2012 Republican Presidential Candidate Race

[Shade]

Oh. Carry on.

[Dantrag]

No.

Goes for both sides 99% of the time.

[Ragnus]

Not denying that either.

[Drex]

One thing I find funny is that US Bonds don't fall under "Capital Gains".

Capital gains (and losses) refer to the value of the security, not its output. If you sell the bond itself at a premium (or discount), it's taxed as a capital gain (or can be claimed as a capital loss). Interest is not asset appreciation/depreciation...unless it's "carried interest", which is just a service fee renamed to justify special tax treatment.

And the double taxation comic from a few pages back is retarded because a golf player doesn't own his caddy, an employee doesn't own his company or his plumber, etc. If you wanted a more relevant comic, it would compare dividend taxation to the government taxing you once when you're told how much your paycheck will be and again when you actually receive the money, or the plumber being taxed once when he gives you an estimate and again when he does the job, etc.

[Dimmauk]

I wonder how Kuya and Elvis feel about Newt being sponsored by rich pro-Israel Jews?

[solanis]

"US bonds?" Treasury securities are taxed as income, and municipal bonds aren't taxed at all. other forms of fixed income are classed differently.

[Eaglestrike]

As a Canadian who has been hanging out in Georgia for the last month, and has been getting slightly more Fox News in her diet than she likes, I just have to know, is there anybody running who like... isn't a total snake?

Ron Paul isn't a snake. Just somehow he's more of a problem than the snakes, which I don't understand.

[Cadsuane]

Ron Paul isn't a snake. Just somehow he's more of a problem than the snakes, which I don't understand.

Basically it's a Robespierre analogy. Highly principled idealists tend to have a troubled relationship with reality.

[Ragnus]

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/26/145882...nent-moon-base

Newt Gingrich, a self-described space nut, has long been a supporter of the U.S. space program. Now the Republican presidential hopeful is proposing what he calls a bold program that would send Americans back to the moon and beyond.

During a campaign event on Florida's Space Coast — hard-hit by the recession and the space program's uncertain future — Gingrich talked about coming of age at the time of Sputnik, the first satellite, launched in 1957 by the Soviet Union. He recalled reading science-fiction author Isaac Asimov and Missiles and Rockets magazine.

"I come at space from a standpoint of a romantic belief that it really is part of our destiny, and it has been tragic to see what has happened to our space program over the last 30 years," Gingrich said Wednesday in a crowded hotel ballroom in Cocoa, not far from the Kennedy Space Center.

'The First Permanent Base On The Moon'

The space shuttle mission ended last year and with it the possibility of any imminent manned space flight. It also meant job losses on the Space Coast and a lack of a well-defined mission for NASA.

If elected, Gingrich promised, "by the end of my second term, we will have the first permanent base on the moon, and it will be American."

Gingrich said he would encourage commercial activities in space, including science, tourism and manufacturing. And he promises, in about eight years, a rocket capable of reaching Mars.

Gingrich gave no details on how much a re-energized space program might cost or how he proposes to pay for it, except to say that commercial interests might be promised prizes in the billions of dollars for developing the hardware.

His plan for "constant energetic and excited activities" would draw people back to the Space Coast, he said. "Because it's exciting and it's dynamic, and who knows what next week is going to be like? Does that mean I'm a visionary? You betcha."

Later, at a roundtable with business leaders and educators, former shuttle pilot Mike McCulley recalled that President George W. Bush outlined an ambitious space agenda, which went nowhere. President Obama has also proposed a program much like Gingrich's that would use commercial rockets to carry cargo and crew to the International Space Station.

McCulley said he might quibble with a few of Gingrich's details, but at least it's a vision.

"It's been three or four major programs that have consumed enormous amounts of energy and money and time, and here we sit eight years later without a hell of a lot to show for it. I can say that, now that I'm retired, of course," McCulley said.

'Grandiose' Criticism

The former House speaker's space plan is a classic Gingrich big idea. Whether he would be able to sell it to debt-weary taxpayers and Congress, to say nothing of whether it would succeed, can only be guessed.

"I was attacked the other night for being grandiose," Gingrich said. "I just want you to know: Lincoln standing at Council Bluffs was grandiose. The Wright brothers going down to Kitty Hawk was grandiose. John F. Kennedy saying we'll get to the moon in eight years was grandiose. I accept the charge that I am an American, and Americans are instinctively grandiose because we believe in a bigger future."

Heading into next week's Florida primary, Gingrich conceded that rival Mitt Romney has made fun of his space ideas. But Gingrich says he is a romantic, while Romney is only practical.

Paragon of conservative fiscal budgets right here.

[Andalusian girls]

given that the destiny of the human race lies in space expenditures advancing our capacity to explore and colonize it can be forgiven more readily than say a thirteenth aircraft carrier or a woodstock museum

and given that the private sector has proven and likely will continue to prove totally ineffectual in advancing our interests in that field given the lack of monetary reward it is one of the most critical duties our government has

[Dantrag]

As expensive as it would be. I would love for our space program to be kicked back into high gear.

[Talint]

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/26/145882...nent-moon-base

If elected, Gingrich promised, "by the end of my second term, we will have the first permanent base on the moon, and it will be American."

Hey Newt, I've got some disappointing news for you.

Art. II of the Treaty states that "outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means".

[Salodin]

He's not claiming the moon for americans, he's saying he'll build an american base on the moon.

Far fetched, but that's not the point. Not like the international community will be up in arms because we aren't letting the russians in our super awesome space castle.

[archibaldcrane]

Damn you Newt, for having an idea I can get behind.

[Dantrag]

He's not claiming the moon for americans, he's saying he'll build an american base on the moon.

Far fetched, but that's not the point. Not like the international community will be up in arms because we aren't letting the russians in our super awesome space castle.

Pretty much, the BASE will be American, and I'm sure we'd let other countries visit...

Damn you Newt, for having an idea I can get behind.

LOL, I hate to say it, but I agree...

[Demosthenes11]

so...what exactly is a moon base for, and why would we need it now in the middle of a terrible economic time

[ronin sparthos]

so...what exactly is a moon base for, and why would we need it now in the middle of a terrible economic time

So we can nuke our enemies from orbit and put America back on top in these troubling economic times.

Never thought I'd agree with Gingrich on anything but a moonbase? This is a man after my own heart.

[Dantrag]

so...what exactly is a moon base for, and why would we need it now in the middle of a terrible economic time

Exploring for oil on the moon... DUH.

[Dimmauk]

so...what exactly is a moon base for, and why would we need it now in the middle of a terrible economic time

It's for rich people and Republicans onry!

[Melena]

The only downside to a moonbase may be hollywood green lighting a movie based off of Moon Patrol to coincide with our moon base going live.