Going after Edwards by hanging Obama around his neck.

Good strategy.

via Lana_Jordan on twitter.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 12:57 PM | Comments (49)
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The value added tax is back in the news and worse, in the few days since Mitch Daniel's suggestion that the United States adopt a VAT, I'm seeing it proposed more and more from (so-called?) conservative commentators. Often, they pair a VAT with a flat income tax and suggest replacing the existing federal income tax scheme.

It should go without saying that the VAT is an exceptionally bad idea, whether it's paired with a flat tax or a fair tax or any other tax and whether it replaces the federal income tax or not. Whatever its merits, they are outweighed by its key features: the VAT obscures for the taxpayer just how much money is being sucked up by the government; it is prone to Congressional abuse; and it is, in the words of economists, "efficient."

Yes, you can put VAT on each and every sales receipt. But unless the taxpayer keeps and diligently tallies every receipt, he will have no idea what he's ended up handing over to Uncle Sam.

This feature of the VAT is a tax-and-spend liberal's wet dream because it keeps the taxpayer-voter in ignorance of how much of his property the government is appropriating over time. Even under the current complicated income tax scheme, the taxpayer-voter has a pretty good idea of how much of his annual income gets sent off to Washington, D.C. And he can then make reasonable predictions and demands and votes when Congress starts fiddling with tax rates. But for the average American, if Congress were to adjust a VAT, the question "how much does this affect me or my business" becomes difficult to answer. Again, unless the taxpayer-voter has been keeping track of his consumption.

And there, too, a VAT gives Congress even greater means to target disfavored industries and individuals. Progressive nannies can push for a higher VAT on soda and fast food. Social conservatives can push for a higher VAT on...er, morally questionable commerce. Other major targets: the oil industry (after all, they should pay more for being Gaia-raping capitalists); the pharmaceutical industry (it's for the children, somehow); and, without a doubt, Big Tobacco (for obvious reasons).

Economists laud the VAT because it is a "more efficient" means of collecting taxes. As a conservative, hell as a taxpayer, I am not in favor of more efficiency in letting the government take what's mine. I acknowledge the need for a government and the obvious necessity of paying for one. But simultaneous efficiency and obscurity are not on the top of my list for features of a tax scheme. I want what taxes I'm paying to be SCREAMINGLY obvious. And I want to be able to get that information any time I want, but particularly when I'm asked to elect or reelect these jokers in Congress. (In fact, it is for this reason that I support moving Tax Day from April 15 to the first Monday in November. Let's put Tax Day nearer to Election Day.)

In short, the VAT is exactly the type of tax scheme that conservatives shouldn't want. And pairing it with a flat income tax does not alter its key features, that is, it's patent deficiencies. It's disappointing to see conservatives using the Obama-spawned budget crisis as an excuse to propose a fundamentally awful tax scheme. Shame on them.

Posted by: Gabriel Malor at 11:01 AM | Comments (277)
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Seems like all eyes are on Ohio State (1) and Wisconsin (1 , 7pm tonight. The only other two top 25 teams going head to head are Auburn (7) and Arkansas (12), this afternoon at 3:30.

Get your moron picks in before tomorrow, you moron-pickers. And have a great weekend.

Posted by: Dave in Texas at 07:22 AM | Comments (405)
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Happy Saturday!
From the comments of the 'Russian Cop' link in Top Headlines.

Thanks to Spongeworthy.

Posted by: LauraW at 06:14 AM | Comments (56)
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The residents of Oberstar's district are apparently so fired up to back him, they've donated a lavish $500 in the last quarter.

Oh, did I say residents, plural? My bad, I meant to say single freaking resident. One, uno, ein.

Jane Robbins of Pine City gave Oberstar $500 on Aug. 22.

Other than that, all of his contributions came from political action committees, Native American tribes or individual donors in other districts and states.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at 05:24 AM | Comments (90)
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Riley B. (B.B.), Freddie, and Albert.

Here is why I'm singing the blues, children.

Dems on health care: You f'd up. You trusted us. So please trust us again.

The "robo-signing" mess shows every sign of going from bad to worse.

The Norks are still as crazy as shithouse rats.

Detroit, the punch-line to every "urban decay" joke since the 1970's, has $500 million to spend. So, what to do with it? Tear down some of the decaying, abandoned homes? Spruce up the neighborhoods that still have, you know, people living in them? Solve the crime problem (Detroit took the murder crown back from Baltimore)? The city government took a look at the array of problems facing the city and declared: "Gentlemen, what we need to solve all our problems is...light rail!" It's enough to make stones weep.

And finally, we have lost a true cultural icon recently. Manimal has crossed the Great Divide.

Damn right I got the blues. more...

Posted by: Monty at 04:37 AM | Comments (81)
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Yeah, the huge House majority and filibuster proof majority in the Senate weren't enough to get this liberal dream through but if they can hang on this year, really, they are on it!

This is how pathetic the Democrats effort to get their base out has become.

"Reelect me, keep Democrats on the field. And when we come back next year, maybe we will get to the public option," Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.) said during an appearance on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Clyburn has been traveling the country and making media appearances this week in an effort to drum up lagging voter enthusiasm on the Democratic side heading into the Nov. 2 midterms.

The public healthcare option was a top prize for liberal activists during the nearly two-year long debate over healthcare reform, but it was scrapped from the final legislation after support for it fell short in the Senate.

Maybe this is what Henry Waxman was talking about when he got so excited about getting rid of some those damn 'blue dog' Democrats.

Of course, this is absolute BS. Even if the Democrats could keep the House (they won't) they are going to be crippled in the Senate, if they manage to keep the majority there. But yeah, after a bloodbath the public option will be on the table.

Still, if Clyburn thinks that will fire up Democrats, maybe it'll fire up conservatives too.

On a more serious note...this is why health care reform must be repealed. If it's not, some dark day may see the Democrats returned to power and you know they will try it then. They never give up.

Be the Wave!

Posted by: DrewM at 06:10 PM | Comments (203)
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THIS IS NOT A TEST. THIS IS A PRE-RECORDED MESSAGE AUTOMATICALLY POSTED IF THE BLOG DEADMAN SWITCH IS NOT RESET WITHIN THE REGULATION 24 HOURS.

YOU ARE SEEING THIS IN THE EVENT OF AN EPIC ACEAPALOOZA OR A WORLD-WIDE APOCALYPSE. PROBABLY THE LATTER.

ACE THANKS ALL READERS FOR THEIR LONGTIME SUPPORT AND MONEY.

IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE CABAL, PLEASE BREAK THE SEAL ON YOUR PERSONAL ENVELOPES FROM ACE. THESE WILL CONTAIN YOUR FINAL ORDERS. TONIGHT ALL BLOG BUSINESS GETS SETTLED.

GOD BLESS THIS BLOG AND GOD BLESS AMERICA.

NOW SOME MUSIC.

Posted by: Maetenloch at 05:35 PM | Comments (695)
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Okay, for tomorrow:

12:00 lunch at johnny's biltmore cafe, 1205 chestnut st newton.

Then at the campaign hq at 1-1:30. That's at 381 elliot st newton. Should be pretty close to the restaurant.

Posted by: Ace at 05:08 PM | Comments (6)
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Okay, for tomorrow: 12:00 lunch at johnny's biltmore cafe, 1205 chestnut st newton.

Then at the campaign hq at 1-1:30. That's at 381 elliot st newton. Should be pretty close to the restaurant.

Posted by: Ace at 04:55 PM | Comments (25)
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