Properly Vetting Joe the Plumber
In very serious times, I'm pleased to see that the substantive ideas of the 2 candidates' competing to lead the Nation are being analyzed. Oh, no, wait. It's Joe the Plumber who is now being vetted. It's about time!
I don't mean anything partisan by that. I'm just disappointed that big campaigns continue to be so non-substantive. I had hoped that the Internet might change that. But, so far, I can't say that it has. It just seems to make the silliness more immediate and wide spread. I'd be pleased, if people would point me to signs suggesting otherwise.
In terms of issues and opinions themselves, however, the Internet, of course, is an unmatchable public forum. That makes it all the more odd to me that the realness of the virtual forum hasn't made it yet to real campaigns. Why not? I'd have to conclude that people prefer the silliness -- all protestations to the contrary.
I was laying it on my Obama-loving bro-in-law last week that The One is so fluffy. He stopped me pretty quick, when he asked me what campaign advice I would give Obama to win the election. Given that people don't really want substance, I'd have to say -- from a political strategy standpoint -- that I'd suggest he boldly proclaim that he's for good things. If pressed, I'd have him go further and say that he is for very good things.
If you're disgusted with the triviality of the Presidential race, jump into a local race with both feet. The issues are important, and the dialogue tends to be pretty meaty.
Again, kudos to my opponent and the forums allowing us to speak. We're getting into some good issues. I'll put up entries this weekend on Dixie State College and the financing of the Lake Powell pipeline. We'll see if Bruce Wilson or someone at the Trib wants to jump in and defend their hit piece on me.
I don't mean anything partisan by that. I'm just disappointed that big campaigns continue to be so non-substantive. I had hoped that the Internet might change that. But, so far, I can't say that it has. It just seems to make the silliness more immediate and wide spread. I'd be pleased, if people would point me to signs suggesting otherwise.
In terms of issues and opinions themselves, however, the Internet, of course, is an unmatchable public forum. That makes it all the more odd to me that the realness of the virtual forum hasn't made it yet to real campaigns. Why not? I'd have to conclude that people prefer the silliness -- all protestations to the contrary.
I was laying it on my Obama-loving bro-in-law last week that The One is so fluffy. He stopped me pretty quick, when he asked me what campaign advice I would give Obama to win the election. Given that people don't really want substance, I'd have to say -- from a political strategy standpoint -- that I'd suggest he boldly proclaim that he's for good things. If pressed, I'd have him go further and say that he is for very good things.
If you're disgusted with the triviality of the Presidential race, jump into a local race with both feet. The issues are important, and the dialogue tends to be pretty meaty.
Again, kudos to my opponent and the forums allowing us to speak. We're getting into some good issues. I'll put up entries this weekend on Dixie State College and the financing of the Lake Powell pipeline. We'll see if Bruce Wilson or someone at the Trib wants to jump in and defend their hit piece on me.
posted by steve u. at 10/16/2008
Subscribe
6 Comments:
Joe the plumber?
Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan. The now retired elder Wurzelbacher is also a major contributor to Republican causes giving well over $10,000 in the last few years.
Yeah, let's ignore stuff like this. :)
Yes, we're getting a much clearer picture of exactly who this "Joe the Plumber" fellow is. Finally! Let's vote!
According to the New York Times, Mr. Wurzelbacher says that he is planning to buy a plumbing business that has profits of between $250,000 and $280,000 a year.
While this income would put Mr. Wurzelbacher above the threshold where he could expect to pay higher taxes under Senator Obama's tax plan, the increase in his tax bill would be relatively modest. Under Senator Obama's plan, the tax on income above $250,000 would increase by 3 percentage points from 33 percent to 36 percent. This means that Mr. Wurzelbacher could expect to see his tax bill rise by between $0-$900, assuming that this plumbing business would be his entire taxable income. If he has additional taxable income, then he would see a larger increase in his taxes.
It would have been useful for reporters to explain the extent to which Joe the Plumber would see his taxes increase under Senator Obama's tax proposal. It is unlikely that this tax increase will seriously impair his plans for his business as Senator McCain implied.
The public cannot help it Steve. Joe has already done more interviews than Sarah Palin.
"Now is not the time to raise taxes. Now is the time to cut taxes."
-- Barack Obama, DNC acceptance speech
Somehow Obama conveniently missed the little footnote stating he didn't really mean it -- that now really is the time to raise taxes and kill the economy even more. I'm tired of his selective statements and continual exceptions.
looks like I'm not the only one calling you a liar.
Imagine my lack of surprise that the SLTrib 'hit piece' is entitled "Urquhart joins Powell Pipeline Liar's Club"
I didn't have time to read it, but I'm pretty sure when they print it in the paper, they can back it up (at least insofar as it is an attack on a fringe right-winger who thinks 99.9% of the worlds scientist are up in the night).
<< Home