Another profile in courage, this time from the Republican side of the aisle:
Senate Republican Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, said an income tax is a dangerous path for Democrats to take. “This politically hurts them,” he said. “I don’t think this helps them at all.”
Well, duh-uh. Since when are taxes, of any kind, popular?
But it reminds me of a conversation I had with John Carlson about a proposal to reinstate voting rights to felons upon their release from prison. I suggested to John that he and his fellow Republicans should support the measure, because demographically, Washington’s felon population generally matches one of his party’s core constituencies—white, working class men with less than a college education—to which John retorted in disbelief: “Then why would Democrats support it?”
“Because it’s the right thing to do,” I told him. John didn’t seem to buy it.
Perhaps he and Hewitt were projecting, or perhaps they really think that poorly of Democrats that it doesn’t even occur to them that we might, just sometimes, be willing to put governance ahead of politics. But the unexpected conversation we’re starting to get about an income tax isn’t part of a strategy to “help” Democrats… it isn’t even about quickly plugging a hole in the current budget. It’s about helping Washington take a step toward a more fair and stable tax system, period. In fact, even putting the issue on the ballot will likely cost Dems a few swing districts in 2010, regardless of whether the measure passes.
No doubt a majority of voters would prefer the Legislature balance the budget without raising taxes, and that would surely be the easiest political path. But that’s not leadership; that’s following. No, leadership isn’t about giving voters what they want, it’s about persuading voters to want what they need.
It remains to be seen whether we have that kind of leadership here in Washington state.
“But that’s not leadership; that’s following.”
Alas, many of our so-called dem leadership believe following is leadership.
There is no parade they will start, and no parade they will not cut in line to lead once started.
Trashing labor (“read my lips” Chrissy G.), voting to protect those poor children of millionaires (Patty, Maria) or putting a false floor on the price of worthless securities (Barry O) has been damn sickening to watch.
Good post Goldy!
I still think we have a lot of sales tax exemptions (like for the sale of bull semen) that need to go.
Lalala…
Gov. Palin’s sister-in-law arrested
Thanks Michael. That’s pertinent.
http://www.politico.com/news/s.....20885.html “W.H. team discloses TARP firm ties”
That’s what preznit Obama is thinking about Gordon Brown.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl.....n-question
The BBC is preznit friendly! They lean way libtard!
That’s what Kim Jong Il said when he launched the the rocket/missile today, “It’s not about helping Democrats”.
Another wingnut kool Aid drunk Republican snaps
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....dren_slain
How you doing MTR?
7:
That was a little tasteless.
—————-
All political issues aside, the ‘jock tax’ should be taken seriously. And yes, it might as well be called a jock tax. While such a tax would hit all who earned above a certain level, the largest single group of these people would no doubt be Seahawks, Mariners, a Sounder or two, and any other athlete that calls Washington home. We could extend it further, as 20 other states have, and tax the percentage of income earned by professional athletes while they played in this state, no matter where they live.
To be totally honest, a total rewrite of tax codes at both State and Federal levels is needed, when you come right down to it. I’m no expert at tax codes, but things need to be changed, updated, and simplified, that’s for damn sure. Any reasonable suggsestion is worth looking into. Another thing that’s been going on (that’s well overdue) is the pressure put on the so-called ‘tax havens’ to make their expat residents pony up their fair share.
Like it or not, taxation is the responsibility we all shoulder to pay for the freedoms so many have fought and died for. But insuring that taxation is fair is important, though. I generally have no problem with progressive taxation, so long as it’s not so onerous a system that it gives reason to become a tax exile. I wouldn’t mind a flat-tax system, as long as there are no exceptions. But fairness needs to be the key, as well as no exceptions.
Yeah, we voters are a flock of dumb sheep, who need to be told what is good for us and what to do.
I sent another $25 to the “Palin 2012” campaign. If there is a God, he will make it so that we face Palin as our opponent in 2012. PRESIDENT OBAMA will win by 30 points!
It’s too bad we have to think about adding an income tax when all we have to do is abandon favorite right wing programs like tax cuts for churches, 3 strikes laws and victim less crime enforcement. We could balance our budget right away.
@4 Are we supposed to ignore the fact that Sticky-Fingered Sarah’s stickey-fingered brother has a sticky-fingered sister? This is pertinent to the question of whether the GOP’s former vice presidential candidate and self-appointed 2012 contender is part of a sticky-fingered crowd.
@4 Are we supposed to ignore the fact that Sticky-Fingered Sarah’s sticky-fingered brother has a sticky-fingered sister? This is pertinent to the question of whether the GOP’s former vice presidential candidate and self-appointed 2012 contender is part of a sticky-fingered crowd.
@13 (continued) And, of course, we wouldn’t even have a revenue problem or worthless securities if it wasn’t for sticky-fingered Republicans. So, yes, it’s pertinent. You’re simply too dense to connect the dots.
@9 Remind us again how “intelligent” the voters were who passed the two school initiatives and defeated the taxes to pay for them.
Remind us again how “intelligent” the voters were how passed the Seattle monorail project four times and then en masse evaded the car tax to pay for it.
Detroit figured out 100 years ago that the average “intelligent” American will gladly pay $2500 for a $2000 rebate.
Yep, you run with an “intelligent” tribe, alright. Perhaps you actually think so. But from my feet-on-the-ground perspective, you humans are the stupidest animals on the planet. The only question is whether you’ll destroy the rest of us before you destroy yourselves.
@13 is a computer burp. Even computers get gas sometimes.
Moron@7: Initial reports had him as a Native American… Pierce County Sheriff will provide details on Monday.
And how do Native Americans vote again fool?
Good post. Republicans have proven themselves to have zero principles. We’ll see about Democrats now that they are in charge. Leadership is called for in these times. because the republicans lacked it when in charge, they may well go down to a third party. If the Democrats don’t show it, they will also go down to a fourth party. We will see.
@7, 17
I doubt political anything has anything to do with the shootings. Maybe better access to mental health services could have prevented it, but who knows.
@4, 13
I got a giggle out of the story. I doubt it’s worth anything more.
@4
That’s how big B & Washington work, nothing new, nothing shocking. Hopefully, we’re seeing greater willingness on the part of the media to report on things like this. Without the media spotlight, this sort of thing will never get cleaned up.
If only the Dems would remember the many reasons why they are Democrats. I don’t see a lot of leadership based on concepts about the public good, but rather the same “principles” that buoy present day Republicans, and that is political self-presentation at all costs.
The economic crisis really shines a light on some of the problems here in WA State. First, governing by initiative is idiotic. It’s easy to vote on an initiative when you don’t have in front of you all of the budgetary obligations that the state supports. There is no difficult choice in initiative voting. The vote is just either “for” or “against” with none of the related responsibility of having to answer for your decision.
Because of the fear of getting booted out of office, the Governor took any discussion of a different tax system off the table. Instead of having the guts to face the music, she cowtowed to the Rossi crowd despite soundly defeating him.
The way the leadership is tightly controlled in the House and the Senate is also a problem. Even though I don’t want even deeper cuts that some Republicans call for, I do want them heard. I don’t think its right that some people in Washington state aren’t getting their voices heard through their senators and representatives. And it seems some of us Democrats aren’t getting our voices heard either since our reps aren’t in the top inner circle. Bad ideas have consequences. Refusal to hear creatives solutions have consequences in good times and have even bigger consequences in bad times.
I am completely unimpressed by the whole lot of them right now. Woman up. Man up. You know you have to call for some tax reform. Weasel away from it hoping your voters don’t notice won’t work, because we notice. Cowards.
@22
Yeah, total leadership void. I think the Republicans and many of the Democrats can be best described a Corporatist.
“The BBC is preznit friendly! They lean way libtard!”
Gee whiz, Puddy. They must be reporting on reality.
Here is what is helping Republicans..
OMAMA CALLS FOR LIMITS ON TOURISM TO ANTARCTICA
http://www.foxnews.com/politic.....ntarctica/
WTF??
That ought to make the fringe lunatic LEFTIST PINHEADS gleeful. Hey KLOWNS, Obama is throwing you a bone!!
Obama is President of the World dontchaknow!
TOO DAMN FUNNY!
3. Michael spews:
Not quite as newsworthy as Ashley Biden, VP’s DAUGHTER, is a COke-Snorter on video!
President in 2012–
Ryan
Ryan?
Careful Mr. Klynical. The record of Republicans named “Ryan” who challenge Obama..
is NOT GOOD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.....candidate)
LOL!!!
@26
College student tries drugs, film at 11. What is the big fucking deal?
I mean it wasn’t like she broke into a neighbor’s house twice to steal.
25 Whatsamatter, Cyn? Are you having second thoughts about that timeshare you got talked into at McMurdo Ice Shelf Acres, Spa and Casino? Or are you just eager for a little penguin action now that you’ve grown tired of sheep?
If we’re going to talk about politicians and their relatives being arrested, we’ll I’m game. It’s always fun to bitch-slap a child molester like CYNCYN around.
1) Jeb Bush’s daughter in and out of jail and prison for drugs, turning tricks and who knows what else. Convicted felon.
2) Neil Bush – pervert – con-man, crook
3) Bush Twin Whores – like their daddy, arrested for illegal drinking
This is too fucking easy. I need an opponent who’s ability to think isn’t diminished by having a big dildo up his ass at all times.
Hey Puffybutt – how DO American Indians vote you racist, piece of shit Oreo?
How do blacks vote Puffybutt?
Did your mother have any children who lived or do you just take a stupid pill every morning? No wonder you guys got beaten like a drum on Nov 4. YOU are the best the Publicans has to offer!
31 By offering that line up in the last several threads, Cyn has made it abundantly clear that he has nothing worthwhile to contribute to the discussion.
Deleted by author who decided he didn’t give a shit about what he was commenting on.
@33
I believe he thinks “OMFG, Drugs!” somehow excuses every instance of Republican malfeasance over the past 40 years or so.
Then again that assumes cynical thinks at all. “he” may just be a script that searches for keywords among GOP talking points and posts them here. Sort of like the “Eliza” program.
Now we’re talking! http://www.thenewstribune.com/.....99454.html
Let’s start seeing how loudly the inbred right will scream once we see THESE kinds of budget cuts. Something tells me we’ll get more of the same from the hypocrites in the Publican party who is against state spending – except when it isn’t!
Congrats all you swill-drinking right wing scumbags. One of your own, persuaded by the sort of shit spewed by Lush Flimbaugh and Handjob Hannity has shown that when you poke a stupid dog long enough, you can get him to bite someone.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/.....99848.html
I won’t mind a bit if someone shoots down Limbaugh or Hannity in their driveways as payback. You sick fucks got cops killed this time and I sure hope someone makes you cunts pay!
@37
Don’t worry the wingnuts will find a way in their minds to blame the left they always do.
The sad news is that Senator Mike Hewitt is an idiot…. but that’s all the more reason for the 16th LD to keep electing him to office.
RA @ 7:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....dren_slain
Now that we know more, this guy clearly deserves Hell. Murderer and a pedophile.
@37
Your a bunch of idiots on this game card.
Richard Poplawski, 23, was wearing a bulletproof vest when he opened fire on the officers who were responding to a domestic disturbance call Saturday, turning a quiet Pittsburgh street into a battlefield, police said.
3 slain Pittsburgh officers where murdered by a mad man over a dog urinateding on the
carpet..
This was a predetermined murder. Thank God the court will not be in Seattle. Where liberalism taken a strong hold. If So…….
The dog would have been put to death and the 3 police officers would be in jail for having no search warrant (if they lived). Oh, The mother would be in jail for not bring up her son in a healthy environment by WSEPA.