With Congress planning on staying in session during the holiday to discuss changing the debt ceiling, I have to continually pound my head against a wall when I hear that Republicans absolutely refuse to move on raising taxes.

Now, I get it; Republicans don’t want to look weak against a president they can not stand, and they sure don’t want to be seen as tax raisers, but it is time to put bickering aside and actually start talking about real solutions to solving the debt and deficit crisis.

We often hear from Republicans that government should be run by a business – although with the implosion of Wall Street, they have started to back away from this comparison and have started to say that government’s budget should be run like a family budget.  Either way, they seem to think that the only way that either of these institutions work is by cutting spending, not by making investments and looking for more revenue.

To be sure, in the short term both businesses and families have to cut back on some of the more luxurious items they may have in their budget. But at some point businesses and families can’t cut anymore and still be around – for a company, at some point they have to shutter the doors, and for a family they will need to, at some point, end up on the streets. With the debt ceiling debate, we are coming dangerously close to creating the same situation with our government.

We have all been through lean times, and many of us have probably worked for companies that had to make difficult decisions – but we often prevail. Why? Because after we have cut as much as we are able, we start to find ways to generate more revenue for ourselves. Businesses may cut prices, merge with a more successful company, or create a new product or service that brings in more money; families with budget shortfalls may have adults who gain more skills, becoming more employable, or take on a second job.  In short, we find ways to get more cash.

So why, Republicans, can’t we do the same for government? If you truly feel that government should be run under these types of models, but your money where your mouth is.

Aside from the far right Tea Party, few feel that any more cuts can reasonably be made – no one wants to loose their social security, and many don’t see military budget cuts as an option – so where does that leave us?

Yup, ya need to raise taxes.

Step one would be getting rid of the Bush tax cuts and bring things back into line with pre-2001 tax rates (remember when Clinton handed Bush a surplus? Well this is part of the reason). But even this plan wont work. During the booming 50′s under Republican Eisenhower, the top rate was a whopping 91% , under Nixon it was 70%, even Reagan set the bar to 50%. In other words, Republicans were not afraid to raise taxes on the most wealthy (and we are talking the top 1% here).

During this entire time the deficit never topped $4 trillion – still high, but paltry when compared to today’s $14.4 trillion.

We need to generate more revenue, and the money is out there. High tax rates for the upper, upper class have existed during grand economic growth, and the “trickle down” Republicans are so fond of spouting surly should have produced something during the 30 years it has been advocated for. Indeed, as I alluded to before, when Clinton raised the tax rate to nearly 40%, our economy didn’t suffer, indeed it was boom times and we had a budget surplus.

Should we make cuts? Yes, that is part of sound policy. But we also need to bring in more money through taxation to ensure our books are balanced. By not moving on tax cuts, Republicans are playing a dangerous game – one that we can not afford to lose.

One disturbing and growing theme during the health care debate has been that far right conservatives are panning Obama is a socialist/un-American/Nazi who wants nothing more than to kill your grandmother. Of course, we on the left find this laughable if only because we remember the bad-old-days of the Bush administration.

Indeed, many on the left panned Bush as a Nazi and unabashedly screamed it at the top of our lungs at protests and rallies. Now, with a new party in power and new social policies being put into place, it almost should come as no surprise that the right shouts over what is wrong with where this country is headed.

Now, it is a fact that neither Bush nor Obama are or were Nazis, but I really do feel it behooves us to examine which side of the shouting match was more accurate:

Responses to Terrorism:

Hitler - In response to the Reichstag Fire, Hitler successfully calls on then President Hindenburg to enact the Reichstag Fire Decree – an act that suspended most civil liberties in Germany and was a political tool used by Nazis to gain political power.

Bush – In response to the September 11th attacks, the Bush Administration successfully enacts the USA PATRIOT Act – an act that reduced civil liberties in the United States and was often used by the Republican Party as a political tool.

Obama – Though currently stalled, the Obama Administration is attempting to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. The center holds prisoners of war for an indefinite period of time without receiving a trial.

Race:

Hitler – Subordination of various races, eventually leading to the Holocaust.

Bush – Questionable response to Hurricane Katrina leads the majority of African-Americans to question the Bush Administrations feelings toward race relations.

Obama – As the first African-American president, Obama often had to deal with race often and eventually spoke to the American people during his campaign about the issue in a frank and honest manor.

The Economy:

Hitler – Banned Labor Unions, initiated public works projects, placement of banks under strict government control.

Bush – Increased funding to the Department of Labor for the expressed purpose of enforcing the Landrum-Griffin Act, an act designed to monitor Union activity for legal wrong doing.  During this time critics argue that new regulations are written to be intentionally confusing in order to make more unions violate the law.

Obama - Authorizes $144 Billion into public works projects in stimulus package and reenacts enforcement of post-depression era laws disregarded by the Bush Administration.

Foreign Policy:

Hitler – Withdrew from Geneva Convention, invaded countries without being provoked.

Bush - Unilaterally invaded Iraq after the United Nations stated that they would not support the war.  Ignores various articles of the Geneva Convention stating that the war on terror was a new type of war where the old rules did not apply.

Obama – Starting the withdraw process of troops in Iraq and transferring many to Afghanistan, a war that the international community supports.  International views of the United States have improved.

I am sure there are numerous examples that can be added to this…but I leave it up to you, dear reader, which president has followed more in Hitler’s goosestepping footprints?

So thanks to Jeff Bell for first pointing this one out. He may not be willing to discuss this beyond retching. Well I could not help but check it out to see what was on the site (kind of like how you have to look at a horrific car accident).

So here is, word for word,what the website states – with my own commentary thrown in:

SarahPAC believes America’s best days are ahead (because the last eight were terrible). Our country, founded on conservative principles (such as radically overthrowing the reigning government and creating a liberal democracy) and the fight for freedom, must confront the challenges of the 21st century with integrity (insert any Bush Administration scandal), innovation (CLEAN COAL!), and determination(Palin for President in 2010!).

SarahPAC believes energy independence (Drill, baby, drill!) is a cornerstone of the economic security (especially for Alaska and Texas) and progress that every American family wants and deserves (now that liberals have pointed out that energy efficiency is a good thing).

SarahPAC believes the Republican Party is at the threshold of an historic renaissance (the Bull Moose Party thought the same thing) that will build a better future for all(rich, white, men *cough, cough*). Health care (lobby), education (vouchers *cough, cough*), and reform of government (but only after Nancy Peloci took over) are among our key goals. Join us today!

The BBC reports:

A surprise visit by US President George Bush to Iraq has been overshadowed by an incident in which two shoes were thrown at him during a news conference.

An Iraqi jouralist was wrestled to the floor by security guards after he called Mr. Bush “a dog” and threw his footwear, just missing the president.

The soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture.