Senator Lamar Smith, lead sponsor of the currently dead SOPA bill you've heard so much about, has another bill in the works that uses Child Pr0nography as a screen to push through an amendment that'll have your internet service provider tracking all of your financial dealings online.
Each time you use a credit card, each time you read your bank statement, all of your IP information and your search history will be required by your ISP to be stored for 18 months at all times. This bill is H.R. 1981 and will have more dire consequences than SOPA or PIPA ever had the potential to have. This senator needs to be out of office and behind bars. First off, he's a congressman, 21st district of Texas. If Slashgear can't get that right, why should I believe anything else they have to say?
#8
Vote him out in the next round!? I'm trying, guys, I'm trying! (and no, I won't enter to run against him! I'm only an writer! I have baggage, I have no ability to keep a straight face under all circumstances ... andI tend to believe the best of people, which is a serious disability in political life!)
"I think he's a nice guy. I'm sure he loves the country and wants it to do well," Romney told a crowd in New Hampshire earlier this month. "I just don't think he understands the principles that make us who we are.''
To hear former House speaker Newt Gingrich (Ga.) tell it, however, Obama is actually quite competent. But that's the problem: Gingrich says Obama is a leftist "radical," using his considerable political skills to undermine treasured American values. Those two views are not mutually exclusive, you know. He could be an incompetent Marxist.
In their disparate portraits of Obama, the GOP's two leading candidates have revealed something important about themselves. Not themselves, you moron - their political approach, maybe.
Romney is trying to reach a general-election audience, including many people who voted for Obama in 2008 and still like him personally. So he casts the president as an honest mistake, a low performer who simply needs to be replaced. That's one good reason to vote for Anyone But Obama.
Gingrich, by contrast, is aiming at a Republican primary electorate that never liked Obama much to begin with. So he portrays the president as the representative of a whole poisoned way of thinking: an adversary who needs to be not just defeated, but repudiated. And that's a second good reason for the rest of us.
Saturday's results in South Carolina -- and Romney's own recent shifts toward more belligerent language -- seem to indicate that Gingrich's approach might be working better now.
"When Romney attacks Obama, he says, you know, 'He said he was going to create jobs. And he didn't. He's lost jobs. He said he was going to do this, and he didn't.' It's very operational," said Lynn Vavreck, a professor at UCLA who studies presidential campaigns.
"Gingrich is basically saying that, 'This is a war for the future of America, between my vision and Obama's vision,'" Vavreck said. "And that, I think, is a much better message than the Romney message." Which is not to say that Mitt has no arrows in his quiver.
Romney has also attacked Obama for being weak in foreign-policy tussles with Iran and Russia. He also has accused the president for looking to the social-welfare states of European countries for inspiration -- trying to turn the United States "into a European-style entitlement society." Also true, but much of the country can't seem to get past the pocketbook issues - at least according to the MSM.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/24/2012 06:22 ||
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#3
It's not about success. It's about power. Just review all the expansion of Executive dictate that has evolved in face of an ineffectual legislative body and reluctance (cowardliness) to invoke the checks of the Constitution.
#4
Calling him incompetent gives him too much credit. Obamacare, Solyndra, the banks, GM, the "stimuli", the speech in Cairo and Honduras all point to a dangerous leftist radical. Newt is right. Romney is trying to be a gentleman which was the same approach that McCain took. It doesn't work when you're up against a street fighter.
#5
... including many people who voted for Obama in 2008 and still like him personally.
That's the part I don't get. I see precious little likeable about him and much on the other side of the ledger. As much as I disliked Slick Willy Clinton, I could understand his likeability. Maybe I'm just racist...
#6
Ineptocracy. I can't take credit for it, but I like it.
Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc'-ra-cy) - A system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers.
Posted by: Herb Pelosi4210 ||
01/24/2012 12:53 Comments ||
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#7
Ineptocracy is related to kleptocracy and idiocracy.
In a nationwide survey conducted by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation, black women described themselves as relating to Michelle Obama and sensing that she understands them. Sure. Just like I sense she does not understand me.
Nearly eight out of 10 black women say they personally identify with the first lady, and when asked to give a one-word description of Obama, among the words most commonly used were "intelligent," "strong" and "classy." "America-hater." "Klingon" "Visigoth"
In follow-up interviews, black women say the first lady's racial and gender identity are essential to the deep connection they feel they have to her. They call her a role model, someone familiar to them -- like a sister or aunt.
That emotional stake makes watching Obama navigate the world stage both "thrilling and terrifying," says Melissa Harris-Perry, a professor of political science at Tulane University who has written about the first lady's impact on black women.
"Every time she flawlessly performs her role as first lady just by being who she is, she shows how extraordinary and exceptional we are," says Harris-Perry. "It is really fun to watch. It feels like, yes! Oh, this can never be denied.
"But every time she is booed at a NASCAR rally, the terrifying reality emerges that it will take so little for the love and admiration of Michelle Obama to go away. Anything she does that is construed as negative or stereotype-reinforcing will undoubtedly be held against us." If you hate America, you might be correct. Somehow, I never tied my self-worth to someone else, not even Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, or John Bolton.
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/24/2012 06:08 ||
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#10
Very interesting that it's only Black women who are said to identify with her in the article, contrary to the headline. This bodes ill for November.
Mrs. Obama is a successful career woman, as the world judges such things, much as could have been said about Secretary of State Clinton at the same age...though likely will not be said about her daughter. It is right that people see that showing up for work every day and cultivating one's connections will take one farther than ability alone, and that there is success to be found beyond basketball and show business. Mrs. Obama isn't someone I would invite over for dinner, but I respect that she did her best and took advantage of the opportunities that came her way, instead of using the excuse of her family's difficulties to become a welfare baby-momma.
#11
"Every time she flawlessly performs her role as first lady just by being who she is, she shows how extraordinary and exceptional we are," says Harris-Perry.
Somehow I doubt Ms. Harris-Perry ever felt that way about Condy Rice. And the fist is from Metallica's St. Anger album cover (Photoshop, no doubt).
#12
black women say the first lady's racial and gender identity are essential to the deep connection they feel they have to her.
So, in other words, they're racist and sexist. Whatta surprise.
But every time she is booed at a NASCAR rally, the terrifying reality emerges that it will take so little for the love and admiration of Michelle Obama to go away.
Only you love and admire her. The fact that others might not share that view simply does not occur, does it?
#13
Funny thing is, when Michelle Obama goes after the diet thing, she's directly attacking the food choices of a majority of african americans and saying they are incapable of making proper decisions, yet they don't seem to notice or care.
Saying that needs special considerations in public schools (because they are too stupid themselves).
That needs special consideration in collage enterance exams (because hey, they are just plain too stupid to study and earn it on their own).
That needs special considerations in government contract grants because (wait for it - they are too stupid and incompetent to compete on their own merits).
#18
As to outfits and dress - I've got to ask this - what did she ever do to her chief of staff that such unflattering outfits are chosen for her?
Posted by: Water Modem ||
01/24/2012 18:41 Comments ||
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#19
Everything I've learned about women is that when they praise another woman is because she is NOT seen as a threat. In this case, fugly to the bone.
#7
Yeah sorry, spelling. OK, 1.75"r @ 6"h = 57.75"cube volume of glass, filled to 0.25" of top with max ice then water = 55.34"cybe mixture, out on table, plastic wrap so no evaporation or cat, will post in o-club if rollover.
Either way, we are not talking about a rising water level as the article suggests.
He has introduced a bill that would have Congress authorize the pipeline, which President Obama has scuttled to appease his base:
Tuesday, the Texas congressman introduced the Keystone For A Secure Tomorrow Act (K-FAST) to allow the 112th Congress to directly and immediately approve the Keystone XL Pipeline permit for TransCanada Corporation.
According to Poe, the approval of the pipeline is within Congress authority. In 1973, Poe noted, Congress passed the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act to allow construction of the 800-mile-long northsouth pipeline from frozen Prudhoe Bay to the ice-free port of Valdez.
The Keystone XL project, if authorized, would start in Canada and end up in Port Arthur, TX part of Poes district. Poe estimates that he represents more refineries than any other representative in Congress.
My bill would authorize the construction of the pipeline except for the new route that has not been determined yet, that small route in Nebraska, that would still have to go through the normal channels. The rest of it would be authorized immediately, Poe told The Daily Caller, adding that since Keystone is in the national interest Congress has the authority to pass the legislation.
Poes bill adds to proposals from other Republicans attempting to get around the Obama administrations permit denial.
#4
If the pipeline is built piece-meal, state government should be able to approve each separate section. The pipeline is necessary for North Dakota crude regardless of whether the cross-border hook-up is ever made. The State Department has over site only of the crossing. Certainly foreign companies are free to conduct business within the United States. If the State Department is approving every new Honda dealership that is news to me.
Posted by: Super Hose ||
01/24/2012 22:19 Comments ||
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#5
FOX FIVE AM Segment > Panel Member argued that, thanx to the Bammer's veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline, any oil would now have to be TRUCKED IN, ULTIMAT RAISING THE PRICE AT THE PUMP [Regular Unleaded] BY AN ESTIM US$0.30 Cents.
Mitt Romney offered a partial snapshot of his vast personal fortune late Monday, disclosing income of $21.7 million in 2010 and $20.9 million last year -- virtually all of it profits, dividends or interest from investments. None came from wages, the primary source of income for most Americans. Just like the Empty Suit, except he made a lot of money from a book he didn't write. Don't forget Bambi's Senate salary for a job he didn't do...
Instead, Romney and his wife, Ann, collected millions in capital gains from a profusion of investments, as well as stock dividends and interest payments. They made their money the old-fashioned way - they earned it.
The couple gave away $7 million in charitable contributions over the past two years, including at least $4.1 million to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Romney's family has for generations been among the Mormon Church's most prominent members. We not going to compare this number to others, probably because it would make Mitt look generous.
The Romneys sent somewhat less to Washington over that period, paying an estimated $6.2 million in federal income taxes. According to his 2010 return, Romney paid about $3 million to the IRS, for an effective tax rate of 13.9 percent.
For 2011, Romney estimates that he will pay about $3.2 million, for an effective rate of 15.4 percent. That's in line with his earlier estimates, but sharply lower than the rates paid by President Obama and Romney's closest Republican rival, Newt Gingrich. Real men give their money to the state for redistribution! Just like Warren Buffett. Oh, wait...
The Romney campaign planned to publicly release the tax documents Tuesday morning but gave a preview late Monday night to The Washington Post. And this is how the WaPo repays him for the favor? It could have been worse... In recent days, Romney's GOP rivals have pressed him to make his returns public, arguing that it is critical for the public to vet his finances before the party settles on its nominee. The revelation that Romney pays a significantly lower tax rate than most wealthy Americans underscores his image as a multimillionaire financier, an image that some Republicans believe would hurt his chances in the general election. Real men give their money to the state for redistribution!
Economic inequality is emerging as a central theme in the battle for the White House, with Obama trying to harness populist anger at Wall Street and corporations against a backdrop of chronically high unemployment. He plans to call for higher taxes on millionaires in his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday night, embracing an idea advanced by billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Occupy Wall Street protesters. Real men give their money to the state for redistribution! If Mr. Buffett wants to pay higher taxes, he can start by having his company drop its suit against the IRS over back taxes...
"The president believes that it is not fair -- inherently not fair -- that those who are millionaires and billionaires pay at a lower rate than average Americans who give away $7 million and are struggling to get by," White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters Monday. "This theme about economic insecurity for the middle class . . . is what got this president into politics. So this is a foundational belief for him, and he's happy to have that debate." Real men give their money to the state for redistribution!
Posted by: Bobby ||
01/24/2012 06:36 ||
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#1
There is a very good reason why governments don't tax wealth. It causes large scale capital flight.
#3
This is similar to what Wall Street firms do for their executives:
They pay them $1/year in salary, and then give them a "bonus" of several million dollars.
If fellow Rantburgers will recall, that created a stir in congress when AIG tried to pay their execs with bonuses instead of salary (on the taxpayers' dime).
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
01/24/2012 10:14 Comments ||
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$4.1 million to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so that's how you get to be President of a church.
No, that's called paying the Tithe. paying about 7% beyond the tithe to other charities means their contribution rate exceeded 17 percent.
I also wouldn't whine about him carefully choosing his investments so that his tax burden was reduced. He paid something, which is more than the majority of eligible tax payers don't pay any income tax whatsoever, and even get money from the government in rebates...
I'm no supporter of Romney, preferring the "give-em hell Harry" style of Gingrich, but get back to me when the IRS finds he illegally paid less than he legally should have. Or when you get the name of his investment and tax advisor.
#5
Capital flight (supra) ...yes, just like what's happening in CA with business fleeing.
Posted by: jack salami ||
01/24/2012 11:31 Comments ||
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#6
At some point those investments Romney has were purchased with after tax dollars. So at some point these earnings are returns on after tax income.
I have no problem with the effective tax rate Romney paid. When you figure that he probably has a home mortgage, dependents, and don't forget the Mass state taxes were all deductions from the Federal.
There's no story here, looks pretty good to me.
Warren Buffet made more in a month last year than Romney did the entire year.
The guys at Solydra also probably made more.
Posted by: Bill Clinton ||
01/24/2012 12:04 Comments ||
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#7
He paid something, which is more than the majority of eligible tax payers don't pay any income tax whatsoever, and even get money from the government in rebates...
They don't get money from the government. Or Obama. They get it from people like Romney, who use fewer government services than the average Joe, and pony up more money in taxes in a single year than half of the population pays in a lifetime.
#8
We have a leech of a girl who gave birth to our grandsons daughter (Two idiots = 1 nice kid.).
In addition to WIC, etc., she also gets more back on her 1040 than she paid in (via "Earned Income Tax Credit" I've been told.), drives a nicer vehicle that my wife and I do, and am sure that a large portion of her cash tips go unreported. Staunch Zero supporter (go figure).
#11
Call me a traditionalist, but I oppose Romney due to his views on guns, taxes, global warming, abortion, big government and the individual mandate.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
"I think he's a nice guy. I'm sure he loves the country and wants it to do well," Romney told a crowd in New Hampshire earlier this month. "I just don't think he understands the principles that make us who we are.''
In a nationwide survey conducted by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation, black women described themselves as relating to Michelle Obama and sensing that she understands them. 
He has introduced a bill that would have Congress authorize the pipeline, which President Obama has scuttled to appease his base:
Mitt Romney offered a partial snapshot of his vast personal fortune late Monday, disclosing income of $21.7 million in 2010 and $20.9 million last year -- virtually all of it profits, dividends or interest from investments. None came from wages, the primary source of income for most Americans. 
In recent days, Romney's GOP rivals have pressed him to make his returns public, arguing that it is critical for the public to vet his finances before the party settles on its nominee. The revelation that Romney pays a significantly lower tax rate than most wealthy Americans underscores his image as a multimillionaire financier, an image that some Republicans believe would hurt his chances in the general election.
