Rice witch hunt
After weeks and weeks of investigations and question and answer sessions the Republicans say they still have unanswered questions from Susan Rice and can’t support her. This whole thing is a political witch hunt to force President Obama to choose John Kerry for Secretary of State, so Kerry’s Senate seat will come up for grabs and the Republicans can give Scott Brown another shot at getting a Senate seat after he lost his to Elizabeth Warren.
Sen. Susan Collins showed her cards when she said she could support John Kerry for the job. The next time Collins comes up for re-election she shouldn’t expect an automatic win.
Mike Avery Sr.
Milford
Solar power and Efficiency Maine
I recently had a grid-tied solar power system installed at my residence and have experienced a common problem occurring nationwide.
Solar panels are regulated by law to stop producing electricity when they sense grid instability. Grid disruptions too small for utility equipment to measure can cause solar installation dropouts. Due to the extreme sensitivity of the panel inverters and the grid activity in your neighborhood, the system can experience multiple short-term daily shutdowns. Standard installer and manufacturer warranties do not cover this.
Think of buying a new car and having the “check engine” light come on every time you’re driving down the road. Then imagine having your dealership tell you “even though it’s reducing your gas mileage, it’s probably safe, so don’t worry about it.” Two lessons learned from my experience are first and foremost to include an actual grid compatibility performance guarantee in the installer’s contract. Second, don’t assume grid-tied systems are guaranteed efficient and reliable just because they are backed by Efficiency Maine.
My system operates at 66 percent of estimated production and drops out at least once a day. With these facts in hand, no concern has been expressed from those at Efficiency Maine to warn potential customers. Although solar power has great potential, protect yourself in your
contract with the installer. Otherwise, you’re rolling the dice.
Gary Fogarty
Old Town
Unhappy with tree naming
In yesterday’s BDN I read that Sprague’s Nursery donated the Christmas tree to the city of Bangor. On the news tonight we were told that the holiday tree arrived today. If the city of Bangor would rather not name our tree appropriately Christmas tree, then I hope nobody will show up for the lighting of the tree. I, certainly will not attend.
Sondra Spencer
Bangor
Mural, BDN decision
Did anyone notice? The news that the federal appeals court rejected the appeal about the Maine labor mural, hence supporting Gov. Paul LePage, was buried on page B6 in Regional/Obituaries section in the BDN (11/29/12).
If the decision had gone the other way, would this have been front page news?
Catherine Tanzer
Camden
‘Angel’ helps lost child
The busy holiday shopping spree approaches us. I was at Target the other day and saw a young girl that looked like she was not able to find her parent. As I strolled around I kept seeing this girl becoming more frantic. I went to the customer service to inform them about the girl, they said there wasn’t anything they could do unless the girl reported she was lost or the parent reported it.
While I was at the service desk I turned and saw the girl dash out the door. My instinct kicked in and I went out after her. I found her near a car, asked if she was lost. She replied, “I can’t find my mom.” I got her to come back inside and as we went to the service desk her mom approached frantic. I told her what I had done and she said I was an angel.
Well, I have six grandchildren of my own, one could only hope that someone out there would have a watchful eye while out shopping. Please don’t let your children out of your sight while shopping. It only takes a second for them to be gone. I was very disappointed in the safety procedure that Target did not apply. We can teach our children to tell someone their lost or can’t find their parent but when a child is scared or has a hard time communicating because of a disability they may just run.
Brenda Crossman
Winterport
‘Suitable’ for care?
This is in response to Cora Snyders’ letter, “Hippocratic Oath,” in the BDN on Nov. 17.
I am a senior citizen also. I called a local physician’s office to transfer from a federally funded clinic. I was told to submit my records, and they would review them to see if I was “suitable” for their practice.
I haven’t done it yet because I feel that I may be going from bad to worse. In the past, before I came to Maine to live, I had gone to my doctors until they retired or died. It is very disheartening to be a senior citizen, in pain, and be treated like you just don’t matter. How many others out there are being treated this way?
Linda Dunn
Houlton
Republican responses to two Rices
Think about the difference in Republican response in 2002 to former National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice and in 2012 to UN Ambassador Susan Rice.
In the Fall of 2002, then National Security Advisor Rice gave incorrect information about the presumed weapons of mass destruction many times on television before the congressional authorization vote in October 2002 that led to the start of the Iraq War in March 2003. Her comments were not questioned by Sens. John McCain, Phil Graham and Susan
Collins. They all voted for the war and also to confirm her as Secretary of State in 2005. From 2003 to 2011, tens of thousands of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis were killed or wounded, and America has spent close to one trillion dollars from war in Iraq.
The Senators say that they are “concerned” about UN Ambassador Susan Rice’s statements on the Sept. 16 TV talk shows, five days after the Benghazi attack that killed a total of four Americans and when the investigation had just begun. On those shows, Ambassador Rice used the information from the unanimous, unclassified intelligence report requested by the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee.
Please, cease your attack on our current UN Ambassador. Do the people’s business and vote to maintain the middle class tax cuts and raise taxes on those earning over 250K to give citizens and business certainty.
Pam Person
Orland
I wonder if Sprague’s Nursery knew they were donating a “holiday” tree? I agree with your letter, Sondra Spencer. Let’s see if we can find the culprit who changed it to “holiday” tree….I bet no one owns up to it.
Since not everyone in Bangor is a Christian, why isn’t appropriate, to call it a “Holiday Tree”. Christians need to get over thinking they own words, and trees.
well then, can we call a dredel a top? a menorah is now just a candleholder? a Kwanza unity cup is just a fancy wine glass?
…..
Since Dreidels,Menorahs, and the unity cup, are not displayed in a public place. There’s no need to call them anything, but what they are. This tree belongs to all the people of the area, not just the Christians. Stop make a mountain out of a mole hill. Co-exist.
Maybe those who are not Christians shouldn’t be celebrating Christmas, as it’s true meaning is to honor the birth of Christ. Therefore, they should not be involved in the trappings of this holiday season and can keep their opinions on Christian beliefs to themselves, and keep whatever traditions they have to themselves. Why do people find it necessary to try and change someone else’s holiday traditions?
Should they put on blindfolds when they past the tree? it’s there for ALL to enjoy.
“Why do people find it necessary to try and change someone else’s holiday traditions?”
Maybe people are creating traditions that are their own, that hold meaning for themselves. Why do you christians believe you can and should monopolize tradition? I know, having been one, it comes out of prosletyzing and the christian belief in the “one true path” tradition… That tradition is nothing more than a christian tradition and holds NO import to billions of other people. Enjoy your traditions… Let me enjoy mine… I’m not “forcing” you to do or not do anything. When mobs are at your door threatening to lynch you or burn your house down because you are celebrating christmas… THEN you’ve got a problem. Right now… chill. You’re fine…
Maybe those who are christian’s shouldn’t be celebrating christmas, as December 25th’s actual historic meaning is to honor the Pagan holiday of the Winter Solstice. Therefore, christian’s should not be involved in the trappings of this HOLIDAY season and can keep their opinions on Christian beliefs to themselves, and keep whatever traditions they have to themselves. Why do christian people find it necessary to try and change someone else’s holiday traditions?
I think atheists should take their beliefs seriously. They should not get Xmas off or Easter, or any other holiday related to any religion.
Well considering that places of employment are closed, they do not have much of a choice.
Actually there should be no holiday related to any religion anyway. Let’s simply eliminate Christmas and Easter as holidays.
Christmas has become more then just Celebrating Christ. Maybe Christians would have a ground to stand on if they haven’t helped develop Christmas into a materialistic party that we all know Jesus would just love.
I guess it will be alright to start using the word “queer” again.
Sad little comment.
you can use the word “queer if you want, You’ll be the one looking like a bigot when you do.
It was a pagan tree before it became a christmas tree.
But for the last five hundred years its been the Christmas tree.
If you want your own tradition I suppose you could go start one. :)
There are still practicing pagans. Christ did not ask for any trees to be put up in his honor. It was a political move by the Catholic Church to bring ‘converts’ to the new religion. Maybe you should just call me a conservative as it should not have been changed to a ‘christmas’ tree.
I expect it may be 500 years too late to make that objection on those grounds. .
Ha!
:)
Why? that is only half of Abraham’s life. where did you get your statute of limitations data?
Time settles all disputes.
never heard that one before, narthwoods….it is now a Christmas tree to the majority of people and has been for a long time
Well, it was the pagans that did it first! Just sayin’. No reason to get worked up about calling it a holiday tree. It’s a pretty tree with pretty lights that makes people smile. So, thanks to ye old pagans for this lovely tradition.
Northwoods is correct, look up yule trees and find out the reason for Christmas Trees
In Germany, maybe. In the US, only the last couple hundred years. Guess it survived the anti-German propaganda of WW I.
Or steal one like you agree the Christians did 500 years ago.
Gosh, did I say that?
Yeah I was thinking about starting one up and calling it Judaism, no tree would be required.
Sounds reasonable.
Merry Christmas!
Others can celebrate their “Happy Holidays” and “Festival of Lights.” The Pagans can light torches, paint their bodies, and dance around bonfires in Leopard skins at the Bangor Raceway, and all others should follow their “Light,” or, Moon Glow,” up the reaches of the Orono Bog,
For whatever else they seek, they should set up their own date of observance, worship, or, whatever.
Just stay away from our Santa Parade and leave our Christmas Tree alone!!.
Actually it’s christians that are stealing the date of observance and worship or whatever. Christ (if he ever lived at all) was most likely born in the spring. Celebrate his birthday then and leave this time to the pagans and tree worshipers.
But the last 4000 years it has been and still continues to be a Yule Tree
Catherine Tanzer
Of course.
Pam, Are you willing to give up the mortgage interest deduction as well? Just curious.
The American voters have spoken and I guess gridlock is the result they voted for. Are you willing to give up your mortgage interest deduction? Are you willing to take the jump off the cliff in order to protect the 2%?
Well it is the agreement that the Democrats asked for and received so they could avoid the hard choices before the election.
No I don’t want to give up that deduction… the thing some folks never seem to get is that at some point they will come after your interest because simply put the rich don’t have enough. The middle class does. They will come for you.
What is really disgusting about this whole farce is it is not a crisis. The dems have bought into the rhetoric of the right as if it is… It isn’t. Once again the dems give the framing of a non-issue to the repubs, and act as if they must respond within the frame the repubs foist on the public. In the short term the deficit is not a crisis. There are long term issues that must be addressed, specifically, health care costs that rise at 9% per year. That is a problem that needs thoughtful attendance to. In the short term, unemployment and a depressed recovery is the REAL, HONEST TO GOD issue that should be addressed. The GOP has made attending to that issue appropriately nearly impossible, being the party that represents the people THAT ARE DOING VERY WELL IN THIS ECONOMY. Disgusting… Absolutely disgusting…
Both parties are afraid to talk about the real problem: the good jobs aren’t coming back any time soon and no one knows what to do. And even worse, the REALLY big problem that absolutely no one can be honest about because they’re all beholden to corporations is that, man-made or not, the climate is becoming warmer and it’s happening faster than predicted. So the kabuki show just goes on and on because no one knows what to do.
I think some folks know what to do… There are alternative energy jobs that are not being created because the R&D work is not being invested in sufficiently, and policy makers by and large aren’t serious about climate change. Germany and China are going gangbusters with developing lower cost solar photovoltaic technology. We have fallen way behind through our shortsighted stupidity and the millions lobbyist from ExxonMobil and other oil giants spend to confuse the public’s understanding of the issue. 97% of climate scientist agree it is a pressing, immediate problem to address. It is not a “debate” except for what denialists with vested financial interests in creating confusion have made it into. Policy makers face political gridlock when they themselves are not falling for the same deceptions denialists and their media rely on to influence policy makers. Our system of making law is not at all suited to actually responding to this crisis, especially when one party has rejected science, reason, enlightenment principles in favor of religion and unenlightened self-interest… and that may well seal our fates.
Our warming climate is a game-changer and the nations of the world are not coming together in a truly problem-solving way. America’s luxury lifestyle is emulated now by emerging middle classes in India, China and Brazil. China has been building a coal-fired power plant a week for many years. India’s desire for air conditioning in the summer is not going to go away. The permafrost is melting and throwing up tons of methane. The oceans are warming and species that feed people are disappearing. Droughts and famine.
No, it does not help that the Republicans are anti-science. The American people – and the peoples of the world who look to us for leadership – are being hurt by their odd stance against the science of climate change. (I know they are beholden to the fossil fuel boys, but it really is getting dire but I guess no one has the courage to speak up). We will never get over the short-term political reality of “I need to get re-elected”.
Ah, well. I try to enjoy each and every day, thankful for the beauty of nature.
Some f our biggest corporations are investing heavily into solar tech. GE is a good example.
Then why are we so far behind Germany and China? Say what you will about industrial-scale wind… I was photographing near Bethel recently and large components of a wind farm were along a railroad siding. They were made in Spain.
I don’t know why…. I do know that GE is producing a lot of wind energy components in China.Maybe It is an international market like just about very non-strategic technology is.
Gosh, It sounds like these Democrats are “yoked” to a Republican cart.
In part yes, but the problem is more something Orwell described, the use of language. The dems are terrible at it for some reason; the right has mastered the use of language and framing… My bet is it has a lot to do with the rise of marketing techniques, many of which came out of Edward Bernay’s, the “father of public relations,” reliance on his uncle Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalytical techniques. The use of certain phrases and framing tap into a part of people that doesn’t necessarily respond to logic and reason. See John Pilger’s “A Century of Self” on the thoughtmaybe website for how this has played out. Rupert Murdoch tapped into that same thing very successfully with how he framed the headlines in his newspaper holdings, allowing him to build a media empire that reaches millions and millions of common people, filling them with pablum, distraction, base emotional nonsense. When discussion of the important issues of the day are framed a certain way, the ones that control the framing control the conversation.
The “debate” about the debt ceiling or the deficit is just such a conversation… the logic and reality of the debt and deficit and how to deal with it has been hijacked by the agenda calling for “entitlement” cuts. First, “entitlement” has been made into a DIRTY WORD by the right, when IN FACT the people who have worked all their lives and paid into SS and Medicare ARE ENTITLED to reaping the benefits of what they have been paying into. Entitlement is NOT a dirty word, but the right has reframed the issue as if entitlements are… Calling them socialist is the same deceptive reframing… All the while MILLIONS OF PEOPLE remain without work and the ONLY reason is the POLITICS of the GOP preventing sufficient action from being taken. THE ONLY REASON… It is SICK…
Reframing the debt and deficit “debate” in terms of DEMANDING cuts to entitlements as the best and essentially ONLY way to tackle this NON-ISSUE is just distraction and deflection away from the wealthiest enjoying the lowest tax rates in decades, their off shore tax haven accounts to the tune of trillions, the INEQUALITY that is at Gilded Age levels and by all accounts BAD for not only society but for the economy…
The dems can’t get the framing right… “Libruls” have been so demonized as “communists,” another deceptive use of language by the right, and anything that smacks of progressive policy is “socialist,” “un-American,” “freedom-hating…” “Yoked” might be a good description…
Not fair if you are implying that blame for this charade should be shouldered by the dems alone…
From Michael Grunwald:
“I’ve written a lot about the GOP’s defiance of reality–its denial of climate science, its simultaneous denunciations of Medicare cuts and government health care, its insistence that debt-exploding tax cuts will somehow reduce the debt—so I often get accused of partisanship. But it’s simply a fact that Republicans controlled Washington during the fiscally irresponsible era when President Clinton’s budget surpluses were transformed into the trillion-dollar deficit that President Bush bequeathed to President Obama… the fiscal cliff was created in response to GOP threats to force the U.S. government to default….”
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2012/12/michael-grunwald-is-shrill-why-oh-why-cant-we-have-a-better-press-corps-weblogging.html
Michael is in part incorrectly remembering history. Part of Clintons term Congress was held by Republicans.
Did you mean to say part of Clinton’s term dems held Congress? If you click through to the original piece you’ll see his history is correct. The results of a growing fiscal irresponsibility and extremism on the right, coupled with a fiscally irresponsible and center-right “opposition” party (the dems hardly in opposition on too many issues) you can get a sense of why the country went down this road in the first place and how we ended up where we are. The erosion and final death of Glass-Steagall has done this country great harm, and few want to acknowledge that. To do so would require repudiation of massive profits and the “I’ve got mine” crowd, whether far right or center-right, ain’t about to let it go…
If you remember from our past discussion I am in favor of re instituting Glass-Steagall.
Thanks for the reminder… I do appreciate that position. The shadow banking industry in 2007 grew to some $62 trillion in trades… enough to do significant damage when the shadowy house of cards fell apart. Little has been done to remedy this… thanks to our elite class…
I hope you’ll appreciate this:
http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2012/11/banking-must-not-be-left-in-the-shadows.html
I think (though may be mistaken) that the mortgage interest deduction would only affect mortgages of a million dollars and up. I heard that briefly on the CBS News this week but may not have gotten the whole story. I remember feeling relief about it because if it affects my mortgage I will be hurting. But, as I said, I could be wrong.
There are any number of proposals out there from the one you mentioned right down to all income levels. I’d rather that they didn’t go down that road at all. They will eventually find their way to us.
You’re right. It certainly worries me, too. The housing industry is just starting to recover.
Pam Person–Are you aware that Ms. Rice has half a million dollars in TransCanada stock and apparently her husband has more than she.
Is this the person you want to make the final decision on whether or not to allow the Keystone Pipeline to use our aquifers to transfer their tar sands over?
This progressive says “not unless she promises to recuse herself from all pipeline discussions and decisions.”
There are other perfectly suitable candidates for SoS besides Rice. The gop witchhunt is annoying partisan theatrics from what I can see, and rather disgusting. But you are correct… Susan Rice with such investments is not appropriate to be making decisions regarding Keystone.
Heh. Yeah, no kidding. Doesn’t need to be Rice or Kerry. How about a real diplomat and peace maker…
Not sure but I doubt the Secretary of State is going to be making decisions about the Keystone Pipeline, or any pipeline for that matter. Her area of influence will be foreign relations not economic
Yeah, I don’t know what, if any, role she might have but Canada IS a foreign country, though next door neighbor, so I bet the State Dept has something to do with tar sands oil coming from Alberta. It is an interesting question I should look into more.
She would be the Secretary of State. She won’t be making those decisions, the President will be.
Pam Person & Mike Avery, Sr: Yes, you see it as it is. Hypocrisy galore.
Sondra Spencer: Then you don’t have to go. Tons of people did and had a real good time. Maybe you are making too big a deal out of it. Just call it what you want and allow others the same. Not everyone is of the same faith.
a Christmas tree has been a tradition, why the need to change the name?
Okay, let’s see. I never said I myself think the name of it needs to be changed. I just don’t get bogged down over that kind of thing. I think there are more important things to focus on. I see Salvation Army bell ringers (Christian affiliated) all around and drop in some change. I see many symbols of Christianity around at the holidays and other times. I see traditions and symbols of other faiths recognized as well. The way it should be and makes for a more interesting world. I think sometimes that some Christians get offended too easily and seem to forget, or dismiss, that there are many people who are not Christians.
I don’t really care what the tree downtown is referred to. I would refer to it as a Christmas tree, but I could care less if someone else does not.
And there it is, right on time; the opening salvo in annual ‘Christian” accusation that people are discriminating against them, trying to take away their celebrations, trying to destroy their Christmas.
May I suggest a reality check for Ms Spencer and other good “Christians”. Take a look around you: note the decorations, the carols, the sales, the gift drop off centers for the needy, the bell ringers, the lots full of trees and the superabundance of mid-night services and then come back and tell us that unChristian people are taking your Christmas away from you. Pfft, go do something useful for Christmas.
A bit off topic, but if you haven’t heard of this film, Constantine’s Sword, it comes highly recommended.
Ms. Spencer, I, too, was outraged, but for a different reason. The evergreen tree is part of a venerable pagan solstice tradition of the Germanic tribes. While I could accept the City calling this a Tannenbaum, rather than a pagan solstice tree, I am outraged that the City would use a generic term such as “Holiday Tree.”
You need to read your Christian history and begin celebrating the birth of Christ in the spring, when he was likely born. You should also insist that the tree to celebrate that birth be one more appropriate to the botany of Bethlehem!
Stop horning in on my pagan solstice tradition!
My daughter and I celebrate Solstice. The light will soon be returning!
Merry Christmas
Happy Solstice!
Happy Solstice to you. We can all have our own ways of celebrating. There’s room for everyone.
Just 18 days to go.
Yeah well I’m a Dendrolotrist so we’re the most outraged of all. Put that in your pipe ya Pagan.
Is this someone who gets trees to talk? It sounds like a combination of dendrologist and ventriloquist.
Since you asked, Dendrolotry is tree worship. As far as your ventriloquist crack goes, it is difficult not to use the word “dummy” in my reply. So I’ll invoke one the primary tenets of my religion and “just leave it”.
Your response reflects the deep roots of your beliefs.
Thank you and Happy Solstice. (Our big day is Arbor Day.)
Is your prophet Joyce Kilmer?
Ecclesiastes 11:3-10.
Sondra, you have a good point with the Christmas tree naming. It is too bad that a few malcontent, anti-religious folks try so hard to disrupt Christians from celebrating Christmas.
People like Sondra and Bonny have anointed themselves true ‘Christians” and from that have decided that they get to inform everyone of the only acceptable way to celebrate. Pfft. Who appointed them holiday dictators?
Turn the other cheek, Bonny. And turn off O’Reilly and the other agitators… Nobody’s trying to steal Christmas from you…
just like the “rainbow” and “gay”, right sdemetri?
Sorry, I don’t follow you…
What? You don’t even make sense. Going off on some tangent again?
Total nonsense. So many of the “Christmas” traditions from evergreens, to yule logs, to feasts, to Santa Clause are either entirely non-religious secular or come from traditions that pre-date the supposed birth of Christ. Enough of the religious dicatorship. This is a HOLIDAY season with MANY traditions from Christmas, to Hanukkah, to Kwanza, to Solstice, to a simple secular celebration. This is a DIVERSE and INCLUSIVE society. Welcome to the 21st century. And PS: If you want to celebrate Christmas in your own home and church, DO IT. Who is stopping you?
Can’t it be a Christmas tree? Must I call a menorah a “holiday lampstand?”
Well considering that Christmas has become so much more then just a Christian holiday, the name Holiday seems to apply. The city of Bangor isn’t celebrating just the Christian view of the Holiday, but everyone view of the holiday. Their is nothing stopping you from calling it a Christmas tree.
Haha its only a Holiday for Christians if they can force everyone to Celebrate. I am sorry, but pretty sure Jesus would want you celebrating privately and would not like a public display.
Celebrate x-mas all you want I certainly don’t care. I’m just wondering what we’re doing to disrupt your celebration. How does calling the tree a holiday tree distrupt anything? Is it stopping you from spend spend spend? I doubt it. I’m sure you’ll continue like so many other christians to worship the god of money.
M. Avery, G. Fogarty, B. Crossman, L. Dunn, P. Person: good letters.
Susan Collins most certainly does not deserve to be reelected. The way she has trashed and besmirched Ambassador Rice is deplorable. There is no coming back from this.
Sondra Spencer: Two points- 1. Not everyone celebrates christmas. 2. Read Jeremiah 10:1-25 as the bible forbids decoration of trees from the forest. Happy holidays.
and a Merry Christmas to you!
Merry Christmas.
The “very concerned” GOP senators have their heads up their… well… WHY aren’t they “very concerned” about the economy? Letting the Bush tax cuts expire on the wealthiest would generate $1.6 trillion in revenue over the next decade… but they say… oh, those taxes won’t do much to help the deficit… but then they harp on adjustments to Medicare as if THAT is the big kahouna… well, it ain’t: the proposal to raise the eligibility age to Medicare will save $113 billion over the next decade. Other proposals they reject as “a joke” (Speaker Boehner), would save $300 billion over the next decade… but CAN’T touch the Bush tax cuts… Despicable and dishonest, imho. THEY are the joke…
When will THEY get serious?
http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2012/12/lets-get-serious-about-getting-serious.html
A question.. Why are the Dems recommending a “stimulus” to prevent the “drag” on the economy that they agree the expiration of the tax cuts will cause?
Because the “right people” wouldn’t be stimulated by the tax cuts?
Retaining middle class tax cuts will be stimulative. Not retaining tax cuts on the wealthiest will not cause a drag on the economy, nor increasing tax rates on the wealthiest. The wealthiest are not the “job creators,” the demand for goods and services coming from a more flush middle class is what drives job creation. Jobs are created in businesses small, medium and large, some of which are owned and operated by the wealthiest, but it is demand for goods and services, largely coming from the middle class, that is the deciding factor in whether hires are made to meet production demands. Simply giving the wealthiest tax breaks does nothing if everyone else is struggling or not spending. It just gives the wealthiest more money to sit on.
No you misunderstand. The Democrats want new stimulus spending of $242 billion in order to offset the “drag” to the economy caused by the tax increases on the wealthy.
You may have to substantiate that more… a quote or something… Meanwhile, there is this:
“… I find that heterogeneity is quite important, that almost all of the stimulative effect of tax cuts results from tax cuts for the bottom 90%, and that there is no substantial link between tax cuts for the top 10% and subsequent job creation. The notion that raising top rates slightly leads to substantially lower job creation and economic growth has no empirical support from the last half century…”
http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2012/12/lessons-from-a-half-century-of-federal-individual-income-tax-changes.html
I certainly want a bit more than you’re simple allegation. I’ve not heard any demcrat talk about a drag on the economy because of a tax increase on the wealthy. We’re talking a 2.2% increase on them..You really think that will drag the economy down when all the evidence shows that that increase will have almost no effect on the economy except to increase federal revenues. A tax increase on the middle or lower classes would definitely drag the economy and I’m wondering if you’re not a bit confused.
Excellent letter Ms. Tanzer. Finally someone who recognizes the bias the BDN demonstrates on a daily basis. “The Bias Daily News”
Pam and Mike, you are spot on. Once again we have a display of DISGUSTING TeaPublican witchhunting and HYPOCRISY. Ambassador Rice was simply reporting what she was GIVEN by the intelligence reports at the time. The TeaPubs LOST BADLY in the election, and they are now, in typical fashion, trying desperately along with their media arm, FAKE NOISE, to create a scandal that does not exist and NEVER did. Under Reagan 200 marines were killed when their barracks was attacked in Lebanon after reports of security risks prior to that event. Where was the right wing witchhunt then? In 9/11 George W. Bush had DEMOTED the BEST anti-terror guy we had, Richard Clarke, and they arguably did not respond well enough to warnings this could happen, and then they invaded Iraq under the LIE of “weapons of mass destruction”. Where was the TeaPublican outrage about that??? John McSAME has been WRONG on foreign policy issue upon foreign policy issue. He has NO credibility. This is the grumpy old grampy who said we could be in Iraq for 100 years with no regrets. This is the grumpy old grampy who said “bomb bomb bomb bomb bomb Iran”. He is a GOOFBALL, and it is DISGUSTING that Susan Collins is going right along with this NONSENSE. SHAMEFUL !!!
Sondra, oh you and your TeaPublican radical delusions about a “war on Christmas”. It is just so silly. This is a HOLIDAY season with numerous traditions be it Christmas, Hannakah, Kwanza, Solstice, or what have you. MANY of the traditions around Christmas are entirely SECULAR and others, such as the evergreen, yule logs, and MANY others came out of a variety of traditions unrelated to the birth of Christ. So get over it. No one is attacking Christmas. You people need to stop being so close-minded and realize we live in a diverse and inclusive society so we celebrate diversely in PUBLIC venues and use the language of diversity and inclusion as well. In your own home and church, believe whatever you want to believe and use whatever language you want. No one is stopping you.
Catherine, all that really matters is that LePage won’t be elected dog catcher come 2014 and the TeaPublicans will lose even MORE seats in the legislature.
Pam and Mike, you are spot on. Collins is being shameful here. They lost an election and now trying desperately, along with FAKE NEWS, to find a scandal that does not and never did exist. Typical Republican hypocrisy and nonsense. Where was their outrage over the lies of weapons of mass destruction? Where was their outrage over unheeded pre 9/11 warnings that Bush and Condi Rice received? Where was their outrage over Bush demoting Richard Clarke, the best anti-terror guy we had, PRIOR to 9/11? Where was their outrage over the 200 marines that got blown up under Reagan when there was weak security in Lebanon? And old Grumpy Grampy McSame McCain has been WRONG on national security issue upon national security issue. He said we could be in Iraq for 100 years and that would be just fine. He said “bomb bomb bomb Iran”. What a fool. And MUCH more. No credibility. Pathetic that Collins is going along with it.
Sondra, from Santa Clause, to yule logs, to feasts, to evergreens, this HOLIDAY season is full of SECULAR or other traditions that well pre-date the supposed birth of Christ. Here in Maine and America we celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanza, Solstice, or just the secular traditions as well as Christmas, and we are diverse and inclusive. So get over it and get into the 21st century. No one is limiting your right to celebrate however you choose in your own home and church.
Mike Avery:
Susan Collins is a stooge of Mitch McConnell and does not have the nations’s interests in mind here.
And, yes she should be concerned about her reelection.
Pam Person – a home run!
Yessah
Mike Avery and Pam Person – You’re both living with one eye closed. And that’s the problem with so many in this country.
Sondra Spencer – This is just another way for the non-believers to push Christ out of Christmas. And another step toward their attempt to turn America into a godless country.
Catherine Tanzer – No surprise. The BDN is anti-LePage, anti-conservative, anti-Capitalists, and edging closer and closer to becoming anti-American.
Brenda Crossman – You are an angel. But, please, don’t blame Target for their actions or inaction. In today’s society, approaching children, even in a helpful or concerned manner, can lead to massive lawsuits depending on how the parent or parents react. In retrospect, the way the parent reacted to your assistance could have been different. Nevertheless, you did the right thing.
Linda Dunn – You are already feeling the negative effects of Obamacare. Just wait until the full bill kicks in. Bottom line, “you ain’t seen nothing yet”.
I am sorry, but Christians have already pushed christ out of Christmas. Look at all the present giving and buying of material things. Can you seriously say that Jesus would be happy about this holiday?
Call it what you want, though the holiday season in America is not about giving Jesus, trees or Santa their due, it is about worshipping the god of capitalism. Bow down!
Sandra Spencer is right. What “Happy Holidays” are these break aways celebrating if it isn’t Christmas? And – a Merry Christmas, too.
It’s sickening to watch and listen to grown men and women attack the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.
Caine, Collins and Graham have sounded so foolish. How can Susan Rice tell the world what actually happened if the she reads from a redacted CIA and FBI report?
The US is made to look even more ridiculous knowing that all three pride themselves on being members of the Foreign Relations Committee. Caine, even worse. He went to Rupert the Fox to slam Susan Rice, ignoring a meeting in which the answers he sought were provided. Collins attended, but remained true to GOP-TEA Inc., pushing Rice aside in favor of Kerry.
How shallow all three are. I agree with Pam Person.