Stars, Stripes and a Bush closer

It sounds like Dubya is saying "stay the course",...HEY!!...WAIT A MINUTE!!....I thought it was "benchmarks" that KKKarl Rove told him to use as his new slogan???

“We were not in Iraq when they killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11th, 2001.’’

So then why are we there now, when Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11??

Bush here something to stick in your pipe an smoke it. 100 DEAD AMERICAN TROOPS THIS MONTH. How many were killed by the missing U.S -supplied Weapons in Iraq. How many were wounded by our own ammo. This is Unacceptable along with your new talking points that means stay the course

Democrats and taxes huh? More money in your pocket huh? One of President Bush’s be-very-afraid lines this campaign season is that Democrats, if elected, will raise taxes. What he doesn’t say is that if you are one of tens of millions of Americans who make between $75,000 and $500,000 a year, your taxes are already scheduled to rise starting next year - because of laws that Mr. Bush championed and other actions he failed to take.
The higher taxes stem from the alternative minimum tax, a levy that is supposed to snare multimillionaires who would otherwise get away with using excessive tax shelters to wipe out their tax bills. But these days, the alternative tax is snaring many upper-middle-income filers.
Mr. Bush set the trap in 2001 - and in 2003, 2004 and 2006. In each of those years, he flogged for new tax cuts without requiring corresponding long-term changes in the existing rules for the alternative tax. It was well known that failure to update the alternative tax would create perverse interactions with the new tax cuts, causing filers’ tax bills to drop because of the cuts, only to shoot back up again from the alternative levy.
Mr. Bush said he would vanquish the problem through tax reform. Didn’t happen. Congress never wrestled with lasting solutions. The truth is, the president and lawmakers are paralyzed. To fix the alternative tax while keeping the Bush tax cuts on the books would result in the loss of some $800 billion in revenue over 10 years, blowing a hole in the federal budget and exposing how utterly unaffordable the tax cuts of the last five years really are.
The taxpayers wrongly afflicted by the alternative tax are not tax dodgers. For the most part, they are couples with children who have broken into the ranks of six-figure earners, and who live in high-tax states like New York and California. They are being penalized, in effect, for claiming everyday deductions - like write-offs for dependents and property taxes - which, under the alternative tax rules, are viewed as excessive shelters.
Meanwhile, multimillionaires are not being snared at nearly the same rate as other filers. In part, that’s because much of the income of the superrich comes from investments. The tax breaks for investments - the grail of the administration’s tax-cutting crusade - are not counted as shelters under the alternative tax the way, say, children are.
For the past few years, Congress has papered over the mess by passing temporary relief measures to shield most - though not all - upper-middle-income taxpayers from having to pay the alternative tax. The latest stopgap expires at the end of this year, leaving taxpayers exposed at ever lower income levels. Congress could pass another temporary stay, and it will probably do so.
But stopgaps do little to protect the families already being unfairly clobbered by the alternative tax. And they make the nation’s underlying budget problems worse. Like the Bush tax cuts themselves, they result in less tax revenue than is needed, requiring the government to borrow heavily. The mounting debt of the Bush years - all of which must be paid back with interest - makes tax increases or budget cuts, or both, inevitable.
The president wants to push off the day of reckoning until he leaves the White House, while whipping up voter fear of future tax increases. But the reality is that he and his supporters have laid the groundwork for higher taxes and hamstrung government, no matter who is in office in the months and years to come.

I can see the cowardly left is at it again,using the deaths of our brave soliders as dem talking points....Dale Peters,you should be ashamed of yourself.I can understand the flake,John E doing this,but I thought you,a real military man, would not degrade yourself to this level.It seems like it's a numbers game to you and your cowardly,defeatist cohorts...Shame,Shame,Shame!
Paulo

I stood in line today to try and hear the President speak here in Statesboro. I was turned away, along with several other thousands of people who wanted to hear our Commander in Cheif.

Too bad they issued 3,000 or so EXTRA tickets....

Great way to win votes: only let in 'Gold Ticket' holders who know the right people.

I can't believe he expects us to fall for this same old speech. This is war should have never happened and most of us know it. Lets put our voice in our vote.

Renee

Paulo,

You are a shameless, disgusting individual. How dare you even address Mr. Peters, you armchair, chickenhawk neocon nut-job. 100 dead soldiers in one month is sickening, and you asshole "party of life" Republicans ignore the carnage and blame Democrats. The only time Republicans care about life is when you're in the womb or hooked up to a life support machine (T. Shiavo). But when your up and walking about, Republicrooks don't give a damn about people. You and your ilk are in for a surprise and its called oversight. I may join Dale is his hunt for the murders who parade as Republicans, i.e. the JDs, Paulogirls and Bruce's of this blog.

Bush did cut in the face of thugs and assassins and so do every eligible member of his family today. I am willing to be corrected on this..Are any of the Bush extended family in the armed forces? How many of the college Republicans? How about you, Paulo? Talk about shameful.

Donald R, Right on! I am in favor of the tax cuts, but the government cannot continue to operate without replacing lost revenues without reducing spending. Point blank, the small government Republicans are a thing of the past. The very Republicans that tell the public about the lower taxes don't tell them that the AMT income levels haven't been updated in 20 yrs. Everyone is getting caught on the flipside. Thanks for watching out for the middle class GOP.

Paulo:

After you take your head out of your... lunch, answer these questions for me, please:

If the Emperor has no clothes on, is it cowardly to say so?

If you're in a deep hole, is it cowardly to stop digging?

If you've stuck your troops in a shooting gallery of your own making that al Qaeda is conveniently taking advantage of, is it cowardly to "support the troops" and want to save as many of them as possible?

Dale Peters,
Don't bother with Paulo.

The closest he's ever came to a firefight is when he hunts and pecks on his wingnut keyboard.

Hey Paulo,I saw you on Dateline NBC's
"To Catch A Predator" this past weekend.

Did you bail out already,or are you using the jailhouse computer today???

Paulo don't you ever call me a coward I have three hearts and two stars I severed did you? You read what it says missing American Weapons and Ammo Or don't you eard. My familiy there is yours. Befotre you call anyone a coward you better know who and what they did to keep yoiu free

Paulo, you confuse cowardly with misdirected. The standard GOP rhetoric is to call all critics cowards. Why? The Constitution guarantees those very rights that you are so quick to discard. They are guaranteed no matter how much you dislike their use that allows people to disagree with you. In fact I would call you coward for supporting an administration that is quick to sign the Military Commissions Act that removes Habeus Corpus from our rights as citizens. To paraphrase, Habeus Corpus is our right not to be held indiscriminately without being charged or without being allowed access to counsel. The Military Commissions Act removes that protection for all people. Not foreigners and resident aliens only. For all US CITIZENS as well. If you are labeled an "illegal enemy combatant" by the government you can be held and quite possibly never heard from again. I am not talking about the sleeper cells in America or the violence teaching clerics in America. If you are a vocal critic of the government, the potential is there that you could be swept off the street and never heard from again. Sound ludicrous? KGB like? Well, maybe so, but we don't have the right preventing that from happening anymore. To paraphrase Ben Franklin "Those who would trade freedom for temporary safety deserve neither freedom nor safety."

"The Democratic goal is to get out of Iraq... The Republican goal is to win in Iraq." That sums it up very nicely.

But let's ask Democrats: IS your goal to win the war that the terrorists have been waging against the U.S. and the Western world for at least the last 15 years? If the goal is for the western world to win, how? If Democrats have another goal, what is it?

Five years after 9/11 and Democrats still won't say what they would do. Which means they simply aren't serious about fighting, let alone winning, the war against the terrorists.

I personally got a ticket by emailing my information like everyone else was told to do. They asked me and everyone else who went to pick up their ticket if we wanted standing (gold) or sitting (blue and red). It wasn't about who you knew. And also, yes the Bush family has served in the military. Bush's father served as a figter pilot during World War II. So get over yourselves.

Only hillbillies and repugnicans eat this up...

We have no freedom anymore - Bush took it when he sold the USA to Halliburton

Hello,

Peace to all, forgive if I say anything wrong..dont want to take advantage of this discussion, but couldnt stop myself

I am a muslim and I like Americans generally, what hurts me the most is that you are responding after you see your own dead and associated difficulties, If you had thought of others dead and there problems long time back the terrorists would have been friends. why do u think a farmer or a cab driver from Zarqa chooses to blow himself? Because they perceive u as evil, evil that helped kill and displace thousands in Palestine, maybe your skin color remind them of what the brits and the french did to them in India afghanistan and ME and keep on doing. tell me it was the same islam from last 1400 years, why is terrorism prevelant now, I mean its a fashion now to blow yourself up. My dear friends Injustice will brew more injustice, to my republican friend Paulo the jerk- what does jesus taught about violence, or are you still thinking that he will come back and pat the evangilical back and say good job child, you killed a million of those Ayrab assholes, that was exactly my message I am actually an Hypocrite I meant peace only for you who believe I am the son of god.

what happened truth hurts?

I want to say sorry for getting angry and my miss spelling of words. Paulo I will never forgive you for that statement. I have held men in my arms and watch them die. I have seen mens bodies tore apart in front of my eyes. When you insult me you insult every man on the wall in Washington who gave their lifes to keep you free to insult me. I served my Country unlike you. My family is Serving this Country on a war of Lies told by the people you support. You are so gunn ho go serve your Country then an only then will you and your Right Wing nut cases have the right to insult me Until then do not ever use my name again in your post you have not earned that right.

hmmm truth hurts

"We can use more like me..."?

How self-absorbed. Not exactly Dylanesque.

Dale,
You numba one, Paulo numba ten.

Don't rise to Paulo's bait so easy.
He is just trying to provoke you to respond.

It took 40 years for voters to tire of the Democratic controlled congress.

Looks like 10 years will do it for the Repubs.

Dale Peters...If you are what you say you are,why do you revel in the numbers?
Paulo

You're going to put more money in my pocket by stealing more from my kids with the debt you're running up? Thanks a lot, Mr. President. Another reason to vote for the Democrats!

WOW look at this
http://www.democracycorps.com/reports/analyses/Democracy_Corps_October_30_2006_Memo.pdf

MABY YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE TOWERS ON SEPT.11

My children & grandchildren will have to pay for the financial cowardice of our government (all branches) because they refuse to face up to the fact that we are so in debt. That elephant in the room just might destroy us some day.

Paulo,
Is it tough being in 101st Fighting Keyboardist? You really sound like you need a rest.... Funny how you armchair generals seem to be quick to call veterans of our military cowards when they disagree with the war, yet most of you haven't nor will ever serve this nation in that capacity! If you are so gung ho, go sign up. They are desparate for even the likes of you!

Unfortunately President Bush has not grown into the Leadership role of President of the United States. He, in a time of war should be addressing All Americans. I find it sad that President Bush appeals to fear not hope, ignorance not enlightenment. I still remember that famous quote “I’m a uniter not a divider.” So sad..

Hey Felicia,

I think Catherine was asking if any of the Bush family is CURRENTLY in the armed forces and stationed overseas... I'd be very curious to know the answer, for that matter.

Since he believes that we should be there, perhaps he should ask his daughters, who are of legal age to enlist, to do so. Heck, perhaps if they believe in their father's "mission", they shouldn't even wait for daddy to ask and should find a recruiter!

And then ask to be sent to the front lines.

Not going to happen? Gee, I wonder why...

It's just depressing. For six years I have been asking myself "How can this man be President?" Each time I remember Ralph Nader's observation that "W" is a corporation masquerading as a human being. Of course the Dems have a pronlem with their poverty of personality, charisma, and, even more importantly, ideas. I have never missed casting a vote in municipal, county, state or natioanl elections. This year I have no "lesser of two evils" to choose from. At least I can thank heaven that I am too old and my son too young to be trundled off to Iraq--this year.

Hey. We fight in Iraq streets, so that we don't have to fight on State Street. Cliff

"IS your goal to win the war that the terrorists have been waging against the U.S. and the Western world for at least the last 15 years? If the goal is for the western world to win, how?"

Bruce-

Yes my goal, and I believe the goal of the Democratic is to win the war on terrorists.

How are we going to do this? By working with our allies, not against them. By focusing on where the terrorists actually are, rather than attacking other countries and making more terrorists. Send enough troops to Afghanistan to finish the job there. Working for a just and equitable solution to the Palestinian problem.

The real question is how can the Republican's claim to be serious about winning the war? Their actions in Iraq, Gitmo and Abu Ghraib have made us less safe. Their inaction in Afghanistan and Israle/Palestine have made us less safe.

Cliff,

We'd be able to win on State Street.

Hi Felicia,

Hmm... I apprently didn't hear about whether I could get Gold, Blue or Red. As I stood in line, they called the Gold Ticket Holders forward, and those I knew, personally, had the 'inside track.' Meaning, they knew someone. I assume it was merely coincidence.

I do wish they had told everyone that they had that option.

I stand corrected.

oh...

And I did email my request... just as everyone else did... :)

Tony's strategy for winning the war? Comes down to "working with...", "focusing...", and once again, "working with..." George Patton must be spinning in his grave over this kind of piffle.

That's not a strategy to win a war, that's an agenda for a group hug.

My guess is they wanted a full house so they issued 3,000 extra tickets to make sure of it.