The Official 2010 Election Thread

[mk 11]

I'm confused, the green part is make believe, where the people who made up this fictional graph get to play pretend.The green line is the propaganda.

Take the green imaginary line out because it is meaningless. My purpose in posting that graph was simply to show the ballooning deficits of the supply siders. I could have posted any number of graphs which are easily found and show exactly the same numbers. This was just the first I saw. Looking simply at the line of debt:gdp, there is ZERO PROPAGANDA and SIMPLE FACT.SUCK ON IT UNTIL IT SINKS IN.

[Balloon guy 158]

Take the green imaginary line out because it is meaningless. My purpose in posting that graph was simply to show the ballooning deficits of the supply siders. I could have posted any number of graphs which are easily found and show exactly the same numbers. This was just the first I saw. Looking simply at the line of debt:gdp, there is ZERO PROPAGANDA and SIMPLE FACT.SUCK ON IT UNTIL IT SINKS IN.

Let's see:Teacher: Children, here is a graph, it proves I am right.Billy: What does the line show?Teacher: It shows that spending went up during specific moments in time.Jimmy: Oh, does it also show what conditions existed to cause some of those increases?Teacher: No, it is a static picture with no conditional explanations.Mary: So things like the spending on a war would just be lumped in exactly the same as spending on social security?Teacher: Well yes, but that doesn't matter because..Skippy: Does that also show the congressional make up and their input to the spending increases, or the economic models that reflect the GDPs increases and declines?Teacher: No, but see I am just trying to prove that...Johnny: Couldn't the influence of the invention of an entirely new industry so influence the gdp's rise that the debt to gdp ratio wouldn't truly reflect the spending practices of anyone, but instead you could argue that congress just hadn't caught up with all the money they had available during the those phases?Rachael: And couldn't a drastic drop in gdp seem to be an increase in spending when in fact it wasn't?Teacher: Look! I am right because I am ..well I sell things..and I read things...and I know things okay!Tony: Do you think maybe this simplistic approach is best used for kids younger than us?Sally: Yea, we're in the third grade teacher...step it up a bit.Sue: Maybe we should go to the principle and ask for a substitute who isn't so completely biased that they are blind to reality.Everyone: Yea!

[El Guapo 8]

Let's see:Teacher: Children, here is a graph, it proves I am right.Billy: What does the line show?Teacher: It shows that spending went up during specific moments in time.Jimmy: Oh, does it also show what conditions existed to cause some of those increases?Teacher: No, it is a static picture with no conditional explanations.Mary: So things like the spending on a war would just be lumped in exactly the same as spending on social security?Teacher: Well yes, but that doesn't matter because..Skippy: Does that also show the congressional make up and their input to the spending increases, or the economic models that reflect the GDPs increases and declines?Teacher: No, but see I am just trying to prove that...Johnny: Couldn't the influence of the invention of an entirely new industry so influence the gdp's rise that the debt to gdp ratio wouldn't truly reflect the spending practices of anyone, but instead you could argue that congress just hadn't caught up with all the money they had available during the those phases?Rachael: And couldn't a drastic drop in gdp seem to be an increase in spending when in fact it wasn't?Teacher: Look! I am right because I am ..well I sell things..and I read things...and I know things okay!Tony: Do you think maybe this simplistic approach is best used for kids younger than us?Sally: Yea, we're in the third grade teacher...step it up a bit.Sue: Maybe we should go to the principle and ask for a substitute who isn't so completely biased that they are blind to reality.Everyone: Yea!

[hblask 1]

What the **** do you think the tea party is?

I've tried to explain this to many, many people, but they just refuse.At any rate, not existing since the dawn of time is hardly proof that you agree with everything that happened before your existence, so the complaint would make no sense even if it were true.

[mk 11]

Everyone: Yea!

Sorry, but the jury is really out on this one...well, I should qualify, at least for those in the reality-based community.If you want to claim that Reagan/Bush/Bush DIDN'T embrace supply-side economics and that those policies DIDN'T increase the deficit then you are simply illiterate, retarded and/or blind, and I'm sorry that you are a citizen of this country because your vote actually counts.These people first said that unfunded tax cuts for the top percent would pay for themselves by trickling down, aka voodoo economics, and then after that proved false, they decided deficits didn't matter.In 2002, when then Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill raised objections to unfunded tax cuts on top of an imminent unfunded war, Dick Cheney cut him off, saying, "You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don't matter." O'Neill was later fired.annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd /scene

[brvheart 1,752]

Sorry, but the jury is really out on this one...well, I should qualify, at least for those in the reality-based community.If you want to claim that Reagan/Bush/Bush DIDN'T embrace supply-side economics and that those policies DIDN'T increase the deficit then you are simply illiterate, retarded and/or blind, and I'm sorry that you are a citizen of this country because your vote actually counts.These people first said that unfunded tax cuts for the top percent would pay for themselves by trickling down, aka voodoo economics, and then after that proved false, they decided deficits didn't matter.In 2002, when then Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill raised objections to unfunded tax cuts on top of an imminent unfunded war, Dick Cheney cut him off, saying, "You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don't matter." O'Neill was later fired.annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd /scene

If they all thought that deficits didn't matter, wouldn't that mean that they didn't embrace what we're talking about? What's his face, who predicted this whole mess, said over and over and over that deficits would be a huge problem, and everyone on the left and right laughed at him.

[Balloon guy 158]

Sorry, but the jury is really out on this one...well, I should qualify, at least for those in the reality-based community.If you want to claim that Reagan/Bush/Bush DIDN'T embrace supply-side economics and that those policies DIDN'T increase the deficit then you are simply illiterate, retarded and/or blind, and I'm sorry that you are a citizen of this country because your vote actually counts.These people first said that unfunded tax cuts for the top percent would pay for themselves by trickling down, aka voodoo economics, and then after that proved false, they decided deficits didn't matter.In 2002, when then Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill raised objections to unfunded tax cuts on top of an imminent unfunded war, Dick Cheney cut him off, saying, "You know, Paul, Reagan proved deficits don't matter." O'Neill was later fired.annnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnd /scene

Teacher: Okay children, lets go over again what I am trying to prove by ignoring reality and facts. Tax cuts are bad, they hurt our country.Jimmy: But what about this graph, that shows that the tax cuts of Ronald "Voodoo" Reagan resulted in an increase to the GSP of almost 23% per person INCLUDING THE INCREASES IN POPULATION?

Year Nominal GDP/Real GDP/GDP Deflator/Population/Nominal GDP per capita/Real GDP per capita (year 2005 dollars)1981 3,126,800 5,987,200 52.23 230,008 13,594.31 26,030.401982 3,253,200 5,870,900 55.41 232,218 14,009.25 25,281.851983 3,534,600 6,136,200 57.60 234,333 15,083.66 26,185.811984 3,930,900 6,577,100 59.77 236,394 16,628.60 27,822.621985 4,217,500 6,849,300 61.58 238,506 17,682.99 28,717.521986 4,460,100 7,086,500 62.94 240,683 18,531.01 29,443.291987 4,736,400 7,313,300 64.76 242,843 19,503.96 30,115.341988 5,100,400 7,613,900 66.99 245,061 20,812.78 31,069.411989 5,482,100 7,885,900 69.52 247,387 22,160.02 31,876.781990 5,800,500 8,033,900 72.20 250,181 23,185.21 32,112.35

Teacher: Those facts aren't hummm relevant because I used the phrase 'voodoo economics' and 'trickle down' with a noticeable sneer in my tone, which of course proves my point.Billy: Yea, but those are just talking points used by a political person running against Reagan, in fact they were the talking points of George Bush during the primaries, so is it your practice to reference a Bush when understanding economics?Teacher: NO I HATE BUSH.Mary: If you hate them so much why do you use his material? Can't you come up with any of your own?Teacher: I do, I am clearly expressing the beliefs of all people who know everything that tax cuts don't work.George: They don't work really? Why is the current administration then going to follow along with these tax cuts while faced with a dire economic future? Are they like you and getting their facts from the Bush family?Teacher: No we have to cut taxes to stimulate the economy.Class: Andddd you don't see why you are completely full of it then?Teacher: Wait, no look, the spending during this time rose. When we cut taxes the spending rises!!!!Frankie: Are those symbiotic, or just coincidental?Johnnie: Yea, could you argue that cutting the taxes was good or bad irregardless of the increases in spending?Teacher: No, they always go together, therefore one MUST cause the other.Tony: Every time you rant, you start yelling and cussing. Could it be that when you try to use your brain it hurts so much that you lash out?Teacher; I don't think so, let me...SHUT UP END RANT

[mk 11]

Teacher; I don't think so, let me...SHUT UP END RANT

Once again, BG swings a golf club at a baseball... Would you care to address anything that I ACTUALLY posted about? I mentioned nothing of growth nor did I make quality judgments on tax cuts generally, but rather noticed that Reagan's cuts were unfunded, which creates debt.THE INTERNET IS HARD

[Balloon guy 158]

Once again, BG swings a golf club at a baseball... Would you care to address anything that I ACTUALLY posted about? I mentioned nothing of growth nor did I make quality judgments on tax cuts generally, but rather noticed that Reagan's cuts were unfunded, which creates debt.THE INTERNET IS HARD

Teacher: Unfunded tax cuts, they are the evil of the world!!!Jimmy: What do you mean 'unfunded'?Teacher: The government deserves that money, it needs that money, and unless it gets that money only evil can result.Johnny: Why does the government have a right to x dollars and any change must be 'funded' by another source?Teacher: Look, the government MUST perform x services, so therefore it must have X dollars.Sally: But in the beginning of the Reagan tax cuts, the government received $1.2 billions in tax revenue, and by the time he left the government received $1.5 billion? So wasn't the government in fact able to claim an increase from cutting taxes?Teacher: No, see cutting taxes without cutting defense is evil, and the money would have come in anyway because we would have gotten more rich people's money with a 80% marginal tax rate.George: So in other words, facts and results are open to your interpretation and it really doesn't matter what anyone says, you 'know' that tax cuts are bad?Teacher: EXACTLY. Frankie: And you get to be the final judge on all things financial why?Teacher: I sell things.Mannie: What? Fertilizer?

[mk 11]

BG ---------------> V

[akoff 0]

Teacher: Unfunded tax cuts, they are the evil of the world!!!Jimmy: What do you mean 'unfunded'?Teacher: The government deserves that money, it needs that money, and unless it gets that money only evil can result.Johnny: Why does the government have a right to x dollars and any change must be 'funded' by another source?Teacher: Look, the government MUST perform x services, so therefore it must have X dollars.Sally: But in the beginning of the Reagan tax cuts, the government received $1.2 billions in tax revenue, and by the time he left the government received $1.5 billion? So wasn't the government in fact able to claim an increase from cutting taxes?Teacher: No, see cutting taxes without cutting defense is evil, and the money would have come in anyway because we would have gotten more rich people's money with a 80% marginal tax rate.George: So in other words, facts and results are open to your interpretation and it really doesn't matter what anyone says, you 'know' that tax cuts are bad?Teacher: EXACTLY. Frankie: And you get to be the final judge on all things financial why?Teacher: I sell things.Mannie: What? Fertilizer?

the balloon business must be really really slow...but thanks for the laugh.

[CaneBrain 95]

didn't know where to put this but someone needs to put John McCain out to pasture.....the 2008 election unhinged him:http://tv.gawker.com/5690894/jon-stewarts-...in-critique-yet

[hblask 1]

didn't know where to put this but someone needs to put John McCain out to pasture.....the 2008 election unhinged him:http://tv.gawker.com/5690894/jon-stewarts-...in-critique-yet

McCain has never had a principle in his life; he is a panderer of the worst kind. People like him are a large part of the explanation for why Congress is slightly less popular than shower mold.

[dapokerbum 0]

I just made a bet with my boss that IF palin becomes the Republican nominee and runs against Obama, that Obama will win! So while I would get some cash for this ... I really really hope the repubs are smarter than this!

[FCP Bob 1,312]

I just made a bet with my boss that IF palin becomes the Republican nominee and runs against Obama, that Obama will win! So while I would get some cash for this ... I really really hope the repubs are smarter than this!

I don't know. Palin supporters are pretty loyal. Just look at the fact that Bristol keeps winning the fan voting on Dancing With The Stars while being by far the worst dancer on the show.

[CaneBrain 95]

I don't know. Palin supporters are pretty loyal. Just look at the fact that Bristol keeps winning the fan voting on Dancing With The Stars while being by far the worst dancer on the show.

Her unfavorables are off the charts though. She is kinda like Hilary Clinton on steroids---politically speaking. Those who love her, LUV her.....but those who dislike her, HATE her.2012 GOP primary should be popcorn worthy anyway

[FCP Bob 1,312]

Her unfavorables are off the charts though. She is kinda like Hilary Clinton on steroids---politically speaking. Those who love her, LUV her.....but those who dislike her, HATE her.2012 GOP primary should be popcorn worthy anyway

Everybody seems to hate Pelosi including the average Democrat voter and yet she still won the vote for Minority Leader.How clueless is she that she doesn't see how much her being in a position of power hurts her party. So arrogant and delusional.

[akoff 0]

Everybody seems to hate Pelosi including the average Democrat voter and yet she still won the vote for Minority Leader.How clueless is she that she doesn't see how much her being in a position of power hurts her party. So arrogant and delusional.

agreed...you sum her up quite well.

[Balloon guy 158]

Everybody seems to hate Pelosi including the average Democrat voter and yet she still won the vote for Minority Leader.How clueless is she that she doesn't see how much her being in a position of power hurts her party. So arrogant and delusional.

She won with a 2:1 margin.Asking how she can be so delusional leaves out 2/3rds of the democrats in office who voted her back in after the trouncing they took 2 weeks ago.

[CaneBrain 95]

She won with a 2:1 margin.Asking how she can be so delusional leaves out 2/3rds of the democrats in office who voted her back in after the trouncing they took 2 weeks ago.

Didn't John Boehner keep his minority leader position after the 2008 trouncing the GOP took? Worked out ok.They should have voted her out because she sucks not as a pandering reaction to the election.

[Balloon guy 158]

Didn't John Boehner keep his minority leader position after the 2008 trouncing the GOP took? Worked out ok.

Static comparisons are not relevant here.The country was tired of Bush, not the congress, directly.Now they are still trying to like Obama, but can't ignore that someone's head has to role.

They should have voted her out because she sucks not as a pandering reaction to the election.

She sucks at what?Running her party which resulted in them getting huge defeats.Therefore she should have been voted out mainly because of what happened during the election.But what ever reason, hopefully the Michael Savages of San Francisco can gather enough of a vote to remove her permanently from the public eye / trough

[CaneBrain 95]

Static comparisons are not relevant here.The country was tired of Bush, not the congress, directly.Now they are still trying to like Obama, but can't ignore that someone's head has to role.She sucks at what?

Nothing is ever relevant to you. Check out congressional GOP approval numbers in 2008. Ick.She sucks at life. There are many more qualified people. You just have to remember that she is very popular on the left. Many on the left think if Obama had her balls that people would have liked the legislation passed in the last two years. This is fantasy but things like minority leader usually get decided by the base not by common sense.Seriously, though, if the GOP didn't feel the need to replace Boehner in 2008, criticism of keeping Pelosi rings a bit hollow.I'm just glad people are totally committing to getting rid of earmarks. That's 0.3% of congressional spending we just might wipe out, baby. USA! USA! USA!

[FCP Bob 1,312]

My understanding is that the one thing Pelosi is really good at is raising money and that a lot of Democrats in Congress owe her for the money she's helped them raise.

[akoff 0]

My understanding is that the one thing Pelosi is really good at is raising money and that a lot of Democrats in Congress owe her for the money she's helped them raise.

That would add up. when nothing seems right...follow the money!! I personally am just glad she is still in charge and still in the public eye. I am very happy that independents and conservative democrat voters will continue to see her, Harry and Barak as the face of the party for the next 2 years...see democrats and republicans can agree. we are all happy that nancy is the minority boss....