nice detective work there, Lou.

the debate was supposed to be on domestic policy. it was.

tethead: the debate was supposed to be on domestic policy. it was.

I think we're done here. On with the boobie pictures!

I met Joe. He's a real doucher.

Did they also discuss the crack epidemic?

Fark Joe. He's not even registered to vote. He probably got a McCain campaign mailer telling him that Obama was going to raise his taxes and fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

Meh. There seems to be a meme at play that if you have a "salt of the earth" type "regular good ol' boy" sort of trade occupation, then you by definition are non-elitist, firmly middle class, need a break, etc.

Well, if you earn $250K, yeah, you're well off. I don't care what you do for a living, that's a far sight more than most people earn (and certainly not average for plumbers around here). Median income in the country is nowhere near $250K.

Not that there's anything WRONG earning a lot, mind, but this intentional conflating of the different shades of class difference and the "elitist" thing is just annoying. Identity politics FTW!

Actually, plumbers that own the business probably make $250K (or close to it) around here. It's one of the reasons I was hoping one of my boys would go into one of "the trades" (plumbing, electrical, heating.) That, and when your toilet quits working you don't want to wait for the plane from Mumbai...

No such luck. Physics and Theater Design and Production.

sigh.

2%

Joe is among the 2% of small businesses that manage to make $250,000.

Joe, congrats. You've made it to the top TWO PERCENT of small businessess. STFU already.

My wife and I made $8,000 last year. We're on track to make around $22,000 this year, thank goddess, but we're still damn near broke.

Screw you "poor" people making more than $250,000 per year. Screw you. If I ever make that much, I will, of course, wish I had to pay less tax - always. But I will gladly pay it, remembering what it was like to live on $8,000 and $22,000 per year.

Neither one of them has a full plan to pay for their tax cuts -- but if you disregard that (since it's a problem on BOTH sides), Obama's plan will bring tax CUTS to 95%, no change to 4%, and an increase to only ONE SINGLE PERCENT. So SCREW anyone who is griping about increases. If you're griping, you're well enough to STFU. If you're seeing an increase under his plan, it's because you've seen MASSIVE decreases in the past decades. So STFU.

Rich people will continue to be rich.

Let me say it again: If you're rich enough to have that tax increase, you will continue to be rich. Period. End of story. You will continue to be far richer than the rest of us.

So STFU.

Joe's having a press conference right now. Seems like a grade A asshole to me.

Diogenes: Joe's having a press conference right now. Seems like a grade A asshole to me.

How dare he build a successful business dealing with people's shiat and then he has to put up with the media's and politicians' shiat.

Plumbers are a necessary evil. They are not something to base a nation's economic plans around.

What about Zeke the plumber?

El Dudereno: What about Zeke the plumber?

Or Mario and Luigi?

I_C_Weener: Diogenes: Joe's having a press conference right now. Seems like a grade A asshole to me.

How dare he build a successful business dealing with people's shiat and then he has to put up with the media's and politicians' shiat.

Hey, I'm entitled to my own impressions. It has nothing to do with politics - he strikes me as a jerk and someone I probably wouldn't associate with.

friendinpa: Did they also discuss the crack epidemic?



I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought about this...

Job six pack.

Joe and his taxes were mentioned more often than Iraq in an economics debate. Shocking.

So the bar on the right doesn't move at all? I declare cheesedickery!

Clintoned in the boobies. Nice.

Joe the Plumber is the new Sarah Palin of the Fark politics tab.

mjsee: No such luck. Physics and Theater Design and Production.

On the plus side, if you ever need someone to emote at you or identify the Higgs Boson, you're golden.

And yet not one mention of how hot Palin's p*ssy is...

Biden's a plumber?

Palin/The Plumber in '12!

Wight Power: Joe the Plumber is the new Sarah Palin of the Fark politics tab.

I think you're thinking of Joe Le Taxi.

They just found out that Joe's a registered Republican. Big surprise there.

I just wanted to say I like that the Farkometer's acronym makes me think of "Pain In The Ass," how I think of all political threads.

/It STINKS

Diogenes: I_C_Weener: Diogenes: Joe's having a press conference right now. Seems like a grade A asshole to me.

How dare he build a successful business dealing with people's shiat and then he has to put up with the media's and politicians' shiat.

Hey, I'm entitled to my own impressions. It has nothing to do with politics - he strikes me as a jerk and someone I probably wouldn't associate with.

Well, it would connect you to Charles Keating, so I don't blame you.

itazurakko:
Well, if you earn $250K, yeah, you're well off. I don't care what you do for a living, that's a far sight more than most people earn (and certainly not average for plumbers around here). Median income in the country is nowhere near $250K.

Yeah, I have an M.Sc. and a pretty "good" science job, but if I was willing to put my hand down some sick old guy's clogged toilet at 3 am, for $90/hour, I'd make a hell of a lot more money than I do now. I think my brother made the right choice going to electrician school instead of doing grad work.

Now, here's the "Jo the plumber" I could get behind.

The major pressing concern for the nation right now is the economy. Iraq is nothing more than a nuisance in the side of peace activists (who actually care) and political hacks (who only care because their side didn't start the war). Regardless, we'll be there en masse over the next 4 years, no matter who gets elected. The status of forces agreement is almost ready to go and it sounds like we'll have a commitment through 2011 no matter what.

The company Joe wants to buy..the one he works at now,only makes 100k a year. Obama would lower your taxes Joe even if you bought the business. And really what does it take to start a new plumbing business? tools,a truck and an office. Here's an idea Joe. Go buy a truck. put your tools in it,get a desk,computer,phone and steal your present company's client list :)

who makes close to 250K a year yet still works "10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week", anyway? this guy is bullshiat.

Prophet Margin: They just found out that Joe's a registered Republican. Big surprise there.

Psst! _{Only Republicans don't like taxes.} Pass it on.

WRT to our new, beloved Political Inclination Thermometric Analyzer, as well as political coverage:

When the hell did we decide that the right side of the political spectrum should be red? I thought commies were red. WTF?

The Toledo Ohio branch of the plumbers and pipe fitters union says that Joe the Plumber is not even a licensed plumber in the city of Toledo or in the state of Ohio.


and the plot thickens

on a tangent: had the "joe six-pack" moniker existed prior to Palin? I don't believe I had heard it before this fall, but this morning my local news anchor said it during a story not related to Palin.

/really doesn't like joe six-pack
//stupid name

tethead: nice detective work there, Lou.

the debate was supposed to be on domestic policy. it was.


I might be mistaken here but doesn't Iraq affect domestic policies?

I feel bad for guys that are plumbers and their names happen to be Joe. They must be getting shiat on today from their coworkers.

Lets face it, the economic crisis has left Iraq discussions on the back burner, and as far as Obama goes its fantastic for him. We do need to focus inwardly a bit for the next 10 years, however it is incredibly important to at least maintain a global presence. We have to make sure the world knows were still watching, because once people realize we dont have the ability to police the world anymore, It could very well turn into a international security crisis. Whether you like america as the "world police" or not, it served as a great stabilizing factor. And without it, given the global security situation at present, things could very easily get out of hand.

So let me see if I understand the current talking points about Joe:
He is not registered to vote?
He wants to "buy" a business that earn between $250K-$280K?

So he can get a loan for the business. 5-8 times the yearly gross profit is the typical purchase price of a small business, so well over a million. And if I understand the tax plan, then he will pay 3% more on 30K so about what $820 difference in taxes?
If I am wrong, please fell free...

John Mccain wants to tax your liver transplant.

Joeplumberscrack

Joe has had his head in a toilet for far too long.

daychilde: 2%

Joe is among the 2% of small businesses that manage to make $250,000.

Joe, congrats. You've made it to the top TWO PERCENT of small businessess. STFU already.

My wife and I made $8,000 last year. We're on track to make around $22,000 this year, thank goddess, but we're still damn near broke.

Screw you "poor" people making more than $250,000 per year. Screw you. If I ever make that much, I will, of course, wish I had to pay less tax - always. But I will gladly pay it, remembering what it was like to live on $8,000 and $22,000 per year.

Neither one of them has a full plan to pay for their tax cuts -- but if you disregard that (since it's a problem on BOTH sides), Obama's plan will bring tax CUTS to 95%, no change to 4%, and an increase to only ONE SINGLE PERCENT. So SCREW anyone who is griping about increases. If you're griping, you're well enough to STFU. If you're seeing an increase under his plan, it's because you've seen MASSIVE decreases in the past decades. So STFU.

Rich people will continue to be rich.

Let me say it again: If you're rich enough to have that tax increase, you will continue to be rich. Period. End of story. You will continue to be far richer than the rest of us.

So STFU.

THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!!!

/THIS!

Is he even a plumber? He's not here:
http://elicense1-lookup.com.ohio.gov/SearchCriteria.asp

The only licensed plumber with the last name "Wurzelbacher" in Ohio is a Lawrence with an expired license.

According to government records, there isn't a licensed plumber with the name Wurzelbacher in the entire state of Ohio.

The guy's also anything but "undecided"; he's a Republican all the way. Which is fine; just don't pretend to be the undecided voter you're not:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/Joes_registration.html

And he's also an idiot. $250k income from a small business is after you deduct your expenses you idiot. If your small business profits more than $250k you've got nothing to complain about.

daychilde: 2%

Joe is among the 2% of small businesses that manage to make $250,000.

Joe, congrats. You've made it to the top TWO PERCENT of small businessess. STFU already.

My wife and I made $8,000 last year. We're on track to make around $22,000 this year, thank goddess, but we're still damn near broke.

Screw you "poor" people making more than $250,000 per year. Screw you. If I ever make that much, I will, of course, wish I had to pay less tax - always. But I will gladly pay it, remembering what it was like to live on $8,000 and $22,000 per year.

Neither one of them has a full plan to pay for their tax cuts -- but if you disregard that (since it's a problem on BOTH sides), Obama's plan will bring tax CUTS to 95%, no change to 4%, and an increase to only ONE SINGLE PERCENT. So SCREW anyone who is griping about increases. If you're griping, you're well enough to STFU. If you're seeing an increase under his plan, it's because you've seen MASSIVE decreases in the past decades. So STFU.

Rich people will continue to be rich.

Let me say it again: If you're rich enough to have that tax increase, you will continue to be rich. Period. End of story. You will continue to be far richer than the rest of us.

So STFU.

Maybe your business plan is flawed. I'm pretty sure you would have a diffrent attitude if you were actually sucessful. Try working for someone who knows what they are doing instead.

/Open the door
//Get on the floor

bearded clamorer: Now, here's the "Jo the plumber" I could get behind.

[kohler ad]

Real website address, by the way.