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06 Dec 2010 20:20

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Politics: Three things Obama conceded to push through the Bush tax cuts

  • two number of years the Bush tax cuts were extended for everyone – not just the middle class
  • 4.2% the Social Security payroll tax next year – that’s down two full percentage points, BTW
  • 35% the maximum estate tax rate; there will also be an exemption of $5 million per person source
  • » Will Democrats go for it? Maybe not; it seems that many congressional Democrats are upset about the estate tax thing in particular, and the overall deal got a weak reception from Democrats in particular. But the GOP likes it. When was the last time Obama pleased the GOP?
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Dec 2010 23:56

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Politics: Max Headroom: Newt Gingrich calls Julian Assange a “terrorist”

  • Newt calls Julian Assange an “enemy combatant”: Talk about harsh words, but Newt Gingrich’s take on how bad Julian Assange is for the country is perhaps a weeee bit over the top. No matter, he just keeps on talking anyway, calling Obama’s approach to handling national security matters “amateurish.” Maybe we’re crazy here, but we have to imagine that the Obama administration didn’t singlehandedly build all of these security mechanisms that broke down. Rather, the work of MANY presidential administrations nosedived.
  • Like “groundhog Day”On “Meet the Press” today, Mitch McConnell claimed that he’s been talking to the Obama administration more in the last two weeks than he has in the last two months. However, he claimed (bizarrely) that Saturday’s vote on the tax cuts was like “Groundhog Day” – the same thing over and over again. That’s a good look for you, Mr. Kettle; reminds us of Mr. Pot.
  • Did he say “more immigrants”?The New York Times’ Thomas “Tommy Boy” Friedman was also on “Meet the Press” today talking (in that big-idea mode of his) about globalization and immigration. During the chat, he suggested that (in a talk about ways to boost the American worker’s value) the U.S. bring in “more immigrants” – which we’re still trying to wrap our heads around.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Dec 2010 21:56

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Politics: Obama’s tax-cut compromise has Democrats in Congress very sad

  • causeObama was handed an obvious, but still painful defeat after the GOP declined his plan to extend the Bush tax cuts to only the middle class.
  • reaction Now Obama’s hoping for a compromise by midweek to ensure that the rest of his agenda for this year gets through the ever-shrinking pipeline quickly.
  • responseDemocrats in Congress look like they’re about to slit their wrists, which suggests that the compromise might not go through, either. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Dec 2010 11:59

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Politics: Columbia University to public affairs students: Don’t read Wikileaks

  • Engaging in these activities would call into question your ability to deal with confidential information, which is part of most positions with the federal government.
  • A message from Columbia University’s Office of Career Services • Offering a word of advice to its School of International and Public Affairs that reading the Wikileaks data dump and talking about it could endanger their chances of ever working with the State Department. The recommendation was forwarded to them by an alumnus now working at the State Department. Meanwhile, the State Department itself claims it hasn’t made an official statement on anything like this. But by us posting about this, we’ve hurt our future job chances. Damn. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Dec 2010 22:18

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Politics: Hillary Clinton, Iranian foreign minister not feeling the love

  • I said ‘Hello, minister.’ He just turned away.
  • Secretary of State Hillary Clinton • On the icy reception she received from Iran’s foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, at a nuclear conference in Bahrain. He wouldn’t even look at her. Icy! Mottaki denies that he was rude to her and claims that he was trying to say hello to King Abdullah of Jordan. Next time they run into one another, they should give each other a big hug to emphasize the lack of hard feelings. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Dec 2010 21:30

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Politics: Sarah Palin would rather crank up tunes than answer questions

  • That’s one way to avoid talking to people. At a recent book-signing in Iowa, the presidential aspirant went out of her way to avoid CNN’s questions – with her handlers literally drowning them out with music. Which is kinda sad/hilarious. If Palin can’t handle being asked questions by the lamestream media, how will she ever be president, a job which requires more media scrutiny than any other in the free world? We may never know. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Dec 2010 12:31

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Politics: Democrats fail to win hard-fought battle over Bush tax cuts

  • obvious Two procedural Democratic votes to extend the Bush tax cuts to only the non-super-wealthy failed to reach 60 votes in the Senate, to the shock of nobody.
  • sad The Democrats failed to even get everyone in their own party to go for them, only scoring 53 votes for the measure. Next up? Obama gives in to the GOP. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

04 Dec 2010 01:43

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Politics: Obama finally decides to pardon some actual human beings

  • nine number of pardons Obama granted today; all the turkey talk must’ve gotten to him
  • 682 number of days of presidency it took Obama to make his first official pardon
  • 699 number of days it took George W. Bush  (the record-holder) to make his first pardons source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Dec 2010 17:41

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Politics, U.S.: 2012: Pawlenty leads the pack in book sales

  • 12k Amazon users purchased Mitt Romney’s recent book, “No Apology”
  • 9k readers went for Newt Gingrich’s “To Save America” for their 2012 fix instead
  • 263k fans opted for Tim Pawlenty’s upcoming manifesto, “Courage to Stand” source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Dec 2010 17:30

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Politics: Obama looks stupid wearing leather bomber jacket in Afghanistan

You know, every time a president wears one of these stupid jackets, they look like they were pulled out of a G.I. Joe assembly line. Wear a suit, poser. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink
 
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