'Sarah Palin is nuts' - Palin denied meeting with Margaret Thatcher

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by photon

Oh don't worry about calling HOZ a liar, he's perfectly fine with doing it with no support so he should be ok with others doing it to him too.

I've read that 5 times and can't tell if I'm being chided or supported

[Azure]

Goes without saying that Palin is a 'celebrity.' Even her approach to the would be campaign is celebrity like.

Is she dumb? Well, like most celebrities, she isn't the brightest person around, and certainly not someone I would consider as a Presidential candidate.

Has the media tried to run her over time and time again? Certainly. I think any person in her position will get that kind of attention. Has the media been nice about it? Absolutely not. They haven't been nice to Obama either, IMO.

The point in all of this is that she isn't a good candidate. So I don't understand why people are giving her so much attention.

As for Obama, his approach on regulating the financial system has been ridiculous at best. Instead of fixing the problems he has just given MORE power to Wall Street execs. Many of them are involved in his Presidency in one way or the other.

Is the US socialist? I don't think so. I do think there is such a big incentive tax wise for a business to operate there versus Canada, but they are far from socialist. In fact, I don't understand why Gozer brought that up. I don't recall anyone making that claim in this thread.

All in all, the US has a major problem with too much corporate influence on Capital Hill. Until that changes, I don't think things will go much better for them.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

This is why calling Palin stupid should not be viewed as an opinion but as an obvious fact.

Well except it was a total "gotcha!" question. The reporter asked her what she did that day and what she'd learned (or something similar, it was on The Daily Show).

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by HOZ

I'm a RACIST.....

You do know that there is an Advance search engine?
Par for the course for you to be so stuuuuupid?

Annnnnndddd Captain wonderful has stopped .....HOW MANY WARS?

RENDITIONS. GITMO. AFGHNISTAN. ...oooo......ooo PAKISTAN.......

ECONOMY....

I might be offended if I could understand what you are saying HOZ. This post is the rough equivalent to some nutter barking about the end of days on a street corner.

Put down the megaphone and try to make a little sense... or ditch the double standard you seem to have for Obama and Bush.

[Itse]

Is Obama smart and well-educated?

Actually giving a response to someone seriously arguing against this is giving their opinions way too much validity.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Mike F

I've read that 5 times and can't tell if I'm being chided or supported

Supported!

[Calgaryborn]

Originally Posted by Mike F

Once again HOZ throws another arm waving fit, either intentionally or unintentionally mis-characterizing the facts to suit his agenda.

As per FactCheck.org, Obama spent less time on vacation during his first year as President than any of the last 3 Republican Presidents.

Obama spent all or part of 26 days on vacation in his first year, compared to H. W. Bush's 40, Reagan's 42, and W. Bush's 69. No reason to think that pattern varied significantly in his second year.

The golfing stat doesn't prove Obama wasn't working as hard as other Presidents, it just proves that when he is relaxing he's more likely to golf. OH NOS!!!!!!

Makes me wonder if Factcheck is counting time spent at Camp David or at Bush's ranch as vacation time. I wouldn't myself. I think both those locations were attractive to Presidents because they actually could step outside. But I also think they were working while they were there.

Obama for whatever reason hasn't used Camp David very much if at all. It's too bad for his kids because they would have more freedom there. I think the negative Obama has endured regarding vacations came first from his slow response to the Gulf oil spill. Fox news was counting the number of times he went golfing before he got around to going to the Gulf to view the damage. He also has travelled abroad more that Bush did and some of it was pure vacation time.

[Slava]

^what exactly was he expected to do during the golf spill though? It's just a dumb thing to try to pin a guy on. A couple of weeks ago the same thing was said about Harper because he didn't go view the Quebec flooding promptly. Even if these guys show up on day one though it's the same problem...it's not like they are able to stop the flooding (or flooding with oil as the case maybe).

[Rockin' Flames]

Originally Posted by Azure

I do think there is such a big incentive tax wise for a business to operate there versus Canada, but they are far from socialist. In fact, I don't understand why Gozer brought that up. I don't recall anyone making that claim in this thread.

I'll have to disagree with you on businesses having an incentive to operate in the US based on tax incentives. The US has the 2nd highest corporate tax rate in the world. Now Japan just lowered or plans on lowering their corporate rate by 4.5% so that would mean the US would have the highest corporate tax rate.

[koop]

Originally Posted by Slava

^what exactly was he expected to do during the golf spill though? It's just a dumb thing to try to pin a guy on. A couple of weeks ago the same thing was said about Harper because he didn't go view the Quebec flooding promptly. Even if these guys show up on day one though it's the same problem...it's not like they are able to stop the flooding (or flooding with oil as the case maybe).

Politicians get blamed for things that the opposition would have handled the exact same way, nothing new about that.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by Slava

^what exactly was he expected to do during the golf spill though? It's just a dumb thing to try to pin a guy on. A couple of weeks ago the same thing was said about Harper because he didn't go view the Quebec flooding promptly. Even if these guys show up on day one though it's the same problem...it's not like they are able to stop the flooding (or flooding with oil as the case maybe).

Um...yeah. They do have the ability to stop forces of nature. Isn't that why we elect them? That's why I vote for them.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by HOZ

Run on sentence. The scary thing about Lefties is they don't know when to shut up.

I would not classify myself as left wing in the least, in fact I am more of a compassionate conservative. I think that the government should be involved in programs that help the citizens of a country, not only because it is the right thing to do, but also (and more importantly) because it makes economic sense. I believe in universal health care, not because I really care about Mr. and Mrs. HOZ, but because you will likely put more money into the economy over the course of your life, both through your employment as well as your consumer practices. A health population is a working population, which costs the government less money overall.

I would prefer as a conservative minded person that Sarah Palin not be involved in politics because she unfortunately represents the views of a very vocal minority and has a potential to be a major political figure once again.

You may consider me a "leftie" because my viewpoints are not those of the extreme right wing faction of the Tea Party persuasion, but I try and take a pragmatic approach to a situation and make decisions for myself rather than follow a party platform blindly.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Slava

^what exactly was he expected to do during the golf spill though? It's just a dumb thing to try to pin a guy on. A couple of weeks ago the same thing was said about Harper because he didn't go view the Quebec flooding promptly. Even if these guys show up on day one though it's the same problem...it's not like they are able to stop the flooding (or flooding with oil as the case maybe).

Exactly, I wasn't pleased that he came to Tuscaloosa after the Tornado. He didn't do anything while here except waste tax dollars and strolled around town. Nothing against the guy but He has more important things to do besides look at storm damage. But Bush is still considered a debil for his lack of attention towards Katrina.

[PIMking]

Originally Posted by Rockin' Flames

I'll have to disagree with you on businesses having an incentive to operate in the US based on tax incentives. The US has the 2nd highest corporate tax rate in the world. Now Japan just lowered or plans on lowering their corporate rate by 4.5% so that would mean the US would have the highest corporate tax rate.

Yet a guy on Obama's cabinet didn't pay a single dime in taxes last year, something like 300 million worth.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Azure

Is the US socialist? I don't think so. I do think there is such a big incentive tax wise for a business to operate there versus Canada, but they are far from socialist. In fact, I don't understand why Gozer brought that up. I don't recall anyone making that claim in this thread.

.

FYI, the US has one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world. It is so high many corporations are relocating to Switzerland. Canada has one of the lower corporate tax rates in the western world.

Look for the 60 minutes piece done this year on this very subject. You will be shocked to find this out. I know this because I am a small business owner and I could never operate in the US.

It is personal tax that is much lower in the US. The have a consumer import based economy that requires this. In Canada we export therefore we need to help out business more than the average Joe.

You are correct on the Socailist comment though. That is a complete fabrication made by right wing interest groups so people keep paying for health care.

[Rockin' Flames]

Originally Posted by PIMking

Yet a guy on Obama's cabinet didn't pay a single dime in taxes last year, something like 300 million worth.

You do realize I did say corporate tax right?

The entire tax system in the US is broken. Especially when you have guys like that who can get away without paying a single dime in taxes. Another one that I find kind of amazing is Bruce Springsteen & Bon Jovi receiving farm aid. As a tax practitioner in the US I know the loopholes exist and I don't fault the people for using them after all who wouldn't.

For all the people who say just raise the rate I think they are looking at the US tax code in too simplified of a manner. What really needs to be done is that they need an overhaul of the tax code in the US.

Personally I think Harper has the right idea in Canada. When you lower the corporate rate you attract businesses which in turn creates jobs.

That kind of leads into another problem that exists for businesses in the US. When companies like Boeing have the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) trying to stop the opening of a new Boeing Plant in a more competitive state it just isn't good for attracting any new business operations into the US.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by PIMking

Exactly, I wasn't pleased that he came to Tuscaloosa after the Tornado. He didn't do anything while here except waste tax dollars and strolled around town. Nothing against the guy but He has more important things to do besides look at storm damage. But Bush is still considered a debil for his lack of attention towards Katrina.

Well the Bush/Katrina issue was more than just a visit issue. Firstly he hates black people second though it was totally mismanaged by FEMA and wasn't it some buddy of his in charge? I honestly can't recall the specifics but it was more than just he didn't fly over in a helicopter...

[Azure]

Originally Posted by Rockin' Flames

I'll have to disagree with you on businesses having an incentive to operate in the US based on tax incentives. The US has the 2nd highest corporate tax rate in the world. Now Japan just lowered or plans on lowering their corporate rate by 4.5% so that would mean the US would have the highest corporate tax rate.

Actually I meant to say 'does not have such an incentive to operate in the US versus Canada.' My bad.

I completely agree. The corporate tax rate is a bit alarming, considering how well our economy is doing business wise. Our debt and deficit are a concern, but I think every country will have that concern.

The US just seems to collectively ignore it.

[Azure]

Once you actually start reading up on the corporate tax structure in the US, and how it affects businesses, the whole thing is mind boggling. There are successful companies in the US that are literally up and leaving because they have no incentive tax wise to operating in the US.

People love to talk about how the US has to get back to steel manufacturing, or just manufacturing in general, but I think that idea is severely misplaced. There are a ton of bright people from a variety of different schools and programs graduating in the US and going somewhere else to work because the particular work they're looking for is actually leaving the US. I think if you can keep those businesses in the US, you not only create job growth, but you improve the overall country in so many different ways.

[Flames Fan, Ph.D.]

Originally Posted by zuluking

Oops, I didn't know Bush advocated negotiating between Palestine and Israel by having Israel revert back to pre-1967 borders. Could you please post a link?

That's not what was said. But don't let the facts get in the way of your happy narrative.