Texas College Student Says Anti-Obama Tweet Was Joke
Despite what you may have seen in the media today, Lauren Pierce, president of College Republicans at the University of Texas at Austin, says she really does not have any desire to shoot President Obama.
Earlier today, on the heels of news reports about a young Idaho man allegedly firing shots at the White House, Pierce tweeted to her roughly 480 followers,"Y'all as tempting as it may be, don't shoot Obama. We need him to go down in history as the WORST president we've EVER had! #2012."
In less than an hour and a half, ABC ...
Comments (62)
David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Dumbass.
Danny Wier via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That might've been funny, before 1865.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
She certainly doesn't seem to have much discretion or good judgement, something I.expect of student leaders.
Dale Kramer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
DUMB NEWS NO NEWS
Arthur M. Thomas IV via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Inferred drama from a silly college tweet is substantive news these days? That says more than the story itself :/
Jen James via Texas Tribune on Facebook
well then you shouldnt have said it
Michael Tex Duncan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"This is so stupid." She got that right. Then again, how many of us can say for certain that if FB and twitter were around when we were that age, we wouldn't have magnified our mistakes through technology?
Jill Bergene via Texas Tribune on Facebook
A True Dumb-Ass Republican in the making. Whatever happened to the intelligence and compassion embodied in the Goldwater Republicans?
Greg Cox via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Joke or not its illegal to even say it
Taylor Kilroy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If I have one problem with my generation as a whole, it's that a whole lot of us seem to forget that whatever we say via social media tends to spread well past the intended audience. One tweet, and 30 minutes later, ABC News has a story, and they're contacting her employers.
Donna Rene Johnston via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Her video about student loan debt is so typical. She never looks back at the amount of debt BEFORE tuition was deregulated. Let's just say critical thinking skills are not Lauren's forte.
Lisa Ahrlett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
She clearly didn't make a threat. She made a joke about our joke of a president. Not news at all, sheesh.
Stanley Moore via Texas Tribune on Facebook
She is too ignorant to be allowed at a top tier University. Kick her ass to the curb. Send her to Junior College in Arkansas. Americans For Prosperity is a bunch of racist T-baggers, so she fits in.
She doesn't know much about history if she thinks Obama is the worst President in history. What a stupid. ________.
Donna Rene Johnston via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lisa- the bloodlust of the right wing is truly frightening. When I was a kid, threatening the life of a president was serious. Now, as long as you are hunting/maligning/wishing ill on the life of someone who is your political opponent, its a joke? He is a man with a wife and children. Do you have no sense of his humanity?
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lisa, some things are not joked about. Assassinating the President, regardless of who it is, is one of those things. This student will see that there are responsibilities that go with our rights. I'd like to believe this can be a teachable moment for her. Because I dream big that way.
Taylor J. Harris via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Insert "Bush" into her tweet and most of you would be laughing it up at those "dumb, racist, tea baggers". What a bunch of non- contributing, hypocritical morons you are.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Taylor, no, I would not be.
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Taylor, not true. I would not joke about any president being assassinated. Not funny.
Donna Rene Johnston via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Taylor- that is absolutely not true. Well,calling them the racist teabaggers part is true, I mean come on. But threatening the life of a US president should always be taken seriously. And again, he was a man with a wife and children. What kind of person doesn't understand that and would wish him bodily harm? The point is, threatening the life of a president is never ok....
Donna Rene Johnston via Texas Tribune on Facebook
And tell me exactly how I am non- contributing? Because I vote for Democrats? What does that even mean?
Jay Choi via Texas Tribune on Facebook
explain yourself taylor
Taylor J. Harris via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Assassinate Jay Choi. Come at me bro.
Jay Choi via Texas Tribune on Facebook
you mad?
Joy Mitchell via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If Democrat made that comment about Bush I bet she'd be screaming the person should be arrested.
Shelia Washington via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How stupid could she be?
Tom Sweazea via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I think she should have to apologize to Gabby Gifford in person. Palin started this idiotacy with her gun sights and talk of reloading. Sadly though, this young lady will probably get an internship from a GOTprty Congessional office holder and learn firsthand how to please Corporate CEO's and lobbyists.
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Words have consequences; how about UT suspending her for a year??
Brian Fejer
For any American to joke about the assassination of the President of the United States is disgusting, immoral, and un-American. It doesn't matter if Lauren Pierce doesn't want to shoot the POTUS, but her rhetoric could have an effect on lunatics and copy cats. I pray that the President survives the campaign.
Sarah Palin blamed by the US Secret Service over death threats against Barack Obama
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/sarah-palin/3405336/Sarah-Palin-blamed-by-the-US-Secret-Service-for-death-threats-against-Barack-Obama.html
The attacks provoked a near lynch mob atmosphere at her rallies, with supporters yelling "terrorist" and "kill him" until the McCain campaign ordered her to tone down the rhetoric.
LMT
"Again, I apologize to everyone that was offended."
Typical half-assed republican "apology". She apparently doesn't apologize to those who were not offended--all of her dumbass republican friends.
Vince Iannelli via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"I apologize to everyone who was offended." Is that even a real apology?
Nirav Patel
Hey, that's cool. Maybe she learned a lesson here.
John Burton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
^^ No. That is a "sorry I got caught" apology.
think
This is what big money buys at a "top tier " university, ( where a dorm this year still had an ex clansman's moniker blatantly as a dorm name). Is she racist or just a 1% of the wealthy GOP group's daughter buying her degree and making threats against the first black President in American history, instead of actually being educated.
Obama has more class and intelligence than that NRA , KKK UT Austin "student" taking up space and wasting her daddy's money.
UT Austin is just showing what kind of junk is allowed when their Perry appointed Regents, stepford student GOP leader, state legislature, school president, all belong to the same discriminatory and dysfunctional political party pushing very divisive and threatening propaganda.
No wonder there is an Occupy Wall Street movement going on nationally.
Wilkins Micawber
Insert Bush into her tweet?
I don't think that's possible, is it?
Dale Curry
What an ugly venomous little liar, she must be a darling of the Tea Party. For her to call the attempted assignation of the President speaks volumes about the nature of the opposition. The fact that all major Tea Party and GOP officials did not immediately disavow such rhetoric, speaks volumes about their moral and ethical bankruptcy. Ms. Pierce's comments are not acceptable and I certainly hope the Secret Service at least questions this violent little racist _______. As to the worst President, sorry Lauren, that "honor" belongs to Bush II. And the most corrupt Vice President honor belongs to Cheney.
Dennis Boyter
Taylor Harris said: Insert "Bush" into her tweet and most of you would be laughing it up at those "dumb, racist, tea baggers". What a bunch of non- contributing, hypocritical morons you are.
I agree that there are morons here, but he should look in the mirror to find the top candidate. Although no Bush lover, I never wished him ill will. As for the tweet, simply another example of youthful ignorance.
nikki s
Maybe it is Lauren Pierce that should be shot. Oh, right. Two wrongs don’t make one right. Oops. My bad. http://bit.ly/tvc57G
poryorick
@Taylor J. Harris: Really? "Assassinate Jay Choi"? What an incredibly soft-witted response. It's no wonder this country is in decline when that sort of tripe is considered acceptable discourse.
Virginia Gall via Texas Tribune on Facebook
"..And then there’s Rumsfeld who said of Iraq ‘We have our good days and our bad days.’ We should put this S.O.B. up against a wall and say ‘This is one of our bad days’ and pull the trigger." — From a fundraising ad put out by the St. Petersburg Democratic Club
Virginia Gall via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I wouldn't have any problem slaughtering all of the conservatives of this world." - Keith Olbermann
Virginia Gall via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Just saying perhaps EVERYONE should learn to moderate their hate speech.
Dale Curry
Poor Lauren: Someone needs to tell her that Fat, stupid, and a violent liar is NO way to go through life.
Rudy Gonzales
This is a bit more serious than using the "N-word"! This is proof that bigotry and prejudice abound in Texas. As a Texan, I'm so sad our state will get such bad notoriety resulting from this woman's tweet! She truly does not represent Texas. She represents the fringe element associated with the TEA/GOP/Republican party!
Adrian Juarez
We all know what she REALLY meant; no matter how she tries to spin it, she threatened the President and should be held liable for her actions. I thought Republicans we're all about "integrity." I guess that doesn't extend to college students who want people of color dead.
Dale Curry
She can try to spin it however she wants. But the fact is little Miss Piggy has threatened POTUS. She has evidently been asked to resign the College Republicans and asked to leave her internship with Dewhurst's campaign. While I have little love for the CRs, and fundamentally disagree with Dewhurst; both his campaign and CRs have responded to this terrorist threat quickly, and expeditiously. Thank you to both organizations.
David Spratt
Maxine Waters ,“I’m not afraid of anybody,” Waters said at the summit in Inglewood, Calif. “This is a tough game. You can’t be intimidated. You can’t be frightened. And as far as I’m concerned, the ‘tea party’ can go straight to Hell , and were going to help them get there”
Jimmy Hoffa Jr, "President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. Let's take these son of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong," Hoffa added.
Obama addressed the crowd shortly after Hoffa.
Cornel West,, “has a predilection much more towards upper and middle class white brothers and Jewish brothers and a certain distance from free black men who will tell him the truth.
“The system is rigged against poor and working people and Obama is the head of it.”
“white man with black skin” and “a black mascot of Wall Street oligarchs and . . . corporate plutocrats,”
Al Sharpton, “This is the first time in the country that we have an African American president. He is not the president of African Americans,”
Andre Carson , on the "Tea Baggers",, “love to see us as second-class citizens” and “some of them in Congress right now of this tea party movement would love to see you and me … hanging on a tree.”
Toure,,,,
"Yes, absolutely. Charles Blow was talking about this the other day. What sort of comb, he says, does these women use? We're going to see how open the GOP is to this black -- their 'new black friend' when they find out he is harassing blonde women as opposed to black women. That sort of thing of black sexuality -- predatory black sexuality. Very frightening in this country, still. Very threatening. So we'll see how that plays out. "
AND THERE IS TOO MUCH MORE TO PUBLISH HERE !
It does seem that the left has toned down their rhetoric some , maybe from the 60's and before when THEY were the predominate members and founders of the KKK. Just simply referring to Dedicated Constitutionalists as " dirty racist tea baggers " is a lot better than actually calling for the decapitation of said tea baggers. I would never accuse them of free thought and you do not hear any denunciation of these comments from them. One thing they do have right. Most of them are enslaved, but only in their own minds and directly as a result of their own thoughts. For all the liberal haters , please keep it up and try and step it up a notch or two , will you? The mantra is getting tiresome. The more you hate , the stronger WE are.
Dennis Boyter
Let's take these son of bitches out and give America back to an America where we belong,"
More out-of-context revisionist commentary from the right. Thank you Mr. Spratt. You do Fox and James O'Keefe proud. Of course, anyone with a little research of the full quote would find that the above statement was an admonition to vote, not a call to arms and physical violence. But that would not fit your narrowly drawn ideology.
Yes there is hateful rhetoric from both sides. Too bad. I have yet to find a right winger able to engage in respectful debate. My disagreement usually results in name calling and ad hominem attacks. So much for thoughtful discourse.
Your comments assumes more vitriol from the left, meaning anyone that disagrees with you, of course. I would love to have a comparison that tallies and compares the level and amount of vile venom from the opposing camps. I suggest you be careful. To quote you, "The more you hate , the stronger WE are." That is definitely a two way street.
David Spratt
Dennis, "I would love to have a comparison that tallies and compares the level and amount of vile venom from the opposing camps."
Apparently there is not much there , as I did not notice any posted , in or out of context. As for what this young Lady posted I saw no mention of any reference to race whatsoever. I agree it was in poor taste , but since when was poor taste a crime? No amount of apologizing would ever satisfy those who were ' offended." 99% of the time when I hear the word race or racist mentioned it is from left of center. People like Cornel West, Andre Carson , Sharpton , Jackson, Farrakhan , Waters, Rangel and the rest rely on and subsist on the perpetuation of racism or the Idea that it remains a pervasive and driving force within society. Without it they would have no relevance at all. They have built their entire careers around it. The fact that this country has elected an African American to the highest office in the land still does not convince them that conditions have improved and they claim it is as relevant and prevalent as ever.
Our President is the one who has pushed the idea of class warfare forward and with it also the notion that in reality it is racially motivated , since we all know , only minorities are underprivileged and poor.
I suppose Nancy Pelosi's statement on the occupiers was out of context when she stated, " God Bless them." Anti capitalist, communists, anti Semites, Drug Addicts, rapists, Nazis, anti Americans. Yes by all means GOD BLESS THOSE PEOPLE! MAYBE WITH SOME COMMON SENSE AND INTELLIGENCE. Comparing them to the Tea Baggers , give me a break !
Dennis Boyter
Thank you, Mr. Spratt, for your lucid, well presented commentary. That said, I do not recall comparing "...them to Tea Baggers," although I think there is reason for some level of similarity. Since perception i reality in many, if not most minds, these similarities are rarely recognized due to the stereotyping from both sides of the aisle.
I called you on the comment about the lack of context in the "...throw the sons of bitches out...." statement, and will call you again on the class warfare meme. There is an over abundance of information available how in the past thirty years the upper classes (the one per cent?) have accumulated vast quantities of wealth and power, while the middle class has largely stagnated. The system is skewed that way and the rules are made by the wealthy. This is not new. However, this country was supposed to be the place where work and discipline allowed people to achieve success. In spite of a few anecdotal examples, this is largely not true. I know many that work long hours to provide for their families, and are barely able to keep their head above water. If there is class warfare, it is being waged by the elite against the rest of us. If you believe it okay for four hundred families to control an inordinate amount of our nations resources (http://arran.wordpress.com/no-to-oligarchy/), then I am not certain our debate has sufficient grounds to continue.
We are at a troubled place - and President Obama did not cause it!
David Spratt
Obama did not cause it , I agree. But he is certainly not helping to correct it. One prime example is our current energy policy. We invested an estimated 35 billion $ in " green energy" this last year. This is Imaginary $ we really did not have . opening up the domestic energy exploration and production would be money better spent. We are in dire straights and utilizing proven technology would be a CERTAIN path to increased prosperity rather than investing in non commercially viable technology , trying to find a way to make it work. We are sending close to half a billion $ out of this country every single year , mainly to countries that do not like us AT ALL! We have the reserves of fossil fuels to last hundreds of years , employing millions of people HERE ! These are well paying jobs and no one cares what color you are as long as you can operate a set of tongs . Obama's putting off the Keystone XL until after the election illustrates that political power comes before the interests of Americans. This has been studied FOR THREE YEARS ! How much more can you study it? To my knowledge no Canadian has ever flown a plane into a building in the U.S. or plotted the assassination of anyone on American soil. The problem is not RICH PEOPLE , it is our government and the restrictions placed on business and the people to determine their own destiny. There are people who do start businesses every single day , and succeed. People find jobs every day. Granted there is less of this going on now because of government. there are fundamental problems that need to be addressed , mainly in the finacial sector. When banks can borrow money from the Fed , reinvest that money in oil futures and make a profit without lending that money to Main St. , and making profits in the traditional way banks have always made money , then that is a problem that needs to be corrected. When the Federal Government tells the financial industry they have to lower standards to increase minority home ownership , as happened under Clinton, we have a problem. In no way do I say this was a fault of the Democrats , but the fact is is was pushed forward under them and continued and defended under Bush the Younger By Barney Frank and Mr. Dodd , when we were told " No Problems with Fannie and Freddie." This created the whole Sub-Prime industry , trading in derivatives and to a large degree made Fannie and Freddie the holders of 5 trillion of assets , a large portion of which are only slightly better than worthless.
These are two examples of Governments intervention into private markets that have devastated the economy. Almost 50% of the country pays no taxes at all and the poorest of the population drains the most from the resources that those paying the taxes are providing. How many poor people have donated money to build Museums, Concert Halls, Hospital Wings , started foundations for charity and on and on? The rich are contributing in many ways average people do not acknowledge. There is a war being waged on the " Rich." It is not a declared war , but the ideas of the occupiers are rooted in the notion of class warfare , and ties closely with the activities of those people who have perpetuated the Ideas of the " welfare society." The gimme attitude of people like the Sharptons, Jacksons, Saul Alinsky, Bill Ayers fits in well with their personal agendas. If you really want to be limited in your prospects for a better life and opportunity , then come to rely on government to provide for your needs. You will then be limited to the degree that those resources given allow you to rise. Listen to and repeat the mantra that there is no opportunity, no hope, and no future for you unless it is given to you , and you will remain where you are indefinitely. This is because no matter how much is given , it will never be enough. You do not inspire people to rise by focusing on the negative and telling them all the reasons why they cannot succeed. You Bring people up by being positive and inspiring them to make use of what they do have at their disposal to make the best of themselves. There are many examples of people who have not listened to those who told them the odds were not in their favor. This is especially true in Minorities. Resentment of successful people Like Herman Cain , Allen West , and numerous others prove it can be done. Opportunity rarely comes to your door , you must find it. Ronald Regan said the most feared words in the English language were , I'm from the government , I'm here to help you. Truer words were never spoken. Government should assist , not provide. Government should create the environment conducive to opportunity , not control , regulate or directly provide opportunity. Personal responsibility and individual drive towards success has always been necessary and always will be.
Again , Demonizing rich people while personally aspiring to be one of them is the height of hypocrisy.
Dale Curry
@ David Spatt - Mr. Spatt, While I appreciate your opinion that spending $35 billion on Alternative Energy was a waste, I would like to go on record (along with a majority of Americans) that I strongly disagree. There are quite a few "points" in your post with which I would take issue.
1. In your post, you claimed: " We are sending close to half a billion $ out of this country every single year , mainly to countries that do not like us AT ALL!---Unfortunately, it is worse than you can imagine. According to the Congressional Research Service, for the first 9 months of 2009 the US petroleum imports was valued at over $174 billion. Other sources (e.g. National Environmental Defense Fund) estimates are even higher.
2. When you claim, "We have the reserves of fossil fuels to last hundreds of years , employing millions of people HERE !" This statement is disingenuous. Much of those reserves (albeit not all) are so difficult to reach they are cost prohibitive to produce. Essentially, the price of oil and gas would have to escalate significantly more in order for these reserves to be economically viable. Those nations that "don't care for us at all" are able to produce much more oil and gas at a much cheaper cost. So, the effective result of your proposed policy would NOT create all American jobs, but the opposite as we become more and more dependent on the very nations you (and I) would like to see us ween ourselves off of.
3. " Obama's putting off the Keystone XL until after the election illustrates that political power comes before the interests of Americans" is essentially Tparty rhetoric. The President has delayed the project, not cancelled it. And while I agree, we need the oil......there are better routes for this pipeline than through the Nebraska Sand Hills region but because it will cross the Ogallala Aquifer, a critical source of drinking water for the Great Plains. Gov. Dave Heineman of Nebraska, a Republican, has been urging changing the route.
4. "Granted there is less of this going on now because of government. there are fundamental problems that need to be addressed , mainly in the finical sector" -----Again, this is YOUR opinion. Those of us that support the President, and many who do not, believe it is because of the action of the Government in the face of the "Bush Recession" that has kept many Americans working (e.g. the Auto Industry).
5. " When banks can borrow money from the Fed , reinvest that money in oil futures and make a profit without lending that money to Main St. , and making profits in the traditional way banks have always made money , then that is a problem that needs to be corrected", on this we can agree. However, Federal Government lending to the banks was largely in the face of the crash of the Credit markets in response to the "Bush Recession" . This type of lending was done in the face of "Too Big to Fail" theory that became the operating assumption after the collapse of Lehman Brothers. When we loaned, via TARP, hundred of billions of dollars to the very financial institutions that drove us off this cliff, it was with the assumption these very institutions would make those loans available to our credit markets (your main street). Instead they did as you claim, borrowed from the federal Government and reinvested in instruments that did little to alleviate the problem. Since TARP was a Bush Policy, your complaint against Obama is like so much Tparty rhetoric and lies, blame POTUS for Bush's failed policies.
6. "When the Federal Government tells the financial industry they have to lower standards to increase minority home ownership , as happened under Clinton, we have a problem". Is a monumentally disingenuous statement. While credit standard have been relaxed, some of which occurred during Clinton's tenure, it was at the behest of the Financial industry and implemented through Congress via Freddie and Fannie. Largely predicated upon the philosophy that "Real Estate would continue to escalate", this is what created the whole Sub-Prime industry.
7. "These are two examples of Governments intervention into private markets that have devastated the economy". FANNIE was created in 1938, FREDDIE in 1970. For 70 and 40 years respectively these institutions greatly increased liquidity and exponentially increased the amount of mortgages available for the American Consumer. They have been instrumental in lowering the cost of home ownership in the US. It was not until Congress and the Financial experts lowered the borrowing standards did we have a problem . Those standards were lowered largely during the Bush Administration.
8." Almost 50% of the country pays no taxes at all and the poorest of the population drains the most from the resources that those paying the taxes are providing" is a fundamentally flawed and utterly disingenuous statement. Most recently, 47% of the population did not pay FEDERAL INCOME taxes. However, when you add in State, local, and payroll taxes the largest burden is clearly shouldered by the most disadvantageous. A group that in the face of the Great Bush Recession has grown significantly. Therefore, we now have 47% of the population not paying taxes. And I appreciate that you feel there is a war being waged against the wealthy, but it simply is not the case. I, and many who share my beliefs, just want the wealthy to pay the amount of taxes they were paying when President Clinton left office. A time when we were prosperous and had a surplus.
So, before you post the Tparty misrepresentations, I would ask you to dig a little deeper than Fox Propaganda. Thank you for your post, it was very enlightening researching the truth in order to respond.
David Spratt
You got me on the Half billion for oil thing. i admit when you start talking about government waste the millions, billions, trillions all seem to blend together. When you total in the unseen costs Americans are paying more than $3.50 per gal for gasoline and the amounts spent come very close to 1/2 trillion per year spent on energy from outside this country.
As for The banks borrowing and investing , it has nothing to do with tarp. They are borrowing yesterday at next to 0% interest and taking that money and turning a profit in the commodities markets. If I were a bank and I could borrow at 1/4% interest and invest several million overnight I too could make a profit. Tarp has mostly been paid back. Whatever green companies we spent that 35 billion on will eventually go under. THERE IS NO MARKET AND THERE NEVER HAS BEEN! Without governmental subsidies it is not cost effective. If you believe in it so much then buy it. Purchase a system for $40,000 that will run your house , 20 Kw should do it , wait 20 years at which time you will have broken even , cost vs. money saved , and at that point you can start to recover whatever your electric bill is per mo. in profit. Not many people are this financially ignorant. Granted we have only totally lost somewhere between 8 and 10 billion so far in green companies going bankrupt , so I guess comparatively speaking this is a huge success for the government , at only 30% total loss , SO FAR.
At around $100 per barrel most reserves known are economically viable for recovery. This is proved by the fact they are doing it. Maybe a snail darter or two or a lizard or three may have to sacrifice their lives , so be it. They have survived and will continue to do so.
Go back and watch video of Barney Frank assuring all of us Fannie and Freddie were doing " Just Fine" back in 2003/2004 when the Bush Admin questioned the viability of them. Home ownership for all was beefed up under Clinton and promoted by the Democrats, always the ones to provide everything for everyone. Frank was basically in charge and could have mitigated the damage done already , but allowed it to go forward for another 3 or 4 years making worse loans than the earlier ones. the banks did not ask for lending standards to be relaxed. In fact their refusal to grant every single loan created the sub-prime market and the creation of the derivatives market. The banks knew better than to give 100% financing to people with no reserves and not enough income. I know because I was in the business. I am very aware of what created the bubble and why it burst , I figured it out and got out before it happened.
the amount of millionaires that did not pay taxes last year is around 1400. The numbers have been getting to be less and less. Warren Buffet , a great hero of Libs , that wishes he could pay more taxes , if only the government would let him do so, is now fighting a billion $ tax bill the government says he owes. No one forced him to pay at the capital gains rate, he could have paid on personal income. He could write a check at any time , as could Gates the elder or any of the rest of them spouting off about how they all wish the government would just let them pay more. NO ONE IS STOPPING THEM !! Buffet has structured his 40 billion $ fortune so that the government will not get any of it when he dies.Kinda like all the companies that championed the Obama Care and as soon as it passed filed for exemptions.
The reason why unemployment has started to creep up in the last few months is because the Obama stimulus plan has started to wear off. thus the need for " Son of Stimulus." They claimed it was just not enough. Damn good thing they underestimated when they had control of both houses of Congress for the first two years. If they had have doubled it we all would be facing an increase of 6 trillion $ and a deficit of 16 or 17 trillion instead of a measly 15 trillion. When can we THAT PAY TAXES, expect those who do not , to start paying their " fair share" of the $130,000 per house hold they owe on that 15 trillion?
I fully understand why some people vote Democratic. They are the Socialist party. If you add up all welfare recipients, Union workers, and government / public sector workers this roughly equals the number of people who identify with being Democratic or liberal. The rest of us prefer to rely upon our own self reliance, sense of personal responsibility and our own common sense when determining what is in our best interest and the general direction of our own lives.
I apoligize for getting one or two figures wrong , since I write from memory and do not have to research any of it. I am surprised for someone with such firm convictions , you are not more familiar with the facts and had to do research. By the way Pizza is not a vegetable.
Dale Curry
Clearly, your posts have strayed from the subject at hand: The College Republican chair who finds assignation of POTUS funny and laudable. Not that anyone is surprised, it has become standard operating procedure for the Tparty and the right to change the subject whenever they are confronted with the truth and narrative that does not support their political agenda. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to respond, this last time simply to point out the deliberate falsehoods, gross misrepresentation, highly questionable statistics of your post that reads like so much like Fox Propaganda. To wit:
1. The practice of large Banks borrowing from the Federal Government and reinvesting into secondary markets (overnight) occurred during the Bush era Toxic Asset Relief Fund (TARP). While the American public was told these hundreds of billions that were loaned were to free up capital for lending by these very institutions, the Bush administration did little to ensure the money was used for the purposes we were told. Not unlike Weapons of Mass Destruction, the truth is they took the money and failed to deliver their side of the bargain. While you can deliberately distort the truth and allude that it is a widespread practice by lending institutions, it simply is not the case. To claim it is, is just more of the right taking their failures and blaming this President for the corruption that is so emblematic of the Bush years. From 500 million no bid contract for Cheney's Halliburton. A contract that when awarded could have fetched the company upwards of 7 billion dollars. Admittedly, the amount was much less. However, the fact remains Halliburton was given billions in no bid contracts by the Department of Defense under Bush.
2. If you, and the right are so concerned about energy subsidies I suggest you start with the billions that are afforded the oil and gas industry annually. As to you comments related to "subsidies" to "Green" companies, the figures you quoted have no basis in fact. I CHALLENGE YOU TO PROVIDE ONE INDEPENDENT SOURCE FOR YOUR NUMBERS! Your comments clearly reflect the Bush era Energy policy, developed in secret meetings with the Executives of Enron et. al.
3. Your claim that at $100 per barrel, most oil reserves are economically viable is patently misleading. Even it such a claim were true, it ignores the fact that the more expensive it is to harvest the reserve, the more the completive disadvantageous the reserve.
4. Your claim that the Bush Administration questioned the viability of FANNIE AND FREDDIE is replete with misrepresentation and distortion. Such a claim is false. Bush's "no regulation" combined with the industry's lobbying of the GOP controlled congress lead to the biggest real estate bubble/bust in history. And no matter how loud you spew the lie that it was Clinton, the truth is clear to everyone who reads. Frankly, blaming Clinton just demonstrates the length of the lying the right is willing to perpetuate in order to discredit Clinton. Why? Because when he left office, Clinton left us with a $127 billion surplus. It took Bush less than a year to create this structural deficit we now face as a nation.
5. To claim "Barney Frank was basically in charge of the banks" is a deliberate misrepresentation designed to divert attention from the true culprit, Bush's no regulation leadership and a GOP dominated congress. Clearly you know this when you admitted the Bush administration, and I quote you here, "allowed the bubble to go on for another 3 or 4 years". I would also like to remind you that FANNIE stood for approximately 70 years without a problem; while Freddie stood for 40. While Newt can claim the $1.6 million in lobbying for Freddie was for a "history" lesson, the truth is not lost on the American public. He was paid this ridiculous sum in order to get the GOP dominated Congress to pass the liberal lending practices you lamented in your post. Again, you can blame Clinton, but it is clear to everyone who is responsible.
6. Your claim that Buffet is "fighting" a billion dollar tax bill, is deliberately misleading. For YEARS, Berkshire Hathaway (the PUBLICLY traded company he heads) has disputed an IRS tax bill. As the head of Berkshire, it is his fiduciary duty to defend his company, especially when there is a valid defense. Your allegations are just so much Fox propaganda with little basis in truth. It is purposely misleading and deliberately distorts the facts. What you also fail to mention is that Buffet has called for Capital gains being taxed as ordinary income as opposed to the current 15%. If you are so worried about welfare, I suggest you start with this form of welfare.
7. Your comments regarding "Obamacare" are morally bankrupt continuation of the lies and deliberate falsehoods Fox and the Tparty have asserted throughout the debate. From Death-panels (Politifact's 2009 Lie of the Year) to Government takeover of healthcare (2010 Lie of the year), the Right has spewed one falsehood after another. Furthermore, the individual mandate that is the heart of "the opposition", was originally proposed and supported by Newt Gingrich. It is becoming increasingly clear to the public the level of deliberate false and misleading propaganda the right has asserted in this debate simply because they know that a debate on the facts would leave your position cold with the American public. "Obamacare" will reduce costs and begin to break the back of radically escalating heath care costs for the nation.
8. If you are so concerned about Stimulus plans, I would respectfully suggest you discuss the MULTIPLE stimulus plans proposed and passed during the Bush years.
9. You can call Democrats socialist, but it is a LIE. A deeply offensive lie form my perspective. Such assertions about democrats and POTUS demonstrate the right's inability to honestly debate the issues in a coherent fashion. It is designed to inflame the subject and create more gridlock. For the record, ( and note I choose NOT to call you names), I like Democrats around the nation, deeply love our country and I find your comments deeply offensive, as well as, patently false.
For 3 years, I have watched the GOP and Tparty tell one lie after another in order to distort the truth about the issues in front of us. You blame this President for the deficit, when the truth of the matter is on day one of this Presidency the combined total of the budget deficit and "continuing resolutions for the war" totaled 1.3 trillion. Bush/Cheney lied to get us into a needless war with Iraq charging the cost of the war with China. Now that the consequences of their failed policies have come home to roost, and the rights narrative is to blame the black guy.
Frankly, I do not accept you apology for getting "1 or 2" figures wrong. First, there were more than 1 or 2 deliberately incorrect figures. Secondly, I am convinced your entire post was intended to distort the truth in order to support your failed narrative. It has become standard operating procedure for the Tparty and the right to lie and misrepresent the truth in order to distort the argument to justify the failed policies and discordant narrative. Clearly when you say (again I quote you), "I apoligize for getting one or two figures wrong , since I write from memory and do not have to research any of it. I am surprised for someone with such firm convictions , you are not more familiar with the facts and had to do research", I would respectfully suggest you try some research beyond the lies and distortions spewed hourly by Fox. Frankly, such a comment speaks volumes as to your credibility. Personally, I found your post replete with inflammatory rhetoric, lies, and insults (e.g. labels of socialist). In closing, while I have no doubt you will post a lengthy misrepresentation in response filled with grossly distorted facts, shady statistics, and abject lies; I will no longer respond to your unrelated rants in an effort to change the narrative from this girls violent and bigoted rant agains this President. The level of cognitive dissonance leaves me depressed for my nation, and with an overwhelming headache. Have a nice day
David Spratt
Getting back to the subject at hand. Thank God , and I do mean the one and ONLY GOD for young people who have not been brainwashed by the progressive socialist movement and their minions that infest our educational institutions. Just as Nancy Pelosi praised the Occupiers I say the same for This Young Woman. God bless her . When even Chris Matthews has detrained from the Obama Express Even the diehard supporters have to question whether or not they are betting on the 100 to 1 longshot. Never fear he will still get votes from Saul Alinsky ( Dedicated Communist), Bill Ayers ( Unrepentant Terrorist), Bernadine Dorn ( Ayers sidekick), Rev. Wright ( Overt racist), Van Jones( a 911 truther) , Bill Holder ( arms salesman to the cartels) and all the Green energy bundlers ( Hoping for another Payday.)
The burning question in my mind is Michelle says our children are too fat, so why on the other hand are the socialists pushing for breakfast, lunch and dinner at schools claiming kids are starving? Is there a lack of communication in the central command structure? Where does Michelle stand on the pizza being a vegetable issue? This is a critical point needing clarification in the comming election.
Dennis Boyter
Have enjoyed the back and forth with Mr. Spratt and the responses given by many. You can tell when a conservative has lost the argument - although Mr. Spratt would never acknowledge such a statement - when they start invoking the "...ONLY GOD...," Nancy Pelosi, socialist, brainwashed, Saul Alinsky, Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright, Van Jones, ad nauseam. Right Wing talking points are in the realm of the hopelessly confused, the fact free, and "I am unable to think for myself" crowd. You do provide comic relief though - although there is really nothin funny about assassinating the president.
Dale Curry
@ Dennis - You are spot on Mr. B. Frankly, it is amazing how quick they invoke God, yet his post is filled with lies and misinformation.
william fraser
This girl is connected, probably comes from a well off family and is typical of the non thinking, ignorant, elitist cowardly brainwashed trash that thinks they have the right to insult a fine President like the one currently in office. Besides being a piece of crap racist thing to say, it also shows how freaking ignorant the GOP is. From Biblical science (i.e. garbage) to gerrymanedring district outlines illegally to disenfranchise minorities, to harassing pregnant women, to promoting stupid, non scientific creationist Biblical BS as science, the Pubs know no shame. The truth is, most of them are stupider than a donkey and poorly educated. However, donkeys can be greedy,,, and thats what this is all about. The GOP trashed our credit rating, drove the deficit thru the roof with the Bush tax cuts and has locked our congress, even refusing to cut the very deficit they complain about. Creept self righteous bunch of losers. too boot, EVERY single GOP legislator in this state voted for Don mcLeroy for chair of SBOE, a man who wants to teach kids that dinosaurs and people co-existed...!!! ha ha ha......This girl is just the tip of the ice berg folks. Vote democrator independent. Dump the GOP criminals running our state.
WILL Dallas
David Spratt
William , Is this your personal veiw or are you writing on behalf of the entire trailer park?
william fraser
drsprt,
Enjoy your biblical science dopey...
Will Dallas
william fraser
Dr Spratt'scommentary pretty well sums up the attitude of the Texas GOP. Besides being better educated, a former marine officer and a scientist, I also care about something other than myself, a
concept quite fopreign to DR and his/her heroine at the GOP.
Pretty well sums up whats wrong ...
And zero content in the comment, another GOP strength.
Creepy spratt but very snarkey.. probably works well hanging out with the other attorneys at Bible class.
Will PS Anytime you want to compare pay stubs let me know. I'm thinking yours is the about the same size as your winky dink,,,as in miniscule,,,,,,,,,,,pencilneck
:)
Dale Curry
@ Spratt- Your comment to william fraser in the comment section is inappropriate and deeply offensive. Not that we are surprised. When your phony numbers and made up statistics fail to persuade anyone you resort to God. When someone calls you out on your tenuous grasp of reality and the truth, you get personal. Not cool Spratt, not cool at all!
think
Toxic atheists who use any excuse of political nature to start blaspheming the Bible are just as bad as the maliciousness in GOP politics. Atheism isn't a political party and ranting online about anti- Bible hostilities isn't going to win anyone over to whatever they believe in.