SC

The Mick Mulvaney Pledge

“REPUBLICANS” SHOULD LEARN IT, LIVE IT We’ve made our thoughts on Grover Norquist’s “no (net) tax hike” pledge perfectly clear.  It’s a fine idea in theory, but as a pledge it is rarely followed and never enforced. Which makes it, well … “pointless.” As far as we’re concerned it is…

“REPUBLICANS” SHOULD LEARN IT, LIVE IT

We’ve made our thoughts on Grover Norquist’s “no (net) tax hike” pledge perfectly clear.  It’s a fine idea in theory, but as a pledge it is rarely followed and never enforced.

Which makes it, well … “pointless.”

As far as we’re concerned it is much more important for individual lawmakers to stake out specific positions on taxes and spending – and then be held accountable by voters for those positions (and their consistency in advancing them).

Positions like this one …

I, Mick Mulvaney, pledge to the taxpayers of the 5th district of the state of South Carolina, and to the American people that I will:

ONE, oppose any and all efforts to increase the marginal income tax rates for individuals and/or businesses; and TWO, oppose any net reduction or elimination of deductions and credits, unless matched dollar for dollar by further reducing tax rates.

Wait … that’s basically the Norquist Pledge, right?

Right … yet unlike a lot of “Republican” politicians who are currently abandoning the “no tax hike” policy position outlined above, Mulvaney is reiterating his support for it.

“If we raise taxes – be it through higher rates or closed loopholes or whatever – just so we can spend more money, how does that make us different from the tax-and-spend Democrats?” Mulvaney told FITS.

Exactly ….

We gave up on the “Republican” brand a long time ago because the party’s politicians proved they were no different that the Democrats they assailed when it came to excessive spending.  Now they are one step away from becoming no different than the Democrats when it comes to raising taxes, too.

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48 comments

ggg November 27, 2012 at 9:45 pm

yehaw

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Old Bike Dude November 27, 2012 at 10:06 pm

Where’s his beer can hat? He was great in Waterboy.

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Fallon November 28, 2012 at 12:43 am

Either Joe Wilson took it or Roxanne ate it. Both are fing idiots and morons.

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Golly! Wow! November 27, 2012 at 10:09 pm

Same hypocrite who advocates even bigger “defense” budgets

But hey he’s for “fiscal responsibility”

That BS sells to these Right Wing nutjobs in South Carolina who really believe one can balance the budget by cutting out Public television

Mulvaney is a damn joke!

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Waffle in the House November 28, 2012 at 12:37 am

Add among these right wing wing nuts Joe Wilson. That sorry excuse for a Congressman and his skank has to go in 2014.

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Mike November 28, 2012 at 10:04 pm

Mick, has not advocated increases in the “defense” budget. In fact he’s one of the few Republicans, who have said that EVERYTHING needs to be on the table. Earlier this year he crossed the aisle and wrote a bill with Barney Frank to freeze “defense” spending at its current levels.
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/how-to-freeze-the-pentagon/

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Sick of Pandering November 27, 2012 at 10:10 pm

I believe Lindsay Graham makes more sense. To get out of debt, we will have to cut and raise some revenue. The MM’ s in Comgress will be the ones who send us over the fiscal cliff because of their inability to show any amount of common sense.

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Koch Brothers November 27, 2012 at 10:10 pm

Thanks for the help Mick!Your pay er “contribution” is in the mail!

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Smirks November 27, 2012 at 10:44 pm

Mulvaney is still going to swear fealty to his masters, eh?

I hope Republicans stick to that pledge and force the Bush tax cuts in their entirety to expire. Your obstructionism after an epic loss this election is irrelevant. Go ahead, refuse every last inch of compromise, the resulting tax hike on everyone will be solely blamed on the GOP.

As I said before, fuck Norquist and anyone who follows his stupid pledge. Balance spending cuts with raising taxes on the super wealthy and by forcing huge corporations that rake in billions in profits to actually pay something.

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Tammy November 28, 2012 at 12:40 am

Fuck Norquist, Mulvaney and that poster child of idiocy Joe Wilson.

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Ohmaar November 28, 2012 at 6:01 am

So what happens when the tax rates are raised and revenue still falls short? The Congressional Bidget Office projected the results of raising taxes only on “the rich.” With the increase in revenues it will take 514 years to pay off 2011’s budget deficit.

So that’s your plan?

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Smirks November 28, 2012 at 9:42 am

By raising taxes on the rich and making the huge corporations actually pay their taxes, it will shrink the deficit. Combined with spending cuts (including defense spending, which neither party actually wants to cut) we can push down the deficit to something more manageable.

At the very least, we should let the Bush tax cuts expire for the rich, close shelters and loopholes in order to have a more fair (and generally lower overall) corporate income tax rate, and let most or all of sequestration go through. I also support a minimum tax rate. Couple all of that with spending cuts and we will be better off.

This won’t kill the deficit either, but it will shrink it. What will kill the deficit is the recovery of the economy with all of this in place. After all, the current deficits was caused by massive shift upwards in spending and a massive shift downwards in revenue, both of which were due to or in response to the recession.

What won’t solve the deficit is keeping our tax rates at their current level, which saw fairly large deficits in a decent economy too (see Bush administration), lowering taxes even further for the rich with a plan that was marked as mathematically impossible to keep deficit neutral (see Romney campaign), or wanting to end the cuts and spend the revenue it brings in (see Obama administration).

We need cuts, but we need revenue too.

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Smirks November 28, 2012 at 9:43 am

I should elaborate on the minimum tax rate, basically I mean the “Buffett Rule.”

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Smirks November 28, 2012 at 9:45 am

One more thing, we should also be ending the wars and pulling our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Didn’t really include that because I’m not confident Obama will actually do this, and Republicans sure as hell won’t, but we need to fucking do it.

Damn, FITS, put in an edit button already.

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Upstater November 28, 2012 at 9:51 am

Hey, Smirks? Fuck YOU. And get a job.

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Smirks November 28, 2012 at 10:11 am

Right back at you, Upstater. :)

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Ohmaar November 29, 2012 at 8:30 am

Smirks, I’m curious if you realize Warren Buffett is in your “making the huge corporations actually pay their taxes” class? Berkshire Hathaway has racked up over $10 billion in unpaid taxes over the last 10 years and they continue to delay payment through endless litigation.

Don’t you find it the least bit hypocritical that one of Obama’s loudest “tax-the-rich” mouthpieces is one of the nation’s most flagrant tax violators?

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BigT November 28, 2012 at 5:33 am

All South Carolina, and ALL Conservative-Claiming politicians…you will be JUDGED by how you PERFORM NOW…

It’s easy when the GOP is not under such Vicious Attack…but our country is being Torn down by unjust and Irresponsible people…

The Congress, and the State offices, where BIG media has less control, are the FIREWALL against this HIDEOUS liberal Disease that has Corrupted its way into a takeover of our Federal Government…

I will be WATCHING You and Remembering…

And punishment will be HARSH for the weak and trendy…

Obama won NOTHING but the right ot FIGHT the GOP-Controlled Congress…

We sent you there for a REASON..and that is to Take Obama’s and Reid’s head off…Now kick their @$$#$, or you’ll face the same fate as the rest of the Moderates….

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President Perry November 28, 2012 at 8:14 am

“And punishment will be HARSH for the weak and trendy…”

You really doled out the punishment a few weeks ago, loser.

All talk, no substance. That is you…how is President Rick Perry doing?

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BigT November 28, 2012 at 11:37 am

You are the epitome of WEAK, and a lack of substance…

You idiots ATTACK me, when it’s your god who is ruining the country…why can’t you legitimately defend him and his unemployment mess???

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sweepin November 28, 2012 at 7:12 am

Carpet bagging son-of-a-bitch.

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sweepin November 28, 2012 at 7:40 am

SC Voters get the government they so richly deserve. Straight back to the 18th and 19th Centuries.

First the imperialists of Europe, then the mercantile industrialists of the North and Europe, then our plantations and forests to the Wall Street Bankers for their playgrounds.

Now we freely give ourselves to the carpet-baggers. Hell, we use to make them steal from us. At least they had to work for it.

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Crooner November 28, 2012 at 8:23 am

So what’s his plan to reduce the deficit? Fuck the poor and elderly?

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Ohmaar November 28, 2012 at 9:17 am

Eliminate government over-regulation and confiscatory tax burden so the economy will grow and revenues increase. Cut spending to levels that a healthy economy is capable of supporting. That’s his plan.

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Smirks November 28, 2012 at 10:10 am

The drop in tax receipts after Bush’s tax cuts, protecting huge corporate subsidies (like big oil subsidies, which Mulvaney voted to keep, twice, which costs us billions), Medicare part D, and the two unfunded wars that we have yet to end prove that Republicans don’t give a shit about deficits.

Republicans like to cut taxes and raise spending when it benefits them and their masters. Who cares if it blows up the deficit even higher? After all, Dick Cheney said it himself: “Deficits don’t matter.” Just slash programs that help the working class and give them a tiny, tiny tax cut so they don’t bitch when the rich get a massive one.

People like Mulvaney and Norquist are frauds. No one can say they aren’t. Their “no tax pledge” and their rhetoric about cutting spending is all designed to disguise their enthusiastic defense for the wealthy. Cut regulations, lower taxes even further, keep all the corporate welfare and cronyism, just get rid of welfare and Social Security and anything else that doesn’t help the richest Americans. What, you honestly think that’s to help America as a whole? Bullshit.

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Crooner November 28, 2012 at 10:33 am

Ohmaar:

Everyone agrees with that plan. The devil is in the details. Your over regulation may be my environmental protection. My over regulation may be your Patriot Act.

The people have spoken: tax rates on the rich are too low. We can’t cut our way out of a $13T deficit. Romney lost.

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Ohmaar November 28, 2012 at 3:42 pm

You can’t tax your way out of a $1.6 Trillion deficit. Even if you raised the tax rates on everyone making $250,000 and above to 100% you’re still $500 billion short.

So what’s your plan?

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Ohmaar November 28, 2012 at 3:57 pm

Federal revenue rose every year after the Bush tax cuts. The growth stopped the first fiscal year after Democrats regained control of Congress.

2003 $1.78T
2004 $1.88T
2005 $2.15T
2006 $2.41T
2007 $2.57T (last budget year of GOP control)
2008 $2.52T
2009 $2.10T
2010 $2.16T
2011 $2.30T

(Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals)

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Jan November 28, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Eliminate government over-regulation, set appropriate tax levels for all taxpayers, so the economy will grow and revenues increase. Cut spending to levels that will allow the government to pay its ongoing bills and begin to pay down its debt.

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Norm_Nav November 28, 2012 at 10:26 am

It should be noted that the House of Representatives has passed a budget in each of the last three years. That Budget has included spending cuts and attepts at balancing. Mr. Mulvaney has been an essential part of that process in the budget committee. SO where is the President in this process? How’s his budget? 1.2 Trillion in additional debt, and defeated 100 to 0 in the senate. So, lets blame Mulvaney… RIGHT!

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BigT November 28, 2012 at 11:38 am

Those who HOLD strong now against the evils of Obama and Reid…will be Rewarded…

We need Heroes…now is your time….

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Master Of The Obvious November 28, 2012 at 12:09 pm

BiTch! How many tall glasses of shut the fuck up do you need? You’re an idiot that offers nothing but right wing bullshit from Fox, Rush and Drudge. Repeatng lies isn’t working for you tools, but keep being loggerheads about it. The condition of your party looks terminal.

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WillieManickney November 28, 2012 at 11:47 am

Since Smirks has all the answers to make things ‘right’, maybe we can get him to be heroic and run for US House or Senate in 2014….

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vicupstate November 28, 2012 at 12:40 pm

He would be 1000% better than Mick Mulvanney and Jim DimWit.

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Jan November 28, 2012 at 12:20 pm

Mick only garnered 60% of the voters in his district even though he was running against an oponent with no political background, no name recognition, no money, and who ran no ads. That is how many people care what Mick thinks.

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Master Of The Obvious November 28, 2012 at 12:25 pm

That’s right!

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hum_dinger November 28, 2012 at 3:43 pm

This bozo represents my district – this is the same wind bag that things growing food for people in human waste sh!t is a good idea.

What makes you think that a scumbag like this with a position supporting toxic waste on farm land is worthy of any adult conversation where 2 people meet and compromise?

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SINNin4Dennis November 28, 2012 at 5:14 pm

Maybe its time for some young guns to step in. Miss Dennis perhaps?

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Paul November 28, 2012 at 6:01 pm

Isn’t this the same Mick Mulvaney who signed a “pledge” to vote to repeal the PATRIOT Act and then voted in favor of re-authorization of the major parts of the PATRIOT Act?…I don’t think we can put much faith in any more “pledges” from Mick Mulvaney.

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Roseanne November 28, 2012 at 6:41 pm

Mick should thank God every day that there is no IQ test required for people running for office.

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BigT November 28, 2012 at 7:51 pm

You say that for Obama-Biden too, I pray…Because they have MUCH more power…and have proven to be very Dangerous to our liberty and prosperity…

If we can make it through the 8 years of Corrupt Obama-Reid Government, it is a Testament that Our Founders were Brilliant and guided by God, even more than previously thought…

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Renee Knight Woodberry November 28, 2012 at 9:39 pm

First, let me say that I do not usually comment on any articles because somehow, someway, someone is going to totally disagree. Having said that, that is exactly what we as South Carolinians and Americans want and advocate: the right to be able to voice our thoughts on these critical issues. It is GOOD and WISE to share our thoughts with each other.

So, here goes:

I have worked tirelessly as an activist for the Republican party, and I have enjoyed every minute of it. I was greatly disheartened on Election Day. Americans still don’t get it. It’s not the government that can “fix” our problems; it’s our job to rebuild our basic family structure and value system. Only then will we start to see change. Voters need to be educated. We all need to educate them, all parties, and all nonpartisan groups.

I have worked with Congressman Mulvaney and his entire team and I have the utmost respect for him because I KNOW he is straightforward, honest, and dedicated to solving the problems we elected him to solve. Will he please everyone? Obviously not from what I have read here. With so much diversity and vast divides between the far left and right, we have a lot of work to do to get people to work together. Mick gets it. He understands that taxpayers need relief and his “pledge” is to serve his constituents by being upfront and fully accountable in saying basically, “no tax increases and no hidden cuts”. I agree with him, because as a single mom and a SC taxpayer, I can’t afford to pay the taxes now imposed on me.

The Republican party AND the Democratic party both need to step it up and SHOW America they are serious about working together. Don’t we teach our kids to be good sports? Same principle here. The only real way to win this ballgame is to work as a team. Is that possible in our government setup? Highly unlikely. Do my kids need a better future with a chance of any success? YES! Therefore, I am the first to say “let’s work together, focus, and get the business taken care of now.” We all have the same goal; win the game! We just have our own individual and distinct views of how to win the game. As I watched Carolina and Clemson, I saw Republicans and Democrats – adversaries fighting to get their team to WIN the game. BUT, this game is SO SO critical, we need to be ONE team and get our players in line to play for the win. Focus on the end result, and remove the R and the D animosity. Right now, there is only ONE team – America.

Before you respond, please know that I share with you all my motivation to move forward, work harder, and see that my two sons have something to smile about in about 10 years. Yes, I will be the coach, or the runner, or the blocker; let’s just play on the same team and get it right.

Peace, my friends.

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hum_dinger November 28, 2012 at 10:50 pm

Renee Knight Woodberry – I worked with him as well; presented the facts, presented at town hall meetings, addressed a particular issue (spreading toxic waste near our neighborhoods) only to be called back by his office by redefining legal terms (biosolids = sludge, except Mulvaney’s office doesnt think so)

This government has failed its citizens on so many levels, it is hard to keep up.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr254

Its hard to play on the same team when you have asshats such as Mulveny who are too stupid to see the forest thru the trees.

I asked for help – he failed to deliver.

Mulveny is an expert at talking out both sides of his mouth, which is why he has the job he has today.

I make it a point at a grass roots level to make sure people know how useless this man is; word travels fast in this district – maybe if he took action he could avert a political disaster.

Next election he will face a strong challenger and there’s now enuf sludge on Mulveny, that this will stick to him nice and thick.

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Ohmaar November 29, 2012 at 8:39 am

It’s hard to play with teammates who call you a stupid asshat. You seriously don’t see the irony in saying Mulvaney can’t “see the forest thru the trees” because he’s too busy trying to save the forest to stop and look at YOUR TREE?

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Jan November 29, 2012 at 9:51 am

Which is exactly what Republicans have been saying about everyone who disagrees with them on anything for the last two decades and that is why we are so divided politically despite the fact that when you ask people what they want from government, the vast majority of Americans are not that far apart.

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Ohmaar November 29, 2012 at 11:56 am

For example, the vast majority of Americans think Obamacare is a bad idea.

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Booyah November 28, 2012 at 11:06 pm

Since our wars are winding DOWN, and we had plenty of capability in 2000, any increase in “war” (don’t call it “Defense”, when we were honest we had the “War Department” and that was good enough for the Greatest Generation!) spending is absurd.

So is borrowing money from China to “defend” our economic competitors who don’t invest similarly in THEIR defenses. War Pork is Corporate Welfare, doesn’t help the troops in many cases, and bleeds the taxpayer.

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Old Bike Dude November 29, 2012 at 7:06 am

The Mickey Mulvaney Pledge
I promise to never get in over my head so therefore I pledge to remain in the kiddy pool.
I also pledge my undying love for Nimmy Boo Boo. When we’re nose to nose my toes are in it and when we’re toes to toes my nose is in it.
Thank you

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