Monday, August 20, 2012

Fairy and Unbalanced



Now that Obama's catchphrase "Romney Hood" has failed as demonstrably as everything else the president has attempted, he's breaking in a new slogan on the campaign trail - and it's a pip! He's accusing Mitt Romney and the GOP of promising economic growth through "trickle down fairy dust." Which gets a big laugh from Obama's supporters, who know there aren't any fairies because they were all trampled to death when Barry rode into Washington on his unicorn!

But in keeping with his goal of making sure no American lives happily ever after, Obama is weaving other fairytales into his current speeches.

Specifically, he's claiming that under the Ryan budget plan (which is not on the GOP platform, and was killed by the Senate) Mitt Romney would only pay a tax rate of one percent.

"That's a pretty good deal, just paying one percent in taxes when you're making millions of dollars," the president sneered. "Now here's the kicker - they expect YOU to pick up the tab!"

Unsurprisingly, this line causes the president's Occupy-friendly audiences to "boo" enthusiastically and look around for carts with which to drag evil small business owners to the guillotine.

The problem is, Barry produced this factoid with all the flair of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat - but it's not a rabbit, it's a baldfaced lie with no basis in reality.

And the hat he's pulling it out of looks suspiciously like his rear end.



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34 comments:

Angry Hoosier Dad said...

Nope. No politics of class envy and division here. Move along.

Coon Tasty said...

Oh, SJ, that Golden Goose pic is going straight to my FB page!

Patrick said...

I learned long ago that anything coming from this administration in the guise of fact requires the sniff test to determine its origin...

This will brighten your day: Liberal Interviews Herself

Unknown said...

I think that in all fairness, after watching some of the weekend talking heads that a rating system similar to the Motion Picture Code should be developed - instead of X/PGA/PG we would have a BSC (BatS***Crazy) rating, and the seal could be a picture of Debbie Wasserman-Shultz with Marty Feldman's eyes. Surely we need some type of warning! Never have I seen such blatant misinformation and outright lying by any responsible campaign spokesperson (oops - I mentioned responsible in the same sentence as campaign spokesperson - my bad).

I would hope that the WH press corp would soon start producing headlines like "Unemployment rose by 325,000 while Obama played his 250th round of golf and enjoyed a Wagyu Steak and Argula Salad for lunch". Fat chance!

Red said...

"I learned long ago that anything coming from this administration in the guise of fact requires the sniff test to determine its origin..."
We have a lot of dogs in our complex and owners who don't curb them. I imagine the smell is something along those lines.

John the Econ said...

The Obama campaign now clearly understands that it's much more difficult to run against their own reality than it was to run on the image of rainbow-farting unicorns 4 years ago.

I've long warned people that the poor & middle class who were promised that they'd be paying no more taxes will be taking the biggest hit through the inflation that is the inevitable result of printing dollars (QE2), higher government spending and regulation without any corresponding increase in national productivity and wealth. An so here we are in 2012 where American families net worth has dropped 40%. And there is no end in sight.

And major kudos to Romney & Ryan for having the balls to take on Social Security and Medicare. There will be much demagoguery over that, but they are the 800 pound gorillas in the room that the Democrats won't touch. Our economy will be going nowhere until long-terms solutions to those problems are addressed.

Oh, and a little tip for arguing Social Security Privatization with your liberal friends: I've found that the usual liberal argument against managing your own retirement in private equity is that "the market could drop". They'll argue that after the 2008 crash, their IRAs and 401Ks were worth 40% less than before.

When they inevitably say this, (it's clearly in the DNC's talking points since the exact same argument comes up every single time) ask them this: "Exactly what are the assets in your Social Security 'Lock Box' worth?"

The answer is: Zero. There is no "lock box", and there are no assets behind backing Social Security beyond the government's implied promise to borrow and tax future workers even more. And we all know how well that's going to work out.

I'll take 60% of something over 100% of nothing any day.

Unknown said...

@John the Econ - actually, if I had put everything I put into Social Security into a lousy 'passbook' savings account drawing .05% interest compounded daily, I would have far more than I will ever get back from Social Security.

The appeal of Ryan to the 'youth' vote is that he sees the same things that they do, that there is no great sin in having your 'retirement' plan in private equity, nor the same for your health care. That's why so many have forced companies to offer retirement plans based on 401(k) type plans that are portable to the employee.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Angry Hoosier Dad- Exactly.

@Coon Tasty- I've got to admit it's a lovely picture (even apart from being funny when captioned). When I put my HopeNChange logo on the bottom, I was careful not to obscure the original artist's name.

@Patrick- Thanks for sharing the link! That's a funny video and I recommend it for everyone here!

@SeaDog- The BSC warning symbol should be affixed permanently on a number of foreheads (Debbie Washingmy-Shortz included), by court order if necessary.

Regarding the WH Press Corps, I heard a talking head opine recently that they may start being a bit more aggressive if Obama continues to ignore them while choosing to appear on Entertainment Tonight, or giving radio interviews in which idiot DJs ask him what superpower he'd like to have. And no, I'm not making that up.

@Red- Considering how far away you can be to detect the smell, it's surprising how many newspeople still end up with brown noses.

@John the Econ- I'm beyond pleased that Romney and Ryan are running on the hard challenges. As Bill Whittle pointed out, whether this approach proves to be a winner or loser, it's the right and only thing to do now for any party truly trying to save the country.

Regarding Social Security, remember the debt ceiling "negotiations" (yeah, those went well) from a few months ago? Obama argued that unless the debt ceiling was raised IMMEDIATELY, then Social Security checks wouldn't go out because there was no money to back the checks. The "lock box" is empty and the stolen funds long gone. There's nothing left in the lock box but IOUs from thiefs and liars.

@SeaDog- No one has ever legally invested in government and seen that investment grow. While those who invest in the private sector see their wealth grow. That's an argument that I hope Ryan can articulate for younger voters.

Goldenrod said...

Listening to the dems constant barrage of deplorable lies makes me feel as pure as wind driven snow.

John the Econ said...

@Stilton, the "lock box" is empty, because it never really existed in the first place. (It was merely a meme last used by Al Gore to fool people into believing that their money is in an account as though it was at an actual bank)

If you go an look at one of those "statements" that they used to send out, you'll find the following statement: "Your estimated benefits are based on current law. Congress has made changes to the law in the past and can do so at any time."

Your bank can't change the terms of your account at will, like Congress can.

If fact, the government has no legal obligation to make good on its promises. Twice, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that Americans have no contractual rights regarding Social Security benefits. In 1960 (Flemming v. Nestor), the court said, "To engraft upon the Social Security system a concept of accrued property rights would deprive it of the flexibility and boldness in adjustment to ever changing conditions which it demands."

Last time Republicans tried to reform Social Security, they called any effort to privatize it a "risky scheme". But I have to ask people, what could possibly be riskier than turning money over to politicians and hoping that they won't spend it before you retire?

Pete(Detroit) said...

John, you can't possibly call that "risky" - more like effin' stooopid!

Colby said...

I must admit, Jay Carney has the hardest job in the country. On a daily basis, he has to find some way to spin complete lies and off the wall crazy shit into something that resembles reality. He must lie awake at night wondering what the hell sort of bat guano he will have to make appear palpatible tomorrow. Granted, he is a complete weasel, but it has to be quite a challenge to try and make a silk purse out of a sow's ear every damn day.

Pete(Detroit),
It most certainly IS effin stooopid, but try asking your employer to stop taking the social security out of your paycheck. A year or so ago, Virginia Foxx, the Congresswoman from my district, tried to get legislation passed allowing people to pay into Social Security whenever they wanted instead of it being automatically deducted from their paychecks. You would have thought she suggested cutting everybody's arms off! The liberals went ape shit; "Your average working dumbass isn't SMART enough to save the money to pay it. We HAVE to grab it from their checks against their will!" I hope she keeps running because she is awesome! This is one argument against term limits.

John the Econ said...

@Colby, then how would those same liberals argue in support of the misnamed "Payroll Tax Cut", which they universally supported and does basically that by shortchanging employees contribution to their own Social Security "lock box"?

These people only get to stay in office because most people are too stupid. The fact that they keep getting re-elected is proof of that.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Goldenrod- I can get pretty heated in my criticism of Obama and others on the Left, but I have never stooped to lying about them - and why would I need to? The truth is bad enough.

@John the Econ- I have no faith in promises from the government. "Zero, zilch, nada," as Rush would say. I have lived well below my means for my entire life believing that Social Security wouldn't be there for me. And as a result, since I created a small retirement account of my own, I'll probably be "means tested" out of Social Security. So much for promises.

@Pete(Detroit)- Yeah! What you said!

@Colby- Carney is good at his job, but he's still surfing atop a tidal wave of sewage. And apparently enjoying it.

Regarding taking Social Security directly out of paychecks, I wish that NO expenses were automatically removed from paychecks. Everyone in America should experience the same shock that those of us who are self-employed feel when we have to write checks out of our own bank accounts to pay those taxes, social security contributions, medicare fees, etc. If people knew what they were really paying in, there would be a revolution in the streets.

@John the Econ- Stupidity is the only abundant energy source in America that Obama is actually willing to exploit.

Unknown said...

Yeah,this last round of "Tax Cuts" was to the SS witholding, just about two days after they announced that SS was going to go bankrupt in 4 years - so yeah, lets reduce the money going in - a logical decision for Turbo Timmy - probably consulted TurboTax for the strategy. Same as the 'Tax Cut" early in the administration that reduced the Federal Witholding but negleted to change the tax rate so that many more owed taxed come April.

Another subject is the contemplated release of Strategic Oil Reserves to help drive down the price of gas. What part of Strategic, Oil, Reserves, don't they understand? When, ever has this reduced the price more than a few days or weeks? When (not if, but when) Israel attacks Iran and it's surrogates, the flow of oil is restricted, power plants begin to power down for lack of bunker fuel (a problem coal/nuclear plants wouldn't have), when we look to our national reserves, and as always, it is filled with paper I.O.U. s, they'll probably blame Bush.

Unknown said...

@Stilton - Remember the common closing ploy of all good insurance salesmen was to have it done by auto deduction, knowing that when you never see it in your take-home pay, 1)it hurts less, and 2)because of the hassle trying to cancel it most continue the deduction. Like you said, if the IRS billed you each month/quarter for your estimated taxes, the pitchforks would come out.

Ted said...

"The Ryan Budget Plan"...?!

One can't help but wonder how this compares to "The Biden Budget Plan."

<G>

Pete (Detroit) said...

Ted, I'm pretty sure that you're proceeding from false assumptions - unless spending everything you can grab and 66% more counts as a plan..

Anonymous said...

You know, this tax rate debate has always seemed foolish to me. I'd think the raw dollar amount would be way more useful.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@SeaDog- Two great points. The "head fake" SS tax cut and the misuse of our strategic oil reserves are perfect examples of Obama's willingness to hurt the country if it will buy him votes (or even a bump in the polls).

And I'd love to see the end of automatic payroll deductions under Romney/Ryan. I want people to be pissed off when they have to write checks to the government. And I want a "fair tax" rate that applies to everyone equally. You want the "Evil Rich" to pay 50%? Fine - just cast your vote in favor of everyone paying 50%.

@Ted- In Joe Biden's tiny mind, "Budget" is only a rent-a-car company.

@Pete(Detroit)- It's not so much a "plan" as an armed robbery.

@Anonymous- Far too many people think that 15% of several million dollars (in capital gains) is LESS than 18% income tax on a salary of $35,000 a year. Because 18 is "more" than 15. Right?! (Sigh)

I would also like an education campaign to teach people the difference between income taxes and capital gains taxes. Capital gains taxes are lower by government design in order to get people to risk their money investing in business. It's not a complicated idea - but it seems a lot more complicated when you have the president of the United States lying to people about it.

Pete(Detroit) said...

Hey, Stilt, you still got the 'President is a liar' rant on your FB page? The one where I point out that Bill Clinton won't play golf w/ Barry b/c "he cheats too much"? Thought it might go nicely here, speaking of da Preezy lyin' 'bout tax rates, 'n stuff...

Pete(Detroit) said...

Found it! It was in response to a comment from July 18...
" i will vote for OBama. I won't vote for Mitt if he was the last one running. He lies with every breath he takes and he doesn't care about the middle class at all."

Lies? Hell even a reprehensitive like Joe Wilson could see it two years ago. O'Blamer lies about everything from his diet to his smoking to not raising taxes to secret talks w/ Russians/Chinese/Iran to his golf score to fast/furious to Mitt
outspending him (yes, it IS true he out *raised* him in June, largely due to public reaction to the SCOTUS rulings, but w/ da Preezy doing up to *6* $38,500 a head fundraisers PER DAY it's gonna be tough to close the gap) to not being about the 1% (again, those fundraisers). If the President gave a rats royal rip about the middle class he'd quit spending our grand-kids into oblivion, and it's a HUGE effing lie to "the poor" that he pretends to help while getting them addicted to the "crack" of government freebies - meanwhile, wtf is going to happen to THEM when we're Greece and they're cut off cold because There IS *no* money? They'll be laying there starving in the streets, and the rest of us will be all "eff you, starve you effing bitches, it's all YOUR goddam fault". Meanwhile, Barry O will be hanging w/ his chooms, laughing at the poor suckers who got the change they voted for, though not the change they wanted. I'd go on, but I'm sure you quit reading back around Joe Wilson, and my thumbs are getting tired... have a nice day, and when the zombies arise, save the last bullet for yourself.

Pete(Detroit) said...

NOT that I have ANY thing against Joe Wilson, btw, just that 'reprehensitive' is SUCH a good job description, in general, (esp when applied to John Conyers, or John Dingell...

Angry Hoosier Dad said...

@ Stilton:
Regarding your suggestion that everyone pay taxes quarterly in lump sums...
I heard a comic suggest the same thing once but he added that tax day should always be the day before elections. Now I thought that was a brilliant idea.

FlyBoy said...

@AHD-
I'd love to see "Tax Day" come the day prior to the elections. It's not a coincendence that the tax filing deadline is six months BEFORE we vote!

John the Econ said...

To be fair, every President since Clinton, including Bush (43) has felt free to tap the Strategic Oil Reserves in vain attempts to lower fuel prices. To these Presidents, the term "strategic" clearly related to their (or their protege's) elections.

I thought it was truly ironic for Clinton to deploy it for the benefit of Mr. Anti-Carbon, Al Gore, who's whole energy policy was supposedly built around making energy more expensive, not less. As for Bush (43), I thought using it was just pathetic.

My previous post on Social inSecurity evaporated.

I really question "TurboTax Tim's" understanding of Social Security withholding, considering that when he was working for the World Bank, he didn't seem to feel the need to pay his quarterlies like the rest of us do.

And this would be a radically different country if all citizens were required to write checks to the IRS each and every quarter instead of simply never seeing the money in the first place. People would stop complaining about 2-cent bumps in the price of gasoline or ATM fees when they had to write checks with many zeros every 90 days.

And changing the due date to the first Monday in November would be even better!

Colby said...

My pay stub has this great feature thanks to my awesome employer (who is rich, by the way). It keeps a running total of every item, including what I have paid into SS and witholding tax. I started making a point to highlight these numbers just as an exercise to remind myself of just how much I am missing. It is so easy to ignore what comes out every month and to turn a blind eye. If everybody had to write the checks, there would be a mass uprising. I love the idea of having the tax due dat the week before the election.

John the Econ said...

@Colby, I'm almost surprised that having a running total on your pay stub isn't illegal. It's the last thing they want you to realize.

But then again, most people who have that don't pay attention anyway. They don't even do their own taxes. So the status quo is pretty safe.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Pete(Detroit)- Glad you found that rant! It's still accurate (not that anyone here will find that surprising).

@Angry Hoosier Dad- I agree that would be a great idea.

@Flyboy- If everyone had to pay quarterly, it would be pretty hard to make at least one of those payments not fall pretty close to election day. Though I'm sure the politicians would try!

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@John the Econ- Sorry your post disappeared; I checked the spam filter but it wasn't there. Always good to call my attention to a missing post, just in case.

Regarding the strategic oil reserves, it's the very rare president who doesn't feel like the country's best interests and his own aren't the same thing.

@Colby- That IS a nice feature, and one I'd like to see on all paychecks. Anything which would wake people up to the costs of government would be a good thing.

Pete (Detroit) said...

Colby (et al) I was under the impression that was required - Gross pay, deductions this check, and YTD, for all deductions, including pre-tax contributions to health costs, FSA...???
I seem to recall that beign a feature on EVERY stub I've ever received?

Colby said...

@Pete,
Maybe that stuff is required, but I never used to look at it. We are conditioned to think that our net pay is what we make, and the gubmint likes it that way.

On a different subject, the next time you hear a stupid liberal whining about how much Romney makes, tell 'em Kennedy was worth over a $billion in today's money. And their beloved FDR was also extremely wealthy, as was George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Pete (Detroit) said...

Agreed, Colby on 'conditioned not to look'...
And Libs aren't overly fond of Wash / Jeff - they owned slaves, you know! And Jefferson shacked up w/ one! If it weren't for Wash growing hemp, he'd have had NO socially redeeming value, I'm sure... (note - HEMP, not Dope - I'm pretty sure that industrial grade hemp wasn't any more buzztacular then than it is now...)
And full agreed, if we had to write the checks that matched the amount due every time we got paid, I think people would be a LOT more involved w/ the gov't... in the torch and pitchfork kinda way...

JustaJeepGuy said...

Thomas Jefferson died over $100,000 in debt (that's in 1826 dollars too, so it was REAL money!). He was tight with the public's money, just not his own. And Sally Hemings passed for white in the census of 1830. She was born a slave, but she wasn't what so many people think of being a slave. It's possible Sally was the half-sister of TJ's wife, too. Just a couple bits of history....