This is Charley Reese’s final column for the Orlando
Sentinel.
He has been a journalist for 49 years. He is retiring and this is HIS LAST
COLUMN. Be sure to read the Tax List at the end.
This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article
below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie
Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly
on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must
assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us
every day. It’s a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth
remembering!
545 vs. 300,000,000 People - By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then
campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against
deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and
high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations.
The House of Representatives does.
You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme
Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly,
legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems
that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem
was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional
duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private,
central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason.
They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator,
a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care
if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has
the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises,
it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what
they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless
of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount
of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker,
who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.
The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to
accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility
to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations
and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader
of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President,
can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they
can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace
545 people who stand convicted — by present facts — of incompetence and
irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not
traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain
truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then
it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it’s because they
want them in Iraq and Afghanistan .
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan
not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire
and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they
can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and
from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you
into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like “the
economy”,”inflation ,” or “politics” that prevent
them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are
their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
What you do with this article now that you have read it is up to you. This
might be funny if it weren’t so true. Be sure to read all the
way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he’s fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
Taxes to pass
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He’s good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he’s laid…
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
‘Taxes drove me
to my doom…’
When he’s gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon) What? It was $3.59 at the
BP in New Jersey this morning 8/2/2025
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
Exit Tax (when you move out of New Jersey, LOL!!!)
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most
prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest
middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the heck happened? Can you spell ‘politicians? ‘
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 545 times! YOU can help it get
there!!!
Went up to the rooftop garden at the expected arrival time, hoping to see from afar some glimpse. Today feels like one of Creation’s most perfect days: sun, clouds, breeze, birds nesting, exquisite air quality. Especially nice when the air traffic is interrupted, and the world feels so silent. I’ll try again after the firehouse speech, maybe see the planes heading SW.
Mind you, it seems the presidential fleet would be heading out over the water in a direct line to S. Korea. They do not need to fly in the customary zones, I shouldn’t think.
No place on earth can lay claim to more beauty than the Pacific Northwest (including Canada and Alaska).
A little over 10 years ago I traveled to Seattle almost monthly for work.
I’m a small person, so I love the window seats; a 2-hour plane ride that takes you over Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, the Cascades (Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainer), then sweeps past Gig Harbor, around the Space Needle for a good view of the Olympic Pennisula. Gorgeous doesn’t begin to describe the experience. (During the summer, Alaska Air pilots would announce when we were flying over those landmarks — for the kids on board, was my guess.)
Such a sad occasion, but I’m so glad the President is in your neck of the woods today.
Totally accurate on every point Arapaho! The PNW is outdoing itself for Natural Glory in honor of this day. The Oso mudslide area has been under surveillance for a very long time. Much of the instability was/is man-made; my neighbor across the hall has gone fishing up there for over 40 years. He was telling me about the showdowns between developers and the state planners, how the developers won by threatening legal action. The massive destruction caused by clear cutting above the Oso township area is one of the major contributing factors to the disaster, not enough trees left to stabilize the slopes. For 15 years, engineers have been anticipating this slide. The fact that it is a popular and very beautiful place made it harder to convince people of the dangers. There was no way they could have known when, but there was no IF, it was destined to happen. Maybe President Obama will find a way to help us all see how powerful our impact is on the planet, and how we much take care in developing our habitat.
Hi Arapahoe I might have been on one of your flights. I used to travel Alaska airlines for work and fun to Seatac or Portland about the same time. I plan to retire to PNW in the next eight years.
I flew from Burbank to Seattle on fairly regular basis.
One winter day I was really excited because I thought it was snowing in downtown Seattle (cars getting off the freeway had snow on their trunks) and went into one of the numerous coffee shops (not Starbuck, which are literally across the street from one another and on different floors of the same building because the streets are so steep) excited about the snow.
The barista shut me down right away by saying, “I’m from Montana, that’s sleet.” I must have looked really disappointed, because she hastily said, “But it was snowing just awhile ago.” LOL.
Inside #OSOstrong fire house with first responders and the podium where @BarackObama will presumably speak #530slide http://t.co/dqlw3NonXb— Austin Jenkins N3 (@AustinJenkinsN3) April 22, 2025
Gov. Jay Inslee greets President Barack Obama before he visits the community of Oso, Washington #530Slide #OSOstrong http://t.co/s25AERwI1S— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) April 22, 2025
President Barack Obama shakes hands with Snohomish County Executive John Lovick before visiting Oso, Washington. http://t.co/2XGD3fzFKf— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) April 22, 2025
President Barack Obama arrives at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, to board Marine One for Oso. #OSOstrong http://t.co/soJ2Ooe0KR— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) April 22, 2025
Marine One carrying President Barack Obama, tours the mud slide damage in Oso, Washington. #OSOstrong #530slide http://t.co/3a5hJOEc6r— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) April 22, 2025
I’ve posted these tweets before (when they were sent).
Perspective on the devastation, and some pathos (note that the last photo was taken by a member of the Washington state National Guard):
NEW before & after photos of #530slide. Thank you, @DellaKJ http://t.co/RL43nkGYLg— Kristen Drew (@KDrewKOMO) March 24, 2025
Excellent infographic from NYT showing area of #530slide and the homes in its path. nyti.ms/1fYrqei http://t.co/uwOUNVdzii— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) March 25, 2025
"Search dog working debris field in mudslide." (Photo: Spc. Matthew Sissel /WA Nat. Guard) latimes.com/nation/nationn… http://t.co/bcxlnRDZhq— (@pourmecoffee) March 29, 2025
And on the other side of the world, Mashable has done a riff on the NYTimes’ travel series “36 Hours in Ukraine with Joe Biden.”
What Joe's been up to RT @mashable: 36 hours in Ukraine with @VP Joe Biden on.mash.to/1gPzv6k twitpic.com/e1tamw— Brian Ries (@moneyries) April 22, 2025
There’s Only One Nationally elected person in US by the 50 states and Washington DC.
Yet this Current POTUS is Not covered nationally. We have more News Media. Yet in the 21st Century with all the 24/7 News outlets, POTUS is Not covered 24/7.
But there is TOD, globally capable, willing and delivering. Thanx TOD <3<3<3 TODable TODers ;)
I like John Legend. But this little bundle sure looks like John Legend. :)
Do YOU think this baby looks like @JohnLegend? We show John his baby look-alike on #Insider tonight http://t.co/99HdzzUNom— The Insider (@TheInsider) April 22, 2025
THE PRESIDENT’S OSO VISIT MEANS SO MUCH TO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE…AND TO JESUS…WHO WANTS US TO MAKE A SINCERE EFFORT TO EXTEND OUR HANDS OF COMFORT TO OTHERS!…AM WATCHING!
People wave, cheer, and welcome President Barack Obama as his motorcade arrives in Oso, Washington. #OsoStrong http://t.co/ZNQaAhhwjC— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) April 22, 2025
Secret Service does not joke. Bravo!
Secret Service does not joke with President Obama's security. Checking under a vehicle at the fire station in Oso. http://t.co/AxPl1HUhJy— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) April 22, 2025
Security officials board an identical helicopter before President Obama boards Marine One to Oso, Washington. http://t.co/FJiP4ShJav— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) April 22, 2025
That moment Roberts tries to tell Sotomayor, affirmative action is racism and she uses truth to shut down his lies. http://t.co/wSfk1bceNY— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) April 22, 2025
Chips, this is terrific coverage of the president in Osa. As Nena says above, you could follow the media until you turned blue, but you wouldn’t get the kind coverage of presidential news that you get on TOD. Thank you a million times over!!!!
Interesting view of AF-1 from inside Osprey flying with Marine One to Oso, WA. (TV Pool photo by Matthew Hoye, CNN) http://t.co/f5pV4GUPPG— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) April 22, 2025
First responders awaiting the arrival of President Obama at the Oso Firehouse. We will carry it #liveonkomo @ 3:45 http://t.co/IvYJ15rsXa— Eric Jensen (@EricJensenKomo) April 22, 2025
BEIRUT — The Syrian government has shipped out almost 90% of its chemical weapons material, raising hopes that the war-ravaged nation can meet a Sunday deadline to comply with a disarmament accord, an international regulator said Tuesday.
The latest shipment on Tuesday to the Mediterranean port of Latakia means that 86.5% of the weapon material has been removed, according to a statement from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is overseeing destruction of Syria’s toxic chemical stockpile.
That amount includes 88.7% of the 700 metric tons of the most toxic, “priority 1” chemicals, among them mustard gas and precursor materials for the nerve agents sarin and VX.
Waiting for POTUS to arrive, @americorps volunteers & @wastatepatrol Chief Batiste @ Oso Fire Station #530slide http://t.co/NBV0vUeCS4— Gov Press Office (@WAStateGov) April 22, 2025
@JessicaValenti Shouldn't we instead talking about the bizarre attacks on voting rights by the GOP and how we address that for 2014?— (@aspirational12) April 22, 2025
Is this what GOP "wave" year looks like?….Poll: Dems Have 6-Pt Lead Over GOP In Midterm Elections; bradblog.com/?p=10591— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) April 22, 2025
I wrote here either yesterday or on Sunday that 2014 reminds me of 1998 elections with the media’s and TBGOPers’ Obsessive addiction on Monica resulted to Dems doing better in 1998. I said that 2014 is looking like the media’s and the TBGOPers’ obsession with ACA, aka, Obama Cares, would result to a Dem Victory. That road to victory started on 4-1-14. I wrote about that too.
Now Let the countdown to getting our Voters out and 2014 will take care of itself……..V I C T O R Y.
See, y’all thought I was joking when I said I lived in Pennsyltucky, or was that Pennsylsippi, or Pennsylbama… Because some of us took our eyes off the ball, we are reliving and relitigating issues from 50 years ago… Tears…
Exhibit A:
KKK imperial wizard: Neighborhood watch underway in Fairview Township
By Eric Veronikis | [email protected]
on April 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM, updated April 21, 2025 at 10:21 PM
A local chapter of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan launched a neighborhood watch in the area of Ridge Road in Fairview Township in response to a recent rash of break-ins, said Frank Ancona, the organization’s imperial wizard and president.
Leadership of a local Traditional American Knights chapter contacted the organization’s headquarters in Park Hills, Mo., to find out whether the national organization would sponsor the crime watch, and Ancona said he gave the midstate “klavern” his blessing.
more at link: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/kkk_imperial_wizard_announces.html#incart_river_default
Alycee, this is heartbreaking. Just when you think PA might be taking a step forward, it takes a big ugly leap backward. Something awful is going to happen in this Fairview Township, whereever it is.
RUS social network founder says he has been fired &that #Putin allies have taken over his site bbc.com/news/technolog… http://t.co/4gsjSbxvoR— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) April 22, 2025
New York: Skyrocketing Obamacare Enrollment Numbers Result In Premiums Slashed In Half! ow.ly/3jyqqR #p2 http://t.co/7w3xck16Z8— R.Saddler (@Politics_PR) April 22, 2025
Obama orders Yemeni Al Qaeda bomb makers killed in a Special Forces op. If only he was man enough to sell arms to Iranian regime like Reagan— Jeff Gauvin (@JeffersonObama) April 22, 2025
Al Qaeda's underwear bomb plot mastermind killed by special forces in 'biggest hit since Bin Laden' dailym.ai/1icPC3b via @MailOnline— Annie Lawton (@CurlynDoris) April 22, 2025
Remember how the Fox, rightie media echo chamber and MSM played up the Al Qaeda two videos from less than 10 days ago? Some in the media accused the president for lying about decimating Al Qaeda…….knowing fully well that it was Al Qaeda of Bin Laden……that POTUS was talking about in 2012 not all Al Qaeda related affiliates.
While the Supreme Court hasn't decided about #birthcontrol coverage, Americans have. bit.ly/1jx81D4 | http://t.co/voqKAfNbsJ— Planned Parenthood (@PPact) April 22, 2025
More people to greet President as he returns to Oso fire station to meet with victims families #ososlide #Q13Fox http://t.co/MYGfDNVHwZ— johnhopperstadQ13FOX (@JohnHopperstad) April 22, 2025
Oso families & friends wait in anticipation of Obama's motorcade to drive by on hwy 530 in Oso http://t.co/dCyU7l6gio— KIRO TV Jussero (@JJussero) April 22, 2025
Now he’s done it. Again. Buckets of tears, he just IS. And we are so thankful. I’d better head up to the roof soon.. It’s not far by chopper to Paine Field. I wish I could make him a cup of tea, feet up. I’m sure he’ll be well-looked after aboard AF1.
THE PRESIDENT IS SO SADDENED BY OSO AS WE ALL ARE…70 FEET DEEP IN MUD IS SO HARD TO IMAGINE….PRAYING FOR HIS SAFE TRAVELS TO JAPAN…I DON’T EVEN LIKE HIM GOING TO SOUTH KOREA!
Phew! /let out the breath I was holding/ I got nervous when PBO started shaking hands individually, because for a little while I thought he might miss the folks who came up on the right side, and I just know how disappointed *they* would have been if their hands had been overlooked. Phew. I should have known I shouldn’t have worried - PBO is ever aware! :):)
Safe travels, Mr. President, and be sure to sleep on the flight!
When someone tweets this YouTube to all those honchos like Brooks, Todd, etcetera types, let them know THIS is why Barack Obama is President, and they are just fools who don’t know when to shut up. And he never, ever overlooks the children. This is how the future is shaped.
United States Postal Service unveils image for the Harvey Milk postage stamp. bit.ly/1lD9Gy8 http://t.co/Ye96fu5Rbm— NBC Bay Area (@nbcbayarea) April 22, 2025
President Obama hugs a first responder after touring the mud slide damage in Oso http://t.co/ehKrGHZAql— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) April 22, 2025
.@nytdavidbrooks Here's your "manhood problem": AQ's underwear bomb mastermind killed in biggest hit since Bin Laden dailym.ai/1icPC3b— meta (@metaquest) April 22, 2025
“In a web chat hosted by the Atlantic Council today, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), claimed that there are as many as 100 Russian military intelligence or special forces officers operating in Ukraine at the moment.
Nalyvaichenko said that separatist actions in Slavyansk were being lead by a group of 30 GRU officers, lead by Colonel Igor Stelkov, who the SBU claimed to have identified via phone recordings on April 14. Nalyvaichenko said today that the SBU is has arrested and is interrogating three GRU officers, currently being held in Kiev.
Nalyvaichenko also mentioned that he was satisfied with the “intensive” and “well organised” intelligence cooperation with the United States. Other topics of discussion include the relationship between economic hardship and propaganda in the eastern regions, the difficulties Ukraine has had in responding to the Russian threat, and Ukraine’s hopes for help from international monitoring missions.”
2016: Toomey Maintains Wide Lead over Sestak shar.es/TKGCB via @sharethis— Pretty Foot (@PrettyFootWoman) April 23, 2025
“Among the Senator’s {Toomey} PAC contributors were Erie Insurance PAC which gave $5,000 along with $2,500 each from the PACs of Liberty Mutual and Citigroup. Curiously for a Republican, Toomey also received $4,800 from the IBEW Local 98. Additionally, the incumbent was the recipient of $1,000 from KOCHPAC, an organization under the umbrella of uber-political donors Charles and David
A Rwandan man wears shirt showing face of Pres Obama at ceremony of remembrance for victims of genocide in Rwanda. http://t.co/RaLwYw60nr— TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) April 22, 2025
The Supreme Court says it isn’t their place to decide, and in this one rather narrow case they’re probably right. But the rest of us can.
******************************
for centuries Blk folks have used the courts as an effort to redress issues of racism and discrimination…John Roberts and apparently Sargent as well….they are telling blk folks that you are on your own when it comes to these issues…it is not for the court to decide…
but…The court has decided…they have decided on the side of those who would discriminate and continue that legacy of institutional racism!
White House.gov
1?
Congrats Allison on #1 :)
Thanks, HF2!
2?
4?
First Lady Michelle Obama will be on ‘Jessie’ on the Disney channel on May 16th at 8PM ET.
You can view pictures here:
http://zap2it.com/photos/zap-jessie-first-lady-michelle-obama-guest-stars-photos-20140421
I never heard of a show name Jessie till now. I will have to see if I can get the show and watch FLOTUS May 16.
This is Charley Reese’s final column for the Orlando
Sentinel.
He has been a journalist for 49 years. He is retiring and this is HIS LAST
COLUMN. Be sure to read the Tax List at the end.
This is about as clear and easy to understand as it can be. The article
below is completely neutral, neither anti-republican or democrat. Charlie
Reese, a retired reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, has hit the nail directly
on the head, defining clearly who it is that in the final analysis must
assume responsibility for the judgments made that impact each one of us
every day. It’s a short but good read. Worth the time. Worth
remembering!
545 vs. 300,000,000 People - By Charlie Reese
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then
campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against
deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and
high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations.
The House of Representatives does.
You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme
Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly,
legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems
that plague this country.
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem
was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional
duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private,
central bank.
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason.
They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator,
a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care
if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has
the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises,
it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what
they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless
of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount
of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker,
who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.
The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to
accept it.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility
to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations
and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader
of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President,
can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they
can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace
545 people who stand convicted — by present facts — of incompetence and
irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not
traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain
truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then
it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.
If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines are in Iraq and Afghanistan it’s because they
want them in Iraq and Afghanistan .
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan
not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.
Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire
and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they
can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and
from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you
into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like “the
economy”,”inflation ,” or “politics” that prevent
them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.
They, and they alone, have the power.
They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are
their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess.
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.
What you do with this article now that you have read it is up to you. This
might be funny if it weren’t so true. Be sure to read all the
way to the end:
Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table,
At which he’s fed.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.
Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for
peanuts anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.
Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.
Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
Taxes to pass
Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won’t be done
Till he has no dough.
When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He’s good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he’s laid…
Put these words
Upon his tomb,
‘Taxes drove me
to my doom…’
When he’s gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon) What? It was $3.59 at the
BP in New Jersey this morning 8/2/2025
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Sales Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax
Exit Tax (when you move out of New Jersey, LOL!!!)
STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY?
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most
prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest
middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.
What in the heck happened? Can you spell ‘politicians? ‘
I hope this goes around THE USA at least 545 times! YOU can help it get
there!!!
GO AHEAD. . . BE AN AMERICAN
TRUTH!!!! OMG-never saw it this clearly for myself
It kinda shook me too Vicki.
Went up to the rooftop garden at the expected arrival time, hoping to see from afar some glimpse. Today feels like one of Creation’s most perfect days: sun, clouds, breeze, birds nesting, exquisite air quality. Especially nice when the air traffic is interrupted, and the world feels so silent. I’ll try again after the firehouse speech, maybe see the planes heading SW.
It’s just really wonderful to know PBO is near.
Take lots of pictures if you can.
Standing by for live streaming, then will boogie back up to the rooftop… Phone in hand.
Mind you, it seems the presidential fleet would be heading out over the water in a direct line to S. Korea. They do not need to fly in the customary zones, I shouldn’t think.
Boogie, boogie! :-)
So exciting for you, MP!
No place on earth can lay claim to more beauty than the Pacific Northwest (including Canada and Alaska).
A little over 10 years ago I traveled to Seattle almost monthly for work.
I’m a small person, so I love the window seats; a 2-hour plane ride that takes you over Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, the Cascades (Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Hood, Mt. Rainer), then sweeps past Gig Harbor, around the Space Needle for a good view of the Olympic Pennisula. Gorgeous doesn’t begin to describe the experience. (During the summer, Alaska Air pilots would announce when we were flying over those landmarks — for the kids on board, was my guess.)
Such a sad occasion, but I’m so glad the President is in your neck of the woods today.
Totally accurate on every point Arapaho! The PNW is outdoing itself for Natural Glory in honor of this day. The Oso mudslide area has been under surveillance for a very long time. Much of the instability was/is man-made; my neighbor across the hall has gone fishing up there for over 40 years. He was telling me about the showdowns between developers and the state planners, how the developers won by threatening legal action. The massive destruction caused by clear cutting above the Oso township area is one of the major contributing factors to the disaster, not enough trees left to stabilize the slopes. For 15 years, engineers have been anticipating this slide. The fact that it is a popular and very beautiful place made it harder to convince people of the dangers. There was no way they could have known when, but there was no IF, it was destined to happen. Maybe President Obama will find a way to help us all see how powerful our impact is on the planet, and how we much take care in developing our habitat.
Thanks for the info, MP!
Now I have egg on my face because I responded to a tweeter who said the obvious cause was clear-cutting.
Clear-cutting isn’t obvious in the the before and after photos I posted below.
Hi Arapahoe I might have been on one of your flights. I used to travel Alaska airlines for work and fun to Seatac or Portland about the same time. I plan to retire to PNW in the next eight years.
I flew from Burbank to Seattle on fairly regular basis.
One winter day I was really excited because I thought it was snowing in downtown Seattle (cars getting off the freeway had snow on their trunks) and went into one of the numerous coffee shops (not Starbuck, which are literally across the street from one another and on different floors of the same building because the streets are so steep) excited about the snow.
The barista shut me down right away by saying, “I’m from Montana, that’s sleet.” I must have looked really disappointed, because she hastily said, “But it was snowing just awhile ago.” LOL.
I’ve posted these tweets before (when they were sent).
Perspective on the devastation, and some pathos (note that the last photo was taken by a member of the Washington state National Guard):
Oh look at that sweet dog.
And on the other side of the world, Mashable has done a riff on the NYTimes’ travel series “36 Hours in Ukraine with Joe Biden.”
There’s Only One Nationally elected person in US by the 50 states and Washington DC.
Yet this Current POTUS is Not covered nationally. We have more News Media. Yet in the 21st Century with all the 24/7 News outlets, POTUS is Not covered 24/7.
But there is TOD, globally capable, willing and delivering. Thanx TOD <3 <3 <3 TODable TODers ;)
Au for Allison. Congrats.
I like John Legend. But this little bundle sure looks like John Legend. :)
photo/1
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152339083930480&stream_ref=10
John’s reaction. He agrees that this baby does look like him and No he isn’t the father ;)
startling resemblence and they are both adorable
THE PRESIDENT’S OSO VISIT MEANS SO MUCH TO ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE…AND TO JESUS…WHO WANTS US TO MAKE A SINCERE EFFORT TO EXTEND OUR HANDS OF COMFORT TO OTHERS!…AM WATCHING!
Truth.
Secret Service does not joke. Bravo!
LIVE VIDEO - First video of Oso slide tour from Marine One: http://www.kirotv.com/videos/news/kiro-live-event-1/vt6Gk/
LIVE COVERAGE: President Obama visits Oso landslide - http://q13fox.com/live/#axzz2ze5VhNpC
Great links, thank you JER!
My pleasure Chips.
Thank goodness she didn’t let his nonsense slide.
Would you (or Chips) be so kind as to front-page this on tomorrow’s R & S?! :)
I wonder will the President deliver his remarks much earlier than planned? Not due to speak til 6:50 EDT, but they look almost ready here ->
http://www.kirotv.com/videos/news/kiro-live-event-1/vt6Gk/
Yes, Just in case, I will log on…you never know! :) :) Thanks Chips for the link!
All down to our Link Legend JER, Hopefruit!!
Indeed. :) :)
Chips, this is terrific coverage of the president in Osa. As Nena says above, you could follow the media until you turned blue, but you wouldn’t get the kind coverage of presidential news that you get on TOD. Thank you a million times over!!!!
My complete pleasure Jackie - again, hats off to JER, so many streaming links and wonderful photo tweets!
So it begins…….
Wisconsin GOPer Eager To Ban Affirmative Action After Supreme Court Ruling
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/wisconsin-republican-affirmative-action-ban
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-syria-chemical-weapons-forfeiture-20140422,0,2531631.story#axzz2zejHnpcV
BEIRUT — The Syrian government has shipped out almost 90% of its chemical weapons material, raising hopes that the war-ravaged nation can meet a Sunday deadline to comply with a disarmament accord, an international regulator said Tuesday.
The latest shipment on Tuesday to the Mediterranean port of Latakia means that 86.5% of the weapon material has been removed, according to a statement from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, which is overseeing destruction of Syria’s toxic chemical stockpile.
That amount includes 88.7% of the 700 metric tons of the most toxic, “priority 1” chemicals, among them mustard gas and precursor materials for the nerve agents sarin and VX.
//////
Hmm?
Manhood?
Hmm?
Brooks is wetting his pants?
Don’t you be worrying about David - he wears Depends, just to be safe.
:)
The Clinton Baby Joke That Made Jimmy Fallon’s Audience Boo
http://thinkprogress.org/culture/2014/04/22/3429515/jimmy-fallon-tries-fails-to-make-hillary-clinton-pantsuits-joke-happen/
Wow…he has really been stepping in lately.
The bad joke about ObamaCare.
Having Sarah Palin on as a guest.
Jimmy…what’s up ?
Corporations own the networks. I think they have to “balance” their coverage to please their corporate masters.
They are excited, even as they try to keep an appearance of calm. :)
They are doing just great! Prolly a good thing I am safely here in Seattle, out of the way of making an ass of myself! :oops:
LOL!
Too perfect Hopefruit - I suspect voter suppression is not an issue that concerns Jessica.
Tell her no one will be watching.
Outstanding response hf!
Who was attacking Chelsea and her pregnancy.
I haven’t watch The Last Word since O’Donnell been off.
YESSSSSSS, GO hf!!!!
Go, hopefruit, go! These self-involved Clinton losers—yuck
Paging Chuck Todd and Chris Cizzilla…
I wrote here either yesterday or on Sunday that 2014 reminds me of 1998 elections with the media’s and TBGOPers’ Obsessive addiction on Monica resulted to Dems doing better in 1998. I said that 2014 is looking like the media’s and the TBGOPers’ obsession with ACA, aka, Obama Cares, would result to a Dem Victory. That road to victory started on 4-1-14. I wrote about that too.
Now Let the countdown to getting our Voters out and 2014 will take care of itself……..V I C T O R Y.
http://www.bradblog.com/?p=10591
To make it easier for folks to view.
This Poll is Not a Dem friendly pollster.
So 6% points here is a BFD :)
I hope Chuck Todd chokes on that one.
Didn’t Nancy Pelosi said back in 2012 that a 7% gap meant democrats would take back the House ??
Our lives depend on Democrats going to the polls in November. The Supreme court’s decision today was yet another reason to vote in 2014.
See, y’all thought I was joking when I said I lived in Pennsyltucky, or was that Pennsylsippi, or Pennsylbama… Because some of us took our eyes off the ball, we are reliving and relitigating issues from 50 years ago… Tears…
Exhibit A:
KKK imperial wizard: Neighborhood watch underway in Fairview Township
By Eric Veronikis | [email protected]
on April 21, 2025 at 8:00 AM, updated April 21, 2025 at 10:21 PM
A local chapter of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan launched a neighborhood watch in the area of Ridge Road in Fairview Township in response to a recent rash of break-ins, said Frank Ancona, the organization’s imperial wizard and president.
Leadership of a local Traditional American Knights chapter contacted the organization’s headquarters in Park Hills, Mo., to find out whether the national organization would sponsor the crime watch, and Ancona said he gave the midstate “klavern” his blessing.
more at link: http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/04/kkk_imperial_wizard_announces.html#incart_river_default
Alycee, this is heartbreaking. Just when you think PA might be taking a step forward, it takes a big ugly leap backward. Something awful is going to happen in this Fairview Township, whereever it is.
First they came for social media sites …
One of the few real American journalists ….
I saw this news, Bob and it is very upsetting to say the least
#TrustBarack
How about it Brooks and Todd?
Have you got tiny cups to cover your manhood yet? :lol: :roll: :lol:
Remember how the Fox, rightie media echo chamber and MSM played up the Al Qaeda two videos from less than 10 days ago? Some in the media accused the president for lying about decimating Al Qaeda…….knowing fully well that it was Al Qaeda of Bin Laden……that POTUS was talking about in 2012 not all Al Qaeda related affiliates.
He simply doesn’t hear them, Nena. Our President has no time for fools and he proves it every day, as you know :)
The President played golf on Saturday. Just sayin’
Oh, yeah, that’s right.
I’m not getting anything on WH.gov/live yet, are we underway?
Nevermind, it’s looking good, back in a bit. After I listen to the Man
photo/1
Lovely intimate talk with the first responders. It felt very personal.
Now he’s done it. Again. Buckets of tears, he just IS. And we are so thankful. I’d better head up to the roof soon.. It’s not far by chopper to Paine Field. I wish I could make him a cup of tea, feet up. I’m sure he’ll be well-looked after aboard AF1.
XOXO.
THE PRESIDENT IS SO SADDENED BY OSO AS WE ALL ARE…70 FEET DEEP IN MUD IS SO HARD TO IMAGINE….PRAYING FOR HIS SAFE TRAVELS TO JAPAN…I DON’T EVEN LIKE HIM GOING TO SOUTH KOREA!
When POTUS and FLOTUS go on these trips I just hope we all keep them in our prayers.
Phew! /let out the breath I was holding/ I got nervous when PBO started shaking hands individually, because for a little while I thought he might miss the folks who came up on the right side, and I just know how disappointed *they* would have been if their hands had been overlooked. Phew. I should have known I shouldn’t have worried - PBO is ever aware! :) :)
Safe travels, Mr. President, and be sure to sleep on the flight!
What 1st responders do.
Wow.
88 yrs old man was pinned down and then rescued by firefighters lifting the car up.
When someone tweets this YouTube to all those honchos like Brooks, Todd, etcetera types, let them know THIS is why Barack Obama is President, and they are just fools who don’t know when to shut up. And he never, ever overlooks the children. This is how the future is shaped.
Nice.
GWB/Cheny/Torture = 0
PBO = Osama Bin Laden & 100′s of Al Qaeda
David Brooks = LAME Troll
SOON - President Obama departs Oso, Washington: http://q13fox.com/live/#axzz2ze5VhNpC
“In a web chat hosted by the Atlantic Council today, Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), claimed that there are as many as 100 Russian military intelligence or special forces officers operating in Ukraine at the moment.
Nalyvaichenko said that separatist actions in Slavyansk were being lead by a group of 30 GRU officers, lead by Colonel Igor Stelkov, who the SBU claimed to have identified via phone recordings on April 14. Nalyvaichenko said today that the SBU is has arrested and is interrogating three GRU officers, currently being held in Kiev.
Nalyvaichenko also mentioned that he was satisfied with the “intensive” and “well organised” intelligence cooperation with the United States. Other topics of discussion include the relationship between economic hardship and propaganda in the eastern regions, the difficulties Ukraine has had in responding to the Russian threat, and Ukraine’s hopes for help from international monitoring missions.”
Obama, Comforter in Chief: the perpetual demand on a president’s compassion to heal a nation.
“Among the Senator’s {Toomey} PAC contributors were Erie Insurance PAC which gave $5,000 along with $2,500 each from the PACs of Liberty Mutual and Citigroup. Curiously for a Republican, Toomey also received $4,800 from the IBEW Local 98. Additionally, the incumbent was the recipient of $1,000 from KOCHPAC, an organization under the umbrella of uber-political donors Charles and David
things can and will change….Toomey will not be re-elected…in 2016..esp if we re-take the House in 2014
isn’t sestak a two time loser? can’t the dems find another candidate?
No, one time. Two successful terms repping PA-07. Lost 2010 Senate race to Toomey.
Mahalo Chips!
Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! How ya doing?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/04/22/the-supreme-court-and-the-reality-of-racial-preferences/
The Supreme Court says it isn’t their place to decide, and in this one rather narrow case they’re probably right. But the rest of us can.
******************************
for centuries Blk folks have used the courts as an effort to redress issues of racism and discrimination…John Roberts and apparently Sargent as well….they are telling blk folks that you are on your own when it comes to these issues…it is not for the court to decide…
but…The court has decided…they have decided on the side of those who would discriminate and continue that legacy of institutional racism!
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/04/22/oso/
tremendous tragedy in Oso