Gotta agree with Bill Maher on Ds taking $ from those bad billionaires

[stopbush]

He’s for it, and so am I.

[greyl]

1. Yes, yes indeed, but he obviously did not watch a single minute of Hillary on Hulu. nt

[SunSeeker]

2. Until we have public financing of elections, we would be insane not to. nt

[Joe Short]

3. Please explain

What do you mean by public financing? As in donations from citizens only, or using tax money?

[VOX]

4. About publicly funded elections...

Last edited Sun Mar 8, 2020, 04:10 AM - Edit history (1)

That’s a major party goal here, publicly funded elections. Your proposed cost? $3.00 (three dollars) of your taxes once per year that you *choose* to give (or not) your portion of taxes toward

https://www.fec.gov/introduction-campaign-finance/understanding-ways-support-federal-candidates/presidential-elections/public-funding-presidential-elections/

MenuFederal Election Commission | United States of America
Public funding of presidential elections

Under the presidential public funding program, eligible presidential candidates receive federal government funds to pay for the qualified expenses of their political campaigns in both the primary and general elections. The public funding program was designed to use tax dollars to:

Match the first $250 of each contribution from individuals that an eligible presidential candidate receives during the primary campaign; and
Fund the major party nominees' general election campaigns (and assist eligible minor party nominees).
Between 1976 and 2012, the program also funded the major parties' presidential nominating conventions and provided partial convention funding to qualified minor parties. In 2014, legislation was enacted to end public funding of conventions.
<snip>
The $3 tax checkoff

Once the FEC determines that a candidate has met the eligibility requirements, it certifies the amount of public funds to which the candidate is entitled. The U.S. Treasury then makes the payments using funds from the $3 tax checkoff.

The 1040 federal income tax form asks taxpayers whether they'd like to designate $3 of their taxes paid to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund. When taxpayers check "yes," three of their tax dollars are placed in the Fund. Checking the "yes" box does not increase the amount of tax that taxpayers owe, nor does it decrease any refund to which they are entitled. The tax checkoff is the sole source of funds for the public funding program.
<snip>

[Mister Ed]

6. It's very good that you were able to provide these details to that poster and others.

Now, if only it could have been done without a snarky and demeaning subject line...

[VOX]

11. Apologies, edited the subject line.

Last edited Mon Mar 9, 2020, 02:50 AM - Edit history (1)

My wife had surgery and has casts on both feet, and her 89 year-old mother (who lives nearby) is a major handful.

Being snarky and demeaning isn’t my usual way. It’s just that caregiving demands have gone from zero to 60 in a day, and I’m facing two weeks minimum of this, so my attitude has taken a hit.

Sorry to let you, the new poster, and DU down.

[Joe Short]

7. Ehhh

I would appreciate it that next time you want to answer a question, you stick to the answer. Keep the snide remarks to yourself.

I asked because I saw it and didnt know the ins and outs.

[Hekate]

8. Welcome to DU. We're more than a little on edge these days, but stick around.

[VOX]

12. Joe, my deepest apologies to you.

As I wrote to Ed above, my wife had surgery yesterday, and has casts on both feet for the next two weeks solid. My 89-year-old mother-in-law lives nearby and also needs help multiple times per day. My life (and time) will not be my own for some weeks, and right now I’m exhausted and have a major sleep-debt.

But none of that is any excuse for rudeness here. I hope that you can accept my sincere apologies for being short with you. You took a hit you didn’t deserve, and for that, I’m genuinely sorry.

Finally, please don’t let my “attitude slippage” color your opinion of DU. I’ve been here for 18 years (give or take a month) and would like to extend a warm welcome to you. Again, my humble apologies.

[SunSeeker]

5. A combination.

A small donor matching system for presidential and congressional candidates that will incentivize small donors to participate in elections and candidates to spend more time engaging a broad, representative cross-section of constituents that provides matching funds (using tax money) for small donations, and lower contribution limits. And of course, overturn Citizens United.

[not_the_one]

9. Bill Maher is, if anything, a mixed bag...

He really blew it with his (tone deaf) support for Tweety (Bill is, obviously, PROUD that he is "politically incorrect" ), but he was right on the mark with the accepting of billionaire $$$s.

I'm fine with Biden accepting Bloomberg's help. There ARE a few good billionaires. We need to round them up and get them to coordinate their noblesse oblige.

ANYTHING to rid ourselves of the turd defiling OUR White House.

Maher's heart is (mostly) in the right place. Good vs Perfect?

He IS willing to put his money where his mouth is... And that "is a GOOD thing"... (per Martha)

[JHB]

10. He also misdirected his rant about Tweety

Progressives didn't make him leave, company executives did. The only "cancel culture" involved is the one network execs have made since networks began: business decisions.