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House to vote on 90 percent tax for AIG bonuses
AP ^ | 03192009 | STEPHEN OHLEMACHER

Posted on 03/19/2009 6:57:28 AM PDT by EBH

Edited on 03/19/2009 7:34:42 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

WASHINGTON

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aig; aigbonuses; billofattainder; congressionaltyranny; fascism; taxes; taxincrease; taxincreases; yourtaxdollarsatwork
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To: EBH

Dear public: Never mind about that free enterprise crap. After all, that’s what caused our problems in the first place, right? So now, as your humble elected officials, we’re going to make certain that FAIRNESS reigns supreme. That is, we’re going to confiscate everything from those people we don’t like...you know... those who don’t deserve the stuff they have. But don’t worry. We’ll NEVER bother you! (How much did you say you “earned” last year??)


141 posted on 03/19/2009 8:47:00 AM PDT by Oldpuppymax (AGENDA OF THE LEFT EXPOSED)
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To: EBH
I am having a very difficult time trying to come up with a strategy that will allow me to live and prosper in a world ruled by stupid people. Any any all (serious) suggestions would be greatly appreciated. My current stategy (drink heavily) leaves me vulnerable on Sundays and from sunrise till early in the afternoon the rest of the week.
142 posted on 03/19/2009 8:47:22 AM PDT by jpsb
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To: PzLdr

Exactly! If these guys have already spent their million dollar bonus before this tax was passed, they would be guilty and sent to jail if they could not pay their taxes.

Totally unconstitutional.


143 posted on 03/19/2009 8:47:29 AM PDT by MNDude
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To: Mercat
Isn’t there something in the Constitution about ex post facto laws and bills of attainer?

Article 1 Section 9, Limitations of Congress

This Congress is only limited by its imagination! weeee what a fun ride!

144 posted on 03/19/2009 8:47:32 AM PDT by Zeppelin
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To: EBH

I’ve used this in other threads but if the shoe fits...

And I quote...

“That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Furthermore...

“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

Thoughts?


145 posted on 03/19/2009 8:49:46 AM PDT by RedCell (Honor thy Father (9/6/07) - Semper Fi)
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To: Zeddicus

What you have said is the exact and total truth. Thanks for saying in a few concise words, what this is really all about.


146 posted on 03/19/2009 8:53:58 AM PDT by hot4plasma
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To: Darkwolf377
The whole point of the AIG "outrage" was to stir up public anger at The Rich.

Exactly...and the only outrage I've seen is from Washington. There was a much greater outcry about the stimulus package than there is about this, and they are making it sound like we're all marching in the streets...I haven't seen or heard anyone having fits about this bonus money except the crisis manufacturers in Washington.

Now, pass this piece of crap legislation and they'll see some outrage. Why don't corporations and the "RICH" and "POWERFUL" join in and surround these bozos in Washington and shut them down? It's getting to the tipping point, folks...we need to march on Washington and SHUT THEM DOWN!

Oh never mind, I forgot--we're the working and productive class. We don't have time or the money to go to Washington...

147 posted on 03/19/2009 8:54:18 AM PDT by erkyl (The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a period of moral crisis, stay neutral)
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To: DesertRhino

that’s exactly what Glenn Beck talked about in his show this morning. A listener wrote in and said, “Watch the other hand.”

Then he discussed, in depth, the Missouri “domestic terrorist” watchlist.


148 posted on 03/19/2009 8:54:44 AM PDT by bootless (Never Forget. Never Again. And NEVER GIVE UP!)
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To: varmintman; Mercat
Well, the language probably does not contain a provision to tax income already received.
That would be ex post facto, ipso facto, and wrong on the face of it.

The rest is probably unconstitutional as attainder, but congressional trash routinely pass garbage like that even when it is clear that it cannot pass constitutional muster.

There is a clear political advantage to the liberal left to keep beating the drum of class warfare, and this is just the beginning of that long road in this regard.

149 posted on 03/19/2009 8:55:24 AM PDT by bill1952 (Power is an illusion created between those with power - and those without)
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To: EBH

People lets understand why AIG got the money.

It is because OBAMA got money
http://www.examiner.com/x-268-Right-Side-Politics-Examiner~y2009m3d17-Obama-Received-a-101332-Bonus-from-AIG

Senator Barack Obama received a $101,332 bonus from American International Group in the form of political contributions according to Opensecrets.org. The two biggest Congressional recipients of bonuses from the A.I.G. are - Senators Chris Dodd and Senator Barack Obama.

Any questions???


150 posted on 03/19/2009 8:55:42 AM PDT by Munz (Infiltrate Interrogate Eradicate NEXT!)
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To: Myrddin
The problem is John Q. Public views them as heroes in this case.

AIG was the fall guy, the employees who received bonuses were/are just “useful idiots.”

The public will approve of this, because they don't see the bigger picture. Further up thread I quoted one of the Democrats talking about coming back again next week with even more stringent legislation on exec. compensation. Changing words and meanings such that no form of bonus, commission or even an employee of the week recognition bonus be paid. What incentive is there left for AIG employees to work hard and save their company and our economy?

Yes, these congress people will be viewed as heroes.

151 posted on 03/19/2009 8:58:04 AM PDT by EBH (The world is a balance between good & evil, your next choice will tip the scale.)
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To: Myrddin; All

Thanks for your input on this thread. I was trying to figure out exactly what was wrong with this, and had a few things going around in my head that it could fall under.

Others have mentioned also something regarding the government interfering with employer/employee contracts. Do you happen to know what that angle would fall under, and do you have an opinion as to whether this is a factor in this as well? (I’ll refresh myself on these issues as I google these different aspects (and I’m due for another read through of the entire Constitution myself) but I thought you might be able to readily recall where it is covered in our laws?)

Again, thanks for your input. :)


152 posted on 03/19/2009 9:01:44 AM PDT by LibertyRocks ( http://LibertyRocks.wordpress.com ~ ANTI-OBAMA STUFF : http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: EBH

They are taking the bait. When the president signs the bill into law, it will give standing to hundreds of people to sue the government and get access to Obama’s birth certificate. It can’t be a lwa if it was signed by a person not elligible for the office of the presidency.


153 posted on 03/19/2009 9:08:00 AM PDT by Go Gordon
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To: All

Several good quotes I found at Techlaw Journal regarding Bill of Attainder that I thought would be good to share on the thread:

http://www.techlawjournal.com/glossary/legal/attainder.htm

Bill of Attainder

Definition: A legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial.

The Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 9, paragraph 3 provides that: “No Bill of Attainder or ex post facto Law will be passed.”

“The Bill of Attainder Clause was intended not as a narrow, technical (and therefore soon to be outmoded) prohibition, but rather as an implementation of the separation of powers, a general safeguard against legislative exercise of the judicial function or more simply - trial by legislature.” U.S. v. Brown, 381 U.S. 437, 440 (1965).

“These clauses of the Constitution are not of the broad, general nature of the Due Process Clause, but refer to rather precise legal terms which had a meaning under English law at the time the Constitution was adopted. A bill of attainder was a legislative act that singled out one or more persons and imposed punishment on them, without benefit of trial. Such actions were regarded as odious by the framers of the Constitution because it was the traditional role of a court, judging an individual case, to impose punishment.” William H. Rehnquist, The Supreme Court, page 166.

“Bills of attainder, ex post facto laws, and laws impairing the obligations of contracts, are contrary to the first principles of the social compact, and to every principle of sound legislation. ... The sober people of America are weary of the fluctuating policy which has directed the public councils. They have seen with regret and indignation that sudden changes and legislative interferences, in cases affecting personal rights, become jobs in the hands of enterprising and influential speculators, and snares to the more-industrious and less-informed part of the community.” James Madison, Federalist Number 44, 1788.


154 posted on 03/19/2009 9:10:13 AM PDT by LibertyRocks ( http://LibertyRocks.wordpress.com ~ ANTI-OBAMA STUFF : http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: EBH

Mean while, Democrats complained this morning that Republicans were worrying to much about violating the Constitution. These people feel they can do anything they want, regardless if it is legal or not. They best be paying attention to why the need for the Tea Partys and the real reason why people are buying guns.


155 posted on 03/19/2009 9:10:21 AM PDT by RC2 (http://www.youtube.com/user/Funbobbasso)
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To: Myrddin

Never mind! :) I see that this is all one and the same - Bill of Attainder and the interference in Contracts... Sorry about that! Time to brush up on my understanding of these particular issues, it’s been a while! :)


156 posted on 03/19/2009 9:12:04 AM PDT by LibertyRocks ( http://LibertyRocks.wordpress.com ~ ANTI-OBAMA STUFF : http://cafepress.com/NO_ObamaBiden08)
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To: LibertyRocks
There seems to be a general attack on contracts within Congress right now. The recent legislation that allows a judge to change the terms of a mortgage including reducing the principal owed to the investors is a blatant violation of contract law. That principal is the private property of the original investors. The contract specified that their private property would be repaid with interest. Breaking the contract and STEALING the private property of the investors by judicial fiat is contrary to the Constitutional guarantee of contracts and a violation of the 5th Amendment (taking of private property without just compensation). It is unconstitutional and immoral on many levels.
157 posted on 03/19/2009 9:21:46 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: All
The way I see it... this is just a start...

Remember Zero's comment that he'll only tax those making over 250k? First it's these folks... then anyone that has a government contract... Who knows where it will stop

This WILL pass, with flying colors... The House has overwhelming support on both sides... The Senate will also pass it, though it may not be in this exact form...

They've effectively diverted the focus away from the TRILLIONS in handouts, to these bonuses... and most of the sheeple are buying into it... One of the few level-headed folks I've seen today was George Pataki... His comments on CNBC were spot-on fantastic

This is an absolute DISASTER, and the start of communism- and wealth resistribution- in earnest.

158 posted on 03/19/2009 9:21:59 AM PDT by NYC Republican (This Too Shall Pass- in 8 years.. how much destruction will they create?)
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To: LibertyRocks
I traveled to Turkey on business in Nov 1992. At the beginning of the week, I read a newspaper article about 5 members of the Turkish parliament who made statements "offensive" to other members of the body. The next day, the parliament went about the task of making their statements a capital crime. Before I boarded the plane to fly to my next destination, all 5 had been executed. A bill of attainder and ex post facto application in a matter of days.
159 posted on 03/19/2009 9:27:54 AM PDT by Myrddin
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To: erkyl
Why should we be glad that the gov't is stealing income? How about BARNEY FRANK return our money that they have stolen for their golf carts, Pelosi's private military airline, birthday parties, pools...Who is the real "thief" of the taxpayers' money?!!! Certainly the gov't is stealing more from us than these individuals, who are collecting on contracts they negotiated before the bailouts.

Don't fall into the trap of believing the hype created by the press. It's smoke and mirrors, keeping you from remembering that the GOVERNMENT, not AIG, is ROBBING US BLIND.

160 posted on 03/19/2009 9:32:33 AM PDT by I'm ALL Right! (Webster's says SOCIALISM is a Transitionary state between Capitalism and Communism. Wake up America)
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