2 - Tax rates on all taxpayers are not increased

2 - Tax rates on all taxpayers are not increased

Weird... All I hear about is how excited people are that OBAMA WILL BRING CHANGE! I ask for that change to be quantified at all and its scoffed at.

My standard bar for success is pretty low at the moment.

In 2006, The Cut Off For The Top 5 Percent Of Earners Began At About $150,000 — Well Below Obama’s $250,000 Threshold. “Including all tax returns that had a positive AGI, taxpayers with an AGI of $153,542 or more in 2006 constituted the nation’s top 5 percent of earners.” (Gerald Prante, “Summary Of Latest Federal Individual Income Tax Data,” http://www.taxfoundation.org, 7/18/08)

6) Install staffers that actually back up his "change in washington" bullshit, rather than Clinton career professionals and other government careerists. Not off to a good start here.

I like your list, except for here. First, the Clinton years were pretty good overall. Second, there's something to be said for "institutional knowledge". Change isn't necessarily about the people in charge, but rather the policies they're enacting. In my view anyway. Third, Clinton professionals returning to power in Washington after 8 years of Bush is change.

But I look forward to 4 years of grouchy, bitter, and pessimistic posts about Obama from you. If the Democrats suck as much as they have in Congress since taking power in '06, I'll be joining your side promptly.

Still curious why you were so coy about your vote though.

4. Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

OBAMA: I want to provide a tax cut for 95% of Americans. If you make less than a quarter of a million dollars a year, you will not see a single dime of your taxes go up. If you make $200,000 a year or less, your taxes will go down.

1. Closing of Gitmo.
2. Repudiation of torture as an acceptable interrogation technique.
3. Talk with neutral hostile regimes to find common ground, if possible, and not just with allies.
4. Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell.
5. Repeal of DOMA part II (preferably all of DOMA, but part II for sure).
6. Passage of SCHIP.

7. Appointment of smart people to positions within their areas of expertise.

8. Display a continued willingness to listen to multiple points of view and a strong intellectual curiosity.

9. Creation of a formal market exchange for derivatives / hedging instruments so that outside parties can establish fair values based on transparency of investment information.

10. Effective leadership at the Bureau of Indian Affairs & resolution of jurisdictional issues regarding law enforcement on reservations.

11. Promotion of the EPA to a Cabinet-level agency and a renewed focus on conservation.

12. Fill at least 80% of the vacancies of the Article I federal courts (district courts, courts of appeals, etc.)
13. Passage of the new GI Bill and emphasize meeting obligations to veterans.
14. Passage of the college / volunteer tax credit proposal.
15. Comprehensive study of the nation's admittedly aging infrastructure, and full funding of prioritized projects.

I want four things from the Obama administration at this point.

First and foremost, he must give the American middle class the tax cuts he has promised.

Second, I want something done at least in the direction of healthcare for all.

Third, I want to see progress on Iraq withdrawal. It seems Bush's surge has gone a long way to making this possible, which is encouraging. I'm ok with a continuing American presence if convincingly necessary, but we can't afford our current levels. I want a serious audit of the costs of this occupation, and a serious lowering of those costs.

Fourth, a stepped up effort in Afghanistan. I, like most Americans, was always for this war, and still am. This is where our fight always was, and I'd like to see policies that reflect that. Capturing Osama Bin Laden would give me great, great joy. I've said it many, many times. If in late '01, '02 you would have told me he would still be at large in '08, I would have laughed in your face.

Nobody could have done this. Non-point. I'm glad though he won't be extending the Bush tax cuts, while mine will be getting cut.

Say goodbye to the Child tax credit.

The "marriage penalty tax" would only apply if you and your spouse make more than 250k, at which point you're making a good deal more than the majority of Americans. I'm guessing Skycrasher is safe, though I won't assume!

Success will be if he can raise consumer confidence.
Our economy does best when folks can buy buy buy !

TNA invites Sarah Palin to Final Resolution PPV (seriously)

» Reported by Adam Martin of WrestleView.com
» On Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 4:12 PM EST

The following was issued on TNAwrestling.com:

TOTAL NONSTOP ACTION (TNA) WRESTLING INVITES ALASKA GOVERNOR SARAH PALIN TO JOIN “THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE”

TNA ANNOUNCES SPECIAL “SARAH PALIN CEREMONY” FOR DECEMBER 7 AT ITS “FINAL RESOLUTION” PAY-PER-VIEW IN ORLANDO. TNA AGREES TO DONATE $50,000 TO GOV. PALIN’S FAVORITE CHARITY OR ALASKAN YOUTH HOCKEY LEAGUE.

palin2.jpgTotal Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling has announced that it is formally inviting Alaska governor and former Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin to become an honorary member of “The Beautiful People,” the elite group of TNA Knockouts led by Angelina Love and Velvet Sky.

TNA officials said a “Sarah Palin Ceremony” is scheduled for December 7 at its “Final Resolution” pay-per-view as part of her “Honorary TNA Knockout” membership in The Beautiful People, and TNA President Dixie Carter will personally fly Gov. Palin and her husband, Todd, from their home in Anchorage to Orlando, Florida, for the December event.

TNA Wrestling will make the formal invitation to Gov. Palin Thursday, November 13, on “TNA iMPACT!” at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Spike.

TNA will present Gov. Palin with a $50,000 check at “Final Resolution” made out to the charity of her choice, or will make the donation to the youth hockey association in her native Wasilla, Alaska.

“Governor Palin has combined her experiences as a wife and mother with her political savvy to prove to America and the world that politics aren’t just a man’s game. I know firsthand what challenges you have to face when breaking a glass ceiling in a male-dominate profession,” Carter said.

The stars of TNA Wrestling can be seen for two hours each and every Thursday night on “TNA iMPACT!” (9 p.m. ET/PT, Spike). The TNA roster features Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle, TNA World Heavyweight Champion Sting, Mick Foley, Kevin Nash, Booker T, Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett, Christian Cage, AJ Styles and Samoa Joe, among others.

Having said that... how will you measure success in this administration?

When voters look at your Administration two years from now, in the off-year election, how will they know whether you're succeeding?
I think there are a couple of benchmarks we've set for ourselves during the course of this campaign. On [domestic] policy, have we helped this economy recover from what is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Have we instituted financial regulations and rules of the road that assure this kind of crisis doesn't occur again? Have we created jobs that pay well and allow families to support themselves? Have we made significant progress on reducing the cost of health care and expanding coverage? Have we begun what will probably be a decade-long project to shift America to a new energy economy? Have we begun what may be an even longer project of revitalizing our public-school systems so we can compete in the 21st century? That's on the domestic front.

On foreign policy, have we closed down Guantánamo in a responsible way, put a clear end to torture and restored a balance between the demands of our security and our Constitution? Have we rebuilt alliances around the world effectively? Have I drawn down U.S. troops out of Iraq, and have we strengthened our approach in Afghanistan — not just militarily but also diplomatically and in terms of development? And have we been able to reinvigorate international institutions to deal with transnational threats, like climate change, that we can't solve on our own?

And outside of specific policy measures, two years from now, I want the American people to be able to say, "Government's not perfect; there are some things Obama does that get on my nerves. But you know what? I feel like the government's working for me. I feel like it's accountable. I feel like it's transparent. I feel that I am well informed about what government actions are being taken. I feel that this is a President and an Administration that admits when it makes mistakes and adapts itself to new information, that believes in making decisions based on facts and on science as opposed to what is politically expedient." Those are some of the intangibles that I hope people two years from now can claim.