Tea parties brew notable ideas
If there is a Party of No, it’s not the tea party.
A week from today, Tax Day, tea partiers will again stage rallies nationwide to protest overgrown government. Last year’s huge April 15 crowds and the momentum they kept up established the loosely organized groups as a political fixture.
But tea partiers next week won’t simply tell Washington what not to do. They’ll present an affirmative plan: a 10-point Contract From America.
This platform has been months, scores of ideas and hundreds of thousands of online votes in the making. Candidates who want tea party support will commit to the ideas chosen from 21 finalists.
There are many good policies among those 21, but a shorter list is wise. In that spirit, here are five of the planks I support.
Note that I intentionally excluded constitutional amendments from my list. A two-thirds vote is required in both the U.S. House and Senate for a potential amendment to be sent to the states for approval. I think such a majority is unlikely in the next two years.
That’s also why I’ve left out the option for market-based health reform. Repealing the newly passed health law and replacing it with a better one is a worthy idea, but it’s not going to happen while Barack Obama is president. I’m going with ideas that are doable, and soon:
1. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform. Other items would keep the Bush tax cuts in place and require a two-thirds vote to raise taxes. I’d rather overhaul the tax code entirely.
This idea calls for adopting “a fair and simple single-rate tax system by scrapping the internal revenue code and replacing it with one that is no longer than 4,543 words — the length of the original Constitution.”
A single rate — aka the flat tax — would stop the progressive code’s punishment of success. The word limit is key, too: It would slash special-interest carve-outs and loopholes, which reward lobbying power and create inefficiencies.
2. End Runaway Government Spending. This plank would limit spending increases to the rates of inflation and population growth, or roughly 5 percent to 6 percent a year.
History shows that federal revenues are consistently around 18 percent of the economy. Unchecked spending, by both major parties, is what creates budget deficits.
3. Let Us Save. Americans below a certain age (not specified on the Web site) should be able to opt out of most or all Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, taking responsibility for their own retirements. We could even change the programs to require an opt-in.
Some conservatives, most recently Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), propose ways to limit the risk Americans can take with this former entitlement money, perhaps by offering us the same investment options that federal workers have now.
4. Restore Fiscal Responsibility and Constitutionally Limited Government. This one would create a task force to audit federal agencies and programs, “assessing their constitutionality, and identifying duplication, waste, ineffectiveness, and agencies and programs better left for the states.”
I’ve advocated a similar plan for state government, HB 236. What’s sauce for the gander …
5. Sunset Regulations and Enact Fundamental Regulatory Reform. Too many obsolete laws linger on the books, part of a federal code that adds tens of thousands of pages each year. It’s impossible to know and comply with in full.
Mandating a periodic review of regulations will cull harmful or ineffective ones, and keep lawmakers and bureaucrats from passing new regs just to justify their existence.
Never let it be said that the tea partiers only oppose ideas. Their detractors now face the challenge of creating a better plan for moving forward.
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248 comments Add your comment
Ragnar Danneskjöld
April 7th, 2010
8:26 pm
Pretty good list, especially #5. Much to the distress of Churchill’s Mom I still prefer the Fair Tax or any comparable consumption based tax over the Income tax, and would favor scrapping income taxes entirely. I like Kyle’s short list. Suspect Georgia’s senators would have a problem with #2 and #4.
artatlarge
April 7th, 2010
8:27 pm
Sigh.
What the right always FAILS to mention is that under the most conservative administrations imaginable, Eisenhower, the tax rate on the rich was over 50%. Yet here again wingfield blames “progressives” for punishing success.
A limit of 5-6% growth for the federal budget would decimate an already crumbling infrastructure, kill programs that don’t directly support the military, and leave all our citizens at the mercy of illness, chance, or countries willing to deprive their own citizens in the name of their own military. How well does that seem to be working for North Korea? How did it work out for the Russians, who stifled their own economy for the sake of the Red Army? Letting people opt out of paying Social Security and Medicare taxes would take us right back to the days before the depression, when there was no safety net, no programs, and no hope for the elderly poor, the disabled, the orphaned, etc.
Leaving most federal programs in the hands of states would mean a balkanization of interstate commerce, health-care regulation, and the like, with each state fighting for any advantage over another.
And that thing about “Enact Fundamental Regulatory Reform” is nothing more than a way to make it seem like something is being done, when all that will result is an endless battle over who decides what programs are “ineffective”, and who will determine that ineffectiveness. Look for even worse governmental gridlock once each and every syllable issued by the federal government is challenged by “States’ Rightists” who think that federal subsidies for things like infrastructure, commerce, law enforcement, and vehicle-safety regulations are evil.
This country became great because it was united, after all.
This kind of Teabagger nonsense would result in fiefdoms, city-states, and a descent into 3rd-world conditions.
And now, let the Rabid Right respond.
It’s gonna be ugly.
CJ
April 7th, 2010
8:44 pm
According to the Gallup poll that Kyle referred to in his previous post, Tea party supporters make up approximately 28 percent of survey respondents. But according to a recent Harris poll, 31 percent of those surveyed blame Bush for our bad economy while less than half of that, 14 percent, blame Obama.
As I said before, why those 28 percenters—mostly white, mostly male, mostly conservative—get a disproportion share of media coverage (including coverage in Kyle’s blog) is beyond me.
Let’s look at this Contract on America—essentially the Republican Party’s trickle-down economic proposals, those that worked so well in the last decade, warmed over.
They start off proposing that ideas that conservatives oppose, like raising tax rates to offset the tax burden on the poor and middle class, should require a super-majority in Congress. On the other hand, ideas that conservatives support would still only require a simple majority. Now that’s an America that conservatives can believe in.
One idea that Teabaggers want to pass with a simple majority: changing the tax code to a flat tax system that would result in tax cuts for those at the top and tax hikes for poor and middle class workers?
Before you tell me I’m wrong, pull out your 2010 tax return (1040) and divide your total tax (line 60) by your total income (line 22) to get your 2010 effective tax rate (the actual percentage of your income that goes toward paying federal taxes). Your own effective tax rate is a figure that every voter should know. Why? You’re likely to find that you pay a lower percentage of your income in federal income taxes than conservative pundits would have you believe. Now compare your effective tax rate to the flat tax rates that are proposed, and I would bet money that at least 8 out of 10 of us would end up paying more. Also, dollars-to-donuts the flat tax proposals would only apply to earned income, but not apply to corporate income or unearned income (e.g., inheritance income and investment income).
The next proposal involves privatizing Social Security and Medicare–thereby having Wall Street handle our retirement savings and health insurance companies handle our health insurance when we retired. Nice.
Finally, regulatory reform = cut regulations = reduced consumer/worker protections. Undoubtedly, the coal operator, Massey Energy who just killed 25 or so of their employees, is on board.
Ragnar Danneskjöld
April 7th, 2010
8:47 pm
Dear CJ, you are correct to note that fully half of Americans of working age pay no taxes at all, and most do not pay a fair share. Time for the slackers t contribute.
CJ
April 7th, 2010
8:52 pm
By the way Kyle,
More great news today regarding TARP/government loans to the auto industry. GM plans to pay off its government loans by June (five years ahead of schedule).
I know that you’re as happy as I am.
Real American
April 7th, 2010
9:00 pm
I WANT MY KUNTREE BACK!!!!!!! WAAAAHHHH!!!
lmao…..so silly
Ragnar Danneskjöld
April 7th, 2010
9:00 pm
Dear CJ, thanks for the link, respectfully think you mis-read. GM plans to repay the unpaid portion of the initial $6.7 billion, but the remaining $45.3 billion is contingent on, and will have to await, an IPO. That’s a heckuva lot of money for an IPO.
obamayomomma
April 7th, 2010
9:00 pm
GM is paying who off 5 years ahead of schedule. Government Motors is reporting a $4+ billion loss for last quarter today. CJ and artatlarge, start watching the meth commercials they have on tv now. You two are whacked out. You two get your facts from the Daily Kos and MSNBC not to metion I am sure you are both under acheivers and just a twitter over your free healthcare in 2014. Unless of course the evil empire repeals it….hope, hope, hope.
obamayomomma
April 7th, 2010
9:01 pm
CJ got his facts wrong? Oh how could it be?
Smarty Jones
April 7th, 2010
9:19 pm
How #1 Be TERM LIMITS!!!! 2 terms for Senator/Representative with provisions that after their 2 terms they can not work for any lobbyist firms, think tanks, etc. PLUS immediate family as well for the puppet factor. We have nothing but a bunch of crooks up there that do not give a damn about anyone. Kyle you know this as well brother.
CJ
April 7th, 2010
9:29 pm
jbm,
I was following up on my previous conversation with Kyle about the TARP funds–the loan that this article was addressing. All TARP money provided to GM is expected to be repaid by June
I don’t believe that the $45 billion mentioned was a loan. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it’s equity. If so, then the government will get this investment back, plus some, when they decide to sell our shares.
Have faith brother.
CJ
April 7th, 2010
9:32 pm
Hey obamayomomma,
Pull out your 2009 tax return and tell us your effective tax rate (see my post above if you need help). Mine is 12 percent (i.e., we paid 12 percent of our income in federal income taxes last year).
What about you jbm/Ragnar?
Keep up the good fight!
April 7th, 2010
9:38 pm
Sure 4500 words…does that include amendments? There is continued disagreement about provisions like the 2nd, 5th and 10th amendment just to name a few…..since it is so simple…the TPM cant write their proposed code now so we can see it? Are their rules, interpretations and regulations to supplement it?
Now 600 words are already in your article already so you are 1/8 of the way there.
I would love to see a simplified code and to achieve the stated objectives….without the silly word limitation. Let’s get realistic. The TP has no clue other than some nice talking points. No substance.
How many words are they allowed on abortion/freedom of choice?
They dont have a plan. They have bullet points. The parties have had bullet points as part of their platforms for years. Get real Kyle
Tea Parties Brew Notable Ideas
April 8th, 2010
3:45 am
[...] Continue reading at the Atlanta Journal Constitution… [...]
Steve
April 8th, 2010
6:49 am
Number 5
Yep, they should review and remove unenforced and unneeded code. Of course most law is a reaction to the abuses of individuals and groups so to say that law makers are creating law just to look busy is a bit much.
Also nothing in their plan addresses the devil may care manner corporations are outsourcing and offshoring jobs to maximize profits at the expense of the working man.
Nothing in that plan addresses the technology drain in America. We used to be the best in the world in science and technology and that was a huge driver of our wealth in decades after WWII.
Of course I’m sure the response is just cut taxes and corporate America will come back stronger than ever. They will bring back all those jobs.
Mishap
April 8th, 2010
7:02 am
CJ,
As long as they perceive someone as getting taxed less, they feel cheated regardless if that tax rate hits them harder or not. Yeah 1/2 of people don’t pay any federal income tax but 1/2 of families make under 50k per year w/ an avg size of 4 people. Basically every penny they make goes back into the economy but don’t forget they’re still paying SS and Medicare which is regressively taxed on the first 105k or so. They also forget that high income brackets are currently able to escape the progressive tax brackets by putting their money in investments (both domestic and international) which brings down their overall tax rate further below our current rate. They also seem to forget that under the current tax structure the top 1%’s share of the total income has grown to its largest % ever meaning there are more wealthy than ever before.
They also forget that Warren Buffett pays 17% taxes on his income while his employees avg over 30% which I assume is an all in number. I’ve been around that 17-18% number on federal taxes alone b/c I have an ok job but no dependents or major deductions until recently when I bought a home. At the same time I haven’t exactly felt like I shouldn’t work harder and earn more since I do still have plenty of money to spend on the little luxuries in life.
Fair tax is plenty “fair” to the people in the top half of the pool when they realize their disposable income isn’t taxed until they feel the need to spend it. I’d benefit hugely honestly given I save about 20% of my income. How great would it be to get my full gross income and then be able to blow that on international vacations where goods aren’t taxed at 30%? Those who have no disposable income(lower middle->poor) would likely see no change or higher effective taxes.
Bill
April 8th, 2010
7:13 am
Ragnar,
It is true that this year, 47% of Americans will pay not INCOME tax. That is not to say they pay no taxes.
Willis
April 8th, 2010
7:13 am
“You two get your facts from the Daily Kos and MSNBC not to metion I am sure you are both under acheivers”
This writer says others are “under acheivers” – apparently didn’t do so well in spelling class.
Rational Citizen
April 8th, 2010
7:17 am
Most people’s taxes are going to go up, and that is precisely because of the huge deficits that Republican administrations ran up. For those of you who love to blame our current fiscal mess on Obama, at least have the decency to admit the fact that he inherited a $1.3 TRILLION deficit the day he stepped into office from the Bush administration. He also inherited the worst financial crisis since the 1930’s. I’m not saying Dems don’t waste all of our money, too. But there isn’t a bit of difference between Republicans or Democrats. They’re all crooks. They’re politicians. They schmooze people and win elections so they can give away other people’s money and enrich their friends. And if these tea partiers think there’s a politician out there who is going to be any different, they are simply delusional.
Taxpayer
April 8th, 2010
7:20 am
1. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform
So, the partiers want a single rate across the board. What rate would that be? Ten percent. A simple tithe. What would other people such as Exxon and GE, who paid no taxes last year, think about that arrangement.
I would continue but I can’t stop laughing long enough to get all the words down.
hehehe hahaha hohoho
Good one, Kyle.
Steve
April 8th, 2010
7:21 am
I agree with Rational Citizen.
A CONSERVATIVE--
April 8th, 2010
7:30 am
TEA PARTY MOVEMENT IS AS AMERICAN AS HOMEmade APPLE PIE…..that is why the LEFT IS against it………..THE LEFT OPPOSES COMMON SENSE, rational thought..The LEFT are full of LOONs.
A CONSERVATIVE--
April 8th, 2010
7:35 am
TAXPAYER must be a liberal–socuialist….go back to school & learn some MATH…taxpayer
RGB
April 8th, 2010
7:51 am
Bloggers “art” and CJ used the term “tea bagger”.
Tea bagger is a term for people like Barney Frank, Anderson Cooper and you. A tea partier is a person who is among those exercising his free speech and peaceable assembly rights. Most TEA (taxed enough already) Party attendees are focused on government spending and taxation issues.
That was the point of the article which both of you, uh, people, failed to grasp.
Card Carrying Member
April 8th, 2010
7:53 am
To A CONSERVATIVE:
1. Go back to school and learn some spelling and grammar.
2. What math does Taxpayer need to do?
3. What’s up with the random capitalization?
Here’s a link talking about GE paying zero taxes:
http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/01/ge-exxon-walmart-business-washington-corporate-taxes.html
Fix-It
April 8th, 2010
8:02 am
CJ, I am sorry that you only make 30,000 a year but most of us that are married with children have to make more to survive. When I look at our tax return I am paying, between SS and federal taxes are about 37% and they always wanting more. Since you only pay 12% you are not paying your fair share, why aren’t you volunteering to pay more, wouldn’t that be the right thing to do? Better yet shouldn’t we all have to pay the same to enjoy living here? FAIRTAX.ORG
Junior Samples
April 8th, 2010
8:08 am
A Conservative–,
liberal–socuialist? Which class did you skip?
Midtown Residing
April 8th, 2010
8:26 am
Why do these Tea Bagging idiots say they want their country back? Didn’t we all vote for Obama. We have the country that we voted for! Now I know it’s a new concept for America, but some of us do want to take care of people that are unable to take care of themselves (healthcare). 60% of the bankruptcies in the US are due to medical bills for people who didn’t choose to be sick. If I have to contribute more through my taxes to help, I’m willing to do that.
OptOutOptIn
April 8th, 2010
8:32 am
Kyle says “Americans below a certain age (not specified on the Web site) should be able to opt out of most or all Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes, taking responsibility for their own retirements. We could even change the programs to require an opt-in.” Great idea. Opting out combined with opting in effectively would make paying social security and medicare taxes voluntary, wouldn’t it Kyle? Please explain further Kyle.
gordon
April 8th, 2010
8:34 am
Is it me, or do most of these “ideas” just consist of getting rid of something these people don’t like? Because it does all seem kind of “Party of No”-ish.
But yes, let’s select a completely arbitrary word-count limit to rewrite the tax code that funds our entire government. That’ll work out brilliantly. Having just done my taxes, I’m certainly not going to argue that the existing system is ideal or remotely easy to handle, but there’s such a thing as over-simplifying a legitimately complex process too.
Can we please stop pretending the constitution was a perfect document? There’s no rational reason to hold its length up as a virtue in and of itself. Yes, it was great and it established many principles this country should always aspire to, but it was also racist and sexist in its treatment of slaves and women. There’s a reason they set up a process for amending the thing, after all. The world changes. The constitution changes with it. It’s worked out pretty well so far.
And now, hypothetically, if I opt out of Medicare, when I’m 70 and I show up at the emergency room without insurance, what do the tea party folks propose should happen then? Just let me die? Or do those of us who do have insurance just end up footing the bill? I’m not saying allowing people to opt out is a terrible idea, but it’s a simplistic, poorly-thought-out one that, like most of the ideas I’ve seen these guys promote, is designed to fit on a bumper sticker a rally poster, not to actually function as a government policy.
the truth
April 8th, 2010
8:40 am
The GOP is being cleaned up by the Tea Party. Funny that a large percentage of the Tea Party movement is made up of Independents and moderate Democrats. You people calling them names (like idiots, racists, etc) are just feeding the movement with more fuel. Yep, the president and his socialist agenda is about to come to an end as soon as November gets here. Deny it if you wish but just hide and watch…the Dem party is about to get a butt kicking of epic proportions.
Mishap
April 8th, 2010
8:40 am
Fix-It,
Either you’re household income range breaks over a million or you messed up your calculation something awful and skipped out on state taxes which are a flat 6% after a min amt. That or your running extremely tax inefficiently. If your family filing jointly has an adjusted gross income(after all deductions) of $372,950 (33% bracket), your total taxable income is $100,894 which is only 27% and 31.3% including FICA of 7.65% on the 1st 210k. FICA phases out above $105k income and even under a dual income would stop at 210k. Assuming you ignored all deductions/dependents your actual tax rate maxes at 27%. It would be much lower if you worked from your actual gross which would be at least around 400k (25% effective tax rate).
You obviously have no concept of how marginal taxes work given you assume CJ makes 30k based off the effective rate w/ no info on # of deductions. If they have kids, mortgage, student loan interest, etc they could make close to six figures and have an effective federal tax rate under 10%.
dan
April 8th, 2010
8:46 am
Ragnar
” fully half of Americans of working age pay no taxes at all, and most do not pay a fair share. Time for the slackers to contribute.”
You’re right, like ALL of these Christian institutions that pay zero taxes! If these religious nut jobs are so interested in involving themselves in politics, then their organization can pay their way just like everyone else. Talk about the biggest scam of all time–religion! These people believe in a invisible white man who lives in the sky and a virgin birth, yet want to tell others how to live their lives? Complete BS.
dan
April 8th, 2010
8:48 am
Oh and Obama is not a socialist. A Fascist, perhaps. But definitely not a socialist.
No More Progressives!
April 8th, 2010
8:51 am
Real American
April 7th, 2010
9:00 pm
I WANT MY KUNTREE BACK!!!!!!! WAAAAHHHH!!!
lmao…..so silly
What “kuntree” do you live in, there, Homer??
No More Progressives!
April 8th, 2010
8:54 am
Midtown Residing
April 8th, 2010
8:26 am
Why do these Tea Bagging idiots say they want their country back? Didn’t we all vote for Obama?
No, Mr. Rocket Scientist. Only about 53% of the electorate voted for Little Barry Soetoro.
Reality
April 8th, 2010
8:54 am
People that want a “fair” or “flat” tax have no idea what that really means. These people are under the delusion that it will somehow make things even and fair to all, but it is anything but. They do not fully understand the implications at all.
Why do you think that the tax system was initially set up on a sliding scale to begin with? Do you really think that they thought it was unfair?
Give me a break!
jimmy
April 8th, 2010
8:55 am
artatlarge….the real sigh is you pal…. and YOUR ignorance and confidence in our so called government that claims they are looking out for OUR best interest. You poor brainwashed soul.
Reality
April 8th, 2010
8:56 am
@ No More Progreessives!
Last time I looked, 53% was a majority. And, it is a much larger margin of victory than Bush….. wait a minute, Bush didn’t have a majority over Gore, he stole the election by getting the lopsided Supreme Court to PUT him in office.
Who Dat?
April 8th, 2010
8:56 am
“Their detractors now face the challenge of creating a better plan for moving forward.”
Kyle, the left wingers don’t actually have any plans other than to keep spending and to demonize the opposition. I asked Bookman AND countless other left wingers to show ANY proof that John Lewis was called a “N” and NO ONE could show any.
Also, a story broke about how black conservatives were being targeted by left wingers and called oreos, uncle toms etc…. THIS is exactly what liberalism is. It’s hypocrisy and racism.
Who Dat?
April 8th, 2010
8:58 am
“Last time I looked, 53% was a majority.”
Yeah, you need to look at the poll numbers now, pal. He doesn’t have a “majority” favorability rating anymore.
Reality
April 8th, 2010
8:58 am
Bottom line is that President Obama is NOW THE President. He is working on the issues that he claimed he would during the campaign. And, the majority of voters did vote for him.
So, if you don’t like America and our direction – here is your personal invitation to GET OUT!
Who Dat?
April 8th, 2010
8:59 am
“People that want a “fair” or “flat” tax have no idea what that really means”
You are a prime example of why people despise left wingers. You mock and degrade and people are sick of it.
See ya in November, ma’am!
Who Dat?
April 8th, 2010
9:00 am
“So, if you don’t like America and our direction – here is your personal invitation to GET OUT!”
No, we’ll just vote out the Democrats this November and then make Obama a one term president by 2012.
Reality
April 8th, 2010
9:00 am
@Who Dat?
You’re kidding, right? And how was Bush’s rating? If you had any ounce of sense, you would understand how a sitting president’s rating is different from any election.
But, from your other posts, you ARE the type to skew and mis-state facts.
It is the conservatives that are hypocrits. Save a life (abortion)! Kill people (on death row)! And, so on.
the truth
April 8th, 2010
9:02 am
Who Dat?…you got it brother…nail meet hammer.
Reality
April 8th, 2010
9:03 am
@Who Dat?
Good luck with voting out Democrats. Who in their right mind (except you and you are not) would vote for Repubs that have no plan of their own and just say “no.”
Democrats are pushing through everything that they said they would. The fact that YOU don’t like it is MEANINGLESS.
The next election will only solidify Democrats and then what will you do? Will you also pick up a brick and throw it through a window? Will you pick up your shot gun and head for DC?
CJ
April 8th, 2010
9:03 am
“CJ, I am sorry that you only make 30,000 a year but most of us that are married with children have to make more to survive. When I look at our tax return I am paying, between SS and federal taxes are about 37%”
Fix-It obviously didn’t look at his income tax return to arrive at that figure because SS taxes are payroll taxes—not income taxes.
The 12% rate I gave earlier for myself applies to federal income taxes only—payroll taxes (i.e., Social Security/Medicare taxes) are excluded. Why? Because the Tea Party flat tax proposal is a proposal to replace income taxes only. If you compare any tax rate which includes these payroll taxes with any flat tax rate proposal, you’ll be comparing apples with oranges.
My effective tax rate (12%), the amount I actually pay, is NOT the same as my marginal tax rate (25%) which represents the tax bracket that I’m in. But Fix-it doesn’t want to sit down and perform the extremely simple calculation of dividing his total tax paid by his total income—as shown on his tax return and described above @8:44. He’d prefer to operate under the false impression that since he’s in the 25% tax bracket, then he pays 25% of his income in taxes.
Fix-it obviously doesn’t understand that being in the 25% tax bracket means that he pays 0% on one portion of his income, 10% on another portion, 15% on another portion, and 25% on the rest. Our effective (actual) tax rate works out to be a weighted average of these tax brackets.
Fix-it is proudly wallowing in his ignorance because, I suspect, that facts might interfere with his ideology. The Tea Party organizers are counting on such ignorance, so that when they propose a 17% or 19% or 23% flat tax proposal, people like Fix-It won’t realize that they’re taxes would actually go up considerably.
No More Progressives!
April 8th, 2010
9:03 am
Taxpayer
April 8th, 2010
7:20 am
1. Enact Fundamental Tax Reform
So, the partiers want a single rate across the board. What rate would that be? Ten percent. A simple tithe. What would other people such as Exxon and GE, who paid no taxes last year, think about that arrangement.
I can’t speak to 2009, but in 2007, Exxon paid $29MM in taxes. The link to the annual report is below.
It’s become a popular liberal myth to propogate false tax data about large coporations. I suspect it’s because you can’t read an annual report. Or don’t want to. Or Keith Olbermann told you not to.
http://www.exxonmobil.com/corporate/files/news_pub_sar_2007.pdf
Who Dat?
April 8th, 2010
9:04 am
“You’re kidding, right? And how was Bush’s rating?”
Nope
Bush was a two term president who’s rating didn’t fall until after 2006. Obama is below 50% in his first year. You were saying?
“If you had any ounce of sense, you would understand how a sitting president’s rating is different from any election.”
Ah, again, the angry bed wetting lib degrades. You need to change your name to Un-Reality since you live in fantasyland.
“But, from your other posts, you ARE the type to skew and mis-state facts.”
Fact: Obamas approval rating is 45%. You were saying, ma’am?
“It is the conservatives that are hypocrits. Save a life (abortion)! Kill people (on death row)! And, so on.”
Unborn babies don’t rape and murder people. Convicts did. You were saying ma’am?
By the way, nice try at changing the subject.