes, but receive taxes taken from other citizens?
Ever hear "Eat the rich?" That's Obama's Occupy crowd's favorite cheer.
Are you just ignorant, stupid, or evil?
In a safer times, we used to ask, 'Are you a useful idiot or an unrepentant Communist?' Today we have to go with 'ignorant, stupid, or evil.'
Well, pick one. We are all waiting.
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 5:42PM
No, oh brilliant one - the taxes that were cut and you still enjoy as part of the horrible stimulus package you hate ... some 300 billion of it went to you and all of us taxpayers ... did you conveniently forget that or how did you say " 'ignorant, stupid, or evil.'- which are you?
carnot| 11.29.11 @ 12:35AM
yes..that $400 dollars made all the difference!
and we can get later to why so much stimulus money was needed by the States - to pay for excessive mandates/programs imposed by the Federal government.
don't watch the man behind the curtain!
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 7:19PM
Obama's Stimulus worked great, eh?
Convince us. We're waiting, Punk.
Quartermaster| 11.28.11 @ 7:25PM
DTOM, they are ignorant, stupid and evil. No need to choose. Just read Purple's idiocy above. They prove it every time they troll here.
Mike Hawk| 11.28.11 @ 3:51PM
Cut what taxes?? If you are talking about the SS payroll tax holiday, it defunds Social Security and is a sleight of hand.
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 5:51PM
No he's not, you are under an Obama income tax cut - not just the payroll tax holiday - whether you were told by your handlers or not... you can look it up, unless you're too lazy to verify it.
Quartermaster| 11.28.11 @ 7:26PM
No need to verify anything Purple. Mike nailed it, and you. You are the ignorant, stupid and evil, not to mention lazy, person here.
DRed| 11.28.11 @ 8:57PM
The 'making work pay' provision of the stimulus cut taxes for about 95% of federal income tax payers. Obama and the democrats also expanded the EITC, increased eligibility for child credits, increased deductions for first time homebuyers and added a host of additional deductions and lowered small business capital gains taxes. There's more, but I think those are the major tax cuts. The truth is out there.
carnot| 11.29.11 @ 12:37AM
they had to do all these things to compensate for all the costly mandates they imposed that drove us and the States to the current impasse you nitwit.
your argument is equivalent to handing a gauze pad to the person you just knifed.
DRed| 11.29.11 @ 12:49AM
Saying Obama has lowered taxes isn't an argument. It's a statement of fact.
Reprobate Charlatan DRedful| 11.29.11 @ 2:31AM
Funny thing,
that 'Obama has lowered taxes' 'for about 95% of federal income tax payers',
because after the Bush tax cuts there was a 4 year increase of over 44% in total federal revenue in 2007, according to the Office of Management and Budget, at whitehouse.gov/omb/,
while the top 1 % of federal income tax payers paid more income taxes than the bottom 95% combined, by more than 1% more, according to the Tax Foundation, at taxfoundation.org/files/,
yet after just one year of Obama's 'lowered taxes' 'for about 95% of federal income tax payers',
while the top 1% of federal income tax payers paid less income taxes than the bottom 95% combined, by more than 4.5% less, according to the Tax Foundation, at taxfoundation.org/files/,
but after 1 year of Obama tax policy there was a 2 year decrease of 22% in total federal revenue in 2009, according to the Office of Management and Budget, at whitehouse.gov/omb/,
yet I am driven to endlessly repeat my meager thoughts endlessly with caressing fondness repeatedly without so much as even any subjectively sourced manipulation of data,
and I am driven to endlessly repeat my insistent feelings endlessly with caressing fondness repeatedly without so much as even any subjectively sourced manipulation of data,
even though how meager my unintelligent and dishonest thoughts are lacking in reason and experience has been endlessly repeated to me with objectively sourced facts,
and how insistent my emotional feelings are lacking in reason and experience has been endlessly repeated to me with objectively sourced facts,
so stay tuned for more endlessly repeated meager thoughts and insistent feelings tomorrow from me, Reprobate Charlatan DRedful, as well as from my comrades Reprobate Charlatan Pimplepuss and Reprobate Charlatan Vomitus,
even though everyone with any intelligence and honesty already knows will be proven with objective sources of fact to be nothing more than emotional prattle devoid of any reason and experience,
again,
endlessly,
repeatedly,
endlessly,
again.
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 7:21PM
Wait a second, so OBAMA DIRECTLY CAUSED THE PLUNGE IN FEDERAL REVENUES...?
Gotta go SPREAD THE WORD. In purple writing.
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 9:00PM
I guess you are as happy as the proverbial "pig in s*" because that's all you know, you can't help it.
Tom Osterman| 11.28.11 @ 11:49AM
The Democrats' unspoken 1st Commandment has always been "No spending cuts" (as in "cuts that actually balance the budget this year"), deficit be damned, debt be damned, economy be damned. Notice I said "unspoken." It is crucial that spending cuts stay off the table and therefore not even discussed. Hence all the talk about GOP "inflexibility." Add to this a collusive media parroting the party line.
Notice also that this has been brutally effective. Unless the GOP keeps talking about cutting spending, then really cutting it, we're looking at a one-party banana republic and that party will be the Democrats.
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 5:49PM
Are you blind, ignorant or evil? The Democrats offer 10:1 spending cut vs revenue increase and the R's say NO! ... what part of that do you not understand? What media are you listening to? GOP-TV ( I mean Fox News)?
Reprobate Charlatan Pimplepuss| 11.28.11 @ 6:21PM
To prove you conservatives are blind and ignorant as well as evil, and to earn extra credit in addition to my 'Occupy' extra credit earned from my local community college class lecturer, I will write to my congressmen insisting that they act in good faith by demanding these 10:1 spending cuts occur immediately, and that the 1:10 revenue increases occur only after the end of the next ten years, in order to prevent you blind and ignorant as well as evil conservatives from claiming the 1:10 revenue increases occur immediately while the 10:1 spending cuts never materialize at the end of the next ten years, just like what happened when liberals made this offer the last two times, once to Reagan and once to Bush I, when spending cuts never happened but revenue increases did, that way everyone, both conservative and liberal alike, will know who is really blind and ignorant as well as evil, to settle the matter once and for all.
carnot| 11.29.11 @ 12:39AM
yea...I must have missed that part in each of Obama's budget submissions or the the Senate's 3 non-budget submissions! good point there!
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 7:23PM
And NOT ONE DAMN THING IN WRITING.
All talk. Like you, PurplePunk.
Obama's a chickenshit -- won't "cut" (decrease the planned increase in spending on) ANYTHING.
NADA. ZIP. ZILCH.
Chickenshit. No wonder your such a slobbering fanboy, Punk....
Oldefarte| 11.28.11 @ 2:09PM
Let me supplement G. Tracy's excellent editorial if I can by decalring that this represents the magnamous difference between the two parties. Democrat politicians know that their party's political platform regarding taxiation is wrong and socialist in nature but they believe same to be their chosen ticket to success at the polls. Call it class warfare, the Robin Hood Syndrome, wealth redistribution, etc. If and until semi-intelligent taxpayer-voters wake up and realize that the Republican Party's candidates represent their only hope for survival in saving this country from final destruction, this country will either grow/prosper or die economically/financially etc. The work ethic of yesteryear is saldy no longer evident [as seen by the OWS crowd, which is nothing but a generational extention of yesterday's Kent State, Symbionese Liberaltion Army, etc]. Company owners/employers must begin to forcebly apply political pressure on their employees to vote appropriately/intelligently if they wish to continue receiving paychecks, and this nation simply must do away with labor unions and their socialistic-terroristic activities. Governmental defecit/spending reduction can be accompolished in several ways: tax increases or spending reductions. The problem with the former is that typically the additional revenues from same are subsequently re-spent upon further/additional governmental spending measures/programs, and not appropriately spent upon reducing the original governmental expenses by means of eliminating programs/agencies etc that are useless/wasteful etc and non-deserving of governmental expendatures to maintain their existences. In other words, Democrats are in the business of PADDING THEIR EXPENSES TO EXPAND THEIR INFLUENCES. If taxpayers-voters ever wake up and elect Republicans and thereafter demand that those Republicans fulfill their obligations to said taxpayer-voters by reducing governmental expenses, this country will begin to grow/expand accordingly. If instead they are drugged by the bullexcrement of HOPE&CHANGE; etc, then our days are truly numbered!!!!!!!!!!
Purpleguy| 11.28.11 @ 5:59PM
"Company owners/employers must begin to forcebly apply political pressure on their employees to vote appropriately/intelligently if they wish to continue receiving paychecks," - are you kidding? That is the height of irresponsibility talking like a good little Nazi.
As far as the economy goes - just one simple little rule - CEOs are no longer paid by Stock Options - would change this country for the better. Right now, the incentives for the CEO are all toward Wall Street and beating the Street's analysts predictions in order to secure large bonuses, etc. There is little or no incentive to invest over the long run, toward the middle to far future, but to make a good spash and take the money and run. No incentives to invest here in America, and since it matters not how the money is made, no matter where the income derives, the CEOs chase the cheapest labor overseas. While that might be good for the consumer to have cheap Chinese goods, without a job here in America, who is going to consume? We don't want everyone on the public dole do we?
Change CEO pay incentives and this country will whip into shape in no time.
carnot| 11.29.11 @ 12:41AM
why should they when the government makes PDV calculations all but impossible? who the H are you kidding?
Negro X| 11.29.11 @ 9:13AM
Purpletard, So what is your master obama doing other than playing golf with CEOs?
gary siebel| 11.28.11 @ 2:58PM
Grover is an enemy of America. The author has no clue about the middle class. How could he -- he never talks to any. The few who are left in it are very resentful of the tax privileges of the upper class. They don't want to eat the rich, they just want a level playing field. The author will lose his bet. Obama will win.
gary psilosiebelocybin| 11.28.11 @ 7:09PM
To clarify, what I mean is resentful of the tax privileges of the upper class, like the top 1%, who in 2007, after years of benefiting from the Bush tax cuts, paid more than the bottom 95% combined, a ridiculously unlevel playing field, according to IRS data published by the nonpartisan Tax Foundation.
Leveling the playing field from the tax privileges of this upper class, that Grover, and all you enemies of America, have no clue about.
axbucxdu| 11.28.11 @ 8:13PM
While it's theoretically possible to balance the budget with additional confiscation from the upper two quintiles, the additional fractions of income required from them to close the existing gap would be 15% and 30%, respectively. These are absolute income percentages, not changes to their current tax rates.
Surely we can count on gary and the others that can't add to go door to door and personally give them the news.
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 7:27PM
Purple punks would try to seize others' property, but I've moved all my clients into "protected" assets offshore. Business has been booming as they see Punk Obama reaching for their wallets.
Sorry, Punk! You lose. Again.
martin j smith| 11.29.11 @ 8:11AM
The NYT ( Pravda USA ) has announced yesterday that the Obama Regime will campaign on Class Warfare. So, its really going to be more profound than any election and I hope Mr Mehan and Mr Norquist are aware: Its Capitalism versus Socialism or Communism. That is what its all about Alfie.
Thomas Paine| 11.30.11 @ 7:28PM
In that case, 2010 shellacking will look like the "Good old days" for Obama and his Purple Band of Punks.