GOP Failure Watch Part III

1. If there's nothing unusual then I'll admit I was wrong. To reiterate, these aren't business taxes, these are personal tax returns.

2. Then you aren't paying attention.

OK good point. But at least we can agree that Teleprompters are evil

I'm not saying it's bad in the sense that it's evil. More that the unintended consequence of big box retail is that it puts pressure on vendors to place quantity and profit margins over quality. Manufacturers have to choose between not having shelf presence and sacrificing quality.

There doesn't have to be a race to the bottom, but there is one. And the consequence might be unintended, but it's a consequence.

My issue is that a big box store necessitates spending on stuff like extra lanes and traffic lights, etc to deal with the increased traffic. Now, these expenditures may pay for themselves, but they're happening in low-density, single-use zones, when the same amount of money could arguably bring more benefit in high-density, mixed-use zones that benefit more people and businesses.

As long as he was using legal methods to reduce his taxes, why do you have an issue with him? I think everyone knows the tax code needs to be revamped and streamlined but I can't fault someone for reducing their taxes as long as they are staying within the law.

And maybe you should consider if you had taken all the available deductions as well.

1. I would bet your definition of "unusual" will differ from mine.

2. I am paying close attention. Seems like this issue has been passed over.

It's not really a question of what he has done in the past that is at issue (although we don't know much of what he has done in the past). The question is going forward. The question is one of trust. Do the American people trust a guy in the top sliver -- who has used the loopholes and tax avoidance schemes that have been dropped into our tax code through the influence of rich people and lobbyists to our detriment and for the purpose of making these dodges legal -- to make the system fair for the rest of us?

Fine. He has done nothing illegal and simply took advantage of a rigged system. The problem is that he and his buddies in the very top tier are the one's who rigged it in the first place. The blame goes directly onto them and to the sheep who DON'T get the same benefits but buy into the whole "job creator" bullshit. So, when the wolf dresses up like one of us in his Costco shirt and says, "I'll make the tax system fair" there is a big chunk of the population who look at him a bit skeptically.

Then you should be skeptical of EVERY politician. None of them are "like us".

That's a total BULLSHIT excuse.

I am skeptical of every politician. Perhaps you are not familiar with my work. But we still have to pick between options. You said that as long as Romney only took advantage of the laws as written, then there is no issue. I disagree. There is an issue looking forward as to what his real motives and goals will be.

Yes, we all should be skeptical of ALL politicians. So look at facts. You have a decade or more of Obama tax returns. He and Michelle are now wealthy. Any Caymans accounts? Any Swiss bank accounts? If he is looking at a revision of the tax code, at least he won't have skin in that game that he personally will lose if he does the right thing.

Well, unless we're politicians ourselves that's just a statement of the bleeding obvious but the reality is that Obama, (and I've had my problems with the fella too), is MUCH more like ordinary people than Romney will ever be.

He also spent time trying to help ordinary people as a community organiser as opposed to Mitt Romney whose interests only run as far as his 'sort', (i.e. rich people), and his crackpot religion friends.

But at least every other presidential candidate has released their tax returns. Romney Junior is the exception in being secretive about his returns. You're also forgetting that Romney has a history of being downright deceptive about his returns.

Not sure why you're going to this length to defend his weaseliness.

Sorry, this is absolutely false.

When did Romney serve in the federal government? Never.

However much influence you attribute to the rich, unless they're in Congress or the executive, they have NO authority or ability to change anything.

Barack Obama bears infinitely more responsibility for the state of the federal tax code than Mitt Romney.

Your quote smacks of jealousy. The fact that you think Obama is somehow more like you than Romney is nothing more than that.

They both had privileges we didn't have and will continue to have those advantages.

The crack on his religion is unnecessary and indicative of your inability to see beyond your own nose.

So you think Romney will have some hidden agenda, whereas people that think Obama has some hidden agenda are crackpots. Gotcha.

I would bet that Obama is also using various tax advantages the difference being Romney is much, much more wealthy.

Uh-huh!

Yeah, this fella sure was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, wasn't he...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_and_career_of_Barack_Obama

But only one of us is trying to be President, aren't we

What privileges did Obama have that you don't?

Well two reasons, One capital gains tax that is set very low IMO and two perhaps that person lost 25 million the prior year, so he/she has a loss carry forward tax benefit that was applied in the current year giving that person a very low (or even 0) tax rate.

Affirmative action?

Come on, it is so obvious. Romney’s revenue neutral tax plan that simplifies the system by lowering rates while broadening the base is really just an ingenious and malicious plan to lower his personal tax burden.

Does ANYONE in the universe believe that he'll ever get around to eliminating tax-loopholes after slashing taxes and spending?

"Presumably" because they won't tell us what they will eliminate. It could very well be the things that you and I benefit the most from like mortgage interest deductions. I haven't heard anything about off-shore activity in his plans.

Way to put words in my mouth champ. I never said anything about hidden agendas, and I never absolved Obama from doing the things that politicians do. I'm simply saying that people will likely trust Obama more on tax reform because he isn't benefiting from the same avoidance schemes as Romney. On the second point, why bet? Why do you just go look at his taxes. He released several years for your benefit. There is no mystery associated with Obama and his taxes. THAT is the primary reason there is more trust placed in him than Romney.

Did you know the word "naive" is not in the dictionary?

Yep. And I hear that Michelle grows food stamps in the White House garden.

Funny. I'd expect better from you.

Many Republicans (including Paul Ryan), along with many Democrats, share responsibility for the state of the tax code. Mitt Romney is not one of them.

The people who make the decisions choose who to listen to. They alone share blame.