General Discussion

Ms. Toad

(38,637 posts)

133. I've read it (and the other similar articles) multiple times.

Sat Jan 24, 2015, 08:49 PM

Jan 2015

The anchor of the article - the only reason there is an article - is the "discovery" that her family was supposedly living off of taxpayer money, in contradiction to her claim that her family was living within their means.

But the data in the article doesn't contradict her story because it didn't come to her immediate family (for the most part), and didn't cover the time she was talking about. Pretending it does makes us look stupid.

If you are primarily making a broader point, you don't focus the headline and the bulk of the article on irrelevant data.

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LA TIMES: "Sen. Joni Ernst learned to 'live within her means' -- on the taxpayer's dime" [View all] kpete Jan 2015 OP

She learned to live within the taxpayers' means. merrily Jan 2015 #1

White Christian, Republican folks deserve a hand up. olegramps Jan 2015 #19

My question: Why do Democrats and Republicans both pass laws that indulge them? merrily Jan 2015 #24

i doubt you'll get an answer. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #44

As to my second question, I am not entirely sure there is an answer, merrily Jan 2015 #45

System is broken, and now with CU, completely broken NoJusticeNoPeace Jan 2015 #51

Somehow, the system doesn't seem quite as broken for job creators or Republicans as for merrily Jan 2015 #52

Intentional design flaw. The system is broken because it's been rigged. bluesbassman Jan 2015 #59

Intentional design flaw AND a bit of DC kabuki. merrily Jan 2015 #63

Oh Munificence Jan 2015 #69

Agreed. But maybe the policy is not US vs. them erronis Jan 2015 #99

I am not at all sure for a few reasons. merrily Jan 2015 #146

Interesting Munificence Jan 2015 #153

I think we are either on the same page or close to it. merrily Jan 2015 #154

Iowa caucus is first. AngryAmish Jan 2015 #122

I can only hope that it can be changed. I doubt I will be around however to see it. olegramps Jan 2015 #114

It's also a prime example of how legislators of both parties will sell us out. merrily Jan 2015 #145

It was the Republican controlled Supreme Court that sold us out. olegramps Jan 2015 #151

We were sold out long before Citizens' United. CU did make it worse but it was, by far, not the merrily Jan 2015 #152

LOL X 1,000! maddiemom Jan 2015 #74

lol so funny - many a truth said in jeste, as Shakespeare wrote. closeupready Jan 2015 #95

She also loved that 'SOCIALIST' Military Pay, just like Alan West did. TheBlackAdder Jan 2015 #66

Has she received socialized medicine at the VA or in a health insurance program for vets JDPriestly Jan 2015 #141

Not sure. I'm sure that she (possibly husdand) love their 50% pension, GI Bill, Housing, etc... TheBlackAdder Jan 2015 #149

K&R! marym625 Jan 2015 #2

right NewJeffCT Jan 2015 #4

The construction contracts are pretty bad though marym625 Jan 2015 #5

$420,000 worth of work for her family after she was county auditor. Botany Jan 2015 #13

Braley should've brought it up again and again and again. BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #18

"She's a grifter" marym625 Jan 2015 #21

Exactly! nt ladyVet Jan 2015 #17

But, her family really really really needed the help NewJeffCT Jan 2015 #3

That sums it up nicely. zeemike Jan 2015 #6

Bingo! marym625 Jan 2015 #8

This was "different." tblue Jan 2015 #10

Precisely. Octafish Jan 2015 #39

The less REAL need, the more they think you deserve... deurbano Jan 2015 #104

+1 uponit7771 Jan 2015 #132

Senator Earnest Grifter kairos12 Jan 2015 #7

She and her husband will probably receive a military pension (which they earned) Frustratedlady Jan 2015 #9

For senators one term, representatives three jmowreader Jan 2015 #115

Another lying, hateful, republican hypocrite tabasco Jan 2015 #11

This message was self-deleted by its author dangin Jan 2015 #12

20B/300M lancer78 Jan 2015 #26

I think Munificence Jan 2015 #121

Farms, corporations, oil companies Iliyah Jan 2015 #14

The question is, why didn't her Democratic opponent bring this up? It's not a secret BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #15

Because this data says nothing about her, personally Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #20

She campaigned on castrating hogs as a girl. That happened FAR earlier. And those contracts, BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #23

You're talking about completely different stuff. Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #28

It goes to credibility as an anti-Big-gubmint Republican. It was Braley's due diligence to make it BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #33

+100. and you can pretty well bet braley's team DID know about it. which makes you wonder ND-Dem Jan 2015 #77

The picture being painted for me is one that shows that the Democratic Party nor Braley BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #79

indeed. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #82

Do we know that they didn't bring it up? George II Jan 2015 #103

good question. i haven't see any evidence they did, though i haven't looked too hard. mainly ND-Dem Jan 2015 #107

I fail to see why you keep naming and blaming her democratic opponent. PotatoChip Jan 2015 #78

Well, maybe you should reread my posts on this thread. It'll bring things in context for you. BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #80

He is now a private citizen, PotatoChip Jan 2015 #83

I don't care. I broke NO ToS rules. That said, his lackluster desire for Harkin's seat will hurt ALL BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #86

Yeah, I'm sure Braley really wanted to lose. PotatoChip Jan 2015 #91

That what it looks like, yes. This should've been an easy win for him had he pointed out the BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #93

+100. "We just need to move on and forget the past" is the battle-cry of Third Way apologists ND-Dem Jan 2015 #84

Are you implying that I am a Third Way apologist? PotatoChip Jan 2015 #85

To paraphrase, those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #88

Don't tell me; I agree. Tell the folks who seem to think it's not fair to talk about it or ND-Dem Jan 2015 #92

Does this guy sound like a Third Way D to you? PotatoChip Jan 2015 #94

I judge politicians by their actions. Not ratings from think tanks that can be skewed to get ND-Dem Jan 2015 #96

What actions of his make you think that he is a Third Way Dem? PotatoChip Jan 2015 #100

I'll jump in here and say that Braley did not put in much effort... Frustratedlady Jan 2015 #120

Thank you for an informed analysis. PotatoChip Jan 2015 #148

Seems to me like a guy who votes with his caucus. merrily Jan 2015 #147

I've read your other posts. I know you agree. :-) BlueCaliDem Jan 2015 #105

How does her family benefiting from this marym625 Jan 2015 #25

Because she didn't benefit from it Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #54

Yeah, I'm done marym625 Jan 2015 #58

Read the article - or even just the title Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #110

I don't like coming back after I say I'm done marym625 Jan 2015 #150

she benefited from it. when close relatives who live near one get big money, one benefits from it. ND-Dem Jan 2015 #81

Then go after the real data. Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #108

I don't think anyone claimed it proved her family was living off the taxpayer. I think the claim ND-Dem Jan 2015 #135

So if your uncle wins the lottery 5 years from now, Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #137

her first job out of college was a government job, and coinicentally thats when her fathers ND-Dem Jan 2015 #47

And what does that have do do Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #56

It proves that whatever happened in her childhood, it didn't stop her from working in ND-Dem Jan 2015 #61

Again - misleading headline Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #16

I get your points SHRED Jan 2015 #22

That would be a more relevant question. Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #29

The bigger issue that she neglects to advocate for cutting government subsidies to farmers BumRushDaShow Jan 2015 #27

I'm not saying there aren't issues there - Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #31

Yes, I saw the snopes on this BumRushDaShow Jan 2015 #67

I haven't looked at snopes - Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #109

I still think you miss the forest for the trees BumRushDaShow Jan 2015 #125

My responses have been entirely to the claim in the OP's article Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #128

You need to re-read the column BumRushDaShow Jan 2015 #131

I've read it (and the other similar articles) multiple times. Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #133

We are going to have to agree to disagree BumRushDaShow Jan 2015 #134

Actually, it's a little more than that marym625 Jan 2015 #30

$2785 is the average over the period of time cited. Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #32

Obviously, we disagree. marym625 Jan 2015 #38

I'm not calling you stupid for calling out her hypocrisy. Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #46

The fact she calls out people for needing and accepting welfare marym625 Jan 2015 #53

Farm programs are misleading og1 Jan 2015 #36

thank you for handmade34 Jan 2015 #68

As consumers Munificence Jan 2015 #97

thanks, I was gonna say the same thing hfojvt Jan 2015 #37

The data starts in the database they are using in 1995. Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #40

The point is that she publicly is against "big government" and people relying on government... George II Jan 2015 #48

But this data doesn't prove it. Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #55

Her family didn't get any farm subsidies? She's not against "big government" supporting people? George II Jan 2015 #72

I suspect they did - Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #112

I understand what you're saying and I agree with it. Demit Jan 2015 #75

My point, exactly. n/t Ms. Toad Jan 2015 #113

Seriously? Munificence Jan 2015 #117

I checked a few sources - they did use bread bags with their shoes in that area... George II Jan 2015 #124

Um Munificence Jan 2015 #129

Epitomizes typical twisted right wing thinking. They crow that they should not pay taxes because GoneFishin Jan 2015 #34

HER FAMILY MEMBERS COLLECTED $463,000 IN FEDERAL FARM SUBSIDIES FROM 1995 THROUGH 2009. malaise Jan 2015 #35

The swine. Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #42

ROFL malaise Jan 2015 #101

When this gets out I'm sure she's going to squeal! George II Jan 2015 #50

DUzy malaise Jan 2015 #102

These people are the ones with the "sense of entitlement". Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2015 #41

Proud to be rec #50!!! Coventina Jan 2015 #43

Now we're at a point where the government will give away everything. AlbertCat Jan 2015 #49

Damn, the price of bread bags must really be high, maybe i need to collect my bread bags Thinkingabout Jan 2015 #57

Bread bags stuffed with gov't ca$h Zambero Jan 2015 #62

Who's squealing now? Zambero Jan 2015 #60

Well, her family is white. Obviously deserving! n/t Adrahil Jan 2015 #64

Turns out she didn't know which side her bread was buttered on Blue Owl Jan 2015 #65

I understand the confusion here. It's okay for her to do it, and that's all. chrisa Jan 2015 #70

They really messed up when Duval Jan 2015 #71

I keep thinking of this song from "finian's rainbow"-- "when the idle poor become the idle rich" niyad Jan 2015 #73

They pulled their bootstraps, but they don't tell you how they got the boots BeyondGeography Jan 2015 #76

Image of family/church/community banding together to lift up poor, w/out govt help = Pure Fantasy Beartracks Jan 2015 #87

No wonder she wouldn't talk to the media during the campaign. moondust Jan 2015 #89

AND ben carson! elleng Jan 2015 #90

And how much did she get from filing a mortgage interest deduction??? closeupready Jan 2015 #98

no publikkkklan is an island. pansypoo53219 Jan 2015 #106

Just because they're farmers doesn't mean they're not grifters. DinahMoeHum Jan 2015 #111

Typical lying Repuke. lark Jan 2015 #116

One thing that is not pure fantasy is the Orphan & Widows Fund through Fraternal Organizations Hestia Jan 2015 #118

The Dem machine in Iowa should have...... wolfie001 Jan 2015 #119

Joni Bloney Phoney is just another sociopathic republiCon.. bleating lies and spewing bread sacks Cha Jan 2015 #123

ITT AngryAmish Jan 2015 #126

She has probably gotten some herself Jim Beard Jan 2015 #127

The whole breadbag story just sounded like bullshit to me LynneSin Jan 2015 #130

Feeding at the trough: for me, but not for thee! blkmusclmachine Jan 2015 #136

Why tooeyeten Jan 2015 #138

On the other hand, farm subsidies are a wonderful program that keep farmers on their farms JDPriestly Jan 2015 #139

No offense - but this has already been posted and commented on. nt Laura PourMeADrink Jan 2015 #140

She's a classic Kochette! Hubert Flottz Jan 2015 #142

"Hey, Joni! put them breadbags on yer feet again. That gubmint man is comin' today, and Zorra Jan 2015 #143

I could easily learn to live within her means, too. nt silvershadow Jan 2015 #144