House Conservatives: $2 For Workers, But Only If Paris Gets Millions
House Conservatives: $2 For Workers, But Only If Paris Gets Millions
ThinkProgress reported this morning that congressional conservatives were planning to allow a vote on the minimum wage today or tomorrow, but only if it was coupled with a poison pill provision that enacted Bush’s Associated Health Plans.
New reports indicate that conservatives are ditching one poison pill in favor of another. The AP writes:
Republican leaders are willing to allow the first minimum wage increase in a decade but only if it’s coupled with a cut in inheritance taxes on multimillion-dollar estates, congressional aides said Friday.
The estate tax — aka the Paris Hilton Tax — benefits only the ultra-wealthy. This year, the exemption level is $2 million ($4 million per couple), which means only 5 out of every 1,000 people who die will pay the tax.
Bill Samuel, a lobbyist for the AFL-CIO, said adding the estate tax to the minimum wage “is the mother of all poison pills. It can’t possibly pass the Senate.”
Sen. Edward Kennedy added, “It’s political blackmail to say the only way that minimum wage workers can get a raise is to give a tax giveaway to the wealthiest Americans. Members of Congress raised their own pay — no strings attached. Surely, common decency suggests that minimum wage workers deserve the same respect.”
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Long live the New Gilded Age. F**k the poor, worship the rich.
-GSD
July 28th, 2006 at 6:13 pmIt’s hard to look at her without visualizing her Deep Throat impersonation. Little neoconslut.
And her mom is SO proud!
Which is cuter? Her (the dog), or it?
Oh, and nothing surprises me that comes from inside the Beltway…
July 28th, 2006 at 6:15 pmIt is hard to believe Congrees will even “bribe” the
minimum wage workers contigent with the ultra
wealthy getting their fair share, which means taxes
you pay are given to the Rich
That poison pill just proves HOW CORRUPT congress
really is…. to bribe minimum wage workers to please
political contributors or their entry through the revolving
door (or their buddies) swindling your tax money to
federally funded private sector overly inflated contracts
NOT EVEN ATTEMPTING TO ACHIEVE A NON LIVEABLE WAGE
July 28th, 2006 at 6:23 pmBECOMES TOTALLY CORRUPTED WITH THESE LAWMAKERS
THAT IS LAWBREAKERS…… TOTALLY corrupt
Hey! It’s hard work making porn. Damn right, the rich deserve a raise! F**k the poor. The don’t deserve anything the rich stole from them. Not now. Never.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:28 pmI knew there had to be more to the story from yesterday that House Repub leaders were going to allow a vote on minimum wage.
It disheartens me to see this. After all, those pushing hardest were a coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans. Put together, this vote wouldn’t have even been close (without the poison, that is.) It would have sailed out of the House by around 250-185 (or something in that neighborhood.)
July 28th, 2006 at 6:33 pmWork is for suckers.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:34 pm.
And strangely enough if you mention the word “union” to most of those minimum wage earners they would tell you unions are no good or couldn’t help them. They would complain about paying dues or worry about going on strike. You couldn’t sell them a 20 dollar bill for 10 dollars. Sometime, you just gotta wonder.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:37 pmNow the rich on the other hand……….
#7 - And strangely enough if you mention the word “union†to most of those minimum wage earners they would tell you unions are no good or couldn’t help them. They would complain about paying dues or worry about going on strike. You couldn’t sell them a 20 dollar bill for 10 dollars. Sometime, you just gotta wonder.
Starting in the 1950’s, corporate interests have done everything they can to dissuade people from joining unions. The attack is so complete, that now you have people who readily, willingly, almost gleefully go against their own best interests.
Sad. Really. As a well run union is a great counter-balance to the uber-rich.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:44 pmWe have GOT to get control of Congress back this fall. No two ways about it.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:47 pmLook - I’m not a huge fan of raising the mimimum wage, but this makes absolutely zero sense.
We’ve been told that we can’t raise min wage because it will hurt small businesses. So how does a reduction in estate taxes help small businesses? These two ideas have absolutely no connection, other than to try to make the bill palatable to Republicans. Idiocy, pure idiocy.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:47 pmSurely, common decency suggests that minimum wage workers deserve the same respect.â€
Not on our lives with the repukes’ hands on the controls. We are merely fodder - nothings - period.
July 28th, 2006 at 6:58 pm#11 - madashell
This was not the doing of your common, everyday Republican Rep. This was the leadership ONLY!
The rank and file Republicans agreed with the Democrats to increase the wage.
A recent survey shows that 70+% of Republican voters approve of a hike in the minimum wage.
Let’s please narrow our hostility to the leaders like Denny Hastert and John Boehner, et. al.
July 28th, 2006 at 7:04 pmThe bottom line is that Republicans are not the Party of tax cuts…they are the Party that restructures tax burdens in order to provide added wealth to those who already posses the lions share of the wealth…while at the same time creating astronomical debt that will ultimately be apportioned to all Americans…a simple case of double dipping in my estimation.
Read full article here:
http://www.thoughttheater.com
July 28th, 2006 at 7:19 pmLook for this in Republican campaigns this fall:
If Democrats vote against the bill after this inheritance tax cut is stapled to the minimum wage bill, ads all over the country will fry Democrats for not voting for a minimum wage increase after persuing it so relentlessly. Republicans will say D’s are simply pandering to the poor, but not willing to step up to the plate when legislation is on the floor.
July 28th, 2006 at 7:22 pmWhere is Osama when we really need him? No joke.
July 28th, 2006 at 7:34 pm#16 - Dave,
That’s precisely the point of including this BS in the minimum wage bill in the first place. It, like everything else they do, is nothing more than pure political pandering of the worst kind. They sure as shit didn’t attach any riders or pork to the bill that granted themselves a $4000+ raise this year (which they’ve given themselves EVERY year rather than every decade). They have proven themselves to be completely devoid of decency, honor or integrity and it’s time for the Dems to make them pay for it. Senator Reid and Rep. Pelosi, if you’re listening (which I’m sure you’re not), the time for comity is LONG OVER! Shut down everything! Don’t vote on a damn thing after the break: give a press conference on the steps of the Capital EVERY day and tell the American people why you’ve done what you’ve done. Enough is enough already! When Sen. Reid forced the Senate to go to closed sesssion last fall over the Phase II report (How is that report coming along anyways? Thought it was supposed to be done in September) the Dems got a pretty solid boost in the polls. The American people are sick and tired of this crap and if you (Dems in Congress) stand up and scream about what you believe in, they will follow you!
July 28th, 2006 at 7:37 pmHappy Friday all!
Do you believe President Bush’s actions justify impeachment? * 270192 responses
Yes, between the secret spying, the deceptions leading to war and more, there is plenty to justify putting him on trial.
87%
No, like any president, he has made a few missteps, but nothing approaching “high crimes and misdemeanors.”
4.4%
No, the man has done absolutely nothing wrong. Impeachment would just be a political lynching.
7.2%
I don’t know.
1.8%
haven’t voted? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904/from/ET
July 28th, 2006 at 7:40 pm#16…. of course the opposite can also be said for the Dems voting it down and saying that the super rich don’t deserve another tax break and the only way a minimum wage increase will pass is to get rid of the repubs. I think most voters are becoming familiar with the games of the repubs ~ thier time in control is drawing to an end. . . and crap like this will only confirms their lack of compassion.
July 28th, 2006 at 7:42 pmThe only way to end this crap is to vote these corrupt fascist pigs is to vote them out this Nov. Failing that, it’s time for the REVOLUTION!!!
July 28th, 2006 at 7:42 pmwith more than a quarter million voting on yes on MSNBC on impeaching bush, that is definitely more revealing than any other poll that I’ve seen that merely poll 1000 or so people.
July 28th, 2006 at 7:45 pm#8 JC says
“Starting in the 1950’s, corporate interests have done everything they can to dissuade people from joining unions. The attack is so complete, that now you have people who readily, willingly, almost gleefully go against their own best interests.
Sad. Really. As a well run union is a great counter-balance to the uber-rich. ”
Yes, the corporations have been very effective. My husband just approved his union’s proposal, but his co-workers are all going to vote against it because it will cost them $2 a week. They would cut off their nose to spite their face.
July 28th, 2006 at 7:57 pmWe can thank unions for the 40 hour week, for paid vacations, for health coverage, for safety in the workplace, for the right to have a representative make your case to your employer, etc. Unions are not without fault - I understand that - but the worker is losing rights and privileges every year, the owners are making obscene profits on the backs of the workers who fear the loss of their jobs, and the employees are unable to see what is happening. They will hold on to that $2 while their job security, as well as their personal safety, evaporates.
I am referring to the $2 dues charge - not the $2 min. wage increase.
July 28th, 2006 at 8:00 pmre: #8
Indeed. And it will be the Republican Majority in the House, Senate, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch that will grant Amnesty to 20 million illegal immigrants (like Reagan did in the 80’s) with the purpose of destroying the Middle Class by busting whats left of the unions with a flood of cheap labor. And if that doesn’t finish the Middle Class off… more tax breaks for the ultra rich, especially during times of war, forced redeployment of troops (notice there is no draft to force the cowardly Republicans into service), and no limit on gas prices in sight.
…And in the end, the misguided working stiff will be too tired at the end of the day, just trying to put food on the table…working 2 jobs now since he wont have time to question the big Republican lie that somehow, mysteriously, it was the unions/democrats/liberals/progressives that stole his pension, sent his children to die in a war based on lies, and forced him to pay for it all, that he’ll continue to believe the lie until ultimately he will be so enslaved by the Republicans that he’ll be forced to sell his birth right for the few crumbs that fall from the Republican table in exchange for betraying every other American and the legacy of his children. So far so good eh?
July 28th, 2006 at 8:01 pmHow did the Republicans totally miss the ‘estate tax’ idea? Somebody is fired! They think thatthe working poor will be so excited about that $1.05 raise, that they would get the NEXT year too, that they wouldn’t see them ensuring their own multi-million dollar ‘raises’. And theirs is tax-free too, WOW! But that eventual $2.10 increase, so grudgingly given (election year) will be taxed. That’s only fair, right? There is ALWAYS something in it for the Republicans. “What I’m gonna get?”, is the first thing they think about. Pudendum Heads.
July 28th, 2006 at 8:17 pmThere is no curse in the English language for this deliberate trechary on the part of the Conservatives. This is dispicable! Just truely dispicable!
I have prayed night and day that Jesus Christ would show the Conservative lawmakers the error of their ways, but I guess when someone has already sold their souls for money you can’t expect them to ever change.
Now I pray that Jesus will aid and comfort us as we stand up to the Conservative Nazis that control this country with an iron hand, and I pray that even the beltway DLCers will have the courage to stand against them.
July 28th, 2006 at 8:20 pmDoes Paris Hilton even know this issue exists? Just askin’
July 28th, 2006 at 8:24 pmWhy do we fight and die in Iraq? So Paris Hilton, Dick Cheney and Daddy Warbucks get the big breaks, silly.
July 28th, 2006 at 8:28 pmNice job GOP, while you pretned to help the working poor of this country, you’re really pulling off blackmail. This is all a political ploy to embarass the Democrats.
See more analysis on the dastardly GOP minimum wage bill by going to http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog.php
Plus, Ann Coulter calls Al Gore a…www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog.php
July 28th, 2006 at 8:32 pmHow it is that the American political system got set up so every issue that comes up for a vote can be turned into a multiple issue vote like this? Is there no way to make a vote on minimum wage only a vote a minimum wage?
Puzzled in Canada
July 28th, 2006 at 8:41 pmThe truth in pictures:
July 28th, 2006 at 8:49 pm“George W. Bush, American Idle.”
You socialists crack me up……
Here’s an idea…..if you wanna be part of the rich, work harder!
July 28th, 2006 at 8:51 pmParis Hilton works her ass off Michael Savage hahahahahahahahahaa! Keep the myth going fool bwahahahahahahah. and by the way Savage works for Israel.
July 28th, 2006 at 9:07 pmWhile Paris Hilton may be a worthless bum, I would assume that someone within her family busted their ass and made a name for themselves (hence a chain of hotels). Why should the government decide who gets the money that her family heirs worked hard for?
Dr. Savage doesn’t work for Israel you fool. He is an American. Something no one on this message board would say with any pride.
July 28th, 2006 at 9:18 pmEat the rich!
Comment by dixie blood
I heard they taste like baby back ribs.
July 28th, 2006 at 9:24 pmDR. Savage hahahahaahah, Doctor of nutrition, and if he didn’t find a gig in the fascist propaganda business he’d be planning school lunches in an elementary school near you.
…and most of the inheritors ARE bums, and now for the American version of the ridgid British class system. You only want to inherit it ALL if you have no confidence in your abilities. Poster child GW Bush. now GET TO WORK SPOILED BRATS bwahahahahahahhha
July 28th, 2006 at 9:27 pmDoes Paris Hilton have a public position on the Paris Hilton Tax? Wouldn’t it be funny if she, herself, Paris Hilton, was so concerned about this country’s financial situation that she would actually support keeping the Paris Hilton Tax? Maybe we should organize an email campaign to persuade Paris that she’s wealthy enough to shoulder a tax for the benefit our country?
July 28th, 2006 at 9:30 pmThe economist bloggers are pointing to my little Angrybear but you have Paris Hilton. Should I say “not fair” (as in stealing my most recognized post ever) or WELL DONE! This Think Progress crew is really getting good at this!!!!!
July 28th, 2006 at 9:34 pmOh Gosh….
This crowd of frogs is hopelessly paranoid.
One sober would think: “What this topic may have to do with Israel”
But, wait: here comes the extecited frog crowd: “We do not hate Israel, We do not hate Jews, Israel has nothing to do with this!!!”
July 28th, 2006 at 9:42 pmEven if i had a bajillion dollars I would never leave it to my kids.
Why?
They take it all for granted, and tend to grow up to act like Paris the slutty rich girl or Duhbya the frat boy president.
Crass arrogant condescending and conceited.
July 28th, 2006 at 9:45 pmFaiz
I’m sorry, but you did not say what the other side (congressional conservatives) have to say about it. You just forgot, didn’t you?
July 28th, 2006 at 9:46 pmFaiz
I’m sorry, but you did not say what the other side (congressional conservatives) have to say about it. You just forgot, didn’t you?
Comment by One Jew
google conservative website Man who follows a Jewish Ideology.
July 28th, 2006 at 9:49 pmKeeping up our “annoying Jew” rep. One Jew? And a bit of advise, the “frogs” BS sounds mentally retarded, you might want to give that up Schlomo it makes you sound slow.Our people must impress!
July 28th, 2006 at 9:50 pmParis would be selling crack, both kinds, on a street corner if she had to earn her own way thru life, Duhbya would probably be her smirking pimp
July 28th, 2006 at 9:51 pmYeh one man who thinks Jewish ideology, ‘Frogs’ is a term normally used for the french liberals,
But maybe you meant neo-liberal delay?
July 28th, 2006 at 9:54 pmAccording to Bram Stoker, “The dead travel fast”, but you can but your ass they don’t pay taxes. They don’t do anything. They’re DEAD. Anyone who bellyaches about their estate being taxed is welcome to volunteer to pay them while they’re still alive.
Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Dems need to make it clear that the people who are actually complaining about not inheriting enough of their parents’ wealth didn’t lift a finger to earn the money that is being taxed from the estate. By definition, the person who was productive and actually did the work (or at least accrued the wealth) is - wait for it - DEAD.
July 28th, 2006 at 9:56 pmReagan conservative lashes out at ‘hijackers of the conservative movement’
[aka Culture of Corruption]
SLIMEBALLS
John Byrne
Published: Friday July 28, 2006
He says national security decisions are too often made for political gain. And he maintains that Tom DeLay used “legal plunder” for the “immoral purpose of holding onto power.”
[Slimeball Fake Christian]
A Democrat? No - His name is Richard Viguerie, a conservative icon and key architect of Ronald Reagan’s 1980 victory. Known to many as the godfather of direct-mail campaign fundraising, his four-decade career has succored scores of conservative candidates and grassroots causes.
A balding grandfather with a wry Texan’s smile, Viguerie is a seasoned conservative who confidently brushes aside accusations that his criticism of Republicans is intended for personal gain. On Monday, he sat down to talk about his new book, Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.
[SlimeBALLS]
Modeling himself after Barry Goldwater, a 1960s conservative iconoclast whose reactionary stances later positioned Ronald Reagan for victory in 1980, Viguerie says the worst day of his political life was when Lyndon Johnson defeated Goldwater for president in 1964. Viguerie, who aided Reagan’s election but later became critical of some of his policies, today sees a landscape where Republicans run using a mantle of traditional values but carry the banner of conservatism [Fake Christian Slimeballs] only as far as it takes them to get elected.
Viguerie begins his book with two quotes. “The first is from Ronald Reagan and it says something along the lines of: ‘I tell my people that when we begin to refer to the federal government as us, we’ve been here too long.’ And then I recount a story of [former House Majority Leader] Tom DeLay (R-TX), late one night after dinner, he wants to light up a cigar and the manager says I’m sorry, Mr. DeLay… it’s against the law to smoke in a federal building. And DeLay says, ‘I am the federal government.’”
[What a Slimeball]
Tom DeLay is singlehandedly the primary person responsible for the most expansion of the government[Conservative? Hardly] since Lyndon Johnson, and that’s the prescription drug benefit. He’s the one who kept the vote open in the House of Representatives… to make sure that he had enough votes… and twisted arms, and passed onto our children billions of dollars of debt.
And they continue to jump the ship
July 28th, 2006 at 10:00 pmYeh Paris Hilton get a few million, shes gonna need for her face lifts and boob jobs later in life, plus that expensive therapy.
But hey lets give the people a few dollars an hour to pay off the huge debt incurred by the neo-liberal Delay and Gang.
cmon GOPers!
July 28th, 2006 at 10:03 pmLets hear a big round of cheers!
Debt Debt Hooray!
DEBT DEBT HOORAY!!
DC Republicans only love the wealthy > everybody else to them are cannon fodder or useless worker slaves, so they do not want the minimum wage raised unless the wealthy get more tax cuts > very disgusting!
July 28th, 2006 at 10:08 pmHeres hoping the bill with the poison pill fails and the Dems raise the issue everytime they think about it between now and November.Surely they are not afraid of a class warfare charge by the Republicans. The majority of the American people support a raise to the minimum wage and do not support reapeal of the Estate Tax.
July 28th, 2006 at 10:23 pm51 Tim)
Exactly. The person who earned this money has passed on. If he wants to give charitable donations to his preferred charities in order to give back to community, that’s fine with me; I’d like to see taxes on those donations lower if not eliminated altogether.
But I do have a problem with rich kids inheriting a dead man’s money. They did not earn that money.
Naturally, we work so our kids can have the benefits of inheritance; but once your lineage become so established that you’re making six figure salaries, and have tens of millionso f dollars, its suffice to say you can provide excellent opportunities for your kids to be competitive in the world before you die. You can send your kids to the good colleges, you can leverage your placement in the world to help your kids get good jobs, and the list goes on and on.
If those rich kids, with all those advantages, can’t make a name for themselves with those millions of dollars after inheritance taxes, why do they diserve to be wealthy? This nation is based on equality, and allowing the rich to establish themselves as an aristocracy, which is exactly what would happen if enough generations of wealthy people passed all their money down to their kids, is against everything Americans fought for.
July 28th, 2006 at 10:31 pm# 28 - The great republican lie - well said!!!
July 28th, 2006 at 10:54 pmTau - Regardng Richard A. Viguerie, I wouldn’t get too excited about him….he sure liked the Bush veto of stem cell research.
http://www.conservativehq.com/
July 28th, 2006 at 11:19 pmSometimes you have to compromise, but where’s the money gonna come from to pay for both?
July 28th, 2006 at 11:37 pmSupport minimum wagers, give a rich capitalist the finger today!
July 28th, 2006 at 11:47 pmSupport minimum wagers, give a rich capitalist the finger today!
Comment by anon
The rich get all the best fingers…
July 28th, 2006 at 11:48 pmThe rich like the fat CEO Raymond of Exxon might eat his own fingers, by mistake shoveling all that caviar down his gullet > lol.
July 28th, 2006 at 11:57 pmParis Hilton is too stupid to make a living in this world. She NEEDS the money.
July 28th, 2006 at 11:59 pmhi, everybody!
:( david letterman is a meanie…
hi, zooey! hi, jay!
kisses
July 29th, 2006 at 12:17 amDave M (56),
Excellent point on the advantages that affluent kids have, and easy enough to turn into a talking point along the lines of giving a kid a fishing pole (education) instead of giving him the fish. Some people will ask, “Why should the government get it instead of the kid”. The answer to that person is, “Because the government needs to pay for the massive deficit and inefficient homeland security you voted for”.
I also think that one of the ways that repubs want to mislead people on the issue is related to the inherited small business. They say that the business will go under just based on taxes alone. It isn’t true because the business has its own tax breaks independant of the owner. One thing I need to research more is how many businesses were passed to the next generation 50 years ago versus today, and what the inheritance tax rates were then. My guess is that more businesses were successfully passed on even while higher taxes were in place, but I could certainly be wrong about that.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:18 amhello???
July 29th, 2006 at 12:18 amdavid letterman is a meanie…
hi, zooey! hi, jay!
kisses
Comment by ann ann coulter
You love it when they’re mean, ann, you know you do. ;)
July 29th, 2006 at 12:19 amhi, everybody!
:( david letterman is a meanie…
hi, zooey! hi, jay!
kisses
July 29th, 2006 at 12:19 amyes, yes, yes
Regis, leave that freaky sidekick home, ok?
July 29th, 2006 at 12:20 amno, i don’t… see: :(
and i looked all split-endy on cnbc last night too! it is the damn weather i think….
kisses,
ann
July 29th, 2006 at 12:21 amJust eat something, ann. It makes your coat all pretty and shiny.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:22 amToo much protein. Maybe you should try a Ghandi inpersonation.
Might as well go for it, ann, because these comments are going away. :)
July 29th, 2006 at 12:29 amAnn would you please drink Bush’s, and Cheney’s blood, so this nation can have peace please > lol.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:30 amann, dearest, the rendered fat of baby harp seals should fix up that problem hair.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:35 am#
Sometimes you have to compromise, but where’s the money gonna come from to pay for both?
Comment by For Truth — July 28, 2006 @ 11:37 pm
This country is operating on borrowed money now. Spending 2 billion dollars per WEEK on the war machine in Iraq (and part in Afghanistan) isn’t saving lives, promoting freedom or democracy. We don’t have (actual) money to do anything, but wouldn’t it be better to turn this monopoly money toward healing instead of death? Perhaps if our focus was on healing and compassion instead of power and profit, we’d eventually have rea prosperity again, and not just for those who are already properous.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:48 amwell the post count is correct and you can read me and i can read you… i don’t know where everyone is, but, i think we are ‘here’?
i think that ghandi did drink his own piss for some reason…maybe it is an urban legend? why he didn’t vomit like a madman afterward is rather odd though.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:49 amOh my god, a normal person…
July 29th, 2006 at 12:49 amann - i had this idea today… probably not an original, but… tell me what you think… you too zooey, jay, whoever…
July 29th, 2006 at 12:49 amthe al gore “fag” thing… he couldn’t be brought down with the science, so it’s attack his sexuality… eh?
#82
pssst…..talk like that is going to get you kicked out of this joint….
July 29th, 2006 at 12:50 ami don’t know where everyone is…
Living a life away from the computer?
July 29th, 2006 at 12:51 am#86 - What? Like a normal person? One who has not been banned or deleted?
July 29th, 2006 at 12:52 amthe ‘fag’ remark seemed to me to be the old ‘demonize-the-opponent-before-you-crush-them-again’ neoconservative approach to all things…
i also sensed from ann’s appearance on fox today that she has a new book in mind on the sexuality of liberlism and conservatism… i think she is gone, but, maybe she will be back in here later…
she said something to jay leno about dating ‘conservative men only’ and now with the ‘fag’ thing…expect a book on the subject early 2007?
July 29th, 2006 at 12:54 am#85 - katy,
If someone, not our dear ann, of course, tried to bring Al Gore down by questioning his sexuality, it would be pretty lame. They’d try it, naturally, but it’s lame.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:55 am#78- Zooey, you sure do have a way with words! I felt the bile rising right away! Such nastiness, he could easily be the model for a new ‘Mr. Yuck’ sticker. Kids would stay FAR away!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:55 am#91 - Thank you, Cyra. I do my best! Of course, this evening I’m following ann’s lead. :)
July 29th, 2006 at 12:57 amIf someone, not our dear ann, of course, tried to bring Al Gore down by questioning his sexuality, it would be pretty lame. They’d try it, naturally, but it’s lame.
Comment by Zooey — July 29, 2006 @ 12:55 am
um… it sounds like … didn’t you hear?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:01 amshe DID call gore a “fag”… on leno or tweety…
forget which… band member?
Al Gore is NOT Gay > PERIOD. Ann Coulter maybe her brother in drag, so that is a closet queen thing > lol. As for Bill Clinton > he has only done things with women, like Monica, so only Bush boy could be Gay, because he did hire a male hooker named Jeff Gannon > lol.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:01 am#92 - Yes, TP is a delicate balancing act, which, when thrown into turmoil, tosses its cookies.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:02 am#95 - katy,
I’m not talking about that Ann, I’m tlaking about our dear “ann.” You know, the banned member.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:05 amyou know i think i am on to something with ann’s new book idea… maybe i should send her a letter. it would be sort of a matter/anti-matter thing–what would happen?
here is a media matter thing, and i know i read a column about men ‘acting like men’ about something or other….
July 29th, 2006 at 1:06 amDid you all hear about the Repub Senator whose 80+ year old father was arrested in a McDonalds’ parking lot having sex with a 36 year old hooker in a car?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:10 amband member, I think you are onto something with that book idea. Ann’s no dummy, she’ll use this press to her own ends.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:12 amwell duh… it’s late… and i’m dense…
ok… but what about my theory?
i’m not saying gore is gay, but the reason she said that is because they couldn’t discredit him with the science… like band member said, “the ‘fag’ remark seemed to me to be the old ‘demonize-the-opponent-before-you-crush-them-again’ neoconservative approach to all things”…
some clips: http://www.crooksandliars.com/ posts/ 2006/ 07/ 28/ coulter-on-clinton-and-gore-gay-and-fag/
July 29th, 2006 at 1:12 amHi james > seems to be safe in here tonight > Since Ann posts not deleted!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:12 am#100 - Oh! Hello, James. Long time, no see. Have you been on a lovely vacation?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:13 am#101 - Norm Coleman Sr. *snort* You’d think he could last until he got her home…or, at least, somewhere other than McDonalds. :)
July 29th, 2006 at 1:16 amnorm sr., 81, savoy inn, st paul.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:19 am#106 - It happens when you miss a meal — imagine that, dear heart. Don’t worry, darling, I’m sure risser shall be re-banned, and you’ll have us all to yourself again.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:19 am#95- Katy, it was on ‘Tweety’s’ show. She called Al “a total fag.” Even for ‘Mann Coulter’, that was really shocking. I really hope that Al will decide to sue her for Slander, as well as Libel. She clearly did both, she is asking for it. She has gotten away with saying SO MANY vile things, and each time she gets away with it, so she just gets worse. I think she wants someone to call her on her crap. Al Gore should oblige her. He could donate any money he is awarded in her name. That would really get her goat, and be funny as hell too!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:21 am#107-Zooey, he was ‘lovin it!’
July 29th, 2006 at 1:23 am#108 - ann, nice picture. I see the airbrush guy had to fill you out a bit. Too bad your back will be curved into a dowager’s hump in a few years. Better drink some milk, sweetie.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:24 amYes Zooey he was Sen. Coleman’s dad, and his mom told the press that she refuses to believe it, so the cops should have filmed the event to convince the spouse! I bet Norm does the same thing > do any of the Repub Senators act like normal people, or are all of them perverted?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:25 am#113 - Cyra,
Now look who has a way with words! Excellent….
July 29th, 2006 at 1:26 am#115 - OMG, I had no idea there was a Mrs Coleman Sr! Awkward…!
Repubs perverted? Ask our ann…
July 29th, 2006 at 1:28 amband member,
Speaking of perverted, what do you think of this one?
Yes, the “blame America first†crowd wants to believe the US deserved the attacks of 9/11, and that terrorists are “nice†people, if we just did everything they wanted us to do, including convert to Islam and oppress our women with viels and burkas.
Is this a subconscious cry of feminists to finally be taken by force and dominated? Have American men been too nice by “letting†women work like dogs in soulless companies as we have?
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
July 29th, 2006 at 1:33 amOdd that the old guy did it in a car with people watching, who then called the police > why did he not get a room? Too cheap I suppose > damn fool! Reminds me of Jeb Bush’s oldest son a few years ago being caught naked in a car doing a young girl > police tell him to get out of the car, so he does buck naked, then yells at them that he is Jeb’s son, so they will all be fired > lol. I would have taken him naked to the jail and put him in a cell with drunks > he might have learned some respect, or been gang raped > what the hell I dislike the Bush clan!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:36 amJames,
I’ve been looking at your newest blog. Why is it impossible to leave a comment?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:38 am“Patriotic Americans don’t have to become dangerous psychotics like liberals, but they could at least act like men.” -A.C.
oh my gawd - jason thinks she’s talking to HIM…
July 29th, 2006 at 1:39 amand he thinks he’s acting like a MAN…
#124 - And he’s not a band member.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:41 amcyra - i found the clips at crooks and liars, posted them…
i’m not sure what to think about a libel suit… i can certainly understand the need, but not sure what purpose would be best served…
when o’lielly sued franken, it was the best thing that happened for franken’s new book…
coulter is already a best seller, but i’d hate to give her any more publicity than she can beg for…
know what i mean?
but yea, sweet justice… a pleasant thought…
July 29th, 2006 at 1:49 amwell people, it’s way past my bedtime…
good comments, funny posts…
who needs ThinkFast P.M. anyway… (me) (i miss it)
g’nite all…
July 29th, 2006 at 1:51 amCoulter eventually will probably call for Cheney to be slain, and old Dick will not think it’s funny, then the Secret Service will grab her ass, and off to GITMO she goes > bye Ann!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:52 amnight night!
i think you can my new book on tape so you could listen to it as you doze off…
July 29th, 2006 at 1:53 amjay,
that’s a thought. it would be like godzilla versus mothra!!! ann vs. dick. what an idea!
i don’t think ann would good in an orange jumpsuit.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:54 amOff to bed all > bye Zooey > I bet this thread gets deleted back to about 90 posts > might be best for TP to have a free for all thread each nite > no deletions!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:56 amLater band > yep it would be the end of Ann > lol.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:58 amre: #36
If you mean “work harder” like Ann Coulter, Bill Oreilly, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Tony Snow, Jeff Gannon, and Michael Savage do…well I don’t consider that “working harder” although it is considered to be the oldest profession on the planet…
I will say this. There is one thing in particular Republicans do better than all the rest. ;)
July 29th, 2006 at 2:03 am#130- Katy, it probably is me, just wanting someone, anyone, to slap the lips off of her face. That not being likely, I would be willing to settle for her having to explain to a Judge why she did it. A judge would not be as inclined to let her ‘talk smack’, and could even have her put in jail. I know, I am a ‘Dreamer’, but what does it hurt?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:04 amHooray! Paris just got her tax cut!
July 29th, 2006 at 2:05 amNite, John Boy, Nite, Mary Ellen, Nite, Jim Bob, Nite, Erin! I had fun, thanks ALL!
July 29th, 2006 at 2:10 amJames,
If you’re still here — It worked!
Goodnight!
July 29th, 2006 at 2:14 amjust more frist and his clique of 18
==
“Congressional Republicans have seemingly been obsessed with only one thing over the last year, pulling out all the stops by doing anything at all in their power to give their friends, their campaign contributors, family farms and small businesses a tax cut worth upwards of $1 trillion.
Almost all respectable media outlets, congressional offices, outside analysts and even most Americans now understand that the fight to repeal the estate tax is not about fighting for the little guy or the needs of average Americans, but is really about a windfall welfare program for the heirs of the outrageously mega-rich—with the 18 families at the top of the list.” –Tom Paine
July 29th, 2006 at 2:26 amthe fight to repeal the estate tax is not about fighting for the little guy or the needs of average Americans
Greed pure and simple. You give us a Trillion and we give you, thru our senate lackeys and pawns, a measly few dollars that won’t be coming out of our pocket.
Well screw you greedy 18 families.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:34 amBoycott Hilton and the rest of these dickweeds who think only of themself.
It’s Socialism, by golly, but only for the obscenely rich!
July 29th, 2006 at 3:43 amBetter drink some milk, sweetie.
Comment by Zooey — July 29, 2006 @ 1:24 am
Don’t fall for the dairy industry’s propaganda Zoo… :)
Seriously, milk is not healthy. I know, I know, it’s been lobbied and advertized like crazy our entire lives so that it seems like it is good for you, but it’s not.
It’s high in saturated fat, cholesterol and filled with antibiotics that were fed to dairy cows. It is linked to juvenile diabetes.
Plus, too much protein in your diet actually leeches calcium out of your bones and leads to osteroporosis. It has to do with protein putting amino acids in your blood stream. With too much protein, there are too many amino acids (body must maintain chemical balance), which the body then buffers by pulling calcium (an alkalid) from your bones… Countries who consume a lot of milk tend to have weaker bones than countries who avoid it.
The reality is that cow’s milk is meant for calves, not people. Please don’t let the billions in dairy industry propaganda foll you into thinking milk does a body good. It doesn’t.
July 29th, 2006 at 9:13 amIs this a subconscious cry of feminists to finally be taken by force and dominated? Have American men been too nice by “letting†women work like dogs in soulless companies as we have?
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
Comment by Zooey — July 29, 2006 @ 1:33 am
He’ll be lucky if any woman ever ‘lets’ him have sex with her.
To answer his question: Touch me and you’ll get to find out about being a woman first hand…
July 29th, 2006 at 9:19 amLOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Actor and director Mel Gibson was arrested Friday in Malibu, California, on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
Gibson, 50, was pulled over early Friday while driving on the Pacific Coast Highway, said sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore. Officers on patrol reported Gibson was driving at an “excessively fast speed,” he said.
Police said his blood-alcohol content was .12. The legal limit is .08.
http://www.cnn.com/ 2006/ SHOWBIZ/ Movies/ 07/ 28/ gibson.dui/ index.html
July 29th, 2006 at 9:26 amHave you seen the little piggies, living piggy lives?
July 29th, 2006 at 9:42 amAny raise in congressional salaries should be tied into a raise for the minimum wage
No raise in the minimum wage, no raise for Congress and the Senate
July 29th, 2006 at 9:43 amDon’t fall for the dairy industry’s propaganda Zoo… :)
Comment by unbelievable
Just joking around with James. The joke doesn’t go over as well with leafy dark green vegetables. ;)
I’m surprised all that stuff is still there, actually.
July 29th, 2006 at 10:10 amThe reality is that cow’s milk is meant for calves, not people.
Comment by unbelievable — July 29, 2006 @ 9:13 am
my mom always said that - after we all grew up, on 2% then !% milk!
she started reading health books at 75!
but i love milk… surely organic SKIM milk is “safer”?
July 29th, 2006 at 10:11 am(referring to the fat/cholesterol/antibiotics)…
at least that’s why i pay a premium price for it!
zooey - there are 20+ posts gone, but not those…
July 29th, 2006 at 10:12 amstrange…
That’s bizarre, katy. When I posted my comment at 10:10 a.m., james was still here — now he’s gone. Also missing is my most excellent comment about Lee Raymond aka Vogon and his hand warming jowls. It was creepy, but no naughty words.
July 29th, 2006 at 10:42 amJust joking around with James. The joke doesn’t go over as well with leafy dark green vegetables. ;)
I know, just saw the opportunity to grandstand :)
I read this incredible book on the dangers of socially acceptable foods. It’s interesting how Capitialistic greed cares more about selling its products than the general health of the country.
Sorta got into it with the Vet Science teacher in my new school. She made a snide comment when my principal asked me what I do eat so she can accomodate me. She snidely remarked how SHE has no problems stuffing a chicken into a cage. Chickens are very active birds. Putting them in cages is no different than putting humans in them. I told her that I considered it cruel and would not participate. And she will be handling people’s pets? Not mine. I think not anyone else’s frankly, as she’s already managed to piss off two other teachers with her neocon attitude. Lovely. But, otherwise, I can’t speak highly enough about my other colleagues. They are talented and interesting people, and I am thrilled to get to work with them (our school is encouraging us to be very collaborative). We’ve been working hard (it’s a brand new program in a renovated school), but it’s been fun.
School starts Tuesday. I still have so much to do….
How’s your new job?
I’m surprised all that stuff is still there, actually.
Comment by Zooey — July 29, 2006 @ 10:10 am
What is going on with that? I have only caught bits and pieces.
July 29th, 2006 at 10:53 amAnyone who can afford to have a matching outfit for a dog (or, in this case, a wannabe dog) has absolutely no need for more money. The movement to repeal the estate tax is just another attack on Jeffersonian democracy. The founding fathers were opposed to an aristocracy, power in any form being passed from generation to generation. Money is sure power in our democratic republic and capitalistic society, especially now as BushCo attempts to turn the clock back to the Industrial Revolution times when robber barons ruled.
July 29th, 2006 at 10:58 amFolks, focus on the important issues instead:
Watch C-Span panel featuring academics, military & former US administrations officials on this #1 importance topic - starts this Sat 29@8pm EST on the main CSpan channel
9/11 = inside job!
If you don’t have Cspan on your cable get it via net streaming from their sit:
July 29th, 2006 at 11:02 amhttp://www.c-span.org
Chickens are very active birds. Putting them in cages is no different than putting humans in them. Unbelievable.
I was raised on a poultry farm and have to take issue with this. Chickens have a tendency to crowd together naturally, so much so, in fact, that they will crowd into a corner and suffocate those on the bottom. When I was in high school, I was hired to debeak some chickens that were “floor birds”, in a very large barn loose without cages. As soon as we walked into the barn, the chickens crowded into corners and despite our best efforts 300 (!) chickens suffocated. Even range chickens will crowd into natural corners, on roosting posts, etc.
July 29th, 2006 at 11:07 amPoultry farmers have to treat chickens humanely, and generally do, because if they don’t the chickens do not mature or die. There are exceptions, of course, with some farmers. Especially, the “compassionate conservative” kind!
How’s your new job?
It’s great. I’m busy the whole day. Obviously I wasn’t in the old job, judging from the amount of time I spent on TP. :)
I’m glad you’re looking forward to your new job, it sounds like a great opportunity for you.
I’m surprised all that stuff is still there, actually.
Comment by Zooey — July 29, 2006 @ 10:10 am
What is going on with that? I have only caught bits and pieces.
Comment by unbelievable
James Risser and several of his personalities were on this thread last night, and we were joking around in funny and disgusting ways. Several of us kept being surprised that since we had hijacked the thread to the tune of about 80 comments, james hadn’t disappeared like he usually does these days. Apparently someone at TP crawled out of bed soon after my 10:10 a.m. comment, because james is now gone, as well as several of my own. :P
July 29th, 2006 at 11:16 amPLC,
I just completely disagree with you on this subject.
Chickens are active animals. Just because they are social animals doesn’t mean crowding them in cages is natural. It’s not.
How would you feel if someone put you in a cage? I mean, humans too are social animals that crowd together…
Plus, how is it fair to take another living creature and force it into slavery to mass produce? It’s entire existence is unnatural. We as liberals don’t want this for humans so how can we then force it upon other life forms while still calling ourselves liberal? I think we cannot.
July 29th, 2006 at 11:24 amIt’s great. I’m busy the whole day. Obviously I wasn’t in the old job, judging from the amount of time I spent on TP. :)
Yeah, I too know what you mean :).
Well, glad to hear the new job is more interesting. Sucks to have to do work you don’t enjoy. Hopefully it’s also paying better :).
Is it more or fewer ‘zoo’ animals at this new job to have to wrangle?
I’m glad you’re looking forward to your new job, it sounds like a great opportunity for you.
Thanks. Like you, I’m much happier here than at my last place. I actually feel like the Administration cares, and the community is happy to have us here. Though, we’ve been hearing that some teachers at the other high schools are being critical… saying we’ll be distracting from their subjects (how is that anyone’s fault but their own?)
James Risser and several of his personalities were on this thread last night, and we were joking around in funny and disgusting ways. Apparently someone at TP crawled out of bed soon after my 10:10 a.m. comment, because james is now gone, as well as several of my own. :P
Comment by Zooey — July 29, 2006 @ 11:16 am
Why? What’s wrong with what was posted? Any idea? I read most of the stuff earlier. Wasn’t anything inappropriate.
July 29th, 2006 at 11:30 amNice you used Paris the American role model for this article every parent wants they child to grow up and be like Paris. Now the video business will be doing well and of course our new education policy will read every child left behind. As we have the US leaders who are from rich families and don’t know what a washing machine is. Oh yes and the cars, parties, dogs as toys, jet setting and sleep with every rich kid possible. As America becomes the third world so Paris can still spend. Soon the base of Americans will be working the jobs of the immigrates and we will have just the rich and poor here in the US not middle class. Oh and that American dream with be history. I know the Bush twins would love our new country they can come home and drink/drugs without it being illegal.
July 29th, 2006 at 11:37 amWell the news is that Democrats in the House fell for the GOP cheese on raising the minimum wage, but also gave away the store passing estate tax relief for billionaires > the Dems never seem to realize that the Repubs are crafty a-holes, nor do they seem to notice that everyone is watching the Congress doing these shenanigans > probably the entire Congress should resign, so this nation can start over with new people in our capital?!
July 29th, 2006 at 11:43 amHopefully it’s also paying better :)
Just a tiny bit better, but the benefits are great, so I consider it a good trade-off.
Is it more or fewer ‘zoo’ animals at this new job to have to wrangle?
I’m the low man on the totem pole, so I don’t wrangle sh*t these days. Works for me! This is the first time in about 10 years where I have shared actual office space with other employees, and it’s mostly good to have that interaction. There is one woman with such a motor mouth…I can’t believe her ability to keep up a running dialogue about absolutely nothing. I just tune her out.
Why? What’s wrong with what was posted? Any idea? I read most of the stuff earlier. Wasn’t anything inappropriate.
There was nothing wrong with the comments, only a few were gross. Maybe you didn’t know James Risser has been banned from TP? Everytime he shows up he gets deleted, so a few of us were having a bit of fun with him.
I’m off to see the old people (my parents) today, so I better hop into the shower and get on the road, as it takes 1.5 hours to get there. Finally it’s only supposed to be in the 80s today in Moscow, so I head off to a town that’s 10 degrees hotter. Go figure…
July 29th, 2006 at 11:44 amJust a tiny bit better, but the benefits are great, so I consider it a good trade-off.
Good!
You know, it’s too bad we don’t give all citizens government benefits.
I’m the low man on the totem pole, so I don’t wrangle sh*t these days. Works for me!
I don’t think we appreciate our lack of responsibility until we’ve had a lot of it in the first place :)
There is one woman with such a motor mouth…I can’t believe her ability to keep up a running dialogue about absolutely nothing. I just tune her out.
Oh, people like that give me a headache. You’re smart to tune it out. I’ve recently learned to do the same thing…
There was nothing wrong with the comments, only a few were gross. Maybe you didn’t know James Risser has been banned from TP? Everytime he shows up he gets deleted, so a few of us were having a bit of fun with him.
He said that he’d been banned some weeks ago, but I figured that if he’d been banned how’d he post that he was banned…
I’m off to see the old people (my parents) today, so I better hop into the shower and get on the road, as it takes 1.5 hours to get there. Finally it’s only supposed to be in the 80s today in Moscow, so I head off to a town that’s 10 degrees hotter. Go figure…
Comment by Zooey — July 29, 2006 @ 11:44 am
If it makes you feel better think about adding 80% humidity :)
Enjoy your visit!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:00 pmWhat this Congress is pushing is an outrage. In 101 days, we must vote for candidates who will be accountable to the people on Main Street, not the bosses on Wall Street.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:49 pmmorning, everyone!
zooey, i had all of those posts deleted. risser is a meanie! and the boys at tp all listen to ME…
kisses,
ann
July 29th, 2006 at 1:09 pmIn a perfect world Paris Hilton and her ilk would be shoveling shit at sewage facilities and her cute little doggy would be pissing on her while she worked. God I wish we lived in a perfect world.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:48 pmHere in California, it’s unheard of to offer minimum wage - even resident illegals ask for and get $10.-/hr. But, “socially just” progs need a reason to foam at the mouth so they “throw up” a bimbo and her “companion animal”.
I’m convinced the men of TP like digging through her old file photos - I’m surprised the wannabe egalitarians here at Think Progress bring up rich-trash Paris Hilton and forget to mention top tax evader, George Soros. (Is that due to his “financial contributions” to TP?) I suppose like all the big corporation you seem to despise, George is a “bad American” for keeping the bulk of his money off-shore so as to keep the tax man at bay. I hope the hypocrite keeps flushing more millions down the progressive toilet - he hasn’t been getting much of a return on his investment, has he???
Happy Weekend….
July 29th, 2006 at 2:44 pmMilk ? Chickens ?
That poster sounds like a good candidate for the ‘Debbie the Downer’(S.N.L.) award.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:35 pmThat poster sounds like a good candidate for the ‘Debbie the Downer’(S.N.L.) award.
Comment by Tina — July 29, 2006 @ 3:35 pm
Imagine how the cows and chickens feel?
But that’s so typical of human egocentricity. Insult those who uncover the reality that inconveniences your comfortable life. Assume that humans are infallable and that anyone to suggest we consider being respectful of other forms of life must be someone who is negative and trying to depress us. Well, if you find teh topic depressing, then perhaps you should consider why. (Hint: it has nothing to do with me pointing it out, but the fact that mistreating food animals is wrong).
My wanting to stop the abuse of food animals is actually quite positive. Your finding it depressing is, well, depressing.
July 29th, 2006 at 4:17 pm“Here in California, it’s unheard of to offer minimum wage - even resident illegals ask for and get $10.-/hr.
Mighty Afro”
Well, it could have something to do with the housing prices… and the gas prices… and the lack of public transportation…no one could live on minimum wage here!
How much do you make? And how much did you have to pay for your house?
July 29th, 2006 at 4:18 pm#152 - “How much do you make? And how much did you have to pay for your house?”
- Comment by SKdeA
*****Answers to both questions which are none of your business: Enough. Plenty.
*****But to really appreciate the warped nature of “progressivism” let’s consider the “subjective morality” of the following:
July 29th, 2006 at 5:37 pm“The estate tax — aka the Paris Hilton Tax — benefits only the ultra-wealthy. This year, the exemption level is $2 million ($4 million per couple), which means only 5 out of every 1,000 people who die will pay the tax.” - Faiz “only 5 out of every 1000″ - I know this will shock some of you, BUT it’s NOT YOUR MONEY. I’ve read where progs here will regularly deem what is enough for someone to earn, own, etc. - who appointed you in charge of “consumption and distribution”??? So according to your logic, it’s OK if only 5 filthy rich people are robbed - they have more than they need.
Rigid Republicans Flip On Minimum Wage Issue!
By Frank J. Ranelli
House republicans try to blackmail democrats and America on minimum wage hike using cheap parlor tricks to diffuse a wedge issue in the up-coming November election.
The House republicans now, all of the sudden, want to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour. This latest is a reversal after stonewalling the democrats on raising the federal minimum wage for several years and voting it down in session at least three previous times.
These are the same reckless, conscienceless, heartless people that tried to paint John Kerry as a “flip-flopper” when he changed his mind! The old double-standard - republicans can change course whenever the political winds opposing them are too strong whereas they might crash on the rocks or bottom out, but democrats are just bleeding heart, limp-wristed, cut and run liberals when they do it!
Anyone who sees a silver lining here, look closer. The republicans are not putting forth a straight vote on a minimum wage hike. The republicans are attempting to tie the wage hike bill to a permanent cutting of taxes on millionaires’ estates! If that wasn’t enough, republicans are attempting to weasel into the package incentives that includes a research and development credit for businesses only.
The word “shyster” comes to mind. Unscrupulous and greedy, a misanthropic lot; these republicans — whose impudent behavior, can only be summed up as nauseatingly perverse. Would it really be that complicated to simply give the 1.9 million people in the U.S. toiling away at a pathetic $5.15 an hour a leg-up without reaching into the cookie jar and handing businesses and trust fund babies more money to indulge in excess with?
According to Deborah Pryce of Ohio, the answer to the above question is a resounding, yes! “We’re right in the middle of trying to put a package together that will provide relief to small businesses that raising the minimum wage would tend to hurt,” said Pryce. Another arcane, baseless accusation that raising the minimum wage hurts small businesses, which the partisan-right continues to propagandized for their masters; money and businesses.
Ostensibly, they seem to suddenly want to help those Americans who haven’t had a pay raise in 10 years - while congress has given itself an average pay raise of over $35,000 per year, over the last ten years combined. Where was the wage increase for the poor while these plutocrats were in line for their self-appointed hand outs?
This latest capricious act by the republican leadership is nothing more than a cheap, blatant attempt to actually portray they care about the poor and underprivileged in an election year that clearly shows the American public has caught on to their charlatan act. It’s a vain attempt to diffuse another wedge issue in the up-coming, mid-term elections cloaked in free-for-all giveaways to the rich, while throwing a bone to the poor - just long enough to divert their attention while they steal another election.
Sorry, but not this time. The pungent stink of a dirty rat is all over this desperate attempt to distance the party from Bush’s sinking ship. We have had more than enough hand-outs to businesses and wealthy aristocrats. Its time for an uncompromising helping-hand to those who need it most without some malfeasant bill attachment to a very noble idea: lend a hand to those less fortunate than you and I!
# # #
Authors Website: http://www.ranellirants.blogspot.com
July 29th, 2006 at 6:23 pmJust heard this passed on the 5:30 CDT news. Surprised to see NOTHING on TP. I am ashamed to be an American (not the first time and unfortunately, not the last). What in cripe sake is the matter with us????
July 29th, 2006 at 6:57 pm#175
#152 - “How much do you make? And how much did you have to pay for your house?â€
- Comment by SKdeA
*****Answers to both questions which are none of your business: Enough. Plenty.
Comment by mighty aphrodite — July 29, 2006 @ 5:37 pm
Judging from the amount of time this rightwingnutjob spends on here, he’s just another angry white guy that doesn’t make enough money to move out of his mom’s basement and is therefor angry at all the Mexicans in California that earn more than he does because they actually work for a living. This is typical of all racists, bigots, and wannabe Republican types and explains their jealousy, anger, and temper tantrums. MA needs to go do 13 weeks standing at the position of attention and then be shipped off as cannon fodder in the middle east.
July 29th, 2006 at 7:01 pmDear Frank - Congratulations - You have the latest “prog”whining points down to a TEEEE. Let’s examine a couple of your whines- I mean, assertions: (please keep in mind - I am in favour of raising the minimum wage)
“These are the same reckless, conscienceless, heartless people that tried to paint John Kerry as a “flip-flopper†when he changed his mind!” —Frank
******Note to Frank - This premise is as old and tired as Jimmeh Carter. New material needed! But do remember, John Kerry has been a flipper, if not a flopper. all his adult life - went to Viet Nam to enhance his political credentials, and didn’t like what he saw - who would? War is HELL, but apparently someone forgot to tell him that. Throwing his medals (or ribbons) away — or over the wall, testifying with a BROAD brush before Congress, voting one way when it’s politically expedient and another way when it becomes unpopular - a consistent FLIPPER. (Everyone must be GOOD at something!!)
“…but democrats are just bleeding heart, limp-wristed, cut and run liberals when they do it!” —-Frank’s musings
*******I could not have said it any better….
“Ostensibly, they seem to suddenly want to help those Americans who haven’t had a pay raise in 10 years …” Now stop and think about this - IF you’re an adult employee who has not had a raise in 10 years, you might be a pretty poor employee or you might consider changing jobs and enhancing your job skills. I don’t know one teenage kid who has had a minimum wage job for 10 years - I think those jobs are primarily “entry level” and are designed to teach reliability skills.
And let me just reiterate Frank - OTHER PEOPLE’s $$$ IS NOT YOURS….
Now, start sobbing on cue…..
July 29th, 2006 at 7:10 pmRE: 149 Mighty Aphrodite conceals an inconvenient truth
Republicans spend alot more time digging through people’s garbage and the amount of money TP receives from contributors is insignificant compared to Republican campaign finance / Corporate special interest. Millions down the progressive toilet? Thats chump change compared to the TRILLIONS Bush and Republicans flush down the NeoCon Toilet. Get real.
U.S. NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK
The Outstanding Public Debt as of 29 Jul 2006 at 11:14:19 PM GMT is:
$8,430,421,818,318.64
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
National Debt — In the News
20 Mar 06 - Bush signs bill to raise Debt Ceiling (Newsday)
July 29th, 2006 at 7:17 pm16 Mar 06 - Republican Congress sets new Federal Debt Limit: $9 trillion (National Public Radio)
16 Mar 06 - Republican Senate votes Debt Limit hike to $8.965 trillion (Reuters)
16 Mar 06 - US Debt: At least it’s not $1 zillion (Reuters)
16 Feb 06 - U.S. moves to miss hitting Debt Ceiling (MarketWatch)
8 Feb 06 - Big Deficit looms behind revival of 30-year bond (Reuters)
7 Feb 06 - Bush’s Budget sparks bipartisan protest (CBS News)
30 Jan 06 - Federal borrowing raised to record level (CNN)
10 Jan 06 - Bush seeking to limit spending growth in ‘07 Budget (Bloomberg)
8 Jan 06 - U.S. hovers close to its Debt Ceiling — Treasury boss says government business could be affected (San Francisco Chronicle)
27 Nov 05 - Deficit cracking GOP’s solidarity — party-line vote no longer assured (San Francisco Chronicle)
26 Nov 05 - Opinion: Get down to business on U.S. Deficit (The Indianapolis Star)
20 Oct 05 - Budget debate a defining moment for GOP, groups say (CNSNews)
5 Oct 05 - Editorial: Bush mismanagement worsens Deficit (The Capital Times (WI))
17 Sep 05 - Analysis: Katrina’s costs will swell National Debt (Associated Press)
7 Sep 05 - Budget Deficit yet another storm victim (Los Angeles Daily News)
10 Apr 05 - Editorial: $7,782,816,546,352 in Debt (CBS News)
7 Apr 05 - Editorial: Bureau of Public Debt: Surrounded by IOUs (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
4 Apr 05 - Bush’s agenda faces opposition from election-wary Republicans (Bloomberg.com)
25 Jan 05 - $1.3 Trillion in Deficits forecast over decade (Los Angeles Times)
21 Jan 05 - Does Social Security really face an $11 trillion Deficit? (FactCheck.org)
13 Jan 05 - Critics call Bush’s Deficit efforts feeble (Boston Herald)
10 Jan 05 - Editorial: Deficit deception (St. Petersburg Times)
19 Nov 04 - Bush signs [$800 Billion] Debt-limit hike (CBS News)
18 Nov 04 - Senate votes to let US borrow up to $8.18 trillion (Boston Globe)
4 Nov 04 - Why Democrats should be thankful — at least they won’t have to clean up the Bush fiscal catastrophe (Slate — MSNBC)
3 Nov 04 - Administration pressures Congress to raise Debt Ceiling (Boston Globe)
23 Oct 04 - Where [Bush and Kerry] stand on taxes and the Budget (Detroit Free Press)
9 Jun 04 - Editorial: Reagan policies gave green light to red ink (Washinton Post)
2 Feb 04 - Bush sends $2.4 trillion budget (including record $521 billion Deficit) to Hill (CBS News)
4 Jan 04 - Bush’s budget for 2005 seeks to rein in domestic costs (New York Times)
17 Dec 03 - Bush Deficit plan draws derision (CBS News)
9 Jul 03 - Home is where the National Debt is (The Providence Journal)
28 Jun 03 - Treasury official criticizes Debt ceiling (Washington Post)
19 Jun 03 - Editorial: Delusional on the Deficit, by Sen. Ernest Hollings (Dem-SC) (Washington Post)
15 Jun 03 - Aging population makes this Deficit scarier (USA Today)
10 Jun 03 - Congressional analyst now sees this year’s Deficit exceeding $400 billion (San Francisco Chronicle)
31 May 03 - Democrats expect record Debts — Federal Deficit is forecast to approach $500 billion next year (Washington Post)
20 May 03 - White House urges Senate to raise Debt ceiling soon (Washington Post)
14 Mar 03 - GOP senators oppose size of Bush tax cut (NY Times)
20 Feb 03 - U.S. Government hits national debt ceiling — Treasury begins taking evasive actions (CNN)
29 Aug 01 - Congressional Budge Office: “Social Security funds needed to balance books” (CNN)
22 Feb 01 - Bush unveils ‘fiscally responsible’ budget–reduces Deficit, but not Debt (CNN)
27 Sep 00 - President Clinton Announces Another Record Budget Surplus (CNN)
7 Sep 00 - National Debt Clock Stops, Despite Trillions of Dollars of Red Ink (CNN)
26 Jun 00 - Concord Coalition Warns that the new “Surplus” is not new money, it’s simply a new projection (Concord Coalition)
1 May 00 - Clinton Announces Record Payment on National Debt (CNN)
4 Aug 99 - US to buy back National Debt, first time in 25 years (BBC)
#182: Dems NEVER saw a dollar they didn’t think belonged to them
This is a ridiculous point. In fact, it’s not a point. It’s just a meaningless slime.
I’ll speak for myself and say that I don’t think other people’s money belongs to me. But I’ll make a confession that some conservatives won’t touch: I don’t mind paying taxes. I don’t mind helping to pay for public highways, public schools, a military, law enforcement, a fire department, and a whole host of other things. I don’t like it when my tax dollars are spent on unnecessary wars, on corrupt no-bid government contracts, or on exorbitant salaries for politicians and bureaucrats. But the things we use every day cost money.
The question is: who pays? And what percentage of their income do they pay?
So quit with the “OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY IS NOT YOURS” nonsense, unless you actually believe that we shouldn’t have public highways, a military, law enforcement, and all the rest.
July 30th, 2006 at 1:12 amhttp://www.danceage.com/ media_player/ ?aid=2176&q=hi&inumber=1
larisa, judd, Mr Podesta!……your days as free people are numbered!!!
July 30th, 2006 at 9:50 am[…] Many thanks to Think Progress for putting the whole minimum wage hike / estate tax cut shenanigan in such perfect perspective. This is what it is ALL ABOUT. […]
July 30th, 2006 at 1:00 pmI’ve gotta say that most repukenics tht I know are, selfish, self centered, egotistical, and could give a s**t less about anybody but themselves. They could care less about their own children, and grandchildren who will have to pay off - if they can - the borrowed money tht the repukenics have racked up under one of the most ignorant people on earth, and god help us, he is our president.
July 30th, 2006 at 3:12 pmRepukenics are fond of saying “all the dems want to do is tax and spend, tax and spend.” They have made it their mantra.
Well, hell yes. It takes money to run a country and I don’t mind paying my fair share. At least the debt is paid then and there. With the repugs they do worse, they borrow and spend and leave the paying back to future generations.
The repugs puke out cliches like, “We fight them there so we won’t have to fight them here.” Every time I here that I want to throw up. The insurgents do not have a standing army, no navy, no airforce, no way to transport enough troops here to cause any harm to us. For them to say that is just another way to pull the wool over ignorant red neck voters.
I’M SICK OF IT!!!!