Our former columnist raises the question, which I am compelled to answer:
Just curious: do you have the same level of conviction in your endorsement that you had when you made it, or has it lessened (or increased)? I would also be curious if you would phrase your endorsement the same way or would you make different arguments or emphasize different policies? And has Obama done anything to disappoint you since you made your endorsement? (And for the record and to be fair, although I will be voting for McCain for pocketbook reasons, he has done nothing but disappoint me since the date of your endorsement.)
Two major events have occurred since I wrote my endorsement: (1) McCain’s selection of Sarah Palin, and (2) the financial collapse. My thoughts on both after the jump:
On the financial crisis, Obama’s response and his proposed plan underscore my judgment of him as prudent and thoughtful. McCain’s response was that of a jet fighter pilot’s: a quick zig, an immediate zag, and, in this case, a final poof. Temperament is a huge issue in a president, and each candidate’s reactions to the crisis gave an ample demonstration of his. Judgment is not McCain’s strong point, and that is amply demonstrated in the first point, the selection of Palin to be a potential President of the United States. It was cynical — and disasterous. And it was made in one hour. It will, and should, cost him the election.
As to your pocketbook, Marty, how’s your portfolio? Eight years of fiscal mismanagement — and skyrocketing borrowing to pay for it — are chickens that will come home to roost. How any conservative, or any businessman, could abide that is beyond me. Like you, I fall into the top tier and will pay higher taxes under Obama. I am more than willing to pay them to restore our economy and to restore fiscal sanity to our government. Joe Biden was right. It is a matter of patriotism. We have lost all sense of how the real world operates if we think government can borrow to pay for wars, to pay for increased entitlements, and to pay for its normal operations. Unfortunately, now we’ll need higher deficits to pump the economy. It is a burden that will take years to pay down. Face it: the Democrats have been right, and we — or those who claimed to represent the conservative philosophy — have been wrong.
Marty, gird up your loins. Do the right thing. Vote Obama. Pay the taxes. Help straighten up the mess we Republicans caused.
53 comments
To say selecting Palin cost him the election implies that he would have won if he picked someone else. Who do you think he could have picked that would have made him win?
Kay Bailey Hutchison?
“Cost him the election?” Have the returns come in? Is it Tuesday evening already? Has someone been declared the winner?
Damn, I need stronger coffee or something!
Wick,
Just admit it – you’ve been a closet democrat for years now.
I do not understand how you can somehow weigh Obama’s new trillion in spending, taxation during a recession, and his view of our constitution with a supposed ‘conservative’ side and still come out with Obama on top. Is it to teach the big bad Neo-Cons a lesson?
The Democrats are already floating the idea of taxing 401Ks which millions of Americans are counting on for retirement.
What happens if they let the Bush Tax Cuts go away? Taxes are upped on millions of middle class.
He is going to raise capital gains tax.
He already lowered his 250,000 income bar to 200,000 in his informercial.
I want you to explain to me how taxing people to give to the government brings “fiscal sanity” when Obama is, again, proposing 1 Trillion in more spending. Do you think all the sudden the government will quit spending money? I mean Pelosi and Reid just today want another “aid” package when the first one did nothing.
Where will they save the money? Oh yeah thats right they want to cut our military by 25%. Thats a great idea during war!
If you want to pay more taxes no one is stopping you from sending the IRS a check to go towards the national debt.
How about that? How about we round up all those like yourself who are so gung ho about taxing people and see how much they give to the national debt?
Deal?
For those of you who are tired of watching Wick try to prove his loyalty to Dear Leader, here’s something you might enjoy.
Wick has pointed out what we all know, that the GOP is no longer conservative. There are still a few fiscally conservative members, but the party is to the left of moderate.
This does not explain why he feels voting for a socialist candidate is the proper thing to do. Every fiscal reason he listed above will be far worse under a Democratic controlled government. This isn’t speculation; this is their platform.
Sarah Palin may be a little scary on the religious front, but she’s the only fiscal conservative in the race.
The current economic downturn will be more prolonged if Obama/Democrat policies of tax increases and increased regulation are put into place.
The Bush administration succeeded in growing our economy, in part through tax cuts. They did not succeed in cutting spending. Some of that spending was required due to 9/11 and the war on terror. Other spending was Bush mistakenly trying to endear himself to liberals with various givaway programs. My disappointment that Bush did not or could not reign in federal spending is hardly a reason to vote for Obama – a candidate who, by his own admission, wants to raise taxes AND increase federal spending.
John McCain is not George W. Bush, and has over the course of his career and this campaign taken a hard line on federal spending. If you believe in the smaller federal government that the Bush administration couldn’t delvier, McCain has a heckuva lot better shot at delivering than Obama.
Do some people not remember that when Clinton was in his exit years, the Dow Jones was in the 9500pt range? So today it’s about equal, but only after the events of 9/11, the mortgage and banking industry failures, and other mega-events. Yet, the Dow reached the 14000 plateau for a while. People seem to have forgotten that the economy grew quite a bit following 9/11 until the last 2 months.
Perspective, people…don’t think of the economy from just the last few years. Compare it to other eras.
“socialist candidate”
Using the logic commonly bandied about the last two weeks leading to the charge of “socialist”, any politician that has proposed and/or voted on a budget based on a progressive tax system is a “socialist”. Hint, that includes just about every politician, right and left.
I can officially say I’m a recovered Democrat, after voting for McCain yesterday, so I’m canceling out Wick’s vote. Sure, I had to hold my nose when I did it, because McCain wasn’t my choice of candidates, but I’m not liberal enough to follow Obama blindly. The Dems have been gradually going further left with each successive candidate, and this time was enough to convert me.
Wick, other than the perception of the Palin choice being cynical, what is your issue with her? She’s a model conservative, even leaning a little more to the right than I’d prefer.
Wick:
I was actually quite pleased with the performance of my portfolio for the first seven years of Bush’s administration; it’s just been the past 12 months that have been disappointing. But thank God I wasn’t fully invested in Chinese stocks (down 49%) or in Japan’s stock market (down 42%). Apparently, the Republicans have been messing up their economies, too — along with those of Germany (down 36%) and Great Britain (down 32%), to name a few.
And paying taxes? I paid taxes this year that would make your eyes bleed (and am grudgingly happy to do so, given all the benefits we enjoy living in this country). What I don’t appreciate is Mr. Biden — and you — saying that I should be more patriotic and pay more. (And I find it highly ironic that Mr. Biden is apparently telling his voting base that it’s okay to be less patriotic in the bargain.)
The issue I have with Mr. Obama’s tax policies is that they are not smart. GDP under President Bush increased 49% — a full $4.9 trillion more in 2008 than in 2000. Tax receipts have increased by a like percentage over the same period, even though the tax rates have gone down.
The causal effect is clear. Lower tax rates produce greater GDP, which increases tax receipts. As the graph shows (http://www.heritage.org/research/features/budgetchartbook/fed-rev-spend-2008-boc-T1-Income-Tax-Receipts-Stay-Constant.html), tax receipts as a percentage of GDP stay constant, regardless of tax rates. However, the GDP in 1960 was only $527 billion, when the highest marginal rate was 91%. The GDP in 2008 is expected to be $14.7 trillion, with a top marginal rate of 35%.
If Mr. Obama could show me a tax plan designed to increase GDP and tax receipts where I had to pay even more tax, I would be a buyer. But to increase my taxes for the sole purpose of decreasing the next guy’s taxes — where we all lose — is pandering of the highest order.
I don’t think I’m doing the right thing voting for McCain, but I’m certainly not going to do the wrong thing and vote for Obama. Consider my loins girded.
Wick, I think you’ve made a good argument that the GOP has lost its freaking mind. Fiscally conservative my a*@. Now, if you could just convince people to vote for the third party candidates, we’d actually have something of a decent competition on Nov. 4. IJS.
The Allison/Obama Government:
1)Abolition of property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes. (Via taxes.)
2)A heavy progressive or graduated income tax.
3)Abolition of all right of inheritance. (Or tax the sh*t out of it!)
4)Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. (If drugs or sending money to the Middle East are involved.)
5)Centralization of credit in the hands of the State, by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. (This is currently happening.)
6)Centralization of the means of communication and transport in the hands of the State.(Or regulate it to death!)
7)Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by the State (let’s bail out Detroit!); the bringing into cultivation of waste-lands, and the improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common plan.(OSHA)
8)Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial armies, especially for agriculture.(and Universal Health Care!)
9)Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries; gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country, by a more equable distribution of the population over the country. (Thank you hurricane Katrina!)
10)Free education for all children in public schools. Combination of education with industrial production, &c.(For the sole purpose of teaching the TAKS test and English as a second language.)
Thank you, Comrades!
Actually, the Dow closed at 10587.59 on his last day, and closed at 3241 on his first day in office.
“Sarah Palin may be a little scary on the religious front, but she’s the only fiscal conservative in the race.”
Bridge to Nowhere, anyone?
And I’m really tired of her abusing my name.
– Joe –
All the generalizations about “Obama raising taxes” simply fail to make clear that the majority of Americans (yes, they DO pay taxes) will do better under Obama. There’s simply no way around the fact that McCain, while he is less generous with most taxpayers, is more generous with the well-off.
Which is perfectly fine. If you are well-off, and believe that you and your friends should continue to be rewarded while those who aren’t as rich continue to struggle, then it makes sense to vote Republican.
When the hard-working middle-class are struggling in our country, something is wrong.
We are quickly becoming similar to countries like Mexico or Brazil: the rich get richer and more powerful, while the middle class shrinks and it is harder for them to move up the ladder.
Socialism? Gov. Palin runs the most socialist state there is! And her attacks in trying to divide America into “pro” and “anti” American are very disturbing. Just because I don’t agree with you doesn’t make me any less patriotic than you are.
If the way the campaigns have been run is any precursor to the ability of either candidate to govern, I think it’s clear that Obama wins that hands-down. Obama’s has been run like a well-oiled machine, while McCain’s careens right and left, stumbling along with apparently little direction or cohesion. The only message McCain/Palin have been consistent with is fear.
And if I have to choose between hope and fear, I’ll go with hope every time.
Here’s another “closet Democrat,” as just reported on CNN: “Former Reagan chief of staff Ken Duberstein told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria this week he intends to vote for Democrat Barack Obama on Tuesday.
Duberstein said he was influenced by another prominent Reagan official – Colin Powell – in his decision.
‘Well let’s put it this way – I think Colin Powell’s decision is in fact the good housekeeping seal of approval on Barack Obama.’
Powell served as national security advisor to Reagan during Duberstein’s tenure as chief of staff.”
Is it fiscally conservative to require the state you are governing to pay a stipend when you stay at your home, or to pay for your children’s travel expenses?
The thing is, thanks to unfunded mandates, local government is required to tax its citizens more. If a leader chooses to fund the mandates he passes, he’s criticized for it. You’re not getting a tax cut, really, if you’re having to pay more in sales taxes, more in property taxes, or your city (Hi, Dallas – what up?) has to add on things like charging non-citizens for emergency services, etc., because it lacks the funds. It’s not a tax cut if your district is mandated to do certain things, but isn’t given the funds to carry it out, so it’s forced to cut corners.
There are other ways to be taxed without it being called a tax.
BP:
I am young but have never seen any candidate jump about in happiness with such a blatant attempt at wealth redistribution.
40% of Americans do not pay income taxes but with Obama’s tax credits some would get gov’t checks back. Obama’s plan is simple: raise income taxes on those who make more money to give to people who do not pay income taxes. He is the only candidate that is actively courting this type of tax structure as a presidential candidate. While our tax system is “progressive” most of the programs you put money into (education, roads, military) you can get something out of it.
Welfare is supposed to be a safety net to catch people and get them back working… not turn into a hammock. Obama was against Welfare reform because it doesn’t fit into his view of what the constitution should guarantee: (And I quote Obama) – “The govt should ENSURE a shot at success.” The government should not be “ensuring” anyones success… that is your job as an individual or as a motivator for your children and those around you.
Not only that but this talk about being “patriotic” by paying more taxes is absurd at best. If anyone wants to be more patriotic its let the people keep their money that they earn. Not only that but Obama said today those who do not want to pay higher taxes are “selfish”.
I want everyone who hasn’t voted to think about who is creating class warfare? Who is the candidate that is putting so much emphasis on the envy of money? Who is creating disdain for business leaders who most likely came from middle class backgrounds?
All Obama’s plans are bad: More taxation, less foreign trade with a growing global economy, increase in minimum wage, and a capital gains increase…. and he is planning to do this all during a recession.
Boy, hate to say it, especially as I am neither Republican or Democrat (and by birth cannot vote in this country), but some of you people need to stop smoking the wacky-backy and take off the rose colored glasses.
The CEO’s and Uber rich are crossing their fingers that McCain keeps the Repulicans in power (that way they can finally cash the “bonus” checks hidden from the economic downturn and keep their tax havens alive), the Pat Robertson’s of the world are hoping for Palin because she has the religious right in line for a 2012 run (despite the fact she is one notch above George W on the savant scale and probably is already pushing for intelligent design textbooks to be published), the (illegal) immigrant supporters are praying for Obama because the demarcation lines around legal/illegal will be fuzzier than ever (and it will be easier than ever for an illegal alien to go to college and accept scholarships and/or pay in-state tuition, probably knocking out well qualified U.S. students.
It seems to me that which ever party is in office our souls have already been traded to one special interest group or another……Hopefully there will be a balance between the House and Senate and some fenc mending by people who defy the current definition of a politician (which for most of them rhymes with “book”).
@ J.B.C. “I am young but have never seen any candidate jump about in happiness with such a blatant attempt at wealth redistribution.”
Yes, you are young. Don’t worry, with age comes maturity and rational instead of emotional, partisan thought.
whoops! pardon the grammatical errors!
I’m sure Ken Dubersteins declaration of support for Obama was made from personal conviction and has nothing to do with gaining access for his lobbying firms clients.
@ BP – the phrase “there’s no fool like an old fool” comes to mind.
@ J.B. C. – According to you, Obama said “The govt should ENSURE a shot at success.”
Then you kind of wiggled it around to make your point that “The government should not be “ensuring” anyones success…”, leaving out the words “a shot”.
The point being, everyone deserves the OPPORTUNITY for success. Sadly, the Republican party is perfectly happy trying to limit that opportunity for those born into less fortunate circumstances.
J.B.C. wrote: “All Obama’s plans are bad: More taxation, less foreign trade with a growing global economy, increase in minimum wage, and a capital gains increase…. and he is planning to do this all during a recession.”
Really? I see it as restructing the tax rates so those Americans (including me) that are most able to afford/pay the increase actually do and start paying for unfunded/underfunded government expenditures such as the Iraq War, the financial bailout, education and energy intiatives. Maybe, if we had intituted a “war” tax rate increase at the beginning of the Iraq conflict to actually pay for it, more of the rich and influential would have demanded a more accountable, responsible approach. And, do we really need more foreign trade with China? Shouldn’t we try to hold on to or possibly increase what manufacturing jobs that we have left or just outsource those, too? An increase in minimum wage might make a Wendy’s burger go up a dime, but you really don’t think bottom-of -the-rung minimum wage workers deserve a living wage?
Warren Buffet, who has more $$$ to lose to Obama’s tax plan than just about any American is an Obama supporter. Someone as savvy as Buffet sees the logic behind this candidate’s plans for the future and the current state of this country. I’m going with Buffet on this one.
Just out of curiosity, J.B.C., are you familiar with the works/ideas of noted radical leftist Milton Friedman? I’m sure he’s on Wikipedia.
Wick, don’t let your principles wait on a government mandate — send them your money now! Really. You’re sure they/we need it, and you’re willing to pay more taxes, so send a check for $50K, $100K, or even more to the US Treasury now. Let us know when you’ve done it, so we know you genuinely believe what you say.
You can’t wage a $400-million-a-day* war on the backs of mostly poor and working-class enlistees while assuming no personal sacrifice and, in fact, placing debt on future generations’ shoulders to avoid any cramp to your style, however modest.
Well, I guess I’m wrong. Bush has proven that you can, in fact, do just that.
_____________________________________________
* Ballpark.
yikes Dallas:
He said it at his rally a day before his infomercial.
Everyone has the opportunity for success. Who does not have the opportunity at success in America? Thousands of people move here every year because they have more of a chance here than anywhere else in the world. Where has the Republican party limited someone’s success… please do tell.
Look how much we have put into the welfare system… trillions have moved from the rich to the poor… and what do we have to show for it?
What’s the liberals mentality to fix it… more money and more dependency on government – great.
If you really want to help people “yikes Dallas” how about giving time to your local United Way to teach adults and children how to read. Or become a Big Brother or Big Sister. Be a mentor to the people who believe they have no chance.
Microdermer:
Okay so you want to pay more taxes. Who is stopping you? Cut a check and give it to the IRS.
I have never seen people that think the rich and the government are the cause and the cure for all of Americans problems. Now its the rich’s fault for going to war? Are your hypotheticals jokes?
We do not trade with just China. Obama has said he might reduce trade to NAFTA participants and stop inclusion of other countries that we could benefit from and, gasp, those countries could benefit from us.
I have listened to Buffet speak numerous times and I personally do not understand his support for Obama. What Buffet believes and the what Obama believes are two completely separate ideas.
I leave you with this as I am about to get dressed up:
“Ask not what your country can do for you… but what you can do for your country.” – JFK Democrat.
Give to local charities that empower individuals, teach skills, and support families in all their forms. Volunteer to be a mentor to a young individual.
That is how you change lives.
You do not change lives by giving money to people.
@ yikesdallas
It’s not about whether you personally pay more or less tax under one candiates tax plan or not. It’s about whether the tax policy and spending plans are better for improving the economy of the country as a whole.
If I take Obama at his word, my personal income tax rate would not go up under his plan. So no direct pain.
But my employer’s rate would rise, as would the rates of my customers. Leaving them less money to pay me, hire, expand, engage in research and development, etc… It also increases the rates of people and companies I buy things from, making the things I buy more expensive.
Extrapolate this across the country and you can see how giving Joe Six Pack a tax break while sticking it to his employer (or potential employer, or customer, or person Joe buys things from) can prolong an economic downturn.
Wheras McCain’s plan to give an across the board tax break can stimulate the economy like nobody’s business.
@Marty Cortland: If the past twelve months have been that disappointing, perhaps you need a new financial advisor.(And buying into China, like NOW, is a devilishly good idea). Further, a new tax fellow would be good bet: if your “rich” and paying so much it would “make your eyes bleed”, then I feel no sympathy. You hired the people, after all.
You also say: “But to increase my taxes for the sole purpose of decreasing the next guy’s taxes — where we all lose — is pandering of the highest order.” Perhaps I’m biased, since I give away 30-50% of my income charitably anyway(on top of taxes), but paying an extra 50k in taxes is fine by me if it lessens the burden on the families and individuals who barely make that-or half that-in a year. Higher Income=Higher Taxes. At least, its supposed to, since around 1913. Anything else is an oppression by the powerful on the poor, and I feel uncomfortable to be given advantages I don’t need-especially since I recall how much struggle was involved to get here.
@JBC:
“The Democrats are already floating the idea of taxing 401Ks which millions of Americans are counting on for retirement.” Yep, floating the idea. Its not settled, by any means. Since when did floating ideas become a bad thing? Was it around the time that intelligent discourse bottomed out?
“What happens if they let the Bush Tax Cuts go away? Taxes are upped on millions of middle class.” http://www.barackobama.com/taxes/
“Oh yeah thats right they want to cut our military by 25%. Thats a great idea during war!” An occupation they intend to end, not further. As well, Clinton cut military spending by streamlining it, and built one hell of a fantastic military in the process. Too bad its been wasted.
“If you want to pay more taxes no one is stopping you from sending the IRS a check to go towards the national debt.
How about that? How about we round up all those like yourself who are so gung ho about taxing people and see how much they give to the national debt?”
Fine by me. I have about 4.5% left for charitable giving this year that I need to spend asap. I’ve no issue with cutting a checque, if Obama is elected.
@JG:
“Wheras McCain’s plan to give an across the board tax break can stimulate the economy like nobody’s business.”
I’d be keen to hear your explanation of HOW, since everyone I talk to and network with think to the contrary…
In general: Is this “Republicans for Obama” trend a repudiation of Reagan/Goldwater Republicanism? I would totally jump on a neo-Rockefeller bandwagon. And according to the WSJ Wealth Report, we can reasonably conclude where Cortland and Allison take their respective places in the Richistani index! ^_^
Wick,
You have either fallen under the same spell as so-called conservative supreme court justices who “grow” as their time on the bench increases (move left in their thinking) or you have always been leftist in your thinking and it just helped to wear conservative clothes. We’ll check back with you after the first 100 days of the Obama presidency when nationalized health care is in place, ruinous tax increases have been passed, and entities such as ACORN have been strengthened to ensure that liberals keep control of the house and senate. If you cheer those things, we’ll know where your true colors lie. Oh, and let’s check and see how happy your kids are when generation skipping trusts and inheritance tax laws are changed to ensure that the government gets a huge chunk of your money to spread amongst the “needy” instead of passing the fruits and risks of your labor onto your kids…………………….
Wick, you are making our little blue hearts go pitter pat.
Eva:
Yeah floating the idea of taxing 401Ks is stupid. Completely and utterly stupid. I guess you are one of those “there is no idea that is a bad idea” people. Guess what there are bad ideas.
So he says he is going to keep the tax cuts Bush made. Hmmm… when he started this campaign it was 250,000 or less gets a tax cut. Then he said 200,000 during his infomercial. Then Biden said 150,000. Then New Mexico Governor and Obama surrogate Bill Richardson says 120,000.
So what is he going to do? 250, 200, 250, or 120…. Because if you live in NYC with 200,000 thats like living in
Oh yeah the “occupation” of Iraq. No matter why we are there we need to leave that country stable or we are going to have to go back again. Or do we turn our head when it falls apart? Is that okay with you? You know how after left Vietnam the women and children were lined up in the streets and murdered for sympathizing with Americans. Is that okay with you.
And just so you know your candidate said he would have troops out in 12 months… then he said 16 months… and now he says “we got to look at ending the war”… no timeline for you and your supporters now.
You are getting hoodwinked and don’t even know it.
Marty, as much as I enjoy his column, will get no sympathy from me about his tax bill. Someone who pays enough taxes “to make your eyes bleed”, but quite obviously has plenty left over to live a quite comfortable life (as demonstrated in his column) deserves no pity. Sorry, Marty.
After watching Frontline on Tuesday I made a mental note to send an email to Wick congratulating him on his ability to see an Obama that I hadn’t.
You see I have supported Obama from day for what I wanted him to be more than anything else. I supported him because I believed there could be no stronger message sent to Washington about Washington than for us to send the youngest, blackest, and least experienced candidate to the highest office in Washington.
It wasn’t until I watched the Frontline episode on the candidates that I realized how wise and smart Wick had been. He was supporting Obama for all the right reasons.
Now I’m still tickled pink that it looks like we’re sending the youngest, blackest, and least experienced candidate to Washington as President of the United States. But I’m even more happy that the reason we’re sending him isn’t so much as a message to Washington about Washington. We’re sending him there because he is the smartest and most qualified for what is probably the most difficult term any President will ever serve.
My hat is off to Wick. And unlike Tim or Eric, I have a full head of hair under there, even at sixty years old.
Pod-Person Wick!! What have you done with the real Wick???? Tell us! TELL US!!!!!!
.
Dear Huh:
Thanks for the kind words regarding my column, but please go back and re-read my post. I don’t think there was anything to indicate I was looking for sympathy. Quite the contrary, I am happy (albeit with a modicum of grumbling) to pay for the benefits of citizenship in this country. (And I am further heartened to know that I am far, far more of a patriot than either of Messrs. Biden and Obama.) But just as businesses — like Wick’s publishing empire — need to be smart about revenues and expenses, I would prefer that our country’s leaders would apply the same intelligence regarding taxing and spending.
To yikesdallas:
What makes you think that Republicans want to see the middle class struggle? We are all better off if all of our citizens who desire to work have the opportunity to be gainfully employed. But where do you suppose that jobs come from? Without the ability to accumulate and deploy capital, there are no jobs. Without the financial backing of a certain wealthy partner, Wick would not have been able to buy D Magazine — and the resulting jobs, commerce, and taxes paid it entails. Should we encourage a system that would make that sort of transaction less likely? How does that benefit the middle class?
@JB:
“Yeah floating the idea of taxing 401Ks is stupid. Completely and utterly stupid. I guess you are one of those “there is no idea that is a bad idea” people. Guess what there are bad ideas.”
There are irresponsible ideas, or unthinking ideas, etcetc. As this article points out: “Albright says that while there have been several ideas and witnesses at recent hearings, Miller’s interest is only in making sure that retirees are not penalized by rules on 401(k) withdrawals, and that their savings be protected from excessive 401(k) administrative fees.”
It’s probably a good thing to keep in mind that ideas being tossed around are just that, and Fox Noise taking one thing and blowing it out of context isn’t the most reliable source…
(Also, a search at Forbes for 401k will pull up a fair amount of articles pointing out the (numerous) negatives.)
“So he says he is going to keep the tax cuts Bush made. Hmmm… when he started this campaign it was 250,000 or less gets a tax cut. Then he said 200,000 during his infomercial. Then Biden said 150,000. Then New Mexico Governor and Obama surrogate Bill Richardson says 120,000.
So what is he going to do? 250, 200, 250, or 120…. Because if you live in NYC with 200,000 thats like living in ”
Yet NYC is overwhelmingly blue. Again, I defer to what he says on the website. American MSM enjoys taking things out of context and overblowing one sentence of a several sentence point, and I refuse to trust them.
“Oh yeah the “occupation” of Iraq. No matter why we are there we need to leave that country stable or we are going to have to go back again. Or do we turn our head when it falls apart? Is that okay with you? You know how after left Vietnam the women and children were lined up in the streets and murdered for sympathizing with Americans. Is that okay with you.
And just so you know your candidate said he would have troops out in 12 months… then he said 16 months… and now he says “we got to look at ending the war”… no timeline for you and your supporters now.”
Again, I defer to his website. Also, there is NO WAY to stabilize Iraq, or any other region in the middle east. It will never happen except of their own accord. Our interventionist do-gooding is costing America more than it deserves, for no good end.
It is inconceivable to me that an educated person like Wick can make some of these statements. What exactly is it that is so bad for you these past eight years? Do you make less money? Is your net worth lower? Even with the market crash (which we will get back to) I am willing to bet that you (and I) are worth more now than you were eight years ago. So these eight years of fiscal mismanagement have caused you angst because you are worried for your children. I remember my mother telling me the same thing when FDR was President.
The folks who have $50-60,000 in credit card debt on a $50,000 a year salary, they can worry. They might be able to pay the credit card bills if it weren’t for that darn mortgage payment that increased from $1200 a month to $2400. But I’m sure that was the current administrations fault, eh?
As to my portfolio, do you really want to lay that at the feet of THIS administration? Were you hiding out somewhere when the Congress decided that everyone in America deserved to be a homeowner and that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (that’s actually you and me, as you well know) needed to foot the bill. It does seem to me that silly business started in the 90’s and the reasonable voices in Congress were making noises about trouble not only in the late 90’s but four years ago as well. So let’s put this crisis where it belongs: in the hands of the Democratic Congress and the greed of entitlement that has become part of the business world today. If you think for even one minute that higher business taxes will not result in higher prices you are farther gone than I thought.
And as for Ms. Palin, I wonder if you would feel the same way if he had selected the male governors of North Dakota, Vermont or Wyoming? (Look up their populations.)
I’m just asking.
Oh yes his website.
Who cares what he is saying during debates and on television his website is the end all be all… He said 200,000 working families on his scripted informercial… but its says 250,000 on his website.
NYC is overwhelming blue do to social issues not economics. You think the highest taxed state in the country wants their taxes to go up again? I guess so because according to you and Wick they must be the most patriotic and are just itching to give more of their money to the gov’t.
“Our interventionist do-gooding is costing America more than it deserves, for no good end.”
You and yours are such defeatists. We already know what my position is…
When do you think we should leave? Now? 12 months from now?
Please explain your proposed exit strategy.
The level of greed and self-indulgence exhibited by people like “Marty” has brought us to where we are today, on the verge of becoming a third-world country. People like Marty don’t want to pay for anything that even remotely defines civilization. They cling to the 19th-century Protestant belief that people who are poor are so because they are lazy. They cling to the delusional belief that they’ve worked hard for their money and it’s honest and fair to want to keep it. “God helps those that help themselves” they tell themselves. So they help themselves to as much money as they can make and not pay taxes on, while plotting how they can elect politicians who will redistribute middle- and lower-income taxes up. Cindy McCain deserves the $375,000 tax break she’ll get under her husband’s tax plan; it could buy a new Bentley Azure. After all, someone worked hard for that money — it just wasn’t Cindy.
unpoetaloco:
You are right: people like Marty and Cindy McCain’s father have brought us to where we are today — and we’re nowhere close to being a third-world country. (Have you ever visited one? Methinks not, or you would never make such a ludicrous statement.) As hard as it is for you to fathom, the wealthy create jobs. There is no country at any time in history where the poor created any type of viable economy.
Apparently, you haven’t been following the tax debate very closely either. Almost half of the country doesn’t pay any taxes to speak of — and the top 5% pay almost 40% of the country’s taxes. How in the heck is that “redistribut[ing] middle- and lower- income taxes up”?
You’re bitter because you haven’t made more of yourself in life. That’s understandable. It’s hard, isn’t it, knowing in your heart of hearts that you have your job and the infrastructure of civilization to thank from guys like Marty and the McCains.
So instead of biting the hand that feeds you, try working harder. Make something of yourself. Give your children a better example.
JB:
The first two debates didn’t concern me, except inasmuch as he exhibited what all democrats exhibit: an inability to act like an arse, and a tendency to agree, when in fact figuratively tearing out and eating their opponents heart is what is needed. Didn’t see anything but snippets of the third, so if you can find something more than ONE SENTENCE(likely taken out of context and spun like a top(lame lame line but I’m not overly inspired today),), please: do post it.
And I WILL defer to his website as opposed to the MSM, which is what I presume you cull your arguments and “facts” from as they wildly differ from anything I’ve read from considerably more respectable sources. If all you pay attention to is drivel…
As for NYC, I recall it prospering under Clinton(as did the whole of the nation).
“When do you think we should leave? Now? 12 months from now?”
Immediately. No one can remedy centuries of tribal warfare except the perpetrators. A more cogitative view: http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20080901faessay87503/stephen-biddle-michael-e-o-hanlon-kenneth-m-pollack/how-to-leave-a-stable-iraq.html
There you go again: The Upper Richistanis disagree.
He said it. I mean what more do you want. He said “working families making under 200,000 dollars will get a tax cut” which is down from his 250,000 he said two weeks ago (actually its a tax credit but who cares right as long as its on his website.)
I am not sure how I could take that out of context but keep drinking that kool aid Eva.
How did I get that information though? I watched the 30 minute long depressing informercial and took some notes of what he said.
What facts are wrong? Please do tell…
Your candidate has done nothing but create class warfare (as you so have illustrated in some of your comments), created more envy of money, and impugn the middle class. His economic policies, his vice presidential candidates foreign defense record, and his disdain for the American constitution are a perfect storm for a weakened U.S.
Good luck on Tuesday.
And no matter who wins I am glad that conversations like these can remain somewhat civil, as I am sure we will still all be just as steadfast to our ideals in the coming administration… and conversation is always good.
It is my hope that if Obama wins he carries both houses of Congress and the Dems have total control for two years. Why? Because I am so tired of the “I’m right, you are wrong” attitude of most Americans on both sides of the debate. The proof is in the actions that the new Congress takes. For those of you who thinks the President makes the law, think again. Congress has demonstrated time after time that they are quick to act but short on thinking out the long term consequences of their actions. It seems that somehow getting elected to a national office makes you more intelligent. It does not. What happens to all new Congressmen and Senators is that they learn very quickly the law of survival. How will my decision affect my reelection? That is their only consideration. Plan B is ” who can I go to work for as a lobbyist if I lose my reelection?”
Our system is badly broken and I have no hope that it will be fixed in my lifetime. The Founding Fathers would spin in their graves if they knew about 6 term Senators and lifelong politicians.
I hope the Dems do well in the next two years, but history says that will not happen. Then we will take away their control of the Congress, then we will change the President for some new hopeful and we will start all over again.
It is extremely sad to me that Obama and McCain are the best that their parties could put forward to lead the country. We deserve better.
They cling to the delusional belief that they’ve worked hard for their money and it’s honest and fair to want to keep it.
When Democrats start using the power of government to take your money, just remember that it’s people like Wick Allison, Tim Rogers, Zac Crain and Eric Celeste that helped make it possible. A good way of thanking them for doing their part in giving Democrats the power to dig through your wallet would be to cancel your subscription to D magazine.
I was reminded today in church that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. So the Republican Party (if they are indeed responsible for the recent sailor dive in the stock market, as Wick/Obama contend) has done me the great service of significantly increasing my odds of making it to Heaven. Looking on the bright side of the impending Obama presidency, if the economy further deteriorates under his Administration, as I fully expect it will, I’m afraid I shall be eternally grateful to him.
Wow. I cannot believe everyone is attacking Wick simply for taking the higher road and choosing to step over party lines and vote for a president who’s plan will rebuild our joke of an economy. The problem here lies in the fact that many refuse to even consider someone not within their party, and that is simply ridiculous. A history lesson is being taught here. Marty, you just sound like a greedy bigot. I doubt this is how you really are (or at least hope not) but it is definitely how you are coming across. (And props for taking a religious statement completely out of context).
I’m proud that I have worked under Wick. His reasoning is solid, simply put–and has a much better objective for voting for Obama than any argument I have heard concerning McPalin.
Yo Wick: Illegitimi non carborundum, old buddy. And may the smartest candidate win (for a change)!
There you go again……Hahahahahahahahaha…were you bullied as a small weasely child? Now you’re a big boy, you’re going to give to others aren’t you. You are a prime example of what’s wrong with this country at the moment.
He said it. I mean what more do you want. He said “working families making under 200,000 dollars will get a tax cut” which is down from his 250,000 he said two weeks ago (actually its a tax credit but who cares right as long as its on his website.)
JB, Obama hasn’t changed his policy. If you make under $200,000 you get a tax cut. If you make between $200,000 and $250,000 your taxes will not change. If you make $250,000 or more your tax rate will go back to what it was before the Bush tax cuts. I think the confusion comes from the fact that previously Obama frequently stated that no one making over $250,000 would see their taxes go up. In the infomercial he phrased it to refer to those who would actually see their tax rate decrease. Not the same thing.