ANOTHER LEFTIST FAIRTAX HATCHET JOB

Look, I'm on vacation far, far away from home base. Maybe I shouldn't have brought a computer with me, but I did, and I read Jay Bookman's inane column in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and I just had to respond ... though briefly.

I suppose we deserve this. I spend no small amount of time on my show talking about the circulation slide of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It's a left wing newspaper ... and getting more so every day. They write articles about how much Jane Fonda is "loved" and have established themselves as the go-to newspaper when when you want the latest news about your favorite rapper or hip hop "star."

The one word that comes to mind after reading Bookman's screed is "childish." I can just picture him laying on his back on his office floor flailing his arms and legs and crying in frustration as he dictates this column. He refers to FairTax supporters as a "cult." Were Bookman alive in 1776 he most certainly would have used that same word to define those who were fighting for independence from Great Britain. Then, of course, he pulls out that tired old "30 percent" nonsense. Once you hear that 30 percent line from a FairTax opponent you know that you're not dealing with a serious critic who knows what he's talking about.

Let me just highlight one section of Bookman's column to illustrate the fact that he has not done his homework; or worse, he has just chosen the path of journalistic dishonesty:

"The proposed 30 percent sales tax, for example, wouldn't come close to being revenue neutral. A tax commission convened by the Bush administration found that eliminating just the federal income tax - leaving all other federal taxes intact - would require a sales tax of at least 34 percent, a finding backed by other economists.

To a cult, of course, the scorn of nonbelievers is transformed into proof that their cause is righteous; likewise, outside criticism is typically dismissed as the work of conspiracy. In this case, the FairTax cultists dismiss the findings of the Bush tax panel on grounds that it was stacked with liberals."

What Bookman either doesn't realize, or doesn't want you to know, is that the president's tax reform commission was not permitted to consider the FairTax as it was written. They first were compelled by their own rules to rewrite H.R. 25, and then they considered the idea as reformulated by them! This is covered extensively in "FairTax, The Truth" which will hit the bookstores in about six or seven weeks.

What really bothers Bookman ... besides me, that is? My guess is that he knows that the FairTax would, as we have said, be the most massive transfer of power from the government to the people since our Republic was founded. No liberal worth their Depends is going to allow that to happen without a fight.

HERMAN CAIN IN FOR BOORTZ

Today you'll hear Herman Cain on The Neal Boortz Show...your favorite fill-in host for Neal! Also, coming soon, catch Herman's regular show weeknights at 7pm beginning January 2 on News/Talk 750 WSB. Want to see Herman Cain in action? Check out this video of him at the FairTax rally in May of 2006. Wow!

READING ASSIGNMENTS

Mike Huckabee is virtually tied in national polls with Rudy Giuliani.

Time Magazine picked Russia's Vladimir Putin as Person of the Year for 2007.  His runner-up was, not surprisingly, OwlGore.

Global warming?  Yeah right Al.  Take a look at these record low temperatures being set throughout the world this year.

The Motion Picture Association of America rejected a poster for a documentary on terrorism, showing soldiers walking away with a hooded detainee.  They are afraid that the children will see it.

A French court convicted five former inmates of Guantanamo Bay of having links to terrorist groups.

The White House had the New York Times issue an official correction to the headline's deck on a story about the destruction of the CIA "torture tapes."

British Airways has suspended a flight attendant for eating a muffin that was discarded on a passenger's meal tray.  The airline is treating it as a theft.

Aw isn't this sad?  Atheists are upset with the presidential candidates because they are "distressingly religious." 

A top Muslim cleric in Iran says that women in Iran who do not wear the hijab should die.

Two men in Sudan have been sentenced to six months in prison for promoting a book that is critical of one of Mohammad's wives.  They have been imprisoned for "harming Islam."

The name Mohammad is on the verge of surpassing the name Jack as Britain's most popular name for newborns.

A married couple in Great Britain was forced to allow a criminal to move into their home after he told the court that the couple's house was HIS home address.  The court says it is "looking into the situation" but it can't act without a court warrant.  The stupidity of government bureaucracy is amazing. 

Britain has a new way of handling illegal immigrants.  British families will give the government over $2,000 when relatives outside the EU come to visit.  When they leave, the money is refunded.

Trent Lott officially retired from Congress yesterday.  He won't be missed.

According to a gift basket company GiftBasketsDeluxe.com, more Americans prefer to send gift baskets wishing people "Happy Holidays" versus "Merry Christmas."

The government of Norway is implementing an affirmative action program for immigrants working in some state services.  They say the quotas will give "positive special treatment" for immigrant workers.

The taxpayers of Florida may soon be paying the salaries for mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs.

Scientists have found an active glacier on Mars.

An eco boat that runs on fuel made from human fat.

Ever wonder what the effect of country music is on suicide? Then check out the 10 most bizarre scientific papers.

Subject:Somebody's Gotta Say it
Name:Carl Campbell

Message:
Just wanted to say that your latest book is the best book I have read in a long time. I don't always agree with you, but have to really examine my position on things when our opinions differ after you lay out your reasoning. Thanks for making me stretch my brain, and keep up the good work.

By the way, I don't blame you for not wanting to run for president but this country needs someone who is not afraid to do what is best regardless of the offenses that it would cause so long is it made America better. You could be the shot in the arm that this country so desperately needs.

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