Miller proposes 100% tax on AIG bonuses
The AIG bonuses are a turning point for the Obama administration, just two months into the new presidency. The $165 million in bonuses to the same crew that brought down AIG and nearly the global economy with it is inflicting serious political damage. More ominously, it is threatening the administration’s yet-to-be-released bank fix that is a necessary prelude to economic recovery.

Not that any new bank rescues were going to be popular before this revelation.
The administration is in a bind, since the bonuses were promised under contract. As Obama economic chief Larry Summers has said, the administration is not about to start breaking contracts, especially when the key to its bank plan requires luring billions of dollars in private capital to a “public-private partnership.”

In rides Rep. George Miller, Democrat of Martinez, to the rescue today. After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s call yesterday for AIG looters to voluntarily return their millions went unheeded, Miller is proposing a special AIG bonus tax, at the rate of 100 percent.

He promised legislation as soon as this week. “AIG executives did not earn a bonus, they should not accept a bonus, and if they already did accept it they should return the bonus. And from those who don’t return the bonus money voluntarily, we’re going to get the money back for the taxpayer,” Miller said.

Miller is co-sponsoring a bill for the 100 percent tax. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Napa, introduced a bill that would tax 90 percent of the bonuses issued by any firm receiving government rescue money. Miller said the House will take up the legislation in one form or another this week or next.

Additional Comments
Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow joined 43 other senators signing a letter to AIG CEO Edward Liddy, warning that Congress will pass a steep tax to get the bonuses back if the executives refuse to forgo them.
U.S. Rep. Gary Peters, D-Mich., was one of several members of Congress to introduce legislation seeking a stiff tax on bonuses paid at companies receiving government aid.

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-Livonia, said Tuesday he would cosponsor a bill to force Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to provide all information regarding AIG’s use of federal bailout money to Congress.

U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., proposed a 95% tax on bonuses paid to any company receiving money from the federal bailout money for the financial industry. Such a bill could affect Dingell’s household, since his wife, Deborah Dingell, works for General Motors Corp., whose $13.4-billion loan was drawn from that fund.

Face Forward Comment:
Do you remember when Rahm Israel Emanuel said, “Don’t let a crisis go to waste”.  The Democrats have certainly seemed to learned this lesson well.  It has become number one in their playbook. Here is how it is going to work this time.

Act like they didn’t know bonuses were to be paid to the AIG top (profit making) managers
Scream and yell about the American people were betrayed and that we need to do something
Play to the fears and sympathy of the people that have been laid off and the working class that are never eligible for bonuses (class envy)
Tell everyone we are going to get it back whatever it takes
Pass retro laws that will allow our government to prosecute individuals for acts that were  legal in the past (*Ex post facto law)
Stir all of the American people up over the bonuses that are being paid the AIG managers.  The American people will follow like sheep and their public outrage will be heard.
Pass tax laws that will return the large bonuses (70%-100)

 This should scare every tax paying person in the US.  If they can pass the law for bonus recovery for AIG do you not think they can use the same law to seize the profits from a large sell of assets (your home) how about inheritances?  Be aware people! The curtain of American freedom is coming down and it is not moving slowly any more,

**In the United States, the federal government is prohibited from passing ex post facto laws by Article I, section 9 of the U.S. Constitution and the states are prohibited from the same by clause 1 of section 10. This is one of the very few restrictions that the United States Constitution made to both the power of the federal and state governments prior to amendment. Over the years, when deciding ex post facto cases, the United States Supreme Court has referred repeatedly to its ruling in the Calder v. Bull case of 1798, in which Justice Chase established four categories of unconstitutional ex post facto laws. The case dealt with Article I, section 10, since it dealt with a Connecticut state law.

From Fox News
A new “apology” Web site pokes fun at radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh and Republican leaders.  The site is set up as an apology letter to Limbaugh. It begins with the phrase, “I’m sorry that I called you,” then provides different endings such as “an opportunistic brick thrower” or “an idiot.”

At the end of the letter, there is an option to sign it on behalf of Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Georgia; South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford; or Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. And there is a text box to put in comments as a postscript.

Democrats have sought to portray Limbaugh as the leader of the Republican Party and stepped up their attacks against him after Limbaugh said he hopes President Barack Obama “fails” at a gathering of conservative political activists last weekend.

Steele was forced to apologize to Limbaugh after he referred to the radio host as an “entertainer” whose show can be “incendiary” when he was asked about Limbaugh’s remarks.

Limbaugh seems to be amused by the whole thing. A banner headline across the top of his Web site earlier in the day read: “Hilarious: Democrat Party Launches Yet Another Anti-Rush Website.”

Face Forward Comments:
Who says Rush can’t take a joke.  While I don’t agree with him many times and I certainly hate his ego driven rants, he is right that the conservatives need to stand up and be counted.  The problem is I am not sure the Republican party is the party that can do it. 
We need a real, strong, and dynamic party that is not afraid to say what the majority of America thinks.  The problem is that by the time the Dems and Reps (not to mention the media) get through ripping on the young upstart parties everyone is afraid to be associated with them. 
I still stay if there is a real leader that espouses true American Conservative Values there is a chance that a new party can emerge.  However until that happens we will be forced to the kind of smoke and mirrors going on between the the parties now.