The fugitive
October 27, 2008 by mlq3
Filed under Daily Dose
My column today is Bolante’s great escape. For details, check out Newsbreak’s Timeline: Joc-joc Bolante and the Fertilizer Scam and CA upholds decision to freeze Bolante’s bank accounts and the Arroyo Corruption wiki and Rotarians urge Bolante to come out and tell the truth (not to mention Jun Lozada weighing in, too).
The Warrior Lawyer points out that besides Bolante, former Agriculture Secretary Cito Lorenzo has some explaining to do, too.
So tomorrow, Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante’s due to arrive. It seems a caucus of senators, meant to help the Senate President decide whether to instruct the Senate sergeant-at-arms to serve a warrant of arrest on him or not, ended up cancelled.
As it is, former Senators Franklin Drilon, Sergio Osmena III, and Ramon Magsaysay Jr. are holding a press conference, tomorrow, at 2 p.m. at the Club Filipino, to point out that their report did not write finis to the Bolante investigation.
Whoops, hold the presses! Latest (6:42 p.m.) is that Senate President Villar has directed the Senate sergeant-at-arms to serve the warrant of arrest on Bolante upon his arrival. The Drilon-Osmena-Magsaysay press conference has been canceled, as a result…
The scuttlebutt has been plentiful concerning how the Palace will handle the return of the fugitive. Bolante’s lawyer, Tony Zulueta, is supposedly identified with the President’s husband. But you don’t have to believe that to see the fingerprints of the Palace all over the place: what was submitting a motion to the Supreme Court on Office of the Solicitor-General stationery all about?More interesting was scuttlebutt that retired General Palparan was going to be sent to meet and greet Bolante upon his arrival; this has been overtaken by reports that the National Bureau of Investigation will send agents to “meet” Bolante and “escort” him to the NBI or the Bureau of Immigration where he can be “debriefed.” Mixed messages here -is it to help him or keep him on good behavior?- made all the more complicated because Federal officials in the USA won’t just escort Bolante to his Manila-bound flight, but, it seems, accompany him to his destination to make sure he won’t sneak back into America.This means not only will Bolante have to come home, but that the public will know when and where he’s arriving -which makes whisking him away a ticklish thing to accomplish. He just represents an inconvenient truth at this point, much as the Palace thinks it has all its ducks in a row and that it has the political momentum to finally achieve the constitutional amendments it wants.
Blogger Barangay Kidlatan is of the opinion that Bolante and impeachment are related, something others seem to think, too. Of course they are related, but whether the former will actually breathe life into the latter is what seems to me a bit of a stretch.
So I don’t know if I agree with Mon Casiple when he says,
Now, throw Jocjoc Bolante into the brew and a possible insider impeachment witness has appeared on the horizon, in addition to all the others. The impeachment–a quixotic proposition before–suddenly now seems plausible.
It’s like pinning any hopes at all on former Speaker de Venecia’s posturing concerning the impeachment complaint. It’s posturing, calculated on the premise that he’ll never really get called upon to deliver testimony against the President (and knowing too that the Palace won’t be as bold as to actually call his bluff).
The dilemma, it seems to me, for much of officialdom is whether they should make hay while the sun’s still shining, or bite the hand that feeds them in the hope of juicier tidbits from a new dispensation. Those interested in the presidency are more interested in coalition-building and part of their coalitions-to-be would include the dregs of the present dispensation. So they will sniff around for maximum barking time but refrain from any real biting.Yet there are officials aplenty, to my mind, who’ve never had it so good, and so, why not keep the party going?
There are many, many, more in the ranks of officialdom who know they will never be senators, much less presidents, whose ambitions only extend to their little fiefdoms, and if there’s a lightning rod in the presidential palace to distract public attention, so much the better, and why curry favor with a new regime if the old one can be given a new lease on life?But that may be getting too far ahead of the story, unfolding as it is. Bolante’s coming home.Might he not sneak off, if his flight has a stopover somewhere? Who knows.
Senate President Villar is agonizing, apparently, over whether he wants a showdown with the Palace on one hand, or to let sleeping dogs lie and arm his opponents in the upper house with another issue on which to base a plot to unseat him.
The Senate President seems to have realized public interest’s been piqued on this one, and the Senate has to continue what it began.
Everyone in the political class is waiting to see whether the public, once more, growls disapproval or shrugs the whole thing off.
And of course, the best laid plans of mice and men … well, whatever plans have been hatched, there’s always the possibility an underling botches the job, and creates a new P.R. problem.
Meanwhile… For the first time ever, trading was temporarily suspended in the Philippine stock market.Overseas, as the American presidential race enters the home stretch, see the electoral math over at RealClearPolitics and Electoral-vote.com. Democrats agonize over their success, the Republicans form a circular firing squad amidst news of an electoral bloodbath. And, Benjamin Pimentel’s convincing argument of The Philippines as a Red State. Egads.
Delicious
Facebook
Flickr
LinkedIn
Technorati
Twitter
Loading ...
The EQualizer on Mon, 27th Oct 2008 8:26 pm
Expect Gloria to exercise again her prerogative of executive privilege to hide a wrongdoing!
cvj on Mon, 27th Oct 2008 9:24 pm
I agree with Benjamin Pimentel which is why i suggested that the Philippines could be the Republicans’ ‘Canada’.
Bert on Mon, 27th Oct 2008 9:37 pm
obama fanatics, hold your smiles. it’s not over ’til it’s over…a wise man said.
baycas on Mon, 27th Oct 2008 9:51 pm
“Seal up your lips and give no words but mum.”
Bert on Mon, 27th Oct 2008 9:55 pm
bolante a problem for gma? ow, come on, she’s immune already, worse things have been exposed before, no effect; hide too thick, is all.
nash on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 12:22 am
Hairy Roque has a chance to redeem himself. We await the presscon.
vic on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 1:42 am
would have been nice if there was a bounty for Bolante’s head (being a fugitive), a fair game for bounty hunters, just thingking aloud.
vic on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 1:49 am
cjv, thousands of them move north to avoid the “draft” during the Vietnam war and moved back in droves when Jimmy Carter declared amnesty, some stayed, so my guess is if that happens, good until the admins changes, the weather here is just too much for the southerners.
nash on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 3:22 am
Don’t count McCain out! Remember he and Sarah Palin are God’s favoured candidates.
I’m sure those prayers by the evangelical christians for McCain-Palin will work miracles.
hvrds on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 8:46 am
A new media celebrity will be born, maybe?
If he plays his cards right he might be able to run for the Senate.
The name Joc Joc has a good ring to it for marketing jingles.
I hope he has good PR group behind him already. Just make sure you get to ANC as I am sure everyone over there are salivating over this new media happening which they can keep going for at a minimum a month.
rego on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 9:47 am
Mc Cain is favored over Obama outside Metro Manila? T
o me its simple. its prejudice. Marami pa ring pilipino ang ayaw sa itim., lalo na kung palipilin sila between a white man ( Mc Cain ) and a black man ( Obama).
I ve seen a lot of that prejudice here in New York among filipino gatherings at sa mga inuman. I know of a Filipino couple both sucessful doctors in Staten Island whi thrown their daughter out of their for havinga boyfreind na mulato… My cousin was alarmed over his 10 year old daughter making freind with a black boy in their class. sa mga inuman apag nakikiwkento ako ng bagong client, unang tanong kaagad, puti o itim? It like pinoys are more proud to be associated with whites than blacks. No matter if their real color is more closer to the blacks
But Im happy to know that in metro Manila , Obama is more favored than Mc Cain, ibig sabihin lang education and urban living can change teh midn set of a person.
hvrds on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 11:02 am
Notice to all members of the Brown Aryan Nation. Members of a White Aryan Nation group has just been arrested for a plot to assassinate Obama
May suicide warriors rin pala kayo…
Kagaya ni Bin Laden… I know there are Pinoy street gangs in California that are more likely to be anti-black.
The Filipino Spanish colonial was anti-black and anti-Chinese. The Filipino American colonial was simply anti-anything that was not white.
grd on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 12:37 pm
interesting. leytenian seemed to be having some success with her campaign in pinas.
BrianB on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 12:56 pm
OFW money not for national development.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081028-168877/OFW-remittances-only-for-OFWs–advocate
At last someone with clout actually said it.
BrianB on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 1:04 pm
“Mc Cain is favored over Obama outside Metro Manila?”
Guys, racism is the biggest moral problem of this country. I’m only repeating myself, of course. Stop labelling it colonial mentality; it’s racism.
mlq3 on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 1:32 pm
it’s the question of what happens when a domestic social contract now has an international dimension. trickle down, ideally, in that government benefits from the regular injection of foreign exchange into the domestic economy. government then should, ideally, use whatever trickle down it gains by means of direct and indirect taxes to building a homeland worth retiring in for ofws. not to mention the fees and other income (passports, among others) government extracts from ofws.
if the ofw labors abroad to build up their families, government ought to labor to build a positive environment from the doorstep of the ofw family onwards. but also, then the obligation is for government to labor to extend protection to ofws abroad, something the bureaucracy has had to be dragged kicking and screaming to do.
cvj on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 2:00 pm
The social contract, unfortunately, is biased against the locally-based salaryman (or salarywoman) , mostly from the middle class, who are subject to high rates of income tax up to one-third of their income. Here in Singapore, income tax is very much less (typically not more than one month’s salary). Unfortunately, the trend with the recent laws is for the income tax-base to become much narrower owing to exemptions of low income earners.
BrianB on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 8:41 pm
Manolo, I think point is this country has become too dependent on OFW and government instead of competing with entities abroad trying culling our labor force is doing more than just encourage mothers and fathers to leave their family for money and is actually institutionalizing this source of money.
Going abroad for your family (i.e. leaving them) cannot be downplayed and the sacrifice underestimated. Government is doing the exact opposite of its side of the social contract. Instead of minimizing the pai of family members leaving it is seen as promoting it. In other words, they should be ashamed but instead we see the grin on their faces widen as more Filipinos go abroad and bring back more money.
Carl on Tue, 28th Oct 2008 10:48 pm
mlq3 you are back in fiery form with that inquirer column!
now that the administration’s behavior for dealing with senate inquiry fugitives has all been reduced to a science, im wondering how they will get out of this one.
grd on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 12:14 am
joc-joc is back! abangan ang susunod na kabanata.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 12:55 am
If the senators especially Miriam’s cohorts do their jobs the same ferocity as they did in the “one session-question-answer-conviction” of the EURO GENERALS, the NBN, the Hello Garci, Comelec computer fiasco and others are gone as of this writing. Note the scathing questions of Santiago to Puno and others which should have been asked to those under scrutiny in other Senate hearings. Well, she is really a fan of Puno.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 1:12 am
Bakit kapag ang mga Filipino o mga puti umayon sa mga kalahi o di kaya’y puti at sumalungat sa mga may kulay, tawag kaagad ng iba prejudice? Hindi ba’t almost 90% ng mga may kulay boto kay BHO? Ano ngayon ang tawag nila sa ‘di bumoto sa mga puti at 90% na bumoto kay BHO?
I think Filipinos are almost equally divided on this, maybe more inclined to vote Democrats (for BHO) as shown in the demographics in east and west coasts and whites as of now are in favor of BHO. So, this argument of prejudice based on votes I think is only in your dreams. I think, race is not a factor, voters nowadays have enough education and dignity not to make it so.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 1:51 am
“The World Citizens Prefer Obama to McCain by Nearly 4-to-1.â€
It is very simple, they are not the one getting taxed.
Obama said he will tax the rich – those that earn $250k or more. That is not the complete picture.
He will tax the middle class by lifting the cap on social security tax currently at $102,500. Meaning, all my earnings beyond $102,500 will be taxed at 6% and matched by another 6% by my employer. That is 12% tax on earnings beginning at $102,500.
Joe the plumber made sense. It is not only the rich but Middle class Americans will be tax more to give freebies to those who were not paying tax at all.
nash on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 1:56 am
joc joc is playing the best delaying tactic in the book…
sakit-sakitan kunwari…..
ganyan rin tactic ni Mr 20% Zardari. When he was asked to appear in court to face charges, his laywer said he was may sakit and had depression and dementia….now look at him, he is Pakistan’s president…
Joc joc Bolante for 2010!
nash on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 1:58 am
kulang pa ba ang $102K a year? how much more do you need before you live a comfy life?
be christian, give to tax so that healthcare and university education will be free. spread the wealth ika nga…
mlq3 on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 2:02 am
Brian, I agree.They’re milking cows. Government should view every OFW as an economic refugee, an indictment of our society and government. Every OFW success is a triumph for the OFW and their family but not the state or the country or society at large.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 2:15 am
“kulang pa ba ang $102K a year? how much more do you need before you live a comfy life?”
Nash – it is a question of entitlement. I pay my taxes so it can put into good use. Obama tax plan is entitlement by giving my taxes to people who did not even pay tax. I have seen able bodied more capable Americans who are healthier than me, not working but paid liquour with welfare money in the grocery store.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 2:23 am
“be christian, give to tax so that healthcare and university education will be free. spread the wealth ika nga…”
Nash – I participated in the church program for the needy and rehabilitation. I donated to charities. I paid tax property funding university education and various state, local and community services.
What the heck is giving my tax to Obama so he can give freebies to those not contributing to the government? I can do it better by sending to people in the Philippines.
Pilipinoparin on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 2:26 am
One woman with eight children on welfare in Columbia SC asked the governor..why can’t you increase my monthly welfare check?
That was a long time ago, same thing is happening now, and more of them are lining up and not seeking jobs! The mantra “distribute the wealth”, never mind the effect on initiative and free enterprise.
nash on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 3:17 am
He needs the tax to stem your budget deficit and pay for the wars in iraq and afghanistan…
The next president could however ignore this and just let the future generation shoulder the cost.
Besides, you are not in the Philippines anymore. Relatively, taxes do work for you in the USA.
Anyways, methinks the main problem really is ensuring that the tax is not siphoned off by the cheaters, not the taxation itself…
And yes, everyone hates those who are able bodied and don’t make their welfare cheques work for them by getting qualifications.
Solly on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 3:23 am
The EITC (earned income tax credit) is the largest poverty reduction program in the United States. Almost 21 million American families received more than $36 billion in refunds through the EITC in 2004. These EITC dollars had a significant impact on the lives and communities of the nation’s lowest paid working people, lifting more than 5 million of these families above the federal poverty line. The EITC is redistribution — EITC uses tax revenues to provide additional income to people below certain income levels (the lower the income, the larger the EITC amount).
This redistribution-of-wealth tax-code item was enacted by Gerald Ford and then re-enacted and expanded in 1986 by Ronald Reagan (a good pal of Gorbachev).
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 3:39 am
“Anyways, methinks the main problem really is ensuring that the tax is not siphoned off by the cheaters, not the taxation itself…”
That is the irony, nobody is plugging the holes but willing to kill the chickens that lay the golden eggs.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 3:51 am
Solly – on the basis of your statement that at least 5 of 21 million were impacted, that is not significant. The other 76% which is really significant is not impacted, a huge waste.
However, EITC program maybe needed more by Barack when he will figure later of increasing unemployment due to job flights as a result of higher taxes and everpowerful union.
hawaiianguy on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 3:58 am
As usual, many don’t expect much from Bolante’s return. Will it change things? For me, it’s business as usual – this govt will do everything possible to cover up its dirty tracks.
rego on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 4:02 am
“Obama said he will tax the rich – those that earn $250k or more. That is not the complete picture.”
I dont think this fear of Obama raising taxing will hold. You can gauge this by the contirbution being poured to Obama campaigns they are the same businesmen men and middle class who are being drawn into fear by the Mc campaign.
This is actually one of the thing that I admired from Obama. It woudl be so easy for Obama to say that he will not raise taxes just for the sake of being eleced . (Just like what Mc Cain is promising.) But then here is a leader who is asking the citizen to do some sacrifice for teh sake of moving on the economy and the country. He effectively communicated how he is going to execute it and the plan on what going to do with the money. ( even during his conversation with joe the plumber, he just simply answered the question by saying Yes, Im going to raise taxes and it could affect peopel like you but woudl help help peopel on the lower income bracket to The people listened and was willing to do the sacrifice so they are still voting for him.
Obama has just a very good ability to inspire people compared to Mc Cain. And that to me is a very good quality or character of a leader.
Im am also thinking that there some political genius on this plan of raising taxes. Obama can still opt not toraise taxes if its not really needed and if there are other sources for money than taxes. And that will get him even more closer to people.
Compared that to Mc Cains campaign promise not to raise taxes . Then later on because of really bad economy or other reasons, you really really need to raise the tax. That woudl have a very negative impact on Mc Cain when he got elected
rego on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 4:16 am
“However, EITC program maybe needed more by Barack when he will figure later of increasing unemployment due to job flights as a result of higher taxes and everpowerful union.”
But it could happen the other way too. By raising the taxes and strengthening those on the lower income bracket, small businesses will have more more customers thus propping up the business.
Not doing anything for the lower income bracket or not raising taxes the Mc Cain way will just leave the small businesses they way they are now, less and less people coming to their establishment that may eventually lead to closure of the business and a complete loss of all jobs in that establishment.
rego on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 4:49 am
Actually, Mc Cains campign has been distorting the Obama tax plan where Joe the plumber will end up in better situation than with Mc Cains.
http://www.webfilehost.com/images/tax-plan.php
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1031268,CST-NWS-tax30.article
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jun2008/db20080611_220050.htm
http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/economy/candidates_taxproposals_tpc/?postversion=2008061113
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/06/mccain_vs_obama_on_taxes.html
http://www.wlwt.com/money/17781452/detail.html
http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/obama-vs-mccain-tax-plans-obama-saves-you-more.html
Solly on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 6:51 am
That cnn-article dated June 11/2008 is very detailed in computing the tax-payment changes based on the 2 plans:.
Yrly AGI McCain Obama
$603K and up -$45,361 +$115,974
$227K-$603K -$7,871 +$12
$161K-$227K -$4,380 -$2,789
$112K-$161K -$2,614 -$2,204
$66K-$112K -$1,009 -$1,290
$38K-$66K -$319 -$1,042
It is not that Obama is raising taxes… it is more that McCain is giving away money to those earning more than $600-K a year.
To remember… all it takes is for the spouse to lose her job and the AGI-base drops big-time; then the Obama numbers really hit home.
leytenian on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 7:21 am
The main purpose of cutting taxes is to generate employment and to stimulate the economy thru increasing disposable income. When dodong takes home more money, he will have extra cash to buy goods from small to large businesses in his neighborhood. Those businesses will slowly grow because their service and products are being utilized and bought by dodong. ( example)
The reason why I don’t like to be taxed heavily because I am an employer. I have a duty to keep my employees who rely on my expertise to maintain their jobs to feed their families. Tax me higher, I can guarantee you , i will cut labor costs first and may probably lower budgets on advertising and marketing. You see, even the marketing and advertising firms who also hires employee can get hurt. Multiply the effect of unemployment due to higher taxation.
If I have extra cash, I will finish the school in my hometown ( Philippines) My vision and my life goal. I am not giving my extra money to lazy people in america. They have no excuse because the silver platter is right in front of them. The opposite is true for Philippine economy. My extra money and dodong’s extra money are only to help the lives of my own people, Philippines. I have no rooms for sympathy to the lazy here in the US. Been there done that. It’s not the government fault’s but an individual’s fault.
In the Philippines, it is the government’s fault but not the people.
That’s difference between US and Philippines. One cannot compare. Welfare is needed in Philippines, therefore Obama’s skill is good for third world country.
leytenian on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 7:51 am
Yes vote Obama because he will move to Philippines.
he will distribute wealth and penalize the elites . He is also perfect for Kenya.
leytenian on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 7:53 am
Obama is now a Fugitive
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 8:00 am
“It is not that Obama is raising taxes… ”
Solly – it is easy to say that if you are paying less or no tax at all. Currently, 40% of my earnings went straight to taxes. Under Obama, I could be paying up to 55% without increase in benefits. Worst, I could be jobless if the Company decided to relocate to Canada – then I can take Obama’s entitlement for its moneys worth and not work anymore.
“all it takes is for the spouse to lose her job and the AGI-base drops big-time; then the Obama numbers really hit home”
Yes without job, one can get welfare check plus eic money, best incentive for freeloading. Thanks for converting free enterprise into welfare economy.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 8:18 am
“I dont think this fear of Obama raising taxing will hold. You can gauge this by the contirbution being poured to Obama campaigns they are the same businesmen men and middle class who are being drawn into fear by the Mc campaign.”
True. Barack campaign contributions is amazing and unmatched in history because it is coming from the masses in small amounts and not big money from special interest group. That is why it can spend the money without restriction and not subject to spending limit. This also tell that working population under 100k income are behind him and not the business owners.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 8:26 am
“By raising the taxes and strengthening those on the lower income bracket, small businesses will have more more customers thus propping up the business.”
For us who made business decisions like Leytenian, our first response during tax increase will be cutting costs. Labor cost is on the line and we will consolidate jobs to fewer people and send more workers to the unemployment line and take Obama’s entitlement.
leytenian on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 8:45 am
Higher taxation will result to further unemployment. It is the small businesses, medium businesses and larger businesses who can employ the people not US government.
The result: the US government will pay unemployment benefits for six months, plus housing subsidies, welfare and healthcare for all mentally sick and entitled
vote NOBAMA
Solly on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 10:21 am
leytenian and d0d0ng: I sense that you are both in pain. The thought that Obama will soon be elected president of US-of-A must be giving you nightmares. I have this thought that Obama will carry Florida, too, leytenian’s race-baiting has not worked!!
Now, don’t forget you still have to pay your taxes even if it is Barack Hussein Obama who is president. Unless you want to move to Canada. See, even nash understands that you need to pay taxes to pay for the damn Iraqi war
that Republicans Cheney and Bush got the country into because they were too lazy.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 11:38 am
“don’t forget you still have to pay your taxes even if it is Barack”
True, we just send somebody to the unemployment line and use aggressively few tax avoidance measures.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 11:49 am
“I sense that you are both in pain.”
If you mean of the American dream to get rich through hardwork and be heavily taxed than the slackers, then my answer is yes.
nash on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 6:09 pm
@leytenian
titah, hindi ka naman apektado dahil you earn more than $250K a year like joe da tubero.
sobra na iyon to live on.
i have childhood friends serving in both iraq and afghanistan, wala na sila boots tsaka bala tsaka cruise missile tsaka kevlar vests. i want to be able to see them for our next re-union. they need to be funded.
ambag ambag naman in tax.
UP n grad on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 8:31 pm
d00d0ng: worst, though, are those who when unable to negotiate the political processes, then do what your friends in the MILF do —- burn villages. Someone did ask “sleeper” about you. I actually don’t think that Mccain likes your support.
UP n grad on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 8:40 pm
racist leytenian… there is room in USA for her. slackers, yes. sleepers, no.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 10:43 pm
Upn – by the way MILF cost Arroyo P600 million to-date in military operation and 42 dead soldiers just going after ghost commanders boldly taunting the gov’t in Utube. It is a big slap in the face and reality check.
d0d0ng on Wed, 29th Oct 2008 10:53 pm
“i have childhood friends serving in both iraq and afghanistan, wala na sila boots tsaka bala tsaka cruise missile tsaka kevlar vests. i want to be able to see them for our next re-union. they need to be funded.”
nash – the democrat controlled house had been cutting the military budget. You can ask Barrack and his party members to support your friends.
UP n grad on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 5:20 am
d00d0ng: your interpretation of cost of pursuit of Kato-etcetera is colored by your sympathy for Kato-village-burning tactics against civilians.
leytenian on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 6:26 am
Obama ,a Marxist , dates back in College Years
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/10/28/obama-affinity-marxists-dates-college-days/
rego on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 8:30 am
“True. Barack campaign contributions is amazing and unmatched in history because it is coming from the masses in small amounts and not big money from special interest group. That is why it can spend the money without restriction and not subject to spending limit. This also tell that working population under 100k income are behind him and not the business owners.”
I dont know how the masses can attend an Obama fundraising dinner worth something like 2,000 a plate…
rego on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 8:34 am
The truth is Obama campaigh fund is coming from all types of people. Can you imagine how much money was donated by Warren Buffet, the no 2 richest man in the world who is vocal Obama supporter and is part of the his Economic group of advisers?
rego on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 8:58 am
“For us who made business decisions like Leytenian, our first response during tax increase will be cutting costs. Labor cost is on the line and we will consolidate jobs to fewer people and send more workers to the unemployment line and take Obama’s entitlement.”.
Of course, Im a businessman too the iimmediate thing to do is to cut labors cost. I even do a project with me alone these days to cut operating cost. But as businessnes picks up. You decision woudl be to hire people. All im saying is that Obams plan can makes business pick up when people in lower income bracket starts have more money.
But with Mc Cain plan, how would masses make thier living condition better?. If the masse do not get help and the current situation is maintain. how will the small businesses that is losing right now can recover?. I dont think the can rely on the rich people for that. The rich people is stil rich until now yet the econmy is not moving. After all I dont think they spend their money on small businesses like Joe the plumber. Chances are they have their regular and big time Plumbing company that maintained their houses already.
As the masses start losing money, thats where the small business start to loss their business too. So the chances of Joe the plumbers. business to grow really relies on the masses. I dont think Joe the plumber can easilly penetrate and get the share of plumbing needs of the rich people. He has to start wcatering the plumbing needs of the masses. (Thats how I started my own company before i get the business of maintaining the houses of teh rich people)
Take note that masses is far greater in number than the then the rich people. You can go back to the logic on your postings on Obamas campaig fund where you ssaid that the bulk of the money came from the masses…
You can also revisit the the economic sucess story of China and India. The strongest econoy right now which is driven by spending of the masses.
I really believe this is the essence of Obama’s tax plan .
rego on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 9:11 am
Come to think of it. Mc Cain is claiming that he too is a candidate of change just like Obama. But where is the change if he is just maintaining the status qou like his tax plan?
grd on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 10:23 am
“True. Barack campaign contributions is amazing and unmatched in history because it is coming from the masses in small amounts and not big money from special interest group.” dodong
hmmm, the silent ones are contributing funds to the Obama campaign. but they will actually vote for Mc Cain… you know, the Bradley effect.
leytenian on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 11:18 am
it’s the economy stupid- which tax policy?
“The impact of the tax code on economic activity under each candidate’s policies would differ in several important ways. Under Senator McCain’s proposed policies, the top marginal rates (35 percent on individual income and 25 percent on corporate income) would be significantly lower than under Senator Obama’s plan (39.6 and 35 percent, respectively). McCain’s reduced individual and corporate rates could improve economic efficiency and increase domestic investment, but the larger future deficits would reduce and could completely offset any positive effect. In contrast, Senator Obama’s proposed new tax credits could encourage desirable behavior, particularly if the childless EITC and payroll tax rebate encourage additional labor supply among childless low-income individuals. However, he would also direct new subsidies at an already favored group-seniors -and an already favored activity-borrowing for housing-which could probably be better directed elsewhere.”
leytenian on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 11:26 am
Tax Foundation economists have described Barack Obama’s tax plan as an advancement of redistribution, focusing on dividing the “economic pie”, while John McCain’s tax plan places more emphasis on “growing the pie.”
what economic pie Obama? the US is in financial crisis. Let’s grow the pie first then distribute.
UP n grad on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 12:48 pm
For a moment, set aside the US elections (because whoever wins, the policy of the 2009-White-House-resident won’t be felt until 2010. But there is an immediate need right now Oct/Nov 2008. USA charitable organizations need donations.
Los Angeles SPCA (donations have gone down 50%) to start putting dogs under soon. Way less funds while more dogs and cats are being turned in by pet-owners experiencing financial problems.
Salvation Army (organization helps people, not animals), Toys for Tots and meals-on-wheels also needs help now.
NOTE for those who want to be of help to the Philippines…. the Ayala-Foundation-USA can be used by US based residents to send $$$ to Philippine organizations (like Igorota, de La Salle, Ateneo, UST Indigency Clinic, South Cotabato Foundation Inc).
UP n grad on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 1:17 pm
to leytenian: you can send tax-deductible contribution to Ayala foundation USA to benefit Leyte. Assign your $$$ to PAGTINABANGAY FOUNDATION, INC..
grd on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 1:24 pm
“by the way MILF cost Arroyo P600 million to-date in military operation and 42 dead soldiers just going after ghost commanders boldly taunting the gov’t in Utube. It is a big slap in the face and reality check.†dodong
well, contrary to your earlier claim, the govt or the military did not just stand idly and watch lawless elements run havoc on hapless civilians and properties. against your illogical thinking, the govt sensibly protected its citizens against anarchist and rightly so no matter what the cost was. as for BJE, it’s now dead. you’re proven wrong again.
now, compare that cost to the US military operation in Iraq. where those people they are supposed to be protecting are the ones who are against them. huge? isn’t that a real slap in the face? and you still blame democrats why the Iraq budget was slashed (where you’re not supposed to be there in the first place). that’s reality check. go figure.
UP n grad on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 8:22 pm
Bush economic policies of deregulated unmonitored trickle-down economics (tax-cuts for the $800K-a-year so they can hire more blah-blah-blah like leytenian says) has guided US economy for past years. The result is what we see — joblessness is rising, the economy is tanking. I can absorb and my neighbors can all absorb a 10% or 15% tax increase. We grumble, but we all can take the increase. This makes it easier for me to worry more about the teachers in the classroom or the engineers monitoring our computer systems, and yes, the policemen and the soldiers.
d00d0ng: You should be scared but you are scared of the wrong thing. You should be scared of stupidly flawed economic policies which can result in you being unemployed, because apparently you are not indispensable in your company. You should be scared of stuplidly flawed economic policies. Yes, unemployment is getting worse. In just the last two weeks, the list of companies announcing their intention to cut workers has read like a Who’s Who of corporate America: Merck, Yahoo, General Electric, Xerox, Pratt & Whitney, Goldman Sachs, Whirlpool, Bank of America, Alcoa, Coca-Cola, the Detroit automakers and nearly all the airlines.
You may get your pink slip before Bush leaves office. But worse is to come by June-2009. Unemployment is predicted to be 30% higher even before Mccain’s (or Obama’s) economic policies get written into law.
The Republican deregulated unmonitored trickle-down economics with tax-cuts for the $800K-a-year??? Seriously, you can’t want more of the same.
By the way —- marriages break up big-time when money-problems (e.g. one spouse or the other) loses his/her job.
leytenian on Thu, 30th Oct 2008 8:34 pm
The democrats will continue with their entitlement mentality, the Change we can believe in?
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 5:01 am
rego on, “You can also revisit the the economic sucess story of China and India. The strongest econoy right now which is driven by spending of the masses. ”
That is exactly why China is booming because of mass employment as a result of government incentives to manufacturers or producers as opposed to giving handouts or entitlement to people. Barack tax plan will kill manufacturers or producers by relocating to other countries with less tax and less union threats and thus will drive up unemployment in the future, worsening the current financial crises with mass layoffs – a wrong direction.
Even China and India recognized that a strong economy is grounded on strong business performance that generates employment not entitlement from the state to the people.
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 5:10 am
“your interpretation of cost of pursuit of Kato-etcetera is colored by your sympathy for Kato-village-burning tactics against civilians.”
Upn – that is purely your interpretation while the cost is actual as reported by Daily Inquirer. The soldiers however, are needing more bullets. Army Lt Col Cebrian in charge of pursuit is a classmate of my older brother.
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 5:20 am
“I dont know how the masses can attend an Obama fundraising dinner worth something like 2,000 a plate…”
Rego, you don’t have to. Just getting to Obama’s website will prompt you for donation $20 $50 $100 $250 $500 $1000 $2300 and others -you specify the amount. In addition as a requirement, a disclosure is needed that it is not coming from a corporation, labor organization (even if it is), or provided by foreign agent or another person.
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 5:44 am
“Can you imagine how much money was donated by Warren Buffet, the no 2 richest man in the world who is vocal Obama supporter and is part of the his Economic group of advisers?”
Warren is receiving a modest annual salary of $100k as CEO and lived in a house worth $750k. I, Leytenian or anybody could be richer by that standard. But we know Warren’s net worth is $62+ billion. Warren is pragmatist and prudent investor. This is to say he rather go with Obama and become his Treasury Secretary and keep the union on leash from touching his network of companies with large manpower. Same strategy employed by Hillary Clinton while sitting at the board in America’s number one company -Wallmart.
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 6:08 am
grd on, “the govt sensibly protected its citizens against anarchist and rightly so no matter what the cost was. as for BJE, it’s now dead. you’re proven wrong again.”
Arroyo’s interest was on MOA-AD as initialed by her trusted general. When that fell in SC, and rogue MILFs had to show its frustration on civilians, that left Arroyo no choice but military option though it is very costly as it turning out. BJE is dead but MILF is not. That doesn’t prove anything, it is just worsening the situation. Killing an initiative endorsed by both OIC and the US is not a solution.
leytenian on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 7:32 am
OBAMA: We live in a more competitive world, and that is a fact that cannot be reversed … but we must find a way to make globalisation and trade work for American workers…
McCAIN: American workers’ concerns should be addressed by helping them to adapt and compete, not retreat into isolationism and protectionism.
In terms of energy security and trade policies,I have voted for McCain because of the simple reason that I have a reasonably good idea what he wants to do. As far as Obama is concerned, I have absolutely no idea on what he wants to do except distributing wealth during a US financial mess
leytenian on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 7:34 am
Up N,
You can call me racist but here’s what statistics shows on US income.
““Overall, 86.01% of all households in the top two quintiles with upper-middle range incomes of over $55,331 were headed by a head of household who identified him or herself as White alone, while only 7.21% were being headed by someone who identified as being Hispanic and 7.37% by someone who identified as being African American or Black.â€
What is there to distribute when the pie of wealth is not even growing? It’s US financial crisis. It’s not even domestic but a global one. Think about it
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 7:43 am
grd on, “compare that cost to the US military operation in Iraq. where those people they are supposed to be protecting are the ones who are against them. huge? isn’t that a real slap in the face? and you still blame democrats why the Iraq budget was slashed (where you’re not supposed to be there in the first place).”
The operation is primarily US interest not Iraqi’s so we don’t expect Iraqi’s to embrace it. As Alan Greenspan said it is oil. It is up to Nash (as my response was directed) who was seeking support of funding his childhood military friends in Iraq needing boots and vests- wether to blame the Democrats who authorized the Iraqi war and later on cut the budget when it became unpopular.
Solly on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 7:45 am
leytenian: you got it right on both counts. To repeat what dear whitey-girl leytenian has said more than once : “send back those brown- and black-colored back to where they came from.” Shoot, d00d0ng if he’s the cerebral type should be scared to have you walking behind him, you’re just as likely to throw d00d0ng under the bus as the latino gardener.
And yes, the wealth-pie has shrunk. Because of the same Republican policies that McCain continues.
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 8:09 am
rego on, “Can you imagine how much money was donated by Warren Buffet, the no 2 richest man.”
Yes…. his endorsement, not a penny. That is good enough for Obama. The tightest wad billionaire purposely set his annual salary at minimum amount to avoid AMT and lived at the same house bought for $31k and paid the smallest property tax. In short, I am paying more taxes to the government than Warren Buffet. Under Obama’s tax plan, Warren’s 100k annual salary will not be hit by social security tax when the $102k cap is lifted and spared from high tax rate on $250k.
I never heard of CEO wanted to live like Warren where you cannot enjoy your money.
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 8:22 am
upn on, “You should be scared of stupidly flawed economic policies which can result in you being unemployed, because apparently you are not indispensable in your company”.
I am privy to my company business plan and budget. In short, we are not affected by recent financial crises. So you can rest I will not be unemployed. But in management, we assess future political costs of running business due to higher taxes and liberalized union. The risks are more pronounced in Obama than McCain.
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 8:34 am
Solly, take it easy. As you know, Leytenian “send back those brown- and black-colored back to where they came from†is a figure of speech. But if those brown and black colored are paying customers, Leytenian would be happy to serve them in her business including Barack just in case.
leytenian on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 9:03 am
Solly,
“And yes, the wealth-pie has shrunk. Because of the same Republican policies that McCain continues.”
you are a typical pinoy who always point a finger instead of making a solution. Bush will not matter- the problem is right in front of us. We can only learn but not keep on blaming.
true, send back those black lazy ass…
to where? don’t worry, Mr Obama will distribute the pie that is not even there. good luck
rego on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 9:34 am
“That is exactly why China is booming because of mass employment as a result of government incentives to manufacturers or producers as opposed to giving handouts or entitlement to people. Barack tax plan will kill manufacturers or producers by relocating to other countries with less tax and less union threats and thus will drive up unemployment in the future, worsening the current financial crises with mass layoffs – a wrong direction.”
Your talking about big businesses which is already out of the country. Obama tax plan is all about strengthening middle and lower class that is why taxes will be lowered on the lower bracket. Create small business amonhg themselve and create employment among them selves.
rego on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 9:37 am
Note too that the lay-offs is already happening now .
rego on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 9:46 am
“For us who made business decisions like Leytenian, our first response during tax increase will be cutting costs. Labor cost is on the line and we will consolidate jobs to fewer people and send more workers to the unemployment line and take Obama’s entitlement.”
It s not clear to me what kind of busines you own, but I believe that the current problem of the small business owners is that less and less peopel are coming in to buy their good and services.
With that the immediate concern is where to get the money , for the rent that is due by the end of the month, workers salary is due by weekends. elevctric bills etc etc. This is already the situtation right now . The tax problem will come next year pa eh . People are being laid off not by the tax but by the current econcomic condition.
rego on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 9:50 am
“Even China and India recognized that a strong economy is grounded on strong business performance that generates employment not entitlement from the state to the people.”
I dont think Obama promised entitlement from the people. What is being promised is stregnthening for the lower and middle class. And it was explained that one wy to achieve it is by lowering the tax .
rego on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 9:59 am
Tax Foundation economists have described Barack Obama’s tax plan as an advancement of redistribution, focusing on dividing the “economic pieâ€, while John McCain’s tax plan places more emphasis on “growing the pie.â€
One of the major defect of Mc Cain campign is the lack of proper articulation of their proposed policies. while Obam has explained very well is empowerement of teh middle and lower class, Th eMc Cain campign has wasted their time and resources on the negatiove campaign that did not help them and just made them really negative in and low to the eyes of the undecided voters.
The should spend so much time explanaing ho wthey are going to create wealth and and grow teh pie.
But then how can you explain that to the people when you are just following up and maintaning the current tax policies that did not create wealth at all and push down a lot of people to the lower income bracket. Even worst is than when you look at the economy right now its really really bad. So will teh peopel buy this campaign promised? I dont think so.
rego on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 10:02 am
“Yes…. his endorsement, not a penny. That is good enough for Obama. The tightest wad billionaire purposely set his annual salary at minimum amount to avoid AMT and lived at the same house bought for $31k and paid the smallest property tax. In short, I am paying more taxes to the government than Warren Buffet. Under Obama’s tax plan, Warren’s 100k annual salary will not be hit by social security tax when the $102k cap is lifted and spared from high tax rate on $250k. ”
But his business empire is giving so many jobs to teh people. His AMT maybe low but his company business is definitely paying a lot of taxes.
leytenian on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 10:03 am
rego,
the tax plan for both candidates is just an extension to the current tax plan that will expire in 2010. the difference
Mccain: will retain and lower taxation on businesses to stimulate the economy. corporation taxation are oftentimes deferred with interest payment. lowering actual cost will eventually keep employee and rehire the unemployed
Obama: will retain same as mccain on low income and middle class except Obama will tax anyone who will make $250,000/year because he would like to distribute the pie.
you made a good point: People are being laid off not by the tax but by the current econcomic condition.
you are right.. it’s the economy. Now my question, which tax policy will stimulate the economy?
On recent Rassmussen polls -McCain Trusted More on Taxes and Economy
rego on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 10:04 am
Rego, you don’t have to. Just getting to Obama’s website will prompt you for donation $20 $50 $100 $250 $500 $1000 $2300 and others -you specify the amount. In addition as a requirement, a disclosure is needed that it is not coming from a corporation, labor organization (even if it is), or provided by foreign agent or another person.
I dont know know how can this be a minus point for Obama. To me it only shows that he can mobilized all sectors of the society that is from top to bottom.
UP n grad on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 11:45 am
leytenian: Only the real-Americans trust McCain more on taxes and economy…. not the fake Americans.
Michigan is fake-America; McCain campaign has already left that state. California (too many Hispanic Americans, plus those Filipinos in Daly City) another fake-America — McCain the loser. McCain loses in New York (too many New Yorkers). McCain loses Pennsylvania— too many hunters. McCain loses Virginia (too many Johnny Rebs). McCain for sure loses Washington DC (too many government employees). McCain loses Nevada — fake-Americans (gamblers and divorce folks, and Latino union workers at those casinos) — will vote Obama into White House. Florida, too (too many Cuban-Americans). McCain loses Hawaii (too many Ilocanos and Japanese-Americans).
And it is getting more and more likely that McCain may even lose Arizona his own home-state!!!
nash on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 6:23 pm
real americans? The Native American Indians?
meron palang ‘fake’ americans? show teri hatcher those diplomas and nbi clearances again.
nash on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 6:31 pm
hay naku stop complaining about this tax tax ano. as if. buti nga it’s not being stolen by people like joc joc. maayos naman ang mga kalsada, patubig, primary education etc sa usa dahil sa tax na iyan.
it’s so little.
and seriously, what is $10,000 to someone who earns $250,000 (net ha hindi gross)????
anong pinagkaiba ng ‘needy’ as identified by the church kung saan tayo nagbibigay ng tithes sa ‘needy’ na talagang naghihirap as identified by the state?
anong pinagkaiba ng recipients ng ofw remittances sa pinas na lima ang anak at umaasa nalang sa handouts ni itay/inay/ate/kuya na tagahugas ng pwet sa nursing home sa states sa mga welfare cheats?? may pinagkaiba ba iyon?
nash on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 9:48 pm
“mccain: will retain and lower taxation on businesses to stimulate the economy. ”
which will cost you in the long run because it balloons the budget deficit which came with bush (clinton had a surplus)
nash on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 9:56 pm
“I have absolutely no idea on what he wants to do except distributing wealth during a US financial mess” – leytenian.
Unless you live in an enchanted kingdom where it is not the case, competent governments have been redistributing wealth since time immemorial. That is their role. Panahon pa ni Kristo yan, nung sinabi niyang magbayad tayo ng buwis.
Hence, both the billionare who paid $33M in taxes and the minimum wager who paid $1k benefit from the same common infrastructure, the police, the fire service…etc that is funded from this pool of money called buwis.
Otherwise, if it were not equitably redistributed eh di yung mayayaman lang ang may mga kalsada, pulis, patubig, at kuryente.
And when you think about it, there are far far richer people above you (as there are below you) who are paying higher taxes who think the same way and would rather their tax was not ‘redistributed’. If this desire were to be carried out in practice, imagine nalang..
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 10:12 pm
nash on, “both the billionare who paid $33M in taxes and the minimum wager who paid $1k benefit from the same common infrastructure, the police, the fire service…etc that is funded from this pool of money called buwis.”
It is easy to say that unless you are the billionaire paying $33M taxes. With the prospect of paying another $5M under Obama, I rather relocate production to Mexico and get savings from cheap labor.
UP n grad on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 10:49 pm
d00d0ng: You are confused. You are confusing personal income tax with corporate tax.
————
nash: There is no class-warfare in the US. Differences of opinion, yes, but many of the above-$1-million-a-year households of USA are accepting of the Obama tax-proposal and can see beyond the natural greed of deciding solely on the basis of “I get to keep more of my income by retaining Bush tax cuts”..
The thought of more hundred-dollar-bills in one’s wallet gets overriden by other issues — who has the better economic plan, who has the better approach to Afghanistan/Pakistan/Iraq, who has the better plan for educational programs and keeping America competitive; who has the better energy plan. McCain has spent a lot of time about Obama-the-socialist and Obama-the-friend of Ayers, and that’s just about it. One can only conclude that the Republican McCain then continues the Republican policies (tax-cuts for the wealthy, Iraq war, persistent hunt for sleepers). In contrast, Obama has begun to talk more about infrastructure projects. While past-8-years Republican economics has saddled USA with unbelievable debt and the country has nothing to show for it (e.g. still has crumbling bridges; chemical plants remain unprotected, others), Obama has started some of his economic teams to look into government-sponsored projects to strengthen USA electricity-grid and enhance port- and chemical-plant security as well as regulatory plus incentives so that Detroit builds the cars that the US and the world needs for the next 20 years (i.e. more fuel-efficient).
UP n grad on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 10:54 pm
But anyway, Obama-versus-Mccain status is in this electoral-vote count. 270 needed to win and Obama is 300-plus.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/
d0d0ng on Fri, 31st Oct 2008 11:16 pm
“Note too that the lay-offs is already happening now .”
And more to go when Obama tax plan will be implemented.
I will let you read this link, when Obama tax plan put United States as second to Hungary with highest tax in the world.
http://www.heritage.org/research/Taxes/wm1973.cfm
1. The highest since Jimmy Carter (you know what happened during Carter Administration).
2. Top marginal rate would exceed 60%.
3. People like me will pay over 2/3 of each dollar earning in excess of 102k to the federal.
4. Increase tax avoidance.
5. Migration of capital, move assets abroad.
6. Reduce investment.
7. Diversion of funds slowdown economy.
8. Increase unemployment.
9. Harm overall economy.
10. Overall tax plan increases national deficit.
“Economists usually argue a great deal about what effect minor changes in the tax code will have on incentives to work. However, the Obama plan calls for a tax increase so large that economists will be focusing on the harm to the overall economy rather than just the isolated effects on labor and on capital.”
Good luck to Obama believers. They can wait for his entitlement while labor and capital will be moving to competitive market.
d0d0ng on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 12:42 am
rego on, “What is being promised is stregnthening for the lower and middle class.”
According to Gerald Prante of Tax Foundation, “In the long-run, Obama’s tax plan that increases taxes on upper-income owners of capital could lead to LOWER wages for the middle-class.” Further, “that amount is unlikely to offset the pure redistribution of dollars that is flowing from upper-income to the middle-class through his tax proposals”.
That is not strengthening middle class at all aside from facing layoffs.
UP n grad on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 1:05 am
…. could…. could lead to lower wages.
like if USA invades Iraq, the US troops could find the WMD that Saddam denies that he has.
——-
And d00d0ng…. you may have missed the donut hole in Obama’s social-security-tax proposal. You were reading the Heritage Foundation analysis, and still you missed the donut hole, you have to pay attention to details, you know.
nash on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 2:11 am
@dodong
don’t worry, since I’m not a us citizen, I am rooting for mccain-palin to win since the very beginning.
i think it will be interesting…
besides, whoever the next president is, he will be hated quickly because he has to put some very unpalatable policies due to the global recession, budget deficit, and the endless search for WMDs.
let’s prove the pollster wrong and that god is on mccain’s side.
cheers
grd on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 2:39 am
“like if USA invades Iraq, the US troops could find the WMD that Saddam denies that he has.” UPn
well, dodong just made an admission. the US fooled the world and its allies. there’s no WMD, it’s all about OIL… and make life better for americans.
on taxes, dodong and leytenian are so greedy they worry too much about paying more as if their president Obama will make their lives miserable. maybe they should seek advise from bill gates or dylan wilks.
grd on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 2:45 am
“let’s prove the pollster wrong and that god is on mccain’s side.” nash
??? relihiyoso ka pala nash. so, you think God is on gloria’s side?
d0d0ng on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 5:45 am
“And d00d0ng…. you may have missed the donut hole in Obama’s social-security-tax proposal.”
On the contrary, you sound like donut hole is a nice word. Not at all. For medicare retirees donut hole is a nightmare, figure out why before embracing the donut hole in Barack’s social security tax.
d0d0ng on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 5:58 am
“the US fooled the world and its allies”
Excuse me. The United States of America went into war unilaterally. It is free world. Any country made its free choice like France.
d0d0ng on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 6:04 am
“dodong and leytenian are so greedy they worry too much about paying more”
where have you been on tax101? Tax should be fair. Otherwise, you are penalizing the very productive segment of the society and rewarding those that do not contribute. America is built on free enterprise and not on socialist or communist ideals. Certainly, it is not a welfare state.
d0d0ng on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 6:18 am
“Warren Buffet -his company business is definitely paying a lot of taxes”
The same where I have my investment, the companies are paying a lot of taxes. It is the distribution that counts where the tax bite most. The tight wad Warren created his foundation to avoid personal tax and so is Bill Gates. So who is really paying the taxes. It is us the middle income earners.
leytenian on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 7:59 am
Obama is a social climber not a socialist.
nash on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 9:09 am
“It is easy to say that unless you are the billionaire paying $33M taxes. With the prospect of paying another $5M under Obama, I rather relocate production to Mexico and get savings from cheap labor.”
You have to be a very selfish billionaire to feel the pain of losing 0.5%. You simply cut down on the consumption of Mouton-Rotschilds. There is no sense in moving production elsewhere because the knock-on effect of unemployment in your own backyard means no one can afford your products. This applies in smaller businesses too. You see, poor people are not good for business.
We talk about the Republican party’s main strength of ‘traditional family values’. I don’t exactly know what they mean by this but what it means to me is ‘looking out for others’. And the ‘others’ is everyone in this recession.
Bill Gates and Warren have simply redistributed their wealth to vaccine research for poorer countries which is nice of them. It’s a naive assertion but then again, the first world can afford to pay for its wars.
Bill Gates knows that he can’t sell Windows to poor africans, and neither can Warren Buffet sell Coca Cola to countries where water is scarce. They are astute businessmen. They know the long term effect to their business of these ‘charitable’ works.
nash on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 9:11 am
“Obama is a social climber not a socialist.” -leytenian
Well, he made it to Harvard and was president of the Harvard Law Review so he must be a really good social climber. In this case, it’s a good thing compared to jocjoc who stole money to hobnob with the rich.
supremo on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 1:06 pm
nash,
‘clinton had a surplus’
Clinton never had a budget surplus. It was a deficit for him too. It appeared that there was a surplus because Social Security was collecting more than it had to pay in benefits to retired persons during that time. All the Social Security surplus was used to buy U.S. Government securities which eventually ended in the budget. The last Clinton budget, even with Social Security surplus, started the string of deficits the the US government experiences today.
nash on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 3:17 pm
@supremo
really? ok. it must be smoke and mirrors then. anyways, dubya doubled the deficit into a big deep hole.
the next prez can always be papogi and ignore it and find a way to plug it outside of taxation. it’s not our problem
grd on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 5:37 pm
:Excuse me. The United States of America went into war unilaterally. It is free world. Any country made its free choice like France.” dodong
free choice my a_ _. look at what happened to those who refused to be bullied in joining the coalition of the willing. relation with the US went sour “like France”.
UP n grad on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 8:49 pm
to nash : McCain may believe in the bayanihan-spirit, but there are limits. McCain “family values” goes way beyond economics or tax-deductions for charitable contributions. I still remember when in an interview John Mccain said “in all candor that since this nation was founded primarily on Christian principles, personally, I prefer someone who has a grounding in my faith”, and that has to mean something. [Also explains Sarah Palin choice --- she shares McCain family values. Plus she has great-looking legs, as Amadeo had alluded to.]
But beaucoup Hispanics and Filipinos are running away from John McCain as they looked into the details. McCain has sought and has accepted endorsements from Rev. John Hagee, who rightfully called the Catholic Church “The Great Whore” (isn’t that the truth???). Muslims also running away from McCain (and from Pastor Rod Parsley, his “spiritual adviser,” who calls Islam a “false religion” that should be “destroyed.”) McCain has sought and accepted endorsements from evangelical Jerry Falwell, who has said, 9/11 can be blamed in part, on “the pagans and the abortionists, and the feminists and the gays and the lesbians”.
UP n grad on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 8:56 pm
Democrat-vs-Republican class warfare is not that intense (hey, a lot of card-carrying Democrats have $5Million-and-above networth and have businesses), as compared to the amalgam of culture warfare issues.
UP n grad on Sat, 1st Nov 2008 9:49 pm
Another reason that beaucoup Hispanics and Filipinos are turning away from the Republicans? Welfare!!
Actually, it is illegal migration by brown-colored peoples. Along with “… all green-card and US-citizens should speak fluent English”
which makes sense, except Republicans then say “NO!” to spending tax-money on bilingual education for Hispanics and English fluency lessons for California pinoys. 
leytenian on Tue, 4th Nov 2008 8:50 am
MCain is now leading Florida. Last week Obama was leading a 6 point lead. Now McCain is leading 1 point lead. It’s not including the majority votes for Mccain on where I live.
Go mccain go.. It’s interesting and exciting.
Motorcycle on Sun, 14th Jun 2009 5:50 pm
I too cannot figure out how they will get out of this one.