• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

Mediocre white men think RFK Jr’s pathetic midlife crisis is inspirational. The bar is set so low for them, it’s subterranean.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

I like political parties that aren’t owned by foreign adversaries.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

The snowflake in chief appeared visibly frustrated when questioned by a reporter about egg prices.

Let me file that under fuck it.

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

The willow is too close to the house.

When I was faster i was always behind.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Democracy cannot function without a free press.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Politics / Republican Stupidity / And WHAT was Santorum Thinking?

And WHAT was Santorum Thinking?

by John Cole|  January 24, 20067:59 pm| 111 Comments

This post is in: Republican Stupidity, General Stupidity, Outrage

FacebookTweetEmail

Apparently Rick Santorum needs to join Joel Stein for a little sit-down:

“And yet we have brave men and women who are willing to step forward because they know what’s at stake. They’re willing to sacrifice their lives for this great country.

What I am asking all of you tonight, is not to put on a uniform. Put on a bumper sticker. Is it that much to ask? Is it that much to ask to step up and serve your country, to fight for what we believe in. To fight for the values that have made this the country the greatest count- we got her not because we were doing things really wrong, that our traditions and our morals were way out of whack, we got here because we were a good decent county. A country guided by divine Providence.

We will only stay that great country if we continue that fight. I’m asking ya to help me do that. God Bless you. Thank you.”

Rick Santorum, equating putting a Santorum bumper sticker on your car with giving your life for your country while in uniform.

I shit you not.

WHAT. A. JACKASS.

I am going to soooo love it when he gets his ass handed to him in November.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Karl Rove’s Payroll
Next Post: Le Magnifique »

Reader Interactions

111Comments

  1. 1.

    Brad R.

    January 24, 2006 at 8:06 pm

    I bet you anything that after he leaves office, he gets hired as a regular columnist at WorldNetDaily. Just you watch.

  2. 2.

    Steven Donegal

    January 24, 2006 at 8:14 pm

    there’s a WWE cage match in here somewhere. Tag team–Ward Churchill and Joel Stein v. Santorum and Jonah Goldberg, or maybe Malkin. Live blogged and podcast!

  3. 3.

    Louise

    January 24, 2006 at 8:15 pm

    It’s more offensive than lives = bumper stickers; it’s lives = Rick Santorum’s job. He’s saying “if you want to support your country, you can show it two ways: you can put on a uniform and risk your life for it, or you can help me get elected.” Our Soldiers At Risk = Rick Santorum Keeping His Senate Seat.

    Let’s not just hand him his ass. He can still procreate without an ass.

  4. 4.

    Ian

    January 24, 2006 at 8:19 pm

    Question: The liberal reaction to this is calling him a “yellow elephant”, which is another term for “chickenhawk”.

    Did they not support the war in Afghanistan?

  5. 5.

    srv

    January 24, 2006 at 8:20 pm

    I am stupified. Is Jesus’ General writing his speeches now?

    I’ll tell you what – it’s signs like these, they all point to Rapture.

  6. 6.

    demimondian

    January 24, 2006 at 8:22 pm

    The liberal reaction to this is calling him a “yellow elephant”, which is another term for “chickenhawk”.

    Umm…no. The liberal reaction to this is to call Santorum a monster who doesn’t care about the troops who will die because of his narcissism. That’s different from a yellow elephant.

  7. 7.

    Otto Man

    January 24, 2006 at 8:23 pm

    Glad to see you’re on this, John. As I said in a post over at my place, this marks a new low in the conception of wartime sacrifice.

    Putting a sticker on your car is quite literally the least you can do if you support the war. Hell, the damn things are magnetic, so you’re not even risking your car’s paint job, much less anything else.

  8. 8.

    Brad R.

    January 24, 2006 at 8:24 pm

    Question: The liberal reaction to this is calling him a “yellow elephant”, which is another term for “chickenhawk”.

    Did they not support the war in Afghanistan?

    You’re missing the point. He’s stupidly exploiting patriotic sentiment to get his sorry ass re-elected. If some Democrat compared putting a bumper sticker on their car with fighting in Afghanistan, you’d be completely justified with calling them a “Yellow Donkey.”

  9. 9.

    Pooh

    January 24, 2006 at 8:27 pm

    “In the Red Corner, the Keyboard Kommando, the Doughy Pantload himself, Jo-Nahhhhhh, GOLD-BERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRG!”

  10. 10.

    Nikki

    January 24, 2006 at 8:31 pm

    The liberal reaction to this is calling him a “yellow elephant”, which is another term for “chickenhawk”.

    Of course! Only a coward would equate his re-election campaign with the sacrifices a soldier makes.

  11. 11.

    Ancient Purple

    January 24, 2006 at 8:34 pm

    I don’t even know what to say. I am just stunned.

    What a disgusting, vile piece of crap Santorum is.

    I said a few weeks ago that there are plenty of Americans that think they are truly supporting the troops because they put a $2.00 magnet on the back of their SUVs and vote Republican. Now we know why and where they get their marching orders from.

    My God, how friggin’ pathetic does Santorum have to be before the citizens of Pennsylvania either run him out of the state on a rail or demand his head on a platter?

    What a waste of human flesh.

  12. 12.

    The Other Steve

    January 24, 2006 at 8:38 pm

    Well this is SOP for the Republican party.

    The GOP loves him…

    “We have an endorsement process that is highly respected and very successful, that’s yielded great leaders like … Rick Santorum,” state GOP Chairwoman Eileen Melvin said.

  13. 13.

    Ian

    January 24, 2006 at 8:41 pm

    Sorry, I did mean to add he is an idiot.

    But that is besides the point. Liberals are jumping on him, calling him a yellow elephants.

    Hacks like Crooks and Liars — and more importantly, the “Yellow Elephant” blog are calling this an act of chickenhawk-ary(?).

  14. 14.

    Bruce in Alta California

    January 24, 2006 at 8:43 pm

    I wonder if he gets his bumper stickers from the same Chinese company that makes all those groovy magnetic ribbons that show the bearer “supports our troops?”

  15. 15.

    ppGaz

    January 24, 2006 at 8:47 pm

    It’s a surprise to find out that a Republican thinks you can save the world by the equivalent of putting a big foam finger on your hand and shouting “We’re Number One?”

    Have we not been paying attention the last five years?

    I cordially invite you all to watch the SOTU Address next week.

    “We’re Number One.” Repeat. Repeat. Repeat ……

  16. 16.

    Sirkowski

    January 24, 2006 at 8:49 pm

    There’s no law banning retards running for office? Seriously, that guy must have a sub-par IQ.

  17. 17.

    Joey

    January 24, 2006 at 8:52 pm

    Ian, I see what you’re saying about liberals supporting the Afghan campaign, yet calling supporters of the Iraq war chickenhawks and yellow elephants, but it’s different. The Afghan campaign is almost universally regarded as a necessity. We HAD to do it. Iraq, not so much. And it was Republicans who were beating the war drums. That being said, Santorum is adouchebag of epic proportions, and very comparable to the liquid with which he shares his name.

  18. 18.

    ppGaz

    January 24, 2006 at 8:54 pm

    He can still procreate without an ass.

    Owww. Note to self: Do NOT piss Louise off.

  19. 19.

    Otto Man

    January 24, 2006 at 8:54 pm

    Hacks like Crooks and Liars—and more importantly, the “Yellow Elephant” blog are calling this an act of chickenhawk-ary(?).

    Yeah, I think the chickenhawk label isn’t accurate here. Santorum is more of a chickenhawk enabler — he’s suggesting that those who support the war with bumper stickers are making just as much of a sacrifice as those risking their lives in Iraq.

    Let’s call that a “stickerhawk.”

  20. 20.

    Pooh

    January 24, 2006 at 8:59 pm

    Let’s call that a “stickerhawk.”

    PoTD.

  21. 21.

    rilkefan

    January 24, 2006 at 9:06 pm

    I rise to Santorum’s defense, unpleasant as it is to do so. Far as I can tell he’s just saying if you can’t put your life on the line in defense of America and furtherance of my favored policy, at least support my policy publicly. This seems unexceptionable to me.

  22. 22.

    Pooh

    January 24, 2006 at 9:15 pm

    rilke, that’s fine. If he was talking about a “support the troops” bumper sticker. Which he isn’t. It’s cheap, it’s distasteful, and it’s certainly question begging, though one would not expect more from him.

  23. 23.

    Otto Man

    January 24, 2006 at 9:32 pm

    rilke, that’s fine. If he was talking about a “support the troops” bumper sticker. Which he isn’t.

    I made the same mistake as Rilke. He’s equating a “Santorum 2006” bumper sticker with serving the country? Jeez, that’s a level of douchebaggery that’s even worse.

  24. 24.

    rilkefan

    January 24, 2006 at 9:47 pm

    Still don’t get it. How does one know which bumper sticker is in question? And anyway, I don’t see why I care. Bush said, let’s go to Iraq to defeat al Qaeda, that’s my policy. People signed up to serve and lined up to vote for him. Part of voting for Bush was voting for the idea that invading Iraq was a defense of our country. Ditto Santorum. If you think what the troops are doing is good, you should vote for him.

  25. 25.

    Kimmitt

    January 24, 2006 at 9:56 pm

    But Michael Moore is fat!

  26. 26.

    Krista

    January 24, 2006 at 10:21 pm

    Fighting for values and American freedom by way of bumper sticker. Oy.

    Why are any of us surprised, though? This is the man who basically equated homosexual relationships with chicken-fucking. He has no shame, no common sense, no empathy, a terrible haircut, and a disturbing amount of intolerance and hatred in his heart. I can only hope that his 6 kids rebel against Daddy enough to actually develop a conscience.

  27. 27.

    Perry Como

    January 24, 2006 at 10:32 pm

    At least Senator Santorum isn’t using a cynical ploy like the Democrats to exploit the deaths of our troops. I admire Senator Santorum’s courage and forthrightness.

  28. 28.

    Krista

    January 24, 2006 at 10:43 pm

    Perry – not to mention his courage in wearing that deep side part to conceal his obviously receding hairline. Now that takes balls!

  29. 29.

    Lines

    January 24, 2006 at 10:55 pm

    Hacks like Crooks and Liars

    Big words, Ian. Did Crooks and Liars irritate you somehow? Maybe call your favorite little blog a sack of lying guano and have the proof to back them up?

    The day you call a top 10 blog a “hack” without showing proof is also the day you get called a dumbshit.

  30. 30.

    DougJ

    January 24, 2006 at 11:02 pm

    Putting a Rick Santorum bumper sticker on your car tells the troops “we will not cut and run”. That’s what matters, telling them that no matter what the medal whore Murtha wants, we will not cut and run. We will honor your sacrifice by staying the course until we have attained victory. Total victory no compromises.

    These colors do not run. May God bless thes United States. Freedom is on the march.

  31. 31.

    Krista

    January 24, 2006 at 11:05 pm

    Stay the course, motherfuckers!

  32. 32.

    ppGaz

    January 24, 2006 at 11:14 pm

    Stay the course, motherfuckers!

    ROTFL.

    Happy birthday, Krista!!

  33. 33.

    Krista

    January 24, 2006 at 11:17 pm

    Thanks, sweetie! I thought you’d like that…

  34. 34.

    DougJ

    January 24, 2006 at 11:20 pm

    ROTFL.

    Happy birthday, Krista!!

    Ditto.

  35. 35.

    Krista

    January 24, 2006 at 11:24 pm

    I’ve turned the corner on 31…my youthful optimism is in its last throes.

  36. 36.

    jaime

    January 24, 2006 at 11:28 pm

    Wow. Fritos Fighters sure hate being called chickenhawks. Did C&L touch a nerve with their unedited film footage and it’s inherent liberal bias?

  37. 37.

    Richard Bottoms

    January 24, 2006 at 11:41 pm

    Certainly the Army needs more than plaitudes and a Santorum bumper sticker to fix what’s ailing it.

    File this under see, I told you so:

    The 136-page report represents a more sobering picture of the Army’s condition than military officials offer in public. While not released publicly, a copy of the report was provided in response to an Associated Press inquiry.

    Illustrating his level of concern about strain on the Army, Krepinevich titled one of his report’s chapters, “The Thin Green Line.”

    He wrote that the Army is “in a race against time” to adjust to the demands of war “or risk `breaking’ the force in the form of a catastrophic decline” in recruitment and re-enlistment.

    Col. Lewis Boone, spokesman for Army Forces Command, which is responsible for providing troops to war commanders, said it would be “a very extreme characterization” to call the Army broken. He said his organization has been able to fulfill every request for troops that it has received from field commanders.

    The Krepinevich assessment is the latest in the debate over whether the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have worn out the Army, how the strains can be eased and whether the U.S. military is too burdened to defeat other threats.

    Rep. John Murtha (news, bio, voting record), the Pennsylvania Democrat and Vietnam veteran, created a political storm last fall when he called for an early exit from Iraq, arguing that the Army was “broken, worn out” and fueling the insurgency by its mere presence. Administration officials have hotly contested that view.

    George Joulwan, a retired four-star Army general and former
    NATO commander, agrees the Army is stretched thin.

    “Whether they’re broken or not, I think I would say if we don’t change the way we’re doing business, they’re in danger of being fractured and broken, and I would agree with that,” Joulwan told CNN last month.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060124/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/army_breaking_point

    Of course it is only my utter lack of patriotism that allows me to point out thse troubling facts.

  38. 38.

    Stormy70

    January 24, 2006 at 11:41 pm

    Please ride that Chickenhawk meme through one more election cycle. I need permanent tax cuts.

  39. 39.

    demimondian

    January 24, 2006 at 11:45 pm

    I need permanent tax cuts.

    I expect that the Democrats will be able to deliver tax cuts for working Americans after we win in November 2006 and 2008. I’m afraid that only the well off will be getting tax cuts before that, though, so you’ll have to wait until then.

  40. 40.

    Stormy70

    January 24, 2006 at 11:47 pm

    I’m afraid that only the well off will be getting tax cuts before that, though, so you’ll have to wait until then.

    I’m enjoying my tax cut and I am definitely middle class. Please run on that platform again, it’s working so well.

  41. 41.

    Stormy70

    January 24, 2006 at 11:49 pm

    Happy Birthday, Krista!

  42. 42.

    Ian

    January 24, 2006 at 11:53 pm

    Nice one, you know a liberal when ..

    .. they can’t get their “point” across without using a curse word. If only you all could put one ounce of your hate towards something useful.

    All I am saying is it is hacks who are calling the Senator a chickenhawk. He is an idiot, but not a chickenhawk.

  43. 43.

    DougJ

    January 24, 2006 at 11:58 pm

    All I am saying is it is hacks who are calling the Senator a chickenhawk. He is an idiot, but not a chickenhawk.

    You’re going to have to do better than that. You’ve already blown your cover. Choose another name and try again.

    I always like to help out an aspiring spoofer, and in this case you need some tough love.

  44. 44.

    Richard Bottoms

    January 25, 2006 at 12:00 am

    All I am saying is it is hacks who are calling the Senator a chickenhawk. He is an idiot, but not a chickenhawk.

    I see.

    So was that Captain Santorum or Sergeant Santorum?

    I do so love these war cheerleaders.

    Gimme an F.

  45. 45.

    Kimmitt

    January 25, 2006 at 12:01 am

    I’m enjoying my tax cut and I am definitely middle class.

    Heh, you’re really going to enjoy double-digit inflation, then.

  46. 46.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 12:03 am

    But still Casey has to run to the right of the National Democratic Party. Telling.

  47. 47.

    demimondian

    January 25, 2006 at 12:08 am

    But still Casey has to run to the right of the National Democratic Party. Telling.

    Yeah — the Democratic Party was the original big tent. Astounding, isn’t it, allowing for real ideological diversity in your party while enforcing ethical discipline. Really, it works so much better than the Republican Party’s version of the big tent, in which ideological discipline is enforced, but ethical “diversity” is…encouraged.

  48. 48.

    Mac Buckets

    January 25, 2006 at 12:09 am

    I’m enjoying my tax cut and I am definitely middle class. Please run on that platform again, it’s working so well.

    B-b-b-b-b-b-but, Bush only gives tax cuts to the rich. Ergo, if you got a tax cut, then you must be eating caviar thrice daily, washed down with Piper from a pimp chalice. John Kerry and Howard Dean told me so, and they would never lie!

  49. 49.

    demimondian

    January 25, 2006 at 12:11 am

    You’re going to have to do better than that. You’ve already blown your cover. Choose another name and try again.

    I’ve always thought I had a good nose for id-ing sock puppets, DougJ, but I can’t think of any of the BJ regulars whose style resembles him (or her). Who’s Ian?

  50. 50.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 12:14 am

    Heh, you’re really going to enjoy double-digit inflation, then.

    Let me know when it is going to show up, because all I see are prices dropping on most items.

  51. 51.

    ppGaz

    January 25, 2006 at 12:16 am

    Ergo, if you got a tax cut, then you must be eating caviar thrice daily

    Oh God, my sides are splitting. Whee-oo, that was funny.

    So, in dollars, how much do you figure your tax cut is actually worth to you on the bottom line?

    In my case, with a family income in the high five figures, I figure that the increased cost of health insurance has cost me about five times what my tax cut got me.

    You?

  52. 52.

    Pooh

    January 25, 2006 at 12:18 am

    Stay in the course, motherfuckers

    That sounds like me on the first tee.

  53. 53.

    ppGaz

    January 25, 2006 at 12:29 am

    Let me know when it is going to show up, because all I see are prices dropping on most items.

    You are famous for your jaw-droppers, but uh, Bush took office in January 2001.

    I shop at Safeway. My grocery bill has gone up about 30% since then. Gasoline, I figure about 56%. My utilities might cost me $300-500 more this year. Health insurance, my portion of the premiums, up considerably. Co-pays? Double. Car insurance, on two cars, about $100 more per month and I have not had an accident or ticket in 15 years. Knock on wood. I think the stock market is either flat, or down, in the five year period of Spud’s reign.

    Milk, up. Bread, up. Beef, up. Chicken, up. Seafood, up. Produce, relatively flat, but where I live, produce doesn’t have to be shipped far. Coffee, up. Tea, up. Baby formula, up. Eggs, up. Soup, up. Cereal, up. Cat food, up. Cat litter, up. Dish soap, up. Garbage bags, up. Plumber, up. Air conditioning repair, up. Breakfast at Denny’s, up.

    Tell me about it, Stormy.

  54. 54.

    demimondian

    January 25, 2006 at 12:35 am

    Stormy:

    I see are prices dropping on most items.

    I see that the rumors about the dropping prices of “alcohol-enhanced fermented processed grape beverages” are true…

  55. 55.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 12:37 am

    Well. I’m self-employed. I pay for a high deductible plan, and contribute to an HSA. I have supplemental plans to help meet my deductible if something major happens. Of course, I am healthy right now, and have not spent over $100 on health related issues in 3 years. I am building up my HSA account for the future. I won’t be getting Social Security, since I am in my thirties.

  56. 56.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 12:42 am

    I know next year I’ll be able to buy a flat screen TV. I am paying much less for my clothes, my home decor, my books, my DVDs, my shoes, my housewares.

  57. 57.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 12:43 am

    Most importantly, I live in Texas. No state income tax. Sweet.

  58. 58.

    ppGaz

    January 25, 2006 at 12:52 am

    Most importantly, everything your family needs in order to live, like food, and health care … as opposed to flat screen tvs … is considerably more expensive.

    You know, things that actually affect the middle class in this country. But it’s you … the kind of person who could spend $5000 a year more on essentials, but thinks that a tv that costs a couple hundred less puts you ahead for the year.

    “Less for home decor.” Uh, what is that, exactly? Furniture? Rugs? Bathroom fixtures? Paint? I just spent 5 years fixing up an old house …. I can assure you that NOTHING needed in that endeavor is getting cheaper with the possible exception of power hand drills, but how many of those do you think I need?

    Jesus.

  59. 59.

    Ancient Purple

    January 25, 2006 at 12:55 am

    Along with ppGaz, here are the increase in my expenditures:

    Health care co-pays: $10 increase over last year
    Health care premium: $8 more per pay period over last year
    Dental coverage: $5.86 more per pay period over last year
    Prescription drug benefit: Was two tier $10/$20. Now, three tier $10/$20/$40 with a formulary.
    Gasoline: Tank of gas ~$5.00 more per week (1 tank per week).

    This past Thanksgiving, John talked about the cost of fixing Thanksgiving dinner and I did a side-by-side comparison of 2004 Thanksgiving cost versus 2005. 2005 was significantly more expensive.

    Glad those prices are dropping through the floor or I don’t know what I would do.

  60. 60.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 12:56 am

    I am alot better off than I was in 2000. I am not going to feel bad about it. I earned it.

  61. 61.

    demimondian

    January 25, 2006 at 12:58 am

    Actually, Stormy, I live in Washington State, which also has no state income tax. That doesn’t mean we have no state taxes and fees, although we’re about 39th among the states, well below the median. (Unlike Texas, which was up in the top 10 until quite recently. I gather that by putting helpless cancer patients to death against their wills, though, you guys hope to reduce your total tax burden.)

  62. 62.

    ppGaz

    January 25, 2006 at 1:00 am

    I am alot better off than I was in 2000. I am not going to feel bad about it. I earned it.

    In other words, your earlier post was just you being full of shit, as usual?

    Because you are not better off thanks to any government policy, are you?

    If so, what would that be, and how much?

  63. 63.

    Pb

    January 25, 2006 at 1:00 am

    The economy’s doing great for ConocoPhillips at least–and I bet they’ll be fine for years to come. So what’s the problem?

  64. 64.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 1:01 am

    Some of you might consider looking into individual plans over your employer’s plans. How many EEs are getting things like gastric bypass, which is a 40,000 procedure that insurance is picking up most of the cost on? Why subsidize other people’s health costs, when it is driving your premiums up each year.

  65. 65.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 1:06 am

    Because you are not better off thanks to any government policy, are you?

    Well, the tax cuts worked. Again. (mmmmm…Reagan)

  66. 66.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 1:07 am

    Good night, peeps. Don’t let the tax cuts bite.

  67. 67.

    demimondian

    January 25, 2006 at 1:09 am

    Why subsidize other people’s health costs, when it is driving your premiums up each year?

    Well, Stormy, you’d be hard-pressed to make me care: I work for Microsoft, the health plans for which are justifiably famous. When our third child was born, we had all the tests you could think of (FDDD was over forty), and payed nothing. And, yes, the cost of our insurance is completely invisible to us.

    But, you say, why don’t the shareholders riot over that? Well, one of our major competitors tried to hire me away a couple of years ago. They couldn’t match the benefits package…so I stayed a ‘Softie. (And I’m confident that Microsoft thinks that was the better outcome.)

  68. 68.

    ppGaz

    January 25, 2006 at 1:18 am

    No income tax — sweet, says Stormy. Money must grow on trees in your state? Hmm….

    Revenue By Source – Fiscal 2005
    Percent Percent
    Amount of Total Change

    Tax Collections By Major Tax
    Sales Tax $ 16,312,811,054 24.8 5.8
    Motor Vehicle Sales/Rental,
    Mfg Housing Sale 2,847,653,057 4.3 3.9
    Motor Fuels Taxes 2,934,580,537 4.5 0.6
    Franchise Tax 2,170,081,376 3.3 18.3
    Insurance Occupation Taxes 1,208,866,496 1.8 2.0
    Natural Gas Production Tax 1,657,086,299 2.5 19.0
    Cigarette and Tobacco Taxes 599,368,199 0.9 12.1
    Alcoholic Beverages Taxes 626,277,831 1.0 4.1
    Oil Production Tax 681,890,801 1.0 37.4
    Inheritance Tax 101,674,348 0.2 -32.7
    Utility Taxes 380,006,470 0.6 6.7
    Hotel and Motel Tax 262,092,112 0.4 9.7
    Other Taxes 55,889,034 0.1 19.6
    ____________________________________
    TOTAL TAXES 29,838,277,614 45.3 6.9

    Other Major Revenue Sources
    Federal Income 22,809,751,233 34.7 4.0
    Licenses,Fees,Permits,Fines
    and Penalties 6,155,019,368 9.4 11.0
    Interest and investment Inc 1,529,435,034 2.3 8.8
    Net Lottery Proceeds 1,584,492,536 2.4 -0.8
    Sales of Goods and Services 344,136,037 0.5 4.5
    Settlements of Claims 551,878,735 0.8 8.2
    Land Income 654,168,802 1.0 31.3
    Contributions to Employee
    Benefits 197,310,883 0.3 10.7
    Other revenue sources 2,145,697,190 3.3 -0.6
    ____________________________________
    TOTAL OTHER SOURCES 35,971,889,817 54.7 5.3
    ____________________________________
    TOTAL NET REVENUE $ 65,810,167,431 100.0 6.0

    A generous sales tax, and something called “federal income”, the largest chunks of revenue.

  69. 69.

    BC

    January 25, 2006 at 1:19 am

    Thank you, China, for the tax cuts. Can we get some more please?

    We can send you a Santorum in exchange.

  70. 70.

    Richard Bottoms

    January 25, 2006 at 1:23 am

    All I am saying is it is hacks who are calling the Senator a chickenhawk. He is an idiot, but not a chickenhawk.

    BTW, it’s not being for the war and not having served that makes you a chickenhawk.

    It the relentless cheerleading for the war and kick them towelheads asses attitude (that others have to actually carry out) that makes him one.

    To sum up, because I’m sure you;ve already forgotten my qualifers:

    (enthusiatically for the war) + (haven’t served) + (tough talk) + (meaningless patriotic gestures) – (actually doing something about it like picking up a rifle) = chickenhawk

  71. 71.

    Pooh

    January 25, 2006 at 1:29 am

    Just for clarity’s sake, is Santorum old enough to have not served in Vietnam?

  72. 72.

    The Other Steve

    January 25, 2006 at 1:49 am

    I’m enjoying my tax cut and I am definitely middle class.

    What tax cut? Seriously. I make six figures, largely because of the work of demimondian.(I’m a .NET developer in a corporate world) I drive a BMW. I own a nice townhouse.

    I didn’t get any tax cut of signifigance. Well, ok, like maybe an extra $15 per paycheck.

    But as others have noted, my costs have skyrocketed.

    Am I better off now than I was in 2000? Barely. It’s nowhere near the change that occured from ’95 to 2000. My 401k certainly ain’t feeling any better.

    Honestly, I think Stormy is living in a fantasy world, or is too young to remember how good things were before Bush.

  73. 73.

    Pb

    January 25, 2006 at 2:11 am

    Heh. Reagan was at least smart enough to raise taxes when the nation needed it.

  74. 74.

    Pooh

    January 25, 2006 at 2:34 am

    Just out of curiosity, aren’t most professionals better off at 30 than at 25 (or at 35 than at 30, etc…)? I mean, I make more money now than I did in 2000 (barely), but I also have an additional degree…

  75. 75.

    BadTux

    January 25, 2006 at 2:50 am

    Tax cuts? BWHWHAHHAHA! I’m in the top 25% of taxpayers in the country (let us say that I am in the area of $100K/year and leave it at that), and I don’t see no friggin’ tax cuts. Local sales taxes: up 1.5%. Local property taxes: Up 5%. State income taxes: Up 3%. And what did I get from Bush? A lousy $100 tax cut, when I’m paying hundreds more in taxes because of all the unfunded mandates (e.g. Every Child Left Behind) and cuts in funding (e.g. elimination of funding for neighborhood policing) that have come down the pike during Republican rule in Washington D.C… Gosh, I feel so… underwhelmed. And don’t even get me started on the AMT. Everybody out here in the Silicon Valley will curse you if you even BREATH mention of the AMT and the very latest IRS rules for expensing stock options. WTF is the IRS doing calling stock options that I can’t sell “income”? If I can’t get money for them or otherwise translate them into something that I can eat, drink, or physically carry, how the $#%@# can they be income?!?!?!

    Not to mention I haven’t had a payraise in two years and indeed in real terms am making less money than I was making four years ago, but hey, at least I *have* a job, which is more than a lot of folks do. Last time I bothered to go to the BLS site and add up the real unemployment rate (all the data is available there, it just isn’t presented to the public via news releases), the real unemployment rate (including all the former engineers working part-time delivering pizzas, people who’ve disappeared out of the labor force to live on the streets, etc.) was around 12%.

    As for Reagan, I wasn’t old enough to vote for him the first time, I did vote for him the second time, as well as for George H.W. Bush (twice). But Baby Bush and the current crop of Republican legislators just ain’t the Republican Party of my youth. Borrow-and-spend unfunded-mandate Big Government cronies, the lot of them. I trace the decline in the quality of Republican governance back to Newt Gingrich, actually, who did his Jesus in the Temple act and threw out decades of decorum and collegial government in Washington D.C. in favor of strident radical partisanship and a total disregard of ethics when it comes to winning (“winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”). Richard Nixon (another man who cared not for ethics, only for winning) might have been Newtie’s inspiration, but it took Newtie to bring Nixon’s lessons of slime and criminality to the Congress. Newtie opened the gates, and slime like Santorum have been oozing through them ever since.

    -BT

  76. 76.

    Sirkowski

    January 25, 2006 at 3:55 am

    Santorum is also gay. I mean, c’mon, look how nice he dress. That’s not normal for a straight man.

  77. 77.

    rilkefan

    January 25, 2006 at 4:06 am

    Richard Bottoms, unless “tough talk” implies “questioning the motives/characters of war opponents”, I’m not sure I agree with your def.

  78. 78.

    Slide

    January 25, 2006 at 6:22 am

    Krista its your birthday? Mine too, although I’m a tad older than 51.

    I love that there are some in here steadfastly rising to the defense of Santorum. If Lucifer himself was a Bush Supporting Republican these same limited capacity apologists would be finding some reason to support their demon. Its pretty pathetic the type of blind loyalty the GOP seems to inculcate in their cerebrallly challenged lemming like supporters.

  79. 79.

    Richard Bottoms

    January 25, 2006 at 6:22 am

    Richard Bottoms, unless “tough talk” implies “questioning the motives/characters of war opponents”, I’m not sure I agree with your def.

    Tough talk as in let’s go kill us some terrrists.

    Well not actually go kill them so much as hoot and holler about how I would go kill me some of them Taliban. But I have this job and a wife and I make too much money.

    As for why my sorry a** isn’t in the kill zone, lots of people think this is a searingly pertinent question. No answer I could give — I’m 35 years old, my family couldn’t afford the lost income, I have a baby daughter, my a** is, er, sorry, are a few — ever seem to suffice.

    — Jonah Goldberg

    http://www.antiwar.com/blog/index.php?id=P1773

  80. 80.

    Richard Bottoms

    January 25, 2006 at 6:23 am

    P.S. I served 13 1/2 years in the US Army. Did my time thank you very much.

  81. 81.

    Slide

    January 25, 2006 at 6:24 am

    oops that was supposed to be 31. Sorry Krista

  82. 82.

    chopper

    January 25, 2006 at 6:48 am

    I am alot better off than I was in 2000. I am not going to feel bad about it. I earned it.

    so am i. doesn’t mean that stuff is cheaper now than it was then. i just happened to get a bunch of promotions (government job).

    most everything that people need is more expensive these days, like gas, food and health care.

    the only stuff that’s gotten cheaper have been things that are now being made en masse in china and similar places.

  83. 83.

    Krista

    January 25, 2006 at 7:36 am

    oops that was supposed to be 31. Sorry Krista

    I was gonna say….jeez. :)

    TheOtherSteve – you drive a fancy-pants car? So where’s my birthday gift, moneybags? :) LOL.

  84. 84.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 8:08 am

    I love that there are some in here steadfastly rising to the defense of Santorum.

    I’m not defending Santorum, he is a dim bulb. I think Casey will probably win it, but he is to the right of most democrats.

  85. 85.

    Pablo

    January 25, 2006 at 8:16 am

    Am I better off now than I was in 2000? Barely. It’s nowhere near the change that occured from ‘95 to 2000. My 401k certainly ain’t feeling any better.

    I don’t know about yours, but my 401k went in the toilet in 2000. So did my industry, and my company. All three look much, much better now than they did then.

  86. 86.

    Richard Bottoms

    January 25, 2006 at 8:19 am

    so am i. doesn’t mean that stuff is cheaper now than it was then.

    The things that are cheaper are… surpirse government subsidized, like milk.

    And not too expensive often translates into a smaller portion for the same price. Like say, Hershey bars.

  87. 87.

    Pablo

    January 25, 2006 at 8:20 am

    Santorum has a longstanding habit of saying incredibly stupid things. He gives off a vibe not unlike Greg Stillson in The Dead Zone.

    This should be an entertaining race.

  88. 88.

    DougJ

    January 25, 2006 at 8:43 am

    all I see are prices dropping on most items.

    I know next year I’ll be able to buy a flat screen TV. I am paying much less for my clothes, my home decor, my books, my DVDs, my shoes, my housewares.

    The jig is up, Stormy. No way you’re being serious.

  89. 89.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 8:47 am

    Where is the double digit inflation? When is it expected? I am not seeing it. Isn’t inflation around 2% now?

  90. 90.

    Stormy70

    January 25, 2006 at 8:58 am

    This I like.

    Have a good day, gotta work.

  91. 91.

    tzs

    January 25, 2006 at 9:09 am

    Stormy, there is no way that inflation is just 2%. The government agencies do a lot of accounting fiddles to keep the numbers as low as possible because certain gov’t payments (and I think SS) are indexed to it. Take with large grain of salt.

  92. 92.

    KCinDC

    January 25, 2006 at 9:15 am

    How about equating getting a scratch in a brush-clearing accident with losing a limb in combat?

  93. 93.

    charliedontsurf10

    January 25, 2006 at 9:19 am

    Pablo Says:

    Am I better off now than I was in 2000? Barely. It’s nowhere near the change that occured from ‘95 to 2000. My 401k certainly ain’t feeling any better.

    I don’t know about yours, but my 401k went in the toilet in 2000. So did my industry, and my company. All three look much, much better now than they did then.

    January 25th, 2006 at 8:16

    What’s your line, shmendrik, illegal wire taps?

    The Dow’s at 10712 and change as we speak. It was 10587 and change the day this illegitimate, rich white trash schmuck took office 5 years ago. Less than 150 points in 5 years is flat at best, putz, and that’s with Congress and Greenspan givin’ ’em everything he wants whenever the fook he wants it.

    This administration is lyin’ scum on a good day. They’re not havin’ a good day, pal.

    Dismissed.

  94. 94.

    rachel

    January 25, 2006 at 9:22 am

    *Sirkowski* Says:

    Santorum is also gay. I mean, c’mon, look how nice he dress. That’s not normal for a straight man.

    I think you have to be human before you can be gay. I mean, don’t you think there’s something kind of… off about his hair?

  95. 95.

    charliedontsurf10

    January 25, 2006 at 9:23 am

    An entertaining race, eh, senor escobar? Ya gotta lay off your inventory, shmendrik.

  96. 96.

    Faux News

    January 25, 2006 at 9:27 am

    A country guided by divine Providence

    I have been to Providence. It is anything BUT divine! Hartford is no better either.

  97. 97.

    charliedontsurf10

    January 25, 2006 at 9:31 am

    Electronics are cheaper. Anything that’s gotta be shipped ain’t cheaper. Anything oil-based ain’t cheaper. Reptiles really oughta drop in for a visit on reality some time.

  98. 98.

    Pb

    January 25, 2006 at 9:44 am

    Yeah, as I mentioned before, the economy is doing great these days…

    Surging energy prices pushed consumer inflation to a five-year high in 2005, outpacing average wage gains for most U.S. workers, the Labor Department reported Wednesday.

    The department’s consumer price index, a widely followed inflation gauge, rose 3.4 percent last year, the fastest rate since 2000, largely reflecting climbing prices for fuel oil, gasoline, natural gas and electricity, the department said.

    However workers’ average pay rose more slowly. Average hourly wages fell 0.5 percent and average weekly earnings declined 0.4 percent, after adjusting for inflation, in the 12 months that ended in December, the department said in a separate report.

  99. 99.

    Krista

    January 25, 2006 at 10:21 am

    I think you have to be human before you can be gay. I mean, don’t you think there’s something kind of… off about his hair?

    Could not agree more. He’s neocon-bot, isn’t he?

  100. 100.

    demimondian

    January 25, 2006 at 10:55 am

    He’s neocon-bot, isn’t he?

    Isn’t he the one with the “advisor” named Susan Calvin?

  101. 101.

    The Other Steve

    January 25, 2006 at 11:26 am

    Krista –

    you drive a fancy-pants car? So where’s my birthday gift, moneybags?

    You didn’t like my birthday gift? I got you a new conservative government in Canada. :-)

  102. 102.

    Kirk Spencer

    January 25, 2006 at 11:31 am

    Double-digit inflation? That’s your standard of when things are bad?

    For what it’s worth, the Fed (Federal Reserve) thinks inflation is scary when it’s approaching 4%. The current 3.4% is “worth a close eye”, which is why you will see them raise the rates again next meeting.

    However, for most people it’s the “real” inflation that bothers them. See, during the late 1980s and all the 1990s, wages tended to keep up with inflation – certainly catching up within a year. For median wage earners (that’s nominally folk earning around $42,000 per year) since 2000, however, everything hasn’t kept up. Basically, the CPI (including food and energy) vs wage shows a functional inflation of about 5% for the median group since this president took office. For a lot of people that’s meant either getting further in debt (that number’s scary level high) or changing their buying habits.

    Sure, Stormy, you’re better off. That’s one data point — an anecdote. You’re not everyone. You’re not even the majority. And we’re not going to believe you instead of our lying eyes.

  103. 103.

    chef

    January 25, 2006 at 11:32 am

    “afix his bumer sticker”

    Why stop there? I want to strap him across the hood–of John’s Murcielago.

  104. 104.

    The Other Steve

    January 25, 2006 at 11:33 am

    This I like.

    Referring to new tax breaks for medical expenses.

    So essentially we’re moving to government funding medical care. We’re just going to do it by way of tax credits.

    I’m not opposed to that, if I thought it would work. The HMO system has been a freaking disaster, as it’s overly complex.

    But the HSA thing they just rolled out at my company is similarly fucked up. Overly complex rules, extra paperwork for the patient to fill out. It’s not going to make anybody happy.

    I think the idea has some merit, but not the way it’s being implemented.

  105. 105.

    Krista

    January 25, 2006 at 12:54 pm

    You didn’t like my birthday gift? I got you a new conservative government in Canada.

    Um…you didn’t happen to keep the receipt for that, did you?

  106. 106.

    Perry Como

    January 25, 2006 at 1:21 pm

    For a lot of people that’s meant either getting further in debt (that number’s scary level high) or changing their buying habits.

    It’s called negative savings and record consumer debt. President Bush has shown us the way. Spend, spend, spend. It’s the American way!

  107. 107.

    Pooh

    January 25, 2006 at 1:53 pm

    tax breaks for medical expenses.

    You do realise that this represents, at best a slowdown in the increase of the amount you pay for health care? As opposed to, I dunno, stopping the (post-inflation) increase in the cost of health care…

  108. 108.

    Ben

    January 25, 2006 at 4:12 pm

    Let’s not forget for most HSAs if you don’t use it you lose it. Which baffles the mind…. where is that money going? It’s a pre-tax savings account that disappears… I’d rather stick my money in a 4% savings account and hope for the best.

    You want to talk about inflation… take a look at the increased cost of higher education… couple that in with the decrease in aid. You end up with higher state taxes and higher premiums at most colleges.

    Not to mention thanks to this wonderful stock market my retirement accounts have been completely flat… so my income has actually decreased considerably.. even with a couple of raises and a move to a higher paying job.

    Also a republican county commissioner raised my property taxes 70% last year. I’m SOOO glad that there are all these tax cuts for me.

    but I’m so glad Stormy70 saved a few bucks when she finally sold all those shares of News Corp.

  109. 109.

    Pablo

    January 25, 2006 at 6:59 pm

    The Dow’s at 10712 and change as we speak. It was 10587 and change the day this illegitimate, rich white trash schmuck took office 5 years ago.

    Which beats the hell out of the 7500 or so it went down to, doesn’t it?

  110. 110.

    Kathy K

    January 25, 2006 at 8:49 pm

    You just noticed that Santorum is an idiotarian? He’s been one since he got in office (and probably before – but we didn’t hear about it then).

    (Note to those on the left who hate that term – it was coined in reaction to the statements of Falwell and Robertson after the attack on Sept 11 – it is equally applicable to idots on both sides of the fence.)

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Oliver Willis » Rick Santorum Defends Great Sacrifice says:
    January 24, 2006 at 8:11 pm

    […] The way to support the troops is to… put a Rick Santorum sticker on your car. No, really. […]

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - Albatrossity - The Birds of May 3
Image by Albatrossity (7/31/25)

World Central Kitchen

Donate

Recent Comments

  • Aussie Sheila on Late Night Open Thread: America’s Fascists Love Alligators (Jul 13, 2025 @ 4:28am)
  • Chris T. on Years and Years (Open Thread) (Jul 13, 2025 @ 4:21am)
  • Aussie Sheila on Late Night Open Thread: America’s Fascists Love Alligators (Jul 13, 2025 @ 4:14am)
  • sab on Late Night Open Thread: America’s Fascists Love Alligators (Jul 13, 2025 @ 3:49am)
  • Gloria DryGarden on Years and Years (Open Thread) (Jul 13, 2025 @ 3:20am)

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
No Kings Protests June 14 2025

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

Feeling Defeated?  If We Give Up, It's Game Over

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!