Comments on: Friday Talking Points [178] -- Phony Vacation Outrage http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/ Reality-based political commentary Sun, 19 Apr 2026 17:11:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15820 Michale Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:22:06 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15820 <I>Who's afraid of the big, bad town hall now?</I> Apparently, it's Democrats.. :D <B>No Labels activists spoke to all 430 current members of the House of Representatives to find that only 176* of them scheduled meetings. The results of the phone survey also reveal that members of both parties share the blame, with about 67% of Democrats and 50% of Republicans stating they had no town hall meetings scheduled for the recess period.</B> http://nolabels.org/blog/60-congress-not-holding-town-halls Michale..... Who's afraid of the big, bad town hall now?

Apparently, it's Democrats.. :D

No Labels activists spoke to all 430 current members of the House of Representatives to find that only 176* of them scheduled meetings. The results of the phone survey also reveal that members of both parties share the blame, with about 67% of Democrats and 50% of Republicans stating they had no town hall meetings scheduled for the recess period.
http://nolabels.org/blog/60-congress-not-holding-town-halls

Michale.....

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15773 Michale Sun, 21 Aug 2011 08:40:00 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15773 Very interesting commentary... http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/08/20/could-las-jay-goldinger-hold-key-to-defeating-homelessness/?test=faces Michale...... Very interesting commentary...

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/08/20/could-las-jay-goldinger-hold-key-to-defeating-homelessness/?test=faces

Michale......

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15771 Michale Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:36:22 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15771 <I>The situation has improved, and the border is more secure now than it has been in decades. Sorry, but this is completely and utterly wrong..</I> I need to learn to be a little more diplomatic... :^/ Amend that to say.... "With respect, it's my belief that the data is in error...." Apologies.... Michale..... The situation has improved, and the border is more secure now than it has been in decades.

Sorry, but this is completely and utterly wrong..

I need to learn to be a little more diplomatic... :^/

Amend that to say....

"With respect, it's my belief that the data is in error...."

Apologies....

Michale.....

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15770 Michale Sat, 20 Aug 2011 17:08:16 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15770 <B>“Even taking every last penny from every individual making more than $10 million per year would only reduce the nation's deficit by 12 percent and the debt by 2 percent,” </B> ........ <B>However, according to the Tax Foundation study written by Logan, even taxing the nation’s millionaires at 50 percent – even eliminating loopholes and deductions – would only reduce the deficit by 8 percent and the national debt by 1 percent.</B> .............. <B>“[T]aking half of the yearly income from every person making between one and ten million dollars would only decrease the nation's debt by 1%,” the report said.</B> http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/warren-buffett-s-tax-solution-won-t-solv Buffett needs a Math Tutor... Michale...... “Even taking every last penny from every individual making more than $10 million per year would only reduce the nation's deficit by 12 percent and the debt by 2 percent,”

........

However, according to the Tax Foundation study written by Logan, even taxing the nation’s millionaires at 50 percent – even eliminating loopholes and deductions – would only reduce the deficit by 8 percent and the national debt by 1 percent.

..............

“[T]aking half of the yearly income from every person making between one and ten million dollars would only decrease the nation's debt by 1%,” the report said.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/warren-buffett-s-tax-solution-won-t-solv

Buffett needs a Math Tutor...

Michale......

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15769 Michale Sat, 20 Aug 2011 16:29:32 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15769 <I>As the saying goes, there's only one poll that matters. It shows that, at least for 2010-2012, the public's one and only priority is to prevent even a nickel of additional taxes on even one billionaire. It was no secret in 2010 that that's what every (R) on every ballot means.</I> That's what I have been saying since Nov 2010.... <B>"That's what elections are for."</B> -President Obama The people HAVE spoken in 2010.. Ya'all just didn't like what they said... Michale...... As the saying goes, there's only one poll that matters. It shows that, at least for 2010-2012, the public's one and only priority is to prevent even a nickel of additional taxes on even one billionaire. It was no secret in 2010 that that's what every (R) on every ballot means.

That's what I have been saying since Nov 2010....

"That's what elections are for."
-President Obama

The people HAVE spoken in 2010..

Ya'all just didn't like what they said...

Michale......

]]> By: DerFarm http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15768 DerFarm Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:14:44 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15768 Dsws - You're right and wrong. The voters of 2010 (which after all are the ones who count right now) did vote for no new taxes ... except when they voted for "Keep your hands off my Medicare". Further, were they really voting NO new taxes? Or were they voting no new taxes ON ME? People who identify themselves as TP are in the former category. Pretty much everybody else, outside R presidential candidates, in the latter. Current polls show over 50% of declared Republicans are for increasing the marginal rates for the top 1% of money recievers in the US. Dsws -

You're right and wrong. The voters of 2010 (which after all are the ones who count right now) did vote for no new taxes ... except when they voted for "Keep your hands off my Medicare".

Further, were they really voting NO new taxes? Or were they voting no new taxes ON ME? People who identify themselves as TP are in the former category. Pretty much everybody else, outside R presidential candidates, in the latter.

Current polls show over 50% of declared Republicans are for increasing the marginal rates for the top 1% of money recievers in the US.

]]> By: dsws http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15766 dsws Sat, 20 Aug 2011 14:14:56 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15766 <i>Poll after poll after poll shows the public overwhelmingly approves of higher taxes for billionaires.</i> As the saying goes, there's only one poll that matters. It shows that, at least for 2010-2012, the public's one and only priority is to prevent even a nickel of additional taxes on even one billionaire. It was no secret in 2010 that that's what every (R) on every ballot means. <i>we're going to give it to whomever decided</i> This construction always bothers me: should it be "whomever" because it's the object of the preposition (to whomever), or should it be "whoever" because it's the subject of the subordinate clause (whoever decided)? Poll after poll after poll shows the public overwhelmingly approves of higher taxes for billionaires.

As the saying goes, there's only one poll that matters. It shows that, at least for 2010-2012, the public's one and only priority is to prevent even a nickel of additional taxes on even one billionaire. It was no secret in 2010 that that's what every (R) on every ballot means.

we're going to give it to whomever decided

This construction always bothers me: should it be "whomever" because it's the object of the preposition (to whomever), or should it be "whoever" because it's the subject of the subordinate clause (whoever decided)?

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15765 Michale Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:54:12 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15765 <I>Bush's continuing to vaction after/during Katrina was politally insensitive, </I> Just as insensitive as Obama hobnobbing with the rich and famous in Martha's Vineyard while there is such massive unemployment and the economy is in the toilet... <I>I would suspect that anyone who IS truly upset about the Pres taking 10 days in Mass during a recess of congress has already made up his/her mind about everything and can be safely ignored</I> I said nearly the exact same thing when the Left was hysterical about Bush's "vacations".. Then, I believe I stated several times then that the POTUS is never ever REALLY on "vacation". The same applies today... Michale..... Bush's continuing to vaction after/during Katrina was politally insensitive,

Just as insensitive as Obama hobnobbing with the rich and famous in Martha's Vineyard while there is such massive unemployment and the economy is in the toilet...

I would suspect that anyone who IS truly upset about the Pres taking 10 days in Mass during a recess of congress has already made up his/her mind about everything and can be safely ignored

I said nearly the exact same thing when the Left was hysterical about Bush's "vacations"..

Then, I believe I stated several times then that the POTUS is never ever REALLY on "vacation".

The same applies today...

Michale.....

]]> By: DerFarm http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15764 DerFarm Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:03:13 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15764 Michale, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. We get it. Obama bad. Tea Party Good. Righties are poor, mis-understood patriots at the mercy of a vast leftwing consipiracy. Lefties are America haters who want to make women pee with men in unisex bathrooms. But for the real world, Presidents take vacations, and no one really cares. Bush's continuing to vaction after/during Katrina was politally insensitive, but since he thought he had people on the ground ("good job, Brownie") there really wasn't much he could do about it. I doubt he would have been any more effective in DC. I would suspect that anyone who IS truly upset about the Pres taking 10 days in Mass during a recess of congress has already made up his/her mind about everything and can be safely ignored. I also doubt that anybody really thinks the Pres is not paying attention to the job of President ... regardless of what anyone thinks of his performance. Michale,
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. We get it.
Obama bad. Tea Party Good. Righties are poor, mis-understood patriots at the mercy of a vast leftwing consipiracy. Lefties are America haters who want to make women pee with men in unisex bathrooms.

But for the real world, Presidents take vacations, and no one really cares. Bush's continuing to vaction after/during Katrina was politally insensitive, but since he thought he had people on the ground ("good job, Brownie") there really wasn't much he could do about it. I doubt he would have been any more effective in DC.

I would suspect that anyone who IS truly upset about the Pres taking 10 days in Mass during a recess of congress has already made up his/her mind about everything and can be safely ignored. I also doubt that anybody really thinks the Pres is not paying attention to the job of President ... regardless of what anyone thinks of his performance.

]]> By: BashiBazouk http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15763 BashiBazouk Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:24:51 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15763 There was an interesting guest on a NPR program the other day. He had just written a book about the history of presidential vacations. According to him just about every president all the way back to John Adams in 1799 has been criticized by the opposition party for their summer vacation. Admittedly John Adams probably deserved the criticism as he took over eight months. Still, this is a time honored tradition handed down to us by our founding fathers, we should just go with it... There was an interesting guest on a NPR program the other day. He had just written a book about the history of presidential vacations. According to him just about every president all the way back to John Adams in 1799 has been criticized by the opposition party for their summer vacation. Admittedly John Adams probably deserved the criticism as he took over eight months. Still, this is a time honored tradition handed down to us by our founding fathers, we should just go with it...

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15762 Michale Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:00:24 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15762 I think we need a "Millionaire/Billionaire" corollary to CW's "Vacation" Rule.. If you make more than $250K per year and have not given the US Government a check for 10% of your net worth within the past year, you are not allowed to bitch and moan about how the rich don't pay enough in taxes... Michale.... I think we need a "Millionaire/Billionaire" corollary to CW's "Vacation" Rule..

If you make more than $250K per year and have not given the US Government a check for 10% of your net worth within the past year, you are not allowed to bitch and moan about how the rich don't pay enough in taxes...

Michale....

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15761 Michale Sat, 20 Aug 2011 09:18:10 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15761 <I>The situation has improved, and the border is more secure now than it has been in decades. </I> Sorry, but this is completely and utterly wrong.. The ONLY thing that has changed about border security is how the Obama Administration computes the numbers. In other words, Border Patrol agents have TBS (Turn Back South) orders.. Don't believe me? Let's ask Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever. <B>“It appears, according to numerous reports from current and former border agents, that this practice has gravitated many miles north of the border. That means that, regardless of proximity to the border, people who are detected but not caught are considered to be “Turned Back South,”</B> -DHS Testimony http://homeland.house.gov/sites/homeland.house.gov/files/Testimony%20Dever.pdf There are many excerpts from Sheriff Dever's that put lie to the Obama Administration's claim that the border is "more secure than ever".... The border is NOT more secure... The accounting has simply been altered, along with instructions to BP agents to inflate some numbers and deflate others.. And now we have DHS back-dooring amnesty for illegals already in country just in time for the elections... What a shock..... {/sarcasm} Michale..... The situation has improved, and the border is more secure now than it has been in decades.

Sorry, but this is completely and utterly wrong..

The ONLY thing that has changed about border security is how the Obama Administration computes the numbers. In other words, Border Patrol agents have TBS (Turn Back South) orders..

Don't believe me?

Let's ask Cochise County Sheriff Larry Dever.

“It appears, according to numerous reports from current and former border agents, that this practice has gravitated many miles north of the border. That means that, regardless of proximity to the border, people who are detected but not caught are considered to be “Turned Back South,”
-DHS Testimony
http://homeland.house.gov/sites/homeland.house.gov/files/Testimony%20Dever.pdf

There are many excerpts from Sheriff Dever's that put lie to the Obama Administration's claim that the border is "more secure than ever"....

The border is NOT more secure...

The accounting has simply been altered, along with instructions to BP agents to inflate some numbers and deflate others..

And now we have DHS back-dooring amnesty for illegals already in country just in time for the elections...

What a shock..... {/sarcasm}

Michale.....

]]> By: Michale http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15760 Michale Sat, 20 Aug 2011 08:18:58 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15760 <I>It's silly season in the political world, once again. And this year -- just like every year a Democrat occupies the White House -- an old favorite of a story is making the rounds. It involves some very thinly-veneered outrage, which is completely fabricated and hypocritical in the extreme. President Obama is on vacation. </I> Oh... I thought you were talking about the "very thinly-veneered outrage, which is completely fabricated and hypocritical in the extreme" about Bush being on vacation.. My mistake... :D <I>For giving the Democrats this chance, and for eloquently laying the case out, Warren Buffett is our Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week.</I> Oh puuullleeezzzzeeeee.... Buffet's op-ed piece was just political fluff... NO substance whatsoever... If Buffett really meant what he said, he wouldn't wait for the do-nothing politicians in DC to pass meaningful taxation to millionaires and billionaires... He would simply right a check, made out to the US Government, voluntarily and encourage his fellow millionaires and billionaires to do the same... I am really tired (metaphorically speaking :D) of hearing all these millionaires and billionaires from the Left whining and crying about taxing the rich.. If they REALLY and TRULY felt that way, and weren't out to just score cheep political points, they would voluntarily pay those taxes that they claim they SHOULD be paying... It's hypocrisy, pure and simple.. Let me give you an analogy.. <I>Enter Dream Sequence...</I> =================================== We all live here in Weigantia... Wegantia is a mystical magical place whose sole existence is based on everyday people (Weigantians) who post 20-30 posts every day. Unfortunately, all these people posting 20-30 posts every day works our fearless leader to the bone.. So in an effort to suck up to the Weigantian leader, I propose that everyone limits their posts to 2 posts a day. I think this is a fine and dandy idea and I push it every day, while continuing to post 30 posts a day... After a week or so of listening to me go on and on about how awesome it would be if only people would post 2 posts a day, my fellow Weigantians get tired of hearing it.. "Michale", they say. "Why don't you lead by example and limit YOUR posts to 2 posts a day!? That way, we can see how fine and dandy it all is and then EVERYONE will follow your example!" "But", I reply. "That would simply be unfair. Why should I have to limit myself alone!?" "Because", the logical reply is made. "Because YOU think it's such a great idea, you should lead by example." ============================================= <I>Exit Dream Sequence...</I> Do ya'all see the point?? There is absolutely NOTHING stopping all these Leftist millionaires and billionaires from paying more in taxes.. Abso-frakin'-loutly nothing.... Until these millionaires and billionaires from the Left START paying these extra taxes voluntarily, then they should just shut the frak up about what a great idea it would be... <B>"....and I'm spent"</B> -Austin Powers <I> Bush took three times the vacation Obama has The Bush number I've seen reported as a range from 180 days to 196 days. Since I don't know the exact correct figure, I'll go with an easier way to put it.</I> Uhhh..... I don't see any Vacation Disclosure in there, eh?? :D Can we all just agree that Republicans will bitch and moan about a Dem President taking vacations and Democrats will bitch and moan about a GOP President taking vacations and just leave it at that?? :D Michale..... It's silly season in the political world, once again. And this year -- just like every year a Democrat occupies the White House -- an old favorite of a story is making the rounds. It involves some very thinly-veneered outrage, which is completely fabricated and hypocritical in the extreme.

President Obama is on vacation.

Oh...

I thought you were talking about the "very thinly-veneered outrage, which is completely fabricated and hypocritical in the extreme" about Bush being on vacation..

My mistake... :D

For giving the Democrats this chance, and for eloquently laying the case out, Warren Buffett is our Most Impressive Democrat Of The Week.

Oh puuullleeezzzzeeeee....

Buffet's op-ed piece was just political fluff...

NO substance whatsoever...

If Buffett really meant what he said, he wouldn't wait for the do-nothing politicians in DC to pass meaningful taxation to millionaires and billionaires... He would simply right a check, made out to the US Government, voluntarily and encourage his fellow millionaires and billionaires to do the same...

I am really tired (metaphorically speaking :D) of hearing all these millionaires and billionaires from the Left whining and crying about taxing the rich..

If they REALLY and TRULY felt that way, and weren't out to just score cheep political points, they would voluntarily pay those taxes that they claim they SHOULD be paying...

It's hypocrisy, pure and simple..

Let me give you an analogy..

Enter Dream Sequence...

===================================
We all live here in Weigantia... Wegantia is a mystical magical place whose sole existence is based on everyday people (Weigantians) who post 20-30 posts every day.

Unfortunately, all these people posting 20-30 posts every day works our fearless leader to the bone..

So in an effort to suck up to the Weigantian leader, I propose that everyone limits their posts to 2 posts a day. I think this is a fine and dandy idea and I push it every day, while continuing to post 30 posts a day...

After a week or so of listening to me go on and on about how awesome it would be if only people would post 2 posts a day, my fellow Weigantians get tired of hearing it..

"Michale", they say. "Why don't you lead by example and limit YOUR posts to 2 posts a day!? That way, we can see how fine and dandy it all is and then EVERYONE will follow your example!"

"But", I reply. "That would simply be unfair. Why should I have to limit myself alone!?"

"Because", the logical reply is made. "Because YOU think it's such a great idea, you should lead by example."
=============================================

Exit Dream Sequence...

Do ya'all see the point??

There is absolutely NOTHING stopping all these Leftist millionaires and billionaires from paying more in taxes..

Abso-frakin'-loutly nothing....

Until these millionaires and billionaires from the Left START paying these extra taxes voluntarily, then they should just shut the frak up about what a great idea it would be...

"....and I'm spent"
-Austin Powers

Bush took three times the vacation Obama has

The Bush number I've seen reported as a range from 180 days to 196 days. Since I don't know the exact correct figure, I'll go with an easier way to put it.

Uhhh..... I don't see any Vacation Disclosure in there, eh?? :D

Can we all just agree that Republicans will bitch and moan about a Dem President taking vacations and Democrats will bitch and moan about a GOP President taking vacations and just leave it at that?? :D

Michale.....

]]> By: nypoet22 http://www.chrisweigant.com/2011/08/19/ftp178/#comment-15758 nypoet22 Sat, 20 Aug 2011 04:06:28 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=4422#comment-15758 this past wednesday night i actually had the chance to speak to a few of my elected representatives. granted, it was the florida state legislature, not my US Congressman, but i still feel like i accomplished something. the florida legislature is having meetings statewide to hear public opinion on redistricting, and i sat just a few feet in front of the committee chairs. in case drawing fair districts is too big a job for the legislature to handle, i volunteered my seventh grade students to help. :) ~joshua this past wednesday night i actually had the chance to speak to a few of my elected representatives. granted, it was the florida state legislature, not my US Congressman, but i still feel like i accomplished something.

the florida legislature is having meetings statewide to hear public opinion on redistricting, and i sat just a few feet in front of the committee chairs. in case drawing fair districts is too big a job for the legislature to handle, i volunteered my seventh grade students to help.

:)
~joshua

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