18-Year-Old Girl 1, Brownback 0
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Recently, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback's office took on an 18-year-old high school girl - and lost.
It all started when Emma Sullivan, a senior at Shawnee Mission East High School, went to the Capitol and heard Brownback, a right-wing hero and failed presidential candidate, speak.
"I don't agree with a majority of the things that he is trying to pass," Sullivan said, citing in particular Brownback's doing away with all state support for the arts. So, like many a bored and/or disgusted young person, she pulled out her smartphone and got on the online service Twitter.
"Just made mean comments at gov brownback and told him he sucked, in person," she sent, followed by a "hashtag," or topic identifier, reiterating in somewhat saltier terms her opinion that the governor was fond of performing a certain sexual act.
Now, here's something you need to remember: Twitter messages, or "tweets," go only to people who "follow" you. You have to choose to follow someone. Sullivan had only 60 followers at the time the message was sent. She did not actually say to the governor that he "sucked."
Unfortunately, Sullivan hadn't yet learned just how thin-skinned and belligerent right-wingers can get. Somehow, the word got out that she had dissed the governor to her online buddies, and Brownback's office decided that this expression of opinion could not go unpunished, even if it had not been conveyed directly to them, to the governor himself, or to anyone save the 60 or so friends, acquaintances, and admirers who'd chosen to "follow" Sullivan.
They called the principal's office and complained that Sullivan was being mean to them. She was called on the carpet by the principal, who demanded that she write a letter of apology. She considered it, but later decided that such an apology would be insincere and refused.
The situation blew up into a major national story after Sullivan's sister contacted the media. Her Twitter "following" grew from 65 to more than 15,000 people. Finally, an embarrassed governor's office realized that trying to intimidate an 18-year-old girl who'd insulted them on Twitter made them look stupid. Brownback issued a statement apologizing for his staff, who he said had "overreacted" to the tweet.
Despite Brownback's red-faced admission, the usual pearl-clutching and hand-wringing about how "uncivil" discourse has gotten (but only if it's done by liberals) followed. For example, columnist Ruth Marcus in the allegedly liberal Washington Post wrote that Sullivan should be glad she's not her daughter, because Marcus would make her apologize, then take her phone away.
I'll agree that Sullivan's tweet to her friends was rude. But it was, after all, to her circle, and not to the governor.
And you know what? After years of things like: Willie Horton ads; calling 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton "the White House dog"; Swiftboating; GOP convention-goers waving purple Band-Aids to mock a veteran's war wounds; Ann Coulter saying the "only choice was whether to impeach or assassinate" President Clinton and later claiming 9/11 widows were "enjoying their husbands' deaths"; Rush Limbaugh mocking Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's disease; posters and T-shirts with nooses on them saying "Rope. Tree. Journalist. Assembly Required"; "Liberal Hunting Permits"; birtherism; posters of Barack Obama dressed as Hitler, Stalin, and an African witch doctor with a bone through his nose; Rand Paul supporters trying to stomp the head of a protester; ads claiming Kay Hagan was "godless"; "If ballots don't work, maybe bullets will"; "Obama hates white people"; "GET OFF MY PHONE YOU LITTLE PINHEAD!"; "YOU LIE!"; wingnuts at FreeRepublic calling 11-year old Sasha Obama a "street whore" for wearing a peace sign on her T-shirt; Sarah Palin committing outright slander about "death panels"; "Bury Obamacare with Kennedy"; cheering for executions; booing soldiers for being gay; comparing poor people to stray animals you shouldn't feed; "We've got one raghead in the White House, we don't need a raghead in the governor's mansion"; supposed "Christians" suggesting that people pray for the president using Psalm 109:8 ("May his days be few, may another take his office. Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow") as a text; Limbaugh calling the first lady "uppity"; and on and on and on, all without a mumblin' word from so-called "conservatives," it's kind of hard to take them seriously when they start scolding anyone about manners.
And you know what? After years of things like: Willie Horton ads; calling 13-year-old Chelsea Clinton "the White House dog"; Swiftboating; GOP convention-goers waving purple Band-Aids to mock a veteran's war wounds; Ann Coulter saying the "only choice was whether to impeach or assassinate" President Clinton and later claiming 9/11 widows were "enjoying their husbands' deaths"; Rush Limbaugh mocking Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's disease; posters and T-shirts with nooses on them saying "Rope. Tree. Journalist. Assembly Required"; "Liberal Hunting Permits"; birtherism; posters of Barack Obama dressed as Hitler, Stalin, and an African witch doctor with a bone through his nose; Rand Paul supporters trying to stomp the head of a protester; ads claiming Kay Hagan was "godless"; "If ballots don't work, maybe bullets will"; "Obama hates white people"; "GET OFF MY PHONE YOU LITTLE PINHEAD!"; "YOU LIE!"; wingnuts at FreeRepublic calling 11-year old Sasha Obama a "street whore" for wearing a peace sign on her T-shirt; Sarah Palin committing outright slander about "death panels"; "Bury Obamacare with Kennedy"; cheering for executions; booing soldiers for being gay; comparing poor people to stray animals you shouldn't feed; "We've got one raghead in the White House, we don't need a raghead in the governor's mansion"; supposed "Christians" suggesting that people pray for the president using Psalm 109:8 ("May his days be few, may another take his office. Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow") as a text; Limbaugh calling the first lady "uppity"; and on and on and on, all without a mumblin' word from so-called "conservatives," it's kind of hard to take them seriously when they start scolding anyone about manners.
When I start hearing the same disapproval from the right for things like that, maybe I'll reconsider. Until then, peddle that Twitrage somewhere else. I'm not buying it.
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Comments
ProudYankee 1 year, 5 months ago
wdd, you can't defend any of those those statements in the second to last paragragh, and your efforts to do so make you appear to be a narrow minded, hate filled person at best, and likely something far worse.
OldPilot 1 year, 5 months ago
Excellent column. Well said and exactly on point. Double printing that paragraph was either sheer genius on someones part or pure serendipity.
Mark106 1 year, 5 months ago
Sounds just like DR to me. I got half way through it and quit reading the garbage!
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
you can't defend any of those those statements in the second to last paragraph,
They never do. They just go "liberals do it too," followed by some minor outrage they try and fail to make equivalent to their long list of hate, racism, and violent rhetoric.
Not to mention lies...Kerry did release his military and medical records, for just one example--and they showed the accusations that he was discharged less than honorably to be a lie, as well as the accusation that he wrote the medal requests himself. But that doesn't stop the serial liars of the right. Nothing ever does. They just keep repeating the same lies over and over until you give up. But it looks like we can now safely put wdd101st in the same file as MikeNC--one of those who you can presume is lying until proven otherwise.
And thanks to OP and PY! Mark106 can kiss my behind.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
We're never going to see your drivel anywhere but the comments, jpb, and no one's going to know about your miserable cringing existence other than the very few people who comment here regularly.
You know why? Because you don't have the stones to insult people under your real name, which is a requirement for getting a column. Sniveling cowards need not apply.
Oh, and one more thing: when some twit on the Internet starts turning into a Grammar Nazi, it's because they have nothing else to argue with. But thanks for playing, jpb.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
This column wasn't even worth reporting. Both sides of the isle toss crap at each other.. Its called modern politics. Having said that..Any side who takes offense to the other side slinging mud is just being a tosser. Get over your self your just not that important
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
This column wasn't even worth reporting.
And yet, here you are.
nothingspecial 1 year, 5 months ago
DR, my recommendation for you is 100-150mg of Zoloft daily. The kind of bitterness put across in your commentaries is truly, personally unhealthy, and also not very educational for readers. I recommend http://www.realclearpolitics.com for folks interested in healthy political commentary.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
Yes here I am Dusty. And here I will stay. You no most of my circle talks well of you. I guess they don't read your postings here.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Yes here I am Dusty. And here I will stay.
Claiming that what I've written isn't worth reading while repeatedly doing just that. Hilarious.
Hey, haters are gonna hate...but it makes them my most loyal readers. Hugs to your "circle."
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
It's amusing to see that none of the conservatives here are defending the student's absolute right to send the message she did; nor are they saying much about the thin-skinned bureaucrats attacking her. I guess the Constitution is down to just the 2nd amendment.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
No need the Libs take care of pointing out free speech here. But one can only exercise this right when promoting liberal ideology. I cant image what would have happened if she had tweeted that she agreed with the politician. O yes i do. Nothing.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
I cant [sic] image [sic] what would have happened if she had tweeted that she agreed with the politician. O [sic] yes i [sic] do. Nothing. *
The sad thing is that you don't realize how profoundly stupid this statement is.
*(Sic—generally inside square brackets, [sic], and occasionally parentheses, (sic)—when added just after a quote or reprinted text, indicates the passage appears exactly as in the original source. The usual purpose is to inform readers that any errors or apparent errors in the copied material are not from transcription—that they are reproduced exactly from the original writer or printer)
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
I guess the Constitution is down to just the 2nd amendment.
Yep, So far they've indicated they hate the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. They really love that Constitution all right.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
jpb, you've been screeching insults as part of your incoherent ramblings since day one. And you're not even any good at it. So take your complaints about name calling, you cowardly scumbag, and FOAD.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Obama's already cut taxes, you nitwit. The stimulus bill changed withholding rates and cut taxes on 95% of working families. The payroll tax cuts are already in place, but the Tea Party thugs in Congress are trying to hold them hostage unless they can keep tax cuts for the wealthy.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/11/obama-tax-cutter-he-has-slashed-more-than-bush-did-in-first-term.html
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
Obama has cut taxes to a greater extent than any president since Roosevelt. No one seems to care.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Obama has cut taxes to a greater extent than any president since Roosevelt. No one seems to care.
They don't give a damn about taxes, Jim. Pressed for the truth (for once) a poll of Teahadists admitted that they thought their taxes were fair:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20002487-503544.html
Taxes and deficits are only a problem for them when someone of the "wrong" party's in the White House. Especially if he's not a color of which they approve.
peterprints 1 year, 5 months ago
Periodically, I pop in to see the state of the political discussion on these blogs and every time I do, I berate myself for not waiting another two or three years. I may be out of it but when I see the most important paragraph in an article repeated for effect because the writer assumes that everyone who agrees with him/her is going to say, "You can say that again", I know the writer's correct. If you're looking for what's wrong with Washington, read these posts. In the ugly bantering back and forth, I envision formerely important retirees with nothing to do while trying to recoup some tiny fragment of their past glory by denigrating any person or idea that surfaces on the blogs. They all think they're clever, they all spew the same rhetoric from a half dozen conservative media outlets and they all are doing nothing to help.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
I think i just figured out what Dusty's problem is. Either he was the guy who couldn't find a prom date or..........wait for it............the only thing he has left in his life to provide him with joy is these blogs. Shame....Dusty join a church, accept Jesus as your Lord, lay down your ill gotten ideas...I know it will be hard. Accept that you are helpless and the Lord will provide.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
There isn't one wdd101st. I am scratching my head as to figures I found a while ago when the top tax rate was 91 percent. That had to be horrible. But lets bring this down to something understandable. Lets have a basic experiment on Trickle down economics.
Mr Rhoades is a lawyer. I don't no if hes a single practicer or if hes a partner in a firm or a junior partner. But for the sake of this experiment lets just say he is a single practicer.
Lets assume Mr Rhoades makes a decent amount of money as a lawyer. Lets also assume that Mr Rhoades company is an LLC which most small companies are.
Ok now lets say that this firm makes an average of 500,000 a year. Thats probably high, but its round. Now as an LLC this money even though it is the companies earnings are actually taxed as personal income putting Mr Rhoades in the 35 percent braket. So he will pay 175.000 in federal income tax. Taking the amount of money down to 325,000 still not bad. Now hes gonna pay state tax. In NC he will pay at a 7.75 percent rate. So thats 38,750 so now were down to 286,250. now lets assume that Mr Rhoades pays him self a nominal pay rate of 25 percent of whats left after those 2 taxes. He would take home 71,562.5 bringing our figure down to 214,687.5. Now we factor in 1 secretary at 25,000 a year, 1 paralegal at 25,000 a year, and lets average monthly costs of electricity etc at say 1500 a month so thats 18000 bringing our figure down to 146,687.5.
Ok now we need to subtract Insurance, we also need to factor in the amount of money required by law that he keep in his trust. We also need to factor in health coverage because Mr Rhoades is a good Liberal and would never let his employees not have Health Coverage. O and some kind of retirement as well. Then of course he needs to advertise somehow because court appointments just don't pay much whats it down to 25 bucks an hour now? Hell im billing at 90 bucks an hour so im feeling pretty good. but lets say all that adds up to say 75% of whats left cause we all know how expensive health care can be and that leaves us with 36,671.87.
So after all that and Mr Rhoades taking a decent pay which I do not begrudge him being as its his business and he did go to school and put in some degree of hard work he has 36 grand in his bank for his business. Enough to hire 1 more employee maybe.
But what if....What if we reduced his tax rate to say 15 percent. And got rid of capital gains etc. Well geez we see that after all this his figures sky rocket. thats only 75,000 to the feds. Thats a 100,000 dollar difference. Mr Rhoades could hire 2 employees. Pick up more work. And pay him self more leaving him the option of putting more money into his community by shopping.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
Of course we could also raise his taxes to say 50%. See when obama talks about raising taxes on the 1% you all hate so much...what he doesn't tell you is that these LLCs are people. And while they may not be making all that much....Their businesses that employ all you 99 per-centers do. And guess what...The less money they have the less employees they can have. Guess whos gonna get the ax. It is a singular..unarguable..black and white..FACT..that every time the marginal tax rate in this country has been lowered...Revenues to the Government have increased...It is also a singular..unarguable..black and white..FACT..that every time this rate has been raised revenue has gone down. Revenue going down means less food stamps for the poor beaten downtrodden masses people COME ON WAKE UP!!! Sally Lou just bought a brand new BMW how can we expect her to feed her family if not for the food stamps we pay for. Also little known but still true FACT. In the US today a single person making 14,000 dollars a year has more disposable income then a working family of 4 making 60,000 dollars a year. Something is just wrong with that.
Courseaire 1 year, 5 months ago
Let me be the 1st wingnut to defend Ms Sullivan and confirm that Brownback is an idiot. He kind of reminds me of Maryland's Governor Schaefer. Schaefer would take any criticism personally. In fact if he heard of anything someone said against him, he'd show up at your door just to chew you out. Brownbeck has put himself in Schaefer's category. Kudos to Sullivan for standing up for her right to express her opinion!! Wingnut Courseaire
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
There are few things on the Internet more amusingly dimwitted than some ignoramus acting as if posting has given them psychic powers that allow them to know everything about my life when, in fact, they know nothing about anything.
And did you see the answer to your lie about the "spade is a spade " statement?
Lat thing I saw was you ducking my request for some sort of cite to a news story about what you claimed. "Why don't you ask Dan Blue" was the last thing I saw,. which meant you couldn't back up your accusation that black law makers "surrounded" someone who used the phrase. Was there more? As so often happens, I got bored with your repetitious, whiny BS and quit reading in favor of something more interesting, which includes almost anything. .
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
Between Roosevelt and Reagan the top rate varied from over 90% to 50% (on income over $5 million in today's dollars). The nation enjoyed its longest period of sustained economic growth (with a growing share being paid to American workers). From Reagan to the present taxes have been repeatedly lowered and the economy has stagnated (and American workers' share of productivity gains has been slashed). Simple facts that drive conservatives nuts.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Ah, here we go. Wdd101st just proved himself a liar, as well as a racist, in his own words.
What he claimed regarding an unnamed white legislator in the NC General Assembly.
http://www.thepilot.com/marketplace/users/wdd101st/comments/?page=4#c59632
He said," let's just call a spade a spade." He was immediately attacked verbally and almost physically by black members for using the word spade. They shouted how it was demeaning to their people. TV cameras showed that they had him hemned [sic] in and would let him leave until he apologized. So where is your freedom of soeech [sic] there?
When I asked for some proof of this, wdd at first pulled the old "you look it up" dodge.
http://www.thepilot.com/marketplace/users/wdd101st/comments/?page=4#c59657
Eventually, he came up with this:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1734&dat=19940516&id=KeAhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1VIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2983,1394474
But here's what the article actually said, word for word:
In an appropriations subcommittee meeting last week, Michaux was grilling a state budget officer about one of Hunt's proposals. Rep Zeno Edwards, R-Beaufort, who has embarassed himself before with stupid remarks, called across the room, "is that calling a spade a spade?" Michaux responded strongly "Watch your language!" But it was unclear from the tone of his voice whether Michaux had taken offense. Questioned after the meeting, Michaiux said he had. "It was a dumb remark. I don't see much humor in it."
Heh. So no group of black members attacked anyone "almost physically," No one hemmed anyone in, no one demanded an apology. One guy answered a stupid comment in such a way that bystanders couldn't tell until they asked if he was offended. No free speech violation there.
Looks like you got caught lying there, wdd. And showing your racism as well with your oh so scary image of black lawmakers "hemming in" some poor white guy.
Expect to hear about this again, wdd. A lot.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
I see dusty conveniently ignored my post.
To Jim
So what your saying is someone who makes 5 million or more should pay 90 cents on the dollar to the federal government?
MarkinMiami 1 year, 5 months ago
Dusty have you ever lived anywhere in a city of over 500,000 people at ANY point in your life? If you'll notice one thing about them (and it's a major thing), they're all run by mostly democrats. Another thing you'll notice is that they're all crime ridden hell holes. I can speak from personal experience. Living here in Miami has taught me a lot about REAL life and not that comfortable cocoon of Moore County. Also, visiting Detroit several times over the years I've seen what liberal governments and entitlement programs can do. Zero. Zilch. It was a hell hole through several administrations and continues to be. 1973. That's when the libs took over Detroit. 1973. That's the year it all went downhill. I always view how a local government is run as a small reminder of what can happen when the wrong people are in charge. I can't even read my hometown paper anymore because of you. I can't believe they gave you a license to practice law. You wouldn't last 10 seconds down here in Miami.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
I can't even read my hometown paper anymore because of you.
Of course, you could just not read my columns...but you can't help yourself, can you? You've GOT to get your hate on, you bitter little turd. You can't stop.
I can't believe they gave you a license to practice law.
Heh. But they did. Hope the idea sticks in your throat and chokes you like a fish bone.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
I see dusty conveniently ignored my post.
Excuse me, where is it written that I am now required to answer every one of your long winded diatribes?
But actually, I did...
There are few things on the Internet more amusingly dimwitted than some ignoramus acting as if posting has given them psychic powers that allow them to know everything about my life when, in fact, they know nothing about anything.
Courseaire 1 year, 5 months ago
Dusty - Sorry I missed that response to TAP the 1st time - ROTFL
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
:-) Thanks.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
AP, I have no problem having people pay 90% on every dollar over $5 million. Not a problem at all.
But economists have found that the best top rate for economic growth in this country is 64%, so I'll go with them; what with my being evidence-based and all.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
MM:
I lived in the DC suburbs (eight miles SE of the White House) for 18 years. Except for the traffic, it was great. Fine restaurants, exceptional museums; even a nearby airport to park my plane. If it weren't so expensive I'd enjoy retiring there.
My hometown of Portland Oregon (run mostly by Democrats [metro population about 1.8 million]) is a great place with a well-run mass transit system, a convenient downtown shopping area, lots of recreational opportunities, and not a hellhole in sight.
What's your point?
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
But economists have found that the best top rate for economic growth in this country is 64%, so I'll go with them; what with my being evidence-based and all.
Pfft. Evidence. The Right don't need no stinking evidence. They have Fox News.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
wdd101st: Obama has cut taxes by a greater amount than any recent president. You can look it up. If your taxes are going up you should consider looking for a better accountant.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Jim, wdd101st has been proven to be a liar already in this very thread, willing to just make stuff up or at the very least embellish a story beyond recognition. So we have no reason to believe either that he's "one of the working poor" or that his taxes have gone up.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
You sent me a link that proves you lied about a group of African American lawmakers attacking the speaker "almost physically", lied that they "hemmed him in" and that they "wouldn't let him leave until he apologized."
. Thanks for that. You managed to completely discredit yourself.
you still will not post what you say I lied about.
I already did, before this. So looks like you lied again.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
By the way, wdd...you're welcome to stick around and keep commenting, but I'm going to keep reminding people that it's been proven that you just make stuff up. The proof's on your "wall" now for easy reference.
Have a nice day.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Well I do know this much about you and I'm not impressed.
Wow, I failed to impress a racist, lying, right wing troll with my Google + bio.
Whatever shall I do?
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
his total net tax cuts come to about $2.2 trillion
And yet, Tea Partiers claim he's raising them. Which is the point.
Nice to see you're trying to ignore the fact that I caught you in a bald-faced, racist lie. Don't worry, I'll keep reminding you.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
wdd101st, You keep making absurd assertions. Not only has Obama cut taxes as broadly as Bush (after all, he saved Bush's tax cuts from expiring), he cut payroll taxes, affecting every wage earner.
Name the taxes he's increased.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
and Reagan increased taxes twelve(!) times. Conservatives don't like to admit that.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
I found an article that stated that there was a confrontation. It's near impossible to find video from 1994. No Youtube of even many people with computers, but you just keep plugging alone there Dusty. Call me a liar all you want, that doesn't change the truth
You stated: http://www.thepilot.com/marketplace/users/wdd101st/comments/?page=4#c59632
He said," let's just call a spade a spade." He was immediately attacked verbally and almost physically by black members for using the word spade. They shouted how it was demeaning to their people. TV cameras showed that they had him hemned [sic] in and would let him leave until he apologized. So where is your freedom of soeech [sic] there?
The article that you provided showed that:
No group of black members attacked anyone "almost physically”
No one shouted anything about “demeaning to our people”
No one hemmed anyone in.
No one demanded an apology.
No one kept anyone from leaving.
In short, you made all of that up to allege that a group of black people attempted to physically intimidate a white person to deny him his free speech rights, which was simply not true.
Not only a lie but a racist one. And you can't get away from that.
Well everyone knows that lawyers get paid to lie.
Whereas you do it for free. But badly.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Name the taxes he's increased.
Careful, Jim. wdd might claim you're trying to "hem him in."
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
Sigh...Well as always. Liberals will be Liberals... DR is not a Progressive as he calls himself. Hes a Liberal. Liberals are by nature intellectually bankrupt. While they may be good with prose.. Friggin poets. The fact is that they refuse to live in the real world. Liberals are almost the worst thing that has happened to the human population. I say almost as Ebola is just a tad worse.
There is just no way to have a reasonable conversation with them.....Sigh though its really a mute point. The american people for the most part get it. Obama will be gone soon and we can begin to rebuild this country. And all of the crying will be just a small murmur as Liberal ideology is crushed under the weight of Market Capitalism and a return to the Republic.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Blah blah blah, same old crap from a wingnut with nothing to offer but the usual tired old semi-coherent generic wheeze about the liberal bogeyman that exists mainly in his head.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
That's OK Dusty, just keep running your mouth.
Thanks, I will. And you won't do squat about it, you racist lying coward. You're not man enough to face me to feed me anything.
The link you yourself provided shows that nothing of the kind of racial intimidation incident you described ever happened. You got caught making up a story about black men 'hemming in" a poor white legislator, and everyone here knows it.
You're done, man. Toast. Finis. You're as big a joke as MikeNC or justpassingby. I'm sure you'll keep hanging around, sputtering about how someday real soon now you're going to feed me some crow and whining about name calling, and I'll keep laughing in your face and reminding everyone of your racist lie.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
I mention lowering taxes as something Republicans should applaud, yet they don't. I personally oppose lowering taxes without a solid societal goal, something missing in current tax policy.
When we had very high upper income tax rates, the rich used "loopholes" to avoid the bite. Good; that's the point. Those loopholes encouraged reinvestment in growing industries, fueling the economy. Otherwise, those enormous profits leave the economy as the rich tend to save much more than the middle class. That's why progressive income tax rates help spur economic growth.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
wdd, you proved nothing. Your reference did not in any way support your assertions.
It's sad to watch conservatives devolve from being a source of vigorous debate into parrots, obediently repeating whatever Limbaugh or Beck or Hannity send their way. All that noise without the slightest engagement of reason.
MooreNorth 1 year, 5 months ago
I haven't laughed this hard in a while. Thanks all.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
WDD, I take it from your Edwards reference that you can't find a federal tax that's increased.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
Selling debt to China is the result of American consumers purchasing Chinese goods. It has nothing to do with the federal budget. If we produced more of our consumer goods here, that wouldn't happen.
Please find a quote where I said that lowering taxes was a good idea. Just once.
Stating that something is happening is not the same as supporting it. If I predict that the Euro will crash, I'm not saying that such a thing wold be good. I would only be stating my belief.
I see that teaching English in our schools has not been totally successful.
As for the debt and deficit spending, Republicans led by Bush severely wounded our economy. War spending is the worst way to create jobs, and the fact that a lower percentage of Americans had jobs at the end of his term than the beginning should reinforce that. The GOP's successful efforts to thwart economy-building activities by the government show just how craven they are.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
I guess you still support John (the adulterer, criminal ) Edwards just like you always have.
Wrong again, dumbass.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
There is 1 question that no one is asking. The premise of all the arguments in our country today deal with the fact that there are 2 opposing sides of thought on what the role of government should be. Until we come to a agreement on what the role of the Federal government is all these arguments server no purpose other then to engender hatred of ones fellow citizens.
So what is/should the role of government be. How much should the government run? What should the government regulate? What should the government stay out of? Once these questions are answered then you can begin to budget for them.
There are many things our government does that it simply should not be in. Government bailouts of private banks should never happen. While it is a necessity that government issue laws regulating private banks against explicitly illegal activity. If a private corporation falls on its own merit then so be it. If we as public citizens suffer at this the it is our own fault for not taking time to see if this particular bank was operating above water. I use BB&T because I know it is a sound bank that does not invest in risky things.
Infrastructure. It is universal that the federal government should maintain infastructure. Highways, Interstates, byways etc. This is an essential if we are to traverse this country and I have no issues paying taxes to build and maintain roads as long as it is being done in a logical, cost conciseness manner.
Education. The Department of Education should be scrapped. The money sent to it should be split per capita among st state governments.
Defense. The Military is the first, let me say that again FIRST priority of the Federal government. The job of the government above all is to protect the people. We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America
Foreign. It is the role of the Federal Government to deal with other nations. This however does not mean that the government has the right to inter-fear with global economics. The government here should aid AMERICAN companies in succeeding on the Global Market. Its role here is clear..To make sure that the United States is ALWAYS the first and best nation.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
Health. The role of the government here is to make sure that we are healthy. Having said that, the role of the Federal government is not to provide health care for its citizens. The CDC, the FDA, the USDA, and other branches do a good job at this while im sure they could be made more efficient. Our hospitals can not refuse treatment to anyone. While I do enjoy living in a compassionate society and I like the idea that the government provides heath insurance for those who will never be able to afford it. Creating a policy that requires us to purchase health care is not constitutional. This encroaches on the ability of the private market. We all agree that health care is very expensive. However instead of creating a new money hole, regulate some of the more absurd practices like charging 10 dollars for an aspirin. Also. Understand the amount of money that goes into cures for diseases. A Company can not make a cure for Cancer if it cant make money of the medications it already has.
This is the conversation that has to happen before we can move forward. We also MUST make it easier and more appealing to headquarter buisness in america and manufacture in america. To do this we must understand private enterprise and understand why they leave america.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
Or we could do what every other developed country has done and build a health system superior in every way to ours and reduce the cost of health care by half while ensuring that every American is covered. How tough would that be?
And as for the constitutionality of the individual mandate (promulgated by the Heritage Foundation and Newt himself), I sure wish AP would call up the Supreme Court and deliver the opinion. That would save tax dollars.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
Jim once again you show your lack of education in any field. The United States has the most advanced, balanced Health Care system in the world. I actually had a conversation with one of my Canadian friends the other day. He was flying in to the US to have some surgery so hes going to stop in Pinehurst for a visit. When I asked him why he was coming to the US for surgery his response was that the Health Care system in Canada(one towted as a perfect health care system) was so back logged due to bureaucratic red tape that he would be dead before he had the simple surgery he required. The plain truth is that government heath care does not work. And Jim before you make a stupid comment back... Just ask me, I will provide all the material you will ever need to prove I am correct AND, as I have friends all over the world, I will provide you with telephone numbers to people in Canada, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, South Africa, Austrailia, New Zeland, Nova Scotia, Italy, and Belgium who you can call and have a conversation about their wonderful heath care systems. My friends would be happy to tell you about all the failings of socialized medicine. They can also tell you about the failings of socialism in general. Think before you speak Jim.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
I've spent a great deal of time with Canadian doctors and they would call you a liar to your face. The US is number one in preventable deaths and in health care expenses (as well as citizens locked out of the health care system).
I don't know where you get such cockamamie ideas, but you are dead wrong with every stupid assertion you make.
I promise my sources on health care are far superior to yours. Hands down! You have absolutely no clue what you're talking about.
If you'd like to learn about government-supplied health care, talk to someone in uniform. They get the best health care in the country.
dustyrhoades 1 year, 5 months ago
Sure a few Canadians come here for surgery...if they can afford it.
Meanwhile Americans are going to India and Costa Rica (!) for surgery because of the insane costs here.
The_AnonymusProfit 1 year, 5 months ago
Jim im sorry but your sources are not superior to mine. My sources are the US Federal Government, and the people. As to DR your last comment shows your IQ is dwindling in your old age. Though it was never very high to begin with.
JimHeim 1 year, 5 months ago
AP, you must be new in town. Do a search of The Pilot's archives of my last name and you'll see another with the same last name who is highly regarded in the health care policy arena both here and internationally. That person knows more than you'll ever find on the Web.
And I'd love to see what federal agency thinks we're number one in health care.