GOP Rejects Obama Offer of $1.6 Trillion Tax Increase

[Reality]

Vred, errors I have made about the military only live in your warped mind and yes, I was privileged to fly on one of the 4 Star jets and the luxuries banni described were not there albeit this was a few years back. I especially liked the chef part. Meals were similiar to what you get on a commercial flight.

Once again only lefty provided links are factual.

[Stinger]

Vred, errors I have made about the military only live in your warped mind and yes, I was privileged to fly on one of the 4 Star jets and the luxuries banni described were not there albeit this was a few years back. I especially liked the chef part. Meals were similiar to what you get on a commercial flight.

Once again only lefty provided links are factual.

The jets don't have the chefs. The generals do.

Those, like you, who catch a shakedown to make sure the on-board restrooms are flushing properly, don't get meals prepared for them.

Your competence to discuss anything lives only in your warped brain cell.

[Stinger]

Maybe we could cut back on some of this: Link

So, just how good are these benefits? For the top brass, not bad at all. According to a Washington Post investigation, each top commander has his own C-40 jet, complete with beds on board. Many have chefs who deserve their own four-star restaurants...

Vred, errors I have made about the military only live in your warped mind and yes, I was privileged to fly on one of the 4 Star jets and the luxuries banni described were not there albeit this was a few years back. I especially liked the chef part. Meals were similiar to what you get on a commercial flight.

Once again only lefty provided links are factual.

The jets don't have the chefs. The generals do.

Those, like you, who catch a shakedown to make sure the on-board restrooms are flushing properly, don't get meals prepared for them.

Your competence to discuss anything lives only in your warped brain cell.

And, he did it while denying his proven multiple military errors, spewing "warped", and questioning "factual." It's a near certainty that he'll run away from his hilarious righty flub.

Does this one count as just a comprehension screw-up or as yet another in Reality's long list of military screw-ups?

Chalk it up to inescapable stupidity.

[Stinger]

Anyone else notice the humor in the GOP pushing "Plan B"?

No, I hadn't. That's funny. Good catch.

[billy.pilgrim]

5 Unfair Tax Breaks That Should Be Eliminated

I have not been closely following which the Dems are pushing to end or which are among the "loopholes" the GOP is willing to eliminate.

I am willing to give up the small benefit I get from the "Capital gains tax rate". I don't understand why I should keep more of the money I didn't work for than the money I did. It should be the other way around.

I paid cash for my home and before that I was a renter. So, my entire adult life I have subsidized those with the "Home mortgage interest deduction". Yes, I know that this one benefits the middle class more than the rich, but it still disadvantages middle class and poor non-mortgage holders. There has to be a better way.

The others are also subsidies I've given to those taking advantage of them.

the mtg deduction isn't for the middle class and should be presented for what it really is

a big fat present to the banks, encouraging people to get (and keep forever) high loan to value ratios by making debt more short term fiscally responsible than home ownership

[Stinger]

Plan B failed to make it to the floor for a vote. Extremist Pubs commit harakiri. Boehn-head gone?

For almost any given Republican, the best possible outcome of the Plan B negotiations would have been for Plan B to pass - but for that particular Republican to vote nay. The trouble was, that there were too many Republicans who wished to avail themselves of that outcome. They all rushed the exits together, and there was not enough room to accommodate the stampede. It's a classic "prisoner's dilemma" problem from political science, and the dilemma achieved its usual grim result.

The more haunting question is: why was this dilemma allowed to exist?

The prisoner's dilemma arises, remember, because the prisoners have no way to make binding agreements. But the whole point of a political party is to overcome that dilemma, to create structures that reward cooperation and punish defection.

The deepest moral of the Plan B debacle is that those structures have broken down inside the GOP. And that's a very scary moral indeed.

David Frum -- Daily Beast

And what did the right-wing extremist TEAnuts bring about?

Here's what happens now.
1) President Obama goes on holiday.

2) December 31 arrives.

3) Taxes go up on everybody. Unemployment insurance ends. Sequester begins to go into effect.

4) Screams, howls.

5) President Obama returns to Washington, speaks to country from Oval Office or else summons special session, unveils the "Obama Tax Cut and Job Creation plan" featuring a whacking big tax cut for 98% of Americans.
6) Plan polls at 70% or better.

7) Republicans resist.

8) Republicans surrender.

9) Economy recovers, "morning in America," Obama basks in glory in 2nd term.

[Stinger]

the mtg deduction isn't for the middle class and should be presented for what it really is

a big fat present to the banks, encouraging people to get (and keep forever) high loan to value ratios by making debt more short term fiscally responsible than home ownership

Well, it does keep a lot of developers, construction workers, real estate agents, etc. employed, . . . but you're right. It's a godsend for the banks.

Couple that with a long-term, artificially-low interest rate, and you end up with a housing bubble.

Couple the inevitable collapse with an unregulated Wall Street / Banking industry, and you have the Bush Recession.

[Stinger]

7) Republicans resist.

8) The entire middle class rejects the GOP in 2014.

They are that stupid.

Only the TEAnut, far-right extremists.

I think the "Tax Enough Already" referred to their brains after they tried to think about politics for 30 seconds and gave up.

[rstrong]

I'm not sure about #8.

It could be:

7) Republicans resist.

8) The entire middle class rejects the GOP in 2014.

They are that stupid.

7) Republicans resist.

8) The entire middle class rejects the GOP in 2014.

9) Republicans blame it on RINOS who tried to compromise with Democrats, thus earning the wrath of Americans. The Tea Party makes a comeback.

10) A Palin/Bachmann/Santorum type is nominated as the Republican candidate in 2016, beating out "moderate" RINO Jeb Bush. Paranoia is cranked up to 11. Palin, Limbaugh, Beck, Murdoch, Trump and others all make Ted Nugent style "If the Democrats win, I will either be dead or in jail by this time next year" statements.

11) The loss in 2016 results in a great many conspiracy claims. Limbaugh, Beck and Fox News make a fortune off them. Palin, Limbaugh, Beck and Trump announce that they're "going into hiding", and yet somehow are always in a TV studio. The Religious Right gains more power, with Mormons on-side since 2012.

12) Republican headquarters is moved to the FLDS ranch for "security reasons."

[Bungalow Bill]

Maybe if the Republicans wait long enough, the King of Caves will go up to
one million dollars. He's already up to $400,000.

[Stinger]

Anyone else notice the humor in the GOP pushing "Plan B"?

No, I hadn't. That's funny. Good catch.

Overheard from Peter Sagal on NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me: "The Republicans' Plan B is the pill you take after you've screwed the country and don't want to deal with the aftermath."

[billy.pilgrim]

the mtg deduction isn't for the middle class and should be presented for what it really is

a big fat present to the banks, encouraging people to get (and keep forever) high loan to value ratios by making debt more short term fiscally responsible than home ownership

Well, it does keep a lot of developers, construction workers, real estate agents, etc. employed, . . . but you're right. It's a godsend for the banks.

Couple that with a long-term, artificially-low interest rate, and you end up with a housing bubble.

Couple the inevitable collapse with an unregulated Wall Street / Banking industry, and you have the Bush Recession.

you also contribute to an anti-savings mindset by providing a huge incentive to sell your home equity to the banks.

I don't think it should be dumped without off-setting tax cuts, but I do believe it is not useful to individual economic strength

[billy.pilgrim]

I've heard/read a few wonks calling for dumping the home mortgage interest deduction, is either party or any of their members even proposing it?

not across the board, just top end

I am a firm believer in a regulated free market and that means no subsidies, unless current subsidies yield future benefits. then the subsidies are really investments

had we invested in renewable energy, no wars in afghanistan or iraq