Why Win If You're Going to Wimp Out? (Rush Limbaugh asks Republicans)

rushlimbaugh ^ | January 2, 2003 | Rush Limbaugh

[TLBSHOW]

Why Win If You're Going to Wimp Out?

January 2, 2003

There is no reason for going soft on the Bush agenda, yet we're doing that more and more on everything from ending racial discrimination (aka: affirmative action) to tax fairness to Saddam. If we'd already dealt with him, we wouldn't be faced with this supposed dilemma over whether North Korea or Iraq should be our primary focus. It's not a dilemma, anyway. They're both going to be dealt with, so there's no reason to create these openings.

Reuters reports that President Bush plans to unveil an economic stimulus package expected to reach up to $300 billion, including "targeted" tax cuts, but only a 50% cut in taxes on corporate dividends to shareholders. The original proposal was to eliminate them, because it's immoral to tax earnings twice. It's double taxation. It's ridiculous. For crying out loud, why do you win the White House and Senate if you're only going to water down your agenda?

I love this administration when it comes to foreign policy and protecting us from terrorism, but I continue to scratch my head over some of this on the domestic side. If this Reuters story isn't just wishful thinking, the White House is going to shelve tax cuts because they fear the Democratic lie that it's "for the rich." They don't have the sand to go out there and cite the IRS figures we have on this site, proving that only the rich are paying income taxes.

Who are "the rich," anyway? It used to be millionaires. Today it's any family that earns $100,000 a year - and we have multimillionaires like Kerry and Edwards and Rockefeller and Kennedy saying, "I have my wealth, so I don't favor a wealth tax, but I'm going to tax income so you can't get wealthy."

The White House is also said to be staying out of the Supreme Court case of a woman kept out of the University of Michigan because of her skin color: white. Admission based on race is wrong, but the administration fears taking the woman's side because it would damage White House counsel Alberto Gonzales' Supreme Court confirmation.

They're also ready to extend unemployment insurance yet again – which means paying people not to work by taking the money from those of us who are working. Folks, the Democrats are going to criticize us no matter what we do. It's absurd to back down on our agenda. As Senator Mitch McConnell told me in our upcoming Limbaugh Letter interview, the Senate only has six months to get things done. The Democrats want to bottle things up so they can have issues. Why help them out?

[ApesForEvolution]

Isn't that the truth. Sad, sad, sad.

[TLBSHOW]

Like I said feet to the fire.........

I have said over and over we will send the rats back to the stone age one day at a time. I know it will take more than 2 years, and right now is really the starting point. We have won the election now we must act like winners and go for the whole bowl of wax. Democrats can either join us or sit it out.

[Mo1]

I know it will take more than 2 years, and right now is really the starting point. We have won the election now we must act like winners and go for the whole bowl of wax. Democrats can either join us or sit it out.

As long as you realize it's just starting .. also remember that you can't shove everything down people's throat all at once .. otherwise you can be guarantee to a President Hilda in 2004. Somethings will be easy to pass .. other things will take time ..

[Fledermaus]

Sacrifice what? Be specific!

As to sales and property taxes, those are local issues and Bush can't do anything about those. Also, I agree on holding government spending down! Why can't they sacrifice? Most states spent like druken sailors in the 1990's which proves even in a "good" economy (the greatest economy in the history of mankind according to the Clinton liars) they increase so-called "programs" that actually bloat the size of government employees.

These employees are normally unionized and pay dues that get kicked right back to the DNC. Tony Soprano couldn't extort any better. I'll bet anyone good money that all state and local governments could actually cut 10-15% of their budgets easily. They just won't do it because 1 out of 3 or 4 people work for said government and, of course, their jobs are necessary!

But when we in Tennessee pointed out to our state legislature that we thought spending $800,000 on a heated and air conditioned parking garage was excessive, we were told we were extremists who wanted to de-fund education!

As to lowering the marginal tax rate, especially on the high end earnings, it makes total sense to lower the rate and grow the volume. It's pretty much worked every time it's done. A 39.6% top marginal rate, with double taxation of savings, dividends, capital gains taxes, etc. is ludicrous.

We don't have to sacrifice to re-tool anymore. We don't need metal drives, paper drives, etc. Sure, make sure your car is running well...that will save more fuel than going out and buying a tin can to drive in.

Get this economy growing at 4% a year again and stop discouraging savings and investment. Stop letting federal, state and local governments buy our votes with our own money with fake "programs" that most people don't know exist or how to get them or wouldn't qualify! Quit letting them pad government payrolls with non-essential personnel (22,000 of them told to stay home in Tennessee's 4 day "shut down" last October) and force them to justify their overhead.

We have TennCare - HillaryCare of 1993 actually implemented. Now, almost 30% of all TN residents are on it....ridiculous. Dead people are on it. Some people are on it dozens of times. Rich people are on it since they proclaim to have qualifications but ignore them (they only check your income level if you apply after a hospital visit - that's typical liberal stupidity). Non-Tenn and even non-US residents are on the program. In it's first 10 years, 2 major outside services hired to facilliate the program have been shut down for massive fraud. But tell them to fix the program and some liberal federal judge comes in and says the state can't remove ANYONE from the roles once they are on it!

And then they have the gaul to say to us taxpayers, "sorry, we can't find anywhere to cut the budget" when a "cut" to them is getting an 8% increase when they wanted 10%!

As to Social Security, I have a better idea. I'll agree with the government that at age 67 I will NOT apply for benefits if they'll stop taking 12.4% of my yearly income up to $90,000. It's my money and I don't like their pitiful return I get for $11,000 a year! It's time to not privatize the system, but slowly eliminate it.

[HankReardon]

Usually in a war, attacks do come from both sides. I do agree that we should protect our own borders at least as much as we protect the borders of Kuwaitt and North Korea.

[HankReardon]

Trent Lott and most the Senate sold out during the impeachment, everyone who knows anything, knows this, good riddance! The Senate shirked their duty, shameful!

[TLBSHOW]

Somethings will be easy to pass .. other things will take time ..

WE HAVE THE NEXT 6 YEARS - LETS ROLL

[HankReardon]

No, Gore slammed himself, for years by being standing steadfast side by side with the man who eclipsed all the treasonous actions of the previously greatest traitors in American history.

[HankReardon]

When the economy grew, the tax recepts grew, even at a lessened tax rate!! That's the whole point! The tax cuts freed up great pools of venture capital!! Just as David Laffer decribed it would and graphed it on a Washington restuarant napkin to a man called Dick Cheney many years ago. Proceed with the tax cut agenda!!

[TLBSHOW]

Proceed with the tax cut agenda!!


That I can bump!

[Darling Lili]

I'm just watching to see how long it will be before the sanctimonious will find something about Frist that will cause them to get a rope.

Such pessimism. Relax!

You predicted Lott would leave the Senate in a huff if asked to step down, and how that would lead to the Republicans losing their majority. None of that has happened.

Frist and the Republicans will be just fine. (Unlike the hapless Lott, Frist can take care of himself.)

[jwalsh07]

Jan 16 is the make or break date for the Bush Administration as regards the UM AA case

[Torie]

Bush's taking a bye on this case would be disgusting. It would suggest craven political calculation. I would prefer that he take UM's side to that. The guy needs to step out of the dugout on this, and take his swings. I suspect you don't find my view on this very surprising do you? :)

[jwalsh07]

Nope. I agree.

I can't stand moderates without centers. LOL

Obviously not you. You have strong views on just about everything. :-}

[Jorge]

One is the President of the United States of America, and the other one is Howard Stern without lesbians.

I take it you are not a Rush fan.

[Stew Padasso]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/816608/posts

[Luis Gonzalez]

"I take it you are not a Rush fan."

Actually, I am.

But I also understand what Rush is: he is first and foremost, an entertainer. His job is to sell airtime, and generate income for the radio stations that purchase his syndicated shows.

I agree with him most of the time, other times I don't.

[Luis Gonzalez]

You know, I had actually given Lott and the Senate Repubs a begrudged pass on the impeachment fiasco.

I reasoned that it had been a calculated political move designed to keep the White House away from the Dems for what could have been ten years of President Gore.

But the rest of Lott's antics (power sharing was disgusting) finally turned me on him.

Leaders need to lead, specially when under a full frontal attack, but Lott went into hidding, then came out selling out the party platform on BET.

Good riddance.

[Stew Padasso]

"You know, I had actually given Lott and the Senate Repubs a begrudged pass on the impeachment fiasco."

This begrudged pass has come to haunt the RP.

[Luis Gonzalez]

The way I saw it, booting Clinton when the majority of the nation saw him as a victim of political persecution (which they did), would have rallied the left behind Gore, running as an incumbent, and "getting the vote out" with the war cry of "remember what they did to Bill!"

President Al, 2½ terms.