Rick Perry Has a Problem with the Truth – The non-partisan Politifact.org has graded 40 of Rick Perry’s campaign statements and has found that only 13% of them are true, and only 10% are mostly true.
Republican Mike Pence Can’t Name a Single New Idea by Republicans in Their ‘Pledge’ – On Sunday, Rep. Mike Pence couldn’t give Meet the Press’ David Gregory one actual example of anything in the pledge that’s a new idea and not just the same old recycled talking points we’ve been hearing for years. Well, at least he didn’t make stuff up.
A Pledge to America = Flatline for NASA? – The Republican Pledge says they will “- Cut Government Spending to Pre-Stimulus, Pre-Bailout Levels: With common-sense exceptions for seniors, veterans, and our troops, we will roll back government spending to pre-stimulus, pre-bailout levels.†If you believe that, then say goodbye to the Obama Administration’s plans to increase NASA’s budget by $6 billion over 5 years.
This Notion That Tax Cuts for the Rich Creates Jobs is Just Nonsense – This notion that you need to have these tax breaks for the very top to create jobs and economic expansion is nonsense. Those tax rates are in effect right now. I don’t see all this job creation as a result of those tax cuts. They’ve been in effect for nine years. At the end of those nine years, we’ve seen losses of millions of jobs. So, this story that somehow those breaks for the very folks at the top, create these jobs is, is just nonsense.
The Republican “Pledge to America,†is Full of Bunk – According to the non-partisan FactCheck.org, the Republican pledge falls short on facts:
· It declares that “the only parts of the economy expanding are government and our national debt.†Not true. So far this year government employment has declined slightly, while private sector employment has increased by 763,000 jobs.
· It says that “jobless claims continue to soar,†when in fact they are down eight percent from their worst levels.
· It repeats a bogus assertion that the Internal Revenue Service may need to expand by 16,500 positions, an inflated estimate based on false assumptions and guesswork.
· It claims the stimulus bill is costing $1 trillion, considerably more than the $814 billion, 10-year price tag currently estimated by nonpartisan congressional budget experts.
· It says Obama’s tax proposals would raise taxes on “roughly half the small business income in America,†an exaggeration. Much of the income the GOP is counting actually comes from big businesses making over $50 million a year.
Really Extreme Politics – Foes of a small-town mayor in Peru said they have dug up the skull of his late father and won’t give it back unless he drops out of next month’s election. Police in San Cristobal said unknown thieves unearthed the remains of Juan Vizcarra Quispe, who died in 1978. His bones were found strewn about the cemetery, but his skull is missing. Mayor Rogelio Vizcarra said he received a text message offering to return the skull if he withdraws his bid for re-election Oct. 3, but he still plans to run.
Regards,
Jim
Andy Hailey