Some thoughts on campaign financing

Here is a link to Rep. Petri's money sources:

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/geog.asp?CID=N00004426&cycle=2004

In-State vs. Out-of-State:

In-State $38,050 (28.9%)
Out-of-State $93,384 (71.1%)


Top Metro Areas:

WASHINGTON, DC-MD-VA-WV $36,199
DALLAS $25,500
APPLETON-OSHKOSH-NEENAH $9,550
LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH $8,250
MILWAUKEE-WAUKESHA $6,350

Is he our representative or Texas/DC's?

If you look more on the site, you will see that I show $0 in contributions. That is because I did not cross $5,000 in contributions until Aug 31. You do not have to report until after you hit that threshold. My reporting will be in in October - the next deadline.

As of today, I have raised about $8,000. Petri has about $1,000,000 in the bank.

Why? He has saved his money from year to year when no one ran against him. I believe this is wrong. At the end of any election cycle, your account should be at $0. If someone contributes to my campaign, they are because they think that this year, I am the best choice. I should not be allowed to carry that over into the next election cycle. I might no longer be that persons choice.

Allowing the carry-over of dollars to following election cycles is an incumbancy protection program that is bad for democracy.

I will, as you congress member introduce legislation abolishing this.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1756&e=2&u=/040911/480/whre11109111723

Put your hand on your heart, Mr. Bush......

This is not the way to treat freedom of speach:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1756&e=3&u=/040909/480/pajl10109091829

Look at the smile on the guy's face....

-jef-

Here is what Petri voted against:

The bill reads as follows, at section 521:
"None of the funds provided in this Act may be used by the Department of Labor to implement or administer any change to regulations regarding overtime compensation (contained in part 541 of title 29, Code of Federal Regulations) in effect on July 14, 2004, except those changes in the Department of Labor ’s final regulation published in the Federal Register on April 23, 2004 at section 541.600 of such title 29."
Section 541.600 indicates that for employees to qualify as exempt, they must earn at least $455 per week.

This amendment signifies that the people the the Bush Administration say will be added to overtime will still be added, but no one will be removed.

If Dave Obie is your rep, send him a heartfelt thanks.

-jef-

Petri Misses Another Opportunity to Defend Workers

http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2004/roll434.xml

Yesterday, the House voted on an amendment removng the new overtime regulations (originally co-sponsored by Petri).

These remove overtime protections for up to 6 millions workers (I have written more about this below).

Petri had an opportunity to change his position and support Wisconsin's working families yesterday, but did not take it.

This is yet another example of Petri's the out-of-touch policies. It's time for change.

Tomorrow's Headlines today.....

This from a Pakistani paper:

"In counter-terrorism, the programmes are in place. We are after these guys globally. Success against people that you know about, Osama could happen tomorrow, could happen the day after, a week from now, or month from now. Everything is in place. A little bit is needed to localise these people and to catch them,” he said.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_4-9-2004_pg7_8

For the record, we have been saying for over a year that the October surprise will be the capture of Osama. If this is truly going to happen, it is politics.

Be a skeptic.

"At some level the people at that convention know that their designated hero is a man who never in his life took a risk or made a sacrifice for his country, and that they are impugning the patriotism of men who have."

"Nothing makes you hate people as much as knowing in your heart that you are in the wrong and they are in the right."
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/03/opinion/03krugman.html?hp

Krugman always says it better than I ever could.

Let's talk about how we can make America better.

Not all GOP youths willing to fight

"Young Republicans gathered here for their party's national convention are united in applauding the war in Iraq, supporting the U.S. troops there and calling the U.S. mission a noble cause."

"But there's no such unanimity when they're asked a more personal question: Would you be willing to put on the uniform and go to fight in Iraq?"

"Frankly, I want to be a politician. I'd like to survive to see that," said Vivian Lee, 17, a war supporter visiting the convention from Los Angeles,

"As long as there’s a steady stream of volunteers, I don't see why I necessarily should volunteer," said Lee, who has a cousin deployed in the Middle East.

http://www.columbiatribune.com/2004/Sep/20040902News017.asp

They obviously exhibit the moral character of their party leaders....

http://www.nhgazette.com/cgi-bin/NHGstore.cgi?user_action=list&category=%20NEWS%3B%20Chickenhawks

Who do you think said this:

"Tonight I can tell you of dramatic changes in our strategic nuclear force. These are actions we are taking on our own, because they are the right thing to do. "

"After completing 20 planes for which we have begun procurement, we will shut down production of the B-2 bomber. We will cancel the ICBM program. We will cease production of new warheads for our sea-based missiles. We will stop all production of the peacekeeper missile. And we will not purchase any more advanced cruise missiles. "

"We will eliminate all Peacekeeper missiles. We will reduce the number of warheads on Minuteman missiles to one and reduce the number of warheads on our sea-based missiles by about one-third. And we will convert a substantial portion of our strategic to primarily conventional use. "

Is this an example of John Kerry irresponsibly cutting defense as the Bush campaign alleges?

Nope, this is George H. W. Bush's 1992 State of the Union speech. Kerry did vote to cut these programs, with George H. W. Bush.

But, who proposed all of these cuts? From the same speech:

"The Secretary of Defense recommended these cuts after consultation with the joint chiefs of staff."

Who was the Secretary of Defense at the time? Dick Cheney. In every case, the defense cuts they accuse Kerry of voting for were proposed by Cheney and a Bush.

Do not believe what you are told by these people, research on your own....

-jef-

A Newsweek article that makes some good points:

"18 months ago the goal should have been to calm the international scene and build cooperation. The cancer of Al Qaeda had largely been cut out. The challenge was to keep it from metastasizing. This was the moment for the war of ideas to begin in earnest and international cooperation to be at its height. This was the time when terrorist recruiters could have been isolated and their lies exposed."
"Instead, our impulsive, almost petulant invasion of Iraq did just what so many of our friends and allies warned it would do. It created a whole new hot-bed of fanaticism, and an inspiration to terrorist recruiters everywhere."
"As a voter trying to choose, I confess I find it pretty disconcerting to watch Bush make big lies sound like simple truths, while Kerry makes complicated truths sound like embarrassed fictions."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5878893/site/newsweek/

We need to make sure we are working WITH people. The phrase, "If you aren't with us, you are against us." cuts both ways.

If we are not working with our allies, are we against them?

How many assaults on fair and private voting are we going to tolerate:

"It is unclear how good the protections are to guard against tampering. The e-mailed ballots will be handled by a contractor, Omega Technologies, hired for this purpose, at the company's offices and without the election observers who are present at normal polling places."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/31/opinion/31tues1.html?th

I urge all to ensure there is a physical piece of paper when you vote.

Even if you have to go out of your way to vote absentee.

Bush/Cheney Unveils New Campaign theme...

http://www.msnbc.com/comics/daily.asp?sFile=bo040829

-jef-

Report: 1.3 million more Americans in poverty
Ranks of uninsured grow by 1.4 million, Census Bureau says

"The rise was more dramatic for children. There were 12.9 million living in poverty last year, or 17.6 percent of the under-18 population. That was an increase of about 800,000 from 2002, when 16.7 percent of all children were in poverty."

"The poverty rate has risen from a recent low of 11.3 percent in 2000, meaning an additional 4.3 million people are living in poverty as defined by the government."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5829707/


These are the results of the Bush policy, supported lockstep by Rep. Petri. It further shows how incredibly out of touch Petri is - the headline of his last (June 2004) newsletter - "The Economy is Back on Track"

Some quotes from Petri:

"Underlying the improved jobs picture is America's current strong economic performance. In the third quarter of 2003, the economy spurted ahead by 8.2%. Gross Domestic Product growth continued well above the historical average at 4.1% in the fourth quarter and at 4.2% in the first quarter of this year."

"All in all, it's obvious that we have finished correcting the economic excesses of the late '90s and are back on track. Many Americans are still struggling to make ends meet, but the overall outlook shows considerable opportunities ahead."
http://www.house.gov/petri/newslett/june_2004.pdf


If this is how Petri expects to put us 'back on track', I'd like to offer you a different train. Mr. Petri, the 'economic excesses' of the 90's left us with historically low poverty. I call that success, not excess.

We need to end the tax cuts on the wealthy that are strangling the American economy. We need to direct this relief where it will do the most good, the middle and working class.

We need to invest in getting people out of poverty, not take away overtime and make the crawl up the ladder of the American Dream harder yet.

We need jobs that will provide not only income, but benefits the workers. We need to make sure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable healthcare. It is a moral shame that in history's wealthiest society, we can have workers - much less children - without health coverage.

I challenge Petri & the Bush administration to release the chains they have put on the market. Allow Medicare to bargain for drug prices, allow importation if drugs, allow the working poor to advance themselves.

And above all, allow every American access to life saving healthcare regardless of their station in life or their place in the economy.

Sen. Edwards is correct when he talks about the two America's. Petri's personal economy may be right on track, but it is at the expense of the millions of American's his policies are are driving deeper and deeper into poverty and hopelessness.

I will be the representative of all members of American society.

This is too important to ignore. We have given Petri 25 years to work on these issues, he has failed. It is time for change.

I'm copying Eric Alterman, my favorite blogger - his link is to the left 'Altercation' - read it everyday, please.

He makes a great point of what a truly moral position in war is.

Here is the post below:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3449870/

It’s amazing and a bit disgusting that our election seems to be turning on a war that took place thirty years ago in which the man who served honorably both in the war and in the anti-war movement is on the defensive against the man who supported the war but took a pass on any service or sacrifice it might have involved, but there it is. Given that we have no choice but to engage the issue, let’s think about it for a moment and see if we can isolate the kinds of decisions that faced young men in those dark days when American leaders—as they are doing today—unjustly sent America’s youth to pay for their own folly and ignorance.
Recall that only privileged Americans had a choice as to whether to fight in Vietnam. The sons of poor and working-class people did not have access to educational deferments and hence were unceremoniously sent to the firing line. Given that, here are a few categories of the choices faced and the choices made, in what I judge to be descending order of moral fortitude.

A taxonomy of positions on Vietnam:

Category A: Exhibiting the strength of one’s moral convictions.
Supported the war and served in Vietnam (John Kerry, John McCain)
Opposed the war and served in Vietnam because it would have been unfair to force someone less fortunate to take one’s place (Al Gore)
Opposed the war and dedicated oneself to anti-war movement at some personal risk, including conscientious objection. (This position is not as dangerous as serving in a war, but it is nevertheless just as moral. The war was evil. Putting oneself at legal and physical risk as many did to try to end this evil strikes me as an unimpeachable moral position, though given America’s political culture, it would also be untenable for any contemporary presidential candidate to hold.)

Category B: Exhibiting the strength of one’s moral convictions after protecting one’s posterior
Opposed the war, protected self, and then worked for anti-war movement (Bill Clinton)This position seems to me to be the minimum necessary to consider oneself a moral being. Risking one’s person for one’s principles is a lot to ask for most of us, but the least one could ask is that if we identify an evil that is literally killing people, our peers included, one lifts a proverbial finger to stop it, say, by working for the presidential candidacies of Robert Kennedy, Eugene McCarthy or George McGovern.

Category C: Having no convictions to protect save self-protection
Opposed the war, protected self, let others worry about it (Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman)This is the position of those who merely opted out of the question, accepted their college deferments and went on with their lives and did not feel any sense of responsibility for their peers and countrymen.

Category D: Contradicting one’s alleged convictions in the service of protecting one’s posterior
Supported the war, preferred to let others fight and die for it (George W. Bush, Dick Cheney)This seems to me to be the least defensible position imaginable. Bush and Cheney both used their privileged positions to protect themselves; Cheney says he did it because he had “other priorities.” Bush says he did it because he wanted to “better himself” by learning to fly planes. Whether he deserted his post or not—and I think he did-- it is incontrovertible that he wasted the government’s million dollar investment in his training by allowing his qualifications to lapse while he was still supposed to be on active duty. (And what if during this period, the Guard was actually needed, if say, Oklahoma had invaded Texas?)

One day, historians will attempt to explain just how two men who fall in category D somehow made the election about the moral rectitude of a man who fell into category A not once but twice. We have to admit this. This Rove feller really is a genius. Just when you thought the media couldn’t be any more irresponsible, he proved it had even more to give. (Most journalists today of the proper age, I imagine, fall into category B or C, with a significant number in D and a tiny, tiny minority in A.)

-jef-

Earlier Monday, the Bush-Cheney campaign issued a statement from U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis. "As John Edwards travels through Wisconsin today, people may hear the false charge that their overtime is at risk," Petri said. "The truth is that President Bush is absolutely committed to putting more money in the pockets of working people — both through good pay and less taxation."
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2004/08/24/news/00lead.txt

Let's fact check this statement:

1. As discussed below - 2/3 of all the tax cuts went to people making over $200,000. If you are a Middle Class earner, ($50-75,000) your tax burden actually increased. Median Wisconsin Income (about $40,000) received less than a 2% cut.

2. Even if you were in a group that received a tax cut, you most likely sent more money to the government this year - in the form of fees.

3. The overtime rule changes were sponsored in the House by Petri. He is directly responsible for the loss of overtime pay for up to 6 million people. Luckily, our Democratic Governor stepped in to protect Wisconsin workers, after our Republican Representative sold them out.

-jef-

10 Reasons Wal-Mart is good for us:

http://www.fightingbob.com/article.cfm?articleID=259

"Thurlow, the commander of another swift boat who won a Bronze Star for helping the crew of PCF-3, insists there was no enemy gunfire during the incident. The citation and recommendation for Thurlow’s Bronze Star, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, also mention enemy fire, however.
Thurlow’s medal recommendation, for example, says he helped the PCF-3 crew “under constant enemy small arms fire.” That recommendation is signed by George Elliott, another member of the anti-Kerry group. It lists as the only witness for the incident Robert Eugene Lambert, an enlisted man who was not on Kerry’s boat who also won the Bronze Star that day."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5818634/

Can we put this to rest now?

When it came out that Thurlow won a bronze star the same day as Kerry, he said it was because Kerry faked the report. Now it turns out that another member of the 'Swift Boat Veterans for Truth' wrote the report.

How many more stories are they going to make up?

How many more direct connections to the Bush campaign do we need to find? Their lawyer, their financiers, their member on Bush's steering committee - enough is enough.

While this has been going on, workers have lost overtime benefits, Rumsfeld has been implicated in the Iraqi prison events and elderly black GOTV organizers have been harassed in Florida.

Are these not much more important stories?

We are debating the future of America, John Kerry and the Democrats have a much plans for the country. This is what we are being distracted from.

Here is a story about the fog of war:

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/25/opinion/25zacharias.html?th

Make the change. Decide Democrat.

-jef-

"Since February, the White House has banned all Guard and military commanders outside the Pentagon from commenting on Bush's records or service."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-08-23-bush-service_x.htm


As of Monday, the media has been discussing Kerry's war record, yet not commenting on Bush's....

All the while, the workers are losing overtime protection. Where are the real issues?

More to come - sorry I've been to busy to blog.....

-jef-

I made it into the paper:

http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_17403683.shtml

Petri is interviewed in the end of the article. Here's a quote:

"He said he has pushed the direct student loan program and he was an original Republican sponsor of national charter school legislation."

I guess he doesn't read the paper much if he is wants to point out his leadership in Charter Schools:

Data from the U.S. Department of Education find children in charter schools under-performing those in public schools.
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3856701

Bad News on the Charter Front
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/18/opinion/18wed1.html

Almost one-third of Minnesota's charter schools are regularly violating state law by failing to turn in financial audits on time
http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4925069.html

Charter schools earn no A's Traditional public schools in area did better on official report cards
http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-9/1092408174200980.xml

National data publicized this week showing that the performance of charter schools largely lags behind that of regular public schools, even when taking into account race, income and geography
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/news/9436669.htm?1c

The state of California has shut down a private company that runs some 60 charter schools.
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=3855681



Petri represents Wisconsin on the committee overseeing education, yet I understand his daughter has never attended either a public school, or a school in Wisconsin.

I am a product of the Wisconsin Public School System. I am proud of the education I received at Princeton Public Schools. It gave me a sense of intellectual curiosity that has kept me learning for a lifetime.

-jef-

- "American military forces in Iraq will operate under American command." - President Bush 5/24/04
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/20040524-10.html

- "as a matter of U.S. sovereignty, American troops must never serve under United Nations command" - 2000 Republican Party Platform Endorsed by President Bush
http://www.fpa.org/topics_info2414/topics_info_show.htm?doc_id=43593

- regarding the problem of Moqtada Sadr and his militia, that a Marine spokesman says, "We'll continue operations as the prime minister [Ayad Allawi] sees fit."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9781-2004Aug17.html

But it is OK to put them Under Iraqi command?

FBI Tracks Potential GOP Protesters
FBI, New York Police Track People They Say Might Cause Trouble at the Republican Convention

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040816_1394.html

Remember this - we are wasting time investigating American protest groups. If there is an incident at the Republican Convention, did we really do everything possible to avoid it?

Is this ignoring flight schools all over again?

Not to mention how this tramples on the right to free speech and to assemble. It is counter-productive to the war on terror.

-jef-

It is a great time to be a Democrat in the 6th District!

Hello! I wanted to make sure that everyone knew about the many upcoming events in the next week or so here in the Fox Valley & the Lakefront!

It is very important that we support our local parties, as I’m sure everyone knows, but it is also important to support the other county parties as well. Plus, what a great way to meet other Democrats!

I have traveled all over the area in the last two months. And whether I was in Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Two Rivers, Waupaca, Manitowoc, Menasha, Neenah, Plymouth, Watertown, Appleton, Oshkosh (get it….?), I can tell you that Wisconsin is full of great Democrats.

So, here is a quick overview of some upcoming events, please attend as many as possible. I’ll be at all of them, so come talk to me, and meet other like-minded people! I have included websites where I have them, or call/email me for more info:

August 20, 7:00 - $7.50
Beer & Cheese Night Fundraiser (need we say more?)
Manitowoc County Democrats
Cabin 2, Lincoln Park – Manitowoc
www.mantydems.com

August 21, 1:00 - $7.50
Corn Roast Fundraiser (best corn roast in Wisconsin!)
Winnebago County Democrats
Winnebago County Park – Hwy 76 & Y
Shelter-house 1, Oshkosh
www.focol.org/wdparty/

August 21, 2:00
Office Opening (chips, dip & Feingold, too!)
Fond du Lac County Democrats
23 S Main St, Fond du Lac
www.fdldems.com

August 23, 5:00 – $7.50
Corn Roast Fundraiser(best corn roast in Wisconsin!)
Outagamie County Democrats
Sunset Park, Kimberly
www.outagamiedems.org

August 24, 5:30
Brat Fry (come for a Wisconsin original!)
Calumet County Democrats
Eagles Club - 1041 E Chestnut St, Chilton


August 28, 12:00 Noon
Sounds by the Sundial (12 Bands, beer & burgers!)
Organized by the Winnebago County Democratic Party
Grand Opera Square, Oshkosh
Call Bill Schwulst for details – 920.642.3642

All of these are going to be great! Please come on out, meet and support your local democrat efforts.

As there are updates, I will post them to my website – www.jef4wi.com. Click on Events for more details.

This is a great year to be a Democrat. Why? People want to be Democrats this year. We just need to give them a reason why. Please, grab your fence-sitting friends and bring them out!

Get a-hold of me at anytime!

-jef-

Here's a neat link:

http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/expendetail.asp?CID=N00004426&cycle=2002&name=Anne+Petri%2C+Washington%2C+DC

This is an expenditure that Tom Petri made to his wife from his campaign. Nothing illegal or anything, just interesting.

You see, by law you have to put where the person lives. Tom Petri's campaign considers her address as in Washington DC, not Fond du Lac, WI.

Shouldn't their own campaign consider them Wisconsin residents if they are representing us?

-jef-

My post for today is simply someone else's words, but they are important to remember - never let anyone intimidate you not to vote.....

If you feel you are, contact your local party, we will help.

August 16, 2004

Suppress the Vote?
By BOB HERBERT
The big story out of Florida over the weekend was the tragic devastation caused by Hurricane Charley. But there's another story from Florida that deserves our attention.
State police officers have gone into the homes of elderly black voters in Orlando and interrogated them as part of an odd "investigation" that has frightened many voters, intimidated elderly volunteers and thrown a chill over efforts to get out the black vote in November.

The officers, from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which reports to Gov. Jeb Bush, say they are investigating allegations of voter fraud that came up during the Orlando mayoral election in March.

Officials refused to discuss details of the investigation, other than to say that absentee ballots are involved. They said they had no idea when the investigation might end, and acknowledged that it may continue right through the presidential election.

"We did a preliminary inquiry into those allegations and then we concluded that there was enough evidence to follow through with a full criminal investigation," said Geo Morales, a spokesman for the Department of Law Enforcement.

The state police officers, armed and in plain clothes, have questioned dozens of voters in their homes. Some of those questioned have been volunteers in get-out-the-vote campaigns.
I asked Mr. Morales in a telephone conversation to tell me what criminal activity had taken place.

"I can't talk about that," he said.

I asked if all the people interrogated were black.

"Well, mainly it was a black neighborhood we were looking at - yes,'' he said.

He also said, "Most of them were elderly."

When I asked why, he said, "That's just the people we selected out of a random sample to interview."

Back in the bad old days, some decades ago, when Southern whites used every imaginable form of chicanery to prevent blacks from voting, blacks often fought back by creating voters leagues, which were organizations that helped to register, educate and encourage black voters. It became a tradition that continues in many places, including Florida, today.

Not surprisingly, many of the elderly black voters who found themselves face to face with state police officers in Orlando are members of the Orlando League of Voters, which has been very successful in mobilizing the city's black vote.

The president of the Orlando League of Voters is Ezzie Thomas, who is 73 years old. With his demonstrated ability to deliver the black vote in Orlando, Mr. Thomas is a tempting target for supporters of George W. Bush in a state in which the black vote may well spell the difference between victory and defeat.

The vile smell of voter suppression is all over this so-called investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Joseph Egan, an Orlando lawyer who represents Mr. Thomas, said: "The Voters League has workers who go into the community to do voter registration, drive people to the polls and help with absentee ballots. They are elderly women mostly. They get paid like $100 for four or five months' work, just to offset things like the cost of their gas. They see this political activity as an important contribution to their community. Some of the people in the community had never cast a ballot until the league came to their door and encouraged them to vote."

Now, said Mr. Egan, the fear generated by state police officers going into people's homes as part of an ongoing criminal investigation related to voting is threatening to undo much of the good work of the league. He said, "One woman asked me, 'Am I going to go to jail now because I voted by absentee ballot?' "

According to Mr. Egan, "People who have voted by absentee ballot for years are refusing to allow campaign workers to come to their homes. And volunteers who have participated for years in assisting people, particularly the elderly or handicapped, are scared and don't want to risk a criminal investigation."

Florida is a state that's very much in play in the presidential election, with some polls showing John Kerry in the lead. A heavy-handed state police investigation that throws a blanket of fear over thousands of black voters can only help President Bush.

The long and ugly tradition of suppressing the black vote is alive and thriving in the Sunshine State.

Bush Tax Cuts Heavily Favor Rich, CBO Says -Reports

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=5&u=/nm/20040813/pl_nm/campaign_taxes_cbo_dc

Excerpts:

• NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites)'s tax cuts have transferred the federal tax burden from the richest Americans to middle-class families, with one-third of them benefiting people with the top 1 percent of income, according to a government report cited in newspapers on Friday.
• The report said the top 1 percent, with incomes averaging $1.2 million per year, will receive an average $78,460 tax cut this year, and have seen their share of the total tax burden fall roughly 2 percentage points to 20.1 percent, according to The New York Times.
  In contrast, households in the middle 20 percent, with incomes averaging $57,000 per year, will receive an average cut of only $1,090, the newspaper said, citing the CBO report.
  Taxpayers whose incomes range from $51,500 to around $75,600, saw their share of federal tax payments increase, according to CBO figures cited by The Washington Post.
• The newspapers, citing the CBO report, said about two-thirds of the benefits from the cuts went to households in the top 20 percent, with an average income of $203,740.
  People in the lowest 20 percent of earnings, which averaged $16,620, saw their effective tax rate fall to 5.2 percent from 6.7 percent, though their average tax cut was only $250.

I am willing to give my republican opponent (who supported these cuts) the vote of every person making more than $200,000 per year - they are his voters.

I'll simply take the rest, and we'll see who really will represent the people of the 6th....

Anyone who works for a living cannot re-elect these people...

-jef-

The End of the Middle and Working Class?

"Mr. Bush's proposals, if fully adopted, "could eliminate almost all taxes on investment income and wealth for almost all Americans." Mr. Bush hasn't yet gotten all he wants, but he has taken a large step toward a system in which only labor income is taxed."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/13/opinion/13krug.html?th

Is this how we want our society to work? Your labor benefiting those so wealthy that they do not have to work?

Where is the inherent fairness of the statement "All men are created equal" in this.

Remember, Bush has not fleeced our future to the benefit of the wealthy on his own. Petri helped pass his tax bills, and will continue to.

-jef-

Bush also said high taxes on the rich are a failed strategy because "the really rich people figure out how to dodge taxes anyway."

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/virginia/dp-va--bushvisit0809aug09,0,6920595.story?coll=dp-headlines-virginia

Why am I talking about Bush's failed tax cuts? Because Petri supported and benefited from them greatly.

I would not have supported tax cuts on the wealthy, I would have proposed and worked for tax cuts on the middle and working class. We are the people who truly drive the economy and can save this country from being sped around another blind corner by Bush, Cheney & Petri.

Baer acknowledged that some of the company's problems were of its own making. But he said he was worried about what he called the "Wal-Mart effect" and its role on the quality of U.S. jobs.

"Long-term, I really struggle with their constant mania of driving prices down, down, down, down, down," Baer said. "People are displaced into lower-paying jobs…. Their purchasing power goes down, so they can't go into Wal-Mart and buy as much as they used to. How will that work in the end?"

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/2004/la-na-wisconsin9aug09,1,1714529.story?coll=la-home-headlines

This is a quote from Rick Baer, CEO of Paper Converting in Green Bay.

People are starting to get it.....

-jef-

We're gonna win!

"When Friday's dismal job report was released, traders in the Chicago pit began chanting, "Kerry, Kerry."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/10/opinion/10krugman.html?th

When was the last time you heard a bunch of financial workers chanting a Democrats name?

Also from this op-ed:

"What we've just seen is as clear a test of trickledown economics as we're ever likely to get. Twice, in 2001 and in 2003, the administration insisted that a tax cut heavily tilted toward the affluent was just what the economy needed. Officials brushed aside pleas to give relief instead to lower- and middle-income families, who would be more likely to spend the money, and to cash-strapped state and local governments. Given the actual results - huge deficits, but minimal job growth - don't you wish the administration had listened to that advice?"

The Bush tax cuts, supported by Petri, have ruined the Clinton Economic boom.

Petri supported Clinton's economic policies less than 15% of the time, and has supported Bush's more than 85%.

Isn't it time to have a congressional representative on the side of growth?

Tribal Sovereignty:

http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/Bush%20-%20Tribal%20Sovereignty.mp3

This is actually pretty funny - Bush tries to get through a question that he doesn't know the answer to. Listen twice, the laughter from the audience is the best.

I promise, that if I don't know the answer to a question, I'll just admit it.

Even funnier, Kerry appeared before this panel first, and was given the same questions, therefore Bush would have known what was going to be asked, and either didn't care or forgot.

-jef-