Most Misleading Headline Ever?

In their ongoing effort to persuade the public to quit whinging about higher taxes the Dead Tree NY Times delivers a misleading headline for the record books:

Complaints Aside, Most Face Lower Tax Burden Than In The Reagan 80's

The text goes on to compare the total Federal, state and local tax burden in 1980 with that of 2010, which prompts a question - when did Reagan take office and launch his first round of tax cuts? 1981, yes? Surely the Times editors remember the timing of the Descent of Darkness.

So maybe a better headline would be "Taxes Lower than in the Carter Era", which would deliver a less surprising message and make a less compelling case that we are currently under-taxed.

I infer that the Times editors have realized their problem. Online, the current headline is:

Complaints Aside, Most Face Lower Tax Burden Than in 1980

No kidding - most face a lower burden than in 1980, when everyone felt over-taxed.  We can spot the evolution (or is it intelligent design?) of their headline by way of the website URL (my emphasis):

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/us/most-americans-face-lower-tax-burden-than-in-the-80s.html

Welcome back, Carter.

ERRATA: The CBO calculates the total Federal tax burden, including imputed corporate taxes. For the three lower quintiles of earners the Reagan years were not so great, tax-wise - the cut in the Federal income tax was roughly offset by the increase in the Social Security tax.

Finding the total Federal, state and local burden back to 1980 has me stumped just now, although this Tax Foundation report reaches back to 1991.

 

Comments

[Clarice]

TK, Speaking for myself I'm tired of doing legal work for someone who ignores it.

I've already discussed the originally posted consent decree on protesting election fraud and it does not say what the anti-RNC crowd claims it does.

Further I will not go.

[NK]

JimmyK@3:19-- BuBu really said that? He really is ignorant... well, Barry I believes the same thing... It's a Lefty Thing.

[Jane - Mock the media]

That is wonderful bio mom. I miss W too.

[Spending cuts first!--jimmyk]

Iowahawk tweet: "DC is a crack addict who thinks he's subsidizing the liquor store by not robbing it."

[pagar]

TK, We have an example of a so called independent in the new Senator King from Maine.
Claims he's an independent, but will caucus with the Democrats. Why? Because independents have no power in the Senate or anywhere the political system has been set up in the USA.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

This is what BuBu said that I was referring to:

Most borrowing will never be repaid, and that includes borrowing by companies. Do you think, say, Ford Motor Co., will ever pay off its debt? Sure, it could, in theory, but only if and when it's being run by a financial ignoramus.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Ig-

And is precisely why I stopped hugging that tar baby.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

The man (or boy) is clearly a complete and profound idiot, Mel.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Never, ever underestimate the power of human stupidity.-Heinlein

My favorite.

[Threadkiller]

Will Tom McClintock caucus with the Dems if the RNC ceases to exist?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

The frustrating thing is he's too stupid to ever realize what a knothead he is.

[Threadkiller]

Here is 59 pages that some find to tiring to read:

http://electionlawblog.org/wp-content/uploads/rncvdnc.pdf

No need to go further...

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Good article at AmSpec wondering if Barrycare will suffer the same fate as McCain-Feingold; an initial comprehensive SCOTUS victory followed by enough small defeats to finally kill it.

[Steve]

GOP House Video:

We've Got Your Back Small Business:

http://commoncts.blogspot.com/2012/11/house-gop-video-weve-got-your-back.html

[Spending cuts first!--jimmyk]

I forgot that bubu extended his idiocy to the private sector, but the context was his claim that government debt isn't the same as taxation because they never have to pay it back. The fact that they have levy taxes to pay for the interest, just as businesses have to generate revenues to pay off debtholders, doesn't seem to register.

[derwill]

Ig, he's caught in a vicious circle. If he were even a little smart, he wouldn't be so stupid.

[Captain Hate]

The frustrating thing is he's too stupid to ever realize what a knothead he is.

This is why all interaction with that dumbass is a mistake.

[Spending cuts first!--jimmyk]

I agree with Pops earlier: The House should just pass a bill that cuts spending and extends the Bush tax cuts, and send it to the Senate. No point in negotiating with these crooks. Their idea of "compromise" is a lot like the Palestinian's idea of compromise with Israel.

[Captain Hate]

Good article at AmSpec wondering if Barrycare will suffer the same fate as McCain-Feingold; an initial comprehensive SCOTUS victory followed by enough small defeats to finally kill it.

It being linked with McRINO's assault on the first amendment would make me extremely happy.

[Captain Hate]

Add me to the approval of Pop's plan.

[NK]

Wait-- BuBu-- all those note satifactions I wrote and recorded as a youngun attorney were.... wrong? Oi! Who knew? BuBu can rest assured that many people here are well aware of the concept of 'rolling over' debt, and strategially using debt for growth. What the Dem Congress and BarryI have done is waaaay past any sane use of debt... it is insane overeveraging that is paying 40% of current operating Fed Gov't costs with long-term debt. No new airports or bridges or even wind farms are bought with the debt, the debt just pays doctor bills for the elderly and poor and buys bread cheese and cigarettes with food stamps. It is a complete abuse of debt and abuse of current and future taxpayers to pay off voters. Madness, complete madness.

[Danube of Thought on IPad]

"Speaking for myself I'm tired of doing legal work for someone who ignores it"

Beautiful.

[Porchlight]

If I had no other family obligations besides my wife and son, we'd be making plans to move somewhere else ASAP, probably to New Zealand.

fdcol63,

Whittle specifically mentions that urge to split - in fact mentions New Zealand specifically. Basically his answer is "New Zealand is already New Zealand" - we can't make it into a new America, so the same problems obtain (or will obtain eventually).

Anyway, do watch these, and if you enjoy an alcoholic beverage on occasion, pour yourself one first. You will feel better just knowing this guy is out there dedicated to the cause for the duration. He and Breitbart were close friends - they have differing styles, but serve a similar function in many ways. As much as I love and miss Breitbart, I almost have to say I think Whittle may be the more valuable and inspirational of the two in the long term.

[Pops]

I think some people's eyes are finally opening. Limbaugh had a caller the other day that said he was 45 years old and just realized the only money the government has is what it taxes. He always thought that the government also had its own money to spend. I was not surprised by this although rush seemed to be.

Boehner should either, let the fiscal cliff happen and blame the video, go golfing, or take the whole congress to Hawaii for the holidays.

[Pops]

Boehner should tell Obama the only way to not raise taxes on the middle class is to repeal his 300 Billion dollar Obamacare tax on the middle class.

[Porchlight]

Pops,

I think MayBee, longtime commenter here who hasn't dropped by in awhile, said once that there have been multiple polls that indicate that a large number of American adults believe the government has its own money. No wonder we can't win elections.

[Danube of Thought on IPad]

Of course Ford Motor Company will pay its debt: each and every bond it issues will be paid in full at maturity. It will of course issue new debt continually, because it makes a great deal of sense financially to do so. But it will never issue nore debt than it can service, or it will go bankrupt.

Similarly with the US government: not just the interest, but at maturity the principal, of each and every instrument must be paid. The question is, at what point will it become impossible for it to do so? No one can say for sure, but there is a broad consensus that once it exceeds 100% of GDP things become precarious.

If this weren't the case, why did the Dems howl so loudly about the Bush deficits (which now seem rather quaint)?

[Porchlight]

If this weren't the case, why did the Dems howl so loudly about the Bush deficits (which now seem rather quaint)?

Because it was a hammer to beat him with. They don't actually care about deficits. But your point is still correct.

[Cecil Turner]

My favorite.

For this discussion, that one or TANSTAAFL is most apropos.

If this weren't the case, why did the Dems howl so loudly about the Bush deficits (which now seem rather quaint)?

Well, there's always hypocritical political self-interest.

[Captain Hate]

They don't actually care about deficits.

No, they pretend to care about them when Repubs are in office but only so to provide leverage on raising taxes on the wealthy; never about cutting non-military expenditures.

[Threadkiller]

The RNC argued that the hiring of Michael Steele proves they aren't a racist party anymore. The judge was not convinced.

page 31 for those who beleive that Clarice has come close to studying the decree.

Beautiful...

[Threadkiller]

Page 30. Sorry.

They also made the case that a black President and Attorney General goes to prove the minorities are not being suppressed. Again the judge did not buy it.

And you wonder why the RNC is the party of racists.

Beautiful...

[NK]

DoT@420-- others here may disagree, but I believe the Fed Gov't and States like Cal, Ill Ct and RI have already past the point of not being able to carry the debt that they've imposed on their citizens. As far as the federal gov't is concerned, the only question is whether BenB can create enough income inflation and dollar devaluation to make the fed debt manageable or the restructuring the USA will cram down the world's throat. That's my opinion-- the mad Obama/Pelosi Dems have ruined us.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I don't particularly care about deficits either; I care about spending.
If we were taxed sufficiently to fully fund the gigantic diaper dispenser and pail the Federal government now represents it would be at least as harmful to the economy and our long term survival as the current deficits and their implied default by inflation over the next several decades.
I suspect the wealth crushing effects of sky high taxes would not differ substantially from the coming default.
Of course another Warren G Harding would step in and slash spending and taxes and we would grow our way out of the problem in a decade or two but this age seems incapable of even mustering a Harding to help us.

[centralcal]

Porchlight: following up on your MayBee remembrance post above, Rush had a caller yesterday - a convert to conservatism via Beck's book "Broke" who underscores that ignorance:

Caller is 45 and Just Realized Money Isn't Free

I haven't read the linked transcript, but I happened to hear the caller live on air with Rush yesterday while running office errands. He wasn't a stupid guy, just kinda like your everyday person who "assumes" things without really giving any thought at all to those erroneous assumptions. Thought you might enjoy it.

I completely agree with you, too, about Bill Whittle!

[Threadkiller]

Page 13 tells the tale of the opinion given in 2009 against the RNC.

It seems the RNC's First Amendment rights are not violated by the Decree because they are allowed to freely communicate with the State parties on any subject except "ballot security."

Who needs to talk about that at election time?

Beautiful...

[Thomas Collins]

Of course the US has its own money. It's socked away in that trust fund Algore kept talking about.

[NK]

Ig-- another Warren G Harding? At this point, we'll be lucky to not get some Bavarian paper hanging fascist claiming he'll pick up the pieces and re-establish national glory by stiffing our creditors. Right now, we are much more like Weimar Germany than 1919 post-war crash USA. That is the simple truth.

[Free State Paul]

It's socked away in that trust fund Algore kept talking about.

Please try to be more precise when you sling around financial terminology. What Gore was referring to was not in reality a "trust fund." The technical term is "lawkbocks."

[Free State Paul]

Right now, we are much more like Weimar Germany than 1919 post-war crash USA.

To quote Saint Ann Barnhardt:

"I'm not afraid of Barack Obama. He's a slack-jawed, mouth-breathing, drug-addled sodomite. What I'm afraid of is the guy who comes after him."

[NK]

Nazi Germany did renounce Weimar debt, which I guess BuBu will claim proves sovereign debt is never paid. Of course, the ultimate consequences of Weimar debt and renunciation was 20 Million Dead 1939-1945. DEBT HAS CONSEQUENCES.

[Danube of Thought on IPad]

Didn't the fool call it a lockbox?

[NK]

"What I'm afraid of is the guy who comes after him."

It won't be Warren G Harding....

[derwill]

"I'm not afraid of Barack Obama. He's a slack-jawed, mouth-breathing, drug-addled sodomite. What I'm afraid of is the guy who comes after him."

I probably wouldn't have put it in quite those words, but I agree with the sentiment. When the global collapse comes there will at first be chaos, but at some point a strongman will emerge. If we're lucky it will be no worse than a Pinochet, if we're unlucky it will be a Stalin or a Mao or Hitler. Sadly, I don't hold a lot of hope that we will get a reprise of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, etc.

[rse]

On New Zealand, because it was colonized relatively late and then remained a colony, its residents always thought in terms of a state directed economy.

It's beautiful. My granddad who went everywhere always said NZ and Lake Louise canada were the 2 prettiest spots on the planet.

It is currently using the presence of the Maori aboriginal culture to gut ed there. The only upside is I get to read the cooky names for things like Transformational OBE I have tracked all over the world.

Marie Clay destroyed reading there about 50 years ago before hitting the road to export her nonsense everywhere.

[Clarice]

Ig, I'm with you on the Am Spec article. I thought it very good.

[Threadkiller]

Does anyone have a reason why the RNC can't get out of a 30 year old Consent Decree with the DNC?

They keep trying, we are told, so what gives?

Maybe the Chargers can get the Bengals to Consent to fewer players on the field Sunday.

[Porchlight]

centralcal, I almost felt sorry for that Rush caller. At least he had the guts to call Rush up and admit his ignorance over the air. I doubt I'd have the courage to do it.

[Clarice]

It's true the federal government has no money of its own but it holds enormous resources--esp. land. And it should consider selling off some of it

[narciso]

Another is that sequence of detainee cases, ending with Boumedienne, which totally ignored the law, subsequent cases argued by the same Levick Grp White shoe attorneys, who could not
be found to challenge Obamacare, like King and
Spaulding, have lost in subsequent cases. like Adahi, and we have begun the process of 'clawing
back the prorogatives, that the former grp had on our national security,

[narciso]

Of course, in the LUN, we learn that 'Sheriff Joe's' assertions, are less certain then that of say Al Bundy,

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Hey CH, if you're around, got First I Look at the Purse by the Contours on itunes yesterday. Thanks for reminding me they did it first.
Forgot I used to have it on cassette on a Contours greatest hits.
Was surprised to see that Smokey Robinson wrote it. Don't think I ever knew that.

[henry]

Narciso, Al Bundy has better hair as well.

[Jim Eagle]

This should be a fun meeting.

Governors and states are doing more to solve tax, spending and deficit issues than the feds. But when you are deaf to anyone else's voice you will learn nothing.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Speaking of music and spurred by Jim's earlier question that mentioned libertarians anyone sick of PC "artists" should get some Cracker.

"What the World Needs Now is Another Folk Singer Like I need a Hole in my Head" was a good start and they followed up with;

All these cats with holy jeans
Dirty hair and titty rings
Say, what's your scene, man?
We got these questions
Is it true that you have sold your soul?
I say hey man, I don't know
Lend me a quarter, won't you
I'll call my accountant

Let's get off this, and get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this, get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute

Petty little Ayatollahs
come around To judge and stone ya
Alls we're trying to do is make a fortune
Yeah, we ain't got no government loans
And no one sends us checks from home
And get this, we're just doin' what we wanna

Let's get off this, and get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start to spin it
Get off this, get on with it
If you wanna change the world
Shut your mouth and start this minute.

[Spending cuts first!--jimmyk]

Nazi Germany did renounce Weimar debt, which I guess BuBu will claim proves sovereign debt is never paid.

Never? In any case, it's always a question of who pays, not whether someone pays. In the case of Nazi Germany, it was the debtholders who got their wealth confiscated by the non-debtholders. Someone always pays. To put it another way, spending always costs someone.

[Sue]

You know, we've always speculated at what Sandy Bergler stuffed into his sock that day. What if it was something concerning this?

[NK]

JimmyK@537-- Debt -- SOMEONE always pays. Very true JimmyK, it's an iron law. History is filled with unintended consequences of insane debt. King George V lost the American Colonies in direct consequence of his Seven Years War debt. It's a funny ole world.

[Clarice]

Townhall:
Former ATF Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division Bill Newell, former ATF Special Agent in Charge of Operations in the West Bill McMahon and former Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Division George Gillett have been fired while former Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jim Needles and Field Supervisor David Voth have been demoted. Hope McAllister, the lead case agent for Fast and Furious, has been put on leave and transferred out of Phoenix according to reports. McMahon and ATF came under heavy fire just a few months ago after it was revealed McMahon had been receiving ATF paid leave while pulling a six figure salary from J.P. Morgan, the same bank that owns the bureau's credit cards.

In addition to involvement in Operation Fast and Furious, the consequences for these officials come as a result of their handling of the Jay Dobyns' arson case. All are expected to receive full retirement

[narciso]

Possibly, although there was a link, through History Commons, of Miniter's findings, that the Sudanese had files that indicated that Mahmoud Salim, one of the 'embassy plotters' back in '98, worshipped at the same mosque as the Hamburg cell, 'that's one Kevin Bacon connection, that would have led to Jarrah annd
Atta, It's instructive that Bowden points out
Ould Slahi, another 'fellow in that neighborhood'
was the first to give indications of Al Kuwaiti,
the Courier.

[Jim Eagle]

Been lurking and reading everyone on all the threads about the fiscal cliff, taxes, debt, deficits, the economy, the Rush caller, Bubu and all the other minutae of our lovely conversational life here.

So I will just like to announce that I have now made up my mind and I truly believe it will be best for my son (forget about me and Mrs. JiB) that we drive off the cliff. GOP, please stand back and let the Regime do whatever they want. Its about time the Rush callers of the world, the moochers, poachers, government educated voters, and all the other slaw jawed Wal-mart denizens understand the consequences of elections and ignorance. I'll be okay, but Frederick in 11 to 12 years not so much. Let it go belly up so we can pick it back up and make it right again.

Its the only answer to a failed America.

[derwill]

I flew from NYC to Paris on the same TWA Flight 800 the day after it was shot down. Not the same airplane, obviously, and they'd changed the flight number, but it was the same flight. I was supposed to fly business class, but they upgraded me to first class because there was probably no more than a dozen of us passengers in the entire 747. The eye witness reports that it had been brought down by a missile hadn't leaked out around the WH and press embargo yet, so I suffered only a fleeting nervousness--lightening not striking in the same place twice and all that.

[NK]

Sue-- you brought up TWA800 once before. I personally reject almost every 'consiracy theory', but the official story of TWA800 has never did sit well with me. For instance... FAA was very casual about 747 fixes after the 'official story' and the airlines and Boeing didn't seem very concerned about liability. Strange... no?

[Melinda Romanoff on Kindle]

That'll be a good 40 years in the debt wilderness, JiB.

[narciso]

Sadly, so, jiB, Barry's got his ACME rocket cycle, and he's determined to try it out. DeMille had a slightly more plausible take on the TWA situation, I think he called it 'nightfall'

[NK]

JiB-- America didn't fail-- the politicians and their cronies ruined us. I have the same type of bias as you, 21 and 19 yo kids.. good kids if I don't say so myself, whose future is darkened by the debt and welfare mentality our political elites have foisted on us.

[Clarice]

Here is another view of the claim that the RNC is banned by consent decree fro working to secure ballots everywhere.http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2012/10/the-ballot-cops/309085/

Yes. it's the Atlantic but it does not appear to be an unbalanced view and it does note that state parties and candidates are not so barred.

[anonamom]

Porchlight, thanks for the Bill Whittle links.

[narciso]

'lord love a duck'

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2012/11/30/washington-posts-marcus-claims-rices-false-benghazi-comments-were-basi

[narciso]

Those lutefish driven mad Lutheran, oh wait;

[Clarice]

TK, the Third Cisruit recently upheld a ontinuation of the consent decree and the matter is pending before the Sup Ct. (I take it that is a petition for ceriorari is pending there.)

[James D.]

Clarice, your 5:44 makes me want to go out and set fire to something.

So these people commit crimes, obstruct investigations, continue to collect federal paychecks from us while also making six-figure salaries from a private company, and to top it all off are involved in a hideously corrupt and incompetent operation that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of innocent people...

And they're going to get full retirement benefits, paid for by us?

Jesus Christ! If anyone on here did anything remotely close to that, we'd be lucky to end our days in federal Supermax prison! But they not only walk away, they get MORE money from us, for the rest of their evil, vicious lives?

Have I got that about right?

[rse]

21,18, and 15 and they do know what they are in for. I tell Red any skill I know is being minimized is exactly what they need to work on.

One of the best gifts beyond an ability to read phonetically is having an attention span at all. Even the Statist Central Big Businesses are shocked by the mushy minds from elite schools.

We are less shocked.

[NK]

Narciso @603: the Legacy Media wouldn't know the truth if it bit them in the ass. They are characters right out of Orwell. Ole George is glad he died of whatever before the Left turned into his nightmare fiction future.

[Clarice]

Pretty much correct, James D, though the article indicates some criminal charges against them may be pending.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I read the Mexican president elect is on board with Barry's immigration policies.
Wonder if he's on board with Barry's gun emigration policies as implemented by all those full retirement ATF criminals that killed so many Mexicans.

[Extraneus]

Has the real action started?

CBS Radio Building Hit By Gunfire

I'm not a violent person, and surely wouldn't advise such a thing, but what would happen if a few of our most strident leftist media big-shots were taken out? They're already afraid of Muslims, to the point of updating their style guides to make sure to show maximum respect to The Prophet. Imagine if they had to show respect to conservatives? Heh. The mind reels.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--though the article indicates some criminal charges against them may be pending.

Posted by: Clarice | November 30, 2012 at 06:19 PM--

Would that be Eric Holder bringing the criminal charges?

[narciso]

The PRI has been more amenable to the cartel's approach, and the president elect, specially so, in his home province,

[Jim Eagle]

I have friends and family in Southampton and Westhampton Beach who are convinced TWA 800 was shot down by a missile. I have no idea and was living in London at the time. But everyone I know in the area believe it was not a fuel tank issue. Who knows but Cashill's theory is as good as anyone else's.

[Extraneus]

Perhaps a few million frustrated yunguns could be convinced that they'd have a great afterlife if only they read the Federalist Papers.

Milk and honey, boys.

[Clarice]

He, Iggy. Can you imagine how quickly criminal cases would be ginned up against civilians who pulled such a stunt?

And now--Ta Da--CBO's fab new economic theory--joblessness creates jobs:
From Boston.com

Extending the current level of long-term unemployment benefits for another year would add 300,000 jobs to the economy, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office. The analysis released Wednesday from the nonpartisan office estimates that keeping jobless benefits would cost the government $30 billion. But it would also lead to more spending by the unemployed, boosting demand for goods and services and creating new jobs. Federal long-term unemployment benefits are set to expire on Dec. 29 for more than 2 million workers unless Congress approves an extension

[Jim Eagle]

NK,

We are America and we have elected these treasonous bozos. So we failed. We have failed for the last 100 years to not recognize what the hell was happening to us. I blame education and perception (influenced by television and the low intellect sitcoms and news programs). We have been hypnotized to believe the fiction and fantasy Hollywood has projected. Perception is more than reality it is in fact, fact!

[Rick Ballard]

"any skill I know is being minimized is exactly what they need to work on"

RSE,

Geometry, two semesters of basic statistics and two semesters of basic accounting will put a kid at the front of the line. Toss in a solid English comp course and within two years they'll be directing dolts whose only competency is mouthing marxist twaddle.

The ones who learn there's true pleasure in relieving the poor sheep of the burden of that heavy, smelly old fleece every spring should have no problem at all.

[NK]

JiB@636-- the reason I disagree with that is becuase the political elites never said what they were actually doing. they covered it all up with 'moderate' sounding BS. People are responsible for the government they choose, granted, but don't give the Dems any pass for the lies they've been telling for 60 years.

[narciso]

Yes, but that raises the notion how do you get it down, then the transmission system of knowledge is itself 'infected', Rick.

[Clarice]

NYC's Stage deli has closed-the rent was too high.

[Captain Hate]

have friends and family in Southampton and Westhampton Beach who are convinced TWA 800 was shot down by a missile. I have no idea and was living in London at the time. But everyone I know in the area believe it was not a fuel tank issue. Who knows but Cashill's theory is as good as anyone else's.

The "official" story on that has always seemed like a hot steaming pile that the media quislings exhibited no skepticism over. I remember the New York Review of Books going over some scenario about a fuel tank explosion that I don't think even the writer believed. Given that Slick never told the truth about anything and in that fat tub of garbage Sandy Berger, had a trade attorney acting as National Security Adviser, only served to increase my skepticism. That the usual conspiracy nuts don't talk about this also gives it credibility.

[Clarice]

What I thought credible about it at the time was my respect for the NTSB which had a reputation for incredible professionalism,CH.

[narciso]

She went 'full tufnel,' after that piece, in the LUN, insisting on one particular hammer:

[Threadkiller]

From Clarice's link:

In the end, prosecutors didn’t bring charges—no would-be voters stepped forward to say they had been blocked from casting ballots—but the Democratic National Committee filed a federal lawsuit accusing Kelly and the RNC of violating the Voting Rights Act. To settle the case, in 1982 the RNC signed a consent decree, agreeing to end all “ballot security” programs targeting minority precincts. Four years later, the RNC was caught caging minority voters in Louisiana, an effort that was intended to “keep the black vote down,” according to an internal RNC memo. The DNC filed suit again, and a chastened RNC agreed to a modified decree requiring it to submit all plans for anti–voter fraud campaigns to the court for approval.

At which point, the RNC mostly abandoned its anti–voter fraud programs. While state parties and individual candidates continued to launch scattered ballot-security efforts, national attention to voter fraud faded. That is, until the 2000 presidential election. Tova Wang, who was on the staff of the 2001 National Commission on Federal Election Reform and is now a fellow at the public-policy think tank Demos, says that after Bush v. Gore, political strategists took a new interest in the mechanics of elections. “Partisan activists began trying to alter the rules and tinker with election administration to gain partisan advantage,” she told me recently.

Some liberals began pushing for measures (such as Election Day registration) that would lower barriers to voting. Conservatives, on the other hand, took a renewed interest in fighting voter fraud. A raft of new state legislation followed, including voter-ID laws (now on the books in 33 states) and laws requiring people to show proof of citizenship before registering to vote. It’s not clear what problem these measures solve, however. Several exhaustive studies have found that voter fraud is exceedingly rare.

Meanwhile, the RNC has tried to get back into the ballot-­security game. In 2008, the party asked Dickinson Debevoise, the New Jersey federal judge who presided over the two 1980s cases, to abolish or modify the decades-old consent decree barring certain anti–voter fraud activities. The RNC argued that the ban had outlived its purpose, but Debevoise was not persuaded, and denied the RNC’s request. (The party appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which affirmed Debevoise’s ruling.) “Minority voters continue to overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates,” Debe­voise wrote in his 2009 decision. “As long as that is the case, the RNC and other Republican groups may be tempted to keep qualified minority voters from casting their ballots, especially in light of the razor-thin margin of victory by which many elections have been decided in recent years.”

I fail to see how this is a helpful position for the RNC to convince anyone to remain a loyal member.

If the only battles are being fought in "scattered" local fights by individuals and State Parties that is where my money will go. The "N" in RNC stands for National. You can give up on them and still be a conservative at home.

[narciso]

What could possibly go wrong;

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2012/11/report-british-islamic-charity-accused-of-funding-boko-haram-terrorists/

[Extraneus]

What I thought credible about it at the time was my respect for the NTSB which had a reputation for incredible professionalism

Had they ever been strong-armed by the gov't? Is the director a presidential appointee?

Answer below the fold.

(b) Appointment of members.--The Board is composed of 5 members appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Not more than 3 members may be appointed from the same political party. At least 3 members shall be appointed on the basis of technical qualification, professional standing, and demonstrated knowledge in accident reconstruction, safety engineering, human factors, transportation safety, or transportation regulation.

So let me get this one straight. NTSB board prospects are required to declare a political party affiliation before they can be confirmed? Is that something like the California judges who need to annually report their sexual preference status?

[Threadkiller]

--"TK, the Third Cisruit recently upheld a ontinuation of the consent decree and the matter is pending before the Sup Ct. (I take it that is a petition for ceriorari is pending there.)

Posted by: Clarice | November 30, 2012 at 06:07 PM"--

With all due respect, this is why I get a little steamed. I posted the Third Circuit's opinion at 4:01. A full 2 hours before your post.

Maybe you and DoT think I am incapable because you don't take the time to read what I contribute.

I guess that is my cross...

[Jane - Mock the Media!]

Pretty much correct, James D, though the article indicates some criminal charges against them may be pending.

Who made the decision?

[Clarice]

TK, the RNC appealed that decision to the Third Circuit an lost and now has asked the SCOTUS to rule on it.Nothing precludes the local parties and candidates from fighting for ballot security. The judge seems wrong and so is the Third Circuit but I hardly think that is the RNC's fault. Their fault occurred decades before when they may have engaged in abusive, racist tactics and entered into this broad settlement.

[Captain Hate]

I'm confused by your 6:59, Clarice; are you saying you still believe the official story or have subsequently become skeptical of it? The seeming lack of subsequent liability concerns over it and how other planes could be impacted that NK mentioned also triggered my BS detectors.

[pagar]

Wow, that Townhall F&F article says those named have had their security clearances pulled. That must really sting in a town where the WH has apparently decreed that the MB is entitled to know every secret the US has. Where such leakers as Ted Kennedy and his friends have leaked every secret the US has had.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1724508/posts

" a Democratic activist in California recruited as a KGB agent during a visit to Russia. The agent, who is not identified by name in the reports noted by Mitrokhin, had a wide circle of influential contacts in the Democratic Party: among them Governor Jerry Brown of California, Senator Alan Cranston, Senator Eugene McCarthy, Senator Edward Kennedy, Senator Abraham Ribicoff, Senator J. William Fulbright and Congressman John Conyers, Jr"

[narciso]

Well what strikes me about that settlement, is how little legal justification, they put forth, and the acceptance of many 'alleged' in the fact summary, they cite the law for the modification of the degree, but not the logic behind the original decision,

[narciso]

Yes, read further, pagar, and the subject is identified as Sen, John Tunney, the son of the boxer, right.