He did look ridiculous.

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1984 300TD

Ridiculous in the sense that he obviously has no idea what kind of pie in the sky promises it takes to get to the White House. First politician I've heard in years that actually makes sense, not impossible promises.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

An election is like a auction. You say $5, I see your $5 and raise you $2 more.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

No. Ridiculous in sounding like a simpleton, ranting 'the whole trial is out of order!'

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1984 300TD

There are a few posters here that seem to support Ron Paul but also support the invasion of Iraq. But I believe by his definition Paul considers himself a libertarian, which is different from conservative or liberal.

Given enough time in politics, Rep, Dem, it will all be the same. Oh, the words will be different, the stated goals will be different but that is about where it goes. Govts say much, believe in few and actually do even less.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Many think we are there right now. The voters ulimately choose the leaders; so the buck stops with the voters.

Liberals get pist when you tell them the truth.
Conservatives get pist when you tell them a lie.

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2009 E320 Bluetec 117,000
1995 E300D 306,000 Sold
1996 Ford Taurus LX 130,000 Sold
1985 300TD Still 225,000 Sold
2016 Ford Fusion 24,900

I think it says more about the complexity of the tax code. Can you imagine the hundreds of pages those tax returns are? I don't recall all the particulars, but I believe most (probably not all) of the tax problems these people had were a result of errors not outright evasion. Like failing to report the use of a company supplied driver as income. That perk was probably not reported to them on some kind of income statement (W2, 1099, whatever) so it would be easy to overlook. And the errors were really probably made by their accountants. You think these guys do their own taxes? You think they even look at the returns before they sign them? Probably not.

Even though I am making excuses for these guys (as a reaction to your post), I think they should all have paid their taxes properly as everyone should. I think the tax code should be simplified, but I'm not going to say I know how that should be done. Let's see what Obama does. He has raised it as an issue.

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1987 W201 190D

Maybe it was by design. Make it so complicated that you can hide things in them to rip people more than you say.

More the fool them.

How would Obama be able to do it? Executive order? Short of that, it has to come from and go thru congress and get perverted like every other bill.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Once again, it is called LEADERSHIP.

You're right that congress will stick their bits into it, too. But perhaps it'll be better than it was. The fact neither congress nor the president can get everything they want is part of the genius of the constitution. Checks and balances, remember? Unfortunately the art of compromise and consensus has been lost. Maybe Obama can bring it back a little. I think he's got as good a chance as we've seen in a long time.

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1987 W201 190D

I call it BARTERING. He trades his signature for a grab bag of stuff. Pretty much the same as any other Prez.

I doubt it. Not if everybody wants to stick their nose in the trough and we get what is left.

IF it were such a compromise, why does the Prez get the blame for it? Why doesn't Congress also get blamed? The problem is that we focus more on the President instead of focusing on both groups. That gives one group a better hand to screw around. When there is a stalemate, people focus on the President. Tell me, why do you think there isn't a 100 days for congress report that is as popular as the Presidential one? Aren't they part of the equation too? IF a critical bill gets vetoed and things screw up, who gets the blame first? As such, who is under more pressure?

Maybe you got my helping of the hope he was doling around so I will doubt it till I can see something. Edit: What is the chance based on? Well wishes and good hope? Certainly not his sterling record when he was in congress. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/politics/20obama.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Political titles are not always what you think they are:

http://www.wimp.com/thegovernment/