Awww SookieSookie now

7/1/2011 3:22:06 PM

My car needs to be washed, so I figure mowing the lawn will take care of it.

I mean, if the Democrats use my logic, they could cut defense spending and raise taxes to solve the problems of the deficit.

7/9/2011 12:33:51 PM

Quote :

"I mean, if the Democrats use my logic, they could cut defense spending and raise taxes to solve the problems of the deficit. "

What's the rolly eyes for? Both of those things would help with the deficit.

But mowing your lawn has 0 effect on washing your car. Your analogy is pretty stupid and illogical overall, but this isn't surprising.

7/9/2011 2:14:47 PM

Quote :

"But mowing your lawn has 0 effect on washing your car."

Thank you.

Nor is mowing the lawn the reason my car is dirty and in need of washing.

Let me use this analogy:

My car is in need of engine repair. It is stalling out all of the time and I can't get it to stay running for longer than five minutes. In order to fix my engine, I buy the Rogue Acoustics RA:1K car stereo system for my car. It costs $330,000. I buy it because, it will help me get my car started down the road.

Now, after waiting forever to put my car stereo in, I realize (or someone points out to me) that the stereo system not only doesn't make my car stay running, but because it drains so much of the battery, my car won't even start.

BUT BOY IT SOUNDS AWESOME SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY.

Now, because I'm having more problems with my car because of (and in spite of) the stereo, and now that I don't have any money because of the purchase of the stereo, I decide to sell it's tires, because if I sell it's tires, I'll be able to fix the engine (ah crap...and get a new battery) and drive the car again.

BAM. PROBLEM SOLVED.

But I'm not a smart guy, so maybe this is a bad analogy.

7/9/2011 3:10:38 PM

You're an idiot, and that's a terrible, inapt analogy.

It's more like your car is running low on gas, and the Republicans think you can solve the problem just by driving slower, while Obama wants you to pull over and get more gas. But the republicans don't want to buy more gas, unless you also sell your seat belts and airbags to buy the gas. Driving slower is only going to get you so far, and selling off all your safety gear is plain stupid.

[Edited on July 9, 2011 at 4:17 PM. Reason : ]

7/9/2011 4:16:37 PM

Yes. You are correct. That is a stellar analogy. Why did I even doubt your reasoning and analytical skills?

And to prove it, I am going to post this awesome eye-roll at MYSELF.

7/9/2011 6:56:07 PM

moron wins

7/9/2011 9:27:28 PM

7/9/2011 9:53:16 PM

Obama's singin the blues because he ain't go no solutions for the debt he created without taxin the rich.

7/10/2011 7:41:11 PM

if the tax cuts would of expired, would of shaved off 4 trillion.....because that is just adding to the debt along with the two wars dubya got us in....and it was under dubya that the economy tanked...thus why Obama beat McCain...if it had not tanked, McCain would of won on the foreign policy front...now Obama looks like DINO.....strong on defense, weak on economy....but none of the nutcases (well not all, but really, a mormon prez, please) running for prez on the GOP side will do any better....weak field means a weak president wins reelection, just like what happened with W.

Obama had to do alot of the stuff he did (spending) because of what Dubya got us in.....was placed in a huge hole with no good solution. I think he has done a ok job given the cards he was dealt.

[Edited on July 10, 2011 at 7:49 PM. Reason : w]

7/10/2011 7:47:17 PM

This thing crash and burned in 08, there was nothing left, Obamas rapid rise from community organiser to President almost makes me think that they were looking for just a warm body to put in the office. They needed a popular figurehead to be present as they put trillions of bad private debt on the Public balance sheet. I cant remember who Wall Street supported in 2008. Now it has been done there is no way out. Thats not to say Barry is not to blame, he stomped on the gas to the tune of 1.5 trillion a year with nothing to show for it.

7/10/2011 11:04:12 PM

Obama On Deficit Talks: Time To "Pull Off The Band-Aid"

Quote :

"I will not sign a 30-day or a 60-day or a 90-day extension. That is just not an acceptable approach. And if we think it's hard now, imagine how these guys are going to be thinking six months from now in the middle of election season when they are all up. It's not going to get easier, it's going to get harder. So, we might as well do it now. Pull off the band-aid. Eat our peas. Now is the time to do it. If not now, when? We keep on talking about this stuff, and we have these high-minded pronouncements about how we've got to get control of the deficit, how we owe it to our children and our grandchildren. Well, let's step up. Let's do it," President Obama said at his press conference today."

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/07/11/obama_on_deficit_talks_time_to_pull_off_the_band-aid_eat_our_peas.html

I agree with what he's saying in spirit, though I can't help but compare to everything he's said in the past, and it sure seems like double talk to me. I'm not certain that Obama fully understands what ripping off the band-aid would entail at this point in time.

7/11/2011 12:25:43 PM

Quote :

"But Republican Boehner said that tax increases are a nonstarter: "The American people will not accept — and the House cannot pass — a bill that raises taxes on job creators.""

Please! ... Unemployment us up ... The housing market has crashed ... the only thing up is the stock market, and that is because companies have been shipping jobs overseas ... The wealth gap increases, and he says we don't want to raise taxes on the job creators? .... Please! ...


[Edited on July 11, 2011 at 5:39 PM. Reason : *~<]BO]

7/11/2011 5:35:28 PM

Yes, one party that refuses substantial cuts, and another that refuses substantial tax rate increases, but both completely unwilling and unable to accept that truly hard decisions have to be made.

7/11/2011 7:43:01 PM

^ I'm afraid I have to disagree. There is only one intransigent party at the moment. The Republicans are still pretending that there is only one factor in the equation (and that the rich care about American jobs).

7/11/2011 10:47:29 PM

Quote :

"substantial cuts"

how much is that then? I am pretty sure there were some cuts proposed and I am not even paying that much attention.

7/11/2011 10:51:38 PM

^^Not even the Republicans are talking about the kind of cuts we actually need. Why? They're still hooked on war.

^There have been suggested cuts; the latest was 4 trillion over 10 years. When you consider that our annual deficit right now is 1.5 trillion, interest rates are being held very low, and the government has a terrible track record when it comes to "projected expenses," it's hard to take seriously.

When both parties start talking about a serious reduction in military spending and very serious Social Security/Medicare restructuring, then I will consider these budget talks "serious." Until then, I see it the dog and pony show continued.

7/11/2011 11:41:49 PM

obamas 50th birthday is august 4th.

the day after the government is scheduled to run out of cash hes throwing a $36k per plate dinner at the aragon ballroom in chicago.

concert, celebrities, etc

maybe it will be popular enough he can donate the procedes to funding his own government? or is this going to the ol' warchest because polls indicate any generic republican beats him by 8%?

oh, and "let them eat cake"

7/15/2011 8:18:48 AM

Quote :

"the day after the government is scheduled to run out of cash hes throwing a $36k per plate dinner at the aragon ballroom in chicago."

Why am I not surprised you're mischaracterizing this event?

Quote :

"Tickets to the fundraiser, slated to take the day before the president's August 4 birthday, are reportedly going for between $50 each to $35,800 for a pair. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, it will feature a star-studded VIP "birthday concert" -- possibly featuring Jennifer Hudson -- as well as dinner with the president. The campaign official disputed that characterization, however, saying the event will feature a hometown crowd and local performers and will be "no different then any other fundraiser." According to the Sun-Times, the event is scheduled to be "multi-tiered": There will be a 4 p.m. concert for which $50 tickets are available but limited; for $1,000, a donor gets "premium" seating with a "hosted bar," and for $10,000 contributors get "preferred seating" to the concert, along with souvenir photos with the president. There are also General Admission tickets for $200, according to the Sun-Times."

7/15/2011 8:54:00 AM

why am i not surprised you understand nothing about appearances?

your president is a bag of cocks and his attitude is likely more detrimental to his re-election than his actual policies.

and you know what? its not me mischaracterizing it- type "president obamas birthday" into ANY search engine and take your pick between competing stories.

since you will undoubtedly cherry-pick stories until you find the one that supports your attitude, and make no mistake its in the minority, just scroll to the bottom and read the comments.

talking heads can keep saying "oh its too far away to tell right now" all they want. obama clearly loses in every poll and its only going to get worse. how could it get better in your estimation?

7/15/2011 9:08:14 AM

Something has been bothering me about Obama lately, but I haven't been able to put my finger on it.

But, thanks to y0willy0, I now know what it is:

Obama's birthday is August 4.

WHAT A WORTHLESS PIECE OF SOCIALIST COMMUNIST ASSHOLE SHIT!

[Edited on July 15, 2011 at 9:17 AM. Reason : ]

7/15/2011 9:14:51 AM

its called perception-

7/15/2011 9:18:52 AM

Obama can't have a birthday because of your perceptions?

There are several (lol) legitimate reasons to hate on Obama. This isn't one of them.

7/15/2011 9:23:42 AM

its pretty obvious this isnt solely my opinion.

im sure you know where to look for other people's reactions. and no, i dont mean on foxnews, i mean anywhere. if you want to cherry-pick then just pull up http://www.pryderiACTIONnews.com

and yes youre right- there are much bigger problems with our president. usually when faced with these kinds of challenges one at least tries to be likeable.

[Edited on July 15, 2011 at 9:29 AM. Reason : link]

7/15/2011 9:29:13 AM

Wow you look stupid.

7/15/2011 9:35:19 AM

"I don't see how anyone could look at this chart and not see an easy $2 trillion in budget cuts over the next 10 years ($200 billion per year for 10 years)."



"To paraphrase / update some long dead white dude: '$500 billion for defense and $200 billion back in our pockets!!'"

[Edited on July 15, 2011 at 9:39 AM. Reason : ,.]

7/15/2011 9:38:50 AM

its really very simple.

i dont like the president, and the majority of americans dont like the president.

when that happens, in light of certain crises, shit like this looks bad.

youre truly the stupid one if you cant see the obvious- i can understand it doesnt line up with your personal views, but youre in the minority.

hes a jackass, plain and simple. when your country is going down the fucking toilet you have a normal birthday. end of story.

7/15/2011 9:40:37 AM

I don't think "It's not just me!" is a good defense of your position that Obama can't have a birthday because of your perceptions.

Quote :

"in light of certain crises"

lol

I hope you've been posting about Boehner, Cantor and their perceived behavior in light of certain crises.

7/15/2011 9:55:26 AM

i think theyre jackasses when theyre out playing golf and shit like that, yeah.

do they have credibility threads? ill gladly complain there.

of course they still arent the president...

[Edited on July 15, 2011 at 9:58 AM. Reason : ...]

7/15/2011 9:57:34 AM

Ah, another day, another awesome Obama speech. TOO MUCH DEBT. NEED MORE DEBT.

7/15/2011 11:49:31 AM

^dont hate


He is making the GOP leadership in the House look like a bunch of rude children.....and it is working....

7/15/2011 7:42:32 PM

welp apparently the debt disagreement is because hes black.

7/15/2011 9:38:06 PM

First, he says "they gonna keep gramma from gettin her SS check!!!"
Then he says "now is not the time for political posturing".
-1000

7/16/2011 5:06:13 AM

Aaron, that's been his MO since he started campaigning for president. He says one thing, then does something completely different.

I can't stand having some who lies so easily as President, the same Office held by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

7/16/2011 10:45:58 AM

I love how you just are bashing Obama for trying to reduce the debt and deficit.

It just proves that Conservatives, even on this board, don't even really care about economic issues, this is their shield to push their socially backwards agendas.

At the very least, burro, lonesnark, willy, d357r0y3r and kdogg have no credibility anymore when they try to distance themselves from the religions right.

7/16/2011 10:52:36 AM

Quote :

"I can't stand having some who lies so easily as President, the same Office held by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln."

cause old Honest Abe never told a lie, and when little Georgie Washington chopped down that cherry tree he couldn't help but confess, right?

you sound like a fucking idiot.

i can't stand living in this world where everyone lies so readily, regardless of the office they hold.

i don't like Obama either, and i voted for the guy. but using some insipid deification of figures from the past, and failing to admonish the deception of nearly every proceeding presidential administration (droves of the Congress, too), makes your bashing of Obama read more as partisan hackery than as genuine frustration at the mountain ranges of bullshit that dominate this plot of land on which we reside.

7/16/2011 11:21:20 AM

Quote :

"I love how you just are bashing Obama for trying to reduce the debt and deficit. It just proves that Conservatives, even on this board, don't even really care about economic issues, this is their shield to push their socially backwards agendas. At the very least, burro, lonesnark, willy, d357r0y3r and kdogg have no credibility anymore when they try to distance themselves from the religions right. "

He's not trying to reduce the debt or deficit. If he was, he would end (or at least reduce) our military expeditions. That's one of the biggest factors in the deficit: military spending. If a Republican was president, you would be SCREAMING for the troops to come home.

I mean, what the fuck do you think we're going to cut? Have you looked at the budget? Raising income taxes isn't going to do it. The rich already have a thousand and one ways to get out of paying. We're spending too much money. If Obama wants to demonstrate courage, then he needs to make some hard decisions in an area that he actually has control over: military spending.

7/16/2011 11:58:00 AM

Quote :

"He's not trying to reduce the debt or deficit. If he was, he would end (or at least reduce) our military expeditions. That's one of the biggest factors in the deficit: military spending. If a Republican was president, you would be SCREAMING for the troops to come home. I mean, what the fuck do you think we're going to cut? Have you looked at the budget? Raising income taxes isn't going to do it. The rich already have a thousand and one ways to get out of paying. We're spending too much money. If Obama wants to demonstrate courage, then he needs to make some hard decisions in an area that he actually has control over: military spending. "

Wow. You must be REALLY tired from moving those goal posts around. I really don't believe for a minute that if Obama started talking about cutting military spending, you'd then maybe even grudgingly acknowledge he was doing something good.

It's retarded of you to demand he cut military spending now, when he can't even get the conservatives to sign on to cutbacks in social security. You seem to think that if Obama wanted to, he could snap his fingers and we'd be living in your kooky libertarian dream world next week. You DO realize that even if we eliminated 100% of government, but somehow managed to keep tax revenue the same, it would STILL take 10+ years to pay off the debt?

When you consider that we CAN'T eliminate the gov., and that our political system causes the 2 sides to oppose each other at all cost (you really think the republicans would be opposing Obama on cutting the debt if he were a republican?), Obama is doing the right thing, and taking a bold stance, to push for even social security changes. It's a hair more than a baby step that we would normally expect.

And Obama has brought home almost TOO MANY troops by some peoples' counts.

7/16/2011 12:13:50 PM

Raise taxes on the rich, cut spending, withdraw troops from various areas, stop using tax dollars for stimulus or bailouts (let the fed do that as it's doing, anyway). This is what has to happen, but everyone is dancing around it.

7/16/2011 12:55:19 PM

Any GOPer who signed that pledge will have a teabagger (or another teabagger) challenge him or her in the primary if they increase taxes on the Bill Gates of the USA....and of course, this could help the DEMS because most of the teabaggers belong to the lunatic fringe element of the GOP....



[Edited on July 16, 2011 at 2:57 PM. Reason : x]

7/16/2011 2:55:50 PM

Quote :

"I love how you just are bashing Obama for trying to reduce the debt and deficit."

Yep. He's trying to reduce the debt and deficit. By adding 1.5 trillion to it every year and devising even more government programs to add to it. did you seriously say that out loud/write it?

Quote :

"At the very least, burro, lonesnark, willy, d357r0y3r and kdogg have no credibility anymore when they try to distance themselves from the religions right."

hahaha. if you think I like the religious fucktard right, then you've got another thing coming. Maybe you should learn to read.

Quote :

"It's retarded of you to demand he cut military spending now, when he can't even get the conservatives to sign on to cutbacks in social security."

HE is the one who has said that cutbacks in SS and medicrap are off the table. Again, do a little fucking reading.

Quote :

"stop using tax dollars for stimulus or bailouts (let the fed do that as it's doing, anyway)."

you realize the fed is part of the gov't, right? jesus.

7/16/2011 3:40:14 PM

Quote :

"First, he says "they gonna keep gramma from gettin her SS check!!!" Then he says "now is not the time for political posturing". "

Same ole shit from him. "politics of hope over fear" my ass.

The republicans have already passed a plan. THey should do nothing and that will force them to make spending cuts. THAT has to happen, and not the BS we will cut 100M now and 9T in year 10. Like that ever happens.

7/16/2011 4:24:12 PM

Quote :

"Wow. You must be REALLY tired from moving those goal posts around. I really don't believe for a minute that if Obama started talking about cutting military spending, you'd then maybe even grudgingly acknowledge he was doing something good."

I would absolutely support Obama if he made a legitimate attempt to dismantle the military industrial complex, I just don't think he will. He's made no indication that he would move in that direction, given that he's actually been ramping up the war effort. Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, now Somalia...what are we doing spending money in these countries? We've got serious budget problems.

Quote :

"It's retarded of you to demand he cut military spending now, when he can't even get the conservatives to sign on to cutbacks in social security. You seem to think that if Obama wanted to, he could snap his fingers and we'd be living in your kooky libertarian dream world next week. You DO realize that even if we eliminated 100% of government, but somehow managed to keep tax revenue the same, it would STILL take 10+ years to pay off the debt?"

I realize that, and it worries me. The President doesn't make legislation; he's not in a position to tackle our entitlement issues. He can sign or veto a bill, but it's up to Congress to really tackle the budget. The President, however, is commander-in-chief. He could be making major strides towards cutting the deficit, and he's simply not doing it.

Quote :

"And Obama has brought home almost TOO MANY troops by some peoples' counts."

Which people? Neo-conservatives?

7/16/2011 4:57:19 PM

The reason why nobody will be successful at taxing the wealthy is because they actually hold the power, not the prez.

7/17/2011 1:06:10 AM

The wealthy already have the highest tax rates in the country. They pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes than any other group. You can try to challenge me on this, but you'll lose. Just because Warren Buffett was able to pay taxes at a lower rate than his secretary one year, doesn't mean that it works out like that all the time, or even some of the time. The fact is that the top 1% pay over 30% of their income to the federal government, when you add up the combined income tax, capital gains tax, corporate taxes and inheritance taxes that they end up paying. No other income bracket comes close. The middle class has an effective tax rate of barely 15%. State and sales taxes even things out a bit, but that's chump change compared to the money we pay to the IRS every year. The CBO is a good place to start if you want to research effective tax rates across different income levels.

Why are people so insistent on making the tax code even more progressive? "They can afford it" is not a valid answer. We need to scrap the fucking tax code and simplify things. To those of you who say it can't be done; well it has been done in the past. Time to do it again. Stop scapegoating "the rich". They are not boogiemen. And they actually don't even have enough money to close up our deficit. We could tax them at 100% and we'd still have a trillion-dollar deficit at current spending rates.

[Edited on July 17, 2011 at 4:51 AM. Reason : 2]

7/17/2011 4:41:06 AM

Quote :

""They can afford it" is not a valid answer."

I disagree. The top 1% take home 21% of the income in the US whereas the bottom 80% take home 39%. The top 1% hold nearly 35% percent of the wealth in the US; the bottom 80% hold 15%. These numbers are shifting in favor of the top 1%--particularly income, which has nearly doubled for the top 1% over the past 25 years.

If home equity is taken out, the numbers become 43% and 7%. What wealth the bottom 80% does possess is largely in home equity--a depreciating asset in most of country over the past several years.

Quote :

"No other income bracket comes close."

Not at all true. Above an income of $33,400 or so, the overall average tax rate (not just federal income tax rate) varies from about 25.3% to 30.8% for the top 1%. The top 1% actually pay a lesser percentage than the rest of the top 10%.

Sure, the richest pay a larger percentage than the lower 80%, but to portray it as some gaping chasm is incorrect.

I like this graph showing wealth distribution, taken from a survey conducted last year:


http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/images/wealth/Figure_4.gif

Most Americans believe themselves to be much wealthier than they really are.

[Edited on July 17, 2011 at 9:21 AM. Reason : No hotlinking.]

7/17/2011 9:19:06 AM

7/18/2011 2:47:31 AM

Could someone give a summary please of how bad the economy is and how bad it is going to get?

7/18/2011 10:23:42 AM

Quote :

" I disagree. The top 1% take home 21% of the income in the US whereas the bottom 80% take home 39%. The top 1% hold nearly 35% percent of the wealth in the US; the bottom 80% hold 15%. These numbers are shifting in favor of the top 1%--particularly income, which has nearly doubled for the top 1% over the past 25 years. "

You'd think, if they were being so strapped by progressive taxation, they wouldn't actually be able to see that kind of momentum. How about we stop making the progressive taxes steeper when the top 1% stops constantly growing in terms of its share of national wealth and income.

7/18/2011 10:56:36 AM

Barack Obama least loathed in debt fight

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/59251.html

7/18/2011 11:46:57 AM