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| If only Obama were really saying this... |
- Six recent studies confirm that Rmoney's (secret!) tax plan would pay for the announced savings,
- Rmoney's tax plan does, indeed, contain specifics on how he would achieve the astonishing savings he claims without battering and frying the middle class, and
- Mr. Rmoney will only reveal the details of his plan after he is elected, to a bipartisan congressional panel.
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| The Lyin' King Myth Rmoney |
But Marshall also points out that the lack of revealed specifics in Rmoney's plan is scarcely half the problem: even Fox News's Chris Wallace confronts head-on Gillespie's claim that "6 studies" show that the plan, as understood by Fox (where do they get their particulars?), would work as advertised. The "6 studies" have been named, and include such bastions of bipartisanship as
- a blogger who was a top adviser to George W. Bush,
- the American Enterprise Institute, and
- a Harvard group.
The Hill confirms Gillespie's position that Rmoney's tax plan will be revealed after the election. Bloomberg Business Week reinforces that cutting the most popular middle class tax deductions would result in a total savings of only 4%, far too little to pay for Rmoney's 20% across-the-board tax cut. And just to be clear, Business Week's source of its information is the congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, which is, in its own words, "... a nonpartisan committee of the United States Congress, originally established under the Revenue Act of 1926. The Joint Committee operates with an experienced professional staff of Ph.D economists, attorneys, and accountants, who assist Members of the majority and minority parties in both houses of Congress on tax legislation." In other words, while any source of such information is imperfect, there's probably not a better one out there than the JCT. If they say it won't cut 20% but rather only 4%, the chances are pretty good that it won't cut 20% but rather only 4%.
In short, just as regarding the information on his personal tax returns, Rmoney is trying to pull a fast one on the public. Repeat the words "six studies show it works" enough times between now and elections, and enough goddamned fools will believe it to give Rmoney an advantage. And those are the goddamned fools likely to pay most dearly under Rmoney's plan.
What a bastard! I hope someday he experiences a genuine free market!
UPDATE: David Dayen of FDL does the heavy lifting on the "six studies".
Obama advantage in early voting (via Le Monde._International)
ReplyDeleteLooks like early voting by sending ballots by mail or directly in the “polling stations”, has already begun in 43 states.
Enfant, early voting by personal appearance starts in Texas exactly one week from today. I usually vote early, but not on the first day, because the crowds are sometimes overwhelming.
DeleteEarly voting in person takes place at a large number (50? 100?) of locations in a county, completely distinct from the usual precinct polling places. Any citizen may vote at any early polling place, or at his/her assigned precinct poll on Election Day. For early voting, Voter rolls are printed on huge books in which an individual voter signs in; the voter's precinct number determines the ballot s/he gets when s/he begins with the eSlate voting machine. It's a fairly straightforward process, and I have no less confidence in early voting than I have in voting on Election Day... Republicans have cheated on each at various times.
My favorite early polling place is also my favorite international grocery store, Fiesta. If I feel like voting and then taking home stuffed grape leaves, I can do that! ;-)
Here Are The Charts That Should Get Obama Reelected...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.businessinsider.com/charts-that-should-get-obama-reelected-2012-10
while:
For The Third Straight Day, Mitt Romney Keeps His 2-Point Edge Over Obama
http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-vs-romney-gallup-poll-oct-14-results-2012-10
Enfant, at this point I have no clue whether Obama will be reelected. I was surprised by his obvious loss of the first debate (some of that is right-wing spin, of course), and I am even mpre puzzled by the persistence of his lower numbers. But the "horse-race" has been wrong before, and it may be this time as well.
DeleteI HAVE A SECRET PLAN TO END THE WAR!!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I misunderstood... is your name Richard Nixon?
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