The Deficit Committee Line Up–so far

MoonHowler

Huffington Post:

On the Senate side, Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) will serve on the commission, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced. Reps. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) will represent House Republicans, said Speaker John Boehner.

All six Republicans have signed a pledge to Grover Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform that they will not vote to raise taxes.

Well, why bother to even meet.  These people have sworn allegiance to Grover Norquist, whoever the hell he is.  Any tax code  change, and additonal  federal fees is raising taxes.  Increasing the Social Security ceiling is a form of ‘raising taxes.’  Making someone who currently doesn’t pay federal taxes start paying them is ‘raising taxes.’ 

I think that kind of ‘pledge’ should disqualify each and every one of those Republicans.  You cannot come in to negotiate something with that kind of caveat.  It won’t work.  They either have to commit to serving the United States or Grover Norquist. 

Senator Reid appointed Democratic Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to serve on the committee.  If any of these Democrats have pre-existing pledges under their belt, they should be disqualified also.  

Dylan Ratigan goes on a rant

MoonHowler

 

According to Huffington Post:

After the show, lobbyist Jimmy Williams, who sat on Tuesday’s MSNBC panel, wrote to Ratigan to express support for his angry tirade. “I’m proud of you,” wrote Williams in an email obtained by The Huffington Post. “Someone just texted me and said, ‘You didn’t get to say anything!’ My response: ‘I didn’t need to.'”

“Money in politics is pure, unadulterated corruption,” Williams continued. “Get rid of campaign contributions and the political parties will cease to exist because policy will prevail or politics. We have amended the US Constitution twice with regard to liquor but not once with regard to the buying and selling of our politicians. What’s wrong with this picture?”

Are Williams and Ratigan extreme?

Respond.