Today's edition of quick hits:
* Ending the surge: "Nearly two years after President Barack Obama ordered 33,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan to tamp down the escalating Taliban violence, the last of those surge troops have left the country, U.S. officials said Thursday."
* Violent unrest continues: "Violent crowds furious over an anti-Islamic video made in the United States convulsed Pakistan's largest cities on Friday, leaving up to 19 people dead and more than 160 injured in a day of government-sanctioned protests."
* President Obama didn't say much this week about Mitt Romney's "47 percent" controversy. As was evident in Virginia today, that's clearly changing.
* Libya: "Tens of thousands of Libyans marched to the gates of one of the country's strongest armed Islamic extremist groups Friday, demanding it disband, as the attack that killed the U.S. ambassador and four other Americans sparked a public backlash against militias that run rampant in the country and defy the country's new, post-Moammar Gadhafi leadership."
* MEK: "The State Department is preparing to remove the Iranian opposition group Mujaheddin-e Khalq from the U.S. government's terrorist list, siding with advocates who say the controversial organization should be rewarded for renouncing violence and providing intelligence on Iran's nuclear program, senior Obama administration officials said Friday."
* As if things weren't quite bad enough for the Republican presidential ticket, now Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is expressing "frustration" with his party's campaign.
* In addition to tax returns, we also got a look at Romney/Ryan physicals today.
* "The Simpsons" packed a lot of great political humor into 96 seconds.
* Congress won't be the same without him: "Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) on Friday all but accused House Republicans of being too crazy and extremist to pass legislation the country needs to operate."
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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"Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) on Friday all but accused House Republicans of being too crazy and extremist to pass legislation the country needs to operate."
Perfectly true. Hopefully the congressman will be replaced by someone equally able to kick these s.o.b.'s where it counts.
I know I'm looking forward to the return of Alan Grayson!
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I am wondering if those demonstrations against the militias in Libya will give America an excuse to try to help train Libyan military/police forces instead of Afghanistan. It would appear that our mission in Afghanistan is dangerous and not going to happen without the joint training missions- but the U.S. still needs a place to be in the Middle East to carry out their anti-terrorism stuff- would Libya be close enough? They are certainly friendly. Any thoughts?
I am wondering how much of this unrest in the region is intentionally being stirred up by "missionaries" trying to force Armeggedon on us all.
What am I saying , the fanatical fringe on the right would never try to play God in such a way.
Libya is (or at least it's starting to like it might become) a good example how people - mosleems even - will extend to us their genuine gratitude in return for help we give them when they ask for it. It's a good contrast to e.g. Iraq where we decided to force "help" and "freedom" down people's throats and the architects of that war ended up confused and disappointed when they never received the gratitude they felt they were entitled to.
The citizens of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen and Russia have identified and remedied, with varying degrees of success, the abuses by their rulers designed to enrich themselves and keep their peoples in a state of poverty and tyranny. The current Administration has taken measures and instituted policies that support such remedies without affecting the sacred right of these peoples to choose their own safeguards of their unalienable rights. This is in direct opposition to the policies of the previous Administration which sought to dictate and manage this change in sovereign nations and the critics who represent the forces that benefit from such policies.
Do you see what can happen when you work with people instead of imposing on people?
Speaking of humor:
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2012/09/a-letter-from-ann-romney.html
Before anyone takes this seriously, Borowitz is a comedian!!! But it was funny!
OMG, he just won't leave her (or him) alone. From an earlier Borowitz post relayed by Messerly
“Mitt is so human and so warm, I can’t imagine being away from his warm humanity for as long as two hours. That’s how warm a human he is. Really warm and really human.”
Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2012/09/romneys-wife-to-stand-next-to-him-at-debates.html#ixzz2794bKTsq
Bwaaahaahahahahaha! That is funny, thanks!
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Wow - what a great wrapup going into the weekend. The Prez was in his element today - smokin' hot - and the crowd was so fired up! Can't wait to watch the whole thing later.
The Simpsons - brilliant as always.
I was at that rally! The President was amazing. It was great being with thousands of people of like mind.
pol, To quote Napoleon Dynamite: "Luuck-y"
From Politico:
I got to see Endeavor on its 747 fly over where I work today! She flew straight overhead, flying pretty low, did a steeply banked turn then flew across the San Gabriel Mountains then banked again flying over where JPL/NASA is. then turn to fly inland maybe to Disneyland. This was about 12:15 p.m. I wish I could post pictures to share with all of you.
It was absolutly the amzing thing I have ever seen. I am still hyped about it!
WOW!
I saw Discovery fly over our house on its way to Dulles Airport's wing of the National Air & Space Museum in April. Like you, I found it very thrilling. During the summer, my daughter and I went to see it in its new home. I'd seen shuttle launches when we lived in Florida, but it was such a privilege to see this wonderful workhorse up close.
Harry Reid was lying quite obviously but because he couched it in the terms that some anonymous person TOLD him it was so, he will just ignore the controversy when asked about it.
Since Romney didn't release his returns, it's not obvious. What is obvious is Reid did ol' Mitt a lot of damage and for that, he's a hero.
Mr Reid claimed that Rmoney didn't pay' federal taxes for a ten year period'.
He didn't say the last ten years.
My two cents on Mitt and his money today...
Reviewing requirements for government security clearance as I'm up for a DLA job. Eligibility Guidelines say this
"Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying: A substantial financial interest in a country, or in any foreign owned or operated business that could make the individual vulnerable to foreign influence."
If that's for the lower levels of security clearance, then doesn't that disqualify Mitt for top secret clearance which all the the POTUS's get?!
It is more than likely that Romney does not want to reveal his tax forms as he does not want his church to know just how much money he actually made!
"Harry, he didn't pay any taxes for 10 years," Reid recounted the person as saying.
"He didn't pay taxes for 10 years! Now, do I know that that's true? Well, I'm not certain," said Reid. "But obviously he can't release those tax returns. How would it look?"
Nope, slam dunk unless of course you believe Price Waterhouse is lying too
"The PWC letter says that the Romneys have paid both federal and state income taxes each year, with an average annual effective federal tax rate of 20.20%. For the 20-year period, the total federal and state taxes owed plus charitable contributions taken as deductions represented 38.49% of the Romneys’ total adjusted gross income.
"
bantroll,
You still got nothin.
Keep carrying water for robme though.
How embarrassing it must be to do that.
The president handled the 47% thing almost perfectly. If you're opponent is punching himself in the face, there's no need for anybody to intervene.
Let me finish your post for you, bantroll: "....but Reid is such a punk, robme paid taxes and I don't like Obama."
You're welcome.
"Congress won't be the same without him: "Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) on Friday all but accused House Republicans of being too crazy and extremist to pass legislation the country needs to operate.""
Like him or hate him, come January we will all wish he was back, because we got this piece of bad news today:
"The long-awaited end of the ethics probe clears the way for (Maxine) Waters to become the ranking Democrat on the key Financial Services Committee in the next Congress, after the retirement of Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).
YIKES!
Maxine Waters is just as bad as robme! YIKES!
/sarcasm off/
Now that the Repubs can't make fun of Barney "Fwank's" (Get it? Ha-ha) sexual preference or speech, how are they going to make fun of Waters? Any guesses?
"As if things weren't quite bad enough for the Republican presidential ticket, now Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is expressing "frustration" with his party's campaign."
He wasn't expecting Paul Ryan back home so soon.
Ryan to Romney,"Next time you speak to those AARP people." A lot of those old timers do take the time to understand what's going on.
Fun's fun, but you just can't screw with those old people and their Medicare.
They also want their children, grandchildren etc. to have the same thing they have. The hysteria over SS and Medicare is going broke is manufactured to make people to do away with it. It's as if there's nothing else we can do but privatize it. That's b.s.
I always questioned why there is an income cap on FICA. If people pay FICA, they are eligible. Also, Medicare can be maintained by reducing the costs for the services people get. The ACA addresses the costs that are more expensive here for the same thing in another country. Insurance are making profit, still will make profit, but just not their ridiculous profit they were and not by denying services. There will be more people buying insurance to help that.
I always questioned why there is an income cap on FICA.
There is no cap on Medicare. There is a cap on Social Security. Removing the cap on Social Security would put off any insolvency problem for as long as we are alive. But and raising taxes on the rich is unthinkable. Better cut benefits, every Republican says so. Also the Medicare premium is only 3% of wages, it could be doubled to 6% and no one would notice, and cure Medicare funding problems. Too bad Republicans are too dumb to figure this out.
Agreed on all points, Covah.
Does anybody know what the best website is to keep track of Congressional polls? Trying to figure out if Cathy McMorris-Rodgers has a chance to be re-elected (as I think she is ridiculous) and I have no idea how that race is shaping up- you just don't hear much about it on the local news here. Thanks.
I never normally find the Simpsons funny any more but honestly? That clip was pretty damn good.
To 51% and climbing
There is something I wanted to know. It was said if Mr. Romney took all his deduction this year he would pay an effecting tax rate of a bit over 9%. But last year he paid a bit over 13% rate. How come this years effective rate is 4% less (about a 40% decrease) than last years?
Dr. Maddow and Chris Hays discussed that in detail, and it was brought up on the evening news. Romney did not take all his deductions in order to temporarily raise his taxes to meet his promise that he did not pay less that 13%. As Hayes predicts, after Romney loses he will file an amended return and get that money back. The whole thing is a farce.
You don't understand what I am saying. If last year he had done the same thing as this year and didn't take every deduction like he did this year someone would have made a point of saying that and they would have said that his effective tax would also be 9% but no one said that so why is his potential tax rate less this year than last year. Every year I pay about the same tax rate because my brackets and deductions are always about the same. Assuming Romney took every deduction possible for 2010 and didn't in 2011 why would his potential tax rate be 13+ in 2010 and 9+ in 2011. Or did he not take every deduction in 2010 and thus that rate should be less too?
I would guess that it is hard to know why the difference without looking at many more tax returns for Romney- could be different ways of investing his money off shore, etc., but I doubt we will really know the reason for the difference without seeing many tax returns. Although it is a good question, and if there is a way to answer it, that should be looked into, IMO.
Voter supression by the GOP is the new form of slavery. If you take away a man's vote you take away his voice . If you take away his voice you have taken away his choice in his future. Once you have taken away his choice he is now at the mercy of those who deprived him of his vote. Don't let them take away our voices.
I love how you guys paint this false narrative about Romney being in trouble. The Gallup polls today indicate the race is dead locked. This incumbent president hasn't been above 50% in Gallup for re election very often if ever. In the last year this president has....
1. passed obama care which is crippling small business and lied to us saying it wasn't a tax which it clearly is and that is the only way it got passed the supreme court 2. Has tried to appease the radical portion of the Muslim religion only to have it backfire with the middle east burning right now 3. Gave guaranteed government loans to companies like Sylondra that went belly up- there goes 521 billion of our money 4. Spent another huge amount on stimulus that didn't work because our countries unemployment is still at 8-12% depending on what study your are looking at. Our debt is at $16 trillion. Did you know that the interest on the money we borrow is equal to 20% of our nations GDP? I think we deserve better. If we don't get better we are in a world of hurt!!!
Some people believe the most ridiculous things.
OK....let's talk about Friday's MAJOR report. It is late September "and I really should be back at school"....thanks, Rod Stewart!
Seriously, it IS late September, after 4 long years, and does ANYBODY know Obama's position on Social Security or Medicare? I don't. These programs eat up a huge 37% of the current spending of the U.S. government, and will eat up more as the years go by. Why hasn't he taken the time over the past 1,300 days or so to let the American public know his opinion on 37% of the budget? We can't let another 4 years pass with another 4 years of zero changes, Mr. Obama!!
These programs eat up a huge 37% of the current spending of the U.S. government
Actually these programs eat up 0% of the federal budget. Mike may like to learn how insurance works, and learn what a public trust is.
When Mr. Obama was running the first time around, his idea for making Social Security solvent for the next 75 years was increasing the cap from $110,000 (which makes it solvent for the next 21 years) to $250,000 (which would make it solvent for the next 75 years). He has not reiterated that this time around, but I would guess that is the idea. The questions do need to be asked, though, so he can reaffirm his positions, maybe we will get that in the debates.
YO!!....."SANDYC964"!! Stand Up! Let your voice be known!! SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE ARE CERTAINLY GOING BROKE!!!! It is not a ruse. I hope you are already very old and can collect still from the rest of us imbeciles that are still contributing....if not, all the money for the rest of us runs out in about 20 years! Ye haw! Go Barack!
You are in error. Please see post #11.3 or do your own internet searches to learn how this stuff works because you do not have a clue.
Social Security itself is in no danger of going broke, except that it is holding special non transferable Treasury bonds to cover the annual budget deficit. At some time in the future, payroll taxes won't cover SS payments, so Congress will have to renege on SS or find new tax revenues. That is why GOP wants you to think SS is broken
Yo Mike in Georgia,
Dude, you're buying into the Cato Institute's "Leninist Strategy". I wish people would be as leery of the planned "thought engineering" as they are paying taxes due as citizens of this country.
I recommend reading a bit about the history of this Libertarian think tank designing a way to control thinking in the long term. You're being manipulated into thinking the way you do.
"Achieving a Leninist strategy" by Cato Institute 1983 http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj3n2/cj3n2-11.pdf
history of SS http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/ssb/v66n1/v66n1p1.html
Republicans and Libertarians have been trying to do away with SS and Medicare since before they were made programs to fight actual poverty. So we can rightly deduce Republicans and Libertarians do not have anything for poverty besides lowering taxes for wealthy and the false assumption that it will "trickle down" to the poor.
I don't think America really wants to throw Granny and the poor under the bus and run over them a few times for good measure.
I am just under the minimum age of eligibility and paid fully into these programs for 41+ years, so I have to take to task folks that want to take that which I earned away in favor of Wall St. So, why do you suppose they want to put more money into stock market? So they can do what they did to pensions and 401Ks in 2008, Q3?
Everyone needs to understand there are real people involved in these crack pot ideas to privatize things that would leave so many in poverty. Why do we believe such sales pitches? That's what they are. People really are better off when they participate in an insurance plan that covers millions of people. I hate that people think we are doomed, we are not doomed, we are Americans! That's what they're selling, only they frame it as you will make more money in stock market, tapping into greed rather than SECURITY.
Mike in Georgia said:
Speak for yourself, bubba.
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Sometimes I just have to laugh at myself - maybe I "spoke" too fast, LOL! Correcting a copy/paste error I've had in my sig line all day - and only just noticed (it's a real shame spell-check can't catch everything):
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P.S. - Mike should still speak for himself, though.
McConnell: "Our single most important goal is to make Obama a one-term president."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=FirI3_G_0JM&NR=1
But how do they intend to do that?
Sabotage: The Story Behind The Republican Party's "Top Political Priority"...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8a_msdw9VQ&feature=related
If this kind of sabotage were conducted by an agent of an outside power, he could potentially be sentenced to death.
Election time is nearing. VOTE with reason , VOTE with your heart --uh you on the right can vote as you are told to.
Thanks for telling those on the right what to do.
Ahh they ain't all bad heck some of my best friends are stoopid, I mean republicans. I have no doubt they sincerely believe they vote for the best men their party can find.
We can't all be right .Somebody has to be wrong if only tp prove we are right?
The sad fact is that they are voting for the best their party can find. That just isn't setting the "bar" high enough...
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On Friday, I received a letter requesting a donation to the Mitt Romney campaign because I was a faithful Republican (please give at least $2,500 to me). Now, this is funny since I have never, ever, been registered as a Republican (I have and always have supported the Democratic party since 1978 - the first year I could vote [at age 18]). Rachel had said that they (Romney/Ryan) were targeting certain voters in Ohio to sway to their side. I just never thought they would send something like this to me.
I can only guess that someone in my counties board of elections thought it would be hilarious to give them known Democrats for their plea for money. I plan to use their self-addressed envelope to send back every piece of literature they have mailed to my home with all of my condolences to their campaign - and believe me, there is at least three pieces per week that gets nicely placed in the garbage as soon as it comes out of the mailbox. Nationally the race may be tied (virtually), but given the desperation shown of late, I think it is going to go against the crazies that believe that if you pay more than your share of taxes, you are not qualified to be president. I love when Mittens does those sound bites!!
You mean the Romney/Ryan campaign is actually trying to attract the attention of the 47%?! I thought we were written off long ago!
Doesn't Reince Priebus remind you of the Kevin Bacon charactor in Animal House.
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