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08 Dec 2010 21:00

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Politics: One well-known dude in Obama’s compromise corner: John Kerry

  • Obama can count on one influential Democrat in his corner. Problem is, it’s John Kerry, who’s as exciting as vat of ketchup. OK, now that we’ve gotten the veiled insult at his wife out of his way, let’s see what he has to say about the compromise: “The truth is, the President got a lot of things here we’ve been fighting for that we haven’t yet been able to win any other way.” It’s one of a number of messages that the White House has been distributing tonight. We have to emphasize, though, that we’re with Andrew Sullivan on this one: It’s frustrating to see Obama compromise, but he’s playing a pretty good game of handball with the GOP in making this compromise. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

07 Dec 2010 10:52

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Politics: Obama’s tax compromise: $600 billion to $800 billion total cost

  • So, fun fact on the Obama compromise: A lot of the stuff here could be considered short-term stimulus. While the Bush tax cut extension itself wouldn’t be, because it’s just extending a current tax rate, about half of the things in it (Social Security and business tax breaks, unemployment benefits, individual tax credits) could be. The overall result, which includes the Bush Tax Cuts would lead to a $600 billion to $800 billion total cost for the government. But hey, lower taxes for everybody! (And the Social Security tax break is, let’s face it, a not-terrible idea. As long as people notice that less money is getting taken out of their paychecks. Which they didn’t before.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 1 Comment • Permalink

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 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

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 17:30

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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

03 Dec 2010 11:30

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U.S., World: Obama comes to Afghanistan to test Skype connection with Karzai

  • what President Obama made an unexpected trip to Afghanistan for some strange reason. He’s there right now, kids, and he’ll stay for maybe six hours tops.
  • why His relationship with comically inept Afghan President Hamid Karzai requires some face time. Problem is, due to weather, the closest they’ll get is Skype. Really. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

30 Nov 2010 20:23

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Politics: Obama’s bipartisan deficit panel not currently seeing eye-to-eye

  • 18 number of members of the Obama’s bipartisan deficit panel
  • 14 number of votes the panel needs to send their findings to Congress
  • no they don’t have 14 votes yet, but they hope they will by Friday source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Nov 2010 10:35

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U.S.: Obama announcing federal employee pay freeze

  • This is gonna hurt federal workers en masse. Obama will offer details in a press conference in a little while, but expect DC residents to feel the hurt, as 600,000 federal workers reside in this little out-of-the-way villa. Hey, Obama, could we make a suggestion for you, as outside observers? Cut the pay of the highest-paid federal workers – the bureaucrats with random non-public-facing jobs, but raise it for TSA staffers, because they’re not getting paid enough to take their arguably more important job seriously. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Nov 2010 00:11

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Politics: Obama’s own grandmother offers up “Obama’s a Muslim” ammo

  • birthers The president’s biggest doubters believe Obama is a Muslim for some reason, and that he wasn’t born in the U.S. despite the fact that he has a birth certificate. (La la la, they can’t hear you!)
  • grandma The president’s own grandmother, 88-year-old Sarah Omar of Kenya, wants him to convert to Islam: “I prayed for my grandson Barack to convert to Islam,” she said. That should freak birthers out. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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