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The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/6/2011 5:56:06 PM

kalikshama

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A normal Republican Party would seize the opportunity to put a long-term limit on the growth of government. It would seize the opportunity to put the country on a sound fiscal footing. It would seize the opportunity to do these things without putting any real crimp in economic growth.

The party is not being asked to raise marginal tax rates in a way that might pervert incentives. On the contrary, Republicans are merely being asked to close loopholes and eliminate tax expenditures that are themselves distortionary.

This, as I say, is the mother of all no-brainers.

But we can have no confidence that the Republicans will seize this opportunity. That’s because the Republican Party may no longer be a normal party. Over the past few years, it has been infected by a faction that is more of a psychological protest than a practical, governing alternative.

The members of this movement do not accept the logic of compromise, no matter how sweet the terms. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch in order to cut government by a foot, they will say no. If you ask them to raise taxes by an inch to cut government by a yard, they will still say no.

The members of this movement do not accept the legitimacy of scholars and intellectual authorities. A thousand impartial experts may tell them that a default on the debt would have calamitous effects, far worse than raising tax revenues a bit. But the members of this movement refuse to believe it.

The members of this movement have no sense of moral decency. A nation makes a sacred pledge to pay the money back when it borrows money. But the members of this movement talk blandly of default and are willing to stain their nation’s honor.

The members of this movement have no economic theory worthy of the name. Economists have identified many factors that contribute to economic growth, ranging from the productivity of the work force to the share of private savings that is available for private investment. Tax levels matter, but they are far from the only or even the most important factor.

But to members of this movement, tax levels are everything. Members of this tendency have taken a small piece of economic policy and turned it into a sacred fixation. They are willing to cut education and research to preserve tax expenditures. Manufacturing employment is cratering even as output rises, but members of this movement somehow believe such problems can be addressed so long as they continue to worship their idol.

Post #: 1

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/6/2011 6:03:04 PM

dcnovice

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It's funny: I just posted a link to that in my GOP cult thread.

Edit: add link

< Message edited by dcnovice -- 7/6/2011 6:14:05 PM >

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Post #: 2

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/6/2011 6:10:02 PM

juliaoceania

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The GOP want power back, and they are willing to flush us down the toilet to get it. They know if our country prospers they will not get the white house nor the senate back for a generation

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/6/2011 8:50:04 PM

willbeurdaddy

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Cantor said they will entertain closing loopholes. [/thread]

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/6/2011 8:56:24 PM

Sanity

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So much for yesterdays "new tone" rhetoric

quote:

Associated Press

As GOP shows flexibility, Obama adopts hard tone

WASHINGTON -- As a top House Republican signaled new flexibility on White House demands to close wasteful or ineffective tax loopholes, President Barack Obama responded with some of his harshest political rhetoric to date in advance of a Thursday negotiating session on the budget.

Wednesday's salvo came hours after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., opened the door to closing wasteful or unfair tax loopholes in the battle over a must-pass proposal to increase the government's borrowing authority. Obama suggested that Republicans are using the debt limit measure "as a gun against the heads" of Americans to retain breaks for corporate jet owners or oil and gas companies.

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/6/2011 10:02:10 PM

willbeurdaddy

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No brainer describes Obama well, with all that empty space between his dumbo ears.

_____________________________

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to the barking of the dogfox,
gone to ground.

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Post #: 6

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 4:51:57 AM

kalikshama

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quote:

ORIGINAL: dcnovice

It's funny: I just posted a link to that in my GOP cult thread.

Ya, I thought of posting it there (didn't see your link at the time), but wanted to give it its own thread.

What make this article interesting is that the author, David Brooks, is a conservative pundit.

Here's more:

Foul Deal: What if Republicans Take Yes for an Answer

Republicans won't take yes for an answer in the debt ceiling negotiations. As conservative columnist David Brooks writes in the New York Times, this should be the "mother of all no brainers."

Republicans have achieved everything they might have imagined at the beginning of the process and more. Yet they still refuse even the smallest of compromises to accept victory.

(in reply to dcnovice)

Post #: 7

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 6:43:21 AM

willbeurdaddy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: kalikshama

quote:

ORIGINAL: dcnovice

It's funny: I just posted a link to that in my GOP cult thread.

Ya, I thought of posting it there (didn't see your link at the time), but wanted to give it its own thread.

What make this article interesting is that the author, David Brooks, is a conservative pundit.

Here's more:

Foul Deal: What if Republicans Take Yes for an Answer

Republicans won't take yes for an answer in the debt ceiling negotiations. As conservative columnist David Brooks writes in the New York Times, this should be the "mother of all no brainers."

Republicans have achieved everything they might have imagined at the beginning of the process and more. Yet they still refuse even the smallest of compromises to accept victory.

What part of "Cantor said the GOP will consider closing loopholes" dont you understand?

_____________________________

Hear the lark
and harken
to the barking of the dogfox,
gone to ground.

(in reply to kalikshama)

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 7:34:53 AM

mnottertail

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The part where the consideration actually becomes law, which meaningfully will not happen.

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 9:09:16 AM

subrob1967

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799 days without a budget, and now you guys cry when the R's play hardball... Too funny.

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 9:18:10 AM

RacerJim

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quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

799 days without a budget, and now you guys cry when the R's play hardball... Too funny.

Not funny at all but, rather, all too dispicable Dereliction of Duty and/or Malfeasance in Office on Obama and the Dem's part.

(in reply to subrob1967)

Post #: 11

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 9:20:47 AM

mnottertail

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that rests on the lawless republican thugs and goons since they are the ones responsible for the budget, read your constitution pal.

Alexander Haig

_____________________________

Have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two? Judges 5:30

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Post #: 12

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 11:20:52 AM

Sanity

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Not to mention this is their standard way of doing things

There is no professionalism in this administration or the Dems in Congress at all

A buffoon as vice president

Tax cheats at the helm of the Treasury

A racist in charge of the Department of Justice...

Campaign donors as ambassadors.

The president himself cannot stay on message from one day to the next

Its a troupe of clowns from top to bottom

quote:

ORIGINAL: RacerJim

quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

799 days without a budget, and now you guys cry when the R's play hardball... Too funny.

Not funny at all but, rather, all too dispicable Dereliction of Duty and/or Malfeasance in Office on Obama and the Dem's part.

_____________________________

Inside Every Liberal Is A Totalitarian Screaming To Get Out

(in reply to RacerJim)

Post #: 13

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 11:30:47 AM

willbeurdaddy

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Joined: 4/8/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity

Not to mention this is their standard way of doing things

There is no professionalism in this administration or the Dems in Congress at all

A buffoon as vice president

Tax cheats at the helm of the Treasury

A racist in charge of the Department of Justice...

Campaign donors as ambassadors.

The president himself cannot stay on message from one day to the next

Its a troupe of clowns from top to bottom

At least real clowns are funny. Not so the Cirque du Tragédie of this administration.

< Message edited by willbeurdaddy -- 7/7/2011 11:32:13 AM >

_____________________________

Hear the lark
and harken
to the barking of the dogfox,
gone to ground.

(in reply to Sanity)

Post #: 14

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 2:25:31 PM

slvemike4u

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From: United States
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quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

799 days without a budget, and now you guys cry when the R's play hardball... Too funny.

No,we are "crying" due to the R's refusing to take part in what any fool(save you and those with like minds) can see as responsible governance.
There is a huge debt....the ONLY way to make any measurable advance in closing it is to employ a two step approach....reduce spending(including what your side likes to refer to as entitlement programs) while raising revenue(by necessity that means raising taxes somewhat...and closing loopholes). We will not get there by employing either half of this formula.....both halfs can and will make a whole.Playing switch and bait with the tax code,as Cantor endorsed,accomplished nothing save a pathetic attempt to portray the R's as willing to negotiate....any loop hole closing that doesn't result in added revenues ie: raised taxes...is nothing more than window dressing designed to placate the Republican base while disarming thru obfuscation the rest of the nation ie: anyone not a fucking millionaire .

< Message edited by slvemike4u -- 7/7/2011 2:26:38 PM >

_____________________________

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(in reply to subrob1967)

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 3:00:44 PM

kalikshama

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Joined: 8/8/2010
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quote:

What part of "Cantor said the GOP will consider closing loopholes" dont you understand?

What DS says here: http://www.collarchat.com/m_3756494/tm.htm

(in reply to willbeurdaddy)

Post #: 16

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/7/2011 3:45:13 PM

willbeurdaddy

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Joined: 4/8/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: kalikshama

quote:

What part of "Cantor said the GOP will consider closing loopholes" dont you understand?

What DS says here: http://www.collarchat.com/m_3756494/tm.htm

DS at least posted that before the news about Cantor's position broke. Whats your excuse?

_____________________________

Hear the lark
and harken
to the barking of the dogfox,
gone to ground.

(in reply to kalikshama)

Post #: 17

RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/9/2011 1:25:46 AM

subrob1967

Posts: 4591
Joined: 9/13/2004
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: slvemike4u

quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

799 days without a budget, and now you guys cry when the R's play hardball... Too funny.

No,we are "crying" due to the R's refusing to take part in what any fool(save you and those with like minds) can see as responsible governance.
There is a huge debt....the ONLY way to make any measurable advance in closing it is to employ a two step approach....reduce spending(including what your side likes to refer to as entitlement programs) while raising revenue(by necessity that means raising taxes somewhat...and closing loopholes). We will not get there by employing either half of this formula.....both halfs can and will make a whole.Playing switch and bait with the tax code,as Cantor endorsed,accomplished nothing save a pathetic attempt to portray the R's as willing to negotiate....any loop hole closing that doesn't result in added revenues ie: raised taxes...is nothing more than window dressing designed to placate the Republican base while disarming thru obfuscation the rest of the nation ie: anyone not a fucking millionaire .

If all that's needed is to reduce spending, why are they asking for more money? This would be a non issue if the fucking Dems would have proposed a budget when they had the power to make it happen. With Obama, and veto powers, you all know damn fucking well that any budget the Repubs propose has 0 chance of going anywhere... You can try to blame it on the House, but ultimately, the buck stops in the Oval Office.

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http://www.extra-life.org/

(in reply to slvemike4u)

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/10/2011 3:04:51 PM

mnottertail

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And that differsfrom the dems controlling the house and a republican president how?

_____________________________

Have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two? Judges 5:30

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RE: The Mother of All No-Brainers - 7/10/2011 3:23:59 PM

erieangel

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quote:

ORIGINAL: subrob1967

799 days without a budget, and now you guys cry when the R's play hardball... Too funny.

You act like that has never happened under a republican president.

(in reply to subrob1967)

Post #: 20

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