Empire of the Iguanadons

Today in Massachusetts, disgruntled voters have sent a powerful, loud, and clear message to Washington: We're tired of your crap. Following the death of Ted Kennedy, a special election was called to fill his vacant seat in the US Senate. As little as two weeks ago, it was all but certain that the Democrat, Martha Coakley, would win the seat without a fight. No Republican has held a Senate seat there in 40 years, and nobody thought it was possible, but tonight, with a 52-47 percent result, Scott Brown has performed the miracle in the bluest of blue states.

Brown's election to the Senate will set off a political tsunami for the year to come. The first and most immediate effect is that the filibuster proof 60 man majority is gone. This almost certainly means the Obamacare bill is now dead in the water as other Senators are now calling for Brown to be seated immediately. Other dangerous legislation such as Cap n Trade and Global Warming bills are now in jeopardy and are unlikely to pass. If history teaches us anything, it teaches us that once the wake-up call is issues, most congresspeople will sit on their hands and do nothing for fear of losing their jobs.

The margin of victory of 5 points puts him beyond the ability of a recount to salvage through traditional Democrat shenanigans. The only thing they may yet try to pull is a delay in his certification. However, should this happen, it would almost certainly enrage an electorate already angry with the Dems in Congress and with Obama himself. Folks, the tea party movement has scored its first victory in what's going to be a long line of them come November 2010. This is only the beginning of the revolution. Scott Brown's election is the modern day equivalent to the shot heard round the world.

We cannot let our guard down though, there will be sneaky tactics used, more back room deals are sure to come, and one never knows if a spineless Rino will turn against the will of the people. It doesn't matter. Massachusetts has articulated what most of us already feel. We're mad as hell, and not going to take any more of it.
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"It is pointless to resist, my son." -- Darth Vader
"Resistance is futile." -- The Borg
"Mother's coming for me in the dragon ships. I don't like these itchy clothes, but I have to wear them or it frightens the fish." -- Thurindil

Well. I guess that's that then.

Necroposting just to say I called it back in January. Go me.

Oh? I've been busier than usual lately and haven't had as much time to pay attention to the news, particularly everyday politics.. what'd I miss?

Just a belated "I called it" wrt the midterm elections. You might notice the age of this post and the subject matter it covered While it didn't kill Obamacare, pretty much everything else we knew about at the time is dead and gone now as a result of the Crimson Tide.

OR...It will get immensly expanded, just like it does every other time Republicans sweep elections. The only difference is Demoncrats actually try to do what they say. Republicans "say" their going to reduce spending, reduce taxes, pay down the deficit, "get people working", and on and on and on. What they actually "do" is increase spending, reduce 'overt' taxes (like the kind you fill out some kind of form for), while increasing 'subversive' taxes,(like the kind that's attached to everything you purchase), and quadruple the deficit.

Last I checked Obama isn't a Republican (hint: he's the one who quadrupled the deficit).

Also, sales tax is pretty damn overt if you ask me. It's right there on your receipt. I've said before and I'll say again, abolish the IRS and all forms of taxation it currently handles and switch to a national sales tax. The results would be extremely effective in raising federal revenue, and there wouldn't be any loopholes for jackoffs like Soros to hide behind anymore. Even he has to buy stuff.

It remains to be seen if the new Congress can deliver on their promises. Give them a chance before condemning them. TRUE conservatives are not about ballooning the government. The misconception that Republicans = Conservatives came from the media during the Bush administration. Bush was no conservative.

I didn't mean "Sales tax". I meant the taxes that are hidden in the costs. For example, the actual price of a pack of cigarettes is ~$0.45 everything else is tax. then you pay sales tax on the tax. Oh, nevermind. Started responig before finishing reading. Yes, a VAT would be a fair way to go, only let's not do it like UK, here you pay VAT [and] income tax.

Well, yes, I would agree that if we could get rid of the underlying taxes, even raising the sales tax wouldn't be a problem. If I could buy my smokes for roughly 80 cents/pack again instead of $5.50 a pack, I could go back to smoking the brands I enjoy instead of having to buy loose tobacco and rolling tubes... *sigh*

You and me both.

I dunno, excise taxes seem pretty overt to me as well. You know they're there, so how could they be hidden?

Also, I don't mean a VAT. I mean strictly a sales tax. I think VAT is about as evil as it gets and is the ultimate expression of covert taxation since goods sold under a VAT system have been taxed, often heavily, at every point in a product's distribution chain.

You guys could both be saving a chunk of money and improving your health at the same time by giving up the cigs too

Yea, not happening

Sorry, gotta second Dallen's "not happening" on that one. I've tried enough times in the past to know that I'm not kicking the habit anytime soon.

Besides, you wouldn't believe how large a chunk of change I'm already saving by rolling my own. For a start, instead of blowing roughly $56/carton at roughly 3 cartons a month, I'm only blowing $30 on a bag of tobacco that lasts a full month and $3/each for a box of 200 rolling tubes (also roughly 3 boxes a month), so, simple math here folks: 3x56=$168 versus $39.. add to that, rolling my own I only smoke 12-15/day instead of 18-20, so I guess I've got my health savings in there too.