Political Blog War!* B Diddy vs Agent Zero
Blogging, NBA, Politics September 2nd. 2008, 10:30am
Stet Sports Blog brings our attention to the political thoughts of two of our favorite ballers - Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas.
It all started on Gilbert Arenas’ blog:
It’s hard for me to vote, because since I’ve been in the NBA I’ve been in the upper class so I’ve been a Republican. If you have any type of money, you’re a Republican, period. So, it’s hard because you see a better looking president in Obama - I don’t even want to say because he’s black, but he just looks the part - and then you have McCain who is Republican and I’m like, man. I know Obama is going to raise taxes on the upper class from 20-60 percent, that’s what I’m looking at. To be honest, I stopped paying attention a long time ago when it was Bush and Gore when Gore won the popular vote, but Bush was the president.
Gilbert Arenas and I have absolutely nothing in common. (Oh yeah - I think Gilbert forgot the “/electoral college burn”)
Now, a quick look at Baron Davis’ political views. From his blog:
His ideas about recharging our education system by investing in early education and raising teacher’s salaries were seriously inspiring. It’s what I try to provide with my non-profit, TeamPlay, teaching kids leadership skills that show them the right way out of the cycle of poverty and violence. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the teachers and mentors who showed me positive definition of success. And Barak is planning to do it across the whole country. INCREDIBLE
Baron Davis and I also have nothing in common. My non-profit isn’t anything like his. Anyway, here’s his response to Hibachi’s post:
(I know he said he’s gonna raise the taxes on the top income bracket, Gil, but if he uses that money to improve our schools then you won’t have to worry about some kids trying to sell pictures of your pool online cause they couldn’t get a better job.) LOL
He’s got a good poi… oops! I almost had an opinion regarding politics on a sports blog.
OK, discuss.
*Not actually a blog war yet.
65 Responses to “Political Blog War!* B Diddy vs Agent Zero”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:33 am
Bill Gates and Warren Buffet think Gilbert’s views on money are childish.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:35 am
20-60% increase in the top tax rate? Unless I’m drinking the MSNBC kool-aid, I have never heard anything like that.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
Tennessee sucks.
/UGA fan
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:38 am
I’ve never understood why all of Hollywood was liberal when it would benefit them more to be Republican.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
I’ve never understood why all of Hollywood was liberal when it would benefit them more to be Republican.
here we.
/staying out of this one.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:44 am
Wow.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Baron Davis has terrible handwriting.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
“I’ve never understood why all of Hollywood was liberal when it would benefit them more to be Republican.”
Because Republicans vote based on what benefits them, as Democrats vote based on what is best for society. It’s where the whole “bleeding heart” thing comes from.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:48 am
Oh boy Democrats are so unselfish, why can’t we all be like them.
/sincere
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Also from Gil’s blog:
Spoken like a true patriot.
No shit.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:50 am
/fixed
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
interesting point davis brings up re taxes…would you be upset if taxes went up if they were directly related to things like fixing schools across the country or infrastructure improvements?
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
cbh: in your first comment you implied that Hollywood should be more selfish in their party affiliation because it benefits them financially (expressing shock that more rich people in Hollywood aren’t Republicans). Then you lash out when someone suggests that it might be out of concern for others and mock the idea that Dems are less selfish (when you implied that in your previous comment). Perhaps you should give more thought to this subject.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
Guess there is one other explanation. Either Hollywood cares about others, or are pretending to care about others to get a good rep(more likely).
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
That is actually an accurate statement if you take away “everybody” and precede it with “most”
also, the reason YOUR individual vote doesn’t mean anything is because over the history of our nation no presidential vote has ever come down to one vote, so no YOUR vote doesn’t mean anything at all, but collectively it is obviously worth something. But if you don’t vote, it is true that it doesn’t mean anything.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Hef, I don’t find it selfish to work hard and then benefit from working hard, or to make money by doing things that allow you to make money. I find it selfish to not work hard or not be successful and then expect handouts from successful people.
I am by no means rich.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Just think of what a country this would be if it hinged on Gilbert Arenas’ vote.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
if Hollywood really cared about what was best for society, they would stop making movies like Fast and Furious, The Hottie and the Nottie and anything with Dane Cook.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
Ahh, so if you work hard enough, you make enough money. Period. Had no idea it was that easy. Lazy liberals!
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:56 am
And Barak is planning to do it across the whole country.
One name you would probably want to take 15 secs to learn how to spell would be the candidate you are supporting.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
Cracker, of course it’s not that cut and dry. It is also not cut and dry that Republicans are heartless individuals, while Democrats are trying to save the world.
September 2nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
I guess I found where we disagree politically. I don’t work hard. Don’t have a job and rely on the government to pay my bills for me. I resent people who work everyday and think they’re rubbing my face in it when they pay their taxes.
/sincere
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
@ill
Maybe he thought he was supporting this guy.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Hef, I am generalizing, but it is ridiculous to me that the rich are treated like they should be punished or that they have done something wrong because they have obtained wealth.
People that have done well for themselves don’t deserve scorn and ridicule in my opinion.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
It annoys me even more when wealthy politicians like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama try to act like they can empathize with the middle class.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:03 am
@cbh
Then we should tax the living shit out of any money willed to someone? I actually like that idea. If you made your own money you can be rich, if you inherited your wealth you have to give most of it back.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 am
It annoys me even more when wealthy politicians like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama try to act like they can empathize with the middle class.
Then why does the right eat it up when Reagan (head of the screen actor’s guild at one point) and GW (born with a platinum spoon in his mouth) do it?
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 am
Republicans - want fewer taxes and less federal government in my life.
Democrats - want social programs to help those in the worst situations.
I can agree with both of those ideals. It’s the “I gotta win” jerkoff race that turns me off.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
They often get a pass because they’re willing to increase the portion of their salary (read: taxes) that they give to help society as a whole. Isn’t that the point of government? To do for the individual what he cannot do for himself (roads, libraries, fire department, schools….). Those that have benefited the most from this great society should be the most willing to pay taxes, not the least.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:05 am
flat tax…do it.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:06 am
Also, cbh, Obama isn’t wealthy (neither is Biden as I linked last week) and especially not by John McCain standards:
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Mike and Groin have disappeared and I certainly don’t want to be the conservative torch bearer on this site. I lean right on most things but am left on others so I will stop while I can before I gain a reputation.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
@Mags - that’s the first person that came to my mind when reading that sentence.
Side note - Baraka had some nice brutality finishing moves.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
You are guaranteed equal opportunity, Hef. Not equal result.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
baraka was the 2nd best mortal kombat character of all time…HUGE damage. robot smoke was the best.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
I just dont think that “Republicans” will ever get the fact that our education system is FUUUUUUUCKED and that it is still mostly segregated although not by law… more so by property taxes and zones. I would love to think we could fix it on our own (or with the help form the government) but something needs to change so that the poor won’t be stuck in the never ending downward spiral where they start the race of life 20 yards behind the kid in the house on the hill with the nice white fence. I don’t know why people think that poor people love being poor and love taking handouts. It doesn’t work like that.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:14 am
I do agree that not everyone starts with an equal chance, especially when it comes to education.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
I see now where we disagree, Hef. I will step on people to get myself to the top. I will do whatever I have to so I can make piles of cash. I go out of my way to not help others unless it benefits me financially.
/see what I did there?
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
i heard baraka is operating as a dentist somewhere in kansas.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
Mike, when did I imply otherwise?
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
That is pretty weak. Who is saying that gov’t programs like SCHIP, welfare and Medicaid are meant to put people at that same level as the upper class?
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:26 am
I was referring to this. There are very few cases where the individual can literally not “do something” for himself, in terms of making a living. Maybe that living is making 40 grand a year, like some of us on this board. Maybe it’s 25, maybe it’s 150. Which is fine. But it’s not the government’s job to to make up that difference. It’s yours and mine.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
@ August: John doesn’t have all of the money, his wife does. They keep their money separate (for the sake of his political career of course)
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Last I checked everyone has the same opportunity to make it - whether making it for them is wealth and security or if making it to them is cashing a paycheck. Remember when dad always said: “The world needs ditchdiggers too. You make that choice.”
I cannot subscribe to the theory that kids can not make it out because it is done too often. All the money Obama needs to “fix” America will come at the expense of small and medium business, wealthier Americans, and higher taxes. Enjoy those apples. Done with the politics. Watch out for Jay Cutler to go big this year.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Mike: you’re ascribing monetary value to that statement? Did you read the paranthetical statement that followed it? Here’s the whole quote, not the snipped portion:
See what I did there? I clarified what I was talking about to avoid a misunderstanding. I can’t run my own fire department or hospital but it benefits society as a whole if everyone chips in. Do you disagree with this statement?
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:30 am
Ugh, that was vague. Meaning: doing it yourself.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:31 am
See, the problem I have with the “tax the rich” idea is that the people in that bracket are not necessarily rich at all. Most of them are small business owners who have to put their business’ income on their personal tax filings. And those business owners provide jobs.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
Of course not. But you’re equating running a fire department with an individual making his own living, which is absurd.
You can’t run your own fire department but you can sure as hell go from nothing to Harvard law to Democratic presidential nominee if you set your mind to it and work your ass off.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:37 am
What the hell are you talking about? You think I’m opposed to people working and making a wage? You think I’m opposed to hard work? You think Dems want everyone on food stamps? I don’t understand what you’re arguing.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
You know, the other day I was thinking “they haven’t done a political post on TBL in a while.” I’m sure this will keep McIntire or CRM from treading in these waters again. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Hef this angry before.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:44 am
I guess I’m confused by this comment.
If everyone is able to work and is afforded the same opportunity to earn any amount of money, then why would you possibly consider it “fair” to punish those who have actually succeeded in doing so?
I thought you were saying that some people aren’t “able” to earn a lot of money, so that it’s other people’s responsibility to even things out, along the same lines that not everyone is able to run a fire department, so everyone should “chip in.” But I guess not. Sorry for the confusion. The paragraph above still stands, though.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:48 am
I’ve heard this a lot, and as someone who’s studied school funding, all I can say is that odds are, you wouldn’t want your kids attending a failing school district. I know that comes off sounding patronizing, but the cards are so stacked against a kid from day one that there’s a reason the majority of them make minimum wage for the next 10+ years of their lives. And it’s obviously not just a school thing, administrators and teachers work their ass off, but their behind the eight ball. The attendance at parent/teacher conferences is worse than a Marlins game.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 am
Mike, I object to your characterization of paying taxes as “punishment.” Is that how you really feel? Would their ever be a situation where you conclude that you’re tax responsibility would be “just right?” Seems to me people will always say their tax load is too much.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:51 am
My thing is this. Taxes should be proportional to the wealth you have made for yourself. The rich shouldn’t get a break because the actual amount they pay is so much more. If I lost 100,000 I would be through. If Bill Gates lost 100,000 he wouldn’t even care because it isn’t proportional to the size of his wealth. Taxes should affect everyone equally and breaks because of amount paid is stupid.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:57 am
Well, I don’t want to put words in Maggs’ mouth, but I think his situation sounds fair. You pay not an equal amount, but an equal percentage.
Right now that is not the case. At all. How is that fair?
/and yes, I’m not even close to wealthy.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Paying taxes is not punishment. Paying 25% more than other people based simply on the fact that you are more financially successful? Yes, that is punishment.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
More importantly, the final season of the Shield debuts tonight.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Work is busier now and I don’t really have time to comment anymore. I’ve also realized how pointless it is to argue politics with people who I’ll never meet in real life.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Mike, I’m not an economics person (as is evidenced by my $60,000 of college debet to go into a field that starts at $20,000 a year..), but is your scenario solvant for our country’s current setup? Meaning, if a flat tax was instituted, it would seem to me that there’s a whole bunch o’ money that our government would be down from the get-go. Unless you’re talking trickle-down economics.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
In Milton Friedman’s Capitalism and Freedom he gave evidence that in fact a flat tax would provide just as much tax revenue as the current graduated scale system.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Mike - would you object to a flat tax w/ all loopholes removed? I think that is a fair complaint - that the very rich (top 1%) have enough “outs” in the current tax system that reduces their tax burden substantially.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
@groin . it doesn’t do any good to argue politics with people you meet in real life either. i really don’t think there are that many undecided voters. voter turnout is the key.
September 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
i really don’t think there are that many undecided voters.
That may be true but the media sure loves to find them and spread their stupidity across the airwaves.
September 2nd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
saprissa-I think that a flat tax with all the loopholes closed is a perfect way to go, and the only problem there would be where to set the percentage at. Is 10% enough? Or is it 20-25%? If it gets any higher than 20%, I don’t think it would work.
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Only morons are liberal.
High taxes, less security and defense and more gov’t spending and programs.
Sounds like a winning platform!