Too funny

[Mikey]

So President Musk...err...Trump wants to suspend the debt ceiling for two years so he can push through some more tax breaks next year for billionaires, adding another $5 trillion to the national debt. The bill that failed yesterday was essentially identical to the one that got pulled at Elon's command, except for the debt ceiling suspension and removing $190 million (0.0028% of the federal budget) from child cancer research. Luckily that bill also went down in flames, because 38 Republicans (the vaunted "Freedom Caucus") actually stood up to these charlatans, and we'll probably see the government shut down tomorrow. I guess they'll have to be primaried now.

Remember why "My Kev" lost the Speakership? It was at Trump's behest because he raised the debt ceiling. So raising the ceiling to pay for running the government is a no-no, but doing away with it for two years it to make trillionaires out of his billionaire buddies is OK. Really, though, it's a lot more important to keep a tranny House member out of the ladies room, right?

You assholes own this shit show. Should be an interesting ride.

[HighPlainsGrifter]

I'm tempted to spread this thread on my lawn but I'm afraid the bullshit is too concentrated and it'll burn the roots.

[Mikey]

I'm tempted to spread this thread on my lawn but I'm afraid the bullshit is too concentrated and it'll burn the roots.

Excellent, highly informed rebuttal.

[Mikey]

[Carson]

tax breaks next year for billionaires

Just stop now.

[Mikey]

Can't remember the last time I agreed with Chip Roy.

we’re gonna increase the deficit by five trillion dollars. that’s what’s gonna happen. right here. by Republicans. increasing the debt, five trillion dollars. and what are you doing in the same bill? one hundred and ten billion dollars, unpaid for. because you never have any ounce of self-respect to go out and campaign, saying you’re gonna balance the budget, and then you come in here and pass a hundred and ten billion dollars, unpaid for. on top of the two hundred billion dollars you did for [unintelligible] — you guys won’t agree with that — but the fact of the matter is three hundred and thirty billion dollars, congratulations, you’ve added to the debt, since you were given the majority again on November 5th. it’s embarrassing. it’s shameful. yes, I think this bill is better than it was yesterday on certain respects. but to take this bill yesterday, and congratulate yourselves because it’s shorter in pages, but increases the debt by five trillion dollars is asinine. and that’s precisely what Republicans are doing.

[Mikey]

tax breaks next year for billionaires

Just stop now. PLEASE!!

Wow, another brain-dead MAGAt with nothing to say.

The original Trump tax cut expires next year. Why do you think he and his master, Musk, want to get rid of the debt ceiling now? I thought reining in the debt was at the top of your agenda? I guess that's only when MAGA isn't in charge.

[Mikey]

Sam doesn't like Trump as a person, but loves his policies. So I guess he's all in on this.

[Roux]

There are now seven federal income tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.

Higher and much higher rates should be established for the 1%, the 0.1%, and the 0.000000001%.

Something is fundamentally fucked up when Elon has made a quarter of a trillion dollars this year.

And they're considering ANOTHER tax cut for those assholes, while cutting Social Security, veterans benefits, and more? These are the policies that y'all want? Really?

[Mikey]

There are now seven federal income tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.

Higher and much higher rates should be established for the 1%, the 0.1%, and the 0.000000001%.

Something is fundamentally fucked up when Elon has made a quarter of a trillion dollars this year.

And they're considering ANOTHER tax cut for those assholes, while cutting Social Security, veterans benefits, and more? These are the policies that y'all want? Really?

If Trump says so...word of God and gØĐ.

Since Mikey's Johnson couldn't get this done, I guess his days as Speaker are numbered. I hear there's a movement to get Elon in there (elected membership is not required, apparently).


https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rand-p ... -the-house

Rand Paul suggests replacing Mike Johnson with Elon Musk as Speaker of the House
Paul said that 'nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk' as House speaker

The chaotic collapse of the continuing resolution spending bill is putting House Speaker Mike Johnson’s, R-La., leadership under the spotlight and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has floated the idea of replacing him with Elon Musk, President-elect Trump's pick to co-chair his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Paul took to Musk’s X on Thursday morning to pitch the idea of the tech billionaire taking the House speaker’s gavel, noting that the speaker does not need to be a sitting member of Congress.

"The Speaker of the House need not be a member of Congress… Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk… think about it... nothing’s impossible. (not to mention the joy at seeing the collective establishment, aka ‘uniparty,’ lose their ever-lovin’ minds)," wrote Paul, a staunchly libertarian conservative on fiscal matters.

I still think it's a shame the Paul's neighbor didn't finish the job he started.

[HighPlainsGrifter]

Democrats aren't mad that a billionaire is influencing congress. They're just made he isn't named Soros.

[Mikey]

0 for 2. You have nothing to defend this?

Muh…Democrats. Muh…Soros.

Too funny.

Feel free to keep trying.

[HighPlainsGrifter]

Sorry, I misspelled Larry Fink.

[88BuckeyeGrad]

There are now seven federal income tax rates: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%.

Higher and much higher rates should be established for the 1%, the 0.1%, and the 0.000000001%.

Serious question: Why? Aren't they overpaying at the 37% rate already? I mean, let's say Musk made $250B this year and almost all of it was taxed at 37% (and both propositions are not true - Musk did not make $250B - his asset value increased by that amount - but since he hasn't sold it, he has made nothing yet - it might go down or up more, no one knows - and billionaires rarely pay ordinary income tax rates - but I'll play like you were being serious). He would pay $92.5B in federal taxes. Why should any citizen have to pay that much in tax? Why is that even remotely considered fair, especially considering that 50% of the citizens pay no federal income taxes. You raised the issue. Explain why he should have to pay more.

Something is fundamentally fucked up when Elon has made a quarter of a trillion dollars this year.

See above. He has not made a quarter of a trillion dollars in income this year (see above). You are just lying or stupid on this issue.

And they're considering ANOTHER tax cut for those assholes, while cutting Social Security, veterans benefits, and more?

I haven't heard anything about tax cuts for billionaires. If it was true, it would be fair. They already pay waaaaaay more than their fair share.

And if you haven't noticed, the country cannot continue to print fake money to provide those benefits you are clutching for. If something isn't done soon, it will all implode. Poof. What is your solution?

[kcdave]

let's say Musk made $250B this year .... He would pay $92.5B in federal taxes. Why should any citizen have to pay that much in tax? Why is that even remotely considered fair, especially considering that 50% of the citizens pay no federal income taxes. You raised the issue. Explain why he should have to pay more.

That is a lot to pay in taxes until you wake up and realize he
would still have almost $160 billion fucking dollars left over.
When is enough, enough? At some point, paying your fair due
should equal the other rules of living in a civilized society.
Just because you can at that moment, does not mean it is
the best choice for you to make, and that you won't possibly
pay like hell at a later date.

[Python]

Democrats aren't mad that a billionaire is influencing congress. They're just made he isn't named Soros.

Rack

[Mikey]

Muh…Soros. Muh…Democrats.

Pathetic.

[88BuckeyeGrad]

That is a lot to pay in taxes until you wake up and realize he
would still have almost $160 billion fucking dollars left over.
When is enough, enough?

That was my question. Suppose the question was phrased differently. Roux decides YOU aren’t paying your fair share and demands that government seize more of YOUR stuff. Would the rest of us be justified in saying about you, “When is enough, enough?”

Your point might be valid if there was a finite number of dollars and Musk was hogging more than his fair share. But it doesn’t work like that. Him being richer than you does not make you poorer. He isn’t taking your money. He’s just good at getting people to buy the shit he’s selling. He isn’t stealing your money. You don’t have to buy his shit. I don’t.

At some point, paying your fair due
should equal the other rules of living in a civilized society.
Just because you can at that moment, does not mean it is
the best choice for you to make, and that you won't possibly
pay like hell at a later date.

Paging Billy Madison. WTF was that?

[Dr_Phibes]

Really, though, it's a lot more important to keep a tranny House member out of the ladies room, right?

You assholes own this shit show. Should be an interesting ride.

Considering the new 'left' spent all their time getting trannies into the ladies room, rather than address economics - they might not have got curb stomped in an election. I think you own this shit show more than anyone.

[Carson]

Even commie Phibes gets it.

[Meat Head]

Really, though, it's a lot more important to keep a tranny House member out of the ladies room, right?

You assholes own this shit show. Should be an interesting ride.

Considering the new 'left' spent all their time getting trannies into the ladies room, rather than address economics - they might not have got curb stomped in an election. I think you own this shit show more than anyone.

White M & M's.

[Sven Golly]

That is a lot to pay in taxes until you wake up and realize he
would still have almost $160 billion fucking dollars left over.
When is enough, enough?

That was my question. Suppose the question was phrased differently. Roux decides YOU aren’t paying your fair share and demands that government seize more of YOUR stuff. Would the rest of us be justified in saying about you, “When is enough, enough?”

Your point might be valid if there was a finite number of dollars and Musk was hogging more than his fair share. But it doesn’t work like that. Him being richer than you does not make you poorer. He isn’t taking your money. He’s just good at getting people to buy the shit he’s selling. He isn’t stealing your money. You don’t have to buy his shit. I don’t.

At some point, paying your fair due
should equal the other rules of living in a civilized society.
Just because you can at that moment, does not mean it is
the best choice for you to make, and that you won't possibly
pay like hell at a later date.

Paging Billy Madison. WTF was that?

Articulation is not kcdave’s thing.

Kamala would be proud of his word salad.

[HighPlainsGrifter]

When we talk about paying a fair due
A fair due
We are talking about what is due and what is fair mmkay
So when we talk about that, talk about a fair due that is not only due but is fair,
What we're talking about is what we need to do that's due that needs to be done
For.
Our.
Future!

-kcamala

[Sven Golly]

When we talk about paying a fair due
A fair due
We are talking about what is due and what is fair mmkay
So when we talk about that, talk about a fair due that is not only due but is fair,
What we're talking about is what we need to do that's due that needs to be done
For.
Our.
Future!

-kcamala

[Mikey]

Really, though, it's a lot more important to keep a tranny House member out of the ladies room, right?

You assholes own this shit show. Should be an interesting ride.

Considering the new 'left' spent all their time getting trannies into the ladies room, rather than address economics - they might not have got curb stomped in an election. I think you own this shit show more than anyone.

Like just about everyone else here you’ve done an excellent job ignoring the main topic of this thread. Not unexpected, though.

[Mikey]

[88BuckeyeGrad]

Mikey-

It looks like Trump (at least as described by Steve Bannon) is your man:

https://www.semafor.com/article/12/20/2 ... eve-bannon

[Mikey]

You obviously missed the point as well.

Go back and read the original post.

[88BuckeyeGrad]

You obviously missed the point as well.

Go back and read the original post.

The original post makes no sense and is full of false assertions. The debt ceiling has been attacked by the left for years:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/20/politics ... index.html

And where are these tax cuts for billionaires coming from? Trumps people are saying the opposite. You are all mixed up, amigo. Did the DNC programming department lay off too many after Kamala’s loss? Are you just riffing?

[Mikey]

You obviously missed the point as well.

Go back and read the original post.

The original post makes no sense and is full of false assertions.

And yet you, like HPG, have provided nothing to refute any of it.

The debt ceiling has been attacked by the left for years

And it has been used for years by your side as a political cudgel to threaten government shutdowns when you don't get your way.

The national debt increased by almost $7 trillion during Trump's first four years. Funny how you supposed deficit hawks seem to conveniently forget about that. And now you're on board with removing the debt ceiling all together. So I guess the deficit only matters when the other party is in charge?

But wait. My apologies - I'm wrong about one thing. This isn't removing the debt ceiling all together. It's only for two years. Hmmm...the period of time when Trump/Musk has a guaranteed majority in both houses. And Musk has been granted a $50 billion salary buy his shareholders, only to have it struck down in court. Do you think he's going to give up on that? He's pretty sure to get that eventually. Wouldn't it be a nice gift to have Trump's 2017 cuts (which contributed bigly to the $7 billion deficit) extended just in time for him score a little extra bonus?

And where are these tax cuts for billionaires coming from? Trumps people are saying the opposite.

link?

[88BuckeyeGrad]

You are flailing, Mikey. The link you requested is four posts prior to your most recent blorf.

So what should be done?

There are only a few options:
(1) keep on doing what DC has been doing since Carter (with the exception of Clinton), which is to borrow from the future to pay for the present (seems likely to lead to default in our lifetimes and the loss of everything to most).
(2) cut spending beyond collected revenue until the accumulated debts are paid off (see DOGE);
(3) raise taxes (Bannon says Trump is going to do this to corporations and billionaires - see link); and/or
(4) grow the economy to increase revenue (see drill baby, drill).

(2), (3), and (4) can be pursued simultaneously in varying degrees.

What is your preferred path forward?

[Left Seater]

Clearly spending needs to be cut.

25% cuts across the board. Every line item, no exceptions.

Neither party is interested in cutting spending, or paying off debt.