A first(?) thread on 2008: McCain,Giuliani & the Republicans

Does the constitution say that Federal tax rates (pronounced like rats but with a long a sound) amongst people (pronounced pe-pel with a long first e and and upside down second e) must be equal? Or does it say that the Fed tax rates may not be higher in MA vs WV? -real(r-long e-upside down e)johnboy.

Yes, I would like to know where I'm extreme too. I would certainly be willing to look at that if the leftwing extremists could come up with something.

I know I sure as heck am not moderate as the Left defines 'moderate' these days, and I have no intention of ever being labeled moderate by anybody whose opinion matters to me. I think modern 'moderates' are simply people who are either clueless, or afraid to take a stand on anything they believe in, or politicians who will be whomever they need to be in order to impress somebody. Some seem to be various combinations of all three.

I don't want to be like that and I am frustrated when the choices we sometimes have for candidates to high office seem to be those kinds of people.

It just means that Federal laws must be uniform. That is, that the tax rates must be uniform across all states. Not that each law must treat each person exactly the same despite their situation.

Only a complete ignorance of history would suggest such a thing.

Cycloptichorn

Sorry, but they do not. Your interpretation of the Constitution is incorrect and not supported by any actual scholar of the document.

Cycloptichorn

That's nothing; you oughta watch the video of her calling Edwards a faggot on national tv.

Cycloptichorn

Cycloptichorn wrote:

Sorry, but they do not. Your interpretation of the Constitution is incorrect and not supported by any actual scholar of the document.

Cycloptichorn

Our USA Constitution says what it says. It does say:
"The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;"

Your interpretation of those words absent evidence to support it, carries zero weight.

Ican, you are of course entitled to your opinion about the constitutionality of a progressive income tax. However, while the phrases you cited in the Constitution may PERMIT your interpretation (with a little stretch, because the obvious reference is to geographic uniformity), they certainly don't COMPEL it. Moreover the progressive income tax was challenged in the Supreme Court several times soon after it was enacted, and the resulting case law is not at all with you on this issue. There is little likelihood that it will be challenged again and even less that the Court will overturn it based on the phrases you cited.

The fact is that progressive tax rates, special subsidies, and other forms of wealth transfer are the rule, not the exception in democratic governments throughout the world. They are necessary to limit the excessive accumulation of wealth and power in a few hands, to preserve economic and social mobility, and to keep the free market economny functioning well, avoiding anti competitive concentrations of economic power.

Cycloptichorn wrote:

That's nothing; you oughta watch the video of her calling Edwards a faggot on national tv.

Cycloptichorn

That was pretty funny.

It was a bit slyer that simply a crude epithet, but I don't suppose you appreciated the humor.

To correct this miscarriage of justice expeditiously, we should pursue a constitutional amendment that says the situation of the taxpayer is prohibited from being used to determine the tax that the tax payer must pay.

Failure to quickly accomplish this will permit even more egregious tax laws to be passed in future.

ican711nm wrote:

To correct this miscarriage of justice expeditiously, we should pursue a constitutional amendment that says the situation of the taxpayer is prohibited from being used to determine the tax that the tax payer must pay.

Failure to quickly accomplish this will permit even more egregious tax laws to be passed in future.

Are you taking bets on this happening?

The impression I have is that the inner Bush circle is big on grudges. As such, I just can't imagine McCain making it. He's dissed Bush too often. I also can't imagine other Republican forces doing an end-run around Bush, if Bush doesn't want it to happen.

P resident Bush and his advisers have long insisted they are not interested in dwelling on his presidential legacy, saying they want to "sprint to the finish" in getting things done this year. But if that's truly the case, they may well be ceding the field to their critics...

The effort calls to mind the previous Reagan Legacy Project, in which anti-tax activist Grover Norquist sought to persuade states and localities to name buildings after the 40th president to burnish his place in history.

Norquist, in an interview, allowed that he found what Americans United is doing to be "interesting," noting, "If you define what happened, then you get to define the lessons of history."

WASHINGTON -- The cost of U.S. military operations in Iraq is rising rapidly, and could reignite the national debate about the war, which has taken a back seat to the economy as an issue for most voters this election year.

Today, the White House will propose a federal budget that for the first time tops $3 trillion. The plan is expected to include a record sum for the Pentagon and an additional $70 billion in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, while essentially freezing discretionary spending in areas other than national security, including most domestic programs.

Franklin and Immigration, Take 2
By Luis Rumbaut 02/04/2008 12:12AM


In my last post I cited Benjamin Franklin on the subject of Germans who spoke only German. His words were reminiscent of the language frequently used today to describe immigrants, although it is no longer about the Germans. In this second post, Mr. Franklin warns of a German Conquista and of people of black, tawny, and swarthy complexions, "as are the Germans also."

Quote:

23. …why should the Palatine Boors be suffered to swarm into our Settlements, and by herding together establish their Language and Manners to the Exclusion of ours? Why should Pennsylvania, founded by the English, become a Colony of Aliens, who will shortly be so numerous as to Germanize us instead of our Anglifying them, and will never adopt our Language or Customs, any more than they can acquire our Complexion.

Romney Tries to Stem McCain's Momentum

Looking to Tuesday, Mr. Romney has concentrated his efforts in states that award delegates by caucuses and conventions, where His organization efforts can help offset the pull of Mr. McCain's higher name recognition.