We’ll Fix It In Post
“I have got one vote,” New Hampshire Republican Don Byrne told us just before the primary there. “Do I vote strategically for the person who I think could beat the President? Do I vote tactically for the person who I think represents my views?”
via Washington Week
I think this quote sums up my issue with the Republican party this year. Every news-bite I hear describes their entire strategy as, “Find the person who can beat Barack Obama.”
Never-mind that no one is truly happy with any of these candidates. Nope. We just want someone - anyone - who can beat the pants off that guy in the White House. In TV & film we have a saying for this: “We’ll fix it in post.” That refers to the idea that no matter what the problem is on-set, we can find a solution in the post process (edit, vfx, etc.) that’ll fix it. In other words, “We’ll figure it out later.”
This is the entire Republican strategy for 2012. Let’s find someone who can be just electable enough that he can beat the President. Everything else we’ll fix once he’s elected. Call me cynical but isn’t that just a bit depressing? How do you make postcards with that as a saying? Where are the bumper stickers with a catchy tagline?
Contrast that strategy with the Democrats from ‘08 and what’s sure to be the ‘12 strategy: “Yes we can.” Simple, positive, succinct.
I’m not saying the Democrats are perfect. But from an advertising stand point, they know how to sell an idea. That’s just how I see it.
Interesting comparisons b/n the White House and the Tea Party’s online presence. I’d say design and branding DO make a difference.
The irony of this fight was essentially you had men in suits who want to run our nation accusing others of making it possible for people to afford health care. Awesome argument, guys. I can’t wait to find out who won.
Source: funnyordie.com
Tax Enforcement - NOT Tax Increases
Loophole closings are not tax increases. Companies sometimes use aggressive accounting techniques to lower their tax liability in ways that were never intended by the law,” said Saul*. “When that happened, [Massachusetts] closed the loophole. That’s called tax enforcement.
* Mitt Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul
I can roll with that. Call it whatever let’s you sleep at night, but let’s increase revenue.
Republican Presidential Bracket
CBO: GOP Budget Would Increase Debt, Then Stick It To Medicare Patients
In addition to acknowledging that seniors, disabled and elderly people would be hit with much higher out-of-pocket health care costs, the CBO finds that by the end of the 10-year budget window, public debt will actually be higher than it would be if the GOP just did nothing.
In other words, the spending cuts Republicans would realize in the first 10 years would be outpaced by deficit increasing tax-cuts, which Ryan also proposes.
If the current Medicare system were allowed to continue, CBO found that an average 65-year-old beneficiary’s costs would be only 25 percent of what it’d be in the individual private insurance market. Under the GOP plan, those costs would jump to 68 percent.
How does THIS fix things?
Source: tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com
GOP Completely Fixes Economy By Canceling Funding For NPR
WASHINGTON—Unemployment plummeted and stocks soared Tuesday after Republican leaders fulfilled their promise to cut funding for National Public Radio, a budgetary move that has completely rejuvenated the flagging U.S. economy.
“Since eliminating federal spending for NPR, America’s economic outlook is brighter than it’s been in decades, with manufacturing on the rise and millions of jobs once sent overseas now returning to our shores,” said Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), adding that by eliminating funds for NPR, the deficit has been slashed by 0.000004 percent and a newly thriving middle class once again has cause to believe in the American dream. “Pulling funding for Car Talk and Planet Money alone has created 4.2 million jobs and generated a $2 trillion budget surplus.” Republicans announced Thursday they will now turn their attention to cutting the National Park Service, a move that should ensure Social Security’s solvency for the next 350 years.
Source: The Onion
