Barack Obama

Tommy Thompson And The Politics Of Exhaustion

October 4, 2011 by The Political E...

I went out of my way Tuesday afternoon to listen to John Mercure on WTMJ-AM radio interview apparent US Senate candidate Tommy Thompson, and frankly, Tommy brought nothing to the conversation.

Short answers.

No pep.

No snappy three-point program, no fresh pitch to listeners and voters who may have little information about a who last held office in Wisconsin 11 years ago.

And even his offering up a contemporary conservative talking point to prove he could speak in modern Tea Party lingo about taking the country back and denying Barack Obama a second term had theh inspirational content of used Cliff Notes and the energy of a batting practice toss.

There wasn't anything worthy of writing down and quoting.

His campaign hasn't even started formally, the election is a year away and already Tommy sounds weary.

Perry Plays The Dirty Air Card - - Transparent, Despite The Smog

September 27, 2011 by The Political E...

Texas Gov. and GOP Presidential candidate Rick Perry urges President Barack Obama to suspend clean air regulations that will help the country recover from hazardous air pollution to which Texas contributes disproportionately.

The new clean air rules are designed to significantly reduce smog and soot pollution by requiring 27 states, including Texas, to decrease smokestack emissions.

The new guidelines apply to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, which mostly come from coal-fired plants.

Texas has 19 coal-fired power plants -- more than any other state -- and plans to build nine more. It is one of the few states still adding coal-fired plants and releases more air pollutants than any other state. Most other states are building generation plants that use sources other than coal, particularly natural gas.

Clearly, Perry has failed to manage the issue in his own state, which also happens to be sitting on 30% of the country's supply of cleaner-burning natural gas, making it the nation;

Ryan: Raise taxes on middle class, but not on millionaires

September 18, 2011 by Uppity Wisconsin

Huffington Post:

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said on Sunday that House Republicans would oppose President Barack Obama's payroll tax cuts for both employers and employees, arguing that the policy had already failed to provide a sufficient boost to the economy.

"It hasn't worked," Ryan said, suggesting the current temporary tax cut should be allowed to expire, which will amount to a 50 percent tax hike on workers making less than $106,000 per year.

Ryan continues to promote the theory that giving more money to millionaires will somehow stimulate the economy and create jobs. But guess what?   That's the policy that really hasn't worked. More at The Paul Ryan Watch.

UPDATE: The Congressional Budget Office agrees that reducing payroll taxes helps create more jobs than tax breaks for the wealthy. Details.