Lawrence O'Donnell's nightly show on MSNBC "The Last Word" opened Wednesday evening with his first guest the former senator from Wyoming Alan Simpson.
Simpson gives us a good dose of straight talk on the debt ceiling, taxes, political posturing and the nonsense of Grover Norquist--the would be republican kingmaker and far too powerful GOP enforcer. His idea of dealing with the debt is to cut spending while maintaining huge federal subsidies and unfair corporate loopholes to the wealthiest of special interests--an agenda we've seen play out in almost every state in the union that went red in 2010:
If you want the real deal on taxes and the debt this segment makes it elementary.
Norquist has long been critical of Republicans who have focused attention on the deficit, arguing instead that the target should be spending. Norquist knows there are only two ways to close the deficit -- hiking taxes and cutting spending -- and worries that the American people will gravitate toward higher taxes once they are confronted with the reality of spending reductions.The former Wyoming senator disagrees with Norquist on "no tax increases ever" and accuses Norquist of "smoking more than I ever dreamed they produced in the trees and weeds" in reference to his so-called "pledges" he demands republicans sign if they want to be 2012 contenders. Simpson nails Norquist for what he is: an ideologue backed by special interests who have everything but the good of the people and the country in mind.
If you want the real deal on taxes and the debt this segment makes it elementary.
How "Voodoo Economics" wrecks the economy.
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How did we get so bamboozled that Main St. defends corporate America?
ReplyDeleteTwo words: Tea Party
The Koch brothers have them completely fooled.
Not too hard actually, I haven't seen any mental giants among their ranks.
The repubs all look quite tanned don't they?
ReplyDeleteI would rather than be pasty and drawn, stay in Washington and arrive at some real solutions instead of taking vacays every other week!
Bruce Bartlett, former Reagan guy on the repubs budget proposal:
ReplyDelete"Mind boggling in it's insanity...quite possibly the stupidest constitutional amendment I have ever seen...it looks like it was drafted by a couple of interns on the back of a napkin."
Gotta love that!
The Birmingham Snooze ran an article on Obama's presser and by the amount of really stupid comments, it's obvious a lot of people just don't get it!!!!
ReplyDeleteCarol's right, Main St. defending corporate America is backasswards! This segment should be required viewing for the masses.
Loved this!!!!!!
ReplyDelete"Buffett was right. I pay less income tax than my secretary."
ReplyDeleteWhat's wrong with that picture TP's? Or is it too difficult to understand?
Simpson swipes at both sides and gains credibility by doing so IMHO.
ReplyDeleteObama pulled a page from Truman's book in the 40's with this PC. Well played.
ReplyDelete".....American people confronted with the reality of spending reductions."
ReplyDeleteWe can't have a little thing like the truth getting out can we?
Rachel Maddow did a good one two punch on this issue following O'Donnell. Over 2000 corporations use small Wyoming house to avoid paying more in taxes.
Maddow--Gimme Shelter
What loon does not think this should end and corporations need to pony up on their fair share?
Get rid of the subsidies and corporate loopholes already! The repubs are completely tone-deaf on this issue.
ReplyDeleteThe national debt limit was raised SEVEN TIMES during the Bush administration.
ReplyDeleteWake up and smell the hypocrisy!
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500803_162-4486228-500803.html
AS is dead on by calling for all scared cows to be led to the table. Republicans are way too afraid of losing all that corporate cash that keeps them in office. On the other hand, the average voter being too clueless to figure out what's truth and what's propaganda sure as hell does not help the problem of corporate America running their yes men in elections.
ReplyDeleteIf people would pull off the blinders of politics and listen to both sides, knowing the truth is somewhere in the middle, maybe we would have a change in this country.
As it stands it's the haves vs the have nots.
I bet if you were to visit the grave sites of the FF's you would find them all spinning.
Any republican who has the backbone to come to my community for a TH and say to us that he wants to protect corporate USA and Wall Street, might get a whiff of tar and feathers being gathered and boiled close by.
ReplyDeleteThey have some nerve making sure the richest stay rich on the backs of the middle and lower class!
Makes me so damn mad I could just scream!
Cantor--what's 2 billion here or there (on theskinny's link). Geezus how out of touch can you be when you consider $2 billion a pittance??????
ReplyDeleteO'Donnell and Maddow are the best shows on MSNBC!
ReplyDelete