Swiped from Sadly, No, is an illustration of just how socialist Barack Obama’s proposed tax increase on the wealthy is in historical terms:
The blue line at 40% represents where Obama’s tax plan would take the top marginal rate as compared to the top marginal rate over the past century. It coincides very closely with the rates during the Clinton years. True, it is a higher tax rate than under Bush I and Bush II, but lower than most of the years under FDR through Reagan. And we all remember what trying times the Clinton years were; what with the peace, prosperity, five year plans, and calling one another “comrade” all the time. I, for one, long for the days when our biggest problem was a burning concern as to whether the President was honoring his marital vows as opposed to his vow to uphold the Constitution.
Nice graphic catch, comrade Doug-ski.
Man, that blue dress saga was so aggravating, and I still feel like biffing Janet Reno’s forehead about all that. But it sure did turn out to be a G-rated story for the world, compared to what followed in history.
The whole perjury thing was irrelevant, of course…
Then bring perjury charges against him. Don’t mess with impeachment.
I will always believe that President Clinton’s impeachment was just ironic karma.
The Clintons got their political jump off of the Watergate brouhaha, and the unlearned lessons that they were first-hand witnesses to, just came back to bite Bill on the behind.
Think about it. Stung by Watergate, Republicans vowed in their heart of hearts to return the favor someday. President Carter was a well meaning one-termer, so no joy there. And then it was off to the heady years of Reagan and Bush I.
Then came the Clintons. Enough arrogance for four. The Republican hearts darkened. Then, came the second term, and the usual downturn in popularity. Then, the vultures began to circle.
If it hadn’t been the “human humidor”, it would have been something else. Impeachment came because it could. But, Bill wouldn’t slink away like “Tricky Dick”. Impeachment failed. Yet, the tarnish still brought low the Democratic resurgence. “Honor” satisfied.
Soon though, will the pendulum swing back once again? Or, will somebody let bygones be bygones? Time will tell.
OK, on the one hand, there was a group of people who broke into the opposition’s headquarters in order to try to gain advantage in a presidential election.
On the other hand, there was a blowjob, and a lie about a blowjob.
Yeah, they’re equivalent, in a “Simon Says” kind of way. They were both wrong, and wrong is bad, and bad isn’t good. If you’re twelve years old, those two transgressions are on par with each other.
If Bush had been accused of the same thing, he would have successfully claimed executive privilege, or been allowed to testify in an empty room with no recording devices or transcripts.
I like how the graph conveniently omits 1985-present. Well, what’s 28 years when there’s partisan bullshit to sling? Better yet, who needs the 125 years on the other end, 1787-1912, on the graph? They don’t suit the purpose? Cut ’em!
So, let’s invent a parallel graph built on similar ‘integrity’. Imagine one that has a presidential candidate who promotes indentured servitude. Make the graph extend all the way back to the founding of the country so that slavery is included. Voila! Indentured servitude isn’t radical anymore! It certainly was worse in the past! I love the equivocation on behalf of team. Principle? Never heard of it! Doesn’t matter. Here’s the wool. Where are your eyes? Certainly, I’ll never make $200k/year, so the guy who does is ripe for the pickin’. That’s the essence of good government! Isolate an unpopular minority and scam what you can from them!
I also love the credit a president gets for having done a small handful of things that were beneficial for the economy- cutting back welfare, NAFTA, CAFTA, & GATT, all of which are now reviled by his party- and then the best thing of all, nothing, but happen to be sitting at the desk (getting hooted! I’m jealous!) while a once-in-a-lifetime emergent technology appears.
Well, we all know how great things were in the Keynesian 1970s, what with the deflation, low interest rates, high employment, and general great feeling about the direction of our country. Can’t wait to get back to that kind of ‘progress’.
Aw, hell. The graph does show 1985-present. Honest to God, I couldn’t see it when I first read it. Ok, I’ll take my lumps now. Pile on. Have at me.
If, by chance, you initially read the graph on an RSS reader, that might be my fault — initially, I didn’t have the image sized correctly when I published it. I suspect that would be the version in the feed reader. I edited it (shortly after I posted) to shrink the size down.
If it wasn’t the RSS, then I have some bifocals you can borrow. lol.
T, “equivalency” or logic, or fairness has nothing to do with tit-for-tat activities.
Reminds me of the 1.17.2001 Onion article: “Our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over.”
I’m sure that’s how and when the phrase got stuck in my head.