Towards a Green Future

Pacific military buildup?

Mon, 04 May 2009 02:34:31 GMT

Great article in the Christian Science Monitor about Australia's proposed military buildup.

Looks like its two greatest rivals are the worlds largest democracy, India, and the worlds largest ~~communist~~ capitalist dictatorship, China. Perhaps the old theories are right about balance of power relations being independent of ideology and styles of government?

Of course, the opposition in Australia makes a valid point of pondering how to pay for a large military buildup. But, when have finances ever been an issue? Just follow the U.S. model and cut taxes while rapidly increasing spending. Sure, your deficit will explode, but who cares anyways?

Virginia rain....

Mon, 04 May 2009 02:17:45 GMT

No, it's not my new porn-star name.

It's rainy here in Virginia. April is the rainiest month they have, according to my wife. However, I've noticed something strange about the rain here. Whether it is a light right, or a driving downpour, there is always a mist that is coming down too.

Weird.

Perhaps Cthulhu related?

99.9999% of intel work is NOT like an episode of "24"

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 21:46:41 GMT

Sadly, Michael Scheuer, author of this article in the Washington Post, does not seem to understand this. What is even more tragic is that his biographic info attached to the article reads:

"Michael Scheuer, the chief of the CIA's Osama bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, is the author of "Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq."

A summary of the article is this: we have to torture people because there might be a ticking time-bomb scenario and torture is not only the sole way of getting life saving, actionable intelligence, that is 100% accurate.

This article is full of illogical statements, massive leaps of faith, assumptions, and self delusion. A cursory reading by anyone with an IQ over "potted plant " level will realize this. But, let me point out a few of the juicier ones:

1. Note that the scenario is fictional. As in not real. Also, note that the author was in charge of catching Osama Bin Laden. Mr. Scheuer, it would be nice if this scenario was real, and Bin Laden was actually in custody. Perhaps you could spend less time writing fiction, and perhaps volunteer at the CIA to help capture him?

2. The author clearly demonstrates that he has no idea how terrorist groups based on cell structures work. In the scenario, Bin Laden, as the more-or-less head of Al Queda has operational and tactical intelligence about the exact timing and make up of a terror attack. Al Queda, in reality, works nothing like this. The principles of cell-based terror organizations are that: Cell A has no idea who is in Cell B, Cell A has no idea what Cell B is planning, Cell A does not even know Cell B exists. This insures that when you are captured (and tortured like Jack Bauer does in this weeks fully-erect episode of 24!), you have no information to give them, because you do not actually know anything about what goes on outside your cell. Cliff's notes: Bin Laden tells his terror-pals to "go out and do bad things to hurt the great satan that is America" via audio tapes, video messages, and notes that go through layers of cut outs and dead-drops.

3. Mr. Scheuer labels Obama's change in interrogation tactics as the President imposing his moral view on the rest of us. Completely wrong, Mr. Scheuer. Obama was elected by the majority of the voters in a democracy. He campaigned on changing the way we execute the War on "Terror." He also campaigned on closing Gitmo and ending torture. Therefore, he is not "imposing his own personal morality" on defense policy. He is imposing the morality of the nation, or at least the majority of the voters who bothered to show up on election day. This is how democracy works, Mr. Scheuer, the government does what the people say. If you do not support this view of government, you are welcome to move to more enlightened nations such as North Korea, or Cuba, where Dear Leader knows best.

At the risk of sounding redundant, it bears mentioning that in the real world, reality matters. Mr. Scheuers fanciful editorial might get him noticed by the producers of "24" who might offer him a consulting contract to help write episodes, but it will not help apprehend Bin Laden, nor will it help disrupt terror attacks that are being planned, or in the stages of execution.

Is it 1859?

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 13:49:54 GMT

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/04/16/georgia-senate-threatens-dismantling-of-usa/?cxntfid=blogs_jay_bookman_blog

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/gov-perry-talks-succession-texas-tea-pa

**********

Well well, aren't the rednecks feeling their oats with all this "We lost the election because our ideas suck and so we're going to leave the union" jibber jabber?

On the one hand, it would be tempting to let you treasonous slouches go.

On the other hand, my great great grandfather proudly served in the Union Army the last time Redneckistan decided to throw a hissy fit and leave the United States.

U.S. credit card debt plunges

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:36:18 GMT

http://features.csmonitor.com/economyrebuild/2009/04/07/americans-slash-credit-card-borrowing/

Good news on the economic front - consumers are reducing credit card debt.

Bad news is that the Federal Reserve is still focused far too closely on artificially inflating demand by keeping interest rates too low for too long. This is what started the housing bubble that got us into this mess in the first place!

There was a time when the Federal Reserve focused almost exclusively on keeping inflation down. I believe it was Reagan that labeled inflation "the unfairest tax of all." I do not often agree with the gipper, but in this case, I do.

Inflation is why a family of four cannot live on one parent's salary.
Inflation undermines the purchasing power of the middle class.
Inflation undermines the ability of people to work their way out of poverty.

I think we should let supply and demand find an equilibrium without the Federal Reserve manipulating interest rates solely with an eye on generating demand.

My $.0.02 worth.

Dream versus Nightmare: Reducing the threat of nuclear annihilation.

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:14:34 GMT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/06/AR2009040602732_pf.html

From the picture of Ms Applebaum, I would put her in the 35-50 year old age catagory. This implies that she might recall living during the cold war, when the US, Britain, USSR, China, and France all had nuclear weapons on hair-trigger launch mode. On several occasions, we came perilously close to nuclear war due to errors in launch-detection systems on both sides. Reducing our nuclear weapons inventories in a multi-lateral, verifiable manner is in everyone's best interest. A single missile, launched in error, could kill millions.

Obama realizes this threat to international peace and safety. Strange that she does not chastise arms reduction accomplishments from the Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, and Bush 2 administrations.

As far as her assertion "Yet there is no evidence that U.S. nuclear arms reductions have ever inspired others to do the same. All of the world's more recent nuclear powers -- Israel, India, Pakistan -- acquired their weapons well after such talks began, more than 40 years ago. " goes, she is woefully ignorant of the fact that South Africa, Brazil, and Libya have been deterred from pursuing nuclear technology. Also, she seems to have forgotten the Non-Proliferation treaty that, with the exception of a few rogue states (Pakistan, North Korea), has worked to successfully limit the spread of nuclear weapons technology. Also, she seems to forget that many nations with advanced technology have chosen not to develop nuclear weapons: Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, etc.

A world without nuclear weapons is a fantasy right now, but we have moved forward in reducing nuclear arsenals, and we must continue to move away from vast numbers of strategic warheads poised to obliterate hundreds of millions of people in less than 45 minutes.

If Ms Applebaum prefers to live in a world where nations are armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons, she is entitled to that fantasy. But for the rest of us, it sounds like a nightmare we would all rather wake up from.

Local news update: We're sinking, and the sea level is rising.

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:04:24 GMT

Fun on a bun!

"While the nation debates the cost of climate change -- whether the price of electricity and gasoline should increase because of their greenhouse gas emissions -- the problem already has a price tag on the Chesapeake Bay.

Sea levels are rising almost twice as fast in the Chesapeake region as in most of the world, and waterside communities are spending millions to keep the water from eroding yards, marshes and sandy beaches."

*******

And our politicians fiddle while Rome burns....

The Obama administration proposes a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, which is a good start. This type of system worked well for reducing acid-rain causing emissions for much less cost than was expected. However, given the threat this poses to the fossil fuel lobby, the opposition to any legislation (no matter how watered down) will be enormous.

I am in serious doubt about the President's ability to pass significant legislation in this arena - even if the economy was prosperous, this would be a task that requires a level of political capital that neither party has ever possessed, or been willing to spend without regard to servicing their corporate donors.

what?

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:16:49 GMT

really?

Are you Indiana Jones? (Hint - the answer is probably NO)

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:59:59 GMT

Indiana Jones, the American film icon. Nerdy archaeology professor and swashbuckling adventurer tough-guy, all rolled into one, and played by Harrison Ford.

The question is: Are you Indiana Jones? If you are Harrison Ford, or some other buff guy, the answer is yes, you could be Indiana Jones. However, if you are a middle aged, doughy office worker taking the bus to the metro, the answer is NO, YOU ARE NOT INDIANA JONES.

Dear Readers - I have noticed a disturbing trend over the past few years. Indiana Jones signature hat, being worn by doughy, plump, nerdy, pimply, and other forms of non-Harrison Ford-esque men. Simply put, these guys look ridiculous. Sadly, they do not have a clue how silly they look. Do they believe at any moment they will be rescuing a shrieking damsel? ("INNNNNDDYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!") Or perhaps pummeling some nazi's trying to seize holy relics?

Perhaps these are the thoughts going through their minds.

In truth, they are overweight, middle-aged men, riding the bus to get to the metro to take them to their desk job at Bureaucrat, Inc. There are no damsel's to rescue, no nazi's to pummel, and no holy relics to recover and put into a government warehouse to be studied by who? "Top men."

Who?

"Top men."

Ditch the hat, office toad, it's pathetic.

Economic ideas from the Green Party - Smart investments for a better future.

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:26:15 GMT

Economic Investment ideas from the Green Party:

*************

From: http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=152

Greens offer six big steps for economic recovery

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

Greens support workers occupying a factory in Chicago after layoff: bailout money isn't being used to help working Americans

WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders said today that the incoming Obama Administration and Congress should take six major steps to reverse the financial meltdown and restore financial security for Americans.

The steps include a Green public works program, aid for state and muncipal governments, expansion of mass transit, Single-Payer health care, a peace dividend gained by ending the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and an end to the wasteful war on drugs.

Green Party candidates running for local, state, and national office in 2008 promoted many of these ideas even before the crisis precipitated. In September, Cynthia McKinney published a ten-point list of solutions and reforms in response to the Wall Street meltdown, titled "Seize the Time" (http://votetruth08.com/index.php/learn/mckinney-messages).

Greens expressed support for United Electrical Workers union members occupying a Republic Windows and Doors plant in Chicago after the plant was shut down and they were laid off with three days' notice and told they had no assurance of receiving severance and unused vacation pay. The company's creditor, Bank of America, received $25 billion from the government's financial bailout package. Greens said that the bank's actions, including refusal to allow Republic to give workers 60 days notice (as required by law), demonstrates how bailout money isn't being used to assist working Americans facing financial hardship.

Six Green steps for economic recovery:

(1) Enact a massive Green public works program, creating new living-wage jobs in conservation (including weatherization and energy retro-fitting); clean and safe energy technologies to replace fossil fuel and nuclear sources and create a carbon-free economy; repair and improvement of America's deteriorating infrastructure (especially water and sewer systems); and improvement of public schools and Green job training programs.

"The collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis in 2007 was a result of the neglect and starvation of funds for maintaining infrastructure that was built decades ago. The ideology of privatization and hostility to 'big government' is no longer tenable during the financial crisis -- the current White House and Congress conceded as much when they began pushing for bailouts. Public works programs built America, and public works, with hundreds of thousands of new Green jobs, is what America needs now for economic recovery," said Rosa Clemente, the Green Party's 2008 candidate for Vice President (http://www.rosaclemente.com).

"We're encouraged that President-elect Obama intends to launch a public works program along these basic lines, but we hope Congress and his own administration don't undermine and dilute such a program out of traditional Democratic and Republican loyalty to corporate interests and fear of being labeled liberal or socialist. It's time to follow the lead of the Green Jobs For All movement," Ms. Clemente added.

(2) Bail out financially ailing towns, cities, and states before bailing out private corporations: millions of public sector and contractor jobs depend on the fiscal security of municipal and state governments.

Greens noted that municipalities and states are businesses that drive state and local economies throughout the US. They also provide the social safety net that millions of working people need during the current crisis.

(3) Jumpstart our country's mass transit system, giving people an alternative to cars while saving them money and providing jobs.

"Making autos more efficient will only get us part way toward solving our energy and climate challenges. We need to get people out of their cars altogether. Communities need the ability to provide local solutions for mass transprotation: new trains, subways, light rail wherever they fit," said Wes Rolley, co-chair of the Green Party's EcoAction Committee.

(4) Enact a Single-Payer/Medicare For All national health plan, providing every American with coverage and removing the burden of health care from small and large private businesses.

"The skyrocketing cost of health care under our private health care system has created much of the economic instability as businesses struggle to provide workers health benefits. If President Obama and Congress have the political will to resist the power of the insurance, HMO, and pharmaceutical industries that siphon their profits off America's need for health care, the relief that Single-Payer will be a huge economic boost," said Sanda Everette, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

Single-Payer would cover all Americans regardless of income, employment, residence, age, or prior medical condition, allowing choice of health care provider, and costing working people far less than they now pay for private coverage. In 2003, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article estimating that Single-Payer could cut health care costs by $350 billion annually (http://www.pnhp.org/publications/nejmadmin.pdf). Greens sharply criticized Barack Obama during the election season for rejecting Single-Payer out of concern for health insurance companies.

(5) End the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The staggering expense of the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions and occupations haven't only cost American, Iraqi, and Afghan lives. It also ate up trillions of dollars away that could have been spent on human and environmental needs. If we call home our troops right now, we can divert the money needed for military occupations to Green public works and other programs to jumpstart the economy -- a new peace dividend," said Starlene Rankin, co-chair of the Lavender Green Caucus.

The Green Party opposed both wars from the beginning and has criticized Mr. Obama's plans for delayed and partial troop withdrawal from Iraq and for sending more troops to Afghanistan.

(6) End the war on drugs, which wastes billions annually, hasn't curbed drug use, and ruins lives by incarcerating nonviolent offenders (mostly young, African American, Latino, and poor white) at further government expense.

"The war on drugs is America's longest and costliest war. With Afghanistan providing the world's world's biggest poppy crop, it's one of the main reasons the US is fighting a war there," said Cliff Thornton, co-chair of the Green Party and co-founder of Efficacy, Inc. (http://www.efficacy-online.org), which promotes major reforms in drug policy.

Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron has estimated that legalizing cannabis would save federal, state, and local governments $44 billion a year in enforcement costs (http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/mironreport.html). Governments could collect another $33 billion in revenues by taxing cannabis as heavily as alcohol and tobacco.

NBYNTR - New Blog You Need To Read: Politics with Bex and Rizzo

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:45:42 GMT

Introducing a new blog - Politics with Bex and Rizzo!

Hello readers (all 4 of you!). You may have noticed a new blog in my list o' links. If not, please take some time to read Politics with Bex and Rizzo, which is a collaborative effort between Rebecca "Bex" Young and John Rizzo, two of my fellow students in the Graduate School of Political Management here at GWU.

I love talking politics with them, as they both bring very interesting observations and perspectives to bear on important issues, and I look forward to reading their blog.

Check Them Out!

Tobacco

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:43:41 GMT

Just for the record, I have no problem with Obama smoking the occasional cigarette.

And now, on with our regularly scheduled day.

Economic collapse makes for strange politics...

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:58:17 GMT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/business/13auto.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

Well, the "leaders" in the Senate decided not to bailout the Big Three. It is interesting to note that the White House and the Democratic leadership supported the bailout, but Republicans did not. We seem to be experiencing some weird ideological reverse-polarity here.

While in the article, Republicans voiced skepticism over whether the bailout proposal would work, they may have slit their own throats in relation to the 2010 mid-terms. If one or more of the big 3 fail, and the resulting mass layoffs occur, Democrats could stand to benefit by advancing a narrative that they tried to stop this from happening, but the Republicans abandoned the Big 3, and their employees, when they needed help the most. We will see how this all plays out.

As speculation, they may be opposing the bailout as a last-ditch effort to destroy the UAW as a viable labor force. Whatever your views on the UAW, if this is the course of action the Republicans are taking, it may be the political equivalent of a kamikaze attack. You may cause enormous damage to your target, while destroying yourself in the process.

Reflections, and, I will not apologize for who I am

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:44:41 GMT

As my first semester in grad school draws to a close, it is time for a bit of reflection.

This first semester has been a real eye-opener, and a test. It has been an eye-opener in that so far, grad school seems a lot like my undergraduate experience, at least as far as schoolwork and level of instruction are concerned. While I remain cautiously optimistic about the caliber of future courses, I am a bit disappointed with the academics involved in my first semester. Without going into arduous specifics - one class was basically a rehashing of American history from 1930 to the present, and the other class was stuffed with material I will never use unless I go into a very specific sector of political management. In essence, the second class should be split in two, with the general/theory knowledge being one mandatory class, and the specific/detailed knowledge being an elective in one of the study-tracks that students can choose. A disappointment was that one of my professors was politically bigoted not only against conservatives, but against Ralph Nader for having the gall to exercise his right as an American to run for elected office. Sadly, the professor seems to have forgotten that this nation is a Republic, and as such, political power flows voluntarily from individuals, to our elected representatives. We do not owe fealty to them or their political parties. They are beholden to us.

My mission to advance multiparty majoritarian democracy in the United States will not be deterred.

The real surprise and joy of my first semester was getting to know my fellow students. It is positively thrilling to be around a group of smart, friendly, ambitious, and diverse group of people. They range from all different backgrounds, areas of the country and the world, political orientations, and ambitions. I have found them all to be open to engagement, and incredibly fun to be with, both in a university setting, and in social settings.

My wife and I have loved getting to know northern Virginia, and the district. Exploring, striking out on our own, and getting recommendations from students and co-workers, has been great fun. We look forward to more of it, as there is so much to see and do. Our next big challenge.....the conversion to DTV - do we try to get an antenna to get us enough signal? Or, do we get basic cable? The dilemma.......I am rather ambivalent, as since I work full time and go to school part time, I do not have that much time to watch TV. Netflix is a different weakness altogether though....

I will try to keep the blog updated more regularly with my political musings.....still waiting for Obama's transition team to call me!

The Truthiness about Obama!

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:15:19 GMT

Now that the election is over, I can review the truth about the upcoming Obama administration.

Ok....not really, but the video is really funny!!!!

http://www.236.com/video/2008/get_your_war_on_new_world_orde_10121.php

Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:51:26 GMT

You have now been elected to the toughest job on the planet. You have an uphill battle ahead of you, but the people have given you a chance. It is my sincere hope that you, and be extension, we, succeed.

VA election-day shennanigans.....

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:47:14 GMT

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-28-0160.html

Ah, the BS is starting here locally. The area in question is heavily african-american.......but I'm sure that is just a coincidence.

Document your vote.

Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:53:30 GMT

Hello fellow voters! If you are voting on a touch-screen type machine, there were concerns in 2004, 2006, and now in 2008 about vote-flipping. What is vote-flipping? It is where you touch the portion of the screen for candidate X, but your vote flips over and it appears that you touched the screen to indicate candidate Y.

Poor screen calibration, or malicious tampering can be the culprit.

Your recourse may be as close as your cell-phone. If it takes video clips, you may want to film yourself voting for.....oh, I don't know.....Obama, just to make sure you have documentation to show poll-workers if your vote ends up flipping to.....oh, I don't know......McCain.

Film those votes! if yours flips, you now have proof to share with the poll workers, election monitors, your Secretary of State, and the Federal Elections Commission.

Protect your vote. Document your vote.

Red-baiting: the tactic you use when that's all there is left.....

Sun, 19 Oct 2008 03:29:55 GMT

Poor McCain. I really feel sorry for him.

In 2000, he ran contrary to his own party on some issues, and his own party eviscerated him for it. Karl Rove, via the Bush 2000 republican primary, pulled out one attack after another, destroying McCain's chances to be the Republican nominee that year.

McCain then steadily moves closer and closer to Bush and his right-wing power base, just in time to be tied to one of the most unpopular president's of all time.

McCain then manages to get nominated in 2008, and has to go head to head with Barack Obama - a candidate arguably even more formidable than Bill Clinton.

Now, after a poorly run campaign, 3 lackluster debate performances, and being outspent 4 to 1 in advertising, McCain is going back to the trusty Republican toolbox from the 1940's and 50's.

Red-baiting. This, for those that do not know, is a classic tactic of politics. When your opponent suggests any sort of government program to address any kind of problem, or when your opponent is in favor of rolling back tax cuts for the wealthy (that helped explode the deficit), accuse them of being "socialist." To clarify: raising defense spending is never socialist, even though the size of the government invariably increases, and private companies become completely dependent on government contracts (welfare). Spending government money to provide healthcare for people is, by conservative definition, socialist.

Why? Who knows. Probably because it was labeled "socialized medicine" in the late 1940's by the American Medical Association.

So, when a campaign resorts to redbaiting, it usually means they are extremely desperate, and on the verge of a major defeat. It also means they have no idea what "socialism" or "capitalism" are either. Definitions, anyone?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialism

Socialism:

1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2 a: a system of society or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capitalism

Capitalism:

: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market

Hmmm.....nothing Obama has proposed fits the definition of socialism. But, for all you future master red-baiters out there, I have good news! Facts do not matter! All you need to say is that "candidate X is secretly socialist!" Luckily for you, no one can disprove a negative. So, Obama can never prove he's NOT a secret socialist, or a secret muslim, or a secret republican for that matter.

Likewise, McCain cannot disprove he is a secret nazi, or a secret communist, or a secret cross-dresser, or a secret ballerina.

Isn't baiting fun?

Luckily, McCain will realize that red-baiting doesn't work when he's making his concession call to President-elect Obama.

Alexandria voting musings & Washington Post endorses Obama

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:30:31 GMT

So, come election day, I will get to vote here in Alexandria, VA - my new home. I was checking out the Alexandria voter registration site (because I'm a political dork, and that how I roll), and found out the following.

1. Alexandria has an electronic voting system (new to me - I was always an opti-scan voter in Iowa).
2. Virginia law requires you to produce a valid ID or sign an affidavit testifying to your identity prior to voting (new to me)
3. The company that makes the voting machines that Alexandria uses is Hart InterCivic. A comparison of their officers to the OpenSecrets.org donor database shows no contributions to any candidates in the 2008 cycle.

On election day, I will bring every form if ID with me from Drivers license to my student ID, to my Green Party and ACLU membership cards (ok - maybe not those last two, in case or Republican poll ~~thugs~~ watchers).

In other news:

Not so surprisingly, the Washington Post has endorsed Obama. The cliff notes version of the article: Obama is pretty cool, and could be a great president. McCain is pretty cool too, but has run a crappy campaign and his economic plan of yet more tax cuts for the rich is monumentally bad.

Know your enemy - Paul Weyerich

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 19:31:36 GMT

One of the fathers of the modern conservative movement, had this to say about elections and related issues. This pretty much tells you all you need to know about the right wing in America, and what we are up against.

Joe the Plumber.....meet reality.

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:33:07 GMT

Joe the Plumber got a lot of press for complaining to Obama that he couldn't buy his plumbing business because of the planned increase in the top personal income tax bracket from 36% to 39%

From Wikipedia 'In the United States, the top marginal federal corporate rate for income over $18.3 million is 35% (it can be as low as 15% for income under $50,000). Most states also tax companies, but the state tax is a deductible expense in calculating federal tax, so the overall tax rate is not simply the sum of the two tax rates."

There simply is no 39% tax bracket for corporations. Plus, corporations are taxed on profit, not income. So even if Joe the Plumber Inc books $250k in profits, he still will pay much less than 39% taxes.

More than likely, Joe is going to be Joe the Plumber, Inc, with Joe as CEO. The only way Joe could pay the top tax bracket is if he paid himself $250k/yr. If it's that offensive to Joe to pay that rate, he can give himself a $0.01 pay cut, and drop to the next lower tax bracket. Something tells me that Joe has been spending way too much time watching Fox News and listening to conservative talk radio while driving to and from his plumbing jobs.

The U.S. has had a progressive income tax for roughly 80 years now. The U.S. is also one of the wealthiest nations on the planet, with a large middle class. Correlation is not always causality, but the argument can be made that the progressive income tax certainly has not seemed to hurt us that much. In fact, the original tax brackets when the progressive income tax was enacted were 1% for the lowest bracket, and 7% for the highest. At that time, the rich paid 7 times more taxes than the poor. Now, the top tax bracket under the Obama plan would be 39%. The lowest tax bracket now is roughly 10%. Now the rich only pay 3.9 times as much as the poor. Whereas the poor pay 10 times as much as they did when the progressive income tax was enacted.

So Joe can complain about taxes, because that's his right as an American, but he should at least get his facts straight, and from the way it sounds, he should also talk to a tax advisor.

Of course, this entire post is predicated on the assumption that facts matter. If Joe is just another brainwashed anti-tax conservative ideologue, then none of this matters. If he is merely parroting the Grover Nordquist line that all taxes and all government programs are bad, then he's deluding himself. Hopefully he makes enough money to pay for his kids to go through college, because Federal student loans and Pell grants.....yep, those are paid for by the awful taxes that those poor, poor, vicitimized rich people pay.

The McCain campaign - from a conservative point of view.

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:50:38 GMT

Interesting article from a long standing Republican operative, Ed Rollins (political director for Ronald Reagan, campaign manager for Mike Huckabee).

My $0.02 worth: Obama has been masterful at the following campaign techniques:

1. Talking values more than policy ( most voters want to hear about values - only a minority want to hear about policy ).
2. Consistent delivery of campaign messages.
3. Tying McCain to the un-popularity of Bush. If you notice when Obama is speaking, he rarely mentions McCain without referencing Bush in the same sentence.
4. Outreach, outreach, outreach: Obama's campaign leaves no stone unturned for votes, and they empower their base like none other.

Now, on to the article!

*****

Commentary: McCain campaign following in Hillary's footsteps

Story Highlights
Rollins: An internally divided campaign can't successfully confront opponent
John McCain is following Hillary Clinton in running a divided campaign, he says
Rollins says Obama is running a disciplined and focused campaign
Rollins: McCain needs to address the economic crisis, which scares Americans

By Ed Rollins
CNN Contributor

Editor's Note: Ed Rollins, who served as political director for President Reagan, is a Republican strategist who was national chairman of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's 2008 presidential campaign.

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A campaign at war with itself cannot fight its opponent effectively.

We have seen two major campaigns this year that could be described as internally divided -- Sen. Hillary Clinton's losing primary campaign and now Sen. John McCain's general election effort.

And while chaos and disarray reigned supreme in Sen. Barack Obama's opponents' campaigns, the steady, disciplined and strategically driven Obama campaign marches forward toward likely victory.

Clinton's campaign had several different groups setting and implementing strategy. They include the first campaign team led by pollster Mark Penn, her loyalists from the White House days led by eventual campaign manager Maggie Williams and campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe, and a rump group led by her husband. Prior to this year and his efforts on his wife's behalf, President Clinton was viewed as one of the best political strategists around.

All that brain power couldn't come together and agree on a consistent strategy to beat a young inexperienced outsider. There will be second guessing and finger pointing for years to come.

We now see something similar in the McCain campaign. There have been at least three major managerial changes or overthrows in the past 18 months.

The first was the Rick Davis/John Weaver battle. Weaver and Mike Murphy, one of the best media strategists in the business, were the key players in the 2000 McCain effort and Weaver was the political guru who guided McCain's efforts since then. Davis, with a major assist from Cindy McCain and his former lobbying partner, Charlie Black, ousted Weaver.

Davis and Black, who masterminded Bob Dole's unsuccessful 1996 campaign and Phil Gramm's aborted presidential effort before that, are super lobbyists, and they opened the doors to their K Street allies.

Davis was then replaced -- in reality if not in title -- by Steve Schmidt, part of Karl Rove's operation. Schmidt is a first-rate tactician but new to McCain's world, and he still shares power with Black and Davis. This campaign would have been a much different operation if Weaver and Murphy had been brought back; but that was never going to happen with Davis and Black.

In the end, it's not relevant who holds what title in the McCain operation, because it is not being run by campaign professionals, but by the Washington lobbying class.
iReport.com: What do you think about the election? Share video commentary

And no one seems to be in charge, least of all the candidate. The end result is a campaign suffering from "schizophrenia."

John McCain is saying one thing on the stump, his running mate another. But the worst sin is that his advertising campaign is incoherent and putting out multiple and inconsistent messages.

What McCain and his campaign need to understand is that whatever happened in the past is no longer relevant. James Carville's famous slogan in Bill Clinton's 1992 victory over the first Bush: "It's the economy stupid!" can now be replaced with "You morons, what have you done with my money, my life and my kids' future?"

If John McCain wants anyone to pay attention to him in the last three weeks of this campaign, he must address those concerns.

Attacking Obama for his association with Bill Ayers -- the unrepentant Vietnam-era terrorist who should have been jailed four decades ago for bombing New York City Police Headquarters, the United States Capitol building, and the Pentagon -- is a legitimate tactic. So is asking questions regarding the influence of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Obama's controversial pastor.

The problem is that few voters care about what happened 40 years ago when in the last few weeks they have seen their savings and retirements and possibly their jobs and homes going up in flames. If you don't talk to voters about their concerns they will not spend one minute listening to you in the closing days of a campaign.

Government is not working. President Bush's leadership has failed the country and Congress has not done much better. How are you going to be better? That's the question voters want answered.

With one debate remaining and less than three weeks of campaigning left, John McCain's 10-year quest to be president is coming to a close and -- as of today -- a dreadful one.

All I can advise is "Engage us, John!" You are an honorable man who has dedicated your life to serving this country. Quit the name calling and make the last weeks about leadership and solutions.

Accept Obama's challenge issued last week: "The American people aren't looking for someone who can divide this country. They're looking for somebody who will lead this country."

Tell us how you will lead this country through the greatest crisis we have faced in modern times.

And Sen. McCain, remember your own words of last week about Obama: "He's a decent family man -- citizen -- that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues."

Tell us what those disagreements are. Then, at least voters can make their final choices on things that matter to them now.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer.

*****

2012 Presidential Race

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:34:56 GMT

Cross-posted at http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2008/10/09/2012-presidential-race/

2012 Presidential Race

October 9th, 2008 ·

Well, it’s never to early to start talking about the next Presidential Race. I’d like this to be sort of an open thread - letting people give their opinions about what traits or abilities we would like to see in our next presidential candidate.

What do you think?

My $0.02 worth on what the best candidate would look like would be:

1. A long-term member of the party.

2. A current or former office-holder, who was elected as a Green.

3. A warm, confident, engaging communicator.

4. Someone who is capable of putting forth an inspiring vision of people-powered politics.

5. A person with a minimum of skeletons in their closet.

6. A person who avoids associating the Green Party message with conspiracy theories of any kind.

What do you want in your next candidate?

Daryl Northrop

http://thecandidate.livejournal.com/

My favorite disclaimer, courtesy of the McPain campaign...

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:26:42 GMT

I get campaign emails from the McPalin campaign. Why? I enjoy discomfort and cringing. Very life affirming.

Anyhow - I enjoy the disclaimer at the bottom of each email the contains a fundraising plea to help defeat the "librul" media:

"Because the McCain-Palin Campaign is participating in the presidential public funding system, it may not receive contributions for any candidate's election. However, federal law allows the McCain-Palin Campaign's Compliance Fund to defray legal and accounting compliance costs and preserve the Campaign's public grant for media, mail, phones, and get-out-the-vote programs. Contributions to McCain-Palin Victory 2008 will go to the Compliance Fund, and to participating party committees for Victory 2008 programs."

Just so you know - the Maverick (giggle) is using the donations to fund party building activities. NOT the campaign. You, the taxpayer, are paying for McCain's trainwreck of a campaign. Not that publicly financed campaigns aren't a good idea - they are.

That is all.

Carry on.