quote:

Originally posted by Shakka George Allen conceded. I admit I was wrong on that election based on the last minute ookie details that came out on Webb. Too bad nobody took me up on my $10 bet! Anyway, I'm glad to see that Allen conceded what was a very close vote and didn't demand a recount. I'm sick and tired of all this recount shit. We need to be able to have confidence in our voting system and not act like a bunch of crybabies when we lose a close and hotly contested race. So, to the dems out there (or just anti-GOP crowd), I offer you a genuine congratulations. I sincerely hope that you are able to do a better job running the congress than the GOP did in the last 6 years. Let's see some fiscal responsibility! I sure don't want to see my tax bill go up any more! Best of luck.

That's very gracious of you. I would loooove to see some fiscal sanity, and I hope the Dems. understand the importance of this among other things. I really don't think you need to be too concerned about your taxes, however. The tax cuts I see coming to an end or at least quelled down a bit are the top echelon 1% branch, corporate welfare tax cuts to folks like the oil companies, and hopefully the alternative minimum tax. All should be on the chopping block for obvious reasons, so unless you fit these categories (or want to be taxed via AMT), I can't see this scare occurring despite hearing it from nearly all Bush supporting pundits.

I do expect to see inquiries, which in my mind are long overdue, but I also expect that things will probably end up going nowhere as most Congressional inquiries usually do. Besides, you got the Dems. in charge of these Committee hearings who love nothing more than to hear themselves speak (Biden, Kerry, Kennedy, etc.), and will end up grandstanding without striking any serious blows. So any talk of impeachment is bunk in my mind, but I DO believe there will be some much needed oversight. The only inquiry I think that MIGHT have a bit more teeth behind it is the NSA wiretapping business, but I'll leave that topic for another day. Aside of that, just a bunch of hot air will be let loose.

I honestly love the fact that our 2 branches are now split between parties. I have always advocated this, and I believe more things get done as a result. Both sides are forced to listen to each other now, and despite all the bickering and pointing fingers on who is worse, more often than not some decent compromises are reached between the two. I sincerely look forward to this. Let the bickering begin!

___________________
Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...

quote:

Originally posted by MisterOpus1 That's very gracious of you. I would loooove to see some fiscal sanity, and I hope the Dems. understand the importance of this among other things. I really don't think you need to be too concerned about your taxes, however. The tax cuts I see coming to an end or at least quelled down a bit are the top echelon 1% branch, corporate welfare tax cuts to folks like the oil companies, and hopefully the alternative minimum tax. All should be on the chopping block for obvious reasons, so unless you fit these categories (or want to be taxed via AMT), I can't see this scare occurring despite hearing it from nearly all Bush supporting pundits. I do expect to see inquiries, which in my mind are long overdue, but I also expect that things will probably end up going nowhere as most Congressional inquiries usually do. Besides, you got the Dems. in charge of these Committee hearings who love nothing more than to hear themselves speak (Biden, Kerry, Kennedy, etc.), and will end up grandstanding without striking any serious blows. So any talk of impeachment is bunk in my mind, but I DO believe there will be some much needed oversight. The only inquiry I think that MIGHT have a bit more teeth behind it is the NSA wiretapping business, but I'll leave that topic for another day. Aside of that, just a bunch of hot air will be let loose. I honestly love the fact that our 2 branches are now split between parties. I have always advocated this, and I believe more things get done as a result. Both sides are forced to listen to each other now, and despite all the bickering and pointing fingers on who is worse, more often than not some decent compromises are reached between the two. I sincerely look forward to this. Let the bickering begin!

LOL...true story Opus...

I guess we're going to (hopefully) have some meaningful debates that don't devolve down to, "Bush sucks"...

I agree that fiscally, you guys need a lot o' work...

Hope it all works down there for you...

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."

quote:

Originally posted by Fir3start3r LOL...true story Opus... I guess we're going to (hopefully) have some meaningful debates that don't devolve down to, "Bush sucks"... I agree that fiscally, you guys need a lot o' work... Hope it all works down there for you...

Bush sucks

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Shibby Bush sucks

...and so it begins....

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."

Like I said, one of the first and foremost needed targets of the Dems. is the Alternative Minimum Tax which is creeping in more and more of the middle class when it NEVER should have included the middle class in the first place:

quote:

Democratic leaders this week vowed to make the alternative minimum tax a centerpiece of next year's budget debate, saying the levy threatens to unfairly increase tax bills for millions of middle-class families by the end of the decade. The complex and expensive tax was designed to prevent the super-rich from using deductions, credits and other shelters to avoid paying the Internal Revenue Service. But because of rising incomes, the tax is expected to expand to more than 30 million taxpayers in 2010 from 3.8 million mostly well-off households in 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dy...6111001800.html

I can't foresee too many Republicans really wanting to disagree with this one, unless they can somehow rationalize a tax cut to the uberwealthy and corporate welfare to oil companies while leaving this asinine tax that's affecting the Middle Class. Not much became of the Republican Congress doing anything about this last year, so hopefully they'll come along with this tax cut next year (as well as Bush).

___________________
Whence September dusk grows crisper still,
with leaves all crimson conquered,
I yearn to shout,
and dance about,
and stick pickles in my honker...

quote:

Originally posted by MisterOpus1 Like I said, one of the first and foremost needed targets of the Dems. is the Alternative Minimum Tax which is creeping in more and more of the middle class when it NEVER should have included the middle class in the first place:

I don't think it did include the middle-class in the first place, but it also hasn't adjusted for inflation so now it ensnares many. Fortunately I haven't had to deal with it yet, but I can sense that it won't be long. I believe there should be a lot of support for changing it (throwing it away would be nice) on both sides of the aisle.

It's a lofty effort. The AMT is retarded in that the practicality of the AMT has nothing to do with the original scope. The thing is is that the AMT pulls in a lot of money. If you're going to reform it, figure out where you're going to get the money it used to take in and start balancing the budget. In other words, cut spending or raise taxes in another area.

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Retro ...

CUT BORK BARREL SPENDING!

But congress will never grant the line item. What's the next best thing?

This power structure is good for business.

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka CUT BORK BARREL SPENDING! But congress will never grant the line item. What's the next best thing?

BORK?

___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."