Obama..raise the retirement age and cut bennys

[04SCTLS]

Obama's money came from the sale of his books.
His salary as president is 400k plus perks

 

[04SCTLS]

exactly, or how about the millionaire president forgo his salary, for one, to show his support for this country? Many rich politicians do it, take Bloomberg for instance.

Bloomberg is a billionaire, Obama is worth 5-7 million.

 

[fossten]

Obama's money came from the sale of his books.
His salary as president is 400k plus perks

Ah yes, the TWO autobiographies...which he wrote after going into public office.

 

[lincolnx2]

Majority of people write books AFTER they become popular.

 

[fossten]

Majority of people write books AFTER they become popular.

...or have something they've actually accomplished to talk about.

 

[shagdrum]

Obama's money came from the sale of his books.
His salary as president is 400k plus perks

And how much do those "perks" total?

How much of his own money do you think he spends in the 4 years he is in office. In fact, generally speaking, how much do you think ANY president spends of their own money when they are in office?

 

[04SCTLS]

And how much do those "perks" total?

How much of his own money do you think he spends in the 4 years he is in office. In fact, generally speaking, how much do you think ANY president spends of their own money when they are in office?

Millions.
All presidents get the trappings of the office and perks like Air Force 1 helicopters motorcades, protection etc etc.
These guys spend 150 million to get elected.
Of their own money they pay their taxes and probably pay for small stuff for family.
The salary is beside the point.
It used to be 200k but that was deemed a paltry pittance for the president of the United States in this day and age.
What's your point other than stating the obvious?

 

[fossten]

Millions.
All presidents get the trappings of the office and perks like Air Force 1 helicopters motorcades, protection etc etc.
These guys spend 150 million to get elected.
Of their own money they pay their taxes and probably pay for small stuff for family.
The salary is beside the point.
It used to be 200k but that was deemed a paltry pittance for the president of the United States in this day and age.
What's your point other than stating the obvious?

People didn't seek public office to obtain wealth 100 years ago. Now it's more the case than not. There's something wrong with the system when public servant morphs into Feudal Lord.

 

[Calabrio]

The argument has always been that, in order to attract good candidates, you need to provide a reasonable salary. People are going to have to leave their careers for 2, 8, 6, or an indefinite number of years and there needs to be a sufficient amount offered for salary so that they don't go broke while serving in their capacity.

If the goal is to save money, I would radically cut the funding for staff and office space IN Washington, D.C. I'd be happy putting all of those congressmen in a phone bank with 2 staffers. They could maintain larger staffs in their HOME districts and states. Places were office space, expenses, and salaries would be lower. And it would get everyone out the toxic pit that is D.C.

I used to think the salary argument was reasonable, but in current times, it doesn't matter. Ideally, a REGULAR person would be able to take a couple years out of their career and go into politics and maintain their lives at home. But in current times, those running tend to be very wealthy anyway and go to D.C. to expand their power and ego. It's not about the money, it's about the influence and connections.

Look at guys like Charlie Rangel. They have gotten rich in public office- and it wasn't because of the salary.

 

[04SCTLS]

People didn't seek public office to obtain wealth 100 years ago. Now it's more the case than not. There's something wrong with the system when public servant morphs into Feudal Lord.

Obama didn't run for office to become wealthy although that may be a side benefit in that it gave him something to write about that people would pay money for.

We give our elected officials power and shouldn't be shocked when they actually use it in a way some of us don't like.

Obama's healthcare accomplishment is timid in that he didn't get the public option he initially wanted.
He caves too easily it seems and snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.
Things could have been worse(for conservatives)

 

[Calabrio]

Obama didn't run for office to become wealthy although that may be a side benefit in that it gave him something to write about that people would pay money for.

Actually, I disagree with this.
Most don't go into office to become wealthy based on the salary. However, they do go into office to expand their power and associations, and THEN acquire more wealth.

We give our elected officials power and shouldn't be shocked when they actually use it in a way some of us don't like.

But we should readily RECOGNIZE that it's being done.
Acknowledge it. And then take the reasonable steps to reduce the amount of power in D.C. and the ability for politicians and the political class to exploit it.

Whether it's your intention or not, a comment like yours implies that it should be accepted. That it doesn't even need to be discussed- either because it's self-evident to every or because there's nothing that can be done about it. That's not true though.

Obama's healthcare accomplishment is timid in that he didn't get the public option he initially wanted.

YouTube - Obama on single payer health insurance

He caves too easily it seems and snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. Things could have been worse(for conservatives)

You are making a mistake.
You are presuming that YOUR political, social, and economic worldview is embraced or even reflected in part by the political class in D.C. Your projecting what YOU think onto their actions. This is a fundamental mistake that far too many of us have made in the past.
He didn't cave on anything.

 

[04SCTLS]

Actually, I disagree with this.
Most don't go into office to become wealthy based on the salary. However, they do go into office to expand their power and associations, and THEN acquire more wealth.


But we should readily RECOGNIZE that it's being done.
Acknowledge it. And then take the reasonable steps to reduce the amount of power in D.C. and the ability for politicians and the political class to exploit it.

Whether it's your intention or not, a comment like yours implies that it should be accepted. That it doesn't even need to be discussed- either because it's self-evident to every or because there's nothing that can be done about it. That's not true though.


YouTube - Obama on single payer health insurance


You are making a mistake.
You are presuming that YOUR political, social, and economic worldview is embraced or even reflected in part by the political class in D.C. Your projecting what YOU think onto their actions. This is a fundamental mistake that far too many of us have made in the past.
He didn't cave on anything.

Sarah Palin has been more crass about exploiting her opportunity for aquiring wealth than Obama.

So you want to reduce the power in Washington so that nothing gets done.
We elect governments to do things and not to not do them.
The Democrats squeaked Obamacare through under the rules and yes we have to accept it as citizens.
If you don't like it too bad....for now
You can vote in a team that will change it at the next opportunity.
Otherwise you sound like an anarchist.

 

[fossten]

Sarah Palin has been more crass about exploiting her opportunity for aquiring wealth than Obama.

So you want to reduce the power in Washington so that nothing gets done.
We elect governments to do things and not to not do them.
The Democrats squeaked Obamacare through under the rules and yes we have to accept it as citizens.
If you don't like it too bad....for now
You can vote in a team that will change it at the next opportunity.
Otherwise you sound like an anarchist.

The hell she has. You absolutely don't have a clue what you're talking about. She didn't use her office to get rich - she didn't get rich until after she was FORCED OUT of her office. How many examples do you want? The sale of the Governor's jet on ebay? I could go on and on...

 

[04SCTLS]

The hell she has. You absolutely don't have a clue what you're talking about. She didn't use her office to get rich - she didn't get rich until after she was FORCED OUT of her office. How many examples do you want? The sale of the Governor's jet on ebay? I could go on and on...

Oh touchy touchy about Palin
After she became infamous as the conservative bubble headed messiah (remember Chauncey from Being There w Peter Sellers) she quit her job as governor before her term was up for better opportunities .
She peddled her book and went on tour to make money.
She's in it for the money about as much as Obama is.

 

[cammerfe]

...She's in it for the money about as much as Obama is.

I absolutely agree! Obama isn't in it for the money---the money is just part of what goes along with his position. He's in it for the power---and ultimately the legacy. His ego is immense.

We'll have to see why SP's 'in it'. Right now she's mostly havin' fun!!

KS

 

[ford nut]

$$$- Don't kid yourself.

TLC’s Sarah Palin’s Alaska premiere attracted 4.96 million viewers last night, according to the network. Nielsen fast nationals reported 1.8 million viewers in the 25-54 demographic, 1.1 million in the 18-49 demographic, and 3.9 million in the 35+ demographic. The debut was the top-finishing TLC program launch in history.

reality TV.....:yuck:

 

[fossten]

Oh touchy touchy about Palin
After she became infamous as the conservative bubble headed messiah (remember Chauncey from Being There w Peter Sellers) she quit her job as governor before her term was up for better opportunities .
She peddled her book and went on tour to make money.
She's in it for the money about as much as Obama is.

Way to fail to address my point, Mr. Red Herring. You're acting like a troll now.

 

[fossten]

$$$- Don't kid yourself.

TLC’s Sarah Palin’s Alaska premiere attracted 4.96 million viewers last night, according to the network. Nielsen fast nationals reported 1.8 million viewers in the 25-54 demographic, 1.1 million in the 18-49 demographic, and 3.9 million in the 35+ demographic. The debut was the top-finishing TLC program launch in history.

reality TV.....:yuck:

Did you watch it? It was quite good.

 

[tireman]

I have to laugh!

The media always steer the masses to the answer for SSI. Cut benefits, raise taxes, raise retirement age. And the populous bites on it like a hungry fish. Do you ever think there may be other answers besides what has been fed to you? How about the billions of dollars going to foreign governments? Why not stop those? Why not stop the billions going to Israel? How about the presidents recent trip at a cost of 200 million per day? Cutting benefits to the people who worked for them? No! Never! How about cutting benefits to the people who never earned them? How about stopping the giveaways to immigrants and illegals with children born on our land? Do you know that immigrants get double payments because of their immigrant status? WTF? Even if they only worked here for two years?! WTF! Do you know that someone who worked for 30 years in the USA gets less SSI than an Immigrant????? How about cutting out all the give aways? Then we could readily support the SSI system. You people bite on the answers given to you! You don't think up your own answers. Think and learn damn it!

 

[lincolnx2]

Did you watch it? It was quite good.

The only thing that was good was the diesel pusher she had, I was looking for the make and model. I am sorry, but I am not interested in any politicians personal life. Did anyone happen to catch the make and model of the diesel pusher she has?

 

[04SCTLS]

Murkowski: Sarah Palin Lacks “Intellectual Curiousity” Needed In A President

http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/mu...ntellectual-curiousity-needed-in-a-president/

Doug Mataconis · Monday, November 15, 2010

In case you were wondering if Lisa Murkowski is holding a grudge against Sarah Palin for backing Joe Miller in the primary last August, wonder no more:

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she would not support Sarah Palin if she decides to seek the presidency because the former governor lacks the “intellectual curiosity” for the job.
“I just do not think she has those leadership qualities, that intellectual curiosity that allows for building good and great policies,” Murkowski told Katie Couric in a “CBS Evening News” interview. “You know, she was my governor for two years, for just about two years there, and I don’t think that she enjoyed governing. I don’t think she liked to get down into the policy.”
Murkowski, who is on track to win her write-in campaign to retain her Senate seat, has said previously that Palin is not an ideal presidential contender. The two Alaska Republicans have had a long, tense relationship stemming from when Murkowski’s father, former Gov. Frank Murkowski, appointed his daughter to serve out his Senate term instead of Palin.
Murkowski didn’t do much to downplay the iciness of the relationship.
“I’m still her senator. I’m going to work hard to represent her too. We don’t really have much of a relationship,” said Murkowski.
​

Gee, you don’t say……..
The personal animosity between Palin and Murkowski has been fairly apparent in recent years and stretches back, of course, to 2006 when Palin defeated Murkowski’s father in a three-way race for Governor. I doubt this year has done much to calm those tensions.

_______________________________________________________________

I watched her Alaska show on the DVR last night.
Palin put on a good show promoting her larger than life, life adventure in Alaska with it's beautiful wilderness.
Looks very exciting for those who enjoy the outdoors.
And it gives us a chance to see her in a mostly apolitical setting.

However her unfavorable ratings recently hit 52% with many people sharing some of Lisa Murkowski's opinion of her as a candidate for POTUS.
After having her policy positions drilled into her for 2 years now by supportative conservative backers, other than than the fluke of coining "refudiate" she hasn't said anything particularly thoughtful or original out of all that tutoring.
She continues to come across as someone who has memorized a lot of things but hasn't thought them through and doesn't really understand them well.
Great sizzle though
I still laugh when I think about her unintentional Monty Pythonesque pardoning of the turkey while other turkeys are killed before our eyes

 

[fossten]

However her unfavorable ratings recently hit 52% with many people sharing some of Lisa Murkowski's opinion of her as a candidate for POTUS.
After having her policy positions drilled into her for 2 years now by supportative conservative backers, other than than the fluke of coining "refudiate" she hasn't said anything particularly thoughtful or original out of all that tutoring.
She continues to come across as someone who has memorized a lot of things but hasn't thought them through and doesn't really understand them well.
Great sizzle though
I still laugh when I think about her unintentional Monty Pythonesque pardoning of the turkey while other turkeys are killed before our eyes

Yes clearly she isn't a slick little liar like Teh One. I doubt you understand her positions at all. It's easy to be faked out by a 'gotcha' Katie Couric interview where three hours of footage ended up on the cutting room floor and one $64,000 quiz question made the final cut. At least she knows there aren't 57 states in the Union or that FDR's fireside chat wasn't on TV.

 

[04SCTLS]

Yes clearly she isn't a slick little liar like Teh One. I doubt you understand her positions at all. It's easy to be faked out by a 'gotcha' Katie Couric interview where three hours of footage ended up on the cutting room floor and one $64,000 quiz question made the final cut. At least she knows there aren't 57 states in the Union.

Palin is an attractive powerhouse.
She's charismatic and very watchable.
But she still has a way to go to convince people she's more than a Mary Hart from Entertainment Tonight.
She's working at it and 2 more years of tutoring may improve her as a candidate.
This is America.
Anything is possible.

 

[fossten]

Palin is an attractive powerhouse.
She's charismatic and very watchable.
But she still has a way to go to convince people she's more than a Mary Hart from Entertainment Tonight.
She's working at it and 2 more years of tutoring may improve her as a candidate.
This is America.
Anything is possible.

Yes I'm sure you're vastly openminded about her. Just goes to show you that even supposedly smart people can get snowed by what they see on the 'News.'

 

[ford nut]

Did you watch it? It was quite good.

Nope...TLC is hard to watch for me, I can handle a little of the Hoarders show, that's about it.