Arkansas Blog

Magnolia Man writes to me:

I fear for the republic. The weaknesses of
the Republican field give me no cause for celebration because they only
magnify the Huckster. Americans (as Alexis de Tocqueville observed in the
1830s') have no real sense of their own history or heritage. And ,as H.L.Mencken
commented " I stay in this country for the same reason that people go to the zoo."

Or, as Houston Nutt would say -- I follow the money.

When the Bro. sounds sensible the Republicans and the country have serious
problem.

Where is Elmer Gantry when you need him?

Hey, yeah! Let's have that Social Security buy-out. I could use a few bucks for Chinese-made Christmas gifts for all those young'uns around. And there are a couple of the current crop of kiddies around who have totaled their cars and moms and dads have said, "Enough. Buy your own car." As a potential soft touch with a little extra cash on hand . . . well, who knows . . . There might be a young'un or two who'd agree to ferry us old folks around in return for a car, at least for a day or two, until that siren ski vacation calls -- well, if we'd pony up for that too. But never fear, they'll be back --when they can convince us to reverse mortgage the house so they can go on that Caribbean cruise.
Say, any ideas how the people of Arkansas can get out from under the pension and any other lingering obligations to Mike? A few bucks now and then he's on his own when health issues and old age sneak up on him? Sounds pretty good to me.

Some 30-Somethings on his Positions Staff must be dropping acid. "Tax-Free buyout." That's Great White Dope if I ever heard it. Where in the hell would the government get the TRILLIONS to do that ? Not that reality ever bothered a Huck pitch.

When country club Republicans realize that Huck's "Fair Tax" scheme is not only gonna cost them 23% on that next Escalade suv but they will also lose the Cheney-inspired, huge tax credit for it, Huck will be laughed out of the room. When tax policy becomes a DISincentive for rich people to buy expensive things watch how fast things go into a Huckabee-designed hell.

ARK. BLOG: It actually would cost them 30 percent. They get the 23 percent by dividing the tax by the total cost of the purchase with tax added. Nice scam. And most experts think 30 percent wouldn't be revenue neutral. With some of his givebacks, 60 percent might be more like it.

Ark Blog, if by some 1000 :1 odds Huck were given the chance to implement such a fairly tale, I predict his impeachment wouldn't take more than 5 months. Screwin office help is one thing, but messin with rich folks tax schemes is a dangerous proposition.