kapkomet

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Oct 16, 2008 -> 10:05 AM) “There’s no question Western Pennsylvania is a racist area,” said Mr. Murtha, whose district stretches from Johnstown to Washington County. “The older population is more hesitant.” Who in their right mind would vote for this ass monkey? About 75% of Western Pennsylvania?

QUOTE (lostfan @ Oct 16, 2008 -> 07:31 AM) Realistically, the only people that are going to care are the people that already care. So his "spread the wealth around" comment is alarming to conservatives for a couple of different reasons, but really they already think Democrats are socialists to begin with, so what's it matter? People either believe progressive taxation is fair, or they don't. The difference between anytime before now and now is RSO is openly campaigning, flat out saying, I am giving money to poor people from the rich - flat out - there's no mistaking it. Democrats of old generally would do it by talking about their programs and what all services they would provide. Now, "corporations, and rich individuals must pay down to lower incomes" IS socialism. As I said in another thread - people wonder why Europe doesn't have the growth the US does? That's why. And once we go there, we can never go back. A European style of government is not what I want here, for damn sure. Apparently, 56% of America doesn't see a problem with it, because they all think they're getting something from it, when in reality, they're going to get their ass thrown out on the street in some cases. This is sort of anecdotal, but my wife is due in December... and she has talked with some people from Canada - their comments are "I'm sure glad I don't have to pay for this baby, but I'd rather have it the US way because at least you get to take your money home instead of giving it to the government" - meaning, wages will get depressed the SECOND this plan goes in. But, that's ok, America wants it. By the way, this talk of "tax credits for small businesses" is a load of horse s*** too. I'm in a situation where I know some small business owners, and EVERY ONE OF THEM (my sample size is about 10 people, just so I'm clear) say that the potential is high that they have to cut staff pretty quickly if RSO gets his way. These people aren't stupid, and jobs are the first to go... enjoy that "free health care", folks.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 03:02 PM) See, the GOP has moved right a lot more than left. The ONLY thing they've moved left on is overspending. That's it. In many areas, they've moved right. They've walked a lot further from the center than they were, in general. So, it shouldn't be a surprise that the nation has said, in 2006 and now in 2008, that the GOP has lots its keys to the government. And I'm with them in that regard. I'm with Obama on more issues than I am with McCain, though not by much. I also think Obama is a stronger leader, and IMO more importantly, a stronger MANAGER. But, the fact that the GOP has moved so far right (other than spending) is also a factor in my mind, especially on Congressional offices. I'm derailing the s*** out of the McCain sucks and RSO is God thread, but what the hell. What do you think the GOP has moved right on? I would even say they've moved right of "traditional conservatives" - or those who model "conservatism" like Reagan. And I do agree that it's a bad thing. I just saw LF's post, and yes, I agree somewhat, but then again, I really don't - because I think that's a mirage. And don't forget that the Dems went right along with it - so no, they don't mock Dems, because the dirty secret is they're not really idealogically that different on the "civil liberties" issue.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 03:39 PM) The GOP's downfall has been the movement of the party away from their core values, and those of the country, in both directions. They moved left in order to spend-spend-spend. They moved right in order to try to force their morality on the nation on social issues. And they decided that a war to "fix" the Middle East was a good idea. Those are what caused the downfall of the GOP in recent years. I agree, but it's not enough to allow me to sit there and say, "I'm voting for RSO". There's no way in hell. Voting for McCain is just about like voting for Bill Clinton on the political scale, that's how far left the GOP has gone (save for the idiocy on shoving morality down out throats, which you rightly point out and it's a turn off of mine as well and highly disappointing).

QUOTE (Soxy @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 03:02 PM) How did the GOP "go left"? You mean financially? Yes, and it's their downfall. From that sense, they deserve some of what they're getting.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 02:56 PM) And you know what? You guys had your chance. And all we've seen for the last 8 years are job losses, a truly anemic recovery for everyone except the richest of the rich, median income declining relative to inflation by over $1000 such that your average American is worse off, a dramatic increase in household debt to the point that the average American was taking money out of their savings every month, income inequality reaching levels not seen since 1929, and now seemingly the worst credit mess to hit the financial system since the great depression. You know what? Maybe Senator Obama has wrong ideas, maybe he'll make things worse. But at this point, I think that trying the ol trickle down has just gotten so many people soaked in urine that it's time to try something different. And you know what? It's not the GOP's fault. But you find it easy to say "you had your chance"... that's laughable, so have the Democrats, and guess what? Their crap don't work so well either - Bill Clinton was just smart enough to go with the GOP in the 1990's, until the GOP started going left, so maybe in that sense, it is their fault... but it's not for the reason you say.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 01:36 PM) He's for something closer to one in any case, yes. This is, and has been, my biggest concern with Obama - tax and spending policy. Ultimately though, he won't get done as much as he wants to. In all seriousness, I'm not trying to think for you in particular but to the average voter, this should define the election. But, it's not going to. And he will get a lot more done then you think he will because he's going to have damn close to a super majority.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 10:33 AM) There are a lot of crazies in this country. Those two examples are a good picture, because they are double-crazy. One, they actually believe some of the B.S. rumors out there about Obama. But two, they actually think a financial nanny state is a good thing. Scary. And you honestly don't think, after some of the quotes that have hit this week, that RSO isn't for a "financial nanny state"? I know, not that extreme, but seriously, stop and think about it. People need to be really careful what they wish for.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 01:33 PM) Call me crazy, but it makes me wonder when after screaming about election/voter fraud for seven years, the Democrats are suddenly OK with it. They seem to now be OK with everything they accused Bush of just a few short years ago. The best part of all being there is really no way to see how much fraud is in the system because there is no way to check for it at the polls. Plus if they do disquailfy votes, there is always the "disenfranchisement" arguement. Its a win-win. Then again, I didn't register to vote 73 times, so I don't have a problem with some checks and balances in our electoral system. It is ironic, isn't it?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 01:25 PM) Income taxes are by and far the biggest revenue source of the federal government, which just so happens to be the largest employer and landowner in the United States. Most of the other taxes you are looking are either asset based, which again skews towards the middle and upper classes, or usage based. Either way, you can't convince me that someone in the 40th income percentile doesn't need to be paying income taxes. It is literally a massive redistribution of wealth when almost exactly half of the country will be paying zero or near zero in income taxes. My biggest problem with it all is that in the midst of the this redistribution, we as the half of the country left paying taxes, will be losing an estimated 10-15% of that purchasing power by the waste factor of our federal government ineffeciencies up and down the board. It would be smarter just to walk over to a neighbors and hand my income tax portion over to someone who is collecting as much as I am paying. Don't think that the Democrats realize this. In fact, it's brilliant. They know that if half the country will never pay income taxes, because they enacted it, they will forever get 50% of the vote no matter what they do. They are creating their own nanny state that will always back them - and it starts with the current younger voters and will last a lifetime, because they will never get out of the lower brackets due to lack of growth - but they won't know any better, so they'll just accept it. I also don't think it's a coincidence that the margin of the polls are 12 points, which is just about 56% of the people who will be being paid by the other 44%. Free handouts work every time, but what people don't realize is, the gravy train is going to cost millions their jobs. We want to be like France? OK, their unemployment rate is in the 15% range. Germany? Same thing. And yet, apparently America yearns to be just like them. They can have it, but unfortunately, I don't get a choice because 20% of the 56% of RSO backers are delusional if they think RSO will do better for our country with every socialistic policy under the sun.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 15, 2008 -> 11:07 AM) From Ben Smith today: This says it all, doesn't it? Seriously.

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Oct 14, 2008 -> 02:58 PM) "Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?" the plumber asked, complaining that he was being taxed "more and more for fulfilling the American dream." "It's not that I want to punish your success. I just want to make sure that everybody who is behind you, that they've got a chance for success too," Obama responded. "My attitude is that if the economy's good for folks from the bottom up, it's gonna be good for everybody ... I think when you spread the wealth around, it's good for everybody Its not that I want to punish your success, I just want to give more of your money to people who pay no income taxes. If McCain does not mention this tomorrow night, he deserves to lose. And if he does and gets no traction from it, I think he may need to realize he is the 2008 version of Bob Dole. You are exactly right. RSO outright claims socialism here. OUTRIGHT. That is a textbook definition of redistrubition of wealth. You think there's class envy now? Just wait.

QUOTE (Athomeboy_2000 @ Oct 14, 2008 -> 04:56 PM) it's pretty much over The arrogance. if anything, will be the downfall. You can never assume that.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 14, 2008 -> 12:47 PM) Now we're blaming Obama for the Iraq debacle? No, but he's not going to "get us out of Iraq" quite as easy as he says he is. Better yet, when he "brings them home" ON HIS WATCH he can claim "victory". You watch. It's exactly what this guy's going to do.

But we have to have health care. And welfare. And bank support. And a war (the dirty little secret he's lying his ass off about). And social security. And medicaid. And medicare. And highways. And let's tax those evil corporations more. And whatever else the government can control. I love socialism.

/sits back and tosses some popcorn...

QUOTE (Cknolls @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 01:26 PM) Don't think you can opt out of work sponsored 401k plan. I would also think you would lose the benefit of employer match if any applies. If you're not vested. Honestly, you'd be stupid to opt out of a matching program even if you could - most of the time you'll make more off the match and subsequent returns on that match anyway. Now if you're paying your own money, invest it in higher return products.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 01:49 PM) government run health care vs privately run is a situation where both sides have critical flaws. I agree, but one is lesser of two evils. What do you think the government is going to do with all this information? People b**** all the time about the Patriot Act, now we are giving them carte blanche access to every medical record in the country? How long will it be before they decide what they will treat and what they won't? Etc.? Absolutely, there's problems with today's health care, but it will get MUCH worse under the government.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 12:54 PM) So, if you are in a 401k at work, don't like the fund choices, and want to just transfer to some other provider's funds... you can transfer your 401k to an IRA at that other provider, without penalty... but you can never withdraw the money? I'm confused. You can't withdraw the money without incurring a penalty until retirement. You can always draw the money, you just have to pay a penalty. To avoid it, you have one company write the check to the other one.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 01:44 PM) For changing jobs, yes. I think he was asking, can he just move his 401k assets to a seperate IRA where he can allocate to different funds. You can just roll it over right to the IRA (or other vehicle) and not incur penalties, but you can never cash out in your own name.

QUOTE (bmags @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 10:16 AM) PERSONALLY, I do think that having a split party Congress/WH is usually a good thing. HOWEVER, for the next few years, I want to see Health Care done, so the Repubs can go sit in a corner and cry about following their leader. But clearly the tensions between Clinton and Gingrich led to some fiscal responsibility that really moved us forward. Unfortunately of course, that fiscal house GOP method that took over in 94 turned into the evangelical conservatives of today. I just really laugh at people who want to see government run health care. NEWS FLASH: IT WILL NOT BE ANY BETTER THEN WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. No offense personally, bmags. It just is not an issue I will EVER trust the government to get right. People will die that don't today. It's just about that simple. /waiting for 10 billion articles from leftist blogs telling me how I'm wrong and how f'ed up today's sytem is (yes, s*** happens), but I know from personal experience from working in the industry. It will not be better, but just go on drinking the kool-aid.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 12:52 PM) 55%? Wow. The general markets are down only about 30% ATM on the year, I think. I'm not 100% clear on how those rules work, with 401k vs IRA. It can be done when you change jobs, but I'm not sure if you can just move your 401k to any firm's IRA and use their funds. I'm just not sure. You have 60 days (I think it's 60, it might be 30) to move accounts without incurring penalties but you better be able to document that you put it back into a retirement - or just transfer it directly to another fund.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Oct 13, 2008 -> 07:59 AM) I wasn't sure where to put this, so, here it is... We've talked in here a lot lately about some of the goofy, pedantic, petty and/or untrue personal attacks made on both candidates. We've wondered aloud which ones were even worth believing or mentioning, which ones matter and how much. One of the oldest and least believable in the books for this election is the old "Obama is a muslim" or "Obama is an Arab" schmear. So here, in case you were curious, is how the Trib sees it having started. Ground zero is, apparently, Andy Martin, aka Anthony Martin-Trigona. Sort of an interesting read. Martin is quite the character, and appears to be a bit off his rocker. Hannity hosted him on a major Fox News expose this past week, as a source for the Obama character study. Love me some Faux News. Sean Hannity is one of the reasons RSO is our next president. Even Limbaugh isn't this stupid, nor are many of the other "conservative blowhards". There is parody, and there is actually trying to scare people, and it will backfire.

White, I had to edit your post - something was tripping it out... Sorry about that.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Oct 10, 2008 -> 08:02 AM) Like the way McCain wants to have taxpayers bail out the banks? You keep saying that. What would you do? What would you have your glory boy do?