Hugely profitable companies pay more to CEOs than to Uncle Sam
Now isn’t this special?
According to the Institute of Policy Studies, a liberal think tank, 25 of the country’s 100 highest-paid CEOs were paid more personally than their corporations paid in federal income taxes last year. (The corporations in question made, on average, a profit of $1.9 billion each.)
If you believe many conservatives, that’s pretty amazing. After all, corporate taxes in America are allegedly sky high, so the fact that so many profitable companies somehow managed to pay their CEOs even more than they paid Uncle Sam — well, that’s really saying something.
“In 2009, we calculate, major corporate CEOs took home 263 times the pay of America’s average workers. Last year, this gap leaped to 325-to-1. Among the nation’s top firms, the S&P 500, CEO pay last year averaged $10,762,304, up 27.8 percent over 2009.”
Average CEO pay among the S&P 500 up 28 percent in a year. Tough times. And again, that’s not the high-performers, the CEOs who did something special. The average CEO got a 28 percent pay hike last year.
And how did those companies end up paying so little in taxes? The IJS helps explain:
“No tax-dodging strategy over recent years has filled U.S. corporate coffers more rapidly than the offshoring of corporate activity to tax havens in low- or no-tax jurisdictions. Eighteen of the 25 firms highlighted in this study operate subsidiaries in offshore tax haven jurisdictions. The firms, all combined, had 556 tax haven subsidiaries last year….
How do tax havens work? One common corporate accounting technique, “transfer pricing,” helps corporations shift profits offshore. Technology and drug companies regularly open shell companies — in tax havens — that hold their intellectual property rights. They then charge their U.S.-based operations inflated amounts for the use of these rights. These inflated costs get deducted off U.S. taxes. The overseas tax haven profits go un- or lightly taxed. Adding insult to injury, a coalition of corporate tax dodgers is now asking Congress to reward their tax avoidance with a deeply discounted 5 percent tax rate if they bring these funds back home where many of them started.”
These are American companies — corporations that are based here in the United States because they know that locating here maximizes their profits. They want all of the advantages of being American, meanwhile pretending that a lot of their operations are located on some little Caribbean island.
Personally, I think I’m going to open an offshore branch of Jay Bookman and have my paycheck sent there. I mean, why not? I’m a person, corporations are persons. If they can do it, I can do it too, right?
Well, there is one difference. As the IJS notes,”the 25 firms highlighted in this study spent a combined total of more than $150 million on lobbying and campaign contributions last year.” In contrast, I didn’t spend a dime.
In fact, 20 of the companies in question spent more money “lobbying lawmakers than they paid in corporate taxes. Eighteen gave more to the political campaigns of their favorite candidates than they paid to the IRS in taxes.”
You get what you pay for.
– Jay Bookman
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982 comments Add your comment
Joe Mama
August 31st, 2011
12:45 pm
Mr. Maddox — “Maybe CEOs get huge checks because their corporations are HUGELY successful.”
Kinda hard to make that claim about CEOs like Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide or Ken Lewis of Bank of America.
Mary Elizabeth
August 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
LWM @ 12:02
The sad part of the merger (of fundamentalist Christianity with Capitalism) has been the value placed on the accruing of wealth, not only by parishioners but by ministers, themselves, i.e. Prosperity Christianity. (Christ, of course, taught against value being placed on worldly possessions.)
Both have stereotypical images of human beings, i.e. winners and losers, and sinners and saved, as well as rigid ideologies that do not allow for depth, or variation, of thought. Both over emphasize work at the expense of pleasure. Guilt of pleasure, as well as judgment of others, is present in both. These ways of thinking exacerbate seeing divisions among people, rather than unity, which genuine humanity and love inspire.
Left wing management
August 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Joe: “And your point is Jay? I assume it would be that these rich people don’t pay their fair share. LOL… This is the same tired old liberal argument but facts that these people pay 50% of tax revenues alone is almost always conveniently left out”
Poor Joe. Shilling for people who make more in an hour than he will likely make in the remainder of his working life. (Hint for Joe: They don’t really need you shilling for them. Not that they’re going to bother to tell you that.)
Hey, psst, Joe, let me let you in on a little fact. It’s very logical and I don’t want to overtax your ability to think abstract logic, but the greater the number of people who “pay no income taxes”, the greater the number of people who are being let down by an economy that does not provide opportunity for the great bulk of the population, the more people who are being systematically shut out of the economic life of the country.
If the wealthy finally do succeed in hoarding wealth such that they pay greater amounts of total revenues, let’s say well over half, then that will not be a measure of their generosity, my friend, but of their complete stranglehold on wealth production in the nation.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Obama is the first president in US history to see the credit rating drop to AA.
Obama = the worst president in US history.
Fly-On-The-Wall
August 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
Tommy,
You said “Maybe CEOs get huge checks because their corporations are HUGELY successful.”
What about those UNsucessful companies that still pay their CEOs HUGE amounts? The workers get the shaft and the CEO (and board) get the gold mine. Any outrage there?
Fly-On-The-Wall
August 31st, 2011
12:47 pm
Zap – get over it. The Republicans caused and S&P said so. Reading is so important these days.
Granny Godzilla
August 31st, 2011
12:48 pm
Zap
They said he’s never be elected the first time too….no worries mate.
Prepare yourself emotionally for his second term.
jm
Wow! You got the leaked text?
DawgDad
August 31st, 2011
12:48 pm
“Vote republican = vote against yourself, your family, your mama and daddy and for the corporate bottom line (that’s all that matters)”
You’re entitled to your opinion, but you obviously don’t understand the Republican base.
As for Obama focusing on jobs, ahem, empty rhetoric.
Fly-On-The-Wall
August 31st, 2011
12:48 pm
and typing is even more important! I meant to say ‘The Republicans caused IT and S&P said so.’ Whew.
Hmmmmmmmmm
August 31st, 2011
12:48 pm
Granny
If Obama is elected for another term, you be sure you buy some very GOOD strong locks to put on your doors…. What his advisers have not destroyed in this term, there may be rioting in his second term… I mean this bubble is going to bust, just a matter of time….
Aquagirl
August 31st, 2011
12:49 pm
why should anyone pay the government anything?
Ah, pure, distilled pseudo-libertarian thought. The sad part is jm probably thinks that’s an actual valid question.
Joe Mama
August 31st, 2011
12:49 pm
Zap — “Just remember, no president has ever been re-elected with over 7% unemployment. It ain’t gonna drop that low by next November.”
Where was it during each of FDR’s re-elections? Would you happen to have those numbers handy?
out of the blue
August 31st, 2011
12:50 pm
Oh here we go again! Thogwummpy says that Jeff Immelt the “GE CEO who is a slobbering, worshiping sycophant of Barack Obama!”
Now Thog…help me understand how Immelt is a is a slobbering, worshiping sycophant of Barack Obama!
You said it….and broke my BS meter!
Hmmmmmmmmm
August 31st, 2011
12:50 pm
Zap,
Bill Clinton runs a close race for the worst, Jimmy Carter may fall in second…. The list is long….
Granny Godzilla
August 31st, 2011
12:51 pm
Zap
Yep, it happened on his watch.
As America was watching the GOP force us to that point.
Granny Godzilla
August 31st, 2011
12:52 pm
HMMMMMMM
Sad that you are so fearful.
Live is short and courage is easy.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
12:52 pm
“The Republicans caused and S&P said so. Reading is so important these days.”
Uh huh, 2012 is gonna be a bad year for the rats.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
“Where was it during each of FDR’s re-elections?”
That was before term limits. We have term limits because of him.
AmVet - Read my lips. No new Texans!
August 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
“Just remember, no president has ever been re-elected with over 7% unemployment. It ain’t gonna drop that low by next November.”
Patently fallacious.
Ronald Reagan – 1984, 7.2%
FDR – 1936 – 17%
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
12:55 pm
“Unemployment was 7.6% when W left office.”
of course, you conveniently ignore that it ws 4.2% when W took office
Granny Godzilla
August 31st, 2011
12:55 pm
“2012 is gonna be a bad year for the rats”
Yes, but I wouldn’t call the GOP rats.
Slow learners perhaps?
AmVet - Read my lips. No new Texans!
August 31st, 2011
12:55 pm
Bill Clinton runs a close race for the worst, Jimmy Carter may fall in second.
Which of these eleven presidents we have had since World War II would you consider the worst president?
George W. Bush (34%)
Richard Nixon (17%)
Bill Clinton (16%)
Jimmy Carter (13%)
Don’t Know/No Answer (5%)
Lyndon B. Johnson (4%)
George H. W. Bush (3%)
Ronald Reagan (3%)
Gerald Ford (2%)
Harry S. Truman (1%)
John F. Kennedy (1%)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (<1%)
Not even close.
Own it, he's yours.
DebbieDoRight
August 31st, 2011
12:56 pm
DawgDad: Well, we could solve the offshore problem and a lot of others by eliminating corporate income taxes entirely. Is that a complete solution? No, but it’s a good start and hits at the core issue.
But if corporations want to be considered as “individuals, (Supremes announced a landmark decision establishing for the first time that corporations enjoy the same First Amendment free-speech rights as individuals, 558 U.S. 08-205); then why not?
Do, we as private individuals have to pay taxes? Then why shouldn’t a corporation who has decided to become an individual not pay?
AmVet - Read my lips. No new Texans!
August 31st, 2011
12:57 pm
Which of these eleven presidents we have had since World War II would you consider the worst president?
George W. Bush (34%)
Richard Nixon (17%)
Bill Clinton (16%)
Jimmy Carter (13%)
Not even close.
Own it neo-cons, he’s yours.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
12:58 pm
“Prepare yourself emotionally for his second term.”
You must also believe that the demos won in 2010 as well. Hey, I bet you also believe that Scott Walker will be recalled.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
“of course, you conveniently ignore that it ws 4.2% when W took office
”
Which you ignore the dot com bust and 9-11. What was it in 2006? 4.2%.
Yep, nothing like UK’s poor memory.
Hmmmmmmmmm
August 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
Not fearful, just reality…. You can screw up only so much before the consequences are felt… It’s people who keep their heads in the sand that are really to blame… I mean you obviously voted for the man…. and you continue to support a man who is in totally over his head… Hey, you reap what you sew….. and we are reaping abundantly…
Life IS short, and it’s sad that this country has dropped to this point in history. Courage must not be so easy, as you and millions don’t have the courage to admit when your wrong….
Oh well, as I said, the clock is ticking…….
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
GG – “Prepare yourself emotionally for his second term.”
I think we should buy him a wubby … he’s gonna need it
Paul
August 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
AmVet
““Where was it during each of FDR’s re-elections?”
That was before term limits. We have term limits because of him.”
“Ronald Reagan – 1984, 7.2%”
See, that was before Republicans altered the space-time continuum and repealed term limits but put them back in after Pres Reagan was reelected.
Zap
This is the part where other bloggers posted it’s okay to say ‘wow, I blew that one… nevermind….”
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:00 pm
“Ronald Reagan – 1984, 7.2%
FDR – 1936 – 17%”
7.2% is close to 7%, Sham. FDR was before term limits.
Try again, Sham.
Oh, and your beloved Obama is done. Over with.
You own the AA rating, Sham.
jm
August 31st, 2011
1:00 pm
Buffett worked to minimize tax expenses for the private partnerships he managed in the 1960s, a focus that helped form his buy-and-hold stock-picking strategy and build his own personal wealth, Matthews said, citing Buffett’s letters to investors. For most of the 1960s, capital gains were taxed at a maximum effective rate of 25 percent while top wage earners paid marginal income tax rates of 70 percent to 91 percent, depending on the year.
As a money manager, Buffett’s performance compensation was taxed at capital-gains rates, Matthews said.
“Here’s a guy who benefited from the exact same inefficiency in the market that he’s now yapping about,” said Matthews, who owns Berkshire stock. “What he’s not saying is, ‘Look guys, I ran a hedge fund, I used to benefit from the same tax advantages I’m complaining about now.’”
DawgDad
August 31st, 2011
1:00 pm
“Prepare yourself emotionally for his second term.”
Substitute “economically” for “emotionally” and you’re on to something. We emotionally survived Obama and a Democratically controlled Congress for two years, but it’s not at all clear we’ve survived economically. As long as we get a Republican Congress things will be managable, but if the leftists regain control and fully implement their health care agenda we’re all screwed to the max.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:00 pm
“George W. Bush (34%)
Richard Nixon (17%)
Bill Clinton (16%)
Jimmy Carter (13%)”
Obama – 38%
AmVet - Read my lips. No new Texans!
August 31st, 2011
1:02 pm
For those of you old enough to remember Sesame Street, “One of these things is not like the others…”
http://defendingthepublicgood.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Multiplier-of-CEO-pay4.png
DebbieDoRight
August 31st, 2011
1:02 pm
As for
Obamathe newly elected republican majority in congress focusing on jobs [that they campaigned on], ahem, empty rhetoricThere! Fixed it for ya.
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
1:02 pm
Zap – in Jan 2001, it was 4.2% – he never got it that low again … and he ended his 8 years with 7.8% and heading north when Obama took office.
you really don’t want to challenge my memory when it comes to economic statistics.
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
1:03 pm
DDR – but … but … but … they said it was their #1 priority!
Joe Mama
August 31st, 2011
1:04 pm
Zap — “That was before term limits. We have term limits because of him.”
Irrelevant to your previous claim. Your previous claim was:
“Just remember, no president has ever been re-elected with over 7% unemployment. It ain’t gonna drop that low by next November.”
Once again, where was it during each of FDR’s re-elections? Would you happen to have those numbers handy, please?
jm
August 31st, 2011
1:04 pm
Aquagirl 12:49 – it is a fair question. I think the shareholders should have to pay. But why should C-corps?
S-corps don’t, LLC’s don’t, LP’s don’t, LLP’s don’t. Need I go on?
Ah, the stoooopidity, just amazing (as libs would say and I’ll repeat for their benefit)
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:05 pm
Poor UK
U.S. Unemployment Rate at 4.6% in 2006
http://www.contactomagazine.com/biznews/unemployment2006.htm
http://forecastchart.com/chart-unemployment-rate.html
Common Sense
August 31st, 2011
1:05 pm
How Liberals try to argue:
“Kinda hard to make that claim about CEOs like Angelo Mozilo of Countrywide or Ken Lewis of Bank of America.”
Pick an individual case that proves they are correct, rather than looking at the results of a group overall.
This way, they can ALWAYS prove that they are correct.
AmVet - Read my lips. No new Texans!
August 31st, 2011
1:06 pm
Paul, pointing out ignorance and petulance is just too damn easy sometimes!
It would seem that unfortunately we’re seeing the sad results of a closed down Tucker forum.
But once again, this one ain’t gonna last very long here. Jay doesn’t put up with the racist louts like Ms. Tucker did…
Common Sense
August 31st, 2011
1:06 pm
“What about those UNsucessful companies that still pay their CEOs HUGE amounts? The workers get the shaft and the CEO (and board) get the gold mine. Any outrage there?”
Sell your shares and move on.
Then it’s not your issue any longer.
Granny Godzilla
August 31st, 2011
1:06 pm
Zap
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
1:06 pm
Zap 4.6% /= 4.2%
I take it math isn’t your strong suit
Fly-On-The-Wall
August 31st, 2011
1:06 pm
Zap,
At least wait until his second term is over before coming up with a number for Obama.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:07 pm
“It would seem that unfortunately we’re seeing the sad results of a closed down Tucker forum.”
Yep, they just couldn’t afford to pay a lunatic racist anymore. Too bad.
Common Sense
August 31st, 2011
1:08 pm
“why should anyone pay the government anything?”
Because at this point in history the majority have said so. But the tide is turning…..
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:08 pm
“At least wait until his second term is over before coming up with a number for Obama.”
If you believe that, I have some swamp land to sell you in Montana.
DebbieDoRight
August 31st, 2011
1:08 pm
As long as we get a Republican Congress things will be managable,
I’m really amazed at the revisionist history that keeps coming up on this blog! Republican congress rubberstamped any and everything that Bush put before them. Medicare Part D – too expensive? RUBBERSTAMP; Do away with the Pay-As-You-G0 System? — no problem RUBBERSTAMP; Borrow even MORE money from China at a ridiculous interest rate that’d make a loan shark swoon with envy — RUBBERSTAMP.
out of the blue
August 31st, 2011
1:09 pm
jm, Matthews is a very common name…So how about offering up his first name… you can handle that….but one never knows, kinda like Gary Matthews, or joe, or sam! Get the drift?
ragnar danneskjold
August 31st, 2011
1:10 pm
Headline: husband gives more of his salary to his wife than to the street mugger
Joe Mama
August 31st, 2011
1:10 pm
Common Sense — “How Liberals try to argue”
An overarching and general claim was made, and I refuted it with two specific examples. There are many more I can offer if you like.
“Pick an individual case that proves they are correct, rather than looking at the results of a group overall.”
I can present *many* more cases of CEOs who recently presided over failed and failing corporations. The fact of the matter is that executive compensation is and has been disconnected from executive PERFORMANCE for years.
“This way, they can ALWAYS prove that they are correct.”
If posters are going to be so foolish as to make general and easily-disproven claims, that’s not my fault. Clearly you WANT the assertion to be true; the problem is that the facts let you down.
Brosephus
August 31st, 2011
1:11 pm
USinner @ 1:06
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:12 pm
“I take it math isn’t your strong suit”
Guess you didn’t read that article.
Hmmmmmmmmm
August 31st, 2011
1:13 pm
Funny ragnar…..
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
1:13 pm
SoCoBro – it never ceases to amaze me how the simplest of things seem to be beyond some people.
jm
August 31st, 2011
1:14 pm
out of the blue – no I don’t. but why don’t you clarify your question
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
1:14 pm
Zap – 4.6% > 4.2%
that’s how math works.
DebbieDoRight
August 31st, 2011
1:14 pm
UsnK: DDR – but … but … but … they said it was their #1 priority!
jm: I think the shareholders should have to pay. But why should C-corps?
If they want to be considered as “individuals” then they should pay just like an “individual” tax payer. Same percentages. same laws. Welcome to “individualism”.
Adam
August 31st, 2011
1:14 pm
RB: Ummm, yes, they do. The options are to take deductions they are entitled to take and would be STUPID not to take or to cheat on their taxes and hope they don’t get caught. Since ALL of the publicly held companies are audited by 3rd party accounting firms to verify they are following the rules, I’d say you have absolutely no clue what you’re talking about (as usual).
All corporations do not pay 39.2% tax. That is a fact.
It’s obvious that you not only believe you are right when you’re not, but that you actually think you made a point. As such, there is no further point in discussing something with you.
Joe Mama
August 31st, 2011
1:15 pm
Headline: husband refuses to give any of his salary to his wife; tells her “work for it, hippie”
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:15 pm
“t never ceases to amaze me how the simplest of things seem to be beyond some people.”
Wonder how long one person can blog while “working.” It’s going on four hours for little cupcake.
Adam
August 31st, 2011
1:15 pm
jm: What a joke. Obama is just all politics all the time. So much for trying to run the country, which I guess is better than him actually trying to do things.
Funny that this same argument doesn’t get applied to House Republicans, who haven’t focused on jobs themselves and focus entirely on politics all the time, including when a big-ass hurricane hits.
Rightwing Troll
August 31st, 2011
1:16 pm
“American Exceptionalism”
Heh… What a joke…
What exactly are we exceptional at anymore?
Talking Head
August 31st, 2011
1:16 pm
Isn’t Bill Clinton making a couple million for his speeches? I bet he’s not paying enough to Uncle Sam either…I mean he get’s a more than fair pension from Uncle Sam already, he’s being greedy pocketing all that extra cash.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:16 pm
“that’s how math works.”
You should check out Hooked on phonics. Works for most people with low brain cells so it should work just fine for you. You also might be able to find a mate.
Adam
August 31st, 2011
1:16 pm
Zap: Who did they poll? How many were polled?
Oh, I’m saving a link to this post for every time a con brings up a poll.
jm
August 31st, 2011
1:17 pm
out of the blue
Jeff Matthews, author of “Secrets in Plain Sight: Business and Investing Secrets of Warren Buffett.”
Granny Godzilla
August 31st, 2011
1:17 pm
If corporations are people would the (probably not gonna happen)
ATT and T-Mobile merger be a same business marriage and would that be an
affront to God and all christendom?
Michael
August 31st, 2011
1:18 pm
My favorite CEO was Ken Lay. He bankrupted the company, and lied to the auditors and shareholders along the way. Then, he froze the 401 K plan so employees could not sell their stock, while Ken was selling his. He was the embodiment of the camel and the eye of the needle story.
In the investment arena Bernie Maddof won the prize; although the Goldman team that sold bonds while they were betting against them comes close.
CEOs should be issued a rifle and a uniform and put on the next plane to Afghanistan. Walk a month with the marines in some of those valleys. Then, they can come back and defend why their marginal tax rate can be less than a sergeant’s marginal tax rate. If they can’t create some jobs then, send them back for another month.
DebbieDoRight
August 31st, 2011
1:18 pm
Oh, I’m saving a link to this post for every time a con brings up a poll.
Me too.
Aquagirl
August 31st, 2011
1:19 pm
jm, I’m not a corporate tax expert, but maybe the rest of us don’t like the idea of non-residents running a corporation using taxpayer infrastructure and free speech rights while paying no taxes.
I’m sure the IRS would be thrilled to try and get a bunch of Chinese shareholders to file 1040’s. Gee, no problem there.
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
1:20 pm
DDR – “If they want to be considered as “individuals” then they should pay just like an “individual” tax payer.”
if I remember correctly, I think they’re clamping down on S-Corp filers for just this reason.
Zap – “You should check out Hooked on phonics.”
phonics? for math?? um. yeah. sure, Zap. it has obviously worked out so well for you, I’ll get right on that.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:20 pm
To sum up this blog, all the little rat voters are jealous that other people have more money than them. Oh, and all white people are racists.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:21 pm
“phonics? for math??”
Poor UK. Her brain cells are fried.
Joe Mama
August 31st, 2011
1:21 pm
Zap — “Wonder how long one person can blog while “working.” It’s going on four hours for little cupcake.”
Given that it’s after 6 PM over there, I doubt she’s working.
SwedeAtlanta
August 31st, 2011
1:21 pm
Those that argue that corporations offshore due to the relatively high corporate tax rate in the U.S. miss the point that the EFFECTIVE tax rate on U.S. corporations (the point Jay is trying to make) is the lowest it has been in over 50 years and is much lower than those countries whose marginal rates are lower.
Corporations will offshore their profits to avoid even the minimal effective tax rate as long as they can get away with it. Corporations will offshore production ,etc. to counties with low wages and no to few benefits as long as those low-cost havens exist.
Corporations want to be treated as “people” so they have 1st Amendment Free Speech rights that include their ability to buy elections. But they would never agree to be taxed as a person. So which is it? Are you are person or a legal fiction that benefits from the protections of the U.S. legal system as it relates to personal liability?
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
1:21 pm
well, as much as I’d love to stay and be Zaps objet d’amour for the rest of the evening, it’s time to head out.
have a good one!
Adam
August 31st, 2011
1:21 pm
DawgDad: As for Obama focusing on jobs, ahem, empty rhetoric.
Starting early are ya?
Here’s my prediction:
1) Whatever Obama proposes in his jobs plan, the House Republicans will say no in a bloc. Some will say yes, and get drowned out by the louder ones who just want to make Obama a one term President.
2) The “Where’s your plan?” people will turn into “That plan sucks” people. To which my response will likely be “It doesn’t suck as much as the Ryan plan” or “It doesn’t actually suck, these are good ideas.” No further “Where’s your plan” cries will be heard, much like the rhetoric of “Where’s the birth certificate?” died out. It all goes back to “Show me your papers” really.
stands for decibels
August 31st, 2011
1:22 pm
From the Dept. of “Naw, ya think? Maybe”?
/drive-by
Left wing management
August 31st, 2011
1:22 pm
Did you hear what that stupid rube — from some rube state no doubt — George Pataki had to say about Obama’s choice of themes for the commemmoration of the 9/11 attacks?
He apparently is disgruntled that the ceremonies aren’t going to be more jingoistic and paranoid and not emphasizing the fact that the attacks were an an attack on the US for its freedom.
What a complete anti-intellectual rube, that George Pataki. He should be condemned roundly for it.
DebbieDoRight
August 31st, 2011
1:22 pm
GG: If corporations are people would the (probably not gonna happen)
ATT and T-Mobile merger be a same business marriage and would that be an
affront to God and all christendom?
It would be like brothers & sisters marrying; cats and dogs fornicating; fish living openly with birds; and Univ of Kentucky / or Vanderbilt finally making a bowl game in this Century!! Armaggeddonnnnn!!!
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
“Given that it’s after 6 PM over there, I doubt she’s working.
”
Which proves my point that she’s single.
USinUK
August 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
oh, and Zap …
4.6% is MORE THAN 4.2%
(sorry for using math symbols earlier – I didn’t realize you were math illiterate)
Joe Mama
August 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
USinUK — “phonics? for math?? um. yeah. sure, Zap.”
And y’all thought I was joking about the tumor.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
“well, as much as I’d love to stay and be Zaps objet d’amour for the rest of the evening, it’s time to head out.”
That singles bar won’t wait forever.
Adam
August 31st, 2011
1:23 pm
Zap: “The Republicans caused and S&P said so. Reading is so important these days.”
Uh huh, 2012 is gonna be a bad year for the rats.
Saved to my “Obama will lose” posts file for reposting use hen he wins.
Adam
August 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
Zap: Hey, I bet you also believe that Scott Walker will be recalled.
If he isn’t sincere in his efforts to reach across the aisle, yes he will be.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:25 pm
“Saved to my “Obama will lose” posts file for reposting use hen he wins.
”
That’ll also go with your “Al Gore, Walter Mondale, Michael Dukakis will win posts” as well.
Left wing management
August 31st, 2011
1:26 pm
Do you get on board with stupid rubes, Zap?
Granny Godzilla
August 31st, 2011
1:26 pm
Zap
No I believe is a Mr. USinUK….
Is there a Mr. Rowsdower as well? Do you still reside with him?
Joe Mama
August 31st, 2011
1:27 pm
Zap — “Which proves my point that she’s single.”
No, it’s a claim and it’s unsupported. I’m routinely at work late into the evening and I’m married.
I *think* I’ve seen US refer to a spouse, but I don’t recall. Then again, whether she’s married or not really isn’t germane to the discussion, is it?
A UK friend of mine visited the US for the first time earlier this summer and can’t stop going on about the “cute accents” of American women. If he’s typical of UK guys, then I think US — if she’s unmarried — probably gets all the male attention she wants.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:28 pm
“No I believe is a Mr. USinUK….”
Oh I forgot, you all “know” each other and hang out all day on a blog.
“Is there a Mr. Rowsdower as well? Do you still reside with him?”
No, because I’m not gay.
Adam
August 31st, 2011
1:28 pm
Common Sense: Pick an individual case that proves they are correct, rather than looking at the results of a group overall.
I’ll remember that the next time a con decides to use statistical outliers as evidence.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:28 pm
“Do you get on board with stupid rubes, Zap?”
yeah, UK does bore me.
DebbieDoRight
August 31st, 2011
1:29 pm
CEOs should be issued a rifle and a uniform and put on the next plane to Afghanistan. Walk a month with the marines in some of those valleys. Then, they can come back and defend why their marginal tax rate can be less than a sergeant’s marginal tax rate. If they can’t create some jobs then, send them back for another month.
Excellent! Best Corporate Package Plan I’ve ever seen!
Swede in Atlanta: Corporations want to be treated as “people” so they have 1st Amendment Free Speech rights that include their ability to buy elections. But they would never agree to be taxed as a person. So which is it? Are you are person or a legal fiction that benefits from the protections of the U.S. legal system as it relates to personal liability?
Amen. Swede. Amen.
Zap Rowsdower
August 31st, 2011
1:29 pm
“No, it’s a claim and it’s unsupported. I’m routinely at work late into the evening and I’m married.”
Working late to blog? Your bosses must love you.
Thanks to the Lottery Players in Georgia
August 31st, 2011
1:29 pm
Zap,
You must be happy here. Are you.
AmVet - Read my lips. No new Texans!
August 31st, 2011
1:30 pm
LWM, to his credit NY mayor Michael Bloomberg is going to allow NO politicians or clergy to pollute the September 11 10th anniversary ceremony.
It will be solely for the families.
Good on him…