http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/01/01/the-republican-tax-increase-open-line Comments On: The Republican tax increase open line by Max Brantley en-us Copyright 2013 Arkansas Times. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, Arkansas Times readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact Arkansas Times. robert@arktimes.com (Arkansas Times Webmaster) Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:01 -0500 Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:00 -0500 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
Kay in Ohio (she works tirelessly for Democrats in her state and is as good as it gets on voting issues, school issues, etc.) echoes my sentiments:

"I wanted a deal because the economy is getting better and people are hiring and we just need some predictability and stability. IMO, we just need them to NOT screw things up. You cliff-jumpers can go off w/ out me :)"

Someone else said this in response to the foamers and frothers at DailyKos who apparently wanted nothing less than scorched earth:

"Obama is still moving the ball downfield. Woody Hayes won a lot of football games with “three yards and a cloud of dust.”
Posted by the outlier]]> Wed, 02 Jan 2013 06:29:45 -0600 Arkansas Times
Womack Statement on Fiscal Cliff Deal


Washington, Jan 1 -

Congressman Steve Womack released the following statement on his support for the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8):

“While I am disappointed this deal failed to address America’s most pressing issue – spending and our $16.4 trillion debt – it was imperative that we prevented the massive tax hike on the millions of Americans who can least afford it. The notion that because we didn't get the spending cuts we wanted and should therefore raise taxes is absurd, and the discussion on spending is far from over.

“With H.R. 8’s passage and the permanent extension of the Bush Tax Cuts for 99 percent of Americans, the President can no longer use the ‘class warfare’ narrative; he now owns this economy. If he continues to dig his heels in and refuses to come to the table on spending, he will have failed as a leader.

"The debate on the debt ceiling – which Secretary Geithner reported that we formally reached last night – and the expiration of the CR in March must address our unsustainable spending. If Congress cannot do this, we will have failed America.”

http://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingl…
Posted by eLwood]]> Wed, 02 Jan 2013 02:49:42 -0600 Arkansas Times
Perhaps Tom "what hiz face" wants an Oscar. Won't get one while bowing to Xenu or facing a blockade of Thetans.
Posted by eLwood]]> Wed, 02 Jan 2013 02:28:35 -0600 Arkansas Times
I think I was 60% for not passing the Senate bill in hopes it would force our troops home way way before 2014. Obama has a very good chance of doing an LBJ by letting a senseless war drag him down and ruin whatever good he's attempting.

If LBJ had shut down our involvement in Vietnam the first year after JFK's death he'd have had a partial term and 2 full terms and would be known as the 2nd greatest President of the 20th century right behind FDR.

But he made it a dick length contest, listened to the wrong people and wound up being chased out of the White House and dying a bitter, hated man. Is this Obama's future? Are we in Afghanistan today because the Military-Industrial Complex has Barry by the balls and won't let go?

For the money spent for one day of war, we could build 10 bridges across the Arkansas River. Last year more of our troops committed suicide than there were dead people at Sandy Hook. I just can't get professional strength Pro-Obama as long as he keeps us at war. We lose more than troops and money everyday we keep pounding people in the Middle East. The world is watching us in our wrongness.
Posted by DeathbyInches]]> Wed, 02 Jan 2013 02:16:40 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by MEnLR]]> Wed, 02 Jan 2013 01:10:10 -0600 Arkansas Times
But I just got off the phone with one of my oldest and dearest Tinseltown insiders, who opened with the New Year’s bombshell, “Have you heard Tom Cruise is leaving Scientology?”

Well, no. Nobody gives a shit about Tom Cruise in St. Barts over the holidays.

“Well, he is. But nobody’s supposed to know. LEAST of all David Miscavige. It’s all so cloak and dagger it makes Katie’s divorce machinations and the details of her dad’s 500 page pre-nup look like a TMZ special edition.”

Marty Holmes is an attorney and devout Catholic who never trucked with Thetans and made sure his darling daughter was well-protected. That’s why HER bombshell divorce settlement only took 11 days.

“He can’t just LEAVE because they’ve got EVERYTHING on him. Everything he ever did; to and with whom. But they don’t know Tom. Once he’s through, he’s through. So there’s an army of PR people working out his exit scenario. Which might actually make a great movie, come to think of it.”

Seems Miscavige is onto it and is even more paranoid than usual because Tom’s leaving would be the straw that breaks Xenu’s back, after years of increasingly bad publicity and current lawsuits for fraud in Germany and elsewhere (where the “religion” is considered a criminal enterprise).

“They’re down to around 80,000 members around the world. And NONE with the financial wherewithal that Tom’s got. Who’s left? Kirstie Alley? John Travolta? They can’t BEGIN to finance Sea Org the way Tom has.”

With Scientology’s investments and holdings, I’m somehow not feeling their pain.

“It’s not just about the money. He’s the FACE of Scientology! Their biggest draw! If HE goes, game’s over! Without him they’re just a bunch of neurotic losers spouting gibberish. They’ll do ANYTHING to keep him. But word is he’s fed up. Fed up and pissed off. And Mighty Mouse pissed off is not a pretty sight.”

So when will this rumored parting (to be papered over with mutual face-saving gestures) take place?

“This year or next.”

Show business is my life. Can’t WAIT to get back to Hollywood!
Posted by Norma Bates]]> Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:45:24 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by Paul Covert]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:38:57 -0600 Arkansas Times He is ...his wife is... in Goldman Sachs.
He also controls Virginia's pension fund for Wells Fargo thru his wife. His wife controls about $20 billion in state pension funds, you hedge them anyway you make your 3% commision.
He has offshore accounts ....under his wife's and family names in Belize. Under his cousin's name he just finished a big Hotel complex in Costa Rica with other partners.

Yes, he is a friend of offshore banking, betting against the US, profiting from the hundreds of billions of additional interest we have had to pay since we lost out AAA credit rating that THEY destroyed too." Quoted from "We love to irritate hateful Republicans" Facebook post.

Looks like Cantor may have a little conflict of interest with the debt limit issue.
Posted by Sellercreek]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 23:04:51 -0600 Arkansas Times
Griffin and Crawford voted no.

And Clay pigeon thought long and hard about his post and decided to hell with the constitution and President Obama should govern by fiat.

Also, too, he thinks the Arkansas River would cast a lovely glow if it ever caught fire like the Cuyahoga River in Ohio did before the EPA.
Posted by the outlier]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 22:48:41 -0600 Arkansas Times
-- Well, there's the argument against that.
Posted by Doc]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 22:00:49 -0600 Arkansas Times
You want to cut the budget, here are some examples:
Disband the following agencies:
Depart homeland security. We have a military for that job
EPA. No reason for their existence
Depart if education. The states have their own
Bring the military home from everywhere, have them guard our borders. Screw nation building

Congress critters: you should be paid 20k/ year no more.
Posted by clay pigeon]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:59:09 -0600 Arkansas Times
Another big cultural difference involved their pubs. Apparently, the whole family goes to the pub, including kids. And while there, kids play with other kids who have been brought along for the family outing. They were speechless when I told them if an adult walked into a bar in the US with a child in tow, someone would most likely call Child Protective Services.'

Something always comes up that has to be explained in detail for the others to grasp, so it is always interesting. We have met them in the past years in London, Paris and Rome. Will be nice to do the visit this year in America, and I have a feeling they will be asking some very interesting questions about what they see here. Because it will be New York, I may not have all of the answers.
Posted by mountaingirl]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:54:04 -0600 Arkansas Times
So one Congressional foot remains unshot.
Posted by Sound Policy]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:48:09 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by DeathbyInches]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:44:09 -0600 Arkansas Times maybe some blog posts while with your friends from across the channel.

Ask them how well they think we've done with the "colonies."

Please give them a big thank you for their "Doc Martin" series from BBC.
Posted by eLwood]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:08:14 -0600 Arkansas Times
http://swtimes.com/sections/business/busin…
Posted by Cato]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 21:01:57 -0600 Arkansas Times Hope everyone slid safely into the new year and enjoyed a 'pain-free' day. :)
HHH had me up at 6:30....(let's just say that 6:30 shows its face only once a day in my normal routine and it's NOT in the am!)....anyway, we then set off to spend the day at the auction house. Had a wonderful time, looked at some very cool stuff and brought home a couple of treasures.

Thank you, mountaingirl, for reminding us of some of the many things we've shared this year. I'm so grateful for our little community here.
Safe travels, friend. Have a great trip and make some fantastic memories!
Posted by HardHeadedWoman]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:57:49 -0600 Arkansas Times Still waiting on you posting the links I asked for.
Posted by springdale_liberal]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:45:50 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by mountaingirl]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:09:10 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by Yellowdogdaughter]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 20:05:46 -0600 Arkansas Times
Springdale Public Schools just called and requested that you refrain from posting until your Remedial Grammar Classes are completed.
Posted by arhogfan501]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 19:57:13 -0600 Arkansas Times
One thing I left out of my earlier comment is how awesome the Blog Girls are. I am so proud of this group of intelligent women who aren't afraid to speak out for the things that are important. Outlier, nvr, hhw, sister, nanc, ydd, vanessa, mag, norma, verla, and the rest, thanks for proving every day that smart women rock! I can't think of better role models for the young ones out there, still trying to sort it all out.
Posted by mountaingirl]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 19:53:53 -0600 Arkansas Times Posted by Goof]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 19:50:07 -0600 Arkansas Times Or
Shut. The. Hell. Up.
Posted by springdale_liberal]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 19:40:26 -0600 Arkansas Times
While tex and I seem to agree more today than usual... he's not there yet.... getting closer though. He's still trying to excuse Democrats who (just like Republicans) have been as determined if not more so than republicans to start in an awful position and make things worse. Obama openly began targeting Social Security within a few week of taking office.. as he torpedoed any decent chance of the D party fundamentally establishing health care for all at 50 percent less GDP (just to begin to get us near second to most expensive in the world).... and he turned Bush tax cuts into his very own. Nothing has changed except in how it's worse. That included your blinders. You should listen to tex who is screaming into the light as he allows his blinders to be removed today.

Obama and Boehner set up this cliff lie after Boehner got 98 percent of what he wanted last time around. Obama begged Boehner to cut SS then. Boehner wouldn't do it. Boehner, much to my surprise was the better of the two. ANd you all should know in the debates Obama proudly said the he and Romney agreed on these things.

Banksters, insurance/derivative, bond sharks, hedge funds
Defense/ Military madness
Health care as human right
Rule of law (especially at the top)


Are the elephants in the room. This is still all about looting us on their behalf. There simply is no good proposal for the 99 percent here. That's where tex and I seem to part most dramatically. You really think uber rich are worried about roughly three percent tax hike... which will or already does include numerous loopholes, no doubt? And the fact taxes don't fund fed government budgets. It's simply not how our monopoly money works at the fed level. This BIG lie is perpetuated by all sides... and until we learn, insist they openly legislate from a fact based standpoint on how our money works.... you and tex can keep on howling at the republicans... while neoliberal Dems eat your lunch.

You can rest assured, there will be no loopholes in the two percent SS payroll tax raise on the rest of us. Nevertheless the cliff and shared sacrifice are and always have been lies.... originated, perpetuated by Democrats and their favorite billionaire, Nixon's commerce secretary, Third Way founder, Pete Peterson. The Dem Koch brother if ever there was one.
Posted by Eureka Springs]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2013 19:36:48 -0600 Arkansas Times