So That's Where the Money Goes!

Ann interesting report just came out regarding companies
that pay their CEOs more than they do the government. In
fact, that's not too hard because often they're not paying
the government anything.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-31/ceos-earned-more-than-their-companies-tax-bills-study-finds.html

Blue versus Red

This guy is costing me a fortune!!

http://wallstreetpit.com/82845-rick-perrys-plan-to-save-blue-states-from-the-red-states

Is That Any Way For a Tea Partier to Talk?

Chris Christie suddenly remembers how important the government
can be.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/republican_party/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/08/29/christie_paul_fema

God's Country

Wow, God must LOVE us out here on the West Coast. No
hurricanes, not much snow and only the occasional earthquake.

Apparently He has mixed feelings about the other end of
the country right now.

http://www.borowitzreport.com/2011/08/24/pat-robertson-blames-mild-earthquake-on-people-who-seem-kind-of-gay/

GNP (Grover Norquist Party)

The following video illustrates why the popularity
of the Tea Party is dropping like a rock. People
are getting sick of pledges, talking points and
the far Right's complete inability to compromise.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0w-eY-B6ew

Uncertainty: Is It a Real Problem or a GOP Talking Point?

One very well-worn talking point I keep hearing from
conservative pundits and politicians is that business
people aren't spending money because there's so much
UNCERTAINTY.

I have a few questions:

When did business people become so timid about taking
chances?

Is there a chance some businesses have just decided
it's better to keep making the same profits with
half as many exhausted employees? My job is a perfect
example.

Will the UNCERTAINTY be magically cleared up if a
Republican wins the 2012 presidential election?

The Man Without a Country

It's pretty tough when you're born in this country but
some people still don't think you should be able to
hold political office.

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/08/24/302820/tea-party-latino-rep-american/

Going To Extremes

What's that nutty Libyan dictator going to do now?

http://www.borowitzreport.com/2011/08/22/gaddafi-found-running-for-republican-nomination-2/

The Ryan Loophole

Paul Ryan believes your tax loopholes are bad...but his are good.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/22/paul-ryan-tax-loopholes-donors_n_931712.html

Younger Brother

My good buddy Snave recently introduced me to a band called
Younger Brother. I'm really enjoying their new album...it's
electronica mixed with (at least for me) the best parts
of Coldplay and Pink Floyd. Highly addictive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENpb9jNpq48&feature=related

Winning From Behind

The Obama administration works with our NATO allies to
topple Libya's murderous tyrant. We spent a relatively small
amount of money and suffered almost no loss of life.

Think the president will get any credit from the right?

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/barack_obama/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2011/08/22/obama_leading_behind

Marcus and Michele and Monogamy

They're just two crazy kids in love...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-w7QAEWudQ

The Chris Christie Kool-Aid

There are still a lot of folks north of the Mason
Dixon line who wish Chris Christie would throw
his hat in the GOP ring.

Here's one New Jersey writer's view of the situation:

http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2011/08/christie_president_fuhgeddabou.html

What's the Magic Number?

The comments on the previous post got me thinking about
the actual tax numbers the country has been fighting
about for several decades.

Is there a perfect tax percentage that should never
change? Is that where we are now? Were the tax rates
during the Clinton administration immoral in some sense?

Or is it simply a case where the Republicans got away
with reducing taxes on the wealthy and now they refuse
to change things no matter what kind of problems face
the country?

A Poor Man's Dollar is Worth a Lot More Than a Rich Man's Dollar

Jon Stewart examines a new media phenomena...conservative
pundits pushing the idea that the rich need to pay less
taxes and the spoiled rotten middle class and poor need
to pick up the slack.


http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-18-2011/world-of-class-warfare---the-poor-s-free-ride-is-over?xrs=share_copy

I Love Watching a Bully Squirm

All of a sudden governor John Kasich of Ohio wants to
be reasonable.

You're a little late, pal. See you at the polls in November.

http://www.onntv.com/live/content/onnnews/stories/2011/08/17/story_kasich_on_sb_5.html?sid=102

Rick Perry: The Hits Just Keep Coming

Rick Perry has entered the GOP presidential race with
a big splash. Unfortunately, when you make a big splash
you get lots of attention and when the country looks at
his record, quotes and rampant hypocrisy they will back
away in a hurry.

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/laura-chapin/2011/08/17/rick-perrys-texas-benefitted-from-washington-overspending-

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/08/17/297556/report-texas-ranks-dead-last-in-total-job-creation-accounting-for-labor-force-growth/

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/On-the-Economy/2011/0817/Texas-and-the-government-are-chummier-than-you-d-think

http://www.thenation.com/blog/162817/rick-perrys-polluter-cronies

A Wise Man Speaks

Warren Buffet realizes what the wealth gap is doing to this
country.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html?_r=1&src=tp&smid=fb-share

Gotcha

I was watching Michele Bachmann being interviewed
today on Meet the Press and she was getting testy
because David Gregory was asking her some really
reasonable questions about whether or not she
would appoint an openly gay person to her cabinet
or even a judgeship.

She implied he was asking her "gotcha" questions.

The other night at the debate, Byron York asked her
a reasonable question about her submitting to the will
of her husband.

She felt like he was asking her a "gotcha" questions.

This is a bunch of crap. You can't constantly throw
out red meat extremist statements to conservative
groups you're trying to woo and then refuse to
defend those same statements when you're in a different
situation.

Sorry, Mrs. Bachmann...the camera and the microphone
are on. And they have excellent memories.

The Thing About Other People's Benefits...

Jon Stewart exposes Megyn Kelly's political hypocrisy.

Of course, it might not be real hypocrisy because I'm
sure her and the other Fox bimbos will spew whatever
propaganda they're paid to present. She could probably
go work at MSNBC tomorrow if they offered her more money.


http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-august-11-2011/lactate-intolerance

Ron Paul's History Lesson

I disagree with Ron Paul on most political topics but I
have to say I really appreciate what he said last night
about Iran. He was honest, courageous and put things
in the proper perspective.

The hatred of America (by some Iranians) didn't just arrive
spontaneously out of nowhere in 1979. It started in 1953
when we helped overthrow their government and placed the
ruthless Shah in power.

Ron Paul understands the danger of a foreign policy powered
by soundbites and talking points. Kudos to him for trying
to cut through the b.s. that usually surrounds this subject.

All Together Now

As far as I'n concerned, the highlight of the GOP debate
tonight was when the candidates were asked to raise
their hand if they would vote against even a deficit deal that was 10 parts budget cuts for one part revenue increase. Of course, they all complied.

I think it would have been funny if the questioner had
taken the next step and asked how they would feel about
a deal that was a million parts budget cuts for one
part revenue increase.

And while we're being extreme, I wish somebody would
come right and advocate that we publicly hang any
woman who even says the word abortion.

Quick Spins

I've picked up some great new music lately. The Fountains
of Wayne cd "Sky Full of Holes" just arrived this past
Tuesday. This album doesn't really break new ground but
the songs are still great. I especially like their lyrics...
sometimes hilarious, sometimes poignant, sometimes both.



Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter- "Marble Son" I'd heard of this
band but never actually heard them until yesterday. They combine
alt-country with some gorgeous psychedelic atmosphere on this disc.
Good from beginning to end.



My friend Dave described some of My Morning Jacket's earlier music
as sounding like it was made by ghosts. On "Circuital" they've
turned down the reverb and created a solid, joyous piece of work.



If you're in the mood for a nice mix of musical styles, check out
"Culture of Fear" by Thievery Corporation. It's electronica
blended with reggae, old school soul and a whole lot of other
good stuff.

Governor Goodhair's Heavenly House Party

Rick Perry crosses the church/state line big time today
with an event chock full of speakers who are quick to
condemn any American who doesn't fit into their narrow
vision of decency.

If this yahoo gets elected president? Be afraid,
very afraid.


http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/08/rick-perrys-religious-event-mired-in-controversy-.html

Convenient Keynesianism

Tea Party leader Judson Phillips seems to be a little
inconsistent on the subject of financial stimulation.


http://www.salon.com/technology/how_the_world_works/index.html?story=/tech/htww/2011/08/05/the_rise_of_tea_party_keynesianism

War Hawks and Tax Hawks

It will be interesting to see if the Republicans are
willing to make huge cuts in the military rather than
raise taxes on their corporate masters.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/08/the-problem-with-a-no-new-taxes-pledge/243016/