Gallup reports historic poll margin for GOP in Congress
According to the folks at Gallup, Republicans now hold a 10-point lead over Democrats in what’s called the generic ballot for Congress. (Registered voters are asked whether they would be more likely to vote for a Republican or a Democrat, with no mention of actual candidates.)
Gallup reports that the 10-point lead is the biggest it has ever found for Republicans (Democrats had a 32-point lead in 1974, during the Watergate scandal.) The finding adds to evidence that a GOP takeover of the House is likely this year, although as Gallup also cautions, “Democrats moved ahead in Gallup’s generic ballot for several weeks earlier this summer, showing that change is possible between now and Election Day.”
As I’ve noted earlier, the GOP base has made it clear that it has no interest whatsoever in any sort of compromise, and will in fact punish any of its leaders who suggest otherwise. As a result, I think we’re doomed to two of the most divisive, tumultuous years we’ve seen in American politics in a long, long time. It could make the Clinton/Gingrich years seem tame in comparison.
And come 2012, the American people will be asked to render its verdict on that approach.
Politics, like baseball, is a long game played in half-inning increments. And in this particular frame, the Republicans have the bases loaded and nobody out, with the Dems just hoping to limit the damage until their own turn at bat.
UPDATE: Someone in comments asked for an explanation for the 10-point GOP surge. I responded that people are scared and frustrated, and in their fear and frustration they want government to do something. (The demand to be saved even comes from those — in some cases ESPECIALLY from those — who claim they want government out of the economy).
As I’ve written before, though, government even under President Bush didn’t deserve the lion’s share of the blame for getting us into this mess, and nothing government can do under President Obama can turn it around quickly either. But that doesn’t stop people from wanting what they can’t have.
As supportive evidence, take a look at the Yahoo chart below of the Dow Jones Industrial Average over the last three months. More specifically, look at the timing of the Dow high this summer and compare it to the timing of the Democrats’ highest advantage in the generic ballot. It lends credence to the economic explanation; as the news sunk in about a stalled recovery, the GOP poll performance began to improve considerably.
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586 comments Add your comment
Union
August 31st, 2010
4:38 pm
harry -
i understand that ss is broke.. the “tipping” point wasnt supposed to occur for 10 – 15 more years..
Big D
August 31st, 2010
4:39 pm
Private sector…
The whole idea of the Tea Party movement is not just the ouster of the ” we’ll force feed the heathens” Democrats, it is to remove all the big spender Republican’s that caused as much trouble as the idiots across the aisle.
Paul
August 31st, 2010
4:39 pm
harvey
“When, as example they pass a healthcare bill that causes companies who insure their workers and families, to insure a group of 21 – 24 year olds, that adds to the company’s burden.”
I realize you meant that as just an example, but… isn’t the theory that, as with taxes, if costs go up, the company just passes them on to the consumer? If so, what’s the problem?
As to the specifics of the question, I’ve no idea, but I can’t imagine in the population of employee families there’d be that many 24-26-year olds who’d even want to be covered on their parents’ policy. Not to mention which, companies just pass costs on to the employees anyhow.
AmVet
August 31st, 2010
4:40 pm
Oh. And by the way, because all you do is badmouth Democrats, I’m canceling my subscription to the AJC, Mr. Bookman!
(j/k. Doing my self-righteous con imitation…)
Jefferson
August 31st, 2010
4:41 pm
Some of the GOP comments I hear would make me normally say what a “tool”, but some I’ve heard today are “tossers”.
David S
August 31st, 2010
4:42 pm
Sadly, thanks to the two-faced one-policy party, we will only have the democrats or republicans to choose from in November. We have such horrible ballot access laws in Georgia that a 3rd party candidate has not been able to qualify for the US congressional races since 1935 ! And that party was the socialist party. Now, that is really the only party we have to vote for (the two wings of it).
A Libertarian choice certainly would be a refreshing change to the big government, big war, big spending, no liberties, no freedom choice the two major parties offer.
Union
August 31st, 2010
4:42 pm
amvet –
youre wrong.. a con wouldnt have a subscription in the first place..
Kamchak
August 31st, 2010
4:43 pm
What’s wrong with Rice-a-Roni?
Absolutely nothing.
A lifetime supply was the ubiquitous consolation prize on TeeVee game shows during the 60’s when the contestant failed to win the grand prize.
Union
August 31st, 2010
4:45 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYbvHZGX5lQ
omg.. this is too funny.. i know some of you are gonna have difficulty watching this.. (foxnews) but gibbs.. gives it back.. and talk about an angry bitter person.. lmao
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
4:45 pm
K’Chak
Rice-a-Roni was haute cuisine in my college days!
jm
August 31st, 2010
4:47 pm
The democrats have shot themselves in the foot to a large degree though. We’re in a complex time. Obama’s lack of personal Reagan or Clinton style optimism is especially glaring.
At any rate, Republicans will shoot themselves in the foot after this if they launch supposed special prosecutors on the Obama administration. People want government focused on shrinking itself and fixing (read stop doing) all the stupid things it does incorrectly. They don’t want a witch hunt although they do want ethics in government. Like I said complex time. I’m sick of it all.
Take me back to Reagan – O’neill days. Not that I new what government did at that time…
Kamchak
August 31st, 2010
4:49 pm
josef
I have eaten my share of the boxed rice/pasta side dish, but a lifetime supply is a curse.
@@
August 31st, 2010
4:50 pm
Paul:
All my husband and I ever wanted to do was fulfill our own prophecy. Is that too much to ask?
Government is what happened when we were making other plans.
My brother called me “squirt”.
Brett
August 31st, 2010
4:50 pm
Raw ignorance & gross stupidity are ever alive withing Murcuh’s rancid masses. For proof – merely glance this site for a sampling. The worst & most demeaning years in Murcuhn history.
jm
August 31st, 2010
4:51 pm
See article below. This would be a HUGE mistake if Republicans win.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/41506.html
Doggone/GA
August 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
“It amounts to “legislate now and ask questions later.” It is exactly that attitude that will be dealt with by the voters in November.”
No matter how it was/is/might have been framed…it was always going to be that. It’s breaking new ground, no matter how it was done.
Big D
August 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
Joe nix…It has MSG in it…bad stuff..
AmVet
August 31st, 2010
4:53 pm
Then sell that concept to Andy and the innumerable other drive by cons, etc. who post that very drivel. Either they do or they are delusional. I’d say that one is a 50 – 50…
Harry Callahan
August 31st, 2010
4:54 pm
Union…I read elsewhere this morning that social security outlays already exceed receipts as of today, Aug 31, 2010. We’re past the tipping point. But, the Democrat talking points, dutifully repeated ad nauseum by their flunkies in the mainstream media, are that;
1) Clinton ran budget surpluses
2) Social Security is fine
Please understand, I recognize that many Americans are easily duped by these talking points, hence the 2010 election results. But many (myself included) have seeen this coming, planned for it, and have substantial amounts saved for retirement. Conversely, those cheering longest and loudest for Barack, Pelosi, and Reid, are gonna be the ones most hosed by the Dem policies. Taxsation will rise to the point where they never have excess income to save on their own, and SS will be bust. It’s quite ironic. So, despite the fact that government will take increasingly larger shares of my income over the remaining 20 years of my working life, I take some amount of plesaure in understanding that, 20 years down the road, I’ll be financially secure, and all the libbies who think Barack is their savior will be living in trailers and eating fried spam sandwiches. As my dad always says, the best revenge is living well.
Jay
August 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
And @@, how is gov’t preventing you from “fulfilling your own prophecy”?
Paul
August 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
@@
Did government prevent you from that?
Union
I’ll give her credit for asking the question. Not sure other network interviewers do the same.
Remember on here a couple years ago when a recurring theme was “Why won’t Pres Bush apologize for being wrong on WMDs?” Dems demanded and apology, Reps gave reasons why it wasn’t practical for a pres to do such a thing. Now it’s reversed – Reps demand an apology and Dems say why it isn’t practical.
I do like the Gibbs spin on it, though – that Candidate Obama said introducing 20,000 troops would have an impact. Clever.
Doggone/GA
August 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
“translation: Bush bow GOOD!!”
Always…IOKIYAR
Scout
August 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
“So, of all the planet’s potentates, why would an American president demean his station in homage to this one? Because Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islam. More specifically, it is the bottomless purse and symbolic crown of a movement which aims at nothing less than supplanting Western political, economic and cultural values. The subversion of those values is Obama’s fondest wish: the work of his presidency, the Hope behind the Change. The president was bowing to a shared dream.”
“The Grand Jihad” by Andrew McCarthy
Union
August 31st, 2010
4:57 pm
harry -
but then someone will see something you worked hard to accomplish all of your life and shout.. thats not fair.. and then want a piece of it..
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
4:57 pm
Union
@ 4:45
Heckle and Jeckle…
Union
August 31st, 2010
4:58 pm
paul -
she has such a frown on her face though.. .looks like someone was squeezing her leg or something.. lol
willibkind
August 31st, 2010
5:00 pm
The progressive liberals are really going to fun now!
Union
August 31st, 2010
5:00 pm
josef –
thought you were talking about this for a minute.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q14u0LtZrqk
willibkind
August 31st, 2010
5:01 pm
There will be fighting, rioting, and oh dont forget the lying.
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:02 pm
Brett
And you’re not one of the masses? Do tell…
Big D…
Aw, what’s wrong with a little MSG?
Harry
What’s wrong with manufactured housing and spam?
Kamchak
August 31st, 2010
5:02 pm
And @@, how is gov’t preventing you from “fulfilling your own prophecy”?
Help! Help! I’m being repressed! Come see the violence inherent in the system!
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 31st, 2010
5:02 pm
My brother called me “squirt”.
I got called sport, squirt, bubba, bud, bochepus (long before anybody knew who Hank, Jr was), bo, cicero, wildcat, skinny, slim and who knows what else, that I can’t remember. Where half them names came from, I have no idea.
Paul
August 31st, 2010
5:03 pm
Union
Yeah, I thought it a bit combative.
Most people recognize that if a question is asked three times, it’s not going to get answered and the interviewer has made their point.
AmVet
August 31st, 2010
5:03 pm
I’m old enough to remember when Republicans loved our representative democracy and federal constitutional republic!
Now the never-served, never-will just want to mooch off of Uncle Sam, contribute nothing and make taxes voluntary.
And blame him when everything doesn’t go their way and they don’t make it to easy street.
The Party of Personal Responsibility my ___…
Harry Callahan
August 31st, 2010
5:03 pm
Union
August 31st, 2010
4:57 pm
harry -
“but then someone will see something you worked hard to accomplish all of your life and shout.. thats not fair.. and then want a piece of it..”
They already do that. We call them “democrats.”
willibkind
August 31st, 2010
5:04 pm
The Tea Party will lead taking America back and let the majority rule for a while. Imagine that, the majority ruling the representativie republic. Who knows, we might even have a President who will lead a national prayer.
jm
August 31st, 2010
5:04 pm
This article also describes a big part of the reason our economy is in the toilet. The government itself has put the plumbing at cross purposes (like trying to get water pressure out in the front yard while trying to fill up the basement pool in case of an emergency).
This article encapsulates some of my own observations. Ignoring the China problem for now.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/27/news/economy/dick_bove_banks.fortune/index.htm
Harry Callahan
August 31st, 2010
5:05 pm
AmVet…don’t support Democrats and claim you’re in favor of personal responsibility. It’s laughable. And as far as never-served, never-will, I think you’ll find that more of our armed forces personnel are Republican than Democrat. But don’t let the facts get in the way of your ignorant rant.
FEAR - False Events Appearing Real
August 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
mm @ 12:59 pm
“Just imagine if Insane and Failin had been elected. He would still be saying “The economy is sound”. He and the GOP would have done nothing but:
Cut taxes and increase the deficit.
Let the auto industry collapse and destroy 30 percent of our economy.
Let the banks fail and plunge us into a worldwide depression.”
I would also add that 95% of all Americans would not have received a tax cut as was contained in the President’s Stimulus Package.
And you are also right in your reference to the current Democrat electorate anger stemming from the uber-compromising witnessed in order to acheive passage of each and every significant piece of legislation over the past 18 months. It’s out loud laughable whenever the talking heads and GOP talk about so-called Democratic partisan antics.
ThoseWhoServe @ 1:51
I can’t find disagreement in anything you’ve stated. Shame on us if we hand over the House and/or Senate to the idiots that drove this economy into the ditch and then sat on thier hands like little girls while this president rolled up his sleeves and mopped up thier colossal messes. And then they whine like little *itches when he doesn’t mop fast enough. Give me a break!
Too many people are allowing F.E.A.R., bigotry, intolerance and downright willful stupidity render them into mindless dolts. And no one knows how to manipulate that fact better than pollsters and Republicans.
Pogo
August 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
Jay says, “As I’ve noted earlier, the GOP base has made it clear that it has no interest whatsoever in any sort of compromise,”.
Like the Democrats compromised with Bush, right Jay? Oh, how you must hurt from those terrible uncompromising republicans! The self-righteous agony must be overwhelming!
I do however agree with you on what I think your point is. If this country is ever going to pull itself together the political rankor coming from the “lunatic fringe” on both sides has to go. But with most of the printed press and the major networks being solidly on the side of the liberal/progessive’s, Americans know they can no longer trust the only information outlets they have historically had to base their opinions on. The press and the networks, who are supposed to be trusted to give us unbiased opinion are totally out of whack. They are infested with left leaning ideologues. Fox, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Times are the only major exceptions to the media bias and and this explains their success. It is not just because everything they report is somehow beyond question or that it is profound but it is because they don’t walk lockstep with the rest of the progressive media such as the NYT’s, the Washington Post, the AJC (locally), NBC, ABC, CBS, etc. etc. The liberal press is responsible for its own financial doom. If it would have stuck to unbiased reporting instead of trying to mold the world into its own progressive ideological image it would have been successful.
The peoples voices have been ignored by Obama, his advisors and the traditional press from the very start because his supporters believed so deeply in what they wanted him to be which was their “Progressive Moses” (or the 21st Century FDR, whichever you prefer). The Democrats big mistake was to believe that the 2008 election was some kind of mandate for the socialist/progressive movement. All it was was a vote for change from Bush because the most radical arms of the democratic party in the press and in the government (and George Soros, who is another story) had portrayed Bush (and any conservative, though I don’t consider Bush a conservative) to be on the same social level with the Anti-Christ. But the truth is, Americans do not like progressivism and they do not like political correctness taken to the extreme and they especially do not like socialism. Those are ideas that this country was founded souly against. The Americans that pay the taxes work too hard to believe in the distributionist dreams of liberal career politicians and “intellectual” political ideologues and the American are now thorougly pissed that they elected a government that pretty is much comprised of just these. Americans are at heart, Capitalists. Sorry Jay, but that is the truth. And the progressive agenda just doesn’t mix with Capitalism too well.
Now an argument could be made as to why they (we) bought into the whole Obama thing in the first place. It was because they (we) had had 8 years of Bush bashing by every progressive/liberal voice in this country plus Bush made some very bad decisions on his own. Let’s face reality; out of the three last presidents we have had in this country all three were losers. Clinton was slick and he helped set the gears in motion for what we are suffering now (the credit built boom years of the 1990’s) but, having a republican congress actually helped Clinton and it actually helped America. Neither party should ever, EVER control all three branches of our federal government. Terrible times come to all of us every time this mis-alignment happens.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
I’ve never lived in a trailer but I have eaten my share of fried spam. Down a few Vienna’s in my time, too.
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:09 pm
Union
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:09 pm
josef:
This is terrible !
“Casino Proposed Near Battlefield Splits Gettysburg”
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=11516813
AmVet
August 31st, 2010
5:10 pm
But wiili, would the prayer be to Yahweh, Vishnu, Zeus, Allah or my personal favorite, Aphrodite?
That chick was hot!
http://tinyurl.com/2vj6hsf
willibkind
August 31st, 2010
5:10 pm
And maybe the ruling party will read and interpret the constitution as our forefathers intended. Just think our schools could actually teach real American history. Our schools will teach he good, the bad, and the ugly but with the intent to teach not to indoctrinate. We learn from our mistakes but not progressive liberals. Their intent is to change the core of American and we have said, “NO”!
Ninja
August 31st, 2010
5:11 pm
“Like the Democrats compromised with Bush, right Jay?”
Uhh conservatives LOVE to trot out that a bunch of democrats agreed with every stupid thing that Bush did when it suits their purposes, like the Iraq War. Now you’re telling me that was all a lie?
Harry Callahan
August 31st, 2010
5:11 pm
See link…current active duty personnel identify themselves as follows;
41% Republican
32% Independent
27% Democrat
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/04/military_poll_advance_041110w/
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:12 pm
Headline: “Anti-Muslim Rhetoric: Free Speech or Hate Speech?”
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/anti-muslim-rhetoric-free-speech-hate-speech/story?id=11519631
“Islam and the West, distinct civilizations, can neither assimilate nor co-exist harmoniously.”
Andrew McCarthy
marky mark
August 31st, 2010
5:13 pm
Damn Pogo….that was GOOD…..
AmVet
August 31st, 2010
5:13 pm
Yeah, punk too bad none of them ran for high political office during the Bush chicken-hawk years!
The only two you fools ever had in your midst – McCain and Hagel – you damn near swift-boated!
Big talking cowards from Cheney to Saxby to every other GOP “leader” of note over the past 10 years or more.
They should all be waterboarded…
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:13 pm
Hillbilly
I confess…there are Viennas in the cabinet. A bunch of us got to talking one time and wound up having a “spam party!” Lots of other good food there, but spam was the star!
TaxPayer
August 31st, 2010
5:13 pm
The social security “surplus” was what Bush and his cronies used to fund their temporary tax cuts. That plus what they borrowed from China. Now, the cons want the Dems to make the Bush temporary tax cuts permanent even though there is no more social security surplus to tap and the Chinese are not willing to loan us more money. However, the cons would be more than willing to stop paying out social security benefits while continuing to collect the payroll tax in order to make those Bush temporary tax cuts permanent, especially if it is the Dems that do the dirty work for them so they can honestly say to their aging old retired constituency, like Scout, kayaker, et al, that they did not do it.
Ninja
August 31st, 2010
5:14 pm
So yesterday at the bar I’m talking to a conservative “businessman” who was telling me how great Rwanda’s government is for business and that we should emulate their model. But of course, when I asked him if he would live there, “F!@# NO!” was the answer. Think about that for a second and maybe some things will become clear about how much conservatives actually love this country.
Paul
August 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
What’s with this blog? People pop up, make assertions and they’re asked to explain, then they disappear? Extremerightwing, harvey, yesterday’s Anonymous…. they appear from their style to not be drivebys, so I assume they’re regulars who create a new name to hide behind?
New Rule of Thumb: discount veracity of anyone who pops in, posts, then runs.
Harry Callahan
August 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
AmVet, the more I ponder your 5:03 post, the more I’m convinced you’re deranged. Republican are moochers who contribute nothing? Wow…the people most likely to pay taxes and least likely to be on welfare “mooch off of Uncle Sam, contribute nothing”…LOL. I guess libbies can convince themselves of just about anything.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 31st, 2010
5:15 pm
Aahhh, yes, Republicans mooch off the government, it’s true what they say, you learn something new everyday.
Speaking of which, I need to go prepare for the hurricane, should it make landfall I am certainly not going to whine and moan to the government like a bunch of, uh, democrats did in New Orleans.
We can take care of ourselves where I live.
willibkind
August 31st, 2010
5:16 pm
Amvet, did you go to school? Arent you a college graduate? Yes, I see you have attended the indoctrination and do not know our heritage. In your efforts to be inclusive you have excluded your heritage. Our constitution says the creator! If you desire it can be a rock. It is America! However, we were founded on christain beliefs. No matter how you deny it or are disgruntled by it. It is the simple truth.
BADA BING
August 31st, 2010
5:16 pm
josef…..hot dogs and viennas are OK. Everyone has to get their RDA of beef rectum and chicken lips.
buck@gon
August 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
Best new word learned today:
“federosexual”
I have no idea what it means, but it sounds cool..
Thanks JT
Harry Callahan
August 31st, 2010
5:17 pm
…and thanks for your 5:13, AmVet. Wow, calling people punks and cowards. Big talk from a guy hiding anonymously behind a keyboard, and too cowardly to take care of himself, so he wants all the rest of us to pay for his health care, retirement, etc. Joke-U-R
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
josef:
Check my 5:09
Harry Callahan
August 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
Sorry folks, I’ve got to get in my big SUV, head on back to my big McMansion in the suburbs, and hang out with my wife and kid. I know these are all things liberals love to hate (gas-guzzlers, suburbanites, and people who get married and support their own kids) but hey, I gotta be me. later.
Kamchak
August 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
…too cowardly to take care of himself, so he wants all the rest of us to pay for his health care, retirement, etc. Joke-U-R
There’s your sign.
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 31st, 2010
5:20 pm
Everyone has to get their RDA of beef rectum and chicken lips.
You’ve probably eaten worse than that, you just didn’t know it.
Mirror, Mirror.
August 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
AmVet states the obvious and gets called out by the blogging moochers.
Paul
August 31st, 2010
5:21 pm
Scout
ABC Lead: “Anti-Muslim Rhetoric: Free Speech or Hate Speech?aith Coalition Calls on DOJ to Take Public Stance Against Anti-Muslim Rhetoric”
“A coalition of faith groups met with Justice Department officials Monday to encourage the Obama administration to take a more public stance against anti-Muslim hate speech and hate crimes.”
That’s a muddled piece. No where in the article did I read where anyone, even Muslims, sought action against speech. The article’s examples were all about actions which are already against the law.
ABC?!!?
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
Hillbilly Deluxe :
I have. It was called C-rats.
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
Scout
Nothing they’d do for a dollar on that side of the border would surprise me…
willibkind
August 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
“The social security “surplus”"
Is there such an account? Too many people who have not paid into it are drawing some form of ssn or ss disability. Some at a young age. I know what your question is, what do we do about them? Well, we need to help those that need help but you cant accidently get pregnant the fifth time. There are too many examples for posting. But you get the idea.
Kamchak
August 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
Hillbilly Deluxe
Unfortunately, I did know.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
As I’ve written before, though, government even under President Bush didn’t deserve the lion’s share of the blame for getting us into this mess, and nothing government can do under President Obama can turn it around quickly either. But that doesn’t stop people from wanting what they can’t have.
Bush reigns over death of capitalism?
By Jay Bookman | Friday, September 12, 2008, 10:59 AM
Kaletsky opens his piece by noting that this era was supposed to mark the triumph of capitalism, with communism gone and the markets triumphant. But events on Wall Street and in Washington indicate that “just as the triumph appeared to be complete, the innermost sanctum of the global capitalist system suddenly collapsed.”
Just sayin…
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
Paul :
True ……… but it’s just a matter of time until you can’t speak your mind and criticize anything.
It’s already the law in Canada.
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
Bada and Hillbilly
Remember the commercial? “Parts is parts!”
Fish Tales
August 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
All this talk of Spam has me hankering for a can of sardines packed in mustard and some saltines. My granddad and I would munch out on them every time we went fishing so we could tell everyone when we got back that we caught a bunch of fish but ate them all and that was why we did not bring any home.
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:24 pm
josef:
If Pennsylvania allows that ………….. it’s almost treasonous.
AmVet
August 31st, 2010
5:25 pm
Looks like Hairy took his ball and bat and went home.
What a hoot…
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
Scout
In blog searching for a home, I tried some of the Canadian sites…I was blown out of the water at some of what was banned! Jay’s count on this one would have not passed 200 if this was there…
jm
August 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
How to fix the economy:
1. Balance the budget and begin paying down fed debt because otherwise China gets to manipulate their mercantilist game. (with tools available below)
2. Increase minimum downpayment and income ratio requirements for housing.
3. Regulate the Hedge Fund industry like the banking industry.
4. End Corporate Taxes, end all farm and corporate subsidies; ban lobbying by corporations
5. Clean all outdated and stupid laws off the books (I don’t know what these are, but I’m certain they exist in large quantities).
6. End social security and medicare for anyone under the age of 50, require 10% of pre-tax income to go toward untouchable 401k style savings accounts for those under 50.
7. Means test social security and medicare immediately. Raise minimum eligibility age to 70 immediately then index to 95% of life expectancy within 10 years. Means testing exempt for anyone with assets less than $50,000 but still working (no disincentive for working).
8. For those under 50, social security becomes in essence a poverty program providing sustenance assistance, but good solid assistance if you don’t have any assets or income.
9. To replace medicare, HSA’s for long term healthcare become available with minimum contributions of 5% of income.
10. Capital gains and income taxes are equalized on a sliding scale (so it no longer matters whether your income is from wages or capital – its all taxed at the same rate).
11. Two income tax brackets: 10% on all wages up to $100,000, 25% on income over $100,000 (individually).
12. Phase out of portions of income tax with a VAT. For every VAT dollar of revenue however, income taxes (and capital gains tax) rates are adjusted downward (no net revenue increase for the government). Just rewarding saving over spending providing a more stable revenue source for government budgeting purposes.
13. Unemployment goes back to max 26 weeks.
14. Term limits of 18 years for members of Congress. Lifetime ban on any former senator or representative engaging in lobbying activities.
15. Banning of state laws permitting unions to require donations – all union donations are voluntary not mandatory in unionized states.
16. End taxing of overseas US citizens on wages.
There. Now that I’ve radically remade the American economy, I can go back to work….
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:26 pm
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/08/31/bahai-woman-recalls-imprisonment-in-iran/?hpt=C1
Ah, more on the wonderful world of Islam.
Paul
August 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
Harry Callahan
If you’re still here: “gas-guzzlers”
Ever taken a look at the percentage of US oil consumption attributed to vehicle use? Ever looked at the growth in imports from the Middle East? Ever looked at the effect of greater efficiency would have on the level of consumption when aggregated for the country?
Our reason for going to war in Desert Storm I was what? Our involvement in the Middle East for the past 50 years or so is because of what? Do you really think, absent oil, we’d care what went on over there?
So you glory in higher than necessary oil consumption?
Thousands of military families thank you.
BADA BING
August 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
8 people killed by drug gangs in Cancun this time. Folks, you better boycott Mexico, they are hitting tourist areas now.
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:28 pm
josef:
Exactly ………….. and there are leaders in this country who will try it here ! They want to silence anyone who disagrees with them.
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:28 pm
Scout
Like I said, nothing they did would surprise me…
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:28 pm
BADA BING:
“We don’t need no stinking badges”
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
josef:
That’s when they cross a line .
@@
August 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
How, you ask?
*Jay
August 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
And @@, how is gov’t preventing you from “fulfilling your own prophecy”?*
*Paul
August 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
@@
Did government prevent you from that?*
Geez fellas! Try to remember, I don’t do emoticons. You’re like a coupl’a freakin’ vultures.
Paul & jay:
Right now, I’m out of a job. Other than that…they have big plans for our capital gains, estate, health care, AMT…..the sun is setting.
____________________________________________________
Kamchak:
Have you told everyone why you use the “you’re operating under the misconception…” schtick so often now?
Do you wanna tell ‘em or should I? Never mind…wouldn’t wanna put you out.
It’s because Grand Forks complemented you on its usage over at Kyle’s.
It’s kinda sweet that you’ve remembered.
Back to the paint can, ladder, paintbrush and walls.
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
Scout
They probably will try it, too, but I do suspect the Bruins would raise a stink if they did…the CT’s, of course, would think it was just fine–so long as it was her side doing the banning…
Paul
August 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
Scout
“but it’s just a matter of time until you can’t speak your mind and criticize anything.
It’s already the law in Canada.”
Much as I like Canada, it’s like any other country: they don’t have our Constitution, our guarantees and our freedoms. I don’t think it’s a forgone conclusion we’ll see greater and greater limits on non-violence inciting speech.
Unless we get more people on the Court who subscribe to the view “hey, speech is protected, but what others do to you if they don’t like what you say is fair game.”
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
Aahhh, the dummycrat goon squad has a strategy-
Democrats have a conundrum. If they agree to extend the Bush tax cuts–the heart of Bush’s economic policies, which only have an expiration date in the first place because Democrats threatened to filibuster them otherwise–they’re endorsing Bush’s economic policies. If they don’t extend them, Barack Obama and the Democrats still left in Congress will almost certainly create a double-dip recession that will threaten to make their party radioactive for the next few election cycles. Perhaps they should have thought their 2010 strategy of demonizing Bush through a little more.
Why of course kookman never criticized Bush.
kookman always liked tax cuts!
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
Remember the commercial? “Parts is parts!”
I do remember that!!!
I wish I could find audio for this but maybe it will read well enough to give you the idea.
http://www.lyricszoo.com/utah-phillips/moose-turd-pie/
Ninja
August 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
“They want to silence anyone who disagrees with them.”
And yet you’re still here. What does that say?
RW-(the original)
August 31st, 2010
5:36 pm
Has everybody been assigned to their reeducation camps yet?
“So, we have a lot of reeducation to do,” Sebelius said.
And you wonder why the poll numbers are doing what they’re doing
Paul
August 31st, 2010
5:36 pm
Hi @@
Yes, I remember you don’t do emoticons. But you do the ISH thing and I didn’t see it.
“they have big plans for our capital gains,”
Are you one of those Fair Tax of Flat Tax types? If so, is there a consistent justification for exempting certain types of income from a fair or flat rate?
” estate” I’m with you there. Work hard, pay taxes on earnings, save, then because you die someone thinks they deserve it? Uh-uh.
“health care” Well, if you were in an uninsurable group, or hit a payout cap, then I’d say that kept you from reaching your potential and the bill to do away with those impediments actually helped you reach your potential.
“AMT” another example where both parties are the same.
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:37 pm
Ninja:
I said “they want”.
Kamchak
August 31st, 2010
5:39 pm
Have you told everyone why you use the “you’re operating under the misconception…” schtick so often now?
Do you wanna tell ‘em or should I? Never mind…wouldn’t wanna put you out.
It’s because Grand Forks complemented you on its usage over at Kyle’s.
The phrase is “You seem to be laboring under the misapprehension,” and it comes from this Monty Python sketch.
Grand Forks ain’t got nuthin’ to do with it.
josef nix
August 31st, 2010
5:39 pm
Harry
Suburbs, eh? East Cobb…? So déclassé!
Fish Tales–
I draw the line at sardines…but, yep, Unmentionable and the boys wouldn’t think of going fishing without them!
Hillbilly Deluxe
August 31st, 2010
5:42 pm
The only people who pay estate taxes are family farmers trying to pass on the land or small business types trying to pass the business on to their kids. The real monied folks have the knowledge and the means to evade estate taxes. It’s only the people lower down who get hit with the bill. Does anybody really think any Kennedys, Bushs, Rockefellers, etc., will ever pay an estate tax?
Scout
August 31st, 2010
5:44 pm
Obama’s Speech on Iraq:
I could be wrong but “El Jefe” will say something tonight about all “combat” troops have been withdrawn from Iraq. That is deceitful at best and an outright lie at worst.
Why?
Seven combat brigades and two combat aviation brigades remain in Iraq. All that has been done is to change their designation from a “Combat Brigade” to an “Advise and Assist Brigrade”. They retain all of their weapons, troops, mobility, etc. These soldiers (except for aviation) are mostly 11Bravo’s (also known as infantry). These units also include armor and artillery.
From the “Army Times”:
“Of the seven Advise and Assist Brigades still in Iraq, four are from the 3rd Infantry Division, based at Fort Stewart, Ga. The 1st Heavy Brigade of the 1st Armored Division, based at Fort Bliss, and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division, based at Fort Carson, Colo., are also serving as Advise and Assist Brigades. Two combat aviation brigades also remain in Iraq …………….. “
@@
August 31st, 2010
5:44 pm
Kamchak:
Monty Python? Maybe so, but you’ve gone full throttle with it since Grand’s nod of approval.
Personally, I prefer the “You’ve got me confused with somebody who gives a damn.”
OR
My Give a Damn’s Busted!
AmVet
August 31st, 2010
5:45 pm
Kam, you gotta chuckle just a tad at the Grand Forks/LA apologists. Talk about misguided pity…
HD, you’re probably right. Warren Buffett has noted for years that because of the infinite loopholes, etc. his effective tax rate is lower than his secretary’s.
Welfare for the wealthy…