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I Hate It When I Agree With Billy Glad
This was a fascist rally. I'm not calling John McCain a fascist, but his base, his followers... Holy Christ, what a bunch of fascist lunatics. When these people shout, "USA! USA! USA!", it makes me sad to be an American.
We're fifteen minutes into McCain's speech, and so far, he's offered ZERO substance.
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Comments (46)
When is he going to quit sloganeering and start delivering some policy? This guy is pathetic. What do you say, gang? Let's kick the old man's ass.
September 4, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm up for it. The model is broken. Pandering to your base is not going to move the electorate this year.
I'm working my butt off to ensure everyone I see, touch or come into contact with is voting for Barack.
I'm sure I am not alone.
We need to take our government back...
September 4, 2008 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, you know what? We can BUY our government back. If we all donate regularly to Obama, he'll be able to blow McCain away on advertising. That could very well be the thing that tips this election. McCain is stuck with public financing. He's limited to $84 million. Let's make sure Obama has $300 or $400 million to work with. No worries if we donate too much. If Obama has more than he needs, he's already shown that he'll give the excess to down-ticket Democrats who need the money. Let's blow McCain out of the water. Let's show the Republicans the true meaning of capitalism and buy the White House back. Bastards. Let's blow their boat out of the fucking water.
As a self-employed American, I'm committed to donating 15 bucks a week to the campaign. What say ye? Will we buy this White House back? Will we defeat this loser McCain and his radical-right vice presidential pick?
We must and we will.
McCain has been talking for what seems like hours, and he's said absolutely nothing. ZERO substance.
September 4, 2008 10:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I have to admit, I like McCain's position on the capital gains tax, being a member of the investor class and all. I know that's not a factor with artists like you. But I am a little puzzled about his passing remarks about unemployment insurance. I wonder what he has in mind.
September 5, 2008 9:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
I've seen so much distortion about Obams's stance on the capital gains tax over the past week, it's not even funny. Not saying you're distorting it here, but that's become the rallying cry across the rightwing blogs pretty much since our convention. I've seen outrageous thing said like Obama's going to raise it as much as 45%.
Obama wants to go back to the capital gains rate of the Clinton administration. The one where our economy was still expanding, income disparity was smaller, and we had a budget surplus. I know economic issues are more complected than can easily be discussed in a forum like this, but I don't have any problem with Obama's plans with the capital gains tax.
September 5, 2008 11:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
And it's my understanding he wants to eliminate it completely for small businesses with under $250k in revenue (I believe the number and the fact that it's revenue are right, but it may be net income.) This is hardly anticapitalist stuff.
One reason for the house price boom and bust was the increased appeal of borrowing to pursue capital gains when excessively low interest rates meant borrowing was free (accounting for inflation) combined with a capital gains rate that was out of balance with rates of income tax.
This also creates other tax anomalies like carried interest which allowed financiers with huge incomes to pay lower overall tax rates than their secretaries. There needs to be balance between the taxes paid on income derived from labor and capital or else we run into economic problems.
Headline corporate rates could actually be reduced if Obama is able to reform the tax code as promised. It is currently a lobbyist lunch of of special interest tax-credits and loopholes. These are really market distortions that hold back economic growth.
Low capital gains rates do stimulate investment over the short-term, but in recent years it has stimulated over-leveraged investment (like the PE boom), and therefore it is not sustainable. Second, without demand factors, you're merely encouraging investment in overcapacity and increasing the intensity of the down leg of the business cycle.
September 5, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
With mortgage interest tax deductible, it greatly weighted investment decisions, especially after the 2001 shaky stock market.
However, I disagree with your point 2 - investment in overproduction is caused by a number of factors - overexhuberance, greed, bad counting, estimates gone wrong. You might as well say we should take more of their money to keep them from spending it badly. The better approach is to try to remove unnatural unwanted stimuli from the market. Ridiculous ethanol overproduction was caused by government subsidies, not cheap credit. Otherwise people would still count a profit as a profit and a loss as a loss.
September 5, 2008 2:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
My main point was simply to question the supply-side assumption that supply will create it's own demand. Has anyone empirically shown this to happen or is it just a fairy tale?
September 5, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the response. A nice and concise explanation of a tricky topic is always good to have.
September 5, 2008 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the response. A nice and concise explanation of a tricky topic is always good to have.
September 5, 2008 5:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the response. A nice and concise explanation of a tricky topic is always good to have.
September 5, 2008 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm glad when you two get along. Disharmony is painful!
Pollyanna Lux
September 4, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Lux, you and I are of the same tribe. And I am glad of it.
September 4, 2008 11:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
You are just trying to make the recommended list with a gratuitous reference to Mr. Glad.
I do agree, however, and am sickened (and galvanized) by what I am seeing.
The 9-11 video was a really low moment among the lowlights. As I sat there and watched in amazement at the naked manipulation through fear, I could taste the fascist vibe.
September 4, 2008 10:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, whatever I can do to make the recommended list. Billy Glad is toadally where it's at.
Actually, the only reason I cited Billy Glad is because he was right (for once). I know he thinks I hate him, but the fact is I just hate his constantly mushy equivocation.
September 4, 2008 11:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Toadally!
September 4, 2008 11:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Toad. L. E.
September 4, 2008 11:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Toad. L. E.
September 4, 2008 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's hypocritical for someone who has expropriated the property of an entire country to criticize the pussy hare for expropriating some of my fame. I worked hard to build my loyal audience of four readers, but I am willing to share them with the pussy hare.
September 5, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
God damn, he's a phony, self-aggrandizing old man. Still no substance. I'd say he just negated the effect of Palin's nasty hate speech of last evening.
September 4, 2008 10:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
I don't like bob either, pussy hare. But I don't think he negated Palin's speech. If anything, his constant defense of Palin makes me even more cautious. True, bob is old, but he's also stupid. Give him a break.
September 5, 2008 9:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Peace Through Leadership. The Flag, endless photos of endless generations of soldiers, America, Nation, USA USA USA, Patriot, Safety.... and the great favorite.... Country.
Peace Through Strength.
September 4, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. They just played "Barracuda" by Heart. I don't know Ann, but I can tell you for sure that Nancy is PISSED OFF right now. John McCain is SUCH a pathetic old geezer.
September 4, 2008 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Heart has requested that McCain not use their music.
September 5, 2008 1:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why hasn't Billy joined this exercise in TPM Blog Family reconciliation?
I thought he was all about civility?
The post is young...
September 4, 2008 11:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Billy has joined. He may not make an appearance on this thread (because I have relentlessly tried to abuse him into expressing an honest, unequivocal opinion), but Billy is a good Democrat, and his one vote will count exactly as much as mine. And when Barack Obama is elected president, Billy will give him as least as much shit as I will.
September 4, 2008 11:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha! My theory is he's just trying to lure me in here so he can insult me some more under the pretense of toughening me up. I'm too smart to fall for that.
I'm still trying to recover from being called bi-polar by a cat wearing rabbit ears.
September 4, 2008 11:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
That last sentence is the funniest comment I've seen in two weeks.
September 5, 2008 8:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
To me, the spectacle looks more pathetic than dangerous.
I don't disagree about the authoritarian impulse on the right. It *has* been extremely strong, and at times scary, for eight years.
Right now, though, I think they're mostly going through the motions. They know this campaign is "over," to quote Peggy Noonan, and there's something forced and nostalgic about their "U-S-A" chants, and even about their hateful smears.
September 5, 2008 1:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're always good for a chuckle, Little Alex. So droll. But I was just thinking. I haven't heard anything about Obama or Biden for over a week, except for around here. Let's see what the polls tell us next week. I'm sorry, but how desperate is it to suddenly put Peggy Noonan forward as an authority. My guess is her days at the Journal are limited now. Hers won't be the first "career" ended by an open mic. We'd all be better off quoting Jon Stewart, don't you think?
September 5, 2008 8:56 AM | Reply | Permalink
John McCain served his country in Nam, like ME! (not!)If these protesters don't like America, let's round 'em up and send 'em to Mongolia to work in the salt mines. Sarah Palin will make a vicious VP--she's got my vote. Enough from the left wing fascists who post on TPM. When John McCain is elected president, readers of TPM will be all be drafted into the war with Iran. TPM bloggers will be drafted to defend South Ossetia and Abkazia from the Ruskies!
Pussy Hare: Bring back the war between the happy(Glad) and the humorous(cat with rabbit ears)--America needs more wars!
September 5, 2008 6:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
PS: Kill for Peace!
September 5, 2008 6:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
They were chanting to drown out the protesters silly.
Great.
Now the old man wants you to drink his change kool aid.
McCain spewed,"Everything is f---ing spin."
Now that is finally the truth.
September 5, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Co-signed, gotalife. ;)
September 5, 2008 6:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here, here. The USA chant makes me cringe, whether at the Olympics or during fascist rallies like this week. I've tried to think of another nationalistic chant that might sound better, but I'm starting to think that, just maybe, nationalistic chants are frightening, period.
So nice to see bunny cat and BG agreeing on something. I, too, fear a further slide towards fascism in this country, and wonder how far it can go.
September 5, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here, here. The USA chant makes me cringe, whether at the Olympics or during fascist rallies like this week. I've tried to think of another nationalistic chant that might sound better, but I'm starting to think that, just maybe, nationalistic chants are frightening, period.
So nice to see bunny cat and BG agreeing on something. I, too, fear a further slide towards fascism in this country, and wonder how far it can go.
September 5, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Here, here. The USA chant makes me cringe, whether at the Olympics or during fascist rallies like this week. I've tried to think of another nationalistic chant that might sound better, but I'm starting to think that, just maybe, nationalistic chants are frightening, period.
So nice to see bunny cat and BG agreeing on something. I, too, fear a further slide towards fascism in this country, and wonder how far it can go.
September 5, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rudy's speech worried me. The double fists to chest gesture he used can be seen on old newsreels of AH.
Intentional, no probably not. But the crowd chanting NBC NBC NBC alarmed me a bit. There was definitely a proto-fascist feel to the whole thing.
But in all fairness, their viewers watching OUR convention probably felt the same thing. Massed public power on the opposing side always is alarming.
September 5, 2008 1:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
whoa - America's Mayor as Hitler - now there's an image!
September 5, 2008 3:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes. This magazine cover should illustrate the point that Rudy gets a lot of people's hackles up, even the conservatives.
http://www.truthnews.us/?p=1384
September 5, 2008 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing brings Democrats together like Republicans.
PS USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
September 5, 2008 4:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's this? KatRabbit paying a complement to Billy Glad? Peace at TPM in our time? LOL!! I had to check my pulse. ;)
I like it when I agree with Billy Glad. There have been many fab posts at TPM, and Billy Glad wrote two of them that I really liked. And in this instance, KatRabbit, I echo your agreement with Billy. Just saying.
The conventioneers and their chanting with fists in the air was truly bizarre and made the fur on the back of my neck rise up. There they were for days trotting out their families, cuddling their babies and making a case for war, and then McCain himself came out and while decrying war, made the case for it. Oy!
September 5, 2008 6:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
We had best all pull together as Democrats and hang together, or assuredly be hung separately!
This election is enormous. Seriously.
Very likely 2, maybe even 3 moderate/liberal voices on the Supreme Court will tender their resignations in the next 4-6 years. We cannot, we must not, allow the Republicans to solidify their shakey conservative majority. A very great deal is at stake here. The federal judiciary is already lopsidedly GOP appointed. We just cannot afford to see this imbalance become even more so. Out of eleven circuits, moderate/liberal voices predominate in only two. The other nine are lost to conservative majorities.
September 5, 2008 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Okay, can I just be a bit a stick in the mud, and at the same time totally agree with you, and that is the use of term "fascist." This term is bantered about so much that it has become for the most part meaningless, one might as call them an "asshole," to achieve the same effect in the audience.
Not to get into a lengthy discussion of fascism, but it is basically a merger of totalitarian government with corporations. Which kind of sums of McCain/Palin.
September 5, 2008 8:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fascist are in our government right now -just go to the OVP 's office- then to Erik Prince -then to Gov Palin's comments regarding her belief that we are in Iraq to implement God's will ..
And unfortunately if we do not stop this headlong slide to big government/big busines/ war profiteers textbook fascism this election cycle in 2008 , we may very well be faced with a fiat accompli -with of course all that would entail -Its stunning how much is riding on this vote in two months..
we all need to do everything we possibly can to win this one -its a watershed cycle...
"This ain't no party , this ain't no disco -this ain't no fooling around ! "
September 5, 2008 9:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, the OVP was the very epicenter of much that went wrong in the last eight years...
IF, McCain gets elected...watch who gets appointed as Palin's CofS, and also who is selected to be her counsel. This will tell alot about whether we are going to see another shogunate presidency, with the real mischief coming out of the OVP. The republicans are playing with our form of government....
September 5, 2008 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
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