Symmetry required it: 2012 american general election thread #2

I mean, can Bill Kristol actually get erect?

Remember his Sarah Palin infatuation? Pretty sure she "got" him "erect"

I mean, can Bill Kristol actually get erect?

thanks, Andrew

re "just telling donors what they want to hear": campaign saying he really cares about everybody, so "just telling" might indeed be the implication, but so far he's saying his comments "might have been more elegantly put", while letting their substance stand.

man i hadn't caught this, it feels like such a fantastically nihilistic thing to say out loud:

"You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognize that this is going to remain an unsolved problem, and we kick the ball down the field and hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it," Romney said.

"I didn't mean I don't care about those lazy entitled freeloaders in my heart, I just mean in my campaign."

So this is Jonah's complaint about Romney: "But even so, Romney’s remarks reinforce the overriding problem with his campaign: It is bloodlessly non-ideological. "

what a dumbshit

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/322478/romneys-comment-rich-lowry

this is a little more damning

Oh fun!

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/romney-will-address-leaked-video-on-fox-news

It is bloodlessly non-ideological.

By this he means that Romney is no good at tossing out bloody hunks of red meat to the base when he speaks. The red meat is in there, but he throws it too clumsily and the audience never gets worked into a real froth.

As for that Lowry piece:

The overall impression of Romney at this event is of someone who overhead some conservative cocktail chatter and maybe read a conservative blog or two, and is thoughtlessly repeating back what he heard and read.

Why do I have the feeling Erick Erickson is about to flip his lid.

"ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it," Romney said.

He continued, "I don't know when. But just saying it could even make it happen."

Meantime:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/09/mother-jones-to-release-full-video-today-135856.html?hp=t2_3

http://dailycaller.com/2012/09/18/mitt-romney-needs-newt-gingrich-and-he-needs-him-now/

don't know who this is, didn't read, lol

"You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognize that this is going to remain an unsolved problem, and we kick the ball down the field and hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it," Romney said.

the words of a true leader of men

And I said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now

And I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

Newt Gingrich, street fighter, gunslinger, ninja master of the sound bite

"Mitt Romney needs Newt Gingrich and he needs him now" is lol.

Quick Google reveals: Michael “Yates” Walker was once the spokesman for the tea party-backed GOP candidate Christine O'Donnell

I am not a witch.

somehow, something will happen and resolve it

is this some fundy rapture dogwhistle shit, because i just...wtf?

Haha, this should be EVERYWHERE.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/mitt_romney_tax_policy.jpg

he's channeling: a wind from the Middle East, tsunami of American gold, times "Anybody But Obama"

image above forgot the 'fuckin' in between 'this guy'

love the teenager image okey dokey mitt

Douchebag on the phone not nearly douchebaggy enough.

Well, he is busy with Ashton Kutcher practice.

hes wearing cheap clothes, bad clip art selection

Firm backing from his Boca host:

In a statement first given to Fortune, Leder says: “I hosted a fundraiser for an old friend in May. I believe all Americans should have the opportunity to succeed, to improve their lives, and to build even better lives for their children. I have supported people from both political parties who share this view and make it a priority, even though their ideas on how to achieve it may differ.”

rfi about US tax system from this non-USAnian: what's the difference/definition when it comes to income tax vs payroll tax?

payroll taxes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Insurance_Contributions_Act_tax

these directly fund Social Security and Medicare, i.e. current workers/payers are funding current retirees/payees

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

these go into the general fund of the USG

I think it's basically:
payroll tax = basically social security + medicare, automatically taken out of your paycheck, pretty much everyone taxed the same rate on the first roughly $100K of income, no deductions
income tax = taxes you have to file on April 15, also usually automatically withheld, though you can get a refund back due to credits, deductions, etc.

xp

Erm, Romney Host Also Hosts Sex Parties
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2012/09/romney-secret-video-marc-leder-sex-parties

"Hedge Fund Manager" YOLO

business entities pay their own taxes, too

also, the US states and localities have taxing authority, so there are 50 different tax regimes with local variations within them. this always seems crazy to non-americans (and plenty of americans too)

payroll taxes are unemployment insurance, social security, medicare - basically paying into a system which you will likely take advantage of at a later date, everyone who earns a paycheck pays these

income tax is the federal government (in the case of this discussion, tho there are state income taxes as well) shaving off a % of yr paycheck depending on how much you make and other factors such as if you have kids a house etc, this money just goes into the governments account and they decide how to spend it, lots of people pay no federal income tax

xp

though you can get a refund back due to credits, deductions,

Tbh, I was a little perplexed by this because I do usually get a refund but it doesn't change the fact that I still pay taxes separate from payroll taxes. Of course, in CA, I also pay income tax to Sacramento, too.

as long as we're on the subject: people end up paying no federal income tax -- ie getting a larger refund due to credits/deductions than the original amount withheld (this is confusing i know) -- for a variety of reasons/programs that republicans and conservatives support!

there's the EITC (earned income tax credit) which gives a large tax credit back if you are poor but working. this was conceived an alternative to a direct dole.

other big deductions/refunds are for paying interest on mortgage (pro homeownership), having children (pro-natal), giving to charity, paying student loan debt (pro-education)

Thx goole, o. nate, lag∞n!

other deductions/refunds for filing jointly (married) vs. single. Oh wait, you're gay? Sorry, pal.

Tax credits can be refunded as if they had been withheld from your earnings. Deductions can only reduce the amount of your income that is taxed.

should be noted that people have other sources of income besides payroll

for instance i sell adderall and rob vending machines

Ive gotten a refund ever since I became a tax payer does that make me a dirty 47 percenter?

yes

And...never mind:

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/09/akin-pulls-women-site-down-after-woman-supporter-turns-out-to-be-democratic-tracker.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

Whelp, that was fast:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUQ-j2sOA7c

you would think I would have more to show for myself after suckling from the governments teat for 15 years

Meanwhile in Connecticut:

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/09/mcmahon-distances-herself-from-romney-comments-135876.html

WOWW *rubs chin*

otm

Linda mcmahon is an evil viper btw