Grover Norquist: Ending Bush Tax Cuts Not A Tax Hike - Wapo

[JohnWxy]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/out-from-under-the-anti-tax-pledge/2011/07/20/gIQAoudbQI_story.html


WITH A HANDFUL of exceptions, every Republican member of Congress has signed a pledge against increasing taxes. Would allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire as scheduled in 2012 violate this vow? We posed this question to Grover Norquist, its author and enforcer, and his answer was both surprising and encouraging: No.

In other words, according to Mr. Norquist’s interpretation of the Americans for Tax Reform pledge, lawmakers have the technical leeway to bring in as much as $4 trillion in new tax revenue — the cost of extending President George W. Bush’s tax cuts for another decade — without being accused of breaking their promise. “Not continuing a tax cut is not technically a tax increase,” Mr. Norquist told us. So it doesn’t violate the pledge? “We wouldn’t hold it that way,” he said.
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Now, I've heard Norquist has since back-pedalled on this statment, but once it's outa the gate you can't totally recall it. I never thought I would hear one of the leading fanatic ideologues of the GOP utter such a sensible, logical statement! My, oh my! Will wonders never cease!

You see Mr. President, it IS possible to educe some flexibility from the Corporate Lobbyist Party if you stand firm for a position (which, you have been doing regarding some modest revenue increases as part of the deficit deal (to my great relief) although it's not nearly enough revenue increases relative to cuts as it should be!...but I guess we'll have to learn to be grateful for a small favor or two).

[meegbear]

1. That was two days ago ...

and this was yesterday: Boehner And Grover Agree: Letting Bush Tax Cuts Expire ‘Would Be Raising Taxes’

[N7Shepard]

2. So who is Grover's boss then?

[meegbear]

3. Dead Reagan

[N7Shepard]

4. I'd say the Kochs. Reagan raised taxes many times.

[meegbear]

5. Reagan is who he thinks his boss is

[IDemo]

8. Milton Friedman or Ayn Rand n/t

[JohnWxy]

6. this is a real missed opportunity by Mr. "can't we all just get along?" Obama

He should be hitting Republicans repetitively and hard on the baseless, hypocricrital, nonsensical insistence on making temporary tax cuts - which helped cause the fucking TRICKLE DOWN DEPRESSION - permanent - and for calling NOT makiing them permanent a Godamned tax INCREASE. This is a beautiful opportunity to point out how the Corporate Lobbyists are duplicitous. They lie their fucking asses off!

When Obama chooses to NOT call them on this kindof thing it only encourages these bastards!

[FiveGoodMen]

7. He's on their side.

"can't we all just get along?" is just a cover.