Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

Good morning,

Good article on FIrst dude Palin eskimo grandmother.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/254/story/54512.html

FYI -

If the election for president were held today, for whom would you vote?
October 23-25, 2004
Bush 49%
Kerry 46%
Nader 1%
Badnarik -%
Peroutka -%
Cobb -%
Other 4%
margin of error: 2.9%
source: Zogby International

If the presidential election were being held today... Would you vote for Kerry and Edwards, the Democrats, Bush and Cheney, the Republicans, or Nader and Camejo, the independent candidates?
October 22-24, 2004
Bush 51%
Kerry 46%
Nader 1%
Other -%
Unsure 2%
margin of error: 3%
source: Gallup

Thinking about the elections in November, if the election for president were held today and the candidates were Republican George Bush and the Democrat John Kerry, for whom would you vote: George Bush or John Kerry?
October 24-25, 2004
Kerry 49%
Bush 47%
Nader 1%
Other 1%
Unsure 1%
margin of error: 3.1%
source: Democracy Corps Poll

2000 -

CNN/USA TODAY/GALLUP POLL
October 22-24

Likely Voters' Choice for President
Bush 48%
Gore 43
Nader 3
Buchanan 1
Sampling error: +/-4% pts

does anyone know what charity will be the recipient of the $150,000 worth of clothes, accessories, shoes, etc which the gop has bought for sarah palin?

Al-Qaida-linked Web site backs McCain as president

By PAMELA HESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — Al-Qaida supporters suggested in a Web site message this week they would welcome a pre-election terror attack on the U.S. as a way to usher in a McCain presidency.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iFK9c9KTpdbjhYyuWIlZyAuyqeJgD93VA3B80

This video features the county just to the north of where I live. Home of the odious Jeff Frederick, the State GOP
Chairman who called Obama the "same as Osama Bin Laden." His statement was widely criticized by members of his own party. Obama's rally at Mary Washington University attracted 26,000 people from former-GOP strongholds of Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania.

I'm here in another GOP stronghold, Chesterfield county near Richmond and Eric "the whiner" Cantor just had an event at the hotel where I'm staying. I don't think the turnout at his event was that great for a supposed "rising star" of the GOP and it seemed to end really early. People I'm meeting here in Chesterfield are much more enthusiastic about Obama. Former Senator Vance Hartke's daughter, Anita Hartke, is running shoestring campaign against Cantor -- but she just might win if the Obama/Warner DEM ticket has coat tails.

If NBC doesn't give Chuck Todd Meet the Press they're crazy.

sturgeone

Laid-off investment bankers wives ?

msnbc.......simple answer, whether or not they give MTP to CT........They're crazy.

McCain on Imus

Sturge

Probably the same one that Mrs Obama is donating those expensive dresses she wore for the convention.

Jack

Jack.....i see that my question could have been construed as being a criticism of Sarah, so point taken, however I'm mainly curious as to what kind of charity would be the recipient of such a gift......and what they would do with them....sell 'em I guess, but still sounds weird....

WOW! EARLY VOTING WAS BUSY YESTERDAY! I have never seen a turnout like that. Close to 100 people ahead of me and the line was just as long when I left.

A) I've never seen such a huge crowd so early.

B) I've never seen such a wide age-range at the polls. (Truthfully, I didn't know there were any people over 60 in this area.) One Obama stand/water stop/gathering place across the street. McCain people & signs were absent, perhaps because they think this area is a "given." Lots of 20-somethings with edgy-looking eyewear I've never seen around before, either. I think this is the Obama factor both in bringing out the fearful folks to vote against him and those excited to be voting for the first time.

C) Nobody, including myself, was spending too much time at the voting...OK, I'll call it a booth. (These briefcases on legs always look like something from Inspector Gadget.) From the length of time spent voting, I would take a wild guess that there could be a lot of straight party voters. If that holds true, all of the other candidates get to ride Obama's coattails into their respective offices.

As for Palin's wardrobe, it only matters because she held herself out to be "one of you." They could've dressed her very nicely for a lot less, but I guess she went shopping where Cindy McCain shops. And yes, the guys do spend a lot on suits, but, they already had a professional wardrobe and they can get away with having far fewer clothes. They could rotate the same 3 suits and who would know? It's a bit sexist, but mostly it's just a common sense issue. Michelle Obama is showing up in more affordable clothing, and yes, you can present a nice picture for less than they've spent on Palin, whether it goes to charity or not.

What the stylists over at Team Obama need to invest in is a muzzle for Joe Biden. I thought he was gonna make it without any big gaffs, but no. For such a smart man, he sure doesn't have an internal edit button that works any better than mine.

I would be interested in hearing about what others are experiencing at the polls in their areas.

"does anyone know what charity will be the recipient of the $150,000 worth of clothes, accessories, shoes, etc which the gop has bought for sarah palin? "

Sturg, when I've had really good quality stuff that no longer fits, I've donated it to a 'job closet' for people going out on interviews.

Sturg

I suspect in both cases they would make very good auction items both women have very loyal followers and very rich ones who would like to buy a piece of history

Jack

Sturge-

At least Palin's items are re-cyclable--The lobster, caviar, and champagne consumed by the lovely Michelle are gone.

job interviews......lol.........I remember once going to goodwill for clothes to make a halloween costume....and when I got to the check-out the nice lady says......"Oh, going to look for a job?"

ubns.......I'm willing to bet if Michelle had gotten lobsters for supper, she would have paid for them herself but it has been pointed out that the story is untrue......New York Post retracted the story blaming the source, and she didnt even have a room, which is requisite for "room service".

Any time I've been a little flush it was fine for me to have a lobster, why would anyone object to a Lobster dinner? She has a networth according to what someone posted somewhere of $1.3 mill......she cant have lobster? lol

Sturge
lol

you must have that homeless look about you.

Jack

The Lobster Lunch story has already proven to be wrong, Michelle wasn't even at the Waldorf, and The Post has printed a retraction!

Ooops!

Just read lobster story was re-tracted.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama has expanded his national lead over Republican John McCain in the presidential race to 10 points, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE49J0LF20081022

Just about every major national poll now has Obama by double digits, no candidate has lost with such a strong lead this close to the election.

"I'm willing to bet if Michelle had gotten lobsters for supper, she would have paid for them herself "

I'm willing to bet she never sees the bill. It is all legitimate campaign expenses.

Jack

"She has a networth according to what someone posted somewhere of $1.3 mill."

Not bad for someone who just managed to pay off student loans and who has been on a protracted leave of absence from her employer.

Again, Palin held herself out to be just-a-regular-old-hockey-mom. That's the problem. More successful people do dress better than the rest of us. All of them do. It's the disconnect between who she says she is and how the McCain people decided to style her that's the problem. How did they not know that would be a problem???

Anyway, it has taken the focus off of all of the crazy antics of McCain as of late, the war, the economy, etc. Maybe that was the idea.

Jack -

Nothing says "Joe Six Pack " like Neiman Marcus.

Blue it is only a problem with you, her supporter don't mind at all.
In reality it is all just static, she is after all the VP candidate.

Jack

"Ooops!

Just read lobster story was re-tracted. "

By those wonderful people who brought you "Fair and Balanced".

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161827

The bulk of the Obamas' "wealth" comes from book royalties, naturally sales on both of Obama's have sky rocketed over the last two years. I know it's hard Flatus by try not to let your disdain get in the way of the facts.

Actually, it's not a "problem" for me, but it does seem to be a problem for some people, including GOoPers.
I was just commenting on what seems to be grabbing today's headlines for some reason. Maybe nobody wants to think about the economy; it's a nice distraction.

Anon
You miss the point, like left wingers always seem to.
Joe sixpack doesn't mind people making out like a bandit. It is when they do and then pretend like they are something special that pisses him off.
So far Palin has avoided that trap.

Jack

McCain agrees with Jack Murtha , western Pa is racist.

Watch out for a real senior moment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLVSURlFoQs

Actually, the OP described it as _her_ net worth, not a joint figure.

the OP?

original poster

Well since the Obamas post a joint tax return how would the OP know? Just more bullshit.

my post (OP) perhaps was misleading.....the figure was for the obama net worth......

1.3 mill is not really all that much, though, is it?

Jack -
I know that the right loves this sort of feckless club when it falls into their mitts, and for years they never hesitated to use it. I hope she gets the stuffing beat out of her with it. Just like that bozo from Minn. on Hardball last Friday night.

1.3 million is quite a bit when compared to Biden's net worth!

Hell..........."I" gotta higher net worth than joe biden.....what's up wid dat?

Ain't Funny - Vice President. Vote Obama-Biden.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQVlNgdn2_Y&eurl=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/21/old-time-celebs-launch-ad_n_136666.html

Sturge

He spent all his money on Amtrac fares

Jack

old joe supposedly weighs in at $277,000......he must not be holding his mouf right......

ROOM DISSERVICE

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10212008/gossip/pagesix/room_disservice_134490.htm

His Amtrak fares were picked up by the fed.

Then that makes him a liberal spendthrift that can't manage money.

Jack

Jack -
"Joe sixpack doesn't mind people making out like a bandit"

That's why Wall Street can screw Joe every decade or two.

Obama Camp To Unleash Tough Response Robocall Blasting McCain's "Sleazy" Campaign

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/obama_camp_releasing_response.php

"Then that makes him a liberal spendthrift that can't manage money."

my ears are burning.........

"His Amtrak fares were picked up by the fed."

I suppose that comes under some 'return to district' heading. But, it doesn't seem reasonable for a daily commute. Close the loophole.

Anon

Being screwed is just a basic fact of life for Joe. It is when he doen't get kissed .
The Republicans have learned how to kiss him.
The Democrats screw him and then laugh about how stupid he is.

Jack

Well, I aint had a kiss since I fell outa my crib
I feel like I been cheated outa my rib.

--Hank Williams, Sr.

Sturge

I'm feeling very unloved this morning.

I wish my wife could make the daily commute home.
Omaha is closer to here then Delaware is to DC. Instead she is on the road for 3 weeks. 8 more days to go.

Jack

Well I'd better get off my lazy butt and get out of here.

Jack

it's like a headache.......very nice when it ends.....

SeaHag.....

sorry..... I didn't answer your questions last night about the pellets...... I just saw them now...... I took off to go to my library trustee meeting about 15 minutes after I posted last night.....

I live in a small town of the Monadnock region of Southern NH named New Ipswich ......
New England Wood Pellets is the major maker of wood pellets for the North East.... they are located in Jaffrey, NH..... they are a wholesaler, not a retailer...... but a member of the family owns a retail stove shop in Jaffrey and we buy our pellets from him...... they only deliver locally.....

I have heard that some people are having a hard time to get pellets this year..... hope you find some soon....

Imus very unhappy with McCain's interview today......re-playing at 9:30

pardon my ignorance, but what are wood pellets?

Sturge -- tell us about the Imus/McCain meet & greet! Is the honeymoon over for those two?

As always my heroes at National Organization for Women have an interesting column on health care and tax increases...

We Need A Shot In The Arm

Below the Belt: A Column by NOW President Kim Gandy

October 17, 2008

It's been a few years, but I had a brush with the kind of "socialized" medicine that John McCain invoked with such derision in Wednesday night's debate. I'm delighted with the size of my family and my two daughters, ages 13 and 15 -- but they might have had an older sibling if I hadn't suffered a miscarriage while visiting my husband's sister in England.

Having surgery under general anesthesia was not part of my plan for that trip, and the visits from multiple specialists made me worry that the cost would be a real financial setback. In the hospital, there was a nice warm robe instead of a paper gown, and imagine my surprise when the doctor dropped by my sister-in-law's house, not once but twice, to see how I was recovering.

My surprise was even greater when the hospital personnel looked actively for ways to avoid charging me for my stay ("Are you sure you're not here on any kind of business?"). And when I assured them that I had insurance, they presented me (quite regretfully it seemed) with the full bill. It was under $400, a shockingly low price tag even then.

http://www.now.org/news/note/101708.html

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161815

STurgeone

I don't know what happens to campaign clothes. My guess is that the person wearing them gets to keep them since a similar charge was leveled at Jackie Kennedy.

Now whoever becomes First Lady (or some day President), the innauguration gown goes to the Smithsonian.

As to private ownership of high end clothes, they often end up in consignment stores with the proceeds either going to the person selling the clothes or to a charity selling if the clothes were donated.

Higher taxes on PROFITS and success – that are very progressive – that will send global jobs away from the US.

Posted by: Ping Pong | October 21, 2008 7:25 AM

Ping have you been in a coma the last 30 years or so? What the hell do you think has been happening to global jobs? Are you offering selective analysis or are you so obtuse within your ideological broken record of "capitalism" and "free enterprise" to not see how many jobs have left the states? This has NOTHING to do with progressive taxes; it has to do with going to countries with little or no safety regulations, no minimum wages or benefits where workers can slave away for a pittance. Really Ping! I shouldn't be surprised, but I am...

The Man Who Helped Drive Powell Away From His Party

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-22/the-bitter-back-story-behind-powells-defection/1/

sturg....
wood pellets look like rabbit food and are made from compacted saw dust....
they are the fuel for pellets stoves that you use to heat your home..... similar to a wood stove......

if you buy a really good one (we have)..... it works more like a furnace.... you can control the temperature and the rate at which the pellets burn...... the stoves have a large hopper on the top that you fill with the pellets..... usually daily....

they are much more efficient than a wood stove..... we need to clean out the ashes only every 3 weeks..... the stoves also have blowers which distributes the heat.... but it does mean you use a bit of electricity.....

here's where we bought our stove.... http://www.heartlinestoves.com/

RE: the campaign clothes....a non-issue in my view. Some Democratic consultant was laughing about it on MoJo -- said that the way those things work is that somebody brings a bunch of clothing to the person's hotel room and they pick what they like. And in this case, the RNC picked up the tab.

Jamie's right -- Jackie took heat al the time about clothes. And I always thought the barbs about Jackie and also Nancy Reagan were stupid. Same category as what someone orders from room service or how much the haircuts cost.

Given the obscene amounts of money spent during campaigns these days, this seems like a ho-hum.

Tom -- Thanks for posting that health care story. Why in the world are our costs SO much higher?

All of this talk about Messrs. Plumber and Six Pack reminds me of the 1945 Oscar Winning Short Subject,
"The House I Live In". If you want to see the ten minute silm, it is here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMM6BOPSNGc

The dialogue is very dated with some WWII era anti Japanese sentiments and despite the lyrics of the song, all the children are white males. :-)

Still, it is the message Americans were being sold about themselves and their country, so it is the lyrics of the song that became a Sinatra hit that are important, It is a lesson we should all relearn especially for this election.

Here is the Patti LaBelle version of "The House I Live In" from Sinatra's 80th birthday party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1yuAxYwkRk

An employee does not necessarily have anything with held.
When you fill out your tax forms, you can ask for enough exemptions to negate with holding.

Posted by: fact check please! | October 21, 2008 4:20 PM

Fact check... your post reminded me of something from years ago. A former colleague in a Minnesota bank where I worked had become a bank auditor. Now this isn't really that relevant to the story except to say he was good with money, very analytical... smart with numbers. He figured out that if he put down as many dependents as necessary to not have to hold any withholding, he could put the money away in a time certificate, earn interest, and then pay the tax bill the next April 15th.

Great idea! However, the tax people did not see it that way. He was told, in no uncertain terms, that claiming dependents that weren't there was not permissible by law and he not only got to pay his tax bill, but a hefty fine to go along with it. Now, it may not have helped that he actually listed 99 dependents but, at the end of the day, I believe claiming dependents that do not exist in order to avoid tax withholding is considered illegal and the person doing so can receive a high financial fine.

Caveat emptor... This was the early 80s. I don't know if the tax laws have changed since them. Anyone have ideas on this?

Today's thread on the BackChannel Blog

McCain’s Choice, by BrianInNYC

http://clistersbackchannel.wordpress.com/

Being screwed is just a basic fact of life for Joe.

"If God didn't want them sheared, he would not have made them sheep."

"Then that makes him a liberal spendthrift that can't manage money."

then again it might mean he's an adherent of the truman doctrine warning us to be aware of politicians who make money while in office.

[btw, anyone out there know the exact quote? and didn't twain say something similar but wittier?]

sorry, "aware" should read "wary"

I stopped by the donut shop my friend owns this morning. She was surprised to see me. She also works a full time job at a factory. Her husband makes the donuts for her each night and then he relieves her in the late morning so she can take a nap before she goes to her factory job in the afternoon.

Boy those robocalls are really working out well for McCain in Maine!

McCain in Maine Falls Mainly ... Well, He's Down by 15 Points, Let's Put it That Way: In an election for President of the United States in Maine today, 10/21/08, two weeks until votes are counted, Democrat Barack Obama defeats Republican John McCain 54% to 39%, according to this latest SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for WCSH-TV Portland and WLBZ-TV Bangor. Compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll released 4 weeks ago, Obama is up 5 points;

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=91fdafc8-d133-4fe3-b651-4d15afd0d335

nice article by truman's grandson in last month's chitrib
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-oped0912trumansep12,0,2630985.story

"I wish my wife could make the daily commute home.
Omaha is closer to here then Delaware is to DC. Instead she is on the road for 3 weeks. 8 more days to go."

When I was going to a school in Alabama for a couple of months, I flew back to England for Thanksgiving. It was out of my pocket. Money well spent.

Well I just wrote this long post about medical care in Belgium and then I did something messed up and lost it.

Patsi, here is the cliff notes: care is for everyone... everyone has to have health insurance. we can choose which provider but the basics are the same. Costs are controlled by the government in consultation with doctors and pharmaceuticals, patient advocates and the like. There are maximum charges and they are adhered to stringently. we do not have long waiting lists, and there is an emphasis on wellness and recovery. Highly expensive drugs may require further investigation to see if the patient truly needs it, but most everything is covered.

Health care for the people, not for the profiteers. It's a great system and, unlike the one is the USA, it is NOT broken.

ooops..... sturg....

I forgot to mention that pellets are sold by the ton in 40lb plastic bags..... I hate all the plastic, but you can't burn wet pellets.....

the average household goes through 4-5 tons of pellets a year here in NH.....

leaving now to go to a really late breakfast with Rick..... will join in with the conversation later......

Craig..... forgive me for playing ColoradoBob this morning.....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161866

Anon, I tried to access that link re: Powell, but it seems not to work.

mornin' all.

Hag, try calling this place - maybe they can hook you up with a supplier

http://www.bmfp.com/

Well, Sarah does dress nicely, I'll give her that.

ET, that's a very odd IRS response. Technically that is probably true - the form allows you to claim as many deductions as you plan to claim on your tax return, but many people claim more dependents than they have to minimize withholding. I've never heard of anyone being fined for that until now.

So lessee, Obama's FL advantage has vanished, but MN looks like it's falling his way. Looks like OH might be the lynchpin, like I've said for months. VA and NC are teh biggest surprises to me, and may, if they stay in teh Obama column, lessen OH's impact no matter which way it goes.

ET - How much Healthcare happens outside the system?
In other countries with Gov plans - the Private sector does very well.

And Hello from San Juan... PR

Hey Renee, thanks for the reply. So you live up near where the factory fire was I guess. That is the excuse for the lack of availability I keep getting at the stores anyways ( other than hoarding). Thanks for the good wishes, looks like I need all I can get!

By the way, please stop by if you ever get down here to the Vineyard!

Lee Greenwood must have set the record for a decades long career consisting of one song.

Comment on the Dress thing....

All the talk about the clothes - "Marketing" of Sarah..

Now take the vaporware Ads that Obama is spending and apply the same rule.

What is the difference? It is all about the campaign.

Who is buying the most?

Or in the terms used today regarding the Republican campaign.

Who is wasting the most?

Answer = Big Gov Obama

Ping I don't know the answer to your question.

And I appreciate that even though you and I are miles apart on politics, you remain a gentleman, which, in my impassioned why, I fail.

I don't know, but I believe in big government. I realize this is sacrilege in our "center right" country and it's probably why I have never really fit in. Furthermore it does explain one of the motivations I had to move to Europe in 1998.

ET,
I believe we all want the same end result - just different roads

Battery low..... Will have to find a plug in SJU

"you remain a gentleman, which, in my impassioned why, I fail. "

ROFL -- You're just fine Tom....

blistersyeahbutchannel presents

Threadawesome

America's Election
Hobson's Choice

The link to the President's Quiz from that Truman article is a good history lesson

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/chi-president-quiz,0,3188595.triviaquiz

UT -
It's at the Beast

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-22/the-bitter-back-story-behind-powells-defection/

More nutballs at McCain rally
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1417423198/bctid1866657225

Hag, or this place

http://www.woodpellets.net/delivery.htm

or this

http://www.southshorewoodpellets.com/

I've found that if I can't find stuff locally (i.e. Lowes or WalMart doesn't have it) I can usually get some help from the manufacturer.

The health care plan that Hillary championed and that Obama seems to have come to is most like the Belgium system rather than single payer.

The mechanisms for Insurance companies is already in place so businesses wouldn't be destroyed and the majority of moderate to large companies already insure their employees in some fashion.

It would be a vast improvement over what we have now.

So anyone been following Ted Stevens' case? Any bets on the outcome?

Who is Hobson?

Pogo, if it's Alaskans who decide the case I am betting he is NOT convicted.

I'm back... found a power outlet...

What amazes my Euopean associates is that All People have critical access to Healthcare - which is also part of the problem.
They have an impression that the air ambulance checks for your insurance card before they take you to the ED

We need to better manage our resources and people must do a better job of taking care of themselves.

Ping Opinion - for the most part Europeans also take better care of themselves -except smoking... However they are becoming more American ....

ET, he tried to get the case moved there - he didn't. It's DCers who will decide his fate. Now that we've dismissed the AKers from the jury pool, what's your bet? I'm betting he's convicted on at least one felony count. After all, he made the big mistake - he took the stand to testify in his own defense.

"We need to better manage our resources and people must do a better job of taking care of themselves."

Posted by: Ping Pong | October 22, 2008 10:32 AM

You betcha, Ping.

RE: the campaign clothes....a non-issue in my view. Some Democratic consultant was laughing about it on MoJo -- said that the way those things work is that somebody brings a bunch of clothing to the person's hotel room and they pick what they like. And in this case, the RNC picked up the tab.

Jamie's right -- Jackie took heat al the time about clothes. And I always thought the barbs about Jackie and also Nancy Reagan were stupid. Same category as what someone orders from room service or how much the haircuts cost.

Given the obscene amounts of money spent during campaigns these days, this seems like a ho-hum.

Posted by: Patsi | October 22, 2008 9:33 AM

Tis is precisely why I like you so much.... On the Money Mrs P...on the money!

And one more thing: The shoes Michelle O wore during the february 5th primary were Christian Louboutin´s..... Strange, that no one noticed that.

re: McCain on Imus Wed AM
For years I listened to McCain on Imus and liked him, though not his politics. This morning's "visit" was disgraceful. I turned it off a few times. All McCain did was recite talking points, which are very familiar to anyone paying any attention to the campaign. He repeated himself constantly throughout the interview, often in the very same sentence! He said exactly the same things to Imus that he said to Katie Couric or Bob Schieffer and others ("I don't care about some old washed-up up terrorist who said he regretted not doing more bombing (or whatever the rest of that talking point was)" and "It's a gotcha question, that's fiiiiine"). But Imus isn't Katie Couric--these 2 guys have a long relationship and McCain didn't really acknowlege it in his answers. He completely changed the subject of Imus's questions to get onto some subject that he had a ready Obama put-down for. He could have just been playing tapes of sound bites from the last few months. He truly sounded kooky. I also can't believe he's snubbed Imus for this long.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161871

ET, This also applies to declaring oneself "Exempt". If you do it, but end up not being exempt, you cannot do it the following year unless you know it is an absolutely sure thing ... The IRS doesn't like you earning income on "their" money.

ET,
Since it was more or less my topic yesterday, I think it's still the law that you'll be penalized for incorrectly stating your dependents. I think the IRS just wants the most up-to-date payments from your payroll in lieu of waiting for it in April the following year.
btw, are you still on for the KAOS gig next month? And do you know J Drummond?

So lessee, Obama's FL advantage has vanished, but MN looks like it's falling his way. Looks like OH might be the lynchpin, like I've said for months. VA and NC are teh biggest surprises to me, and may, if they stay in teh Obama column, lessen OH's impact no matter which way it goes.

Posted by: pogo | October 22, 2008 10:06 AM

Agree sir. I never thought that Fl was a possibility, and always knew that OH would be the one.... Can BO still lose OH and PA? I doubt that however....
Have to give it to the guy, he is on a roll....

New McCain Ad: We Are All Joe The Plumber

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/22/new-mccain-ad-we-are-all_n_136774.html

Yet another example of how McCain is just like Bush. It doesn't matter whether something is working or not, they both just keep doing the same thing, somehow hoping the results will be different.

Obama will both Florida and PA, and more than likely will win Ohio, though I wouldn't bet my life on Ohio.

ET,

"Hobson's Choice" - Name of Play

It has come to mean having only one choice: To take or refuse what is offered with no alternative

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobsons_choice

Great trail report by Blue!

Thanks for the local color.

Tabi - That is all we hear from all of them.... The same talking points...
I wish they would mix it up

Obama get Powell's endorsement and McCain gets Bin Laden's. LOL

" though I wouldn't bet my life on Ohio. "

I don't know -- my daughter lives in a very conservative part of Cincinnati, and she thinks a lot of her neighbors are voting Obama. Including her fundamentalist next door neighbors.

McCain on Imus in the Morning this morning discusses Rev Jeremiah Wright and ACORN. There is a link to the podcast for the interview.

http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/imus-mccain-talks-wright-and-palin/

Jason, Pa is the surest bet for Obama of all those states. FL is a tossup right now, and if it goes the way the polls seem to indicate and the way WV is going, McCain will win it. Brian's smart not to bet his life on OH, but I think in the end, Obama will win it VERY narrowly. I still say VA is the biggest surprise. The VA idiot senator George Allen was on the tube last night. I remeber thinking how big a boob I thought he was when I lived there, and he hasn't improved in the ensuing 15 years.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161913

Ping,

The problem with 24 hour news. A candidate used to be able to have one speech that they made for the whole campaign with only minor adjustments for wherever they were appearing. Now we have heard the same points 20 times in one week. It wears out very fast.

This is where a natural speaker has an advantage. They can alter order and emphasis and update with the daily news instead of having to memorize and repeat everything. I knew a public speaker who could read the front page on the way to an event and give a 30 minute speech based only on headlines because the underlying positions were the same. You just didn't notice because it always "sounded" different.

This is where Obama really has the edge on McCain.

2008 Florida Presidential General Election:
McCain vs Obama

http://www.pollster.com/polls/fl/08-fl-pres-ge-mvo.php

Jamie. And to prove your point - I have personal experience hearing Obama in Orlando on Monday!

Same talking points - great delivery

agree or not - fiscal responsible or not - he moved the crowd

Polls Polls everywhere the polls. (sing to Signs signs everywhere....)

Now how on target have the polls been?

Getting ready to board the airplane

Best to all..

Da Ping

The Making (and Remaking and Remaking) of McCain

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/magazine/26mccain-t.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

This is the article that will be published in The Sunday Time's Magazine. I haven't read the full article yet, but the buzz about it is that it really shows just how bad a campaign McCain has run.

Palin's wardrobe malfunction is now the top story on google news.

Nothing like calling someone a "Celebrity Elitist" and then dropping 150 K on your VP pick to drive home the point.
These are the dumbest fucking people in the history of politics.

POLITICO Double Covers McCain’s Appearance from previous link update.

http://imustimes.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/imus-mccain-talks-wright-and-palin/

Ms. Sarah certainly likes them perks, don't she?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/21/ap-alaska-funded-palins-k_n_136719.html

No need to be concerned about her leaving the kids alone because of her busy schedule - she just takes 'em along at taxpayer expense. How much official state business can a kid conduct? Inquiring minds....

" then dropping 150 K on your VP pick to drive home the point.
These are the dumbest fucking people in the history of politics."

BS. If she "dressed down" the sexist pigs would be tearing her apart for that. Find a real issue.

Signs Signs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLm3HMG8IhM

Ping - some have been right, some have been wrong. The trick is figuring out which are which.

Imus podcast link

http://www.wabcradio.com/Article.asp?id=945681&spid=22807

Man, just watching MSNBC. Apparently they can't even get Brad Blakman to sit in the hot seat for the Rep. side now. That's pretty sad.

Morning Call has Obama up by 12 in PA in today's poll, with an undecided of 5.

http://www.muhlenberg.edu/studorgs/polling/documents/Release_10_21.pdf

I'm not sure about this but I do believe all the major polls that are showing Obama ahead by double digits nationally have fairly low undecided numbers when contrasted to Obama's lead. The pool of undecided is drying up and from several things I've read the demographics of the undecided pools highly favor Obama.

It's not sexism , it's politics.

If you're sellin' "Walmart Wonder Woman" don't be carrying Louis Vuitton on your shoulder as you pass the Walmart Greeter.

It's the 08' edition of John Kerry wind surfing . It's just that the "Flip/Flop is on the other foot.

Walmart Greeter:

http://conservatard.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/walmart_greeter2.jpg

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161907

Rez, I don't know Jerry except by reputation. There was a point where I was thinking of applying for getting my job back but then I realized there was/is no going back. Besides without Michael and Juli there it wouldn't be the KAOS I knew and loved so much.

Yeah, I am supposed to be a guest on Wednesday's Breakfast Special on 5 November. I haven't really focussed yet on what I might offer in terms of "expat perspective"; I think I am most interested in talking about European perceptions of the USA and particularly our political/economic/social system. Then again, I don't think this is more than a 5 minute discussion. LOL

Anon it's not sexism that is the issue, regardless of how many one issue people think it is. The issue is elitism, McCain~Palin's elitism. The type of elitism that says you can exploit the shit out of some wannabe plumber in Ohio while you got your hand in his pants stealing the money right out of his wallet. The type of elitism that thinks you can get away with calling your opposition a "celebrity" and then drop 150 grand to buy your under qualified, ill informed VP candidate. In 6 weeks and on 3 separate occasions she has yet to answer correctly as to what her job is if she's elected. On the Palin pick alone John McCain should be ashamed to show his face to the American people.

Anon, my Mom works for Walmart, so I had to stop sending anti-Walmart information. I do shop there when I am back in the states, though I am far more partial to Target.

As for the Walmart greeters, I think in all the times I ever walked into one of the stores, only 1 person has ever really "greeted" me. Couldn't they put that position into something more meaningful that handing someone a shopping cart?

Michelle Obama's dress when she appeared on the View cost 148 bucks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59twO1fJwtQ

Good video...the repugs still have a better ground game in southern New Mexico....'Viva Bush' was a huge success and the campaign fed many at their repug rallies. Both McCain and Hillary are to be in southern New Mexico on Saturday and McCain has already claimed the Mesilla Plaza....who knows where Hillary will end-up? Dems still very unorganized in this area. Obama has held one select, private event here for veterans...by Saturday, McCain will have visited twice. Biden was in Mesilla last week.

Mrs. Obama dressed down for the view
Chicago – Midwest fashion hasn’t historically measured up to the runways of Paris or New York. But on the campaign trail, at least one Chicago designer is getting a huge look right now. Maria Pinto is helping Michelle Obama bring style to the stump.

You cannot buy a sleeve of Ms Pinto's creations for $148.00
a featured designer for the high end women's market.

Yep, nothin' like wearin' Saks 5th Ave into the Ohio Rust Belt and tellin' em' you're one of them.

Thx ET,

Was just curious. I don't know the Drummonds that well either except they're neighbors and my wife has some contact with Judy.
I'm not a regular KAOS listener except when for an occasional Blues program and their Native issues programming, but I'll try and look out for your segment.

Maybe they'll archive it for linkup here :-)

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2008/10/going-to-ground.html#comment-161902

Pogo, then I go for a guilty decision. Thanks for the clarification.

Ping re; Europeans... when I first moved to The Netherlands, I was dumbfounded by the VERY OLD people riding their bicycles all around. Many people that age would be using walkers in the states. The europeans think every single one of us are super fat (didn't help break the stereotype that I was) LOL.. but I digress. The inconsistency between their healthy lifestyles and the smoking is startling. It is starting to get better. Belgium has photos of diseased lungs and the like on the siggy packs now. You can no longer smoke in a restaurant or a pub unless they have a separate smoking space with it's own air circulation system. Even the Dutch are now forbidding smoking in restaurants (hallelujah!). England is about to debut photos on their cigarette packs, even more graphic than the ones in Belgium.

Things are changing. Even Turkey, not a European country, but a small piece is in Europe, is now starting a nominal restriction on cigarette smoking. The EU is planning for a common non-smoking law to be in place by 2010? Also they want to have a standard taxation system on cigarette packs, which will mean mostly more tax increases on cigarettes.

One interesting side note. Belgium has been pushing people to quit smoking, and in the process they have raised the tax on cigarettes a LOT.. and they continue to do so. However the cigarette taxes are part of the economic budget created by the government and when the taxes went up, the total euros in taxation dropped. Why? because it discouraged smoking, or buying the cigarettes in Belgium. And herein is the rub. The Belgian government supports efforts to reduce and eliminate smoking, but they also profit from the taxes that are collected from smokers, and that projected income from the said smokers is placed into the balance sheets of financial projections and budget balancing. Seems a contradiction to me and if I were a politician, I would not use the cigarette taxes as a base to help balance the budget.

Oh and some more bad news. Since we are about 5 billion short in the budget for the next fiscal year, the government is likely to raise gasoline taxes again because, as they argue, with falling oil prices, we can afford the increases. I'd be a hypocrite if I complained too much about this because I do support a social state, but I wish they could leave energy alone for a while so that industry and individuals could recover further from the record fuel and energy costs endured in the past 1.5 years and the adverse effects it has had on our economy. Oh yeah, my bank has announced a loss of 500 million for this year.

Oy vey!

Rez is Gary Galbreath still involved in KAOS?

"http://conservatard.files.wordpress.com/2007/05/walmart_greeter2.jpg"

ROFL, anon....

The SoetorObama Cover-up
---------------------------------------
Martin Lawsuit:

Hawai'i Supreme Court Petition

SUPREME COURT DOCKET NUMBER: 29414

"Obama claims that he has posted a conformed copy of his birth certificate on a web site. It is impossible to say whether this assertion is true, because Petitioner has no official copy to compare to the Internet version. Obama has not posted any of the source information or supporting data. If Obama has posted a version of his birth certificate, it would appear he has waived any privacy issues and the statutory restrictions on issuance of a copy to Petitioner no longer apply.

It is indeed a very peculiar state as now exists where Obama claims he has released his birth certificate or at least his latest version of the document, and yet claims that no one should be able to obtain an official copy of the same document from the State of Hawai’i or review the source information for the certificate. Waiver would appear to be applicable and render nugatory any privacy concerns."

http://contrariancommentary.blogspot.com/2008/10/hawaii-supreme-court-petition-andy.html

GORDO GORDO GORDO... what do you do in real life?

ET,

I've met and know Gary from some longhouse deal a while back. I think he's still a weekend thing going. Hate to say, the local coastal songs are not our thing. Dear wife and I never did get onto the "salmon scene". :-)

Gordo - petitioner (Berg?) is mixing apples and oranges - waiver doesn't apply to statutory restrictions regarding issuance of documents by government agencies unless the court adopts the argument, rules in petitioner's favor and issues an order compelling the agency to release the document. I'm betting that the court doesn't do that.

Lunch.

Just in case anyone runs out of ammunition, this is from a "liberal" blog poster:

"This new scandal with Palin and the 150K they've spent on clithes for her just takes the cake... you fuckfaces crucified Edwards over a 400 dollar haircut and this cunt gets 150K of clothes?.. And don't come back with how Edwards was an asshole 'cause he had an affair and a baby out of wed-lock, because McCain had an affair and Palin had an affair with her husband's business partner, and her dirtbag daughter shat out that retarded kid she's been slinging over her shoulder.. NOT HER.. "

Liberals, we hardly knew ye....

Palin family values.

Education is not a high priority. Had never thought about it this way ... Andrew Sullivan post, picking up on a question from conservative writer Ramesh Ponnaru item in the National Review Online (NOTES are my own):

re: "How anti-intellectual is Palin? ... Here's one way to look at the question: how has Palin brought up her own kids? Her eldest son is a high-school drop-out [NOTE: he's now in the Marines, either in or training to go to Iraq]. Her eldest daughter has had, so far as one can tell from press reports, very uneven attendance in high school, and no plans for college. Her other daughters seem to spend a lot of time traveling the country with their mom at tax-payers' expense. I've seen them at several rallies with the Palins this fall. Are they not in school? [NOTE: I would bet they are being home-schooled by ... someone.]

The least one can say is that none of her children seems to have been brought up thinking that college is something to aspire to. And her new son-in-law [TO BE] just dropped out of high school as well.

Sarah Palin's own record of several colleges over several years - ending with a degree in sports journalism - tells you a lot. So does her interest in policing the Wasilla library as mayor and using the town's money for a sports stadium. She cut funding for the town museum and opposed building a new library. So does her amazing ignorance about the constitution. ..."

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/how-anti-intell.html

======

OK, am not into scoffing at Palin's sports journalism degree -- she had to fulfill SOME requirements to obtain it.

But it is SO ODD to see such a prominent family that puts so little stock in formal education. My cousins who did not have the opportunity to attend college raised a bunch of bright, motivated kids of their own who did attend college. Catching up with them at a recent family reunion: the younger members of the family are very glad to have had the chance to go to college and most have had to move away from their small midwest city to larger midwest cities for professional opportunities.

Is Sarah Palin someone you want making assumptions about what is "good enough" for your family?

PS: Here's Noam Scheiber article in The New Republic: "Barracuda" on Palin's anti-intellectualism (allegedly; I've not read it yet -- you be the judge):

http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=8c130fe3-adab-4cb3-8443-c363f085cf13

Income Tax Withholding Question:

Someone may have answered this upthread, so please forgive me for not checking all the way through.

There's no penalty for stating too many exemptions on your W-4 at work and there is no need for that form to match any reality at home, but IRS will hit you with a penalty for "under-withholding."

I can't swear to the numbers, but I think you have to have pre-paid either by withholding or quarterly estimated payments about 80% of your tax obligation by January 15th or 31st. As you see, I'm vague on this but I'm in the ballpark.

One way to avoid the fine is to have at least paid in as much as your total tax liability from the year before. If you did that you avoid the fine, even if you had such a good year this year that the pre-pay falls below the 80% (or whatever) threshhold.

SeaHag....
yes.... the warehouse of New England Pellets did experience a big fire back in August..... I live 7 miles from the Jaffrey border...... same for you if you ever get up here to NH.....

ETom..... we have the same thing going on with cigarette taxes here..... we tax the crap out of them to get people to stop smoking.... yet depend on those taxes to help balance the state's budget..... it doesn't make sense to me either.....

Patsi..... sadly, I think there's always been those types of people on the extremes of both parties..... they just seem to be more vocal now.....

I am really glad that I retired my election official position 2 yrs ago..... I don't envy anyone working the polls anywhere in this election cycle.....

Patsi,

Only you would put up some one like that as the typical liberal blog commenter.

I think the reason she went to a lot of schools is because she actually had to work while in college. What a concept. No sweet deals available, I guess.

Aside from that, I've seen some disturbing trends among acquaintances....many are neither encouraging nor discouraging their children to go to college. In my family, college wasn't a choice. My kids knew they'd go no matter what. But, for example, a lot of boys my son was in Boy Scouts with either didn't go to college or dropped out. These were from upscale families, too.

"Only you would put up some one like that as the typical liberal blog commenter."

I see that kind of crap all the time, Rez. There's a very ugly element out there, and it's not confined to the wing nuts.

pogo -------------------

Not Phil Berg -- this lawsuit is from Andy Martin.
-----------------------------------------------------
Why is SoetorObama trying to use the law (in the Berg case) to hide documents from the American people and the world? It's because he has plenty to hide. The TRUTH would show that he does not meet the Constitutional requirements for POTUS.

"There's a very ugly element out there, and it's not confined to the wing nuts."

I agree but I also agree with RR's comment about it too.

Patsi one can find just as many stupid blog posts that use the N word as use the C word. Yet again you prove nothing except your unyielding quest to find a sexist under every rock you chose to turn over.

What is up with Gordo's "SoetorObama" name calli