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Barney Frank: Soak the Filthy Rich Bastards

Rep. Barney Frank agreed today on "Face the Nation" with my post of yesterday:

http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/09/soak-the-filthy-rich-bastards.php

Frank said he would push for a "surtax" on people making over a million dollars a year.

The Democrats are getting this right.


Comments (7)

Barney Frank is getting it right at least. I wouldn't go so far as to say "the Democrats" are getting it right. Most of them are silent. Personally, I think a surtax should just be the beginning and we should tax them till the cows come home!

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"I wouldn't go so far as to say "the Democrats" are getting it right."

Well, Biden is for one. That's what he means by "paying taxes is patriotic." Fox and others are replaying that quote like it makes Obama look bad, but in reality - we are soon to be at least $12 TRILLION dollars in debt - and SOMEONE needs to bring that down a little.

That someone should be those making millions rather than the ones losing their houses.

Like that old famous bank robber's answer as to why he robbed banks: "That's where the money is."

And then there is this:

Republican leaders in Congress are warning Democrats not to load up the Treasury Department’s emergency bailout bill with help for homeowners or others facing economic hardship — all while avoiding a direct endorsement of the bill themselves.

“Efforts to exploit this crisis for political leverage or partisan quid pro quo will only delay the economic stability that families, seniors and small businesses deserve,” House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement issued Saturday afternoon. “Going forward, I hope we all can agree that we should keep any legislation as straightforward as possible while doing everything we can to protect American taxpayers.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13675.html

Republicanism is a cancer on our society. I hope that we put it into permanent remission and these people never, ever reach an elected office again.

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Good for Frank. I don't know about other Democrats.

When it really counts, on issues when the entire nation is watching, Democrats acquiesce.

I don't believe that's a winning strategy. Voters want strength, resolve, unwavering courage.

The Republicans were a more resilient majority than the Democrats seem to be. IMHO, the Republicans are even a stronger minority than the Democrats.

It does seem that there's an opportunity for Democrats to demonstrate there unified strength behind their candidate at a time when the Republicans are not that thrilled about theirs.

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If the Democrats don't show some backbone on this blatant looting of the US Treasury to line the pockets of rich financiers than there is little hope they will do anything of consequence even if Obama is elected.

They must write their own 'rescue' package that hits banks and Wall Street loan sharks where it hurts.

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The Republicans are out there saying this is too much of an emergency to politicize. That we shouldn't way the bailout down with details.

Guess what. Those details are us. Average Americans.

Essentially, they don't want to bog government down with trivial considerations like us.


"My friends, the fundaments of the economy (ie - Average Americans) are strong. So surely they can afford another $1 trillion in debt."

--Dishonorable John

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