home

He's With Us On Everything But Middle Class Tax Cuts

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:08:04 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Joe Lieberman:

I know that many people, including the President, have argued that the tax cuts should not be continued for people making more than $200,000 a year, but to me these are the people we need to be using their income to spend and invest to spur growth and job creation[. . .] I want the top income earners in our country to have the confidence and the money to spend and invest over the next year, rather than worrying about paying more in taxes to the federal government.

98% of Americans will be held hostage by Joe Lieberman and the Republicans who will deny them tax relief unless the top 2% get huge tax breaks.

Speaking for me only

< Will The GOP Hold Obama's Middle Class Tax Cuts Hostage For Tax Cuts For The Wealthy? | How Ardent Hillary Supporters Came To Be >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    He's With Us On Everything But Middle Class Tax Cuts | 28 comments (28 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    Good ol' Joe...he can always be (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Anne on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:27:33 AM EST
    counted on to deliver the exact message that the media want to torment us with, not just because they really like what he's saying, but because they know it is an irritating reminder that Dems still treat him like he actually is a Democrat, committee chairmanships and all.

    And of course, he thinks that the money the high-income earners won't be paying to Uncle Sam would be taking money out of the economy, but I have yet to see any indication that, when the economy headed south, the rich buckled up their chin straps, hauled out the checkbook and their elite-of-the-elite credit cards, and set about spending as their patriotic contribution to economic stability.

    I'm not hearing anyone say, "Golly gee - I'm out there every day, buying things I really don't need, because I see it as my sacred duty as one of the fortunate, to do what I can to save jobs.  Why, I bought three new cars to help Detroit AND keep my local gas stations in business!  I bought a new house in the Hamptons to help prop up the real estate market, gave all the furniture in it to the local shelter, and bought all new - and now, you want me to pay more taxes?  Well, fine - but you should know that I would have used that money to throw a really fun Cinco de Mayo party next year, and now I guess I can't.  I just can't believe the thanks I get for spending so much is to have to pay more taxes!"

    Honestly, if I never again saw Joe Lieberman's smug little face, or heard his whiney little voice, it would be too soon.

    What an a$$.

    Shorter Lieberman... (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by kdog on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:37:34 AM EST
    "I think there is some confusion about who this government is assembled to serve, allow me to set the record straight...if you earn less than 200k you don't qualify for representation."

    Joe Lieberman (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by CST on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:39:03 AM EST
    "I was against them before I was for them"

    In the good ol days he basically had the Obama position on taxes.

    "Under their plan, the middle class gets a little... and the wealthy get a lot."

    "immediately as president, I would attempt to repeal the Bush tax cuts on the highest income Americans, they don't need it. It sent us in a deficit that will cost the middle class, and our children and grandchildren, all sorts of money in the future."

    "I have come out for genuine tax reform, not only to protect the middle-class tax cuts that middle-class families did get in the last three years, but to pass a tax cut for 98% of the income tax payers and to pay for it by raising taxes on the [other] 2%. That may make some of the higher-income people unhappy, but it's the right thing to do for the middle class and for our economy."

    Great find (none / 0) (#15)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 03:30:14 PM EST
    Thanks!

    Parent
    wow (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 12:00:03 PM EST
    even Boner is on record now as reluctantly supporting middle class tax cuts, no?

    so Joey is on Boners right now?

    Nertz (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by lentinel on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 02:57:59 PM EST
    I want the top income earners in our country to have the confidence and the money to spend and invest over the next year, rather than worrying about paying more in taxes to the federal government.
    Joe Lieberman

    Can't you just see those folks worrying and wringing their hands?

    Every time I see Lieberman or read him being quoted, I am reminded of Obama's immortal words:

    "...what I know is, Joe Lieberman's a man with a good heart, with a keen intellect, who cares about the working families of America.
    I am absolutely certain that Connecticut's going to have the good sense to send Joe Lieberman back to the United States Senate."

    Ah. Good sense indeed.

    Joe needs to get on the couch! (none / 0) (#1)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:15:34 AM EST
    Having him as a leader is like having a parent suffering from Munchausen by Proxy.  He will just about kill us so that he can get a little attention.  I'm sick of the abuse, someone call social services!

    Don't want top income earners to worry (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 11:53:52 AM EST
    Whatever, Joe. Do us all a favor and manage to have a coronary soon.

    Ouch! (none / 0) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 12:02:46 PM EST
    Sadly Dadler, you don't even need to have a heart these days for your excellent Capital Hill insurance to be able to keep you alive and kicking others....and you don't even have a pulse :)

    Parent
    So true, so true...rimshot please (none / 0) (#17)
    by Dadler on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 03:46:28 PM EST
    I love you folks, anyone here from Jersey?

    Parent
    if you're filthy rich, (none / 0) (#8)
    by cpinva on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 12:44:55 PM EST
    just what else is it you're going to buy, that you don't already have? i assume sen. lieberman knows that the rich don't appreciably (if at all) increase their consumption, when they get a few hundred thousand extra in tax savings.

    with that as a given, he's proven again (as if it needed to be) that he's just a putz, who needs to be put out to pasture.

    The rich need the money so they can buy more (3.67 / 3) (#9)
    by steviez314 on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 12:58:44 PM EST
    politicians.

    Parent
    There is a lot more fat in 200K (none / 0) (#10)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 02:39:56 PM EST
    in some areas of the country than here in SoCal. I imagine the same goes for SF, NYC, Chicago, etc...

    Does $200,000 (none / 0) (#11)
    by CST on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 02:56:35 PM EST
    go a lot further in some parts of the country than others?  Absolutely.

    But it still goes more than far enough even in those areas.

    I am unaware of any attempt to regionalize federal tax rates.  That statement is true whether we're talking about a 33% tax rate or a 36% tax rate.

    Parent

    My point is 200k ain't all it's cracked up to be. (none / 0) (#13)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 03:07:42 PM EST
    Certainly NOT "rich" especially in places like LA, NYC, SF, Chicago and, I assume, Boston. Especially as incomes get higher they typically can fluctuate wildly year to year. iow, a couple boom years and then a couple years of bust.

    Parent
    upper middle class (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by CST on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 03:29:44 PM EST
    at the very least.  Even in places like LA, NYC, SF, Chicago, and yes, Boston.

    In bust years your taxes go down.  My guess is a lot of people are in a bust year right now.  If you are making $200,000 this year, you're doing more than fine.

    Parent

    I guess we need to agree to disagree. (none / 0) (#18)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 03:48:13 PM EST
    Seems like a big number until it's your number. Heck, 40 seems like a big number when you're making 20. 200 is not rich. imo, of course.

    Parent
    False (none / 0) (#25)
    by shoephone on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 10:06:17 PM EST
    How tired I am of that false talking point. I grew up in L.A., most of my family members still live and work there, and I totally disagree with you: $200,000 a year is NOT middle class -- even for L.A.

    It just means you can't buy a million dollar house without actually saving some money and having to prove your credit worthiness.

    In NYC it is a different matter, though even there, that salary is not middle class.

    Parent

    How tired I am of your false talking point. (none / 0) (#26)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Sep 14, 2010 at 10:57:44 AM EST
    As I said, most making 200K don't make that year after year. Some boom years, yes. Now, make 200K for 40 years straight, sure, you're living fat, pretty much no matter where you live. But that is a small percentage.

    Again, most making 200K in LA are not rich. Take a look at everyone in LA who "made" 200K in 2009.

    There will be a bunch of them, and very, VERY few of them will be living on the beach in Malibu with Ferraris and private planes.

    They'll be your next-door neighbors in middle-class neighborhoods in the Valley trying to get their kids through college.

    Not rich.

    Parent

    making 200,000 (none / 0) (#27)
    by CST on Tue Sep 14, 2010 at 11:24:10 AM EST
    will not buy you a ferrari and private planes, that's true.

    It will make you comfortable.  This is not some weird abstract number for me either.  I know how much it costs to live and pay bills in an expensive city, I know how much college costs, I know roughly what it costs for a family of 5 to live in such a city and pay college tuition.

    2 things

    • this is a bust year for a whole lot of people, if you're having a "boom" year now, you're doing significantly better than most.
    • Upper middle class families (yes, they are upper middle class) can afford this.

    If you are only making $250,000 a year instead of a million, your tax burden is really not going to go up very much.  Most of your "cut" is coming from the section for those who make under $200,000 as well.  A significant increase is only really happening for those who make more than $500,000.  Link of nice pretty graphic that explains it fairly well.  Link to another article on the same subject.

    The vast majority of this increase is coming from those who make over $500,000 a year.  And that is rich, no matter where you live.

    Parent

    My Congressional rep.... (none / 0) (#16)
    by kdog on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 03:42:48 PM EST
    Steve Israel, is running for re-election on a platform to do exactly that...revise the tax code to reflect the high cost of living on Long Island..."cuz a buck doesn't go as far in Islip as it does in Idaho".  His commercials are in heavy rotation on the boob tube, driving on the LIE like everyman...lol.

    Not sure we need to further complicate the tax code, even if it would be in my benefit....simplify and cut taxes with offsets in cuts to regressive spending...that's what I'd love to see.

    Parent

    humane priorities you have, indeed (none / 0) (#19)
    by Dadler on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 03:54:48 PM EST
    how dare you. i still think if you ask most people to explain what money is and what makes it worth a thing, you'll get a lot of answers that don't make a whole lotta sense.  not that i didn't get good answers when i asked here, just that, when you REALLY think about it, money is just casino chips in a casino rigged in a very insidious manner. And you gotta LIVE in this casino, unlike the real ones, though I realize come folks might just set up camp in the poker room if they could.

    OT, since I don't see an open thread: after a delay for increased summer daddy daycare duties and the usual bouts of self-loathing, The Early Daze are back with part 14.

    OOT: you'll like this.  a few months ago, bored one night, i won seven bucks in a free 7500 player poker tournament at full tilt (finished fifth). i've managed to run it up to 600 bucks playing every now and then. The feds should be pounding on my door any day. ;-)

    Parent

    We'll be there shortly. Stop resisting. :) (none / 0) (#20)
    by republicratitarian on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 04:03:40 PM EST


    Parent
    ba-da-bing! (none / 0) (#21)
    by Dadler on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 04:22:00 PM EST


    Parent
    Nice bro... (none / 0) (#22)
    by kdog on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 04:44:24 PM EST
    I should bankroll you instead of myself...7 into 6 hundo?  Impressive.

    That bankroll skill coupled with your enlightened view of the cashish?  Sh*t, I nominate Dadler to replace Geithner:)

    PS...I'll peep the blog bro.

    Parent

    i'm kind of impressed myself (none / 0) (#23)
    by Dadler on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 04:51:32 PM EST
    determined to hit big in a tourney. and i'll take that gig.  good bennies.  too good.  criminal good.  peace out, bro.

    Parent
    I guess those people (none / 0) (#24)
    by jondee on Mon Sep 13, 2010 at 04:52:27 PM EST
    making 200k and living in San Fran, NYC and Boston should assume some responsibility for their poor life choices, rather than expecting help from the government..

    Parent
    $200K is Middle Class NYC (none / 0) (#28)
    by squeaky on Tue Sep 14, 2010 at 12:08:51 PM EST
    "What you would call middle class elsewhere you would call working poor here," says Lilian Roberts, president of DC 37, the city's largest municipal union.

    [NY] city's "average effective rent"--a measure which factors free rent incentives and other landlord concessions into the price of rent--during the fourth quarter of 2008 was $2,801, 53 percent higher than the second place city (San Francisco, $1,827) and almost three times the national average ($995).8
    Housing is not the only problem, however. City residents pay among the highest prices in the nation for electricity.

    Telephone service, auto insurance, home heating oil, parking and milk are also higher in New York than virtually anywhere in the continental U.S. The combined state and local tax bill is also tops among major cities....

    ....For instance, since most middle class families in New York today require the incomes of two working parents just to get by, child care becomes a necessity for those without grandparents or other relatives to look after young children. These costs typically run from $13,000 to $25,000 per child, per year--and families often need to keep their kids in day care until at least age four, when they can enroll them in schools...

     "What is middle class? It depends when you got into the real estate market," says Jay Greenspan, a freelance writer living in Brook- lyn. "If you got into the market 10 to 15 years ago, you can earn $75,000 a year [and be middle class]. If you're trying to get in today, it probably takes $250,000." [emphasis mine]

    NYC Future (PDF)

    Parent

    He's With Us On Everything But Middle Class Tax Cuts | 28 comments (28 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment