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I honestly haven't decided. nossy Send a noteboard - 21/08/2012 04:13:44 PM
And I was not conned; there was no way I would have ever voted for McCain/Palin after that campaign. If that is my mistake because I judged them on the things they said to get elected that they wouldn't really have done, I believe at least some of that burden is on them.

For example, he says he wants to help the housing market, but under his Obamacare law, there will be a new, big tax on sales of real estate (starting in 2014). Oh, did Obama fail to mention that? Of course he did.

A big tax? Or a 3.8% tax on the profit above $500,000 (250,000 single)? And unless it has been changed, it was supposed to be 2013.

I know you have issues with $250,000 being the threshold, and I don't disagree. However, IF I understand this correctly, one hast to be making $250,000 (couple) or $200,000 (single) before it is even an issue, and can exclude up to $500,000 in profits from a sale of a residence, so you would have to have made a fairly large profit to be paying more than, say, a grand. How many people can buy a house and then come back and sell it for much more than 500,000 in profit? I have to truly ask - am I far wrong? I am not in the 3% of people who have to worry about this, and I am not in the business of house-flipping, so I could be majorly missing something.

We know that Romney is a moderate who won't do anything to restrict abortion rights, birth control or the like. It's clear from his record.

But we can also suspect that on the national stage (aka: not in a state that is referred to as socially progressive and liberal) there is only so much Romney will/can do to put his foot down if the house or senate tries to pass certain types of legislation. My one confidence with Obama is that if a certain type of bill comes up, I know he is less likely to be peer-pressured into making a decision I won't like (re: civil rights, foreign relations, etc), and maybe even more likely to be peer pressured into something I do support. Before you get all frothed, I am not claiming I always know what is "right." Just pointing out that we all have pet likes and dislikes, and I can't just ignore them, even though I am thinking more about the economy at the moment.

1. Raising taxes to raise revenue in this economy is like a dog chasing its tail - the taxes will slow growth, so the Feds won't get the money they need from the tax increase, leading to another increase, etc., and it will never ever be enough.

I need to research more than I have, but I haven't seen evidence that the current tax cuts have shown much growth. The exact same comment is true from the other angle - lowering taxes causes a different sort of tail-chase, and it will also never be enough. It seems to me that we need to spend more time focusing on where our taxes go than on raising or lowering them.

2. The "you didn't build that" was even worse than the "out of context" line that has become the sound byte. Obama said "you think you succeeded because you're smart or you worked hard, well, lots of people are smart and work hard". This shows a fundamental lack of understanding about business. It is good ideas, hard work and a MASSIVE UNDERTAKING OF RISK that lead to a small business; if someone else works hard, they get a paycheck. If I work hard, I might not get anything if the client refuses to pay, goes bankrupt, disappears, etc. Romney put it very well: a girl on the honor roll might take a school bus to class, but I'm not going to credit the bus driver with her making the honor roll. Yes, we need infrastructure, but trying to make the government an equal partner in our success is perverse. It's statements like the entire "you didn't build that" speech that lead some to think Obama's a socialist. It's not a particular policy, but rather, a sense of contempt or disdain that he has for private enterprise. He really does want to pick the winners and losers.

I do agree that that was a boneheaded comment, precisely because it ignores that risk. I don't think he was wrong though, regarding the other angle - it isn't fair to ignore the fact that if that girl couldn't get to school, the honor roll would be the least of her worries. *shrug* Yet again, we're back to a truth that's somewhere in the middle.

Oh well, that's enough for me. I'm probably not back online for another couple of days. At this point I wouldn't piss on Obama if he were on fire (think of it as disgust for the man combined with respect for the office of the President ;) ). As you know, I'm not a social conservative, but the thought of another four years for Obama makes me want to vomit.

And I do respect your opinion. At the risk of giving you a larger ego (the horror!), I don't mind saying your comments on Obama definitely make me stop and think. And research. And read stuff I barely understand. And in general make my life hell. Thanks a lot.

:P
This message last edited by nossy on 24/08/2012 at 02:16:55 AM
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Paul Ryan is selected as Republican VP candidate - 11/08/2012 05:01:47 PM 2090 Views
Personally? No, I'm not voting Republican at all this year. - 11/08/2012 05:18:06 PM 1081 Views
Ya know that narrative of the right getting further right is pretty ridicolous - 11/08/2012 06:43:44 PM 1050 Views
it could possibly be the "all or nothing" budget fights and gay marriage among other things - 11/08/2012 08:19:11 PM 1078 Views
Yeah, I forgot the Dems are very enlightened about gay marriage now for what? 2 Months? - 11/08/2012 08:59:17 PM 1146 Views
+1 - Great post! *NM* - 12/08/2012 04:32:21 AM 631 Views
We're on a roll here Isaac. I agree with you again. - 12/08/2012 08:18:32 AM 1091 Views
yet despite that, dems didn't put referenda and push bills discriminating against gay people - 12/08/2012 07:55:38 PM 1153 Views
They certainly have, they've just done it less and less recently - 12/08/2012 09:39:53 PM 1037 Views
Fred Phelps is 82 - 13/08/2012 01:28:01 AM 975 Views
So is Pat Robertson *NM* - 13/08/2012 02:41:28 AM 613 Views
They're not enlightened at all. - 21/08/2012 02:04:09 PM 1241 Views
Agreed, but ya'll continue doing it anyway. - 11/08/2012 08:24:09 PM 1073 Views
Thank you for making sense. - 12/08/2012 08:01:53 AM 1036 Views
voting third party is a good idea - 11/08/2012 08:15:41 PM 1046 Views
I'm sorry, but anyone that votes for Obama after the past 3 and 1/2 years is a moron..... - 12/08/2012 03:30:47 AM 1000 Views
If you are proud of not voting, please shut up: The adults have a country to run. - 12/08/2012 04:11:49 AM 1003 Views
Candidates have to earn my vote - I'm not a slave like you to the 2 party system. - 12/08/2012 04:24:02 AM 1174 Views
Who said anything about the two-party system? - 12/08/2012 04:29:36 AM 973 Views
No offense intended, but voting third party is as stupid as not voting. - 12/08/2012 04:42:28 AM 1222 Views
I strongly disagree. - 12/08/2012 05:11:52 AM 1082 Views
as the saying goes "the lesser of two evils is still evil" - 12/08/2012 08:06:20 PM 1063 Views
Nice asshatery. - 12/08/2012 07:56:57 AM 1229 Views
Wouldn't you love to have a "none of the above" option..... - 12/08/2012 03:36:54 PM 991 Views
Or you could use a PR system and act like responsible adults. *NM* - 12/08/2012 05:47:14 PM 506 Views
Oh dear. - 11/08/2012 06:26:07 PM 1057 Views
I'm happy with it, I like Ryan - 11/08/2012 06:47:21 PM 1051 Views
What a shock. - 11/08/2012 08:18:35 PM 1184 Views
Re: What a shock. - 11/08/2012 08:51:12 PM 1157 Views
ryan isn't going to help rmoney win wisconsin - 11/08/2012 08:21:27 PM 1173 Views
Picking Ryan was an olive branch to the GOP rank and file. - 11/08/2012 08:05:41 PM 1297 Views
definitely a bold pick but not going to help him enough in november - 11/08/2012 08:27:59 PM 1100 Views
Who cares? He's hot. - 11/08/2012 11:53:42 PM 1259 Views
So are you a fan of David Cameron? - 12/08/2012 12:12:50 AM 901 Views
Lol. Nice one. *NM* - 12/08/2012 08:22:01 AM 549 Views
I actually said, "He's not hot enough." - 13/08/2012 01:15:58 PM 974 Views
- 13/08/2012 03:31:38 PM 1111 Views
Wonderful choice! Truly wonderful.....check the video. - 12/08/2012 03:22:48 AM 982 Views
Nice video. - 12/08/2012 06:52:59 PM 1073 Views
Can you explain your fascination with Ryans ideas, please? - 13/08/2012 04:08:35 AM 1049 Views
No, it doesn't change my opinion any - 12/08/2012 07:50:21 AM 1151 Views
I hear even the DNC has rejected its TN Senate nominee. - 12/08/2012 05:46:37 PM 1076 Views
Yes, they disavowed him - 12/08/2012 08:00:33 PM 1082 Views
Does not work in the US - 13/08/2012 01:17:58 AM 1018 Views
We do not need most of the populace to cast protest votes, only most voters. - 13/08/2012 01:33:41 AM 986 Views
Your distinction misses my greater point - 13/08/2012 01:51:26 AM 1035 Views
*shrugs* Vote absentee then. - 13/08/2012 02:28:32 AM 1054 Views
I was going to vote Romney anyway, so no, it doesn't change anything. - 12/08/2012 10:39:15 PM 1047 Views
But I'm guessing you're glad with Ryan? Prefer him over the alternatives? Or not? - 12/08/2012 10:49:35 PM 1194 Views
I disagree - 13/08/2012 12:52:07 AM 1079 Views
Bloomberg has imploded - 13/08/2012 07:12:56 PM 980 Views
Bloomberg has become a national laughingstock. - 13/08/2012 08:13:24 PM 1065 Views
Not as much as either Obama or Romney, surely. - 13/08/2012 08:23:41 PM 1065 Views
Makes sense for you. You are Romney's target audience. - 13/08/2012 01:19:26 PM 1004 Views
What should Obama have done? - 13/08/2012 07:31:23 PM 1047 Views
And how much of that do you expect from Romney? - 14/08/2012 10:21:33 AM 1368 Views
Certainly more than from Obama. - 16/08/2012 12:00:19 AM 970 Views
Mmm, Objectivism. Another reason for me to vote Obama. - 12/08/2012 11:00:34 PM 1151 Views
But doesn't he say he detests Rand? - 12/08/2012 11:53:47 PM 901 Views
No he doesn't disavow Ayn Rand, he still believes in her - 13/08/2012 01:15:34 AM 1067 Views
Good to know. - 13/08/2012 08:42:22 AM 1073 Views
Link to audio of Paul Ryans address to The Atlas Society. - 13/08/2012 03:37:27 AM 1196 Views
Or you could have just read my response which posted prior to yours - 13/08/2012 01:45:07 PM 988 Views
Sorry, I completely missed your link. - 13/08/2012 03:09:11 PM 1088 Views
Don't get me wrong - 13/08/2012 12:53:10 AM 1043 Views
Actually I believe he promised to vote for Romney if I did - 13/08/2012 03:48:35 AM 1150 Views
What an amusing retrospective. - 13/08/2012 04:20:02 AM 1194 Views
Uh... how exactly did you get to spending and budget timelines? - 13/08/2012 04:59:45 AM 989 Views
Tangentially, of course. - 13/08/2012 05:08:18 AM 1017 Views
I tried reading it again, but my eyes glazed over when you started babbling about lesbian covens. - 14/08/2012 12:30:03 AM 937 Views
It was a hyperbolic reference to the extreme left (one stolen from Matt Groening, btw.) - 14/08/2012 10:12:09 AM 1006 Views
Interesting. - 14/08/2012 11:34:30 AM 1098 Views
They have a pill for that now. - 14/08/2012 01:14:39 PM 1129 Views
I'm pretty sure the solution is you learning elementary composition. *NM* - 15/08/2012 11:33:57 PM 635 Views
Your willful reading incomprehension is neither my fault nor problem. - 16/08/2012 07:40:46 PM 1093 Views
I don't think you can succinctly do anything. *NM* - 16/08/2012 09:33:38 PM 640 Views
I just did. - 16/08/2012 09:36:21 PM 1052 Views
EDIT: ACK! Hoist on my own petard! - 14/08/2012 12:25:27 AM 1002 Views
No birth control, no right to choose, no planned parenthood? - 13/08/2012 01:58:51 PM 952 Views
They are really doing a public service that way. *NM* - 13/08/2012 02:26:39 PM 478 Views
I agree with your statements - 14/08/2012 12:53:41 AM 1144 Views
It's mostly nonsense - 14/08/2012 04:46:11 AM 1070 Views
Well - 14/08/2012 02:54:06 PM 1276 Views
'Nonsense' refers to the thing said about the religious right by the media - 14/08/2012 04:01:47 PM 1293 Views
I'm wondering if "belittles" is the wrong word. - 14/08/2012 06:30:23 PM 1333 Views
Re: I'm wondering if "belittles" is the wrong word. - 15/08/2012 01:45:59 AM 1023 Views
I have to keep this short, because I am on the iPad. - 15/08/2012 05:38:48 AM 983 Views
Triple reply chain is usually a good point for the trim-edit anyway - 15/08/2012 05:27:20 PM 1161 Views
Or shows it's time to quit. - 15/08/2012 10:20:17 PM 1481 Views
Agreed - 15/08/2012 10:54:05 PM 937 Views
The question, as for Tom, is what you believe Romney would improve for small businesses. - 14/08/2012 01:38:29 PM 1108 Views
I am aware of that, thank you. And I don't distill my choice down to small business, either. - 14/08/2012 02:24:24 PM 1150 Views
I see your point, but... - 14/08/2012 02:30:22 PM 924 Views
Well - 14/08/2012 03:09:18 PM 1115 Views
Are you really going to let Obama con you into voting for him again? - 21/08/2012 02:00:06 PM 964 Views
I honestly haven't decided. - 21/08/2012 04:13:44 PM 1279 Views
None of that is that important. - 14/08/2012 08:53:10 PM 1101 Views
Agreed. *NM* - 15/08/2012 02:21:55 PM 623 Views
Bullshit - 21/08/2012 01:46:42 PM 1123 Views
This makes me more likely to vote R this year. - 15/08/2012 02:31:06 PM 1014 Views

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