Waiting for Fitzgerald

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
1. My issue with spending and taxing is I want to see it, in plain, undisguised form. Then I can go to the ballot box and make an informed decision. Don't tax me in 8 million ways. Make it one tax and then I can see the affect and vote accordingly.

2. I dispute the did not earn it. A family unit is a cohesive concern. And perhaps the sacrifices of the family members who are not actually named on the paycheck contributed to the person whose name is on it being able to earn it.

3. The problem I with an exemption levels is that the least of the very rich get hit the hardest, while the very very rich can spend a proportionately less amount of their wealth to avoid it completely. Why should the government be creating an incentive for the tax avoidance industry? (or any industry, I am against all govt incentive/distortion as created by a tax code).

I have no sympathy for anyone dying leaving a $20 million estate.

[nononono]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Sadly, though, most of them tend to stop at Leviticus.

They don't, really. Some loudmouths do, and some dwell incessantly on those passages, but in the born-again world (sincere ones, anyway) read and study it all the time. No, I won't say "neutral and academic study," but study nonetheless.

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
I don't agree. If I think that the US had a strategic interest in going to war to spread democracy in the middle east or whatever else, I can still think that Bush messed up by misrepresenting the evidence on WMDs and claiming that WMDs was the main reason for war.

2. Before the line he crossed,
He had to justify the cost.
So he cried "WMD!" -
Who could disagree?
But he gambled, and he lost.

Why? Because I don't have the hubris to think that, just because I might think that a war is otherwise justified, that the rest of the country would agree with me. YMMV.

On this I disagree.
The worst mistake I see
Is he missed the import
Of the loss of support
When that reason fell into debris.

It's not that the reason was wrong,
Or even that he changed his song.
But he didn't quite suss
His ass would be in a truss
If it proved false and fighting ran long.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
Its almost 20 years in the past tense. If the shadows are concerned they should be more worried about Senator landrieu's threats against the President, threats which she has the power to carry out on an imminent basis. Will the dims ever apologise for that?

Didn't Ty get that one?

If not . . . I, Secret_Agent_Man, unreservedly apologize for Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and every foolish and/or illegal thing that she has ever done in her life or will ever do in her life. Every incident of poor judgment, and every incident of political grandstanding. I also apologize for the New Orleans Saints.
Res ipsa loquitor. Q.E.D. Pax vobiscum.

S_A_M

[Southern Patriot]

Originally posted by taxwonk
I have no sympathy for anyone dying leaving a $20 million estate.

Frankly, Red, I don't give a damn.

[Bad_Rich_Chic]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Might want to keep editing.

Don't feel bad, though, "home ownership" and "investment" are brutal.

S_A_M

I agree, rhyming is brutal indeed.
Though I try to keep my responses terse,
It's hard to fill out the rhymes that I need,
So just be grateful it's not even worse.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by taxwonk
I have no sympathy for anyone dying leaving a $20 million estate.

It's not an issue of sympathy, its one of respect. Although in modern day America, liberals don't respect a work ethic, whether its one where someone makes $20 or $20M. To the left its an entitlement society.

[Hank Chinaski]

• Nuclear tunes blast on to Iran's airwaves
  
  Nuclear science may not be considered ideal subject matter for a popular song, but the musical boffins in Iran's state media apparatus think differently.
  
  In recent days, Iran's airwaves have been buzzing with two new tunes apparently designed to rally public support for the clerical regime's increasingly tense stand-off with the West over its nuclear ambitions.
  
  The first song is entitled "Oriental Sun, Nuclear Science", and sung to a backdrop of military-style marching music by Ali Tafreshi. The second similarly catchy tune is "Nuclear Know-How" by Reza Shirazi.
  
  Both extol the wonders of a "great and powerful Iran" which has destroyed "the arrogance of the oppressors" and "defends its independence by using science".
  
  Despite the heavyweight nationalist lyricism, Iran insists its nuclear programme it strictly peaceful. But the West in unconvinced, and the European Union and United States want Iran to abandon its works on the potentially dual use nuclear fuel cycle and are threatening UN Security Council action.
  
  The songs, produced by Iran's state television and radio apparatus, have therefore been getting good airplay -- and are also accompanying TV clips of atomic facilities used to praise the "young engineers who have succeeded, without the help of foreigners, to develop the Iranian nuclear programme".

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
I think moral relativism to the point where obvious right and wrong are muted into a dull shade of gray is wrong and deplorable. The dimwits under Clinton and their allies in the PC armies of the leftist loonies from Hollyweird, Bezerkely and Seattle have succeeded in this blurring, somewhat. I welcomed W's moral clarity, albeit more moralistic than my personal leanings, as a counterweight to these unwashed doofi.

I pray to the babyjesuschristsuperstar that W's clarity, however faux it may have been continues to guide in our crusades against the Islamofacists, the homocide bombers, the big government tax and spenders and the culture of death. Here and abroad.

No one has benefited more from moral relativism than George Bush. Half the country gave him a blank check on Iraq because they figured "the ends justify the means." People have looked the other way in the face of mountains of clear lying and manipulation from this administration. Shit, if it weren't for moral relativists who said "Fuck it... the SCOTUS has to just end this thing" W might not even be President today.

Moral clarity? Maybe that's the message, but that ain't the practice.

W has the moral character of Richard Nixon. Remember what his motto was in 1968? "Returning law and order to America!"

In my short 3 plus decades, I've learned one thing about moralists - the louder a man's "moral clarity," the deeper his closet a/immorality. From Jimmy Swaggart through the priesthood through Iran Contra all the way up to W. Morals are like money or sex - he who talks a good game generally has none.

Your desire for moral clarity is laughable - all Bush did was offer a better bullshit story about his "morality" than his predecessor. The only thing W's shown me is that he's a master bullshit artist.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Didn't Ty get that one?

If not . . . I, Secret_Agent_Man, unreservedly apologize for Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and every foolish and/or illegal thing that she has ever done in her life or will ever do in her life. Every incident of poor judgment, and every incident of political grandstanding. I also apologize for the New Orleans Saints.
Res ipsa loquitor. Q.E.D. Pax vobiscum.

S_A_M

This is different than Ty's. This is an actual statutory violation. So it doesn't suffice to just tell me, you need to send the Secret Service an email. BCC me, the.spartan1@gmail.com .

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by taxwonk
I have no sympathy for anyone dying leaving a $20 million estate.

I do. The poor bastard's dead. You soulless prick.

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
I am very glad that he is not on the Supreme Court, but I have yet to see a convincing argument that Bork did anything wrong in 1973, particularly not that "tarnished the [Executive] Branch of government."

S_A_M

FWIW, both of his fired/resigned superiors, Eliot Richardson and [the other one] counseled/urged Bork to keep his position for the good of DOJ -- and thus to fire the IC. Only so many of the top leaders can fall on their swords over a principle without it severely damaging the operations of the Department.

As symbolic gestures of protest which appropriately damaged the Nixon presidency, the first two resignations were enough.

The resignations/firings were not symbolic gestures of protest. They were the result of those men being principled enough to do the jobs they were hired to do and try to uphold the law and serve teh interests of justice.

Bork, whore that he was, was not burdened by such a thing as a conscience. He chose expedience and self-advancement over the pursuit of the truth.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
Sadly, though, most of them tend to stop at Leviticus.

We should make the dim bastards trade pigs and slaughter goats at their kid's weddings.

Wait... that probably already goes on, doesn't it?

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by sebastian_dangerfield
No one has benefited more from moral relativism than George Bush. Half the country gave him a blank check on Iraq because they figured "the ends justify the means." People have looked the other way in the face of mountains of clear lying and manipulation from this administration. Shit, if it weren't for moral relativists who said "Fuck it... the SCOTUS has to just end this thing" W might not even be President today.

Moral clarity? Maybe that's the message, but that ain't the practice.

W has the moral character of Richard Nixon. Remember what his motto was in 1968? "Returning law and order to America!"

In my short 3 plus decades, I've learned one thing about moralists - the louder a man's "moral clarity," the deeper his closet a/immorality. From Jimmy Swaggart through the priesthood through Iran Contra all the way up to W. Morals are like money or sex - he who talks a good game generally has none.

Your desire for moral clarity is laughable - all Bush did was offer a better bullshit story about his "morality" than his predecessor. The only thing W's shown me is that he's a master bullshit artist.

The extent of your jadedism is sad. There is moral clarity and there is evil and there is right and wrong. You are so deep in the morally relativistic shades of grey that can't even recognize the possibility of an alternative. Its sad. I like you Sebby, even lurve you, in a platonic pseudo-frat boy crush sort of way, nttawwt. I weep at what they have done to you. I wonder if a full blood transfusion/replacement like Keith Richards used to get would help?

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by Southern Patriot
Frankly, Red, I don't give a damn.

Frankly, Troll, fuck off.