my response to a blogger's comments:
"I'm not so indifferent to the current economical condition of our country to think that raising taxes in recessionary times is a good thing."
Oh Hogwash. Raising taxes for people who make $250,000+ And of course, many folks don't catch that because they were tuned into easy-listening "McCain radio" but should read the facts at http://origin.barackobama.com/taxes/. From Obama’s website I didn’t even see anything about raising taxes for the wealthier except only that their tax would remain.
Don’t you think it’s a bit of a gamble to say the dreaded words “raise taxes” when you’re trying to win an election? All people have to hear is “raise taxes” and they go berserk regardless of the economic conditions. If the average American is making the above figure, then I’ve really been out of the loop.
I am ashamed right now of this country because of our greed, and because of that greed other countries are feeling the weight of it too.
Nobody is forced to do anything. College students now tote Prada and Chanel bags, people in their early to mid-twenties go to banks, buy expensive cars and homes, and do what they do out of their own willingness to do so. I get sick of the greedy "Joe the Plumber" stereotypes that are supposed to mirror the common man and his “pie in the sky” dreams. It’s just your typical stubbornness to pay taxes now masked as a reason to not vote for Obama during a recession.
It looks to me like the plumber is delusional with the belief that he is somehow rich, I guess, or that someday he will make $250,000 as a plumber and someone who is successful shouldn't be "penalized" for that. What is this some sort of lame attempt to get others to share their wealth?
It gets pretty funny because he’s helping along the relief effort for the wealthier guy he hopes to one day become while he continues with his $40,000 a year salary (which will see tax relief under Obama’s plan). We don’t even know how much his wife makes. Maybe she makes more than he does, which means he could very well be making nearly $100,000 a year and that still isn’t enough. In the end, recession or no recession, come spring he will still be taxed something, which will undoubtably piss him off.
Nobody wants to pay taxes regardless of how much he makes or what the law is. It’s absurd for a plumber to act in such a manner because he’ll never make the kind of cash he doesn’t believe should get taxed unless he strikes oil on one of his clogged toilet runs.
Unless you’re a stock junkie who placed his future in the bets of the stock market, I ask you, how many people making $250,000 a year are seriously being that hurt by the economy? I can’t guess the extent and maybe I’d be shocked, but that’s only because as your average American, I’ve never seen that kind of money. If Americans are making $40,000 a year and living like they make two or three times that, maybe they are in a hole, I don’t know. Doesn’t the president himself make a salary close to or around $250,,000? Maybe Obama should throw a hissy and stamp his foot at this supposed tax plan.
“I'm a conservative and I know what the average American can afford.”
I find it particularly insulting that anyone would think that because they are a conservative that they have some sort of "insider knowledge" about what people can afford. I can’t assume anything based on what any average American is able to afford. In a country where everyone prides themselves on what they can do or have, I think it is nearly impossible to know what anyone can afford right now because many Americans live on credit and most everyone is living beyond their financial means-- it's the only way. And now, with the current situation, maybe they aren’t going to be able to do that as easily. Maybe they are actually going to have to have the money for what they want.
The price of gas supposedly made people nervous, but not enough to take the bus or carpool. In fact, here in the city it seemed to me traffic increased. It feels like no one wants anyone or anything to tell them they can’t have what they want to have or do what they want to do. Gas prices could have reached $7 or more, people would have become more angry and food prices would have sky-rocketed, and I seriously doubt it would have affected the traffic that much.
It is greed and the money hungry who have thrust this country into the recession it is in. It is the rich, the greedy banks and the Americans who live beyond their means being driven by that greed. Everyone believes they need or deserve everything and yet shouldn't have to pay taxes. Everyone is pointing their finger at everyone when maybe they should be pointing at themselves. It makes absolutely no sense to bite the hand that is holding the trough one is dining in. And from the time George Bush took office it has been corporate greed down the line for eight...long...years.
"While I enjoy your cynical posts on culture at large, the personal attacks don't work as well for either entertainment or quality in my opinion. But, maybe that's just me. I don't care for it from either party."…
You don’t care for it from either party but you care more when it’s aimed at the party you favor. It doesn’t work for you because you are on the flip-side. I don’t think it’s your place to decide for me what works. Typically, whatever I rant about, whether it’s the prices at Whole Foods, UGG boot trends, Lance Armstrong affairs, or gay pride parades it is an opinionated attack. And just because it’s a presidential candidate doesn’t make it less cultural or that it should be less of an attack because someone might get hurt. However, I give you credit for stating your opinion. I get a few lame, passive-aggressive comments and catty, insecure viewpoints. But the positive feedback far outweighs any negative responses on my blog.
You have a right to your opinion and that's fine that you find my personal attacks on the candidate I don't like to be offensive. Who cares? So I should keep my opinions to myself? I find attacks on Obama offensive because he is the candidate I choose. If I get some applause or a chuckle from those who also support Obama, fine. If by chance I think I’ve stepped over the line and actually personally hurt someone’s I might apologize. But if I don't, I won’t. There are plenty of bloggers that are perpetual brag sheets, and I read many posts that I find lame, boring, and even offensive. More often than not, I choose to say nothing. But if I do say something, and the blogger doesn’t like or agree and I say it on their blog, that person has every right to ignore, delete, retort, or even tell me to go to hell if they choose.
I don't write my posts to appease or sprinkle fairy dust around anyone. If you don't like it, fine. But if you choose to say something on my blog that I don't agree with (depending upon the subject matter and whether I think it's worth it), expect a retaliation.
I do know this: I’m not apologizing for not liking a bitter old man and his maverick-on-the-back. With all the pressure and problems we are currently steeped in, he will most certainly die before his term is up. Though older folks have a lot to reiterate and things for us younger folks to learn from, I just feel there is something inherently wrong with someone of his age and bad health to be so power-hungry for the presidency. I think he’s just fine where he currently resides. I mean 8 years ago he was a better choice , but now?
I voted for George Bush in the last election and nearly didn't vote at all because I thought both candidates sucked. My decision to vote democratic this time is based in my own discernment of character I see in the candidates.
I don't stamp myself as either Republican or Democrat, though it's obvious I'm leaning left this time around.
I am not a socialist or a communist.
I’m not a supporter of terrorism who thinks Obama is a terrorist because his middle name is Hussein and he can be friends with a Muslim.
And though I am a Christian, I don’t believe that God is on the side of my political views. As far as taxes, give to Caesar what is Caesar’s.
And, there is no argument in the idea that this sort of rant doesn't work for you-- and that makes perfect sense to me--you're a McCain supporter.
what a wonderful world...away from all the madness...and the nonsense...
and that's about it. They are going to lose. Too bad.
no matter what he says...it's a joke.
no matter what she says...or wears...it's ridiculous.
So the designer clothes are not her property and she doesn't get to take them home? Who cares? The fact is what it is: The party bought your "celebrity" clothes, you wore them among the American people, and now you stand in front of the oblivion of your moronic supporters trying to explain away your "consignment" jacket.
So according to McCain those are clothes for Charity? What kind of charity? Does one need an invitation to such an event? I don't know of any charities that would sell designer clothes at Salvation Army prices. I know that I'm not fooled by a damn moron and her token "eskimo" earrings. The media is sexist? Americans are sexist? I say the party is sexist for thinking you must look hot to engage in a vice-presidential campaign.
The fact that the party spends that kind of money on one-time events, so that their candidate can look good or better, and that candidate (along with her family) wears them in front of the American people, says to me that conservatives have their heads are up their asses and they are in complete indifference to the condition of our economy and what your average American can afford. Or, maybe pumping $150,000 to Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, or Macy's is their idea of what "shore-in up," "rampin' up," or "giddy-upin' our economy is all about.
I do feel a sigh of relief because I think at long last it is evident that this election isn't about POW's, mentally handicapped babies born to 44-year olds, hockey, fishing, chopping wood with the big boys while drinkin' a six-pack or looking good. It's about social awareness. It's about knowing something. And, while I hesitate to think Americans know much about anything, I do think Americans are definitely aware.
is this scary? Somebody wanna elaborate on this? Costumes like this for women are friggin' dumb as cat shit. I can't for the life of me understand why halloween costumes for women are just another opportunity for women to dress like whores. And what's sad is that a lot of women go all out for this. Come on ladies! This is a chance to look how you really want to look-- sexy and ready. I mean look at this! Oh I'm just so scared of that cleavage.
Now this is a real costume that makes sense:
I watched the Vice-Presidential debate online last night and was surprised by Ms. Palin’s delivery. I wasn’t impressed though. I think she was coached well by someone, and as a result, was very good at parroting facts so as to look intelligent.
But as far as having a real feel for what is going on in the world? That’s hard to say what with the disastrous Katie Courac interview, dinosaurs being here 4,000 years ago, and her inability to name one current magazine or newspaper that she supposedly reads regularly. I think she seems rather inhuman regardless of any “humanitarian” efforts and successes she may have accomplished in Alaska as mayor and governor.
I could make excuses for her. I could say that she made those mistakes in recent interviews because she was nervous. I could say that she was turning the table on a catty reporter who wanted to make her look stupid. (How that mealy-mouth Katie Courac ever got anywhere is something to be looked into too.)
Anyway, I could excuse Palin for being the small-town hick from Alaska who isn’t used to this sort of publicity. I could say she evades or skirts around questions like she doesn’t know anything because she’s too damn scared to say anything—like she’s McCain’s puppet or something and isn’t sure what she should or shouldn’t say. As a result, she doesn’t look very real to me. And to most, she looks pretty dumb. Considering where she’s been and her accomplishments, she should know better. There are no excuses.
However, I can’t deny that Palin may have reinvented herself during last night’s debate as far as what she knows. However, I still don’t get the feeling that knowing is inherent in her case. I still don't think she is qualified for this position. I mean, is last night an example of what she really knows or rather, what she learned while camping out at McCain’s place over the last week preparing for last night’s debate? She tried to be something of herself, but she looked more choreographed than Biden with the exception of her little winking“hey ya knows” and “hee- haw’s”. Biden is older and has more experience with public speaking. So, it was pretty natural and effortless for him. I liked the fact that he showed Palin respect in that most of his attacks were not directed toward her, but rather at McCain, throughout the debate. I can’t stand that Palin makes derisive comments that look like she’s poking fun but she turns it around saying that she is simply stating facts. Since when is a fact supposed to be a joke?
I think it’s really hard for me to not view the McCain/Palin clan as being anything but what they say they are: Mavericks. They are the kind of mavericks that are bullies and aren’t interested in people. Like Biden said, they aren’t interested in the struggles of your typical family trying to send their kids to college, trying to pay for oil to heat their homes, or whether or not they’ll even have a place to live by Christmas. Like the Bush administration the McCain/Palin rodeo displays a desire to be in control. I certainly don’t think McCain is interested in anything but himself. I think he’s interested in throwing a lasso around the position of president as his final accomplishment before he dies. I think Palin is just trying to stay on top of the bull long enough for him to do that.
I’m glad that Biden had the chance to explain that while he’s just a man, he too, has had personal and family struggles. There has been all the attention on Palin and “keeping” her mentally handicapped child. I get tired of hearing from other women how much they admire that. Should we admire her for doing the right thing? Shouldn’t we expect it? Since when should doing the right thing elicit admiration? And in saying that you admire her, you are really admitting that if you were in her position, you would not do the right thing. I get so tired of the fact that women need someone or something to admire. Get on with it! I think you have to ask yourself, have you arrived or are you still trying? I get so tired of this emotionally unstable, callous need to latch onto or prove something that usually doesn’t prove anything other than you don’t breast-feed or clean the toilet, but rather you chop wood and catch fish.
Anyway…There is an obvious difference in presentation with the candidates. Obama and Biden always make an effort to look at their opponent. McCain never looked at Obama in the first debate and Palin hardly glanced at Biden while he was speaking. Instead, both McCain and Palin showcase an arrogant, rather insecure smirk about what the other is saying. McCain is better at cracking jokes that aren’t funny and Palin with toothy smiles, displays a kind of playground derision that makes her look both insecure and just plain insensitive. They are both insensitive because they are both bloated with their accomplishments. Palin has even used her inexperience as an accomplishment while publicly deriding Obama’s. So what does that mean? For her, I think it means that inexperience is ok as a vice-presidential nominee because she’s just the kickstand. After all, with a 73-year-old president, there is absolutely no chance that McCain will die and she’ll be left with the presidency.
I think when it comes to Palin we’re looking at a cowboy with a well-tweezed upper lip and a posse that does most of her bidding back in the governor’s seat. I don’t care how much wood you’ve chopped, how many fish you’ve caught, or how many six-packs you’ve consumed at the end of the workday. That doesn’t impress or define anything for me and I certainly don’t need you to admire.
I wish I could find that cool headdress she's wearing. I'd be wearing that every day.
This is kind of reminiscent of Michael Jackson. Anyway...still alive I am. Just very busy. You know, DEADlines...hahahahahahahahahahaha
Talk about disturbia...DIE McCAIN...die, already...and take your little hick-ass bimbo with ya!
