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Wednesday Morning Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:38:25 AM EST
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I've whined enough. Now it is your turn.

This is an Open Thread.

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    Wednesday Morning Open Thread | 45 comments (45 topical)

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    Our turn to whine? (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Dr Molly on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:31:40 AM EST
    Goody!

    I want new elected representation.

    I am sure (none / 0) (#17)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 02:26:31 PM EST
    you will do well.

    Parent
    alright, I'll whine (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by tworivers on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:34:04 AM EST
    about the weather in MA.  Aside from 1 or 2 freakishly  warm and sunny days, it's been unrelentingly DREARY here this month.  yesterday the rain was positively biblical.

    Here endeth my whine.

    it really is a mess (none / 0) (#10)
    by CST on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:50:55 AM EST
    Boston topped the total March record for rainfall after the last storm, and of course here we go again.

    Roads flooded, work stalled, houses flooded, it's pretty effing miserable.

    Parent

    it is unbelievably (none / 0) (#16)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 02:25:21 PM EST
    beautiful here.  upper 70s.  and 80s tomorrow.
    I am on two wheels tomorrow and friday.

    I just contributed 50 bucks to JD Hayworth.

    Parent

    Ha. (none / 0) (#1)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 10:44:42 AM EST


    Interesting read (none / 0) (#2)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:08:22 AM EST
    I found this article the other day when I thought: How did HCR compare to the notorious Hillarycare.  It seems the Heritage Foundation has a thorough analysis.  Then based on Firedoglake's recommendation I read the Heritage Foundation proposal, guess what it looks like?  

    Upon first glance (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by ruffian on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:14:59 AM EST
    the Heritage Foundation Plan form 1991 looks more 'progressive' than what just passed. Affordable, all inclusive, National Health Insurance? Sign me up.

    Parent
    Ruffian, (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:40:23 AM EST
    It was amazing if you google to see what was being written during the debate about Hillarycare, people rarely mentioned the content of the plan, it was all about her "shrill" attempt to push the plan on everyone and how she was not bipartisan.  Go figure.

    Parent
    I believe it (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by ruffian on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:56:23 AM EST
    That is certainly most of what I remember from the time anyway. The very phrase Hillarycare was not meant as  a compliment.

    And that is the only lesson the current administration took from that time - the administration should not write or 'push' a plan, let Congress work in a bipartisan way. Amazing that the solution for a faux-problem did not help.

    Aaargh.

    Parent

    The other criticism of Hillarycare was (none / 0) (#14)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 02:02:13 PM EST
    was that the plan was formulated behind closed doors.

    Parent
    Man...oh Man (none / 0) (#18)
    by Stellaaa on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 02:41:49 PM EST
    Go figure.  

    Parent
    Should have been our clue to..... (none / 0) (#23)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 03:33:13 PM EST
    watch for it.....transparency will not be a reality.

    Parent
    Thanks. Will read both. (none / 0) (#3)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:13:16 AM EST


    Parent
    BTD, you have a fave (none / 0) (#5)
    by me only on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:30:13 AM EST
    for the Ronde van Vlaanderen?

    Boonen (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:36:00 AM EST


    Parent
    this is fake (none / 0) (#12)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 11:57:29 AM EST
    but still hilarious.

    Scar Face

    this is a little bit different (none / 0) (#13)
    by CST on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 12:21:42 PM EST
    Missing Iranian nuclear physisist was "found" in the U.S.  Apparently the CIA convinced him to defect.

    I guess I'd rather have him here than in Iran...

    "His defection was apparently the result of a wider operation, under which the US has been approaching Iranian scientists, sometimes through relatives living in America, to try to persuade them to defect.

    By making this defection public, it appears the Americans are putting more psychological pressure on the Iranian authorities, says the BBC's Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne, who is in London."

    Just got the results of last tax year's (none / 0) (#15)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 02:04:51 PM EST
    Don't Tax So People Will Spend plan.  For the first time in many years I owe both the IRS and FIT.  Won't many people be angry at the government?  

    P.S.  Anyone know if the underwithholding is still in effect?

    I'm sure it is, but it's (none / 0) (#22)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 03:31:37 PM EST
    a pretty sizeable amount.

    Do you freelance as an art and culture consultant so you can write off your travels? :)

    Parent

    Would be a good idea, but no. (none / 0) (#24)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 03:36:16 PM EST


    Parent
    No idea what triggers the underpayment (none / 0) (#39)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 05:05:08 PM EST
    penalty, but I'm guessing several things get taken into account....like deductions and comparisons to previous years. I've known people to get several thousands in returns and others who have owed over $10,000 but didn't get assessed the penalty for being so far away from the mark. Have you tried to call the IRS Help line?

    I would also think that the penalty is a really small %, so in order to make it worth their while, it has to be a big underpayment.

    Last year I paid my taxes owed on a 4 month payment plan....I think my fees and interest were under $10.00 total.


    Parent

    I was referring to fed. and state (none / 0) (#42)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 05:22:00 PM EST
    deciding on their own not to withhold as much as the year before to encourage us all to spend the difference.  What they didn't do is change the amount of taxes owed. CPA sd. every one of his clients owes fed. and state income taxes, even though, in previous years, they got some type of refund.

    Parent
    ahhhhh (none / 0) (#45)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 07:23:54 PM EST
    sorry, I read it wrong. I got a much bigger Federal return than I expected...in fact, I expected to owe. WA State doesn't have income tax.

    Parent
    Polanski updates: (none / 0) (#19)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 03:04:19 PM EST
    (1) Swiss government will not decide extradition request until Court of Appeal hands down ruling on Polanski's latest petition LATand

    (2) District Attorney's office denies coverup (also LAT).  

    LInk to # 2 above: (none / 0) (#20)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 03:07:29 PM EST
    LAT

    Parent
    NYT on Polanski: (none / 0) (#21)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 03:12:44 PM EST
    NYT

    Parent
    Query: what is the sound of one hand (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 03:49:09 PM EST
    clapping?

    Parent
    Huh? (none / 0) (#28)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:10:20 PM EST
    Don't get the joke. Care to explain, for the humor impaired?

    Parent
    Just me posting in the wind. (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:13:51 PM EST


    Parent
    LOL - so, no one else is talking to you? (none / 0) (#38)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:59:41 PM EST
    I was waiting to see how many layers in you would go on the thread before someone else responded to you :)

    Parent
    I was trying to scoop Jeralyn (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 05:16:49 PM EST
    re latest on Polanski.  But no one cares (including me).

    Parent
    Red Meat (none / 0) (#43)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 05:23:08 PM EST
    No one cares If it looks like he is going to prevail, but if it looked like he would be extradited to do several years in jail, it would red meat for many here at TL.

    Similar action for Obama,  whenever Obama does something remotely positive, crickets, when he does bad things can't stop the flood of comments.

    Must be some kind of tribal thing.

    Parent

    Oh (none / 0) (#40)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 05:05:21 PM EST
    Now I get the one hand clapping joke... thanks for shedding light


    Parent
    Sure - oculus was talking to herself (none / 0) (#44)
    by Inspector Gadget on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 07:20:38 PM EST
    which, she does every now and then :)

    Parent
    Hmmm (none / 0) (#26)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:08:35 PM EST
    Mr. Cooley's filing says that his current deputy in charge of the case, David Walgren, only weeks ago discovered those notes among "folded papers on the bottom" of some boxes, and promptly gave them to the Polanski lawyers after deciphering them with Mr. Doyle's help in late February.

    They must have been the same color paper as the boxes, or a secret drawer, perhaps.

    Amazing.

    Looks to me like that the NYT has it right, clarity will be achieved.

    Parent

    This is a godsend for Mr. Polanski. (none / 0) (#27)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:10:05 PM EST


    Parent
    Godsend? (none / 0) (#29)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:11:25 PM EST
    Seem rather straight forward to me. But given the temperature here in the US, maybe you are right..

    Parent
    How about "get out of jail [Swiss villa] (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:13:16 PM EST
    free card"?

    Parent
    From YOur Perspective (none / 0) (#32)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:16:26 PM EST
    I am certain that Polanski would not agree, as he already served a longer sentence than ever expected. Swiss jail, or villa, his freedom has been seriously compromised.

    Parent
    My perspective has always been that, (none / 0) (#33)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:18:34 PM EST
    once Mr. Polanski was detained in Switzerland, the result in LA County Superior Court would be credit for time served, with probation.  

    Parent
    OK (none / 0) (#35)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:41:10 PM EST
    From my perspective as well. I would not use the term godsend though, as it seemed clear to me not long after his detention, that no magic or divine intervention was going to be needed.

    Reason being that the Swiss appear to be more cool headed than their US counterparts, and considering that this case was not only compromised but convoluted I believed that the Swiss would not turn Polanski over to face a kangaroo court.

    But I may yet be wrong...  we'll see

    Parent

    Mr. Polanski may choose to (none / 0) (#36)
    by oculus on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:42:37 PM EST
    stay firm on the issue of extradition, but it is not getting him released from house arrest.  This may do it.  

    Parent
    Jobs... (none / 0) (#34)
    by lilburro on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:34:39 PM EST
    I do want Obama to address climate change before the election for sure.  But I am wondering...what's in the pipeline for jobs?

    I will compliment Obama on being ambitious though.  Not as progressive as I'd like on the actual substance of particular pieces of legislation, perhaps, but he is ambitious all the same.

    Coming Up Soon (none / 0) (#37)
    by squeaky on Wed Mar 31, 2010 at 04:47:03 PM EST
    And I am sure we will be getting a heated debate...
    Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), along with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), have made several concessions in the climate bill to get more support from industries, running the risk of losing support from environmental groups that have been the biggest backers of the climate bill, reports The Hill...

    The Senate bill is expected to be introduced soon after Congress returns from its two-week recess.

    The Financial Times reports that the bill includes plans to cut carbon emissions from 2005 levels by 17 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, with separate caps on utilities and manufacturers. The Obama administration officially pledged that the United States would cut its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

    The federal government would also sell separate pollution permits to each sector at a "hard price collar" to limit allowances from $10 to $30 per ton, reports Financial Times. Carbon caps would be imposed on utilities in 2012 followed by manufacturers in 2016. The bill also includes a petrol tax that would likely be passed on to consumers.

    link

    Parent

    Wednesday Morning Open Thread | 45 comments (45 topical)

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