Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

just a nifty way to demonstrate how much money we're talking about -- but wouldn't it be fun!

and during the year they don't have to collect taxes, IRS workers could get out there and help build some bridges or something

Craig,

H & R Block would not be happy.

I've actually heard this seriously proposed, but rather than a waiver on income taxes, one on payroll taxes would probably do more good as they are shared by both employer and employee and are the taxes that most injure those below or near the poverty line.

the feds aren't paying their bills now. and borrowing much of it from China

speaking of not paying bills, a friend of mine is trying to collect from a vendor who owes her but was told they had put a hold on all outstanding payments. wow, if only the average person could do that.

Who are you, Doris Kearns Goodwin? That's Lard's idea.

A one year forgiveness on Social Security taxes while still retaining credit in their account would be almost a $100 a month raise for someone making minimum wage. It would be an equal amount for anyone employing that person multiplies by however many workers they had.

yeah i stole it, host perogative

sorry Lard

It would be too big a shock to go back to full deductions in the second year so maybe some sort of phase back in over four or five years that I would hope would be offset by a greatful employer handing out merit or cost of living increases.

all you keynesians make it all so complcated

Same problem as with any tax cut.

We are in a deflationary spiral. In such an event each individual wisely does his best to position himself for the worst he imagines will happen.

When that happens the tax cuts go into savings or paying off debt(the same thing economically ) Not into spending.
While savings is good as a long run habit, in a short term crises as we have now, it exacerbates the problem.

No cigar Craig, back to the drawing board.

no taxes provides enough for saving AND spending, whsky. tax cuts in the current plan would give the average worker about $12 a week. what good will that do?

Craig--I had 2 projects that told me that they were not going to pay for work done,,,,already been told by the IRS that I will have an aduit,,,so this would be a nice time for your suggestion

"and during the year they don't have to collect taxes, IRS workers could get out there and help build some bridges or something"

Same thing for small biz??,,,I' all for it ,,,,and then in order to get rid of the IRS totally (they get paid commission on what they collect ---right or wrong) we go just transition to a flat sales tax,,,and a flat income tax,,,a little more from the rich for helping out the poor,,,,,,as long we are dreaming ,,,throw this one in there with yours HA!

how many cigars a week can you get for $12?

and doesn't more savings capitalize lenders to free up credit again?

Solar is on to something with the people employed to "collect" whether it is taxes, child support whatever. They almost always go after the little guys simply because it is easier to hound them, get court orders, attach wages etc.

It is a nice scheme to keep white collar workers pushing paper off unemployment, but the judgements carried on the books as "assets" hide budget shortfalls in the state, the state employee rarely "collects" much more than their salary, and the attachments often drive those who owe money into the cash only underground economy.

One of those noble ideas that look good on paper but is penny wise and pound foolish.

Solar, The big drawback to your idea of getting rid of Income Tax and going to a flat tax other than the obvious that it is horribly regressive and injures to poor is that all of those "government" employees need jobs too. Not sure what that would do to the unemployment figures if they all suddenly had to go job hunting.

well in the Stone Age they made products that lasted thousands of years, hence the name. better quality than the Cheap-Plastic-From-China Age we live in now

Jamie---not only that ----they are so intimidated byt the irs that the poor (no Atty's) often go into an agreement called an offer of compromise,,,,they pay this in small payments,,,that never end,,,,,the agent gets all of commissions up front,,,I think,,,but it still is a legal scam there is so much paper work involved that some just give up,,,,so to people that promise to consolidate their debts,,,not knowing that they could do the same negotiations themselves,,,,,and around,,and around they go where it all stops nobody knows,,

Craig, at my gas station, you could get 6 cigars a week... Henri Winterman's Corona cigars.

Jamie--- I know that draw back----there should be a tweaking of it so we can take care of them,,,,,,they (the deserving ones,,,get work for the abusers ,,no?) should ---the poor ----always be taken care of.

thanks, Euro, there ya go. the six-cigars-a-week tax cut. like that'll get the economy "rolling" again

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194645

Probably more in my neighborhood than yours.
Wonder what a King Edwards goes for these days.

"no taxes provides enough for saving AND spending"

But do you get more stuff bought with your plan?
As stuff bought is what is needed. Rich folks have money for investment they just have to believe there is a market. Your plan certainly helps walmart and I'm not against helping walmart. After all their stock is a major % of my Own America portfolio and I would love to see it get back to even.

Jack

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194650

not too many telephones in the stone age although they would probably still be around. Not too many stone garbage bags either. Weak argument!

BTW

Just listening to some of the things in the current spending bill we could cut out half of it and still get the same stimulus

Outside of the tax cuts(a non stimulus imo) another major chunk looks like it will go to the states and just replace current budget items. A bit of shuffling around but no increase in capital spending.

Jack

Speaking about the "little guy" and collecting from them, that Bernie Madoff is a great example of how there are different standards for the rich and poor in criminal justice cases. He's squandered ... what? ... 50 BILLION dollars of money trusting people invested with him? That's a lot of Fraud .. a whole lotta Fraud. But what happens? He is allowed to remain in the lap of luxury in his $7,000,000 NY apartment. If a guy living in poverty, was scheming money from people (committing fraud), and the Feds found out about it, he'd already be someone's bitch in prison by now!

Jamie,,,,not looking for an argument here

"government" employees need jobs too. Not sure what that would do to the unemployment figures if they all suddenly had to go job hunting."

The Republicans have used this as a huge weapon cos its true,,,,there are a lot of unneeded government employees,,,they think of it as welfare,,just like we think that they have a lot of corp welfare,,,I don't know where the answer lies but,,,,maybe after this crises is over it should be looked at??,,,but meanwhile we know that the IRS has now heart ,,,,,can we pretttttty please just start there :-0)

This lab rat needs to get some work done.

See you'ns later

Jack

"was told they had put a hold on all outstanding payments. wow, if only the average person could do that."

Back in the '70s, Mountain Bell owed my magazine for three months of advertising. I called and told the accounts payable representative that we were a small publication and couldn't carry that much on our books. She gave me a song and dance about their new system being routed through Dallas. Told me to be patient. I asked her what Mountain Bell would do if the magazine was three months behind in payments and I told them that it was because we were being routed through Dallas.

She didn't hesitate: "Oh, we'd cut off your service."

no way, i am a descendant of Fred Flintstone -- and i got his hair genes to prove it

I'm not opposed to government spending as long as it assists in the production of work for most people. Mass transit assists in getting people to work. Good roads and bridges helps people work. Child care services enable people to work. A good health care system makes it possible for people to work.

I really feel that a national health care system, particularly one that encouraged well care would really help employers. Unfortunately they are usually Republicans and the idea of a national health care makes them crazy even if it would be in their best interest.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194660

Solar, When someone advertises that they have 200 job openings and 1000 people show up to apply, you know there is a lot of unnecessary work.

The more efficient we get at producing more and more with less and less, the more people will be "redundant". In England they pay them to exist. Here when they run out of unemployment, they better have some kind relatives willing to take them in.

I agree with all of that,,,,maybe I should have said I am against multi tiered employment for one position,,,,there examples of this in our city,,,and probably in gov.positions,,,,but I do get you point,,and concur,,,just though of one example that really get me angry sometimes,,,,,,,question how many city employees does it take to fill in one pot hole,,,,answer 9,,one driver one or two to shovel,,,and the other six to watch,,,,and if they don't show up for work that day,,they are punched in ( time clock) by ) some one

Self Stimulation? We see that all the time here in comments.
I don't think it is all that effective.

Carly Fiorina is thinking about running against Barbara Boxer

Well Barbara needs to get the name of Pelosi's colorist before she runs. Someone needs to remind her that her complexion doesn't go with pale blond.

When 1000 people show up to apply for 200 jobs, I'm thinking there are about 800 who are not going to be doing any kind of unnecessary work. I really don't follow that logic.

btw, I saw our governor's wish list for the stimulus money - about 60% would go to water/sewer and road/bridge infrastructure building or improvement. About 20% would go to elementary and secondary education and 15% to postsecondary education and healthcare. 5% would go to "other" stuff - like consruction around the Capitol complex and other stuff that hasn't been funded for years. Funny pork.

crock pot of pork

I like Craig's friend's idea best.. think I'll just stop paying my bills for a while... (let's see...no cell phone, no cable, no electricity, and quite likely no place to live.. ) er..perhaps I better run over to the cellphone store and make a payment.

Dammmit HD, you beat me to it.

:)

:p

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194673

Pogo, I'm saying that there is not enough work for those 800 people to be employed. Jobs go away for any number of reasons. Telephone operators used to be a good job for about 200 women in every single town of moderate size from coast to coast.... redundant replaced by technology. Car Mechanics ... fewer needed thanks to computers and longer lifespans in cars. Just today, less and less mail that needs to be delivered thanks to the internet.

You could pull up example after example. The point is that the WORK of the WORLD is requiring fewer and fewer people at a time when more and more people want to work. It is going to be one of the major problems of the future.

"Someone needs to remind her that her complexion doesn't go with pale blond."

Jamie! She need to get a make-over to run for office? Not unless the great unwashed is in even worse shape than I feared.

Craig....
I heard the proposal of an income tax holiday shortly after Pres. Obama took office..... it came out of the mouth of minority leader John Boehner....

maybe Lardass stole it from him...... :0)

"You could pull up example after example. The point is that the WORK of the WORLD is requiring fewer and fewer people at a time when more and more people want to work. It is going to be one of the major problems of the future."

But how do you stop it ,,,,your e mail example is right on----here is another,,,,,,I talked about my Magic Jack Phone that all you do is plug into the back of the computer,,,into an usb port,,that saves me about 85 to 100 dollars that i used to spend on my land phone,,,,,,,It is now sold in Home Depot stores ,,,,im thinking that there will be a lot of unemployed telephone co. people in the near future,,,,and there will be more people developing ways of communications,, and they are as we speak,,,,a pc on the rim of your sunglasses and more,,,,there has to be a way new thinking about how to get people to work.

Jamie---lot of problems,,,,we getter get to colonizing our next planet ---going to be a lot of jobs there no?

Thanks jamie - I follow that and agree to a point. If you look at any number of industries, mechanization, computerization and other changes increasing productivity will result in fewer employees to produce a given level of goods (or services). On the other hand, emerging technology and new industries create jobs that didn't exist yesterday, which can be in addition to existing jobs (e.g. computer jobs) or instead of them (e.g. the internet/mail service example you provided). I just didn't understand the unnecessary work comment. I figure if someone's doing work and someone else is paying for it, someone, somewhere thinks it's necessary (although I gotta admit there are those jobs that have persisted in spite of changes in industries - e.g. firemen on diesel-electric locomotives is just one example I have had direct experience with).

Hah! I won't prosecute Craig for plagiarism. But thanks for springing to my defense, Champ.

Just to clear the record, when I posted that idea a few days ago it was as a "devils advocate" for what I said I thought the Republicans should be proposing if they really wanted to be obstructionist. It's certainly not something I would endorse myself, or I'd have to change my name to LardassConservative

Patsi,

Like it or not women running for office get their looks criticized. Men can run with a combover or rug topping a pudgy, pasty face that precedes a pot belly and all anyone wants to know if he can do the job.

The great unwashed will criticize that hair color.

Luckily, she is so entrenched that it probably won't matter, particularly against another woman who will also have comments about her looks, but if Boxer doesn't want to go grey, then she needs to pick another color.

My personal preference is for the Bella Abzugs of this world rather than the buy your way in types like Boxer, but she is better than Fiorina.

Lardass..... phew..... when you first posted it I wondered why you seemed to be endorsing Boehner's proposal....

In a global market where there are always people willing to do a job for lower and lower wages, there is a great shuffle coming. Unless those NEW jobs are created for more and more advanced technologies, there are going to be a billion or more human beings looking for work.

We may not see it in our lifetimes, but it is happening and failure to think in terms of fifty or a hundred years instead of income next quarter is going to create problems that we aren't even beginning to contemplate with a 10% unemployment rate.

Yep. Time to start warming up the rockets. I hear Mars can be nice this time of year.

Not sure when Boehner came out with it RebRen. I never heard him bring it up. But he can have all the credit as far as I'm concerned.

Boxer has never faced real opposition. I'm not sure Fiorina is any different than Matthew Fong but we will see. Boxer worked her way up starting as an aid to John Burton, then a Marin Supervisior and then running for Congress.

She is fairly popular but I think a lot of folks wish she would stick to her word that she won't run again...oh right she said that before she ran the last time.

When it comes to running for office, I'd say hair and makeup are among the least of Carly Fiorina's problems.

Well, here's the next Lou Dobbs Show: Stimulus aids illegal aliens.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20090129/Stimulus.Illegal.Immigrants/

Boy, I'm starting to think Robert Gibbs really is a rank amateur as a press secretary. His press office is doing all kinds of things -- and failing to do others -- that gain nothing and only serve to piss people off. It's early, but lots of this stuff they're fumbling is very basic Press Relations 101. I hope we see improvement.

http://www.cjr.org/campaign_desk/whos_undercutting_obama.php?page=all

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194691

KGC,

My love for Feinstein is equal to my displeasure with Boxer. If she weren't a Democrat and a trusted vote, I wouldn't want her. She's probably safe in her district and is a dependable vote, but that is about all you can say for her.

Posted by: LardassLiberal Author Profile Page | January 29, 2009 5:14 PM

DeeDee Meyers

I'm not sure I buy this, but if fewer and fewer people are needed to do the necessary work, then we have to put higher and higher values on frivolities in order to keep the same # of people employed.

This phenom could explain all the plastic ultra-breakable stuff we have to throw out right after we pay for it, plus 96 % of radio, 97 1/2% of tv, 99 1/2 % of movies, and 100% of golf and pro sports : the need to keep all the drones employed.

Lardass..... I heard him say it on CNN..... and he looked particularly orange that day too....

Jamie.... yeah.... but..... illegal aliens spend money too..... don't they.... ;0)

Posted by: Jamie Author Profile Page | January 29, 2009 5:16 PM

Remember the congressional check kiting scandal.
If the goopers hadn't put up a total bozo BB would not have elected to the senate in the first place.

Mike McCurry and Marlin FItzwater are still probably the gold standard.
Closely followed by James Brady.

Jamie
The lady who just had octuplets (with six at home) is just trying to get a show on tlc..but she's still behind the Duggers and a few other families.

With all due respect to my fellow drones.

lard
what about Pierre

KC, waitaminute. I thought Gibbs seemed to be fitting into the job nicely. I know I read that somewhere . . .

Talk about immediate obsolescence. Poor Robert Gibbs has been the official Press Secretary for nine days. At least he actually answers questions.

XR, That idea of the Leisure population free to enjoy education, literature, arts, music, and pleasurable activities has been the ideal in Sci Fi stories for ages ... probable likelihood unless we shrink the numbers or move: Soylent Green is People.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194701

Excuse me while I barf. She just entered the class of couples who go to Eastern Europe for rejected infants because they won't adopt a black child here.

xr, I think we place quite the premium on frivolity - I know I do. Now lay off sports - otherwise I'll have to spend the entire spring and summer oing manual labor around Chez Pogo instead of sitting on my arse with feet up, cool drink in hand and glassy-eyed look on face.

"doing manual labor"

Pogo

I was just responding to lard's post and the article that implies he's not responsive or maybe jsut overwhelmed.

Matthews just showed pictures of George in Texas. He already appears ten years younger. Amazing what a total lack of responsibility can do for your looks.

Boxer may not be the perfect Senator, but she is within striking distance of the top quintile.

Posted by: xrepublican Author Profile Page

well it doesn't take much when you competition is Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn (and we won't even talk about Corker)

Xrep

Drone away

You see the frivoulous value added all the time in construction

I can install a kitchen faucet that can cost anywhere from $30 to $300. Most of the difference is the style. Up to $100 dollars there is some difference in quality but they will all do the job.

I can point to damn near anything else in your house including the house its self.

Jack

"doing manual labor"

Lay off my brother Manual,,,I loved watching him do all the work,,,,,oh that was manual not Manuel,,,,never mind.

LOU DOBS SUCKS!!!

Blagojevich is removed from the Office of Governor!

so far it is unanimous !

Jamie, Pogo...I think the article I linked was less critical of Gibbs personally than it was about how the WH Press Office seems to be establishing itself.

Wow... the whole entire Illinois Senate confirmed the removing of Governor Blagojevich from office! He really pissed EVERYONE off, didn't he?

58 yes ... 1 not voting

Pogo,
You could try spring and summer spawning. But, that might lead tom the need for even more frivolity.

Jamie,
Did I say literature is frivolous ? Heaven forfend !

Reading,
"Is It not Brave to be a King
And ride in Triumph through Persepolis ?"
could never be called frivolous. Could it ?

Buh bye Blaggo. We hardly knew ye. Welll...maybe we knew ye a little too much.

oops there is going to be another roll call because 1 person's vote was not counted... well anyway it's a done deal...

Science link for the day

``Humans dump about 9 million tons of carbon daily into the atmosphere, but only half stays there,'' said David Crisp, principal investigator for NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory.

The rest is returned to Earth, but where much of it ends up is uncertain. About a quarter of the recycled CO2 is drawn into the ocean, and land vegetation absorbs another quarter.

``We don't know where the other half is going,'' said Crisp, who's based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/61034.html

ok well they decided by unanimous consent or something like that.

Now there is a motion to disqualify the ex-Governor from ever holding public office in the state again. And CNN has lost its uplink...

Society is frivolous, and shreds its day into scraps, its conversation into ceremonies and escapes.
----Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882),...

Anybody can lead a frivolous life. A frivolous writer, however, must have taste and intelligence.
---Mason Cooley (b. 1927), U.S....

ETom....

I heard earlier on CNN that the reason they want to disqualify Blaggo from ever holding office in the state is so that he can't run for president.... he wouldn't be able to run in the state's primary....

the uplink is back

on the question of forbidding Blago from ever holding elective office again in Illinois. What WILL he do in the future??? It's financial crisis time and jobs are hard to find!

OH well maybe his wife could apply :)

unanimous AGAIN !! Buhbye Gov. Your political career, at least in Illinois, is over and OUT!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194718

What can I say xr. Thomas Jefferson though universal education would mean a nation that read the great philosophers. Instead we get the checkstand tabloids and bankrupt NY Times.

Oh, if only Minnesota would do the same to Governor Potholes Aplenty.

what happens now? Do the police show up and drag him and Mrs. Blago out of the guv's mansion?

The Blaggo family joins the ranks of the unemployed. He apparently gets a pension for being in Congress and a state pension, but he hasn't reached retirement age. Can he collect the pensions now?

Xrepub... rather than the MN Guv can't we direct it against Coleman?

Tony

I have been thinking about your Solar water heating problem,,,,this is what I came up with,,,,U ready,,

If it was me,,I would but the mtl's they are tax deductible cos I have a biz tax #---2nd I would find other contractors that could put the system in,,,,and take the bids and use ( split the diff) the middle one,,then bill my self for the work,,,that is also deductible,,,,then I would attempt to do the work myself,,,or get some help,,,U have to know someone that could help you,,,or ---wait I could get Joe the Plumber,,,,just kidding pal,,,,,but I would put it in myself just to learn how to do it,,,and add that service to my business ---there are a lot of pools that you can put them in no?,,,you will get a free one after you do a cpl of them..?? I would go over and help you with it ,,,but I love the freezing cold,,,and snow (just had some more) that I think that I'll stay here. haha

rr,I don't really see Blago aas a threat as a presidential candidate under any circumstances. But then again, I don't live in IL and I am, after all, just your humble servant.

Paraphrase (I think) : You went to to the finest schools, but you only got juiced in them.

The moral of the story is that you can lead a horse to water, but you have to hold an idiot's head under.

but=buy

Solar

I can install Tony a hippie solar water heater for under a couple of hundred bucks.

Get a 55 gal drum, paint it black and set it up on a stand in the sun. It will get the water too hot to use by itself. for a shower.

Jack

Spent time in the apartment I am buying. Much work to do... and it's not such a large apartment... it's two bedrooms, but one is exclusively my company's office. Three things are necessary to do right away...

A new toilet... trust me you'd agree...
A new door (weird story here)... the woman who lived in the apartment locked her door went out on the balcony and JUMPED... from the 16th floor...and so the door had to be broken up to get inside... It's sad when people feel that hopeless. Finally a new kitchen. It's horrendous!

Pogo...
on CNN they reported that Blaggo wanted to someday run for president....
and the reason the legislature might take the step of disqualifying him to ever hold public office again was so that he couldn't run in the state's primary....

I'm just reporting..... you decide.... :0)

Mr. Tom,

Thanks for your question.

No, no special action seems needed on the soon-to-be-former Senator norman b. coleman, junior front.

From the very hour he left for Washington to assume the seat he had narrowly won, norm the lesser has worked diligently to assure us that he wouldn't keep the seat.

Al Franken tried everything he could to lose in November, including screwing up his tax payments going back 17 years, but he still couldn't prevent little norm from losing the election.

Governor Potholes, however, is a turd of a different color.

RR, I've decided - as to Pres., he was toast before he was impeached.

Tom, now that's weird. You do have your work cut out for you - as they say, been there, done that, got the t-shirt.

ET

I'm your man.
Kitchens and bathrooms are my Specialty.
Tile work with that extradecorative touches of fine wood trims.

And it just happens that I have a little free time.

Air fare may make it a little expensive, But the quality is worth it.

Jack

Have tile saw
Will travel

XR
Cheap shot at Franken. And untrue.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/01/accountants/

Whskyjack,

I tried one of those hippie showers when I lived in Minnesota's Great North Woods in the early 70s. The damn thing roze, bursting the seem. You say it's supposed to be hot. What'd I do wrong ?

That's s'posed to read, "froze" not "roze."

Another perfectly good gag blown to hell. Grumble, grumble.

well I wish I could afford it Jack because let me tell you, I seem to have been born with 2 left hands! I am about as handy as a beach sandal in a winter blizzard.

Oh yeah, I'm late for sleep, but I am really excited about buying this apartment. I have never owned property in my entire life and I sort of felt like a loser for not ever had a place of my own (both my sister and brother do).

The building has 17 floors, I am on the 16th.

KC, Agree with you, although I don't think LL was really taking a cheap shot at Franken - but rather at Coleman (who deserves every cheap shot we can muster). Glad the name of his accountant's firm was in the article - I wouldn't want to inadvertantly hire them. And now, bye bye - gotta fly.

Jack this guy already beat you to it Ha!

Homemadeenergy.org

Goodnight all... have to wake up in 5 hours. I've only slept between 4 and 5 hours a night this week... so much on my mind.

Nice to be visiting here again... the break was necessary !

If you're on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1441770734

become a friend...

Pogo

I hope the accountant paid the late fees and interests as well as eating the cost of all the new returns.

For Jack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r24_T-HOcyg

Ms. Cracker,

Franken's taxes were a mess and he didn't bother to fix things until July '08.

Cheap shot ? I know the jerk personally. What's sauce for this Gander is fine for the Franken. The asshole was rude to me, my wife, and our friends Mary and David, even as he was asking for big donations. He just can't stop playing the smartass. Mike Ciresi and Jack Nelson Pallmeyer were much better men, and would have been stronger candidates. If the party had chosen Mike or Jack, there wouldn't have been a recount. I can be mean to Franken now that the voting is over, and I intend to continue doing so.

The good thing about Franken is that he is better than 43 other guys in the Senate, including norman, minor.

XR

Whatever about the rudeness but the tax thing is pretty clear he paid all the texes just paid them to the wrong states -the fault of his accountant.

As for who was the better candidate --talk to the rest of the voters in Minnesota -they picked him the primary.

Apparently turd blossoms do stink

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/the-legal-intrigue-behind-rove.php

Sorry, Franken. It was 17 states over 4 years not 4 states over 17 years. People are ultimately responsible for their own taxes. I don't by stories that blame the wife or the accountant.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194757

XR, Gotta agree about Franken ... he is one great big swelled head impressed with his own importance. His saving grace: He isn't Coleman.

You would think the people of the state could do better.

Xr

All righty you don't like him, so be it.

I don't care if people don't like him but at least get the facts straight and don't repeat specious crap from the righwing noise machine.

Ms. Cracker,

Nelson-Pallmeyer and Ciresi did not contest in the primary, and so were not rejected by voters in favor of Franken. Both said they would respect the results of the party caucus/convention process, and both are men of their word.

Franken will be taking Paul Wellstone's seat in the Senate. I hope that knowledge of that fact induces him to become a real mensch.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194735

Solar
You and Jack are two funny Tradesmen! Yes that's what they call you in my favorite other country Australia..I really am trying to be as green as possible and that's basically why I'm interested in the solar hot water heater,my house is 2 yrs old so the tank is good and its in the garage, I had an on/off switch installed so I keep it off much of the time especially after April when my garage is so hot that the water really only has to be heated a couple of times a week.I got a quote the other day from Solar Fit a company that did my pool solar heating and my cost would be $3400 after tax rebates,a little steep.I wish you could swing by and install it but I understand you wouldn't like an 84 degree day this time a year when you can have snow and ice....HA HA you make me laugh and forget about my cold symptoms...Good medicine....

"Men can run with a combover or rug topping a pudgy, pasty face that precedes a pot belly and all anyone wants to know if he can do the job. "

As long as that is acceptable, and even supported, we remain second class. Probably doomed, the more I think about it. It'll never change.

Wellll pardon me. They were rejected by the party caucus convention process.

I hope Franken is a mensch as well. He's a good guy and the only entertainer I would rather see in office is Richard Dreyfuss

I better go over and listen to Roseanne Barr's online radio chat to cheer up.

Anyone who writes a book called "Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot" is Mighty Fine with me.

I don't "repeat specious crap from the righwing noise machine" but thanks for those generous words.

With the exception of Nelson-Pallmeyer, I know all these men personally. I've played politics in MN since the 60s and know most DFLers and a lot or republicans. Having worked for the defense, I also know that when chiselers get caught, they blame their wives, accountants, or both.

Franken said that he over-paid his taxes in NY an MN. Maybe he did. I haven't seen the audits, and don't know anyone who has. (Have you/Do you?) I'll take his word for it that he did.

However, it is still elementary that when you make income in an income tax state, you owe tax to that state.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194766

Patsi, It will change. It took us from 1776 to 1920 to get the friggin' vote. Our first Congresswoman took her seat in 1916 from the only state (Montana) that allowed women the franchise.

Maybe in another seven years (2016), no one will look at hairstyles.

xrep

You've made it clear you don't like him so no matter what you will be picking nits. Franken relied on his accountant who was wrong. When the error came to light the corrections were made. Coleman shouldn't have been elected after Wellstone died but the people of Minnesota elected him and they also elected Jesse Ventura so pardon me if I don't have all that high opinion of your electorate

Compared to norman b. coleman, minissimus, Franken is a paragon of virtue.

Some day I'll write a piece ala SolarCrete explaining how to get an NHL franchise in your town. It involves turnining a $100,000 check from Mortensen Construction to the NHL, into a $100,000,000 liability for the tax payers, and the donation of a hockey franchise to a big political donor who lives in Florida and who never saw a hockey game in his life.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/29726359.html

explaining the false rightwing attacks on Franken

Jack and Solar

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090129/NEWS/901290373/1350?Title=Santa_Rosa_startup_rolls_out_eco_friendly_concrete

Published: Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 4:25 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 4:25 a.m.

A Santa Rosa startup has developed a new recipe that could reshape the way builders use one of the world's most common construction materials -- concrete.

The company, Ekocrete Inc., is lining up deals to roll out its eco-friendly blend of concrete at home improvement stores across the West next month. It is also marketing its green concrete to ready-mix companies for use in construction projects.

Posted by: Jamie Author Profile Page | January 29, 2009 7:35 PM
He is a stupid humorless jerk with no moral code

KGC---Hello

Thank you for thinking of me,,,,,I read that Ekocrete link,,,,,very interesting,,,,,will keep an eye on it,,,,I don't particularly like recycled concrete,,,,but I could change if it meets quality and stress integrity,,,, if Ready Mix company's are looking at it,,,so will I,,,,,but I think that there will be a limit to its use,,,, a high quality mix needs to be used for most projects approved for permits,,,,,I would however use it for ,,driveway's, patios,sidewalks etc....thanks

p.s.he should talk---there is not any post that he doesn't nit pick,about,, thanks again.

Well I tried. I thought expert nit picker was humorous.

Posted by: Jamie Author Profile Page | January 29, 2009 7:45 PM

Hello Jamie
Even when you put the humor icon in --he didn't get your "I'm still mad at Carolyn" joke......

I don't have a high opinion of MN's electorate, either. They are better than ID, GA, TX, or TN. But bad as he was, James Janos (dba Jesse the Blowhard Ventura), was better than tim pawlenty (aka Governor Potholes Aplenty). As he left office, Ventura boasted that we would miss him. Sadly, he was correct.

The state hasn't had a decent governor since Jan. 1991. In that time, the DFL has nominated 4 candidates who self-destructed. If you'd seen Ventura's rivals in '98, HH "Skip" Humphrey III and itty bitty norm, you wouldn't consider the Ventura selection to be quite so bad. "Skip" was the guy who in '88 had been unable to oust "dirty dave" durenberger from the Senate, even though "dope-smokin' dave" had been attacked and beaten up by his mistress in the MSP airport - Larry Craig's home away from home. "old drunk and disorderly" durenburger kept both the seat and the mistress, as "Skip" ran the least competent campaign ever seen in the state, until his 3d place loss to Ventura a decade later.

Iow, electorates need a little help from the pols. They can't be expected to make silk reticules out of swines' ears.

Btw, I'm now only a part time Minnesotan these days. I can only be blamed 6 months of the year.

KGC - I find it hilarious that Carly wants to run in CA. She probably wouldn't stand a chance in the north - we've got HP here and those people must hate her.

I don't want ice - I'll be happy with some rain, and then the snow will go to the Sierra. Lake Mendocino is supposedly at a 30-year low. Next Saturday might be cloudy!

My point about de-salinization is that we fear the oceans rising with global warming - let's suck up all that extra water, get the salt out, and green up the whole damn earth, and put an end to desertification!

You guys have had some interesting talks today-neat!

I'm going to see if my three boys will agree to see me.
Mama didn't need me today -it was her third c-section and she was told not to drive for two weeks, but she says that was just because of the pain meds, which she doesn't need any more. I tell you, this girl is like nobody I've ever known or read about ...well, maybe her father and mother a bit.

xrep

well that's quite an array...love the Durenberger story.
Of course being a Californian (fulltime) I don't think much more of our record.

I thought women had the vote in Wyoming.

bethy
Carly and the other Republican woman Meg Whitman will make quite a team. By the time the gov pisses off every single public employee -Republicans might as well pack up and go home.

Tony---I wasn't kidding about learning how to install a solar valve for your water heater,,,,so do it,,,and add it to your service's,,,what can you loose,,,,but don't make it go BOOM hahaha,,,just kidding this time do it. get you fee of the table!

Bethy

Here is the history on Wyoming. Women could vote within the state.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history.do?action=Article&id=4363

Rankin of Montana was the first woman elected to Congress.

Bethy --hello---How is the little space traveler?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194792

Just trying to soften your image a bit. You could have helped, but noooooooooooooooooooooooooo

You and Mary Mary Quite Contrary have a lot in common. :-)

Okay folks. I'm feeling truly unloved. More than 60 people have dropped by my blog today and not one even said Hi! growl.

"Jamie I was going more irony than I was a belly laugh!"

That's funny, in the laughing at you not with you kind of way.
Irony would not only be dead but ask to be cremated and not mourned.

" Politico has learned that tomorrow a coalition that includes MoveOn, Americans United for Change, AFSCME and SEIU will begin airing radio ads in three states Obama won -- Ohio, Pennsylvania and Nevada -- with a stark message aimed at the GOP senators there: Will you side with Obama or Rush Limbaugh?"

I think this is incredibly stupid. These groups are in effect elevating Limbaugh to the status of the President. If it would help bring that pissant down, I'd cheer, but I think it'll just blow him up more.

Patsi

This is Phil Bronstein's take on the Limbaugh dustup
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=47&entry_id=35196

Cockles and Mussels Alive Alive O

Warms the cockles of my heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diUkiTs1gxM

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/01/the-trail-mix-stimulation-plan.html#comment-194740

Tom -- You might want to get some sage or other herbs to burn to clarify the space before you do anything else.

http://www.moonpaths.co.uk/smudging-house-cleansing/smudging-house-cleansing.html

Hi Jamie !

I love you, Jamie, in a platoonic sort of way.

However, I love Sweetie in a Plutonic sort of way. That is, 'til death do us in, which is what she'd do to me if she saw this post. ( :>D))<

It's okay xr. Just tell her I'm probably old enough to be your mother which is about as platonic (I hope) as you can get.

HEY---SWEETIE----- HEY----SWEETIE----Ok what do you have to bribe me with,,,,I live in Crook Cty Il you know haha

I'm gonna be 62, Mom.

...with a little luck.

Alright .... Older sister

I'm going to be 65 next month

All this cyber lust is too much for me. I'm off to take a cold shower.

Watch out for Solar Crete, I heard from Cleopatra that he's an asp pincher.

Jamie,

Well, you were just a few years, premature, that's all.

A very happy unbirthday to you, and a premature HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! YIPPEEE !!!

Now I'm tired. g'night.

There are times lately that I wish I could just 'click' my ruby red slippers together and this mess of an economy and economic tax stimulus packages would just go away! Lions and Tiger and Bears.......Oh MY!

Hello folkes,

I kind of like Craig's idea of the tax holiday even though I know he was joking. I would be happy with just being able to write off all my saving losses which would come out about the same since it would wipe out my income last year.

Anyone been watching Ted Haggard's TV sex circuit? Curious to hear what you guys think about it. That activity with the young man at the church should have landed him in jail not on TV.

He certainly isn't doing homosexuals any favors with his revelations.

Okay -it's about 7:03 pm pdt and there's a crescent moon with a very bright light close to it. Does anybody know if it's a planet or a satellite?

Just a quick comment on good ole Ted Haggard.

He was in Jesus Camp and I couldn't even stand watching the Trailer that was on the web. Talk about child brain washing this movie shows it all.

If you have the stomach for it Google the trailer for Jesus Camp and watch it.

See ya.

I think Haggard and Blago should start their own TV game show, Denial or No Denial.

Stellarium 0.9.1

"Stellarium is a free open-source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope. It is being used in planetarium projectors. Just set your coordinates and go."

http://www.download.com/Stellarium/3000-2054_4-10072276.html?tag=mncol

Craig, I like your stimulus solution, I do! And I like that you've considered what to do with the IRA folks for that year.

All in all, it's a great idea.

tt

Bethy--in answer to your inquiry----

"Okay -it's about 7:03 pm pdt and there's a crescent moon with a very bright light close to it."

In the evening sky (west) at the end of January after sunset on the 30th the crescent Moon hangs below Venus.

It was quite brilliant tonite on the east coast earlier since the sky was clear. Wonderful to see it.

CT, what Ted Haggard has done reflects not on "homosexuals", it reflects on his own warped morality, just as Jimmy Swaggart's behaviour did not reflect on "heterosexuals", but in fact it reflected on his own warped morality. Gays and Lesbians are not accountable for the actions of some. Each of us are accountable for ourselves. The same is true with heteros. I understand what point you were trying to make but Haggard's actions is not the collective responsibility of an entire segment of the population; that's just absurd.

damn gotta go to work...

If I were "king", I'd nationalize all the banks, toss all the execs out on their asses and create a wage scale that accurately reflects the job worth of any position. Perks and bonuses would be out the door.

Coreen - thank you so much for that info. So that was Venus! It was almost vulgar with its sparkle here - what a sight!

Judicial Watch is wasting its money with this.