Republican Bait-and-Switch on Taxes

Republican Bait-and-Switch on Taxes:

“Thus we see that Republicans want their cake and eat it too. They want to use higher [CBO] revenue projections resulting almost entirely from expiration of the Bush tax cuts to prevent any discussion of tax increases to reduce the deficit, while implying that this revenue rise comes solely from faster economic growth. As Sen. Kyl put it, “So revenues are down, but it is due to the recession that we have. We have not cut tax rates in the last few years – since 2006 – for example.”

According to the CBO, ending all of the tax cuts and allowing scheduled tax increases now in law to take effect would raise revenues by $5.6 trillion between 2012 and 2021, including debt service. That would go a long way toward solving our debt problem. In fact, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says that this action, by itself, would be sufficient to stabilize the national debt and prevent it from rising as a share of GDP.”

(Via Capital Gains and Games | Washington, Wall Street and Everything ….)

Half-truths are whole lies.

American Takfiris – Ta-Nehisi Coates

The American conscience, when it decides to act, is mighty–but it is also sluggish and vain. Americans are crushed by the weight of not fulfilling their own high expectations–so the shameful acts of one generation are often rectified by a subsequent generation unencumbered by their own complicity in such acts…The American conscience is often slow to action, but not because it cannot recognize evil–but because our view of ourselves as a people guided by justice is so important to who we are that when confronted with proof of our own shortcomings, we recoil in shame and precious vanity. Eventually, with the big stuff, we usually find our way–we see this with our slow, staggering, but inevitable march towards full personhood for gays and lesbians.  And while those who stained America’s honor with war crimes have escaped accountability for now, these American takfiris will eventually be judged by history with a clarity we cannot muster today.

via American Takfiris – Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Great post by guest Adam Sewer.  Definitely worth the read.

If the Shoe Fits

Monument to Bush shoe-throwing shines at Iraqi orphanage – CNN.com:

“For the war-beaten orphans of the northern Iraqi city of Tikrit, this big old shoe fits.
A monument to a shoe thrown at former President Bush is unveiled at the Tikrit Orphanage complex.
A huge sculpture of the footwear hurled at President Bush in December during a trip to Iraq has been unveiled in a ceremony at the Tikrit Orphanage complex.
Assisted by children at the home, sculptor Laith al-Amiri erected a brown replica of one of the shoes hurled at Bush and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki by journalist Muntadhir al-Zaidi during a press conference in Baghdad.”

(Via CNN.)

My favorite part of this article was the last line. “By tradition, throwing a shoe is the most insulting act in the Arab world.”

What’s the Difference?

So Palin can speak in complete sentences. She still knows nothing about foreign policy. – By Fred Kaplan – Slate Magazine:

“More to the point, he noted that McCain has never explained how his policies would differ from Bush’s on Iran, Lebanon, Pakistan, or Iraq. In other words, even if Palin is right that 2009 is Year Zero, what would she and her No. 1 do differently? She didn’t answer the question, any more than McCain ever has, perhaps because there is no answer.”

(Via Slate.com.)

About the only thing the McCain smacks of change is it’s slogan which has as the campaign wears on. Now it’s, “Change is Coming.” Barack Obama is winning in the polls so I guess he’s right.

Bush III

4 more years anyone?

A-PUHLEASE!-ment

When you know GOP rhetoric is full of ish.

Chris Matthews really lays into this whole “appeasement” crap. The rhetoric only works if you are uneducated about history and basic vocabulary.
appease to pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands
How is that talking?
As for history, the quote he used was a Republican senator’s!!!



Rigging Justice

Cheney, others OK’d harsh interrogations – Yahoo! News:

“Bush administration officials from Vice President Dick Cheney on down signed off on using harsh interrogation techniques against suspected terrorists after asking the Justice Department to endorse their legality, The Associated Press has learned.
The officials also took care to insulate President Bush from a series of meetings where CIA interrogation methods, including waterboarding, which simulates drowning, were discussed and ultimately approved.”

(Via Yahoo! News.)

I actually saw this on The West Wing. General would fall on his sword if Bartlett’s assassination of a terrorist is found out. Great drama, but highly disturbing in real life. It’s always easy to go along when they aren’t coming for you. That’s why we have to stand up against torture regardless of whose the target. Even if you have no morals whatsoever the poem First they came… provides good enough reason to do so. Ashcroft’s quote at the end of the story is great.

“Why are we talking about this in the White House?” the network quoted Ashcroft as saying during one meeting. “History will not judge this kindly.”

Heavy Troop Deployments Are Called Major Risk – washingtonpost.com

Heavy Troop Deployments Are Called Major Risk – washingtonpost.com:

“Senior Army and Marine Corps leaders said yesterday that the increase of more than 30,000 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan has put unsustainable levels of stress on U.S. ground forces and has put their readiness to fight other conflicts at the lowest level in years.”

(Via The Washington Post.)

What are you left with when you kill the goose to get more and more of those golden eggs?

A Disgrace of Governmental Proportions

heraldsun.com: 3 Duke students tell of ‘disgraceful scene’

“Anyone who knows that area, if you had a bus, it would take you no more than 20 minutes to drive in with a bus and get these people out,” Buder said. “They sat there for four or five days with no food, no water, babies getting raped in the bathrooms, there were murders, nobody was doing anything for these people. And we just drove right in, really disgraceful. I don’t want to get too fired up with the rhetoric, but some blame needs to be placed somewhere.”

I am beyond livid at this point. Kanye must be right. Bush must not really care about black people, poor people, etc. If three students can make it and take people out in a Hyundai, why not the world’s most powerful nation’s government?!??!?!! In a CNN interview, they reported EMPTY BUSES LEAVING as they made their way to the Superdome. Words fail me to describe this as anything but monstrous racism, elitism, or incompetence. Take your pick. It’s just as ugly.

It’s Gonna Get Ugly Folks

WSJ.com – Kerry Strikes Back at GOP, Calling Bush ‘Unfit to Lead’
I think we can pretty much put any expectation that the issues are going to get some serious debate in this election cycle out the window. The #$%& is going to, no has hit the fan and the mud is flying. Buckle your seat belts, folks.
Hey, at least Edwards rolled through the crib yesterday!

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