Debates or jousting?

Tuesday evening GOP Presidential candidates squared off in Las Vegas as they continue their tour of the country in an effort to tear each other down one comment at a time.

The debates, or we might as well call them jousts, pitted Herman Cain against he fellow candidates and Mitt Romney and Rick Perry against each other.

Everyone whittled away at Cain’s 9-9-9 plan.

There is not enough information. More people will have their taxes go up. On and on the attacks on Cain’s plan flew. This is despite any of the other candidates coming up with a new idea to address the nation’s economic faltering.

While that circus ring swirled, Perry got started on Romney going after his employing illegal aliens to keep his yard trimmed. At one point Perry kept talking and talking, not allowing Romney to respond.

When Romney placed his hand on Perry’s left shoulder, it looked like maybe the two would just throw down before CNN’s cameras.

Now that would have been a sight, seeing GOP presidential hopefuls in a real donnybrook.

Can any of them survive the debate drudgery? And when they do, will they have provided the Obama camp enough ammo for the General Election next November?

It might be easier to have the GOP candidates saddle up on horses and enter a real live joust.

Winner takes all and gets to face Obama. That kind of event would capture everyone’s attention.

Saddle up….

9-9-9 Worth Exploring

GOP Presidential Candidate Herman Cain has a fix for nation's economic straits. It's the 9-9-9 plan.
The former CEO of Godfather's Pizza sees the IRS as an overseer of America.
While Cain hasn't given the dirty details yet, he has outlined what each segment  involves.
Most folks don't like change, but the kind of chain Cain is talking about may be just the right thing needed to shake up our nation's economy.
First, Cain would institute a 9 percent income tax. No more, no less.
The complicated tax code would be eliminated. No more tax credits or deductions, with two exceptions — taxpayers could claim charitable contributions and also earn a type of tax credit for living in an "empowerment zone." Cain's zones are inner city regions that need revitalizations.
Just eliminating the income tax is only a portion of the first 9. Cain also replaces payroll taxes, something every hard-working American pays to fund Medicare and Social Security. He would end the estate tax as well.
The 9 percent income tax is an equalization. Bill Gates and the guy who works at McDonald's would pay 9 percent.
The Joint Committee on Taxation, a bipartisan Congressional group, reports just less than half of all Americans pay no income tax at all.
Would the increase of those who don't pay be able to make up the difference when the other taxes are eliminated?
The second 9 would be the levying of a 9 percent national sales tax.
Cain sees the revenues generated by this nationalized tariff would also make up the difference in dollars lost from eliminated payroll and estate taxes.
This national sales tax would be on top of existing state and local taxes. It would be collected on all new goods. Whether or not services are exempt is unknown.
Finally a 9 percent corporate income tax would be levied.
Presently, corporate income tax is at about 40 percent. That would be a win-win for businesses. However, most through the use of deductions, pay more in the range of 27.5 percent.
How much would Cain's 9-9-9 plan generate? No one really knows. Could it reduce the red tape we all face come tax time. Would it put more money in the pockets of worker and business owners?
It is worth exploring.
With the way Congress is so entrenched, it is highly unlikely it would ever come to reality.
It is a good idea though.

Something we don't talk about, or is?

GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney is having to answer questions about his religion.
Over the weekend at the Values Voters Summit, the Rev. Robert Jeffress popped the inevitable question on many conservative's minds — is Romney an genuine Christian?
Jeffress, who pastors First Baptist Church of Dallas, introduced fellow Texan Rick Perry and described the Longhorn governor as a true believer and Christian.
In the pastor's remarks following his introduction he went further to explain what he meant about Mitt.
"I think Romney is a good moral person but those of us who are born-again followers of Christ should prefer a competent Christ...Between a Rick Perry and a Mitt Romney I believe evangelicals need to go with Rick Perry," said Jeffress.
Speaking with reporters after Perry finished speaking to the crowd he was much more blunt.
"Mormonism is not Christianity. It's not politically correct to say, but Mormonism is a cult."
The gloves are off.
Jeffress, who was not selected by Perry for his introduction, described Romney as "a fine family person."
The pastor posed the question for all conservatives, "Do we want a candidate who is a good moral person, or one who is born-again follower of the Lord Jesus Christ? In Rick Perry we have a candidate who is a committed follower of Christ."
On Sunday morning Jeffress told his congregation about his comments, if they hadn't already seen them on TV the night before, and made it clear he was not speaking for the 10,000-member church but as a private citizen.
In a press conference in New Hampshire, Romney called on Perry to repudiate Jeffress' comments. At this time no repudiation has been made.
It will be interesting at tonight's Republican Presidential Debate to see who jumps on the topic first.
Growing up, we were taught not to discuss any of the big three in public - religion, politics or money.
Tonight, we will likely hear about all three subjects in some way or fashion.