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Reinhold Niebuhr at TNR
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COMMENTS (4)
sorry Marty, but I don't agree. In New Jersey in the Replican primary the hard right did have a candidate: Lonegan, Need I remind you he said this: Lonegan proposed ending what he termed the "immoral" progressive income tax with rates up to 8.97 percent and replacing it with a flat tax of 2.9 percent.
When asked by a reporter whether his plan would mean a tax increase for the working poor, Lonegan replied that that was the whole point. He wants everyone, rich and poor, to pay the cost of government. Asked if that means giving a break to the wealthy, Lonegan again said that was his point, and it would keep rich taxpayers from fleeing the state. "Eight-point-nine percent of nothing is nothing," ... view full comment
sorry Marty, but I don't agree. In New Jersey in the Replican primary the hard right did have a candidate: Lonegan, Need I remind you he said this: Lonegan proposed ending what he termed the "immoral" progressive income tax with rates up to 8.97 percent and replacing it with a flat tax of 2.9 percent.
When asked by a reporter whether his plan would mean a tax increase for the working poor, Lonegan replied that that was the whole point. He wants everyone, rich and poor, to pay the cost of government. Asked if that means giving a break to the wealthy, Lonegan again said that was his point, and it would keep rich taxpayers from fleeing the state. "Eight-point-nine percent of nothing is nothing," he said. (never mind he never bothered to explain how the rich taxpayers were going to commute to NY from Arkansas)
If Lonegan had won the primary, Corzine would have clobbered him. But the Republicans that matter, ie. the actual voters, chose Christie in a landslide.
In my district in Pa. Charlie Dent is the Representative. He is a moderate Republican. I think the problem with a lot of Democrats is that they think Fox news represents the views of all Republicans, but all 3 Republican candidates were either viewed as moderates or ran as them (until Dede dropped out).
The only lesson from NY23 is to have primaries and not pick your candidate in a back room. If they did, Dede would most likely have won the primary (Hoffmann didn't even live in the district and was completely unknown) and then she would have won the general. And then the big point of this for Republicans is to run as good government centrists in the blue states. That is the real augury.
Blackie,
I have to agree with peretz here and not you. Stop the presses! I too was pretty amused by the over reaction of the GOP about the two wins. Granted, winning is always better than losing and when you win, celebrate. But there was a very weird, almost pathetic spasm/release of emotion from the GOP yesterday in the VA and NJ victories and it was almost sad.
I do find it a little encouraging that the Dems picked up that NY race. After all, it has been about 150 years since a Democrat was prevailed in that district and they did so because the GOP let their pathology run amok in what should have been an easy victory for them.
Bottom line: The economy will drive next year's midterms. Period. ... view full comment
Blackie,
I have to agree with peretz here and not you. Stop the presses! I too was pretty amused by the over reaction of the GOP about the two wins. Granted, winning is always better than losing and when you win, celebrate. But there was a very weird, almost pathetic spasm/release of emotion from the GOP yesterday in the VA and NJ victories and it was almost sad.
I do find it a little encouraging that the Dems picked up that NY race. After all, it has been about 150 years since a Democrat was prevailed in that district and they did so because the GOP let their pathology run amok in what should have been an easy victory for them.
Bottom line: The economy will drive next year's midterms. Period. If the economy improves, Dems will do well. If not, then the GOP will do well. The algorithm is pretty simple. There might be some other issues that impact particular races but it will be the economy that drives the larger picture.
None of this would have happened if not for J Street. Besides, as we all know, Republicans are much closer to Israel than Democrats. So this is obviously a great victory for AIPAC.
As for Cookie's algorithm, the voter's choice between Tweedledee on Wall Street and Tweedledum in Congress augurs well for more of the same mindless bullshit in 2010.
Mainstreet to Democrats: If you don't fix the economy we'll hire the Republicans to do it!!
Ain't idiocracy grand!
gw
None of this would have happened if not for J Street. Besides, as we all know, Republicans are much closer to Israel than Democrats. So this is obviously a great victory for AIPAC.
As for Cookie's algorithm, the voter's choice between Tweedledee on Wall Street and Tweedledum in Congress augurs well for more of the same mindless bullshit in 2010.
Mainstreet to Democrats: If you don't fix the economy we'll hire the Republicans to do it!!
Ain't idiocracy grand!
gw
Another worthless post dressed up as "humorous" by the ignorant Walton.
Another worthless post dressed up as "humorous" by the ignorant Walton.