Filibuster in the Senate

[klunderbunker]

Anyone see this today? A Senator from Vermont spoke for 8 and a half hours nearly straight against the tax cuts being renewed. Well you can't say no one does anything in Congress.

 

[One Punch Doug Crashin]

Except to let a tax cut expire in a recession. Fucking morons.

 

[klunderbunker]

They tried to get the ones for the people making under 250k and up to 250k for everyone else. That tax break isn't enough for the rich though is it?

 

[The Crock]

I was amazed. Did a hell of a job, who would have thought an Independent Party Congressman from Vermont would have been the one to speak up?

 

[klunderbunker]

And a Socialist at that.

 

[The Crock]

Exactly. Former Socialist mayor in Vermont. One of the more random things I've seen in a while.

 

[The Crock]

Also, I would have loved to have seen Senator Huey Long's 15 and a half hour speech. That is undoubtedly the best filibuster ever, aside from maybe Henry Clay's response to John C. Calhoun.

 

[klunderbunker]

I'd love to see the GOP actually have to filibuster when they block so many things. Make them go up there on national TV and talk all day about why they don't want the poor to get a break until the super-rich get one.

 

[The Crock]

I'd love to see the GOP actually have to filibuster when they block so many things. Make them go up there on national TV and talk all day about why they don't want the poor to get a break until the super-rich get one.

Amen! I'd love to hear why it's suitable to make the rich richer while making the poor poorer. It makes absolutely no sense. It won't help our economy in any way. We need to pump more money into the economy, taxes will not help. People will keep their money, well, what little they have so as to not have to spend. Defeats the purpose, really.

 

[klunderbunker]

Taxes would help with the deficit. Tax people that aren't going to feel it. These cuts expiring would raise taxes on over 250k by 4%, up to 39%. If you can't live on 152,500 dollars (61% of 250k) then you're beyond my help.

 

[The Crock]

Taxes would help with the deficit. Tax people that aren't going to feel it. These cuts expiring would raise taxes on over 250k by 4%, up to 39%. If you can't live on 152,500 dollars (61% of 250k) then you're beyond my help.

It depends on how you look at it. Taxes would help with the deficit but at the same time wouldn't that have less money being spent thus having less money circulating around. Most people can live in $152,000, but think about people living off of minimum wage, $20,000 a year or so. They'll feel that 4% and it'll hurt. 13 - 17% of Americans are under the poverty line. That can be around 50 million Americans who will truly suffer if taxes go up.

 

[klunderbunker]

The extremely rich barely spend anyway. The theory of trickle down is that the money saved in tax breaks will come down to the middle class when the rich spend. One issue: THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN. The rich keep money in the bank or spend money on really expensive things which help like two people.

What you're saying about the middle class is what I'm saying: let taxes go up on those that won't feel it, as in the rich. Keep them low for people that will feel it. That's what the Dems tried to do, including a tax break for the rich up to 250,000 dollars. After that the taxes go up 4%. That's not good enough though, at least not to the GOP. They'd rather cut welfare and unemployment benefits, as in things that actually help the economy.

 

[The Crock]

Ahhh, yes. That's what I'm thinking too. The extremely rich benefit from keeping their money in the bank and making interest on it, your middle class people won't do that. They don't have the means to sit on their money, they NEED to spend it.

 

[klunderbunker]

Which is why unemployment benefits would help A LOT. Rather than putting it in the bank to get interest on them, the poor use it for stupid little things like you know, food. I saw something the other day that said tax cuts produce 60 cents in outcome and unemployment benefits make 1.35 (not sure on the specific numbers but they're similar to that).

 

[The Crock]

I'm definitely in favor of unemployment. What you're saying is spot on.

 

[klunderbunker]

And that's what's causing the whole Obama vs. Democrats war over taxes at the moment.

 

[The Crock]

Did you hear him on NPR today? Yeah, the entire party is turning on him. This is not what Obama needs, he needs to work for re-election in 2012, so he also needs the Independents' votes on his side. The entire situation is quite intriguing.

 

[klunderbunker]

I don't listen to NPR. No he doesn't need this. The GOP amazes me with all their bullshit. These filibuster things are a damn joke and yet they're working, which is the saddest part.

 

[The Crock]

I don't listen to NPR. No he doesn't need this. The GOP amazes me with all their bullshit. These filibuster things are a damn joke and yet they're working, which is the saddest part.

The more I look at this, the more confusing it is. Instead of supporting their president they're turning on him. I mean, goddamn, the Dems defended Clinton during the Lewinsky fiasco (Which is obviously different) yet they can't bite the bullet here?

 

[klunderbunker]

The more I look at this, the more confusing it is. Instead of supporting their president they're turning on him. I mean, goddamn, the Dems defended Clinton during the Lewinsky fiasco (Which is obviously different) yet they can't bite the bullet here?

They want Obama to actually fight instead of cave in. Give a damn speech about how Republicans suck. Go lean on some GOP Senators in blue states. DO SOMETHING instead of just giving into the GOP.

 

[The Crock]

I understand that point of view too, but ANYTHING Obama does will be picked apart. He cannot do anything right in the eyes of the people, so they might as well make it easier on him.

 

[klunderbunker]

If he's going to go down in 2012, do something before you go down. This was ridiculous as it's the same shit that got us and the whole world into this mess. When the biggest economy in the world is falling apart because we're BROKE because the rich people don't want to pay money beacuse they can't buy an extra plane if they don't have the 4% more, the world falls apart with it. But hey, at least the GOP won't sneer at him so loudly right?

 

[The Crock]

Good point. We all know he's one and done, so he might as well make an impact of sorts. A lot of the blame should be on Bush's shoulders too, Obama stepped into a messy situation.

 

[klunderbunker]

I'm not sure he's one and done. He has a chance still. Two years is a very long time.

 

[The Crock]

The overall vibe most people are giving is that they won't vote for him. I'm an Independent, so it's all a toss-up to me.