US should weigh war on terrorism tax - Lieberman

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N06252236.htm


US should weigh war on terrorism tax - Lieberman

WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Sen. Joseph Lieberman said on Tuesday that Congress should consider a tax to fund the U.S.-declared war on terrorism and reduce the need to cut domestic programs to pay for security spending.

A former Democrat who supports the Iraq war and backs President George W. Bush's plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq, Lieberman said the proposed increase in the Pentagon's budget for next fiscal year will squeeze funding for critical domestic programs.

"I think we have to start thinking about a war on terrorism tax," the independent Connecticut lawmaker said. "I mean people keep saying we're not asking a sacrifice of anybody but our military in this war and some civilians who are working on it."

"When you put together the (Pentagon) budget and the Homeland Security budgets, we need to ask people to help us in a way that they know when they pay more it will go for their security," he said during a Senate panel hearing on the defense budget request.

:wow:

[MidwestTransplant]

1. A War in Iraq tax would be more effective since that's where the vast majority of the $ is going

The WOT is cheap in comparison.

[Pharaoh]

2. Wow

that's actually something sane out of joe.........

[Phredicles]

3. He doesn't appear to be suggesting rolling back all the tax cuts

for the wealthy but rather something more regressive. What a fucking right-wing tool.

[Pharaoh]

18. Your Right

he's a tricky SOB!

[kysrsoze]

34. Yeah, that's bullshit. I'm sure it'll be hard on the middle and lower classes

[kysrsoze]

35. ignore - accidental double-post

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. Yah, right Joe. Gonna call it the "Freedom Fee" too!

The disgust I have for this particular Senator grows daily.

[saigon68]

64. Joe was America's Premier DRAFT DODGER in the 60's

He should take his pasty white, pimply assed body and join the fight in Iraq-Nam

[denverbill]

5. Well, for once, I'm with Joe.

There is no faster way of ending this war than making Republicans pay for it with their 'hard-earned' money.

I know that's not Joe's intent, but I for one think it's a longer overdue idea.

[Norquist Nemesis]

11. Joe is once again playing right into Con hands on this one

Just as he's the posterboy for "bi-partisan support for Bush" on Con bills/resolutions, he will be the posterboy for the Cons' campaign ads saying "Democrats Tax Increase".

[Strelnikov_]

16. I agree, but am skeptical until I see the details. No sales/VAT type

tax. Any tax increase should be on income/capital gains.

[kysrsoze]

37. What makes anybody think the costs still won't be ridiculously out of hand?

I don't see this reducing funds for the B.S. wars b/c they'll just classify all that garbage as war on terror. It's a scam.

[LiberalFighter]

66. How about putting that tax on dimwad's uncle Bucky Bush?

[Warren Stupidity]

32. Don't go there.

How about we just expire the crappy corrupt tax giveaways to the filthy rich instead? For example, the repeal of the estate tax is going to cost us 1,000,000,000,000 dollars over the first ten years (yes that is one trillion.) How about them apples? Oddly enough, that will pay for the goddamn Iraq War Crime.

budget cost of estate tax repeal: http://www.cbpp.org/pubs/estatetax.htm

[fidgeting wildly]

6. STFU, Joe!

If he was serious about paying for this war that he's so high on, he would suggest rolling back the tax cuts that the wealthy have been given over the past few years. The poor are sending their sons and daughters. They shouldn't have to send their money.

[harun]

7. How about first getting the gov to stop BARROWING money

to pay for it. We are already spending money we don't have.

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

8. terrorist tax to finance terrorism.. brilliant

war on terror is a complete fraud

[jobycom]

9. Mixed feelings on this.

I hate to say it, but Lieberman is right, in essence, on this. But I wonder about his motivation. He may be trying to saddle the Dems with the reputation of raising taxes against Republican wishes, thus giving the Republicans ammo in the 2008 debate, and making the deficit seem like the Dems' fault. Or this could be a more personal strategy. There's another post with an article of how much power Lieberman has as the swing vote for control of the Senate. If he backs the Repubs, we lose the Senate, but he also loses all power he has to manipulate the Dems. This may be some sort of strategy to ingratiate himself with the Dems, either to make it harder for the Dems to dump Lieberman, or to gain some control in case the Dems do oppose him on his key threat issue--funding of the war in Iraq.

Also, I'd like to see his tax structure, if he has one. This war benefitted the rich, it should punish the rich. On the other hand, the majority of Americans voted for it, so I'm not too sympathetic to them having to pay for it.

Just my thoughts. Probably wrong, as always.

[AX10]

24. But why should I have to pay for the war in Iraq?

That war has made us less safe.

Terrorism is a threat and must be dealt with, but the threat is not in Iraq.

[jobycom]

30. Same reason you have to pay for the vase your kid breaks at the Pottery Barn

You told him not to run in the store, but he didn't listen.

[wakeme2008]

10. I think this is good....

A limited time tax on capital gains and upper incomes will be popular with the general pop. but LOL not with Bush. But Bush will have a hard time tell people they do not have to pay for his wars...

[rodeodance]

12. ah, just tax the people who want to stay in Iraq!!!

[bonito]

13. Got a better idea Joe, just tell your friends no more war

Guess he still thinks he's fooling people.

[Tin Man]

54. >>>>>>>>>> Ding ding ding - we've got a winner !!!

No war, no need for a tax.

[teryang]

14. Better idea - dems refuse to pass military budget

Continuing resolution only with expenditures at last years level only.

[Demeter]

15. How About A Tax On Public, Political Stupidity?

Think of the benefits...think of the bankruptcies!

[olddad56]

17. Great idea, wage that tax against the oil companies...

Exxon earned $338,000 a minute last quarter. Let them pay for the war.

The citizens of this country have already paid with the loss of loved ones and the loss of our civil rights.

[Capt_Nemo]

23. Even better, make it a tax

on DoD contractor's profits!

[olddad56]

19. Benedict Lieberman. frigging turncoat.

[yy4me]

20. Just another excuse to take more money from those who can

least afford it. Joe, I have a better idea: Remember the Repub tax cuts? How about rescinding them, use the dollars to fight terror. You'll be ahead on the dollars and we can keep a little more in our pockets to pay bills and keep the wolf from the door.

[brooklynite]

21. Someone should ask Sen. McCain what he thinks...

On the one hand, he's the loudest advocate for more troops. On the other hand, he's become reflexivly anti-tax, and won't support anything that might be construed as a tax increase.

[IndianaGreen]

22. Lieberman is right on this one!

From this Leftist point of view, a War Tax makes perfect sense for it will hit the American people in their pocketbooks. Let's see for how long those folks with magnetic "Support the Troops" ribbons on their cars will continue to support the war once they realize how much it is costing them.

The current system merely passes the war costs to future generations.

I realize that causing war pains to a consumer society is not Lieberman's intentions, but for one that wants to erode public support for Bush's imperial wars, a war tax can be the prescription the peace doctor ordered.

[Warren Stupidity]

39. A war tax? On all of us? While the estate tax heads to zero?

I think not.

[IndianaGreen]

42. An across the board war tax will undermine support for militarism

Just as conscription will intensify and spread opposition to Bush's imperial wars, an across the board war tax will undermine support for militarism. The tax must be painful and it must be visible, not hidden like the Vietnam War tax that was disguised as telephone fees back in the 1970s.

Why should peace activists and military families be the only ones with a stake in Bush's war, on either side of the issue?

[Tin Man]

55. How about we just end the war instead? A lot cheaper, and a lot fewer bodies

end the war - no need for the tax.

[Warren Stupidity]

65. You know I really hate this sort of indirect maneuver.

It reminds of the bullshit earlier this year about the draft. You do not end wars by funding wars you end wars but not funding them.

[daleo]

25. People who lose a close family member in Iraq or Afghanistan

Or a part of their body should be exempt from any such tax. They've paid enough.

[ozymandius]

26. I am usually reserved in my comments.

But in this case...

Joe Lieberman is one stupid motherfucker.

[creeksneakers2]

27. Great idea!

If people realized that they will have to pay over $6,000 per taxpayer for the 2008 defense budget, that money would be cut.

[BayCityProgressive]

29. They will have to take my house

before I pay some fucking Iraqi slaughter tax. It is bad enough that some of my money is going there already....I will be DAMNED if anymore does!

[davhill]

28. When you tax something you get less of it

If so the best thing to do is tax war right out of existence. A "temporary" surtax on the upper bracket income and on corporations ought to do it. When the president declares the war on terror "over" the tax is automatically reascended and the rich can get their tax cuts back.

[WindRavenX]

31. Joe, just shut up.

Jesus H. Christ, did I read that article?

I'd NEVER pay a cent for this blood war.

[Warren Stupidity]

33. Are: brain hemorrhages infectious?

maybe that explains joe's idiocy.

[Warren Stupidity]

36. Undo the estate tax repeal and let the filthy rich pay for their

filthy war.

[youngdem]

38. Sweet....He just committed political suicide

Buh Bye LIEberman.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

40. We wouldn't want the money wasted like it has been over the last years

so we are not paying any more for wars

[ProudDad]

41. Two points

"I think we have to start thinking about a war on terrorism tax," the independent Connecticut lawmaker said. "I mean people keep saying we're not asking a sacrifice of anybody but our military in this war and some civilians who are working on it."

"When you put together the (Pentagon) budget and the Homeland Security budgets, we need to ask people to help us in a way that they know when they pay more it will go for their security," he said during a Senate panel hearing on the defense budget request."

Who is he planning to tax???


The other point is, this is a setup for the pukes to cackle, "tax and spend, tax and spend" just in time for '08...

[ripple]

43. Lieberman: Congress Should Consider War On Terrorism Tax

I apologize in advance for raising anyone's blood pressure with this news. I know it certainly makes my blood boil. :mad:

'WASHINGTON -- Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said Tuesday that Congress should consider a special tax to pay for the nation's war against terrorism.
Such a tax could help ease the squeeze that military and security spending is putting on "critical domestic programs," said Lieberman, whose support for the Iraq war has come under fire from anti-war Democrats.

Lieberman favors President George W. Bush's plan to send 21,500 more U.S. troops to Iraq.

"I think we've got to start thinking about a war-on-terrorism tax," Lieberman said during an Armed Services Committee hearing on Bush's defense spending proposals. "I mean, people keep saying that we're not asking sacrifices of anybody but our military in this war, and some civilians who are working on it."'

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/10945979/detail.html


Don't overlook voting in the poll at the link site. 84% say 'no' so far!

[Straight Shooter]

44. I, for one, want more of my hard-earned dollars to go to mercenaries and Halliburton.

:sarcasm:

[Tin Man]

56. No doubt. Halliburton has gotta be overjoyed at QuidProJoe's idea - more funding for mercs

it's preposterous. the worst fucking idea ever.

No surprise it came from Lieberman - what a contempable piece of shit...

[Jacobin]

45. Does Israel have a special tax for their war on terra?

Because that's been going on for quite some time and it creates lots of special problems with security that are expensive to deal with.

Don't we already have a special airline tax to pay those people who sniff your shoes at the airport?

[Jacobin]

46. See what he did there?

"I'm Joe Lieberman and I want to raise your taxes because I'm a democrat."

Helps feed the whole goddamned meme. I really do not like that SOB

[Deep13]

47. Actually, if it keeps us from sliding further into debt...

...it might not be a bad idea. All of this military stuff, including Iraq, should have been paid for with a tax hike, preferably on those who can afford it.

[sweetheart]

48. 'WOT Tax' == 'What? tax?' nt

[In Truth We Trust]

49. As long as it is a profit tax for those that profit from the so-called WOT. Halliburton comes to min

d. Tax the fucking rich that proffer us this war on an abstract.

[jpak]

50. A War Tax would make the Yeller Ribbon Crowd sit up and take notice

support the troops and all that.

If they really did this, the US would be out of I-raq within 3 months.

The War Patriots don't like putting their money where their mealy mouths iz.

Better than any nonbinding Senate resolution IMHO...

[JerseygirlCT]

52. It seems every single day I find a new reason to loathe this man

What an ass!

[Tin Man]

58. QuidProJoe - seeking additional $ to fuel his war. Gotta find some way to pay for Iran, right?

[JerseygirlCT]

59. That's scary, isn't it?

[wholetruth]

61. Tax the terrorists

You know who I mean :P

[liberalhistorian]

51. Well, Holy, Holey Joe, howzabout we initiate

a "stupid senator/congressman tax"? That oughta bring in thousands of bucks a week just from Senator Lieberjoke alone, doncha think?

Jeebus, just when you think he can't get any more ridiculous......................

[JerseygirlCT]

53. You know, someone should counter that they'll

get the Dems onboard with this as soon as he promises to fight to repeal Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy.

We need more money for George and Joe's excellent adventure? Start there, then we'll talk.

[HuffleClaw]

57. what a truly stupid idea

'former democrat' indeed.

[Tin Man]

60. Joe just starts wars. Paying for them is everyone else's responsiblity

I mean, somebody's gotta pay for Joe's next war - the War on Iran - right???

[MountainLaurel]

62. Can I just write a check to KBR and Northrup Grumman?

:wtf:

[mikelgb]

63. I think we should just payfor it out of Joe's Senate Salary

His and all the other warmongering motherfuckers

[JCMach1]

67. I agree with Joe 100%... let's see how quick this ends the remaining

support for the idiocy. It's one thing to put it on the same credit card as the rest of the Bush mess... quite another to pay for it separately.