US Politics Thread |OT| THE DARKEST TIMELINE

[Joe Molotov]

Would you help your girlfriend lie better to her husband about what she's really doing with her free time, and who she's doing it with?

I dunno, I'll have to ask my pastor what the Biblically-correct answer to this one is. 

[Brehvolution]

Help people sin, brehs. It's far more entertaining.

[CatsCatsCats]

Nvm was a page behind

[Phoenix Dark]

Report: Obamacare Enrollment Hits 4 Million

About 4 million Americans have now enrolled in health coverage through Obamacare, according to the Huffington Post.

The news outlet cited "a senior administration official" in reporting the new figure. Enrollment at the end of January was 3.3 million, meaning about 700,000 people have enrolled in February.

The Obama administration's original projection was 7 million by March 31, the end of open enrollment, though they have walked back from that estimate since HealthCare.gov disastrous launch in October.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/obamacare-enrollment-4-million
  GOP

[Oblivion]

The GOP's new tax reform bill actually has a tax HIKE on wall street banks. How in the name of the prophet Reagan (PBUH) did that ever get through?

[Joe Molotov]

The GOP's new tax reform bill actually has a tax HIKE on wall street banks. How in the name of the prophet Reagan (PBUH) did that ever get through?

It hasn't got through anything yet (nor will it ever.)

[helios]

[Joe Molotov]

LZ Granderson just bent over The Cucch and

[Great Rumbler]

Then he threw the kitchen sink at billionaires Charles and David Koch, who are currently pushing one anti-Obamacare ad that strains the facts, calling them "un-American" and accusing them of trying to buy America.

"What is going on with these two brothers who made billions of dollars last year in an attempt to buy our democracy is does honest, deceptive, false and unfair. Just because you have huge amounts of money you should not be able to run these false, misleading ads by the hundreds of millions of dollars. They hide behind all kinds of entities," Reid said. "It's not just their front organization, Americans For Prosperity. But they give money to all kinds of organizations, lots of money. You see, when you make billions of dollars a year you can be as immoral and dishonest as your money will allow you to be. It's too bad that they're trying to buy America and it's time that the American people spoke out against this terrible dishonesty of these two brothers, who are about as un-American as anyone that I can imagine."

[Oblivion]

The GOP's new tax reform bill actually has a tax HIKE on wall street banks. How in the name of the prophet Reagan (PBUH) did that ever get through?

It hasn't got through anything yet (nor will it ever.)

I meant that even to humor the idea of raising taxes on the job creators is unthinkable with the current Republican party. This is the first time I've seen any GOP proposal that specifically mentioned a tax hike on some wealthy constituency that didn't involve some vague shit about closing unnamed loopholes or whatever.

[Mandark]

What's the deal with that bill?  From what little I've read it sets the top rate at 25% but earnings past $450K may be subject to a 10% surcharge depending on what business they're in (production industries being exempt, etc.).

That would put it at 35%, which is lower than the current top rate of 39.6%, but I guess it could be a hike on certain Wall Street types if they get rid of the carried interest thing and treat their salaries as labor income rather than capital gains?  There has to be a blog post or ten breaking this down somewhere.

[benjipwns]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/beltway/2014/02/26/dave-camps-tax-plan-a-brave-start-but-lots-of-gimmicks/

He’d also kill the Alternative Minimum Tax and redesign the taxation of capital gains and dividends. The first 40 percent of this investment income would be excluded from tax but the rest would be taxed at ordinary income rates. These too are important changes.

On the other hand, Camp claims he’s crunched the current seven-rate individual tax system to two rates 10 and 25 percent, a long-stated goal of many GOP leaders. But he really has three: 10 percent for single filers making less than $35,600($71,200 for joint filers), 25 percent for those making up to $400,000 ($450,000 for couples), and 35 percent for those making more than that.

But the story gets a lot more complicated—and more costly — for many households. For instance, the plan would repeal the personal exemption. It would significantly raise the standard deduction for most taxpayers but phase it out for high-income households.  It would also phase out the benefit of the 10 percent bracket and cap itemized deductions. All these changes would boost effective tax rates.

The 10 percent surtax on high-income individuals is in addition to the 3.8 percent levy on unearned income that was adopted as part of the 2010 Affordable Care Act (which Camp retains). In addition, the surtax would apply to income that is currently untaxed, such as the value of employer sponsored health insurance and the health deduction for the self-employed, municipal bond interest, untaxed Social Security benefits, and 401(k) contributions.

He’d also backload tax benefits for retirement savings. He’d bar new contributions to traditional and non-deductible IRAs but at the same time make everyone eligible to contribute to Roth IRAs. This would generate revenue in the early years since contributions would not be deductible. But because distributions from Roths are tax-free, such a design would increase future deficits by billions of dollars.

[benjipwns]

How in the name of the prophet Reagan (PBUH) did that ever get through?

He's cool with it, or was in 1986 anyway:

[Mandark]

Okay, who's the dude between Kemp and Dole and why can't I place that face?  Also, Dick Gephart peeking in from the back, Charlie Rangel off to the side, and is that Pat Buchanan and the back of Bill Bradley's head?


Thanks for the link.  Interesting that even for a simplification it seems plenty complicated, but I take it as a sign that it's actually been designed with input from multiple (Republican) Congressfolk and outside groups, with the intention of being the basis of an actual successful bill.  Not that I think it has any chance, but still.

[benjipwns]

Well, it is simplifying a pretty absurdly complicated system to begin with. 

I think that might be Don Regan. His successor at Treasury, James Baker is behind.

Robert Byrd pulling out the three piece suit reminded me of this weird picture from the early 80's I saw a couple weeks back:

[Oblivion]

How in the name of the prophet Reagan (PBUH) did that ever get through?

He's cool with it, or was in 1986 anyway:
(Image removed from quote.)

Well of course he liked that one. Wasn't that the only tax reform legislation in our history that cut taxes for the rich but RAISED them on the lowest bracket?

[Mandark]

Well yeah the current system's complicated.  What I mean is that when you see a tax reform proposal that's hyper-simple it's a good indication that it's meant as a statement of principles or as a way to build a candidate or politician's brand.  Think Forbes and the flat tax in 1996 or Huckabee's consumption tax from 2008.

While the proposal's DOA, it has signs of being the result of some sort of intra-GOP compromise, which in itself is at least somewhat significant.  It might not even make waves, but I'm a bit interested in how various Republicans/conservatives react to it, as an early signal of what will be considered kosher for tax policy for Republicans the next time they have a majority or the White House.

[Phoenix Dark]

If you had told me Camp's plan was a compromise proposal from the White House I'd believe it. It's not nearly as bad as I expected, although obviously it rewards the super rich and picks favorites amongst manufacturers (ie oil companies). Seems too liberal for the House, at least to me. Increases the child tax credit, standard deduction...not bad. I want to see manufacturing get the 25% rate across the board, not just oil and farming companies.

The glaring thing is the elimination of the deduction for state and local taxes, which would hit big states like NY, Cali, and NJ. I wouldn't mind seeing some type of compromise that keeps the deduction but lowers it, effectively raising taxes for residents of those states.

BTW anyone else tiring of TPM's recent lurch to liberal click bait territory? When I saw the tax proposal I thought "welp, Cali and NY are fucked." TPM's headline? GOP's New Plan Hikes Taxes On Americans In Blue States. Two blue states.

[Joe Molotov]

“I feel like ‘embattled’ or ‘disgraced’ will always follow my name. It’s like that black football player who recently came out. He said, ‘I just want to be known as a football player. I don’t want to be known as a gay football player.’ I know exactly what he’s saying."
~Paula Deen

[Trent Dole]

My being labeled as a bigot is the same kind of struggle to suffer through as that one taco distinguished black fellow football player, y'all.

[Great Rumbler]

In Paula's defense, keeping up with the names of all the hired help is pretty hard.

[AdmiralViscen]

If you had told me Camp's plan was a compromise proposal from the White House I'd believe it. It's not nearly as bad as I expected, although obviously it rewards the super rich and picks favorites amongst manufacturers (ie oil companies). Seems too liberal for the House, at least to me. Increases the child tax credit, standard deduction...not bad. I want to see manufacturing get the 25% rate across the board, not just oil and farming companies.

The glaring thing is the elimination of the deduction for state and local taxes, which would hit big states like NY, Cali, and NJ. I wouldn't mind seeing some type of compromise that keeps the deduction but lowers it, effectively raising taxes for residents of those states.

BTW anyone else tiring of TPM's recent lurch to liberal click bait territory? When I saw the tax proposal I thought "welp, Cali and NY are fucked." TPM's headline? GOP's New Plan Hikes Taxes On Americans In Blue States. Two blue states.

Those states already receive less in federal benefits than they pay in federal taxes

[Phoenix Dark]

GOP Senate Candidate 'Applauds' Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion

Terri Lynn Land, the presumptive Republican candidate for Michigan's open Senate seat backed off her prior support for full Obamacare repeal Thursday, with her campaign saying instead that she "applauds" the state's decision to expand Medicaid under the law.

“Terri believes that healthcare should be affordable and accessible to all Americans and that we as a society have a moral obligation to help those who are not as fortunate and their children," Heather Swift, a spokeswoman for Land, told the Washington Post. "Terri applauds Governor Snyder for doing what he believes is best for Michigan families, while complying with mandates from Congress brought down in ObamaCare."

Land had said in a radio interview earlier this month that she wants "to go down there and repeal Obamacare." Americans for Prosperity, a conservative super PAC that has been attacking her likely Democratic opponent, has also campaigned against Michigan's Medicaid expansion.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/terri-lynn-land-medicaid-expansion

and thus the backtracking begins. Good luck with that.

[Trent Dole]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/27/maine-republican-regrets-saying-men-should-rape-women-if-abortion-is-legal/

Be a Republican brehs

What the fuck is wrong with these people? Are they sprinkling lead paint chips on their pizza? Just a goddamn disgrace.

One of them is our next president.

[Great Rumbler]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/27/maine-republican-regrets-saying-men-should-rape-women-if-abortion-is-legal/

Be a Republican brehs

What the fuck is wrong with these people? Are they sprinkling lead paint chips on their pizza? Just a goddamn disgrace.

One of them is our next president.

[benjipwns]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/27/maine-republican-regrets-saying-men-should-rape-women-if-abortion-is-legal/

Be a Republican brehs

What the fuck is wrong with these people? Are they sprinkling lead paint chips on their pizza? Just a goddamn disgrace.

Guy should have stood up for some of his comments. At least the ones quoted there. AIDS ones were in the 1980s when everyone knew you could get it from watching Magic Johnson on TV. Abortion/rape one is a rhetorical question snipped out of presumably a larger argument.

Plus everybody knows sodomy is a depraved crime against humanity, that's the primary reason you even do it in the first place. Or that's what that guy in that parking garage who turned me onto it said anyway.

He's lost a lot of hair in 26 years:

The glaring thing is the elimination of the deduction for state and local taxes, which would hit big states like NY, Cali, and NJ. I wouldn't mind seeing some type of compromise that keeps the deduction but lowers it, effectively raising taxes for residents of those states.

I've always wondered why more state level politicians like Governors or whoever don't use this when defending state tax increases, "you aren't paying anymore in taxes, but we're keeping more money here in Michigan instead of sending it to Washington first" or "we're keeping your tax money here in Texas instead of spending it on welfare for feggits in San Francisco" and so on. Or maybe I've just not seen it very often.

Other than the obvious answer of that they wish to be those federal legislators and executives holding onto the money down the road.

[benjipwns]

Just realized I implied that Lockman was the guy who turned me onto sodomy by being unspecific about who the "he" is in my two sentences. I said things that I regret. I hold no animosity toward anyone by virtue of their gender or sexual orientation, and today I am focused on ensuring freedom and economic prosperity for all Mainers.

[Mandark]

State income taxes are deducted from your taxable income, not from the tax bill itself, so a state income tax hike would only be partially mitigated.

[benjipwns]

http://www.teapartynation.com/forum/topics/tyranny-the-loss-of-liberty-and-arizona-s-sb1062

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has vetoed SB1062, The Religious Freedom Restoration Act in Arizona.  No one has ever accused Governor Brewer of being the most courageous Republican around. Come to think of it, the word courageous and Jan Brewer have probably never been uttered in the same sentence.

The left and the homosexual lobby in America went into overdrive to kill this bill.  Conservatives rallied for this bill and Governor Brewer opted for cowardice instead of courage.

Why is this bill so important and what did it mean for not only Arizona but America?

The issue can be boiled down to one word: Freedom.

A free man or woman controls their labor.  A slave has no control over their labor.  A free man or woman decides who they will work for and under what conditions.  The slave cannot.

The left and the homosexual lobby are both pushing slavery using the Orwellian concepts of “tolerance” and “inclusiveness.”

...

Immediately the left and the homosexual lobby went into high dudgeon.  Arizona’s SB1062 must be defeated because Americans really are no longer free and must be forced to serve the great liberal state, regardless of their beliefs.

The storm rose against Arizona and Jan Brewer proved she was no Ronald Reagan.  She has an honored place in the ranks of the French Republicans. Corporations and business interests, many of whom support far left wing causes, like Apple demanded this bill be vetoed.  Apple gives 96% of its political giving to Democrats.  Why a Republican listens to a word from Apple or lifts a finger to help them is beyond comprehension.  The NFL threatened to pull the Super Bowl from Arizona in 2015.

...

Someone with courage would have called their bluff.  Arizona has Jan Brewer.

The left came up with bizarre and insane arguments against SB1062.  They tried to equate sexual preference with race.  Unfortunately few will stand up against that grossly inaccurate analogy.  The left believes that it has the right to dictate what religious beliefs are allowed.

They need to be reminded what our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution say.  Our rights are given to us by a higher power than the government and cannot be taken away.

The left loves to come up with absurd hypotheticals to scream that there must be compliance with their fascism, so how about a couple from our side.   

Should a devout baker be required to create a cake for a homosexual wedding that has a giant phallic symbol on it or should a baker be required to create pastries for a homosexual wedding in the shape of genitallia? Or should a photographer be required to photograph a homosexual wedding where the participants decide they want to be nude or engage in sexual behavior?  Would they force a Jewish photographer to work a Klan or Nazi event? How about forcing a Muslim caterer to work a pork barbeque dinner?

...

SB1062 is a bigger story than simply the story of a cowardly governor who has no core beliefs.

SB1062 is the story of liberalism at work in America.

Liberalism is the paranoid belief that leftists have that somewhere, someone may be thinking for themselves.  It is the tyrannical belief that no deviation in belief is allowed from the decreed orthodoxy.

It is the antithesis of liberty.

It is tyranny on the march.

[Trent Dole]

None of that makes any fucking sense. Oh tea party.

[Brehvolution]

"The left" is code for 'those who don't agree with me'.

It's tyranny when my worldview isn't laid out before me.

[Great Rumbler]

ANTITHESIS OF LIBERTY
TYRANNY ON THE MARCH
DOWN WITH PHALLUS CAKES

[Brehvolution]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2014-02/28/c_133149412.htm 

[Joe Molotov]

None of that makes any fucking sense. Oh tea party.

Patriots will be forced to bake cakes and take pictures for progressive constitution-burning-and-bible-pooping-on orgies, what can't you understand about that?

[Mandark]

In December of 1865, the several American states ratified the 13th amendment, constitutionally ending involuntary servitude in the United States. In the 21st century, Americans are coming full circle. In a number of states, a black man can again be forced by the government to work involuntarily for a white man.

[Joe Molotov]

Erick Erickson, staunch defender of African-American rights and professional quote maker.

[Oblivion]

But..what if the customer is a gay black man?

[FatalT]

But..what if the customer is a gay black man?

Then I hope he enjoys being black!

[Phoenix Dark]

In December of 1865, the several American states ratified the 13th amendment, constitutionally ending involuntary servitude in the United States. In the 21st century, Americans are coming full circle. In a number of states, a black man can again be forced by the government to work involuntarily for a white man.

someone is going to have to translate this for me. I don't understand what he's saying.

[Great Rumbler]

In December of 1865, the several American states ratified the 13th amendment, constitutionally ending involuntary servitude in the United States. In the 21st century, Americans are coming full circle. In a number of states, a black man can again be forced by the government to work involuntarily for a white man.

someone is going to have to translate this for me. I don't understand what he's saying.

A black man that works at a cake shop won't be able to defend himself against white homo demons anymore.

[Oblivion]

In December of 1865, the several American states ratified the 13th amendment, constitutionally ending involuntary servitude in the United States. In the 21st century, Americans are coming full circle. In a number of states, a black man can again be forced by the government to work involuntarily for a white man.

someone is going to have to translate this for me. I don't understand what he's saying.

A black man that works at a cake shop won't be able to defend himself against white homo demons anymore.

Pretty much.

Why this is limited to the blacks, I'm not so sure.

[Trent Dole]

Equality is fascism, brehs.

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

No one has ever accused Governor Brewer of being the most courageous Republican around.

Come to think of it, the word courageous and Jan Brewer have probably never been uttered in the same sentence.

[benjipwns]

Equality is fascism, brehs.

True equality comes from the voluntary acceptance of each other like in sports. Not forcing those with the Mark of Cain to make penis pastries for homo daemons.

[Great Rumbler]

What's the deal with cake shops anyway? Like anybody even cares what some dumb baker does.

[Phoenix Dark]

Hold on, he's equating the potential of a religious black worker being "forced" to serve a gay customer (the same way he'd serve a straight customer) with slavery?

I'm going to bed. I have reached my fuckery limit for the day.

[Oblivion]

http://mediamatters.org/video/2014/02/28/4-of-the-five-co-hosts-agree-theres-no-science/198297

 

[Great Rumbler]

http://mediamatters.org/video/2014/02/28/4-of-the-five-co-hosts-agree-theres-no-science/198297

 

It's hilarious that that dumb woman mentions Galileo and his opposition to the "consensus." Here's a hint, lady: Galileo was going against the religious establishment of the day, who said that his work was heretical and went against the teachings of the Bible. And if Galileo was alive today, he'd body-slam you through a table live on SummerSlam.

[benjipwns]

I think there's been some evidence that Galileo wasn't persecuted entirely for his CRAZY beliefs on orbits, Copernicus wasn't for example and Bellarmine considered it mathematically sound, but because he was a dick to the Church authorities, defying them, shit talking the Pope, etc. and that was the 17th century version of piling on charges plus getting Capone on taxes.

At least use Marshall and Warren people! This is the 20th century! (And toss in some Feynman.)

[Great Rumbler]

The irony, though, is that these people see themselves as Galileo, fighting against the establishment that's trying to force its view on the rest of the world, not once admitting that so much of their opposition is couched in religious references.

[DCharlieJP]

this is all good really - i mean, now we can have a Muslim place of worship with 10km of Ground Zero now that the Right Wing crusade to bring Religious Freedom to the forefront is in full swing.

Who would have thought that the same set of jackasses behind the Ground Zero Mosque complaints would suddenly be all uppity about Religious Freedoms?! CRAZY! lol

The US needs a "hate" law as per the UK -  anything considered hateful or discriminates on the grounds of race, sexuality, etc can see you prosecuted.
The Westboro douchebags would be facing prison time for their antics if in the UK.

Should a devout baker be required to create a cake for a homosexual wedding that has a giant phallic symbol on it or should a baker be required to create pastries for a homosexual wedding in the shape of genitallia? Or should a photographer be required to photograph a homosexual wedding where the participants decide they want to be nude or engage in sexual behavior?  Would they force a Jewish photographer to work a Klan or Nazi event? How about forcing a Muslim caterer to work a pork barbeque dinner?

Phallic cake point : if they would make similar cakes for a hetrosexual wedding, then yes - assuming they would not make the cakes on the fact they are possibly offended by that side of it anyways, therefore homosexuality is irrelevant.

[helios]

Lol at forcing JEws to bake cakes for the KKK and Nazis

[Joe Molotov]

Obama's homo demons are so demonic, brehs.

[DCharlieJP]

Lol at forcing JEws to bake cakes for the KKK and Nazis

lol - and i bet a good 80% of people hating on homosexuals think the Jews -should-

[benjipwns]

The US needs a "hate" law as per the UK -  anything considered hateful or discriminates on the grounds of race, sexuality, etc can see you prosecuted.
The Westboro douchebags would be facing prison time for their antics if in the UK.

howaboutnobear dot jaypeg

[Phoenix Dark]

I greatly dislike the way "anti-Semite" is thrown around, especially in relation to debates on Palestine, and the dick riding our politicians have to do annoys me...but I have no problem with the Jew. They helped make hip hop, brehs.

[Human Snorenado]

ANTI-SEMITE!

[CajoleJuice]

[Phoenix Dark]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/texas-democratic-nomination-kesha-rogers


My brother used to "debate" her outside our library, which is where the LaRouche folks tend to congregate multiple times a semester; they bus in from Texas and other states.

perhaps using the word "debate" isn't right

[benjipwns]