Feds look at VAT tax, ignore need to trim fiscal obesity

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) called the Recovery Bill a 'Three Trillion Dollar Mistake.' [Photo from US Senate pages.]We’ve heard rumors for awhile and an article in The Washington Post seems to confirm the federal government is looking at a value-added tax to trim the fiscally obese US deficit. WaPo declares the obvious—a VAT tax “would increase the cost of just about everything.”

If the government were to dismantle the current tax system, a tax on goods could be more palatable. But some legislators like Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) want the VAT tax AND a tax on “high-end” incomes. The problem with that sort of income tax is how the term “high-end” is defined and Washington tends to define wealth on smaller income ranges than most taxpayers. President Barack Obama frequently cites incomes above $200,000 as “wealthy,” but many of us believe that amount too small to confer real financial security. Included in the newspaper article as a targeted group are incomes above $100,000.

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White House assault on Limbaugh a smokescreen for ineptitude, broken pledges

Rush Limbaugh's talk show draws 20 million listeners. He stands to gain more if Dem assaults continue.[Photo from rushlimbaugh.com.](Washington, D.C.)—To say we’re living in strange times is an understatement. A March 4 story in Politico said Dem strategists, leftie advocacy groups and even former Israeli Army volunteer who’s now Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel have their britches in a wad as we say in the South over a popular conservative talk show host.

In a direct insult to Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele, various Democrats have dubbed Rush Limbaugh the head of the Republican Party. Steele is the RNC's first African-American chair. Does that Dem insult amount to racism?

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Why do Democrats in Congress get free media pass?

A number of Democrats in Congress have received a free ride despite behavior that many of us consider unethical perhaps even illegal. As a taxpayer, I’m pretty disgusted with the double standard for ethics. Why do Democratic senators and representatives get a complete pass from media? Maybe it's because traditional journalism really is dead. There are a number of questionable situations involving senators and representatives, but no one's asking questions and many of the most questionable culprits are keeping key committee assignments.

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Chicago to run the US: Obama taps Rahm Emanuel for Chief of Staff

In Chicago Congressman Emanuel speaks at a press conference (7-20-07) attended by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), community leaders and environmental activists. (photo Emanuel Congress pages)Various media are reporting President-elect Barack Obama has asked Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) to be White House Chief of Staff. Emanuel became a member of Congress in 2003. Previously he worked as a senior advisor for President Bill Clinton. In 1989 Emanuel served as a senior advisor and chief fundraiser for Richard M. Daley. Aside from the Daley circle, Emanuel is also part of the Paul Simon circle--he worked on Simon’s 1984 election to the U.S. Senate. And here’s where the Chicago tale gets just more interesting. I doubt other media will explore lovely political triangles like this for you.

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