It's simple...

In the here and now, the bigger danger to this country is the out of control spending and taxing of the Democrats and this administration..

Getting people back to work, while important, won't be much effective if they are paid less, and taxed more...

Ergo, Jobs is the little kid across the street with a squirt gun and OOCTAS is the guy with the shotgun in your face...

Michale.....

Huh?

Not only is your etymologizer on the fritz but your analogizer seems to be having problems as well.

I'd really suggest having someone take a look :)

-David

If the Tea Party were so important, Republicans would run on "Less Taxes, Less Taxes, Less Taxes"

But it worked out so well for the GOP because they got the best of both.. :D And all Democrats got was a shellacking... :D

This American voter thinks Washington is focused on the wrong thing.

I completely agree... Washington is too focused on adding revenue and not focused at all on cutting spending. :D

I know, I know. That's not what you meant...

But when prioritizing targets, you want to put more emphasis on the guy in front of you with a shotgun, rather than the kid across the street with a squirt gun..

Frankly, I think the Administration should forget about the Debt Ceiling and create those jobs that were promised 3 years ago.. And yes, the GOP should also do the same as well...

Ya know, Obama could fix everything by just eliminating CrapCare... :D

Michale.....

Anyways, I won't comment much more on this issue here because I know it's far from the topic but glad you enjoyed the post.

Tried to go to your page on livejournal (the link attached to your "nypoet22" alias) when I posted the original link, but it doesn't seem to work. Just as an FYI.

-David

all three of those articles are outstanding examples of the range of educated viewpoints regarding high-stakes standardized tests. pearlstein seems to think that the high stakes tests are good and that some degree of cheating is just the price we have to pay. ariely sees it as a poor system because it motivates the wrong sort of behavior. gardner's take is probably closest to my own view. whatever the cause, teaching is not thought of or treated as a profession in the U.S. the way it is in most other developed countries.

i think teachers need professional autonomy and a competent infrastructure for self-regulation within the profession. whether it's high stakes student testing or some other harebrained accountability scheme, the core problem with accountability is that the people who judge teacher competence are fundamentally not teachers. even in places where principals or superintendents are required to teach first, it's often no more than the token three year minimum. the statisticians who construct measures like "value-added" probably couldn't teach even if they wanted to. and the most competent, respected and experienced teachers almost never attain school leadership positions anymore.

I don't care about the Tea Party. They're just another front group for the far-right fringe of the Republican Party.

If the Tea Party were so important, Republicans would run on "Less Taxes, Less Taxes, Less Taxes"

Instead they run on "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs". Then flip-flop once elected.

While jobs may have been important, it is undeniable that the American voter wanted ...

I'm glad you're not worried about getting too big a head and are able to speak for all Americans :)

This American voter thinks Washington is focused on the wrong thing.

-David

That wouldn't explain the rise and the impact of the Taxed Enough Already Party on the Mid Term elections.

While jobs may have been important, it is undeniable that the American voter wanted the GOP to rein (:D) in the Tax and Spend Democrats...

p.s. I believe entomology is the study of insects. So your etymology is still on the fritz ... you might want to get that looked at (WIth apologies. You know we luv ya, Michale. I just couldn't resist. :) )

Yea yea, kick a man when he's down... :D

Michale.....

This morn, I read a fantastic op-ed in the Washington Post about compensation and teaching.

What I like about it is that the authors take a bit of a different approach. They talk about corporate compensation mistakes and the parallels w/ No Child.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-leadership/want-to-stop-teachers-from-cheating-a-history-lesson-from-corporate-america/2011/07/18/gIQAtEbtLI_story.html

Thought you might enjoy and/or provide you w/ some ammo!

-David

Correction: I believe voters said that they wanted to focus on jobs. At least this is what the polling supports and what all the Republicans I know of ran on.

Here in OH-2, Steve Chabot's campaign slogan was "Jobs, Jobs, Jobs"

What did Mr. Chabot think the issue was? Hmmm ... I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say "Jobs"

Of course that was before the election.

After the election, conservatives stopped talking about jobs.

Where's Joe Wilson when we need him ;)

-David

p.s. I believe entomology is the study of insects. So your etymology is still on the fritz ... you might want to get that looked at (WIth apologies. You know we luv ya, Michale. I just couldn't resist. :) )

Damn spell checker!!!!

Etymology????? :D

Michale....

now you're just playing with us... like insects. ;)

and that in a nutshell is what makes our political system so frustrating. the dems buy us a drink before they screw us, and later stick us with the tab. the republicans just tell us to bend over and take it...

A very apt, albeit er... graphic, description...

I would just make one little addition...

the republicans just tell us to bend over, take it and LIKE it!!

:D

Bashi,

Though both could be correct in regards to Obama as he is clean shaven, I think "bold-faced" is more what Michale was going for...

I actually had to mull this over.. I opted for "bold" faced as I figured it would be the "emphasis" part of "bold" that made it the right choice.

Looks like my entomology was all frack'ed up.. :D

Michale.....

Well, I was just copying Michale but both are correct. From wikipedia:

A barefaced (or bald-faced) lie is one that is obviously a lie to those hearing it. The phrase comes from 17th-century British usage referring to those without facial hair as being seen as particularly forthright and outwardly honest, and therefore more likely to get away with telling a significant lie. A variation that has been in use almost as long is bold-faced lie, referring to a lie told with a straight and confident face (hence "bold-faced"), usually with the corresponding tone of voice and emphatic body language of one confidently speaking the truth. Bold-faced lie can also refer to misleading or inaccurate newspaper headlines, but this usage appears to be a more recent appropriation of the term.

Though both could be correct in regards to Obama as he is clean shaven, I think "bold-faced" is more what Michale was going for...

But damn it, if it's such a great idea, imagine the PR coup if Democrats actually did it, instead of just jaw-boning about it...

and that in a nutshell is what makes our political system so frustrating. the dems buy us a drink before they screw us, and later stick us with the tab. the republicans just tell us to bend over and take it...

Once again, it's all in the phrasing...

Yes, if you ask people if they support raising taxes on people making more that $250K, they are going to say, HELL YEA...

But if you actually put out the facts that "people" also include small businesses and that by raising THEIR taxes that will hinder economic recovery, all of the sudden, the poll numbers start going down.

In other words, "TAX THE RICH!!! TAX THE RICH!!" is a great political slogan. But it plays on emotionalism that has little to do with reality..

Once again, I must point out. If it's such a great idea, why don't Democrats voluntarily "tax" themselves and lead by example???

I know, I know.. We had this discussion before and, while I agree with you that human nature being what it is, people will take the best deal they can..

But damn it, if it's such a great idea, imagine the PR coup if Democrats actually did it, instead of just jaw-boning about it..

1. 85% (presuming it is correct) is a percentage of government revenue, not a percentage of individual income - much less a percentage of overall gains in wealth, much of which is not even officially classified as "income."

Actually, it's 86% and it's the percentage of government revenue by taxes that the 20% top income earners pay...

At least, according to CBO figures...

factually, the mega-rich pay a lower percentage of their real individual income than the middle class. some taxes like social security are even capped at around 100k so millionaires and billionaires pay an insanely lower rate than you and me.

I agree with you on this...

The problem with the $250K figure is that it encompasses a LOT more Americans and businesses than the average American Joe realizes...

My personal take is eliminate all the loopholes for individuals and families only that earn more than $1 million a year and tax the hell out of THEM....

Let's start with the Pelosis, the Reids and the Soroses of the country and see how well it works out.. :D

They won't mind a bit, since they are all for the TAX THE RICH idea, right?? :D

as to the republicans supporting this regressive tax overtly versus most democrats supporting it covertly, the evidence seems to be in your favor on that point.

Yea, the blatant hypocrisy is what really galls me...

Michale.....

in this case my own opinion and its wisdom or lack of wisdom is irrelevant. "72 percent said they support tax increases on people with incomes of more than $250,000, including 54 percent who strongly support them." please acknowledge that i factually refuted your statement about there not being polls to suggest people are behind obama when it comes to raising certain people's taxes. then we can argue about the lies, the damnlies and the statistics.

as to what i think, the solution isn't really taxing more, it's taxing differently. we don't so much have to raise tax rates as close loopholes and prevent more from opening. my opinion on the percentages you provided is that they are misleading on two counts:

1. 85% (presuming it is correct) is a percentage of government revenue, not a percentage of individual income - much less a percentage of overall gains in wealth, much of which is not even officially classified as "income."

2. both figures are placed at a cutoff point that doesn't qualify as "rich." the 80th percentile in 2003 was 86,867. it's a healthy income, but pretty darn far from rich. even the 95th percentile of 154,120 doesn't really qualify as rich.

http://blogs.forbes.com/janetnovack/2010/09/23/the-very-rich-are-different-they-pay-a-lower-tax-rate/

factually, the mega-rich pay a lower percentage of their real individual income than the middle class. some taxes like social security are even capped at around 100k so millionaires and billionaires pay an insanely lower rate than you and me.

as to the republicans supporting this regressive tax overtly versus most democrats supporting it covertly, the evidence seems to be in your favor on that point.

~joshua

The debt ceiling will be raised. Or, prioritizing SS and Mil Pay payments will be the least of your concerns.

A week ago, I would have whole-heartedly agreed with you...

Now, I am not so sure....

I would say you are probably right, but I never underestimate the ultimate stupidity of our politicians...

I have to tell you ... that me laugh out loud. Because it's so hilarious to think that voters were okie dokie when the middle-class busting spending spree went through the roof on failed foreign and economic/tax policies during the Bush/Cheney era but, now, when the spending has been done to save them from the Great Depression 2.0, now they are ... how did you put it? ... right, they are sick and tired of taxes and orgasmic spending.

You obviously missed my previous post on this issue..

Allow me to fix that... :D

Here are the facts...

..... And now you know the REST of the story... :D

Maybe, in 2012, the voters, in all of their infinite wisdom, will show more support for the policy prescriptions of the Republican cult of economic failure and then they will bask in their own misery, or something.

And you don't think the US is in misery now??

Seriously???

With Obama's approval ratings underwater and Congress' ratings in the toilet, what indications do you see that the American people support the orgasmic spend and tax and tax and spend policies of Democrats??

Over 60% of the American people are with Republicans over the Debt Ceiling issue.. Considering that's a CBS poll, the numbers are probably a lot higher...

Whether you want to admit it or not, it's clear that the American people are solidly in the Republicans corner on this issue...

NYpoet,

sorry to go all grammar police on you again, but i think you meant "rein in spending." in theory at least, the people are supposed to reign already.

Touche.... :D

as for evidence of support for taxing the rich over cutting services:

The "rich" are already taxed! Over 85% of the taxes in this country come from the top 20% of Americans!

And ya'all think they should be taxed more!!???

Anyways, as we see above, the facts clearly show that the Bush tax cuts have been responsible for the bottom 80% of Americans' taxes going DOWN and the top 20% of Americans' taxes going UP!!

So, ya'all want to stop those tax cuts. But, if that happens, the 80%, the "middle class" taxes will go UP...

Where is the logic in that??

Democrats are falling back on that old dead horse, "TAX THE RICH, TAX THE RICH" simply because they have NO PLAN...

But, as I had mentioned before, if Democrats were REALLY and TRULY serious about their "TAX THE RICH" idiotology... (er... I mean.. ideology :D ) then they would lead by example and voluntarily donate more of their millions and billions to the IRS.

The fact that they DON'T do this leads one to the only logical conclusion. That Democrats aren't really serious about "TAX THE RICH"... They just pay it lip service and continue to game the system to their own personal financial advantage...

To be fair, Republicans are the same way.. But at least they are, by and large, honest and upfront about their greed and don't put on airs for political gain..

I much prefer an "honest" jackass than a jackass who is just as greedy and just as corrupt, but insists on blowing smoke up me arse...

i'd also point out that while fundraising is important, so is motivating volunteers to canvas the neighborhoods and man the phone networks. considering the overwhelming feeling of betrayal among a large portion of the nation's teachers and educators - well, who do you think does those things the summer before an election?

I have to agree with you here..

The two main groups that made Obama in 2008 (young people and Independents) are not going to raise a pinky to help him in 2012...

My only indecision is whether Palin or Bachmann would make a better President. :D

Sorry, now I am just being mean.... :D

Michale.....

Maybe, in 2012, the voters, in all of their infinite wisdom, will show more support for the policy prescriptions of the Republican cult of economic failure and then they will bask in their own misery, or something.

highly likely. we all know very well the collective wisdom of the voting population. how else would the guy who paid the biggest medicare fraud settlement in history (and took the fifth 75 times to avoid self-incrimination) be the governor of the state with the second highest percentage of residents on medicare?

michale/bashi,

your hair is on fire! wait, i think you meant "bald-faced lie."

michale,

Not ONE poll shows that the American people are behind Obama when it comes to raising taxes..

There is, however, one grossly obvious "poll" that shows the American people want to reign in big government spending.

sorry to go all grammar police on you again, but i think you meant "rein in spending." in theory at least, the people are supposed to reign already. as for evidence of support for taxing the rich over cutting services:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53455.html

CW,

considering all the talk about fox, i'm surprised you didn't mention the newscorp scandal in the UK.

i'd also point out that while fundraising is important, so is motivating volunteers to canvas the neighborhoods and man the phone networks. considering the overwhelming feeling of betrayal among a large portion of the nation's teachers and educators - well, who do you think does those things the summer before an election?

Voters, in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, declared loudly that they were sick and tired of taxes and orgasmic spending.

I have to tell you ... that me laugh out loud. Because it's so hilarious to think that voters were okie dokie when the middle-class busting spending spree went through the roof on failed foreign and economic/tax policies during the Bush/Cheney era but, now, when the spending has been done to save them from the Great Depression 2.0, now they are ... how did you put it? ... right, they are sick and tired of taxes and orgasmic spending.

That's just so precious.

Maybe, in 2012, the voters, in all of their infinite wisdom, will show more support for the policy prescriptions of the Republican cult of economic failure and then they will bask in their own misery, or something.

Here's a news flash for you ...

The debt ceiling will be raised. Or, prioritizing SS and Mil Pay payments will be the least of your concerns.

And, you can take that to the bank. Or, not.

Dance, Obama Administration, Dance!!!! :D

I absolutely DARE Obama to prioritize SS and Mil Pay payments down so low that they don't get paid...

That would absolutely GUARANTEE a complete GOP takeover in 2012....

What's the big deal??? In 2006 EVERY Democrat in the Senate, INCLUDING Obama, voted against raising the Debt limit...

So, were they all playing politics then?? Or are they all playing politics now??

Michale.....

Of course, that SHOULD read....

When you consider that over 60% of the American people are with the Republicans over NOT raising the Debt Limit.....

My bust...

Michale.....

Perhaps you remember the shellacking that the Democrats received at the hands of the voters during the last mid-terms..

Voters, in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS, declared loudly that they were sick and tired of taxes and orgasmic spending.

Republicans are simply acting like the voters WANT them to act...

You can't blame Republicans for actually LISTENING to the voters who voted them into office..

Perhaps if Democrats had done more of that (actually LISTENING to the American People) this country would not be as frak'ed up as it is today...

Something to think about..

When you consider that over 60% of the American people are with the Republicans over raising the Debt Limit..... Well, it's obvious that the Democrats will be blamed for the mess that results...

Michale.....

John Boehner had a deal where Republicans got about 80% of what they wanted and would have put Obama at odds with his base.

The Tea Party and Eric Cantor snatched defeat from the hands of victory by saying that they wouldn't be happy with anything but 100%

BTW- Here's an amazing interview with Mitch McConnell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZ7Teug7Tq4&feature=player_embedded#at=219

In it, he talks about what's really driving Republicans: beating Obama in the next election. Basically, McConnell says "screw the country" it's all about electing Republicans.

Imagine if President Obama or any Democrat for that matter took McConnell's stance.

Simply amazing ...
-David

"Let them die!!"
-Captain James T. Kirk, STAR TREK VI, The Undiscovered Country

All we're doing is putting band-aids on a dying patient and hoping the patient will live until the next election.

It's frackin' ridiculous...

Michale.....

Now, here's an encouraging report.

If this story is true, evidently the real decision makers in the Republican party shuttled the word down that while lip service to the morons in the party's base may be all well and good, letting the markets open Sunday night without any evidence of movement toward resolution would be far too risky.

This may be the first time that the Tea Party nonsense has been in perfect counter alignment with the needs of the corporatist interests that form the true core of Republican philosophy. It will be fun to see them spin their way out of this one.

What a great campaign slogan!!

"It's not MY fault I am such a crappy leader! The mean old Republicans made me do it!!"

All that is needed is a caricature of Obama with his thumb in his ears, waggling his fingers and saying, "Naaaneeee Naaannneeeee booo booo"...

Yea, THAT will win him re-election... :^/

Bashi,

Obama may be playing politics and pushing the truth, but it is far from a "bold-faced lie"

Sorry, it's not politics. It IS a lie and a bold-faced one at that...

Even if you were correct, that it's possible that the SS payments would be "prioritized" away, who is it that would be doing the "prioritizing"???

The Obama administration...

Now, how could he explain the fact that he refused to make the SS payments, even though the money WAS there for it..

I know, Bashi, I know.. In your mind, Obama is the second coming and can do no wrong..

But let's face the facts... If a GOP president had tried this kind of crap, the Left (yourself included) would have strung him up by his balls... And I would have been right there to hold the rope...

So, this begs the question..

Why does Obama get a pass???

Why does the Left give Obama such a pass on gross actions that a Republican would be (rightly) castrated over??

The ONLY logical explanation is bigotry... Be it racial or be it political, it is bigotry pure and simple...

Michale.....

"All of this adds up to a very big shift in governing style by the president"

It's been a journey from consensus to hostage negotiations, hasn't it? But here's the thing: when the story is written, Republicans drove him to it. "Take-charge" Obama is a monster they created; well may it profit them.

Saying that the reason Republicans are fighting Obama so is because he is black...

Seriously???

It's people like Jackson that set race relations back decades....

Michale.....

Where's Joe Wilson when ya need 'im!??? :D

Michale.....

While I always welcome fact checks (it shows me that people ARE paying attention :D) this time you're wrong.

Obama said that he can't guarantee that checks would go out for AUGUST...

The prioritizing referred to in the article won't come for months down the road...

The revenue coming in for August comes to something like 120 Billion dollars.. I don't recall the exact figures, but after paying the military, the SS checks, the interest on what's already borrowed and other necessary payments, there will still be about $30 billion left over..

It's nothing but Fear-Mongering, Bashi... A valid point I am certain you would make abundantly clear if it had been a GOP President making such extortionist statements... :D

Michale.....

To state that "I don't know if SS payments will be able to be sent out" is a bold-faced lie and does nothing but attempt to use fear and extortion to get his way..

From your own link in your second post:

As The Economist explained in January, "almost everyone takes it for granted that a failure to raise the debt ceiling will eventually force the United States to default on its Treasury debt." However, as that magazine points out, the government could potentially prioritize paying bond interest over other spending, such as Social Security payments, in order to avoid default.

Gettin' sloppy. Trying out for a job at FOX News? :D

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20056258-503544.html

63% of Americans are against raising the Debt Ceiling.

Only 27% of Americans are for raising the Debt Ceiling.

Once again, President Obama finds himself on the WRONG side of the majority of Americans..

I know these pesky facts bother some people here, but hay... I calls em as I sees em... :D

Michale.....

Be still, my beating heart! :D

For assumably signing off on both the recent memo and the recent report introduced in court, Attorney General Eric Holder is our Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week this week.

Once again, I have to offer up a better choice for the MDDOTW award.

President Obama is much more deserving of this award for his blatant fear-mongering and his downright extortion of SS recipients..

To state that "I don't know if SS payments will be able to be sent out" is a bold-faced lie and does nothing but attempt to use fear and extortion to get his way..

This egregious lie is made even worse by the fact that Obama will be having a gala birthday party several days after "Armageddon"...

For this, Obama is much more deserving of the Most Disappointing Democrat Of The Week award.

At the VERY least, he deserves a strongly worded dis-honorable mention..

Once again, I have to wonder what the Left's reaction would be if a GOP President tried such blatant fear mongering...

There's a reason why Fox News pushes these two words as a slogan: America likes the concepts. President Obama, to his credit, has been using both terms to bolster his position in the negotiations, for the same reason. Help him out whenever you can.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.. :D Looks like Fox News scores another coup.... :D

"Luckily, the American people have shown, in poll after poll after poll, that they are solidly behind what the president and Democrats are saying.

I have to call foul on this one.

Not ONE poll shows that the American people are behind Obama when it comes to raising taxes..

There is, however, one grossly obvious "poll" that shows the American people want to reign in big government spending.

That "poll" was the 2010 mid-term elections...

It's ironic. Republicans are doing EXACTLY what the American people elected them to do..

You have to admit, the Democratic Party could take a lesson from the GOP on how to represent the people who voted them into office..

As Boehner said, "Excuse us for trying to lead"

If there is a default, you can bet that the American people will hold Obama responsible moreso than the GOP...

Michale.....

Indeed I can. My suggestion is that it's the prospect of no deal. Consider --

From HuffPo:
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned that failing to raise the debt ceiling would be disastrous to the economy, telling Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) in a May 13 letter that rapidly reducing federal outlays in the event of default "would likely push us into a double dip recession."

A second dip of the Great Recession, particularly since the rest of the plausible consequences of default mean that it would live up to the name and then some, amounts to a failed presidency. We don't have third parties that amount to anything, so unless we have a new major party (which hasn't been seen since before the Civil War), the only possible beneficiaries are the Republicans.

Given the scorched-earth nature of contemporary Republicanism, business as usual simply could not work.

Dire predictions abound that Obama has so alienated his base that they simply won't turn out for him next year, however, these must be weighed with the astoundingly good fundraising numbers Obama just announced.

Weigh away. I haven't donated to the 2012 campaign, and have no plans to do so. If he hadn't made the Bush tax cuts permanent, he wouldn't have gotten DADT or New START at the time, although they would still have been on the table for this session. Would Republicans really have wanted to stand up against medical care for 9/11 first responders, though? The unemployment benefits were crucial to our painfully slow progress out of recession, but it doesn't add up to an excuse for turning the 10-year Bush tax cuts into the permanent Bush/Obama tax cuts.