There must be something in the air: Simpson slams Norquist; Rove donor Langone goes off script

[ProSense]

From Think Progresss;

Fmr. GOP Sen. Alan Simpson Calls Republican Refusal To Raise Revenue ‘Absolute Bullshit’

Former GOP Sen. Alan Simpson blasted his intransigent GOP colleagues on the hill today for failing to reach a deal on the deficit. The expletive-prone co-chairman of President Obama’s bipartisan fiscal reform commission slammed Republicans for kowtowing to American for Tax Reform head Grover Norquist (“Republicans can’t be in thrall to him”) and pushed Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to stand fast on the August 2 deadline. Surveying the lay of the current fiscal land, Simpson said “We’re at 15 percent revenue, and historically it’s been closer to 20 percent.” “We’ve never had a war without a tax, and now we’ve got two,” he added. “Absolute bullshit.” bullshit.”

Major Karl Rove Donor Ken Langone On Debt Negotiations: ‘I Should Pay More Taxes’

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Yesterday on the Fox Business Network, Langone was asked by host Lou Dobbs about how to kickstart the economy. Langone repeatedly said high unemployment is the greatest problem, but conceded that corporations are doing better than ever. To get things going, Langone explained, everyone would have to feel “pain.” In a sharp contrast with his friend Karl Rove, Langone said wealthy guys like him “should pay more taxes”:

LANGONE: Well I say this as a devout Republican. I think in these negotiations, I think number one guys like me, I’ve said this before, there’s a caveat. I shouldn’t get Social Security. I should pay more taxes.

Watch it:

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Langone says higher taxes on wealthy individuals like himself should go “entirely to paying down the debt.”

As President Obama and Democrats have pushed to include modest tax increases on the wealthy as part of the debt negotiations, as well as a repeal on tax subsidies to big oil companies (deemed a tax hike by some conservatives and those in the media), Rove’s front groups have hit back with nasty attack ads claiming any tax increase would hurt the economy. Perhaps Rove should listen more to his own wealthy donors.

[JoeyT]

1. They've been trying to push people out of the boat for a long time.

Now they're just realizing that many on their side don't want to push people out of the boat, they want to make a hole in the bottom and sink absolutely everyone. It scares the hell out of them. And it should.

[JNelson6563]

2. I wonder how long they can keep sticking fingers in the holes

that spring open. Will there soon be enough that the whole dam gives way?

Julie

[wiggs]

3. That's because they recognize that 'shared sacrifice' is a crock...a great

deal for the gop and the top 2%. Taxes go back to clinton levels...still low....they pay a little more money that they don't need...and important social safety nets and environmental programs and education still get cut almost to the bone, affecting many lives negatively. What's not to like for them?

It's only because our dem leaders have staked out the RW position as their own that we think 'shared sacrifice' is a dem solution.

[kiranon]

4. If the debt ceiling isn't lifted, the banks/investors could get hurt if there

is a default. It's time for them to reign the crazy they created back in a bit before their finances suffer.