Honestly, I don't know how many Democrats or Republicans I voted for. Voted for who I felt the best candidate was.

There are no personal reasons behind it. It's just as simple as he's a Democrat and I'm not. But I've never been a very good Republican either. It simply came down to whether I'd vote for a Republican I didn't really care for and didn't necessarily trust to do what's in the best interests of Kentucky and the United States in general, or for a Democrat that I agree with on some things but don't agree with on most things. The devil you know always beats the devil you don't...

 

He voted yes on practically every spending bill he saw. Some key ones were the stimulus bill, wasting more money towards the war on drugs---specifically in Mexico, the bail out of the automotive industry, etc.

 

Sorry about the late response back. I'll be using this excuse frequently this week: It's Breeder's Cup.

 

Anyway, to get back to answering you guys, both are good arguments.

 

But, I have to ask, does ANYONE not know what Yarmuth is about? He is the only politician I feel is 100% candid in both what his agenda is, and in standing by his votes. He doesn't try to back away from them, he touts them. I respect that a great deal. Obviously, I'm in agreement with him on most issues. But I also feel he is maligned because he is rich, lives in a rich area of Jefferson County, and supports legislation that assists the least wealthy in our area. I know it hacks his neighbors off to the nth degree. But I know that he puts his PERSONAL money where his mouth is as well. He's donated his entire salary as a congressmen every year since 2006. He's donated to such organizations as the Home of the Innocents and CASA. People say he hasn't gotten money for this area, but that's not true either. Recently he procured some sort of way from the stimulus bill to lure GE to move their new product line to Appliance Park. He got money for TARC, which will not only help keep from having to raise fares, but put (I think) 9 new hybrid buses in circulation over the next 2 or 3 years, thus reducing the fuel costs that TARC incurs annually. I get a bit miffed, because people in the suburban areas feel he does nothing. But in reality, he does a lot. They're upset because of the bridges project, but Nortup is the one who got us a ton of funding, and we still don't have bridges. To me, that is more a problem at the local level. Why would we expect that Congress could be convinced to keep giving us money for a project we can't even agree locally that we need?

I have to admit, I totally and completely disagree with Yarmuth on every issue, but he is not a loudmouth, you know exactly what he thinks, and he is actually a pleasant person.

 

I voted for 3 Democrats at the local level. If my family knew, one in particular, I'd be disowned.

Sorry about the late response back. I'll be using this excuse frequently this week: It's Breeder's Cup.

 

Anyway, to get back to answering you guys, both are good arguments.

 

But, I have to ask, does ANYONE not know what Yarmuth is about? He is the only politician I feel is 100% candid in both what his agenda is, and in standing by his votes. He doesn't try to back away from them, he touts them. I respect that a great deal. Obviously, I'm in agreement with him on most issues. But I also feel he is maligned because he is rich, lives in a rich area of Jefferson County, and supports legislation that assists the least wealthy in our area. I know it hacks his neighbors off to the nth degree. But I know that he puts his PERSONAL money where his mouth is as well. He's donated his entire salary as a congressmen every year since 2006. He's donated to such organizations as the Home of the Innocents and CASA. People say he hasn't gotten money for this area, but that's not true either. Recently he procured some sort of way from the stimulus bill to lure GE to move their new product line to Appliance Park. He got money for TARC, which will not only help keep from having to raise fares, but put (I think) 9 new hybrid buses in circulation over the next 2 or 3 years, thus reducing the fuel costs that TARC incurs annually. I get a bit miffed, because people in the suburban areas feel he does nothing. But in reality, he does a lot. They're upset because of the bridges project, but Nortup is the one who got us a ton of funding, and we still don't have bridges. To me, that is more a problem at the local level. Why would we expect that Congress could be convinced to keep giving us money for a project we can't even agree locally that we need?

I never said I didn't respect him or think it's a good thing that he is out in the open. And I do agree with you on those points. But even if someone does all that but I disagree with him on virtually all of his positions/votes should I think he is a good candidate for me because he stands by his votes? I would say you would agree that for me Yarmuth isn't a good candidate at all. If I truly didn't like Yarmuth I would have voted for Lally---instead I cast a vote towards a party that I'm ideologically inclined to agree with most of the time. I do think that Yarmuth as my congressman is WAY back on my list of issues I currently have with government.

 

If he could come to my side on just some issues then we may get something going...but from what I've found we are pretty far off. But I will admit that the qualities you speak of are things I do like in a candidate and will cause me to look over issues that aren't major in my mind. For instance, Gatewood and I don't agree on everything but having met him on multiple occasions and followed him since I was fresh out of high school he has kept to his guns and the issues we differ on are ones I can look past.

I never said I didn't respect him or think it's a good thing that he is out in the open. And I do agree with you on those points. But even if someone does all that but I disagree with him on virtually all of his positions/votes should I think he is a good candidate for me because he stands by his votes? I would say you would agree that for me Yarmuth isn't a good candidate at all. If I truly didn't like Yarmuth I would have voted for Lally---instead I cast a vote towards a party that I'm ideologically inclined to agree with most of the time. I do think that Yarmuth as my congressman is WAY back on my list of issues I currently have with government.

 

If he could come to my side on just some issues then we may get something going...but from what I've found we are pretty far off. But I will admit that the qualities you speak of are things I do like in a candidate and will cause me to look over issues that aren't major in my mind. For instance, Gatewood and I don't agree on everything but having met him on multiple occasions and followed him since I was fresh out of high school he has kept to his guns and the issues we differ on are ones I can look past.

 

Well, considering he chooses to essentially work for free, at least we can agree on the fact that he's not taking our money as payment to not do anything for the community.

Well, considering he chooses to essentially work for free, at least we can agree on the fact that he's not taking our money as payment to not do anything for the community.

:lol:

 

He does have that going for him. See...we have a start!

Well, considering he chooses to essentially work for free, at least we can agree on the fact that he's not taking our money as payment to not do anything for the community.

 

He doesn't work for free. He writes off 100% of his donations so he pays less in taxes. For that reason I think Yarmuth is the worst kind of hypocrite. He espouses raising taxes on the "rich" while doing something that reduces the amount of tax that he has to pay. I've never voted for him and I never will.

Sorry about the late response back. I'll be using this excuse frequently this week: It's Breeder's Cup.

 

Anyway, to get back to answering you guys, both are good arguments.

 

But, I have to ask, does ANYONE not know what Yarmuth is about? He is the only politician I feel is 100% candid in both what his agenda is, and in standing by his votes. He doesn't try to back away from them, he touts them. I respect that a great deal. Obviously, I'm in agreement with him on most issues. But I also feel he is maligned because he is rich, lives in a rich area of Jefferson County, and supports legislation that assists the least wealthy in our area. I know it hacks his neighbors off to the nth degree. But I know that he puts his PERSONAL money where his mouth is as well. He's donated his entire salary as a congressmen every year since 2006. He's donated to such organizations as the Home of the Innocents and CASA. People say he hasn't gotten money for this area, but that's not true either. Recently he procured some sort of way from the stimulus bill to lure GE to move their new product line to Appliance Park. He got money for TARC, which will not only help keep from having to raise fares, but put (I think) 9 new hybrid buses in circulation over the next 2 or 3 years, thus reducing the fuel costs that TARC incurs annually. I get a bit miffed, because people in the suburban areas feel he does nothing. But in reality, he does a lot. They're upset because of the bridges project, but Nortup is the one who got us a ton of funding, and we still don't have bridges. To me, that is more a problem at the local level. Why would we expect that Congress could be convinced to keep giving us money for a project we can't even agree locally that we need?

 

I'm not really sure what you're getting at here...

 

I absolutely agree that Yarmuth is a known commodity. It's one of the things that makes him attractive as a candidate. But the fact that I know what they are also allows me to compare them to my own feelings on certain issues. He has openly stated that he supports the Ohio River Bridges Project. I, on the other hand, would rather see no bridges rather than two and do not feel that a spaghetti junction redesign is necessary. That's just one example. I'm not sure here Rockmom... are we disagreeing or not?

I'm not really sure what you're getting at here...

 

I absolutely agree that Yarmuth is a known commodity. It's one of the things that makes him attractive as a candidate. But the fact that I know what they are also allows me to compare them to my own feelings on certain issues. He has openly stated that he supports the Ohio River Bridges Project. I, on the other hand, would rather see no bridges rather than two and do not feel that a spaghetti junction redesign is necessary. That's just one example. I'm not sure here Rockmom... are we disagreeing or not?

 

No...and the intent wasn't to disagree, so much as support my support of Yarmuth.

He doesn't work for free. He writes off 100% of his donations so he pays less in taxes. For that reason I think Yarmuth is the worst kind of hypocrite. He espouses raising taxes on the "rich" while doing something that reduces the amount of tax that he has to pay. I've never voted for him and I never will.

 

Are you sure he writes off those donations?

Are you sure he writes off those donations?

 

Fairly sure. Do you know otherwise? If so I'll admit my mistake. Won't change my mind about him but I'll admit my mistake about this. That is only 1 reason that I don't like him.

Fairly sure. Do you know otherwise? If so I'll admit my mistake. Won't change my mind about him but I'll admit my mistake about this. That is only 1 reason that I don't like him.

 

No, I'm not. You sounded dead certain, though, hence my question. The other thing is, even if he does write off those deductions, raising the taxes for the rich would still impact him significantly.

 

Answer if you like, but it's not really any of my business and I wouldn't be at all upset or offended if you didn't...do you write off your donations?

Sure I do. Big difference is that I don't support raising taxes on anyone. If you're in favor of raising taxes on anyone then it is my belief that if you do anything to reduce your personal tax liability then you're are being hypocritical. If you think the government needs to take more money from anyone then it seems like you would be happy to let them take more of your money.

 

PS I'm using the term "YOU" generically, not pointing RM out specifically.

Sure I do. Big difference is that I don't support raising taxes on anyone. If you're in favor of raising taxes on anyone then it is my belief that if you do anything to reduce your personal tax liability then your are being hypocritical.

 

I'm not at all familiar with the expiring tax cuts in detail. When those cuts expire, will the rich then be unable to take deductions to reduce their taxable income?

No, I'm not. You sounded dead certain, though, hence my question. The other thing is, even if he does write off those deductions, raising the taxes for the rich would still impact him significantly.

 

Answer if you like, but it's not really any of my business and I wouldn't be at all upset or offended if you didn't...do you write off your donations?

I do, and I'm poor. :lol:

 

Seriously, I firmly believe that Yarmuth donates because he believes it is a good thing to do, not for any tax benefits. And if he does take those benefits does it negate the good deed of actually donating?