Al Gore: Another guy who’s not ‘patriotic’ by Obama’s standard
Ira Stoll notices a timely little nugget in the New York Times’ story about the sale of Current TV, co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, to Al Jazeera:
Al Jazeera did not disclose the purchase price, but people with direct knowledge of the deal pegged it at around $500 million, indicating a $100 million payout for Mr. Gore, who owned 20 percent of Current. Mr. Gore and his partners were eager to complete the deal by Dec. 31, lest it be subject to higher tax rates that took effect on Jan. 1, according to several people who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. But the deal was not signed until Wednesday. (emphasis added)
Hmmm. Does this mean Gore is not one of the “well-to-do Americans, patriotic Americans, who,” according to President Obama in a campaign speech back in August, “… are willing to do the right thing, willing to do their part to make this country strong” by paying higher taxes? One of those people who has “made enough money”?
In fact, amid all the stories about companies paying dividends early to help investors avoid higher taxes (such as Costco, which like Current TV was co-founded by a confirmed Democrat) or doing the same with bonuses (such as Goldman Sachs, whose executives famously supported Obama heavily in 2008 before largely abandoning him last year), can anyone find a story about companies or individuals actively taking steps to ensure they do pay higher taxes?
Who are these well-to-do, patriotic people trying to do as Obama wishes? And don’t give me a link to op-eds Warren Buffett has written about the need for wealthy people to pay more taxes. Not when his company has been fighting the IRS about its tax bills — presumably not in an attempt to pay more than the feds are seeking — and recently bought back $1.2 billion worth of its shares to keep a single unnamed investor from having to pay higher tax rates.
Who are these patriotic Americans? If their cause is so good, why haven’t we heard about any of them acting on it rather than just grandstanding about it?
– By Kyle Wingfield
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247 comments Add your comment
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
2:45 pm
“Finn, do you have the link with Adam professing that he is a Christian?”
Yeah, Finn. Where is your evidence?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
2:49 pm
I don’t have any evidence. I just made it up in order to make a point. I have no idea what religion the guy was or if any at all.
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
2:55 pm
“No it wasn’t. It was about informing his base here that Al Gore was doing business with Muslims.”
Reading comprehension FAIL on aisle 3.
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
2:57 pm
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
2:49 pm
“I don’t have any evidence. I just made it up…”
That’s when you know you’re dealing with a real liberal.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
2:58 pm
If I had said he was Jewish or Buddhist, my argument would still be valid.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
3:00 pm
That’s when you know you’re dealing with a real liberal.
That’s right – the liberals readily admit when they are making things up. Or, perhaps we could say, when liberals spout made-up BS, they realize what they are spouting is made up BS.
Uh Huh.....Patriotic? There's a RIFT in the GOP
January 3rd, 2013
3:03 pm
Pot calling the KETTLE BLACK?
The GOP is FIGHTING as we speak.
Boenher vs his own party.
Is that Patriotic?
JDW
January 3rd, 2013
3:05 pm
@Tiberius…”They would have been safe if you didn’t disarm everyone surrounding them, ”
Yep thats right…the more guns the safer you are. That’s why the US is the safest country in the world…oh wait…oops
southpaw
January 3rd, 2013
3:08 pm
How do we ban Christians?
Well, we start by burning their leaders at the stake. The followers will self ban after that.
——————————————————————————-
Spanish Inquisitors tried that, Finn. Care to guess how that worked out?
Long before that, a Roman emporer named Nero tried something similar (burning, but not necessarily at the stake). The results were similar to that of the Inquisition. And right around Nero’s time, a fellow named Saul gained notoriety for rounding up Christians and having them executed (although not necessarily by burning). You might have heard what he did later in his life; it was considerably different from his earlier days, and the aforementioned Nero may have had HIM executed.
Try again.
td
January 3rd, 2013
3:10 pm
JDW
January 3rd, 2013
3:05 pm
How about if we just take the guns away from all Obama supporters. This would have to make us safer as a nation.
Class of '98
January 3rd, 2013
3:10 pm
All of the prominent Democrat (and Republican) politicians in D.C. send their children to private schools with lots of heavily armed guards, much more armed than public schools. And I dare speculate that the anti-gun fanatics would be happy to send their children to similarly protected private schools, if they could afford it.
Yet the liberals want to tell us that arming good, responsible people IS NOT a viable means of protection.
Liberals and conservatives may not agree on the solution to gun violence, but at least conservatives are consistent. Liberals as usual, are hypocrites.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
3:11 pm
I’d say you need to catch up with the rest of the conversation, JDW, but since you’re incapable of doing so, I won’t bother.
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
3:14 pm
“That’s right – the liberals readily admit when they are making things up. Or, perhaps we could say, when liberals spout made-up BS, they realize what they are spouting is made up BS.”
Hmmm. A further liberal admission of made up sheet. I’m starting to think all the liberals have Phds in bullshytology.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
3:18 pm
Try again.
Exactly, that’s the plan….
td
January 3rd, 2013
3:20 pm
Obama gets his tax increase on the rich and it is still not enough. How much will be enough for him? If this does not confirm he is a socialist to you moderates on here I do not know what will.
“President Obama cut a video, distributed by his reelection, to reiterate his belief that the wealthiest Americans still aren’t paying their “fair share” of taxes and to outline a second-term agenda ranging from environmental policy to gun control.
Obama started by celebrating the tax increases — “making our tax code more progressive than it’s been in decades,” he said — that will take place because of the fiscal cliff deal.
“Obviously, there is still more to do when it comes to reducing our debt,” Obama said in the video. “And I’m willing to do more, as long as we do it in a balanced way that doesn’t put all the burden on seniors or students or middle class families, but also asks the wealthiest Americans to contribute and pay their fair share.”
http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-we-raised-taxes-but-the-rich-still-arent-paying-their-fair-share/article/2517443#.UOXmO6xzwrI
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
3:20 pm
Again, the fight isn’t about the 2nd amendment or the right to bear arms (or arm bears for that matter).
The fight is to limit access to high capacity clips and assault rifles.
But Cons will argue assault rifles are necessary to fight the armed bears.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
3:21 pm
If assault rifles are legal, I want land mines, hand grenades, and bazookas legalized too.
Todd
January 3rd, 2013
3:21 pm
George Soros is as patriotic as they come . Just a great American hero . But yes it is hard to really notice much with the patriotic Democrats with the Republicans cannibalizing themselves right now .
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
3:22 pm
Congrats Mr. Gore for selling your start up.
Don’t hate the players, change the game.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
3:23 pm
What works better than a “Brinks Security” sign in your front yard?
A sign like this:
http://www.sharestar.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/minefield.jpg
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
3:23 pm
BTW cons,
You are doing a heck of a job as extremists.
Stay the course and don’t change a thing.
Boris Badnoff
January 3rd, 2013
3:26 pm
Wait until he finds out they are paying him in Carbon Credits.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
3:28 pm
What will be funny is when Al Jazeera news gets ranked as more honest than Fox News.
Just Saying..
January 3rd, 2013
3:29 pm
“…infuriating hypocrisy…
This from the fiscally responsible, family values, pro-life (south end of gun) Party of relentless integrity.
You proclaim, voters laugh…
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
3:38 pm
I read aj.
Good stuff on the ME.
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
3:40 pm
Are you cons ready for immigration reform?
Dusty
January 3rd, 2013
3:42 pm
I find this blog has been targeted by liberals directed at its demise. The use of free speech for the detriment of others is appalling. Liberals use it here to ridicule, distort, disgrace, sublimate and prevaricate. Any truth presented is immediately accused of being a misrepresentation or worse, a lie.
Patriotism is laughable to these liberals. They insist: Legal gun laws are made for murderous people. A Christian is to be sneered and ” burned at the stake”. Terrorists are nice people gone wrong even while they kill our ambassadors and other Americans. Al-Jazeera is all for America. Notable Americans such as George W. Bush, John McCain, Romney, and Sarah Palin are pictured as common criminals and hate is spread around like the morning dew.
All this is the liberal “contribution” on this blog. Their obvious goal is to rid this country of Republicans by any means. Blogs give these hate filled people the chance to load it on others. Too bad they give a “bad name’ to all Democrats but they do. They hurt the country while trying to hurt others.
That is the shame.
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
3:44 pm
dusty,
Don’t talk about patriotism.
There is none from you cons under President Obama.
Dusty
January 3rd, 2013
3:44 pm
And then comes getalife……
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
3:45 pm
Telling it like it is like Christie.
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 3rd, 2013
3:46 pm
Uh Huh…..Patriotic? There’s a RIFT in the GOP
Wow, imagine that, the Republicans aren’t a bunch of lock step brainwashed gullible stooges like the liberals are.
You got us, man, good job.
President Romney
January 3rd, 2013
3:47 pm
Dusty
You wear your selective outrage so well. You seem to overlook and ignore the crap that come from the right on this very blog, but nothing is new. At least your hypocritical drama queen posts are consistent. And that counts for something.
President Romney
January 3rd, 2013
3:52 pm
Pizzaman, it’s OK for both Republicans and Democrats to use the tax laws as written.
It’s NOT OK to complain about the same use by Republicans (and make it a campaign talking point) when Democrats are more than willing to use them as well.
I’m sure you now see the difference.
________________________________________
Sort of like the stimulus that Republicans cried about yet from Governors (Heck Purdue cried to Obama for more than GA received), Congressman to Senators many who were wailing also had their hand in the cookie jar.
Right?
Guess you don’t see the difference
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 3rd, 2013
3:53 pm
Christie is a porker, in more than one way.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
3:54 pm
oh no, we offended Dusty.
Peadawg
January 3rd, 2013
3:56 pm
Dusty
January 3rd, 2013
3:42 pm
Do you feel the same way about Republicans who go over to Jay’s blog and do exactly what you wrote?
Dusty
January 3rd, 2013
3:56 pm
Christie is the governor of New Jersey and he is fighting for them. Our Congress was fighting for the whole USA and that is their precedence. What’s happening in Washignton is worse that what happened in New Jersey. The foundations of our country are being decimated.
Just Saying..
January 3rd, 2013
3:56 pm
“Their obvious goal is to rid this country of Republicans by any means.”
Really no need, Dusty. Your representatives in Congress are far more efficient.
MarkV
January 3rd, 2013
3:56 pm
Dusty @ 3:42 pm
“Any truth presented is immediately accused of being a misrepresentation or worse, a lie.”
And who decides what is the truth and what is a misrepresentation, or a lie? Why Dusty, of course.
Just Saying..
January 3rd, 2013
4:00 pm
“At least your hypocritical drama queen posts are consistent.”
True that…
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
4:04 pm
Let me be clear, the United States of America is still the most powerful and greatest country on this planet.
I call on you cons to show patriotism and admit this fact.
I will wait.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
4:07 pm
PR (and I refuse to dignify your moniker by using the terms “President” or Romney” when addressing you), the difference is so obvious that even YOU should be able to see it.
One is hypocritical because of the charges being hurled at Republicans, while the other is making sure that the taxes collected across ALL states are distributed across ALL states.
Dusty
January 3rd, 2013
4:07 pm
FINN,
Yes, you are offensive.
PEADAWG
I don’t contribute to Bookman’s blog. Why don’t you stay there and protect them?
So called PRESIDENT ROMNEY
Better to be a “drama queen’ than a hate filled liberal sycophant railing against the country..
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
4:09 pm
“railing against the country..”
You cons have been doing that for four years.
Lets see some patriotism dusty.
Prove it.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
4:09 pm
“Let me be clear, the United States of America is still the most powerful and greatest country on this planet.”
Correct.
We’re just on a steeper decline from that position since the election of President Incompetent back in 2008, and his predecessor back in 2000.
td
January 3rd, 2013
4:09 pm
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
3:20 pm
Again, the fight isn’t about the 2nd amendment or the right to bear arms (or arm bears for that matter).
The fight is to limit access to high capacity clips and assault rifles.
Bogus argument. We all know how the leftest have a long term plan to get rid of all guns.
“Here’s the gun grabbers’ slippery-slope agenda, laid out by Nelson T. Shields, founder of Handgun Control Inc.: “We’re going to have to take this one step at a time, and the first step is necessarily — given the political realities — going to be very modest. … Right now, though, we’d be satisfied not with half a loaf but with a slice. Our ultimate goal — total control of handguns in the United States — is going to take time. … The final problem is to make the possession of all handguns and all handgun ammunition — except for the military, police, licensed security guards, licensed sporting clubs and licensed gun collectors — totally illegal” (The New Yorker, July 1976).”
http://townhall.com/columnists/walterewilliams/2013/01/02/why-the-2nd-amendment-n1476632/page/full/
Peadawg
January 3rd, 2013
4:11 pm
“I don’t contribute to Bookman’s blog.”
Nice dodge.
getalife
January 3rd, 2013
4:11 pm
“We’re just on a steeper decline from that position since the election of President Incompetent back in 2008, and his predecessor back in 2000.”.
That is not patriotism.
That is bs.
Dusty
January 3rd, 2013
4:12 pm
MarkV,
Are you a puppet?
I make my own decisions just like most sensible people. (The clue here is : SENSIBLE..).
Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories
January 3rd, 2013
4:13 pm
getalife – What happened to China being the greatest? Did your lib leaders tell y’all to be patriotic for the day?
What’s up?