Jeb: Reagan, Bush Sr. ‘would have hard time’ in new GOP
“Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida said his father, George Bush, and Ronald Reagan would find themselves out of step with today’s Republican Party because of its strict adherence to ideology and the intensity of modern partisan warfare.
“Ronald Reagan would have, based on his record of finding accommodation, finding some degree of common ground, similar to my dad, they would have had a hard time if you define the Republican Party — and I don’t — as having an orthodoxy that doesn’t allow for disagreement,” Mr. Bush said at a question-and-answer session with reporters and editors held Monday morning in Manhattan by Bloomberg View.
“Back to my dad’s time or Ronald Reagan’s time,” he said, “they got a lot of stuff done with a lot of bipartisan support that right now would be difficult to imagine happening.”
I think that’s notable for several reasons. It helps to explain why Bush, like Mitch Daniels, Chris Christie and other more pragmatic Republicans, declined to run for president this cycle even though, as Jeb said last week, “This was probably my time.” They were unwilling to claim to believe the nonsense that is required to win the nomination in this day and age, and abandoned the field to the far-more-malleable and opportunistic Mitt Romney.
Jeb’s more honest appraisal of his party is a welcome if belated effort to pull it back from the brink and force it to become more responsible. As the former Florida governor noted last week:
“Here’s what I know to be true. Next year or the year after there’s going to have to be a grand bargain. We are on an unsustainable course. It is not possible to continue to do what we are going — what we’re doing today. It’s just not possible. And I think most people that have looked at our structural deficit problems would admit it. If they were put on a lie detector or, you know, under oath or something like that, they would admit it.”
Asked about comments to Congress that he would be willing to take a hypothetical $10 in budget cuts for every $1 in higher revenue, Bush said his willingness to take that deal shows that he is no longer seeking office as a Republican.
“It was living proof I’m not running for anything I think more than anything else,” Bush said.
I’ve said it before repeatedly: This nation needs a sane, rational and conservative Republican Party, and those adjectives — “sane, rational and conservative”– should not be and need not be contradictory, as they have become in recent years.
I agree with Jeb about the necessity of a grand bargain on the nation’s financial future. But I very much worry that Republican leadership and the Republican media machine have succeeded so well in drilling the “no new taxes” mantra into the head of their base that they no longer have any room in which to manuever and negotiate.
Given his statements in recent days, I suspect that Jeb Bush has had similar thoughts.
– Jay Bookman
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1,055 comments Add your comment
Brosephus™
June 11th, 2012
2:50 pm
TBG @ 2:38
This Top Ten is in your honor, especially #1…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N3-x8XjftQ&feature=related
carlosgvv
June 11th, 2012
2:50 pm
The Republican electorate is now controlled by far right “born again Christians”. Their politics,like their religion, will not tolerate any disagreement or make any accomodiation with those who differ even slightly. We are getting closer and closer to an America where the fundamentalist Church will be the State.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
No Jay, Georgia has one of the worst performing public school systems in the country (in my opinion) because Georgia has a high proportion of student groups who do poorly on standardized tests, ie. the poor, minorities, illegal immigrants, etc. I don’t blame that on the teachers.
What I do blame on teachers (”educators” in general, really, because the administrators are as much or more of the problem) is wielding their political power to protect the obviously failed status quo in public education, i.e. fighting voucher programs, protecting their obscene pension and benefit plans, etc.
Thanks for the opportunity to clarify though.
Wild Eyes
June 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
Romney has written off white working America. Romney does not like private success, private sector growth or the capitalism that produces it. He is a socialist who believes only in government control of our lives and fortunes.
Tin foil hat man
June 11th, 2012
2:52 pm
Scooter Libby was an alien
Obama is too, and therefore won’t appoint an independent prosecutor to root out his alien pals that spilled classified national security secrets
Billybob
June 11th, 2012
2:53 pm
paul,
check the constitution and the responsibility of our gov’t to maintain national defense……now answer my question about obama and the dem leadership…..serious question paul
jconservative
June 11th, 2012
2:53 pm
Reagan tripled the National Debt and George W Bush doubled the National Debt. And Reagan’s tripling of the debt was despite his huge tax increases on businesses done after his tax cuts had us heading toward a quadrupling of the National Debt.
George H W Bush and Bill Clinton had large tax increases in their terms. But Bill Clinton had three straight balanced budgets he signed into law that had been passed by a Republican controlled Congress.
The deficit and debt problem will only be solved when congress passes legislation to reduce spending and increase revenue.
Have at it guys!
John Birch
June 11th, 2012
2:53 pm
There’s insanity on both sides. Giving a 2% reduction is SS when the much needed system is already heading toward insolvency is insane. Sending 50,000 more troops into the hopeless quagmire of Afghanistan is insane. Submitting budgets with $1+T deficits when we’re already in debt 100% of GDP is insane.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 11th, 2012
2:54 pm
The stoopid, it burrrrrrrrrns this afternoon.
Paul
June 11th, 2012
2:54 pm
Ben Shockley
SS is a contribution to a retirement plan?
You sure you don’t want to rephrase that? Else you’ll have people writing in to SSA asking them how much money they’ve contributed to their retirement plan -
Don't Forget
June 11th, 2012
2:55 pm
And they will do under the supposedly sarcastic nom de blog of “I’m a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with…”
It’s really amazing.
Actually it’s straight out of the Carl Rove playbook. Criticize the other side for something you are actually guilty of.
Brosephus™
June 11th, 2012
2:55 pm
Paul @ 2:48
—————-
the problem with unions is the money laundering scheme used to funnel automatically deducted dues right to the dem party
Yet another person who has no idea that the SCOTUS ruled against that years ago. Go and research stuff dude, especially Beck Rules when it comes to employment at jobs covered by a CBA. As late as 2007, the SCOTUS has ruled in favor of Beck Rules, yet you mindless minions believe all this crap that you hear without ever researching it to see if it’s true. I bet if they told you Bigfoot was a Liberal, you’d go around reciting that too….
Jay
June 11th, 2012
2:55 pm
And by “clarify”, Ben, you mean back down completely from your claim that the “iron grip” of the teachers’ unions have ruined education.
Joe Hussein Mama
June 11th, 2012
2:55 pm
B. Shockley — “What I do blame on teachers (”educators” in general, really, because the administrators are as much or more of the problem) is wielding their political power to protect the obviously failed status quo in public education, i.e. fighting voucher programs, protecting their obscene pension and benefit plans, etc.”
I see. So it’s not actually *unions* you’re upset about, but just teachers in general. Got it.
“Thanks for the opportunity to clarify though.”
Hey, I’m always pleased to give a conservative enough rope to string both himself AND his ideas up.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
2:57 pm
“Ben — are you a greedy and selfish snob? It certainly shows!”
Again Goldie, I guess it depends on your perspective. While I’m NOT rich, I don’t hate the rich, nor do I feel entitled to helping myself to what is theirs.
Brosephus™
June 11th, 2012
2:57 pm
The deficit and debt problem will only be solved when congress passes legislation to reduce spending and increase revenue.
As always, the voice of common damn sense. Amen!!!!
Don't Forget
June 11th, 2012
2:58 pm
Simple truth, if your income goes up so do your taxes. Nobody’s ever turned down a raise because of the increases in taxes.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
2:59 pm
“And by “clarify”, Ben, you mean back down completely from your claim that the “iron grip” of the teachers’ unions have ruined education.”
If that’s how you interpreted my response, maybe YOU attended government schools. The fact that I don’t believe Georgia to be the worst doesn’t mean I don’t think it is a complete and utter failure, because that is exactly what I do think.
Steve
June 11th, 2012
2:59 pm
I don’t hate the rich, but I do think that we need a balance of power here, and when the rich gain too power that’s when the country goes to the crapper.
Paul
June 11th, 2012
3:00 pm
Ummm…. Billybob….. question wasn’t about providing for the national defense. Constitution doesn’t require the defense structure we now have. We went a lonnnnnnng time before that came into being.
Sure, I’ll address “what’s amazing is his top guy saying hiring public sector union people is what will fix the private sector.”
Problem is, I’m not at all sure ‘his top guy” ever said that. I’m more inclined to think you made it up. So… who’s his ‘top’ guy and when did he say that?
So… back to your response… I understand you’re okay with spending $130 billion to hire 100,000 federal workers and a bunch of private sector workers?
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
“Hey, I’m always pleased to give a conservative enough rope to string both himself AND his ideas up”
Cool! LOL. We’ll keep pouring billions down the public schools drain and see where that gets us.
My kid is very happily in private school by the way. The difference between private and Cobb County is, shall we say, enlightening…
curious
June 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
Ben never says anything; he implies it.
East Cobb RINO
June 11th, 2012
3:01 pm
The Republican electorate is now controlled by far right “born again Christians”. Their politics,like their religion, will not tolerate any disagreement or make any accomodiation with those who differ even slightly. We are getting closer and closer to an America where the fundamentalist Church will be the State.
______________________________________________________________________________
They practice business the same way they practice politics.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/oklahoma-company-fires-25-employees-amid-outsourcing-rumors/story?id=16520756
Jay
June 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
Yes, Ben, I certainly did attend government schools, and I appreciate the compliment you paid in recognizing that fact.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
“I don’t hate the rich, but I do think that we need a balance of power here, and when the rich gain too power that’s when the country goes to the crapper.”
Yeah, when government gains too much power (by confiscating our wealth and passing regulation) that’s cool though right?
Wild Eyes
June 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
“The fact that I don’t believe Georgia to be the worst doesn’t mean I don’t think it is a complete and utter failure, because that is exactly what I do think.” – Wow!
Steve
June 11th, 2012
3:02 pm
What about the word “balance” don’t you understand, Ben?
stands for decibels
June 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
what’s amazing is obama saying the private sector is doing fine and you ignoring that…
Ok, I will post this again.
http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-ways-to-spot-b.s.-political-story-in-under-10-seconds
See Item #5, the first one listed.
“Obama gaffe,” “Romney gaffe,” “Perry gaffe,” “Biden gaffe” — every party gets it equally. The word just means “embarrassing mistake,” and I have literally never heard it used outside of the context of a meaningless, bullsh-t filler political news story. I’m not normally an angry man, but it’s such an obnoxious word that if somebody at work used “gaffe” in a sentence I would fling my goddamned coffee into his face.
So for instance, during the health care reform debate, President Obama gave approximately 9 million speeches outlining how his plan supposedly would make the system more efficient. Then, in one speech, he stumbled, and instead of saying that the plan would rid the system of inefficiencies, he accidentally said it would bring inefficiencies. This slip of the tongue unleashed a torrent of headlines and blog posts and talk radio rants. On the other side, at a Mitt Romney campaign event, John McCain accidentally mixed up two words that implied Romney liked wasteful government earmarks. Boom! Gaffe!
These are completely information-free news events, and they absolutely dominate political news coverage and analysis. It’s like asking your doctor if the X-rays show a tumor, and all he’ll talk about is how stupid the radiologist’s haircut looks.
You’re probably asking why routine slips of the tongue continually become news headlines when they have absolutely no impact at all on the candidates’ positions or platforms, or what they intend to do in office, or how capable they are of doing it, or anything else. Good f-cking question! The answer is that many (if not most) people don’t follow politics in order to find out who to vote for as part of their duty as citizens living in a democracy. They follow it purely as a form of entertainment. They’re like sports fans, rooting for their “team” to win.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
“Yes, Ben, I certainly did attend government schools”
Me too….from 1968 to 1980. Don’t know if you have school age kids now, but it is NOT the same. It’s a crime, as a matter of fact.
Goldie
June 11th, 2012
3:03 pm
“While I’m NOT rich, I don’t hate the rich, nor do I feel entitled to helping myself to what is theirs.”
Once again Ben, please explain to us all how paying taxes equals “helping myself to what is theirs”, when you have already posted that you do not believe in anarchy and you do not support the GOP’s war-mongering policies and you do not support a system like Darfur for America… where exactly do you get everything YOU want from gov’t and still not have to pay for anything???
Thanks again!
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
“What about the word “balance” don’t you understand, Ben?”
The rich already pay most of the taxes steve. Not sure what having them pay even more has to do with “balance.” Maybe you should consult Websters.
TaxPayer
June 11th, 2012
3:04 pm
So, has Ben withdrawn his earlier legislation proposing a break in the iron grip of the teacher’s unions? Dang! That was so short-lived, it didn’t even get a chance to get an ALEC preamble attached to it.
That Black Guy
June 11th, 2012
3:05 pm
Joe Hussein Mama
June 11th, 2012
1:43 pm
B. Shockley — “How do I think they got to be wealthy and prosperous?”
The wealthiest person I know *inherited* his wealth. And his family is wealthy enough that if I told you his last name, you’d know *instantly* how they made their money.
)____________________________
JHM, the wealthist person *I* know started with on the production floor and purchased the company (with loans) he worked for when the owner decided to retire. This year he is approaching $1B in sales. Hiring has increased (always a demand for this product and service) and none of the jobs have been “off shored”.
How do I know? I work for him.
Steve
June 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
Well, when you starve the tax system and don’t fund your public schools (like here in the South), don’t complain that schools are pretty crappy.
My sister n law is a guidance counselor at one of the top public schools in Massachusetts, and this school would put a private school in Georgia to shame. But then again, they pay more in property taxes and have excellent public schools.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:06 pm
“Once again Ben, please explain to us all how paying taxes equals “helping myself to what is theirs”,
Goldie, I mean this in the kindest and most gentle way possible…is English your first language? Because the discussion is about demanding the rich pay more, not about whether they should pay at all.
Try to keep up sweetie, k?
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
“So, has Ben withdrawn his earlier legislation proposing a break in the iron grip of the teacher’s unions?”
No, Scott walker made it a moot point last week.
Jefferson
June 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
If you have most of the income, you pay most of the taxes…if you have little income you pay little taxes.
Next crybaby please.
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
June 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
When’s the next 35,000 per plate fund raiser for Obama thrown by members of the 99%’ers.
Billybob
June 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
i err on the side of national defense yes….doesn’t mean every hire should be done or should be needed, and i don’t agree with hiring defense workers just on the idea of creating 100,000 jobs…..now please respond to obama’s comment and axelrod’s comments…….
TaxPayer
June 11th, 2012
3:07 pm
Ben never did voice his opinion regarding putting an end to those horrid Bush tax cuts that made it possible for 50% of the income earners to get away with paying no federal income taxes to begin with. You will be happy to see those Bush tax cuts eliminated, won’t you, Ben. HALLO! HALLLLLLOOOO! BEN!
Jay
June 11th, 2012
3:08 pm
Ben, I have two daughters who attended public schools in the city of Atlanta in grades K-12, where they got an excellent education and went on to excel at two of the top universities in the country.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
“Well, when you starve the tax system and don’t fund your public schools (like here in the South), don’t complain that schools are pretty crappy.”
Well, the field of battle is littered with te corpses of dead straw men today. Steve, you’ll be shocked to find out that public school spending in America is at an all-time high in inflation adjusted numbers. The problem isn’t spending.
As always, thanks for playing.
barking frog
June 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
JEB trying to put himself
in the class with Reagan and HWB. I don’t think so. The
lesson here is how much
more important the House
is than the Senate or
Executive and how small
a group in the House can
control it.
josef
June 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
BEN
I’m in the public schools every day. We work with the product we’re sent. I can assure you, of the demographics you mentioned, we get just as good and bad from one as the other.
******
And even if Brother Bruno is not here, this is in relation to his “time off” canard…just got called in for tomorrow…
TaxPayer
June 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
Ben,
Scott Walker has nothing to do with the other 49 states so how exactly did he render that breaking of the iron first moot.
TBone
June 11th, 2012
3:09 pm
And the democRATS are set to nominate an anti-semite, former black panther in New York for their congressional candidate. No venom comes from his mouth I am sure. Maybe you guys should spend as much time keeping your eyes on your parties boys instead of the spewing your daily spew.
Jm
June 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
Jay supposedly knows why our schools underperform
According to him: it’s because of all those minority kids
Ugh. I disagree.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:10 pm
“If you have most of the income, you pay most of the taxes…if you have little income you pay little taxes.
Next crybaby please.”
Ummmmm, actually this discussion started with the typical liberal whining, crybaby tantrum about the rich not paying their fair share allegedly. LOL
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
June 11th, 2012
3:11 pm
Jay, thanks for clarifying the Obama snub…………seriously.
Steve
June 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
OH please, Ben – state governments have been cutting school funding left and right due to the great recession. So why do you lie?
stands for decibels
June 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
By the way, as to something Jay wrote:
“sane, rational and conservative”– should not be and need not be contradictory, as they have become in recent years.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s noticed this. There really was a time not all that long ago, when I thought of conservatives as “the guys (and occasionally gals) who keep me honest.” They said things that mostly infuriated, but occasionally informed.
I really do wish I could say that’s still the case, but I really can’t any more. Not among any elected conservatives of note, at least.
kayaker 71
June 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
So, how do you liberals believe that the WI recall election would have turned out if Scott Walker had “compromised” as suggested by Jeb and Bookman? There was no compromise for these lunatics. It was their way or the highway, straight up. Walker didn’t budge an inch. He stood his ground with balls as big as the state he still runs. Compromise to a liberal means “do it my way”. Just as Bozo said so well, “We won”, or “Go sit in the back of the bus”. The conservative voice of the GOP is alive and well and long may it last. Take a good look at the last midterm election. Then take a good look at this November when it happens. We’re sick of this idiocy.
That Black Guy
June 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
Adam
June 11th, 2012
1:56 pm
TBG: From the last post, I did answer your question. It is going to be hard for me to respond in a timely manner, however, this week it seems. I grant you no direct statement was uttered. However I suggest you read my explanation, which I think actually comes pretty close to Brosephus’
__________________________________________________
Adam, I saw your response after I posted, sorry.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
“Ben never did voice his opinion regarding putting an end to those horrid Bush tax cuts that made it possible for 50% of the income earners to get away with paying no federal income taxes to begin with. You will be happy to see those Bush tax cuts eliminated, won’t you, Ben. HALLO! HALLLLLLOOOO! BEN!”
Actually Obama/Pelosi/Reid extended the Bush tax cuts all by their liberal selves. And ONCE AGAIN I never suggested that the bottom 50% should pay more…just refuted steve’s assertion that the rich don’t pay enough.
You guys are so dense it’s really getting boring.
Billybob
June 11th, 2012
3:12 pm
sfd,
i watched obama, he meant what he said and then a few hours later his retraction did not take back what he said….you can try to excuse it away, but he said it and meant it and you have no answer for that except to blame it away to whatever and then throw in other people who had nothing to do with his statement….this was shockingly enlightening and as i said his own words will lose the election for him……if you listen to his whole speech, you can’t deny he meant what he said
Paul
June 11th, 2012
3:13 pm
Billybob
Well, Romney just tossed out that 20 percent increase and 100,000 new workers and all sorts of hardware without one single reference to why they were needed. I’d think a conservative Republican would be mortified at such a free and easy spending attitude and wouldn’t excuse it just because it was identified for “Defense.”
Respond to Axelrod’s comments?
I must have missed your link. Care to post it again?
Oblama
June 11th, 2012
3:14 pm
Jay – When Bill Clinton was running for his second term of office he was asked if he was for “same sex” marriage……… he laughed and said no he was not…… right there on national T.V. Was he lying again to get reelected or was he telling the truth? Or did he “evolve”? The Dem Party’s leadership is much further to the left than it was 10 years ago. At least that is what the recent Pugh poll results concluded. The poll also said the Repubs had gone further to the right.
Steve
June 11th, 2012
3:14 pm
Ben, what was the tax rate during Ike compared to today for the top earners? Use the googles and get back to me (but you won’t, ’cause you’re a coward).
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
June 11th, 2012
3:15 pm
Jay, will you still be here after November?
That Black Guy
June 11th, 2012
3:15 pm
Adam
June 11th, 2012
1:59 pm
The far right has zero interest in being moderate,
______________________________________________________
The far left has zero interest in being moderate,
Wouldn’t that statement be just as accurate?
I agree with both.
Jm
June 11th, 2012
3:15 pm
Obama thinks government is the answer
Bad call
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 11th, 2012
3:15 pm
Aaaaah, the poster formerly known as Harry Callahan is back.
Socialism — BOO!
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:16 pm
“Ben, I have two daughters who attended public schools in the city of Atlanta in grades K-12, where they got an excellent education and went on to excel at two of the top universities in the country.”
Smart, motivated people usually excel even in non-optimal situations. But that’s a conservative opinion, so I know it pains you to acknowledge it. Or do you prefer to think they actually are doing well because public schools are so good?
curious
June 11th, 2012
3:16 pm
Hey Ben.
I hope you’re off today or work the night shift, otherwise your employer is being cheated by your time spent commenting.
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
June 11th, 2012
3:16 pm
Well, I don’t know of any sane person that don’t want to go back to 1932 or so. Now crazy is wanting stuff like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, wage & hour laws, environmental laws, civil rights laws, and things like that.
To sum it all up, us Conservative Republicans want a do-over starting with before this Communist Roosevelt was elected.
Paul
June 11th, 2012
3:16 pm
Ben
How much have you contributed to your Social Security retirement plan?
Billybob
June 11th, 2012
3:16 pm
paul,
i answered your question, use google and answer mine on obama’s words and axelrod’s words…..
Joe Hussein Mama
June 11th, 2012
3:16 pm
B. Shockley — “Cool! LOL. We’ll keep pouring billions down the public schools drain and see where that gets us.”
Again, since you’re apparently a newcomer here, your guesses about what I think on various politically-oriented topics have been pretty far off the mark, Here’s an idea — how about you actually act like an adult and ASK me what I think on a topic before you try to make fun of views or opinions I don’t actually have? It’ll save me the effort of laughing at and pointing out your numerous incorrect guesses.
“My kid is very happily in private school by the way. The difference between private and Cobb County is, shall we say, enlightening.”
I have no problem with you educating your child or children in private school, so long as it’s done at your own expense.
sheepdawg
June 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
kyle’s whinning over the same topic but most of his gop’ers are commenting on the provocative logic of jay
Joe Hussein Mama
June 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
B. Shockley — “Yeah, when government gains too much power (by confiscating our wealth”
You be sure and let us know when that actually happens, okay Punkin?
They BOTH suck
June 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
Oblama
Wasn’t long ago that Romney was pro choice. Was he telling the truth or did he “evolve” into his current position?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
June 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
“Go sit in the back of the bus”.
The. Lie. That. Will. Not. Die.
stands for decibels
June 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
Goldie, are you a public school teacher? Did you attend government schools? It’s beginning to show.
Ben, when you post this garbage, you do realize that approximately 90% of Americans who attend school K-12, are attending public school at any given moment, yes?
I’m thinking not. But what do I know; I went to them Gubmint skoolz.
TaxPayer
June 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
And ONCE AGAIN I never suggested that the bottom 50% should pay more…
And I did not make that claim. You, however, continue to fail to provide your opinion regarding the elimination of those Bush tax cuts so those 50% that pay no federal taxes can be reduced to a lower number. Come on Ben. Are you looking forward to seeing more people pay federal taxes or not. Try to participate in the exchange on a more thought-provoking level.
Goldie
June 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
“We’re sick of this idiocy.”
Amen kayaker — you birthers are about to go the way of the DoDo bird in November!
Normal Free...Pro Human Rights Thug...And liking it!
June 11th, 2012
3:18 pm
Redneck,
If the Republicans do win it all in November, the time machine will have started and we will be back in the past with no future…
Oblama
June 11th, 2012
3:19 pm
Steve -since the Repubs are all about the “1%” Obama should get 90 + % of the votes. So why are the polls saying this race is practically even? Perhaps your 1 % propaganda is just a myth.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:19 pm
“Ben, what was the tax rate during Ike compared to today for the top earners? Use the googles and get back to me (but you won’t, ’cause you’re a coward).”
Why don’t you use google and tell what “bracket creep” is, and tell us how many (really how few) American taxpayers were impacted by that top marginal rate?
(but you won’t, because you’re a coward and besides you don’t know what bracket creep is)
Chuck
June 11th, 2012
3:19 pm
If you believe that the “hated & evil” rich people need to pay more taxes as a punishment, then fine say that. The top 10 % of earners pay over 70% of the income tax and the top 1% of the earners pay 40% of the income tax while only earning 20% of the total income, so can we stop the stupid expression “Pay their fair share”, unless your dictionary has a vastly different explanation to what fair is, then the expression does not apply.
They BOTH suck
June 11th, 2012
3:19 pm
Oblama
I hope you are aware that almost all politicians will tell you what they think you want to hear. Yes, even the ones that you have voted for in the past and will vote for this November.
That is Dems, Repubs, Ind, etc, etc
I'm a liberal and believe everything I read and nothing the other side comes up with...cause we're smart and they are not
June 11th, 2012
3:20 pm
curious…………….what about the dozen or so libs who blog here everyday, all day. Are they night shift also…………I guess if you are a lib, you are a wine sipping, mid town type with vastly superior intellect………….or if you have the other view, you drive the forklift on night shift.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:20 pm
“Ben
How much have you contributed to your Social Security retirement plan?”
I earn more than$106K. so therefore I pay the maximum every year. And I appreciate your concern for my future.
Steve
June 11th, 2012
3:21 pm
Ben, stay on topic – how much lower, now, are tax rates on the top earners than they are since 1960?
Jay
June 11th, 2012
3:23 pm
“And the democRATS are set to nominate an anti-semite, former black panther in New York for their congressional candidate. No venom comes from his mouth I am sure.”
Again, let’s try the facts. The candidate described above, Charles Barron, faces a June 26th primary against a better-funded and respected opponent who is considered the frontrunner, although I have seen no polling in that primary.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:23 pm
“You, however, continue to fail to provide your opinion regarding the elimination of those Bush tax cuts so those 50% that pay no federal taxes can be reduced to a lower number. Come on Ben. Are you looking forward to seeing more people pay federal taxes or not. Try to participate in the exchange on a more thought-provoking level.”
LOL. Think you have backed me into a corner, do you? I am opposed to elimination of the Bush tax cuts. Hope that was stated succinctly enough (look it up) for you to understand.
Now, if you REALLY want to have some fun, try getting a straight answer from Kamcrap as to whether or not he favors socialism.
bob
June 11th, 2012
3:24 pm
Jay, you could care less what Reagan thinks. I am sure if given the choice between Romney and Obama he would vote Romney. Reagan did say gov was not the solution to the problem, gov was the problem. Therefore I would say Reagan would not go with the party that thinks the way to handle lazy slobs would be to make a sugary drink over 16oz illegal, or would that be an undocumented sugary drink ?
stands for decibels
June 11th, 2012
3:24 pm
the poster formerly known as Harry Callahan is back.
oh, as another Clint Eastwood character? yeah, that’d make sense.
Jm
June 11th, 2012
3:24 pm
Obama lost the AAA rating
Unforgivable
New president needed
Joe Hussein Mama
June 11th, 2012
3:25 pm
K71 — “So, how do you liberals believe that the WI recall election would have turned out if Scott Walker had “compromised” as suggested by Jeb and Bookman? There was no compromise for these lunatics. It was their way or the highway, straight up”
Wrong.
The unions agreed to EVERYTHING Walker wanted, so long as he agreed to let them keep their collective bargaining rights. He refused.
Seems to me that agreeing to 95%+ of what the Governor wants is pretty compromisey — and that getting 95%+ of what you want and refusing to consider letting the other side have their 5% is pretty NON-compromisey.
But hey, don’t let truth or facts get in your way today.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:25 pm
“Ben, stay on topic – how much lower, now, are tax rates on the top earners than they are since 1960?”
Don’t know…wasn’t born until 1962. Didn’t get first job until 1976. Don’t see how the tax rate in 1960 is relevant to the discussion. I can tell you that Reagan lowered the top tax rate from 70% to 28%, and it was a brilliant decision.
Common Damn Sense
June 11th, 2012
3:25 pm
Cons, Kyle is ready when you are. You can help double the number of his bloggers within 5 minutes
http://blogs.ajc.com/kyle-wingfield/2012/06/11/did-jeb-bush-really-say-todays-gop-would-spurn-reagan/
Butch Cassidy
June 11th, 2012
3:25 pm
I’m a liberal…… – “curious…………….what about the dozen or so libs who blog here everyday, all day. Are they night shift also…………I guess if you are a lib, you are a wine sipping, mid town type with vastly superior intellect………….or if you have the other view, you drive the forklift on night shift.”
Or, there are actually folks on here that have retired after working and investing for 20 years who used to live in Atlanta and enjoy keeping up with the AJC. Where can I buy one of those broad brushes I see making strokes here every day?
kayaker 71
June 11th, 2012
3:26 pm
Seems that we are about to have the Attorney General indicted for contempt of Congress before long. Also seems that Holder’s arrogance has finally caught up with him. He belongs in jail.
TaxPayer
June 11th, 2012
3:26 pm
Uh OH! Ben has done confessed to us that his earnings are subject to the payroll tax. That’s too bad, Ben. You do realize that if you had earned your money by the optimum Bush tax cut method, you would not only get to earn over $85,000 annually without owing any federal income tax, you would also owe no payroll tax. I feel for ya.
bob
June 11th, 2012
3:26 pm
Steve, you can’t compare todays rate to 1960. The 1960 rate had so many legal writeoffs many of the wealthiest paid little to no tax at all.
Ben Shockley
June 11th, 2012
3:26 pm
“the poster formerly known as Harry Callahan is back.
oh, as another Clint Eastwood character? yeah, that’d make sense.”
Too bad you guys aren’t as sharp with political analysis…
Paul
June 11th, 2012
3:26 pm
Okay, I have a new nominee for “exchange of the day!”
Billybob: “what’s amazing is his top guy saying hiring public sector union people is what will fix the private sector ”
Paul: “I’m not at all sure ‘his top guy” ever said that. I’m more inclined to think you made it up. So… who’s his ‘top’ guy and when did he say that?”
Billybob: “…use google and answer mine on obama’s words and axelrod’s words…..”
(Translation: I think I heard it somewhere… but I’m afraid if I go looking for it I won’t find it… or it’ll be so radically different from what I said I’d be embarrassed…. so I’ll just tell people to go google it and answer my questin!!!!)
Thulsa Doom
June 11th, 2012
3:27 pm
I am a liberal and believe…,
Damn your 3:07 was funny. I wonder myself how many of the 99%ers are going to those $35,000 a plate Obama fund raisers.
Thomas
June 11th, 2012
3:27 pm
Reuters) – Hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans flooded downtown Caracas on Sunday to support opposition candidate Henrique Capriles in the biggest rally to date of his campaign to unseat cancer-stricken socialist President Hugo Chavez
I will start passing the plate for Mr. Capriles funeral arrangements.
As to the above for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction- I think Sherman said this as he waltzed down Peachtree burning bars.
Bookie- one day you will look in the mirror and realize you, Boortz, Hannity, fat dude with the pain killer addiction whose name escapes me- oh yeah limp biskit- were the great enablers of this garbage. Turn the cameras off for a while and the DC maggots will go back to work.
josef
June 11th, 2012
3:27 pm
I went to public schools, prep schools and Catholic schools and hedge school. The best education I got? Each one provided its own contribution and I wouldn’t take anything for the experience. The one thing I learned, though, was that when it comes down to the wire, the public schools offered the best when it came to socialization. That’s where I learned that it doesn’t matter who you are or where you came from, in this country you can aspire for the highest goals. All it takes is dedication to learning.