tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post2067272079267025450..comments2023-08-21T03:51:17.425-06:00Comments on Enlightened Catholicism: Reform Bush Tax Cuts? Obama Says "No, I Won't"---Againcolkochhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-15031102976374348072010-12-15T10:22:29.218-07:002010-12-15T10:22:29.218-07:00Veronica, I don't really know for sure why PO ...Veronica, I don't really know for sure why PO or the Dems are "buying time." It could be a security control type measure as the economy tanks to the bottom in successive spurts. Maybe just so they can keep their jobs or have some semblance of appearance of a Democratic Party to exhibit to the American people. There are, at least to my thinking, things happening behind the scenes, head games and/or psy-war techniques, and it may have to do with personal security as Colleen mentions. Remember Ross Perot and how he also was silenced by what he called threats against him and his family. Ross Perot was threatened and scared right out of politics in the US. <br /><br />I sense that there were things that probably went on at Gitmo, that still may be going on, that PO might know about and be in approval of now, since he's been briefed as President and given secret details, all for reasons of "national security." <br /><br />Colleen, it is truly amazing how the Dems are reaching across the aisle to Repubs all the time, as if there were no other way for them to behave and stand their own ground for what they were elected to do. <br /><br />I read the other day that the US Navy does have a new weapon that is electromagnetic and requires no rocket explosives to propel weapons hundreds of miles from ship to target. I'll bet it won't be used because then the businesses that make all the explosives will go bankrupt. I'm sure the corporatist lobbyist for existing munitions technology will want to buy time too before they are put out of business by new technology.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-60355106742528871202010-12-13T12:36:23.245-07:002010-12-13T12:36:23.245-07:00Obama buying time? For what exactly? Nobody knows ...Obama buying time? For what exactly? Nobody knows or cares what happens to the money private individuals don't have to use to pay taxes. There are no reliable stats and nobody is going to accept assertions as basis for further changes.<br /><br />I keep hearing about how the business climate requires the tax cuts so businesses can hire more people. As if. I'm no MBA, and I don't run a business. BUT, it seems to me that employers will only start hiring again when they feel demand for whatever product they sell will support the additional hiring. While I've had bosses who just wanted to order subordinates around, bottom line is they have to justify with man-hour studies any potential hiring.<br /><br />And the talking head on TV over the weekend claiming he'd never been hired by a poor person: I guess that says something about his intended audience.<br />VeronicaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-38413860919001057952010-12-13T09:58:17.412-07:002010-12-13T09:58:17.412-07:00Butterfly, I don't think your take is wrong an...Butterfly, I don't think your take is wrong and I can easily see where keeping a spotlight on what happens with how the wealthy continue to use their tax breaks may turn out to be very enlightening. Guys like Gates and Buffet do seem to be seeing some light.<br /><br />I'm still trying to figure out how the dems and Obama lost all control of the democratic agenda when they had a super majority in both Houses of Congress and the presidency. I'm coming to the conclusion they lost control of the stated democratic agenda precisely because it was never their real agenda.<br /><br />Two issues seem clear cut to me that this is the case. The first is the capitulation on DADT and the second the escalation of the war in Afghanistan and Obama's refusal to close Gitmo. DADT and Gitmo were not issues that would impact the economy one way or another and both could have been done through executive order.<br /><br />My own senator-Max Baucus- torpedoed any real meaningful health care reform and what pisses me off about that, is he was under exactly zero pressure about re election election concerns. So why did Baucus hand private insurance companies the plum of mandatory coverage, and why did Obama think that was such a great deal when he had campaigned on a totally different plan? <br /><br />These guys are not only giving ground, they are acting like the war was lost before they ever engaged.<br /><br />The only way I can generate much sympathy is by wondering if things are so screwed up they can't trust their own secret service protection.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-84581639791134249252010-12-10T21:26:41.149-07:002010-12-10T21:26:41.149-07:00"Obama seems to be using a battle strategy wh..."Obama seems to be using a battle strategy which has rarely won any war---that of giving ground and giving ground and giving ground."<br /><br />Another view might be that he is not giving ground, he is extending for two years the ground that Bush gave them. PO is perhaps buying time. <br /><br />There are 2 million people during the holidays that will be kicked off receiving unemployment benefits unless this extension is given. The Dems, the unemployed don't benefit by demanding the tax cuts for the wealthiest end right this January 1. It really won't be the end of the world if that is done, in my opinion. It is greedy and selfish of the wealthiest. <br /><br />St. Francis said "It is in giving that you receive." Can we use this here in this case or not?<br /><br />Jesus said - "love thy enemy." Can we use this as an example of trying to do the same towards the wealthiest? <br /><br /> It may actually become clear to people who is really sucking money out of the economy if they see how much money it costs to give tax breaks to the wealthiest. Also, the wealthiest will be in the spotlight then and people will be watching what they do with the money. IOW, buying time will allow for people eyes to open? <br /><br />It seems an all or nothing, either/or for the Dems. A strategy of no compromise is a lose for the Dems for the unemployed and an economic nightmare for the unemployed. <br /><br />Yeah, this is a different spin that I thought I would share. I don't know if it is right or wrong. <br /><br />I recommend people see the documentary called Collapse. That also may give a new perspective.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-67442366990494072222010-12-08T11:41:04.999-07:002010-12-08T11:41:04.999-07:00Get rid of "In God We Trust" from the mo...Get rid of "In God We Trust" from the money. It should never have been put on it in the first place.<br /> If you want me to exchange the dollar (which I can see and count)for some god whom I can't see or hear, you'd better have very good reasons.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-45122751540967412802010-12-08T11:01:49.731-07:002010-12-08T11:01:49.731-07:00Obama seems to be using a battle strategy which ha...Obama seems to be using a battle strategy which has rarely won any war---that of giving ground and giving ground and giving ground.<br /><br />Maybe he has a secret weapon we don't know about.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-77045374504541944482010-12-08T09:03:48.118-07:002010-12-08T09:03:48.118-07:00Thanks Kallisti for the correction. It is a wonder...Thanks Kallisti for the correction. It is a wonderful quote by Bobby Kennedy.<br /><br />I also want to point out that people forget that in war, and we are in one on many fronts, that losing a battle does not mean the war has been lost.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-90586556705840938192010-12-08T08:19:12.473-07:002010-12-08T08:19:12.473-07:00I've been thinking about Clarence B Jones arti...I've been thinking about Clarence B Jones article and his willingness at this juncture to dump Obama, search for some other person to run for President. Maybe this is why Democrats lose too many elections, can't find loyalty in their own party. Democrats can easily be toppled because if things are not perfect, and they never will be, Democrats love to point the finger at someone who blew it for everyone. <br /><br />If you think about the fact that once Johnson was dumped by his own people, even though he was "the greatest President" except for his stance on the war in Vietnam - that led to the Republicans winning the next Presidential election, Nixon. Dump Obama now and you may as well give the election to the Republicans.<br /><br />Democrats seem unable to stay in unity or have a consistent vision. They seem to be perfectionist that are very imperfect. Clarence B Jones is saying it is ok for Democrats to shoot themselves in the foot again, repeat the history that gave us Nixon.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-8433903861534931912010-12-08T08:09:48.883-07:002010-12-08T08:09:48.883-07:00I would like to think that Obama could bury Palin ...I would like to think that Obama could bury Palin in a landslide. But then I remember a T-shirt my husband has that says 'Don't underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.' I've seen some of the loyalty to herself that Palin manages to inspire despite her abysmal track record.<br /><br />Yes, Obama gets a health reform package through. Then he backs off on the enforcement as soon as some big corporation starts threatening to just dump the health care 'insurance' they offer their employees. Birth control? Forget it. That's lifestyle choice that government shouldn't get involved in. <br /><br />DADT? Not until there is a lame duck Congress and maybe not even then - despite the study the GOP demanded of the DOD which SUPPORTS the repeal and allowing non-straights to serve openly.<br /><br />VeronicaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-91948467515990352982010-12-08T07:01:38.091-07:002010-12-08T07:01:38.091-07:00Anon your point about the senate is well taken. Th...Anon your point about the senate is well taken. The Blue Dogs in the House also share a great deal of the blame.<br /><br />It may well be that PO didn't have enough experience in national politics to be effective in the same way the LBJ was in the sixties. BUT...neither did Reagan or Clinton.<br /><br />The potential right now is for everything PO accomplished to be over turned after 2012. The Repubs in the House will have control over redistricting and that means gerry mandering another 15-20 districts likely to vote Republican. That will give them enough to repeal what ever they want after 2012--especially if the Dems can't retain the Senate.<br /><br />Mostly I am just pissed he has caved in on the Bush tax cuts. The wealthy have not 'trickled' anything down except for the responsibility of correcting their mistakes with TARP and various other bail outs.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-20458022406441718762010-12-07T23:23:20.958-07:002010-12-07T23:23:20.958-07:00Actually Butterfly, Bobby gets the credit here, no...Actually Butterfly, Bobby gets the credit here, not Jack ;D<br /><br />KallistiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-14764137485609122222010-12-07T20:15:37.741-07:002010-12-07T20:15:37.741-07:00I have mixed feelings here. But I think that if t...I have mixed feelings here. But I think that if the Republicans nominate Sarah Palin (many of them are even fearful of that) that President Obama will bury her in a landslide. The Republicans will have the House soon but they better not overplay their hand. Look at how Clinton was re-elected by a comfortable margin in 1996, with the lowest voter turnout in decades. I agree with a much of what you said but also with the comments.Mareczkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13122584421854834046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-84483822670677747752010-12-07T17:08:08.759-07:002010-12-07T17:08:08.759-07:00The problem was, is and has been the Senate, not O...The problem was, is and has been the Senate, not Obama. I'm amazed he got done what he did. Saved a few hundred thousand jobs in the auto industry, got a health care bill through which although presently lame and kind of toothless, still was the first national law establishing the right to health care, and so far has tap danced around the forces gathering to push us back in the dumpster. I wouldn't count on him being a one term President. He'll easily survive a primary challenge from the left.<br />I like him. He thinks. What would you have him do, anyway? Talk tough? I voted for him because he doesn't get excited. That's the main thing.scriptohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17899049404620738944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-36074340901154707722010-12-07T16:27:30.301-07:002010-12-07T16:27:30.301-07:00Veronica, I don't think that Obama had enough ...Veronica, I don't think that Obama had enough leverage even within his own party after eight years of the Bush Administration and the severe to catastrophic damage it created everywhere. Change does not happen over night. That's living in a fantasy world to believe so.<br /><br />Kallisti, I love that quote by JFK.butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-59865128234445467892010-12-07T14:11:09.215-07:002010-12-07T14:11:09.215-07:00I'm not terribly surprised that Obama had turn...I'm not terribly surprised that Obama had turned into just another politician. Even if he is as idealistic as he was portrayed in the campaign, I don't think he had near enough political experience to put those ideals into reality. <br /><br />To the anonymous above who complains about expecting one person to change the landscape: It isn't about 1 person. It is about one person BEING a leader of the movement and leveraging that into the change people in that movement expect to see. That is the very position Obama sought. And somehow he isn't following through with putting those ideals into policy and actions. There is no paternalism, monarchism or 'magical thinking' involved here. It is exactly how a representative republic is supposed to work. A political leader puts together a political coalition with enough votes to get elected and then if elected makes the attempt to put the ideals the leader AND the movement agreed on into action.<br />VeronicaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-62062644364579588162010-12-07T13:47:44.575-07:002010-12-07T13:47:44.575-07:00"It sure does seem as if there are some messa..."It sure does seem as if there are some messages that are so antithetical to some people that the message must be neutralized and the messengers silenced."<br /><br /><br />Except you can't kill an idea (or truly, even a person) with a bullet (or a cross). It keeps coming back, embodied in bigger and louder ways all the time, no matter how many times evil attempts to strangle it in the crib (don't they ever learn that strategy never works?) <br /><br />" It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance"-RFK <br /><br />KallistiAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-6537569123992642462010-12-07T13:08:23.813-07:002010-12-07T13:08:23.813-07:00"I hold him in contempt as the quintessential..."I hold him in contempt as the quintessential example of the inbuilt corporate corruption in American politics."<br /><br />I don't know, that seems pretty extreme and not a functional way to living in the light. <br /><br />I believe people need to understand that the world as it was is collapsing. Obama is not responsible for the collapse. He seems to be more in a position of damage control at this point. We've been living in a capitalist oil economy and guess what? Oil is a finite resource and it is running out and printing money that has no value only encourages deflation. Every product that is made is for the most part a by-product of the oil industry. How do we encourage those in the oil industry, who are the most wealthiest people on the planet getting the tax breaks, to see and accept that truth and that it is in their best interest, for their children and generations to come, to invest in alternative energy sources? <br /><br />How do we convince people that working at a munitions factory contributes to violence in the world? <br /><br />How do we convince nations that "In God We Trust" when the almighty Dollar has replaced God?<br /><br />How do we encourage Peace while building nuclear bombs and the companies that build destructive things profit from it?<br /><br />How do we bring the truth of the Gospels into the world? How do we bring love into the world?butterflyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684946870144030594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-46535102694651212542010-12-07T12:32:20.492-07:002010-12-07T12:32:20.492-07:00I'm not interested in whether people believe m...I'm not interested in whether people believe me. I am interested in people doing their own research and coming to their own conclusions.<br /><br />In my life time I have experienced John Kennedy and John XXIII institute changes that had enormous effect on me as an American Catholic. I have also experienced Ronald Reagan and JPII have the same radical effect on America and American Catholicism.<br /><br />It's not that it can't be done. It's that it takes real leadership to do it. PO was not committed enough to join that class of leadership.<br /><br />Jesus is still around and still attempting to teach us how to perform our own healing miracles. That's supposed to be the whole point of Catholicism--that thing about Jesus over coming death and that real presence thing in the Mass. <br /><br />Or maybe I got that all wrong somewhere along the line.colkochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03432916690101599393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8383701632927065467.post-56975483087352232872010-12-07T11:59:52.208-07:002010-12-07T11:59:52.208-07:00Why do you WANT one person to be able to change an...Why do you WANT one person to be able to change anything that radically? That's not "progressive" or "democratic", that's paternalism, almost monarchy.<br /> Even Jesus was only expected to perform miracles for three years, not four.<br /> So stupid. And you're the people who are always complaining about Americans are so "bipolar" and "superstitious" and "engage in magical thinking".<br /> Well here's a thought: Stop doing this yourself and maybe more people will believe you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com