I concur. These people won't do their own research in order to ferret out the facts from the propaganda. Sadly most of America doesn't pay attention, they obediently and swallow the Fox News garbage as if it were ambrosia. It boils down to this: Are you FOR 98% of your fellow Americans or FOR the 2% at the top? We got to this place by a feindish right wing goal beginning with Ronnie Raygun and continuing with W (on steroids) of crushing the middle class and making everyone fearful and insecure. Vote out the Republicans who are obstructing growth in our economy and demonizing working people.

"2 % at the top" -- Lets do a little thought experiment here. Lets act like real socialist and take every nickel that the top 2 % have. Not just income, but all their wealth. How long would all that money last? That would really make a dent in our debt and bring socialist nirvana wouldn't it? - Nope - All that money, all that wealth would only fund our all consuming government for about a year. Then, like the animals in "Animal Farm" who would be next?

As a nation we are a guy making fifty-thousand a year. We have credit card debt totalling 300 thousand a year and are asking the credit card company to raise our limit and not cutting our spending. This cannot turn out well.

Yeah its pretty amazing.

You get some fools with a microphone and use buzz words like, "bullying, patriot, tax, blah blah blah."

It doesn't matter that the policies these tools advocate hurt all the working people.

Its just a shiny object to attract the stupid, the racist, the angry and the gullible.

@Barb: "Under Doyle's left wing looting, we have a state with one of the highest unemployment rates"

That is an absolute bold faced lie.

Wisconsin has one of the LOWEST unemployment rates.

Thats not opinion, its fact.

So either you are just making up lies, (the republican way) or you are listening to liars and parroting their lies (the tea bagger way).

Either way liars like you are not welcome in Wisconsin.

Everyone is missing the point. Politics have replaced common sense. The downgrade is the beginning. There will be no agreement between the political parties, no compromise, only finger pointing and people here quoting media propaganda. As the result of politics and the complete lack of understanding of the trued nature of this economic problem, the country is facing a calamity. When your credit card is over the limit, you don't charge your ongoing expenses to it. That is what the government is doing with our entitlement programs. This is not a revenue problem, it is a spending problem -- look through the growth of entitlements over the past 50 years. Everyone wants money handed to them. But nothing is going to change until we default, and all the flow of money -- loans from China, I might add -- stops. Don't think it can't happen.

@ Diane Henzy You are 100% correct. We have a spending problem. We spend too much supporting wealthy industrialists.

I wonder what kind of tea they drink, if any at all. But if they do drink tea it sure isn't smart tea!

@red: Calm down and take a deep breath. NOBODY is advocating the top 2% surrender more than their fair share: the effective tax rate for those earning >$250K is between 18-22% AND they contribute $0 to social security after they hit the $105K earnings level. Lets do a little experiment and level the playing field so that we ALL pay the same rate and lift the social security contribution cap. If you think that is outrageous, lets go back to the rate Reagan started with:38% for all. Or not.
As a nation, the guy who was driving the bus flunked business accounting. He wrote 2 checks to pay for 2 wars and forgot to enter the amounts into the checkbook ledger. He told his family (we the people) that he only spent 2 trillion when in fact it was 6.3 trillion when his wife (the CBO) added back in the 2 missing check amounts. Quite a different picture than the one you paint.

Note to Red.
You live in WI and have presumably attended the finest schools in the nation.
Get your math right.

Wisconsin was a functional, prosperous state.

----With a crook Democratic governor stealing money from a Patient's fund and the highway funds. And with all the stealing we were 3.6 billion dollars in the red. Harley-Davidson and Mercury Marine threatening to leave --- Not prosperous by a long shot.

Now you got these right wing nutters looting the state.

--- Even Milwaukee today announced that thanks to Walker's budget, they will have 20 million extra. .....

Despite early criticism from city officials, new figures show Milwaukee will gain more than it will lose next year from the state's controversial budget and budget-repair legislation.

The city projects it will save at least $25 million a year - and potentially as much as $36 million in 2012 - from health care benefit changes it didn't have to negotiate with unions, as a result of provisions in the 2009-'11 budget-repair measure that ended most collective bargaining for most public employees.

http://www.jsonline.mobi/127269673.htm?ua=android&dc=smart&c=y

Looks like Doyle was the looter and Walker is giving nice benefits to the good people of Milwaukee

Lets go with a flat tax of 25 percent and lets have it start at 40K. No more arguing and soul wrenching envy of someone who works hard and is successful. No more rich liberals using their influence to pay no taxes (jeffrey immelt, warren buffet, tim geitner, john kerry and his yacht, clair macaskil and her jet). More people with skin in the game who understand that money doesn't come unicorns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19v5Kjmc8FI

Based on the last sentence, Alberta you might have wanted to show up.

I think the Teamsters activism trailer costs more.

You know whats funny is I honestly didn't know if you were being sarcastic or not for most of that post.

There are people so stupid and brain washed as to believe the things you typed.

Thats pretty sad when one persons ridiculous sarcasm is anothers ridiculous stupid beliefs.

Toxic Teanderthals, screetching fundamentalist traitors all.

"Let's be honest they are scared, uninformed, racist, old white people....to the dustbin of history with you!"

Agreed.

The only reason the tea baggers exist is because a black man is in the white house.

Tea baggers are a group of greedy old white people who are horrified by the fact that the racism, classism, homophobia, hatred, and abuse of the poor is no longer OK.

These are the same type of people who showed up to block de-segregation. The same people who used to lynch blacks for fun. The same people who tie gays to fence posts and beat them to death.

The idea that "all men are created equal" terrifies and angers them.

They want it to say, "All white straight men born to rich families are created equal, and anyone born poor or not white should work for pennies and say 'thank you massa' whenever a 'equal' allows them to take a breath of air."

And as for the gullible fools who aren't rich white men who support the republican party, I have no idea what they are thinking.

Some people are just so gullible and full of hate they can be fooled into voting against themselves over and over.

Now that's a highly-intelligent statement. Maybe I'm stupid or something. What is it supposed to mean?

Exactly. For Sweeney's benefit, a little help: The Coors family is one of the biggest donors to right wing causes. I wouldn't be surprised if they donated cases of their watered down toilet water tasting brew to the Tea Party rally, along with $$.

TeaKluxers in Wisconsin probably haven't even noticed that good union members from Illinois and Indiana have stayed away from the Cheddar Curtain in DROVES since your fetal alcohol syndrome temporary "governor" has declared war on the working class.....that's why you people are STARVING this summer and eating your own spoiled CURDS. Your right wing tendencies will DISAPPEAR or your tourism industry will - - YOUR CHOICE, CHEESEHEADS.

The Don't Tread on Me Flag has become the Jolly Roger for numbskulls.

So you would rather Miller-Coors would move out of this state because of their political affiliation? How many jobs would go with them? Go ahead and cut off your noses to spite your faces. Don't drink the beer. The funny thing about your little boycott (if you are really boycotting) is that the majority of people don't agree with you or your little Commie games and will more than make up for what you are not buying from local stores and/or made by local businesses.

But since you brought up who contributes to what, most people in this state don't like the fact that WEAC is donating $$$$ to Communist-based-lefty causes and there is nothing we can do to keep these formerly-union-dues-paying teachers away from our kids........yet..

I know that they can't spell September ... What a bunch of idot's. There's no one in the Tea Party that knows how to spell ?

Effery sign vas "Politicallllllly corrrrrrrect". Sounds like a police state.

Haha yeah.

I remember back when the tea baggers came to the capitol for a day they had a bunch of signs that were pre made. The idea being that the average tea bagger would show up with a sign either miss-spelled or with something stupid or racist or all of the above.

BUT even the pre-approved mass produced tea baggers signs were spelled wrong.

It was hilarious.

They all went to correct them with sharpies and when people laughed at them and heckled them they threw the signs away and just strapped pistols on their hips.

Of they are so stupid and hateful and violent.

The worst kind of stupid.

Yeah its ridiculous.

The Koch bros. own the tea baggers.

The tea baggers use all this rhetoric and lies and fearmonger about communism and socialism.

But the Koch bros. got all their money from their daddy.

Their daddy got all his money from Joseph Stalin, building him petrochemical factories in the Soviet Union.

The irony of it.

The tea baggers are run on money supplied by the greatest communist empire ever.

Then how fitting that they always falsely raise the boogeyman "Soros".

George Soros barely survived life under Nazi (extreme right wing) rule.

He is a self made man who spends money to try and stop right wing extremists (like the tea baggers and the republicans) from creating a new fascist state here in America because he knows how bad it is when the right wing nuts rule.

Fascism by definition is an extreme right wing ideology where the government is owned by the corporations.

Sounds a lot like, "privatization" and the goals of ALEC if you ask me.

"Tass Kandle" fails to acknowledge - George Soros as "Gyorgy Schwartz" - as a TURNCOAT working with the Nazis turning in Jewish families to confiscate their wealth, art, property - and boasting about it in interviews - saying that he was not sorry - one bit.

Why not acknowledge Soros being prosecuted as a currency manipulator - stalling off his sentence - for decades - by going to The United Nations - claiming his legal problems are a Human Rights issue.

But now, The Far Left wants to have George Soros' background as "Gyorgy Schwartz" hidden - so that Soros could appear to be just a "philantropist".

Who the hell paid for the luxury bus. Not the likes of Amy Kremer.

That was a lie from the psychotic Glenn Beck, who by all rights should be put away. And a damned mean lie at that. Scum.

Hmmmm........and this is what democracy looks like!
Darling: 39,471
Pasch: 34,096

The people have spoken......AGAIN!

The "us" is the Koch Heads of course.

Toxic Teanderthal Alert. Lower than snakes..

Yeah people being able to go to the doctor.

Not spending trillions of dollars on pointless wars on the other side of the world.

Allowing working men and women to make a living wage.

Decent schools for kids to go to.

Clean air to breath and clean water to drink.

Yeah those democrats sure are extremists.

Don't you think its a bit extreme that when the republicans took over after Clinton America had a surplus.

After 8 disastrous years of republicans giving all the money to the richest people and sending jobs to China and starting 2 massive pointless wars off the books we were in a giant hole.

Then after people overwhelmingly elected democrats to fix the mess republicans left a handful of right wing nut jobs filibustered and blocked all progress on fixing the country?

Now the republicans are INTENTIONALLY ruining the American economy to make Obama look bad.

Mitch McConnell admitted it.

The republicans are intentionally doing harm to the US and the world economy to make Obama look bad and to punish America for voting with their heads to get rid of these right wing economic terrorists.

NOW THAT RIGHT WING TREASON SOUNDS EXTREME TO ME!

I said this yesterday but it bears repeating. After reading the irrational rants of Tass Kandle for the last three days, I am now a supporter of tax payer funded abortion.

Then after people overwhelmingly elected democrats to fix the mess republicans left a handful of right wing nut jobs filibustered ....

Somehow you left out the part where Obama's far-left socialist approach was so unpopular that in the next election the republicans won a historic landslide at all levels of government. This is typical lefty denial of the democratic process. Americans don't want to live in a socialist kleptocracy.

The reason why the Democrats lost in 2010 was their agenda didn't go far enough. But don't worry boys. People have woken up to the exploitation and the baggers will be swept on in 2012, especially after their debt ceiling stunt of defending the rich against the suggestion of the mildest tax increase.

Go get 'em Tess. Keep slapping these belching creeps around.

Don't forget that the Koch money came from the Soviet Union and Stalling by building petro chemical plants for the communists.

And that the main reason Soros gives money to progressives is because he barely survived Nazi rule and doesn't want to see right wing extremists take over the world again because he has seen what people like these tea baggers and republicans do when they have total power since he lived under the Nazis extremist right wing government.

@ Michael:

George Soros as "Gyorgy Schwartz" - as a TURNCOAT working with the Nazis turning in Jewish families to confiscate their wealth, art, property - and boasting about it in interviews - saying that he was not sorry - one bit.

Why not acknowledge Soros being prosecuted as a currency manipulator - stalling off his sentence - for decades - by going to The United Nations - claiming his legal problems are a Human Rights issue.

But now, The Far Left wants to have George Soros' background as "Gyorgy Schwartz" hidden - so that Soros could appear to be just a "philantropist".

How much money did Soros make for himself in the TWO "suspicious" FLASH STOCK MARKET CRASHES - under the Obama Administration?

Stop it Fina, just stop it. George Soros was a 14 year old boy at the time. Stop repeating the lies of closeted gay Sean Hannity. It stands to reason that Soros wants to stop Nazis like you because he witnessed first hand Nazi terror, kind of like the Tea Party has in mind if they ever got total control.

Pure BS. You're the racialist hate monger. We just want our contitutional republic and the freedom to make our own economic decisions in the market. You are seeking to impose the world leading failure of socialism. Hundreds of millions dead in this century and even as we type, they fear Italy's economy will fail.

@ Red Instead of looking at Italy you may want to look at US. Seems most of the rest of the world agrees with downgrade from AAA. Conservative politics today are the politics of a very few industrialists. With the repeal of Glass-Steagal we allowed the very same industry that took us down in 1929 to do it to us again in 2008. When the markets open on Monday and repeat the downward trend, remember that the policies in play belong to the Republican Party.

Republican policies, sure. Democrats controlled Congress since 2006, and added the Presidency. George Bush allowed the Congressional Democrats to overspend, and got bamboozled into TARP by NY Fed Chairman Tim Geitner. But Bush spent at 65 miles per hour a couple over the speed limit. Obama is rocketing at 135 miles per hour. The curves in the road are ahead.

Also, our downgrade is appropriate. This morning the S&P guy said we have to get entitlement spending under control. What was Obama's plan for controlling entitlements again?? His plan was so farcical it was voted down by the Senate 97-0. We need to look to other countries that have gone your way... Greece, Spain, Italy, so we can make our policy changes now.

@ Red Can you reference just one government that balanced a budget with just cuts? The very idea that we have money to support wealthy industrialists over our own population is rediculous. Your statements represent the resentment of industrialist's that they have to participate in government. These entitlements you speak of are paid for by hard working Americans so they can have some measure of self reliance when they no longer have value to these industrialists you protect. These entitlements are bought and paid for by Americans. And it will be Americans that resolve the minor issues troubling them. The Tea Party has been in power for eight months and they made history by having our credit rating drop. Not a good plan. You can't squeeze blood from a rock and the middle class hasn't much left to give. Time to move to a cash source that has money. Boardrooms.

Can you reference just one government that balanced a budget with just cuts?

----Why yes, yes, I can Thanks for asking....

Canada has cut spending and it is good financial shape....

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Canada_posts_record_$14_billion_budget_surplus

Germany has cut spending....

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper ... reported that the better-than-expected outlook for the German economy this year ..Germany's plan to reduce expenditures has met with criticism from US President Barack Obama

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5718588,00.html

And we can look to our own history... http://www.realclearmarkets.com/articles/2010/09/22/1920_the_great_depression_that_wasnt_98679.html

----These entitlements you speak of are paid for by hard working Americans ...

Some of these entitlements (soc security) have been pissed away by our political (not industrial) leaders. Others are unrealistic unicorn dust promises and are firehoses of fraud and abuse. We could rationalize and reform them to make them sustainable, but wild eyed radicals like you and our President have to demagogue them. Where was Obama's plan?

--- The Tea Party has been in power....

Oh, pulleeeze. The power of the Tea Party was that 70 percent of the population wanting spending cuts!!! In lefty speak the Tea Party has gone from being cranks and geezers to having all the power over Obama and the Democratic Senate. Obama would have had more power if he'd had a good faith plan.

@ Red. All the countries you have listed also demand corporate contribution.And yes, our politicians pissed away some of the funds from social security. Is that a reason to can the idea of caring for our elderly? Every country you mention also has single payer healthcare and Germany in particular has been caring for its elderly since the 1880s. A wild eyed radical. Sir you are an angry dude. If memory serves me correctly you are employed by Koch as a petro-chemist from Louisiana. If thats incorrect my apologies. If that is correct I feel sorry for you. Blogging may be a requirement for your employment. Must be depressing opening your company email and learning of your talking points of the day. The rest of us don't have access to mind altering ideas and have to search for information to find out who is BSing who. At any rate this is America and you have the right to tell a story any way you want to. Tuesday evening will tell a story of its own.

Schwist..

-----All the countries you have listed also demand corporate contribution.

We have the highest corporate tax in the world at a level that drives jobs off shore.

----our politicians pissed away some of the funds from social security. Is that a reason to can the idea of caring for our elderly?

You have swallowed the propaganda of your leftist friends. The right are not monsters, we want to care for our fellow citizens who need care. But having a program that is skyrocketing in costs will lead to its bankruptcy, that won't help our elderly either. Where was Obama's plan for Medicare? Can you name any countries that have collapsed because of excessive debt?

---If memory serves me correctly you are employed by Koch as a petro-chemist from Louisiana. If thats incorrect my apologies. If that is correct I feel sorry for you. Blogging may be a requirement for your employment. Must be depressing opening your company email and learning of your talking points of the day.

Hahahhahahhahhhhaa. You know nothing about me. Nothing! But your entire fantasy description of me is right out of Alinski's communist playbook. Freeze your target and attack it. You bet I'm angry being subject to your totalitarian tactics. I'm a cold war Vet and I faced the North Korean monsters across the DMV. Look how well they took care of their elderly. I don't want to live under socialism, which has killed hundreds of millions in the last century. I am a free American.

@Red -- "This morning the S&P guy said we have to get entitlement spending under control. What was Obama's plan for controlling entitlements again??"

Is that so? As it stands, FICA payroll taxes currently bring in 40% of federal revenue while accounting for 33.5% of federal spending. http://www.factcheck.org/2011/07/fiscal-factcheck/

So the answer is to trim these entitlements so that even more of the earmarked revenues can be spent on the Pentagon and lowering the top marginal tax rate? What's wrong with this picture?

@randy1949
------As it stands, FICA payroll taxes currently bring in 40% of federal revenue while accounting for 33.5% of federal spending.

Sure, as it stands. You miss the entire point of S&P rating. They are telling bond investors that buying thirty years of US debt is not as good an investment. Please look at this chart. http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_full_width/hash/b3/3f/MedicareCostsChartFuture.jpeg This whole argument is where we will be years from now. Failing like Greece because our political elites spent like crazy asses or financially sound as we were for 200 years. What's Obama's plan?

----the answer is to trim these entitlements so that even more of the earmarked revenues can be spent on the Pentagon

In this chart 'other spending' where defense is is flat. BTW What's Obama's plan?

---- lowering the top marginal tax rate?

We don't have a revenue problem, we have a nearly fatal spending problem. http://www.unitedliberty.org/files/images/obama_budget_deficit_2010.jpg

We spend 300 billion dollars per month and only take in 120 billion. What's Obama's plan

What's wrong with this picture?"

I gave you a couple of 'pictures' that project the future. You are 'picturing' only the present. That's what's wrong with this picture. And that's what's wrong with Obama not having a plan.

@Red, other members of Congress have come up with budget plans that don't make their savings by trimming programs that have up till now run in the black in order to further cut taxes for those who will not suffer as much as someone on Social Security trying to purchase health insurance for $15,000. So I don't give a rat's behind what Obama's plan is, it has to be better than Ryan's.

Stop spending money on foreign wars if we have to cut spending.

Social Security are NOT the problem. They, and their revenues, should be taken out of the budget entirely and fixed separately if they need fixing. Since the government has used them as a cash cow for most of my working life, perhaps we owe it to the social contract to pay for them out of general revenues for the time it takes the Boomer bulge to move through the system. This is for the next generation, who will be paying the same payroll tax for far less in protection once they reach retirement age.

@randy

-----other members of Congress have come up with budget plans that don't make their savings ...purchase health insurance for $15,000.

None that can be scored by CBO. The Democratic senate hasn't even passed a budget in over two years.

---So I don't give a rat's behind what Obama's plan is,

You demonstrate you are an unthinking person perhaps just worshiping the cult of the President rather than helping to self-govern. Obama's budget (plan) was so fantastical that it was defeated 97-0. Ryan's plan gained bi-partisan support it would also have avoided the S&P downgrade.

-perhaps we owe it to the social contract to pay for them out of general revenues

Sorry, social security has long been paid out of general revenues.

The importance of general revenues to the maintenance of Social Security benefits is disguised by the Social Security trust fund, which is really nothing but an accounting device. On paper, it holds assets that earn income. But all of those assets consist of Treasury bonds and the income consists of interest that is paid out of general revenues.

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2010/08/13/The-Future-of-Social-Security.aspx#page1

And remember, its Medicare that is bankrupting us - see the chart I provided.

@Red -- "You demonstrate you are an unthinking person perhaps just worshiping the cult of the President rather than helping to self-govern"

I no more worship our President than you worship Paul Ryan. It is the job of Congress to come up with a budget that solves our spending versus revenue problems without doing it on the backs of seniors and the poor.

"Sorry, social security has long been paid out of general revenues.

The importance of general revenues to the maintenance of Social Security benefits is disguised by the Social Security trust fund, which is really nothing but an accounting device. On paper, it holds assets that earn income. But all of those assets consist of Treasury bonds and the income consists of interest that is paid out of general revenues."

Nonsense. General revenue pays the interest on the bonds that the Social Security Trust fund invested it's surplus into. Just the same as the Chinese and Investment banking forms and every other investor in Federal bonds. Any good trust fund is invested, whether it's mine or Paris Hilton's.

"And remember, its Medicare that is bankrupting us - see the chart I provided."

No, Bush's two wars are bankrupting us right now, as opposed to Medicare in the future. It's all about priorities.

---It is the job of Congress to come up with a budget

It is the job of our entire government to balance spending and revenues. ""The President submits the budget request each year to Congress for the following fiscal year, as required by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921""

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_budget_process

That Obama fails to provide a budget required by law is either duplicitous (e.g. he doesn't want the American people to know how much we wants to spend) or incompetent.

---without doing it on the backs of seniors and the poor

Continued cliche. The 2010 election demonstrated that the American people disapprove on out of control spending which far exceeds safety net spending. The failed stimulus, green jobs, hundreds of millions to Hamas, doubling the EPA budget, none of that is 'for the poor'.

---Nonsense. General revenue pays the interest on the bonds that the Social Security Trust fund invested it's surplus into.

That's what the quote I posted said. So your solution of paying from general revenue is indeed not a solution, but the status quo.

---as opposed to Medicare in the future. It's all about priorities.

And as we draw down Obama's war in Afghanistan (surged 30K troops) and watch Obama's continuing costly quagmire in Libya (the leftist media gives him fantastic cover) those costs are declining. Meanwhile Medicare bankruptcy needs to be reformed now while the reforms can be manageable.

@Red -- I think that Wikipedia article needs to be updated. Lately, the President submits a budget (or any proposal) and Congress amends it within an inch of its life or fails to pass it entirely. It's still the job of Congress to pass it.

"Continued cliche. The 2010 election demonstrated that the American people disapprove on out of control spending which far exceeds safety net spending. The failed stimulus, green jobs, hundreds of millions to Hamas, doubling the EPA budget, none of that is 'for the poor'."

You opened this discussion by saying that the ratings downgrade was the result of our inability to control spending on 'entitlements', which indeed are for seniors and the poor. So which will it be?

"That's what the quote I posted said. So your solution of paying from general revenue is indeed not a solution, but the status quo."

You're right. Better the interest on the national debt should go to the Chinese and the Saudis. [/sarcasm

Ok, enlighten me. Why does it matter if the budget is 7 million higher than Doyle's if it is BALANCED? Walker didn't have to steal money from the malpractice fund, or the transportation fund to balance the budget. Most importantly from a taxpayer's perspective, Walker did it without a tax increase.

Also, you libs are terribly numerically challenged. You really should have taken more math. That 7 million? That is 2 ten-thousandths of a percent increase. Any thinking person would agree that that is a rounding error and the overall budget is flat from its predecessor.

Thanks, that's a civil comment.

How did they work out? Better than Anthony Weiner and David Wu.

Now lets talk about the Tea Party stars that are shaking Washington. Marco Rubio, Michelle Bachman, Rand Paul, and our own Senator Ron Johnson.

"Now lets talk about the Tea Party stars that are shaking Washington. Marco Rubio, Michelle Bachman, Rand Paul, and our own Senator Ron Johnson."

Those are probably the absolute dumbest people in Washington.

If by "shaking washington" you mean tanking our economy and doing whatever they can to stop the countries recovery, then yes, they are shaking it all day every day.

Ron Johnson is missing two letters in his first name. M and O.

Lets stop all the arguing about taxes. Lets have a flat tax so Bill Gates pays 25 percent, and you and I pay 25 percent. No seven figure lawyers helping Gates or Buffet or all those rich Wall Street Obama supporters pay less. Less opportunity for graft. This 'progressive' tax system is a scam designed to foster class warfare. Lets go for real fairness.

@ Red. Screw the flat tax. Now that we know how we have been used and by whom, lets return America to the prosperity of the 1950s with the same tax rates as that era.

"all those rich Wall Street Obama supporters pay less"

I don't know why I waste my time on people like you.

WALL STREET STOCK BROKERS ARE ALL FREE MARKET WHACKOS LIKE YOU!

I see you are completelystupid but I hope you are a stupid millionaire because otherwise the policies you espouse are absolutely maniacal

Red is the typical right wing numbskull. With the flat tax, if you make $1 million you keep $750,000. If you make $50,000, your keep $37,500. Hey you pathetic sellout, we overthrew and aristocracy 250 years ago. Thanks to your fascist collaborators we have to do it all over again.

And if you make $20,000 a year you keep $15,000 and have a hard time living. Not to mention you don't have a lot left over to pay state and local taxes.

2 randy1949 A sound flat tax would have an income floor for the genuinely poor to be forgiven for paying taxes or perhaps pay only a nominal amount so they would begin to understand our system of government.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=obama+stash+detroit&view=detail&mid=942EC04FE2871C8E787A942EC04FE2871C8E787A&first=0&FORM=LKVR2

@Jazzbuzz the buses and beer provided by billionaires (the Koch brothers) might an incentive.

But there was no voting activity associated with TEA party rallies, unlike Pasch's ribs for votes program.

State election authorities are questioning whether a liberal group broke the law by offering both free food and free rides to vote in a hotly contested Senate recall election.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/126558543.html

Progressives, care so much for the poor.... they are willing to buy their votes.

@tass

WALL STREET STOCK BROKERS ARE ALL FREE MARKET WHACKOs...

lefty National Journal

President Obama is seeking to REGAIN (my emphasis) support from Wall Street executives following a rough patch in their relationship, The New York Times...

Although the president's top financial industry supporters have said they are confident that Obama will get the backing he needs from Wall Street in the upcoming election, the Obama campaign will have to work hard to overcome the events of the past two and a half years: ..The president alienated some top Wall Street supporters when he criticized their bonuses and called them "fat cats."

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/exclusive/obama-tries-woo-back-wall-street-161248523.html

Daniel S. Loeb...hedge fund manager, was one of Barack Obama’s biggest backers in the 2008 presidential campaign.

A registered Democrat, Mr. Loeb has given and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Democrats. Less than a year ago, he was considered to be among the Wall Street elite still close enough to the White House to be invited to a speech in Lower Manhattan..So it came as quite a surprise on Friday, when Mr. Loeb sent a letter to his investors that sounded as if he were preparing to join Glenn Beck in Washington over the weekend.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/business/31sorkin.html?adxnnl=1&ref=business&adxnnlx=1313250450-tYb8P1QQC64pDcRdbih4LQ

Obama isn't regulating or punishing Wall St because they are democrats.

@Red: "2 randy1949 A sound flat tax would have an income floor for the genuinely poor to be forgiven for paying taxes or perhaps pay only a nominal amount so they would begin to understand our system of government."

We'd just end up arguing about who is genuinely poor and complaining that 50% of taxpayers don't pay federal income tax. Conveniently ignoring that the working poor pay FICA on the first dollar earned and they pay sales taxes out the wazoo.

---We'd just end up arguing about who is genuinely poor

Just like now we argue about who is rich. Millionaires and billionaires that have more than $200 K per year. And in a Welfare state why shouldn't we more closely define poor?

“How would you describe being poor in the U.S.?” The overwhelming majority of responses focused on homelessness, hunger or not being able to eat properly, and not being able to meet basic needs.

The poorest Americans today live a better life than all but the richest persons a hundred years ago.”[3] In 2005, the typical household defined as poor by the government had a car and air conditioning. For entertainment, the household had two color televisions, cable or satellite TV, a DVD player, and a VCR.

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/07/What-is-Poverty

---and complaining that 50% of taxpayers don't pay federal income tax. Conveniently ignoring that the working poor pay FICA on the first dollar earned and they pay sales taxes out the wazoo.

Good, we agree that taxes are hard on all of us and should be levied at a level support a limited government that doesn't become a leviathan trying to make everyone equal.

@Red -- "“How would you describe being poor in the U.S.?” The overwhelming majority of responses focused on homelessness, hunger or not being able to eat properly, and not being able to meet basic needs."

Wouldn't you describe the ability to live in your old age and obtain healthcare without it bankrupting you as 'meeting basic needs'?

"Good, we agree that taxes are hard on all of us and should be levied at a level support a limited government that doesn't become a leviathan trying to make everyone equal."

No, I do not agree. I agree on a government that looks to the good of its own people rather than wasting money trying to fight the world's battles for it. I agree we need to cut spending. I don't agree on where it should be cut.

I was thinking the same thing Eddie. I hope the TB's enjoyed the park that is maintained.... grass cut, garbage picked up, trees pruned, etc. by the very public workers that walker and his co-horts have been screwing since spring.

@Carolo - Do you even read the articles you post?

Apparently you don't.

Your figures bear little semblance to reality..

A: Number of US households: 116,000,000
B: Average US household income: $68,000 (median = $52,000)
C: Total US household income (A * B): $7.89 trillion
D: Percent of households above $250k income: 1.93%
E: Number of households above $250k income (A*D): 2,238,800
F: Percent of national income earned by households making $250k or more = 25%
G: Total income of households making $250k or more (C*F): $1.97 trillion
H: Total income of households in excess of $250k (G - E*$250,000) = $1.412 trillion

----according to the latest Forbes 400, with a combined total net worth of $1.29 trillion.

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2011/03/feed-your-family-on-10-billion-a-day.html

We are spending 200 billion each month with revenues of 320 billion.

Ummm you just repeated what he said but said he was wrong.

Red: why are you so stupid?

You just rewrote what he wrote but said he was wrong.

You obviously have zero critical thinking or reasoning skills.

Most people call that "stupid".

Red is what I call a Brokeback Mountain Republican.

"Tea Party nothing but a bunch of trailer trash hating blacks"

Oh come on thats just unfair!

They hate WAY more people than just blacks!

Mexicans, women, poor people, working people, thinking people or what they like to call "the elite", mixed people, Muslims, Jews (but not the ones who are killing muslims), and pretty much anyone else who isn't a rich white middle aged+ guy with lots of money and lots of false patriotism.

@ Jack Steen. Most of us cheeseheads are going to be sipping "iced" tea with our curds come Tuesday evening.

Well the pro-pollution agenda wont help either,

When the fish start coming up with big fat cancers on them and the rivers are too poisoned to support anything but carp yeah, I think tourism will suffer a bit.

@ Jack olantern:

The Democratic Party owns the KKK - as the invention for the beatdown of blacks - in the 1960's - when the Democratic party was obstructing the passage of the Civil Rights Acts. Democrat Senators Byrd and Al Gore, Sr. led the charge for the filibuster.

You are a reflection of liberals placing blame on your political opponents - for what the Democratic Party created = The KKK!

Hope yr voting base does not realize this FACT! Or, takes the democratic party to task for LYING about it......

******
PS - a former Klansman was in the Election in Florida - on the Democrat ticket!

look it up on the Internet.....

When it comes to history Fina, you're as ignorant as they come. All the racist crackers cleared out of the Democratic party in 1964 when LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act, everyone from the hateful Strom Turmond on down. Jim Demint and Richard Shelby are modern versions. We have versions up here -- Sykes, Belling, Screaming Vicky McKenna and Scott Walker.

No need to bring your Lynching Party to Bayside. Been solid democrat for years! Do your homework

(Whisper) Sssshhhhhh Those are liberal enclaves. Rich liberals live there. They may or may not be racists though....Be sure to keep it this secret, it doesn't serve the lefty class war rhetoric to acknowledge how many liberals are rich rich rich. (sshhhhh

hey Barbara -
the world was abe to view what UNIONS represent - when they protested and used school children as pawns - w their "teachers" conspiring w the unions - to remove the children from the classroom, transport the children to the union protests - without the knowledge or consent of their parents.

The UNIONS distorted their own message - with that thug stunt.

@Barbara Johnson: You are a sick, twisted, delusional bitch.

@Craig, is that kind of language necessary? Barbara's opinion is no more extreme than others I've read here.

@randy

No Randy, you are wrong. Barbara's delusional fixation on lynching - including alluding that Walker would legalize it - is much much more extreme than anybody else's comments. Since you didn't condemn that you are guilty of it too. Where's the civility that was being called for a couple of months ago?

Unfortunately your progressive side relies so much on invective that you don't recognize mental illness and/or verbal poison when it is in print. I'll give you "bitch" is over the line. Craig, you should tone it down because using that word fails to show some sympathy for the mental illness that she is objectively evidencing. Otherwise you are spot on.

Barbara, Best Buy might offer you a job.

http://menomoneefalls.patch.com/articles/milwaukee-man-charged-for-attacking-best-buy-employees

I stand by my words. To claim people are racist based upon their geographic location is equally as stupid as claiming the GOP is the KKK.
To talk about lynching ropes as threats- NO ONE should tolerate that.

First of all, Red, I took issue with Craig's use of the B-word.

But if you feel that to fail to condemn a lack of civility in a post means a shared guilt for it, you have a lot of work to do, because I've been reading some very unfortunate things on the Patch concerning the State Fair Riots.

Randy: You are right that was a strong word to use. Typically I do not do that.
However, to put fuel to the fire regarding race issues in this Country is absolutely insane.
We will always have bigots, but we do not have to make everyone a bigot who lives in a nice house or who votes for a perticular candidate.

----if you feel that to fail to condemn a lack of civility in a post means a shared guilt for it, you have a lot of work to do, because I've been reading some very unfortunate things on the Patch concerning the State Fair Riots

I have NO work to do because I have not seen those comments. If they are racist comments then I condemn them just as I condemn this easy 'lynch' talk.

Typical of a liberal to instruct me what to do as a diversion from your quiet acceptance of the lynching slur. You ignore the hate-filled, psychotic ramblings from your side to 'take issue' with your political opponent.

Fine. Just don't tell us you are the 'civil' one.

The comments in this thread lead me to believe so. Look at this, posted above my comment: Martin Luther KIng Jr. was accompanied every day of his adult life by either a member of the Communist Party, a verified agent of the Soviet Union, or a prostitute. Can the NAACP say the same of the leaders of the three or four major Tea Party groups?

Well from the comments I read it seems like there are a few people, very loud, but few people who would love nothing more.

Looney toons. Do you have solid mental health care?

Here's out full time poster Bob McBride.

Maybe because the republicans being recalled are not in the Tea Party!

Yes. Take back the sanity and send the protesters home with their tail between their legs. Funny thing about protesting, many have no clue what they are protesting about!
After a few weeks of nothing to do they just may join the likes of England and find something new to protest. Stupid is as stupid does...

No Steve, it's like sprinkling salt on worms.

Yooohoooo Nate!

Nate and Steve are here. Looks like someone opened up the monkey cage.

Don't act surprised Aldo, you helped pick the lock.

Rocket man: Darling is State Senate. Dohhh!
If the Federal Gvt. was doing their job- they would use Wisconsin's plan.
Can't blame Darling or Walker for the National Debt.
Open mouth insert foot Mr. Johnson. :P

But hey- thanks for playing anyways.