140.000.000$

[Ira]

I don't like the idea that ex-politicians can get paid for doing speeches and becoming lobbyists. (I think the lobbyist part of that has changed, but I'm not sure.)

It all started when Reagan took a million bucks for giving a speech in Japan, then the bar was lowered for good:

Not saying this was the case for Reagan in this instance, but it's a way to "bribe" politicians after they're no longer politicians, so it's somehow "legal."

The Clinton thing doesn't bother me because first, of course, I loved Bill anyway. But at least this stuff is TRULY legal and above-board.

I just don't get how politicians can amass these huge fortunes on their supposed paychecks.

[madjack]

Ric, yes I will vote for Hillary and if I could, I would vote for Bill again...as far as the perks go...ALL the pols get them, it is not something special just for Hill and Bill...do not let ignorance and the words of hatemongers decide your vote for you...study the candidates closely on your own hook....leave FOX news in the garbage(next to moveon.org)...where it belongs!!!!!!!!!
madjack

[caseydog]

Not a political statement, just interesting and illustrating about all of our chosen ones Recent email being circulated, I'm not picking on them, but our system as a whole, we all work and scrape to pay our taxes so the chosen can live like royalty, shame on us!!!!!!!!
Subject: Clinton's Retirement





....And it's said, 'there's no money in politics'....yeah, right!





BE SURE TO READ IT ALL!!!



As she runs for President, will YOU vote for her?

How many people can YOU send this to?

I'm not a Hillary voter, or fan, by any means. But, every time I see one of these email "forward me" letters, I can generally expect that they will not be full of accurate information.

Whether the letter is about Hillary, Al Gore, Mitt Romney or even Dubya, I take them with a giant grain of salt.

Just my $.02.

[caseydog]

Ric, yes I will vote for Hillary and if I could, I would vote for Bill again...as far as the perks go...ALL the pols get them, it is not something special just for Hill and Bill...do not let ignorance and the words of hatemongers decide your vote for you...study the candidates closely on your own hook....leave FOX news in the garbage(next to moveon.org)...where it belongs!!!!!!!!!
madjack

You'd vote for Bill again? What's up with that? Peace and prosperity is sooo boring. Who'd want another eight-years of that?

CD

[caseydog]

Threadjack! (sort of, since it was already jacked)

Know what could be cool, is to have a POSITIVE candidate thread, where people could post about which candidate(s) they LIKE and why they LIKE them.

Trashing other candidates, or previous presidents would be forbidden. Trashing other poster's choices, would be out of bounds, too.

Wow, what a concept -- especially for American politics. A forum thread where people talk about who they are FOR, instead of who they are against.

Of course, I can't start such a thread, because threads I start of this nature have a history of going off the rails in a big way.

A moderator would be my suggestion, hint, hint...

Now, what were we talking about?

[PresTx82]

Ric, yes I will vote for Hillary and if I could, I would vote for Bill again

[madjack]

Ric, yes I will vote for Hillary and if I could, I would vote for Bill again

...an unnessecary(sp?) war(illegal even), massive deficits to fund it, a looming recession and coming soon to your pocketbook...runaway inflation(watch and see)...yes, I really want some more of the Republicans!!!!!!!!!

In the business world, it is alway better to build up your product, than to tear down the competitor...the same is true in politics as well.....
madjack

[Claw]

...an unnessecary(sp?) war(illegal even), massive deficits to fund it, a looming recession and coming soon to your pocketbook...runaway inflation(watch and see)...yes, I really want some more of the Republicans!!!!!!!!!

In the business world, it is alway better to build up your product, than to tear down the competitor...the same is true in politics as well.....
madjack

MJ, I have to agree with your stated intention regardless of your lack of putting it into practice.
I will provide a brief discription of the 'product' I would like to protect my/our freedoms in the office of President of USA.

Brief Overview of Congressman Dr. Ron Paul’s Record:

He has never voted to raise taxes.
He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
He has never taken a government-paid junket.
He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.

He voted against the Patriot Act.
He voted against regulating the Internet.
He voted against the Iraq war.

He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.

Congressman Paul introduces numerous pieces of substantive legislation each year, probably more than any single member of Congress.


His integrity is radical. His practices Constitutional.

[Aaron Coffee]

I say we need a teardropper for President, then we can have a big gathering on the whitehouse lawn, and Camp David would actually involve camping! Be cool to see a TD behind the Presidential limo!

[cs_whypt2]

Not everyone in America gets the $800 though. If you make "too musch money" (single-$35,000 couple-$110,000) then you do not get it. But what I want to know is, is there a minimum requirement? I think that if you didn't give at least $800, after all of the dependents are taken out, you shouldn't get it. Does anyone know if there is a minimum?

Dianne

[caseydog]

Not everyone in America gets the $800 though. If you make "too musch money" (single-$35,000 couple-$110,000) then you do not get it. But what I want to know is, is there a minimum requirement? I think that if you didn't give at least $800, after all of the dependents are taken out, you shouldn't get it. Does anyone know if there is a minimum?

Dianne

A stimulus plan does not even exist, yet. How can there be a minimum or a maximum?

Right now, this whole thing is just talk. Given time, as Lewis Black says, the Republicans will come up with a really bad plan, and the Democrats will make it worse.

[cs_whypt2]

Not everyone in America gets the $800 though. If you make "too musch money" (single-$35,000 couple-$110,000) then you do not get it. But what I want to know is, is there a minimum requirement? I think that if you didn't give at least $800, after all of the dependents are taken out, you shouldn't get it. Does anyone know if there is a minimum?

Dianne

A stimulus plan does not even exist, yet. How can there be a minimum or a maximum?

Right now, this whole thing is just talk. Given time, as Lewis Black says, the Republicans will come up with a really bad plan, and the Democrats will make it worse.

If you make over $35,000 and you are single, you will not get the $800. If you are married and the both of you make $110,000, you will not get the $800.
What I want to know is...If you have 20 children, and claim each one of those as a dependant, and get tax breaks on them, and so you are never paying any taxes to begin with, will they get the $800 to? If people are getting $800 "back" you should have had to make it in the first place, and having a bizillion kids, with no means to pay for them does not justify an $800 refund/tax break/what ever you want to call it.
I put it this way, because that is the way a good amount of people here live. Milwaukee has/had one of, if not the, highest teen pregnancy ratings per capita.

Dianne

[Dewayne_Mellen]

Not a political statement, just interesting and illustrating about all of our chosen ones Recent email being circulated, I'm not picking on them, but our system as a whole, we all work and scrape to pay our taxes so the chosen can live like royalty, shame on us!!!!!!!!
Subject: Clinton's Retirement





....And it's said, 'there's no money in politics'....yeah, right!





BE SURE TO READ IT ALL!!!



As she runs for President, will YOU vote for her?

How many people can YOU send this to?

I'm not a Hillary voter, or fan, by any means. But, every time I see one of these email "forward me" letters, I can generally expect that they will not be full of accurate information.

Whether the letter is about Hillary, Al Gore, Mitt Romney or even Dubya, I take them with a giant grain of salt.

Just my $.02.

Per Snopes:

http://tinyurl.com/3cxksu

[s4son]

We need our $1600 to pay for the gas to get to IRG II. I'm not sure how we'll get home.

I also like Ron Paul. I don't agree with everything he says but more so then the others. I'm afraid there is no way he will ever get elected though. Politics is all B.S. and it has nothing to do with who would do the best job.

Scott F.

[caseydog]

Not everyone in America gets the $800 though. If you make "too musch money" (single-$35,000 couple-$110,000) then you do not get it. But what I want to know is, is there a minimum requirement? I think that if you didn't give at least $800, after all of the dependents are taken out, you shouldn't get it. Does anyone know if there is a minimum?

Dianne

A stimulus plan does not even exist, yet. How can there be a minimum or a maximum?

Right now, this whole thing is just talk. Given time, as Lewis Black says, the Republicans will come up with a really bad plan, and the Democrats will make it worse.

If you make over $35,000 and you are single, you will not get the $800. If you are married and the both of you make $110,000, you will not get the $800.
What I want to know is...If you have 20 children, and claim each one of those as a dependant, and get tax breaks on them, and so you are never paying any taxes to begin with, will they get the $800 to? If people are getting $800 "back" you should have had to make it in the first place, and having a bizillion kids, with no means to pay for them does not justify an $800 refund/tax break/what ever you want to call it.
I put it this way, because that is the way a good amount of people here live. Milwaukee has/had one of, if not the, highest teen pregnancy ratings per capita.

Dianne

The tentative deal reached in the House of Representatives today has an income cap of $75,000 for a single, and $150,000 for couples. There is also a $300 per child addition, with rebates limited to $1,200 per family.

The basic "rebate' would be $300 per single, and $600 per couple.

You have to have earned at least $3,000 in 2007 to qualify. Some people who did not earn enough to owe taxes will be eligible. The reason is that these people will be the most likely to spend the money, which is the whole idea.

People and families making a lot of money are not very likely to change their spending habits over a $300 to $1,200 "rebate" since they can already buy whatever they want.

Of course, the main flaw in any kind of "rebate" plan is that, even if it passes this week, it will take until June to actually get check out to people.

CD