by von
That middle-class tax cut President Obama promised during the campaign? Here begins the walkback:
President Obama's budget chief hinted Wednesday that the president's signature campaign issue — a middle-class tax cut — will not likely survive a budget battle with Democrats on Capitol Hill.
I predicted a bit ago that "The next set of tax increases [under Obama] — and they are coming — will hit the middle class." I suppose that one could think that the fact that this rollback (1) isn't a tax increase and (2) hasn't actually happened yet will keep me from claiming prescience. Bah! Technicalities!
We could get into a highly complex discussion at this point regarding whether or not this is inevitable based on the fact that the top US tax rate ("all-in," meaning accounting for most deductions and FICA) kicks it at a radically higher income than in virtually any other country, resulting in a higher percentage of the ultimate tax burden being born by a smaller number of folks than elsewhere. See the OECD Tax Database, Table I.4, the AW multiplier.
But this is the weekend! Who wants to talk about taxes? Let's make like Unfogged, talk about booze, regale each other with tales of homosex,* and send racy letters to the Mineshaft. Or all three! ("Dear Mineshaft: I never thought I'd be writing to you, but here goes. The other day, Carlos was cleaning my girlfriend's pool and I couldn't help but notice his bulging biceps and very tight Speedo. Curious, but not at all in a homosexual way, I wandered outside carrying two Mojitos and wearing only a smile….")
Or whatever is on your mind. Here's your weekend open thread.
*Is there a worst new word than "homosex"? "The same sex"? I mean, what is that? The missionary position every night?
End Affirmative Action for conservative posters!
Von, I would just add one thing. There has already been a middle class tax cut that was provided in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (Stimulus Bill). Technically, the Obama administration has until the Bush tax cuts expire in two years, to make permanent, the tax cuts he has already extended.
Somehow I don’t think those opening paragraphs are the best way to produce a light-hearted, wide-ranging, nonpolitical open thread.
I would take exception of your characterization of Unfogged, except that it sounds more exciting than things have been around the place lately. We could use some racier requests for advice.
Is there a worst new word than “homosex”?
I would suggest that “feminazi” is far worse : less accurate in its connotations, fundamentally dishonest in intent, and uglier when spoken aloud.
It’s already done, via the stimulus, for two years. All this means is that they need to figure out a different way to get it in next year’s budget, or the one after that.
C’mon, you’re not really counting on ABC News for the full story, are you?
unfogged is a fine thing in its own way, but the net would be a poorer place if obwi were to turn into a second one. really not even something to aspire to.
just keep doing what you do well here: political analysis that digs under the surface of the stories, and doesn’t get suckered by partisan distortions being peddled by political hacks.
that is what you do here, isn’t it?
We kid because we love, Lizardbreath. (I mean that sincerely: I only lurk at Unfogged, but it’s one of the better sites on the net.)
Somehow I don’t think those opening paragraphs are the best way to produce a light-hearted, wide-ranging, nonpolitical open thread.
Hey, talk about whatever you want. If you want a heated political discussion, go for it.
Oh, I’m as much flattered as miffed. But a little miffed. And mostly working on a dull brief and cranky because I have no mojitos.
And mostly working on a dull brief and cranky because I have no mojitos.
Me too. (I mean: I’m working on a dull brief and I, too, have no mojitos.)
Clearly, a market failure.
(My father worked as an architect, and designed offices for a number of large NY law-firms. He claimed that at least one such firm (maybe Dewey, maybe Milbank) had a drinks cart that would circulate to provide cocktails to any lawyers unfortunate enough to be working after six on a Friday. The eighties were a more civilized time.)
The eighties were a more civilized time.
Psyche disagrees.
“homosex”, as far as I know, was coined by Joe Haldeman in 1974. I suspect if you looked back a little further, someone like Kinsey was probably using it even earlier.
“…Joe Haldeman in his book The Forever War…”
is what I meant to say there.
Well, I marvel at your statement, von, because the article you link doesn’t support it at all.
I might as well say, “Von is abandoning the rule against using the f-word in comments. True, he has banned commentors for using the f-word in the past, and he has called for that policy to continue in the future, but maybe Hilzoy, Sebastian, Publius and Eric will disagree with him down the road. So yeah, here begins Von’s walkback.”
Here begins the walkback:
President Obama’s budget chief hinted Wednesday that the president’s signature campaign issue — a middle-class tax cut — will not likely survive a budget battle with Democrats on Capitol Hill.
sounds to me like putting the blame where it’s due.
as the old saying goes: more and better Democrats, please.
It is difficult to have a serious discussion with someone who asserts, in all seriousness, that a large portion of the US population “pays no taxes”.
I might add that if I could participate in sex “every night” I don’t think I’d be complaining too much about it being the same (those in it for the money excepted, ‘natch).
Wow, von, didn’t know you had it in you. 😉
Is it mean, or does it at times seem that Charles B. has lifted Von’s login info?
Just checking in to say “I’m not dead yet”. The current economy has kind of, Ah, focused my attention on my job, whilst I still have it. 😉
I still have time for some blog reading (breakfast, maybe lunch) and I mostly keep up here – I just don’t have time to enter the fray anymore. Which is a shame because there have been a lot of good posts lately where I would have loved to have waded in…
Sorry for the drive by’s – occasionally I’ll spout something off and then I hear the crack of the whip and I can’t come back to follow up. I hate to do that. OTOH…
OCSteve: it’s great to hear from you, however briefly.
Is it mean, or does it at times seem that Charles B. has lifted Von’s login info?
How do you know we’re not one and the same?
I backtracked to Von’s Open Thread to let those who are interested know what I found in the mail when I got home last night:
Olga and Danny’s Green Cards!
Olga usually has checked the mail before I get home, so it was exciting to see it unopened and call her and Danny from his bedroom and see the happiness on their faces.
So kudos to the legal profession since our lawyer was able to get things done in eight weeks when we were not able to do so on our own in eight months. That $1,000 (came from our tax refund) is precious to us right now, but it was well-spent.
Yay! Congratulations. Now hope everything else works out.
bedtime — !!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats to all three of you.
Thanks, Janie and DFS.
We were extra happy that Danny’s card had his new last name (mine). We got that done midway through the process and weren’t sure if INS would get it right the first time.
Danny was impressed that the encoding on the back to prevent counterfeiting had pictures of all of our presidents.
Congratulations to the wife and child, new last name and all!
I’m having a new experience: whooping cough.
I feel oddly gratified–the usually routine is to be sick annd miserable and stagger out of bed and off to the doctor who, no matter how much I snivel and sneeze and whine, just says, “Go home and go back to bed.” There being no cure for the common cold.
Ah, but this time! For one thing they made me wear a mask. I felt very special in a Typhoid Maryish way. I took a test on how hard I could exhale and flunked. He tried to take a throat swab but just the act of openning my mouth sent me into a coughing spasm that nearly ripped my diaphram in half and blew my eyeballs out of my head. I got sent down for xrays. I got a diagnosis: no pnumonia but bronchitis probably from whooping cough(BAD bronchitis, the doctor said) and a bag of goodies to take home: codeine cough medicine, and inhaler, and antibiotics.
I feel …affirmed.
wonkieetc.: Heck of a price to pay for feeling affirmed!
Feel better soon.
Typhoid Wonkie: Get well. The common cold sounds like a piece of cake compared to what you have.
Actually the antibiotics are working fast and I’m scheduled to be all well again on Thursday. 🙂 Thanks!
“Actually the antibiotics are working fast and I’m scheduled to be all well again on Thursday. :)”
Glad to hear it! Hope you feel better soon!