The Specter Effect

I’m sure that there’s a lot of outrage on the right about Specter’s defection to the Democratic Party today. I’m not really surprised, I mean they’ve made no bones about telling him he’s not wanted in the party. Why is Michael Steele now surprised that he left (other than the fact that Steele appears to [...]

I Don’t Get The Tea Parties

Maybe it’s because I’m not the target audience, but I don’t get the “tea parties” happening today. Egged on by the conservative elements of the media, people are apparently throwing tea into various bodies of water (and then quickly cleaning it up) to protest whatever. The official site says they are protesting the financial system [...]

Mea Culpa

Okay, apparently this whole financial mess is my fault.
I’m sorry that I brought the whole global financial system down with my irrestible baby blues. I will try harder next time to keep myself (and others) under control while I have my eyes open.
What a tool.

Corporate Welfare or Supporting Businesses?

So, let’s say that you live in the state with the highest marginal corporate tax rate (and, surprisingly it’s not California [yet]). Let’s say that a politician makes the case to simply repeal that corporate income tax because it’s ineffective and not really bringing in all that much revenue. That’s pure corporate welfare, right!?!?!
Well, let’s [...]

$8.8 Trillion

Can you even comprehend $8.8 Trillion? No, it’s not the national debt (that’s way more now). It’s the total bailout tab. Not the $800 billion TARP. Not even that plus the “stimulus” bill. It’s 5.5 times larger than TARP and the stimulus bill combined. That’s what the government is on the hook for. 

 
From the NY [...]

Lincoln’s 200th Birthday

Later this week we will celebrate Lincoln’s 200th birthday. The Economist is giving us an early gift by reprinting three articles from its archives that dealt with the President on his election, his death, and a look back at the first “memoir” of his Presidency.
These articles were originally written when these things happened, not decades [...]

Oink, Oink

It seems that no idea is too stupid to be included in the “stimulus” legislation. After striking out $250m of incentives for movie studios (basically excluding them from incentives given to all other businesses, not exactly fair) the Senate passed a gift for the auto industry.
Basically, the Mikulski Amendment would allow taxpayers an above-the-line deduction [...]

The Butterfly Effect

Imagine how life would be different today if twenty years ago this didn’t happen (per NPR).
Feb. 2, 1989:

The Senate Armed Services Committee puts off a scheduled vote on the nomination of former Sen. John Tower (R-Texas) to be secretary of defense. The committee acts in the wake of testimony last week by conservative activist Paul [...]

Seriously, Tom?

Maybe he needed the tax money to get new glasses? (via WSJ)

A Bunch of Clowns

Okay, it seems that the Democrats are having trouble finding someone that, you know, actually paid their taxes.
I’d like to volunteer for service. I don’t owe the IRS more than $100,000 so you don’t have to worry about me embarrasing the Administration. It really doesn’t matter what cabinet position it is, I’ll take any of [...]