Charm offensive carries nation

i love the fact (0.00 / 0)

that there's kids in the white house - and parents young enough to have the youngins. We needed the fresh energy.

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My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

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by: Ryepower12 @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 13:16:45 PM CST

It was reported that she's... (6.00 / 2)

... been referring to herself as 'Mom in Chief'.  I wonder if this is a political calculation.  If so, it's brilliant and someone has obviously learned the lessons of the interaction between the populist right wing and 1st Lady HRC.  The moniker does well in setting the tone on her interaction with GOP critics.  It reminds me of Handel.  His opera's were very popular, but when the fickle public turned on him he started writing oratorios instead.  Oratorios are like Operas but are usually religious in subject matter.  It was as if he was saying: "Throw tomatoes at my operas!!??? Fine!  I dare you to throw one at Jesus!"  

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 13:29:32 PM CST

I didn't even see (6.00 / 1)

who was writing this comment, but I knew. :-P

Left in Lowell: cuz why read the Lowell Sun if you don't have to? ;)

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by: Lynne @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 13:58:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

In the tank (0.00 / 0)

As a rule, I try not to get overly emotional over any national figures.

However, I do make exceptions.  

And I'm not alone, even Fred Barnes (who predicted a McCain victory as of 11/2008) sounded somewhat in the tank when interviewed on NPR last night.

BTW, check this out for general Obama awesomeness, action figure style.

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by: syphax @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 13:34:54 PM CST

The kids are cute (6.00 / 1)

but there's really a double edged sword that Mama Obama has to get the press to agree upon early.

If they run all these cute photos of the kids and you get mileage out of it, it'll be harder to get the press to stop later.

I guess the distinction is this: Obama kids at public function in formal setting?  A-OK.  Obama kids not at an official US function?  Leave 'em alone please.

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by: stomv @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 13:53:34 PM CST

I'm sure the press will treat the Obama girls with all the consideration they showed the teenaged Bush twins. (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 13:59:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Unfortunate, but probably true. (0.00 / 0)

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 14:07:53 PM CST

[ Parent ]

LOL!! (6.00 / 4)

As soon as Malia goes on her first bender, you can be sure it'll be all over the papers.  'Til then, spare me.

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by: David @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 14:24:07 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Certainly (6.00 / 2)

because we all know the Obama girls will be sneaking out and going on benders in bars. The Bush girls, like their father before them deservedly their reputations for wild behavior. The Obama girls are children.

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by: af @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 15:11:14 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hardly wild. (3.50 / 2)

More like typical for their age group.  Why didn't Chelsea do it?  Well, she's probably boring.

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by: JoeTS @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 19:12:31 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Hey stomv (3.00 / 1)

I don't know what part needs work.  I'm in that age group too, and the crap they got caught doing on camera is nothing.  

Their on-camera antics at least show they were living their lives as normal girls their age do regardless of who dad is.  I give them credit for that.

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by: JoeTS @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 23:47:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Getting caught (6.00 / 1)

(a) using a fake government document, to
(b) buy booze illegally

You can give them credit all you want, it's still illegal and, frankly, with the perks of daddy being POTUS come the responsibilities, like it or not.

P.S. The 4 was for taking a pot shot at Chelsea... standard garbage shoveled by folks like Rush "druggies are bad mmmkay... except for me" Limbaugh.

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by: stomv @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 09:07:31 AM CST

[ Parent ]

As opposed to the respect the GOP paid to Chelsea Clinton? (6.00 / 7)

No one called the Bush twins the Whitehouse Dog(s). They did report on them breaking the law.

While we're on the topic, will you be calling for a moratorium on criticism of Mr. Obama since he's now a wartime President?

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

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by: huh @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 15:46:55 PM CST

[ Parent ]

That notion was also... (6.00 / 2)

... brought up elsewhere today:

Hey everybody, let's all pray for the failure of the new president!

Wait, you silly fundie, haven't you heard that it is treasonous to criticize a sitting president in a time of war?

OOOOOHHHHH! I've been waiting to say that for a long time.

I'm sure that we'll be treated to this particular hypocrisy quite a bit over the next few years.

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 18:21:56 PM CST

[ Parent ]

It's a pity Molly Ivins has passed (0.00 / 0)

She would have had a field day with that WorldNutDaily rant.  

I'm gobsmacked.

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

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by: huh @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 19:07:46 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I Miss Molly (6.00 / 1)

Ever since she passed there was nothing left to look forward to about the Bush Administration.

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by: HeartlandDem @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 19:36:06 PM CST

[ Parent ]

The problem with most political drones is that "their guy" can do no wrong and "the other guy" cannot do anything wrong. (2.75 / 4)

I on the other hand view most politicians as narcisstic, self serving bastards who would steal the gold out of your teeth if you left your mouth open long enough. That being the case, I find myself neutering Clinton, Bush and now Obama. Obama has now already stepped on his crank with Geithner being a tax fraud, and Holder being a run of the mill hack slimeball and Clinton water boy. Great start.
One thing I know from life---when you cut corners as a matter of course, it's ingrained in you. Geithner is going to cause this administration a catastrophe down the road. If Obama were smart he's eject him now. Holder is running scared. I don't think he'll ever step off base again, because he knows everyone in the world is watching him--even on the hopper, because they want to be standing there when he screws up.  

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by: MCRD @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 21:10:36 PM CST

[ Parent ]

my mistake--"The other guy cannoy do anything right." So I didn't graduate summa cum laude. (0.00 / 0)

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by: MCRD @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 21:11:42 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Geithner fell into... (0.00 / 0)

... a problem that others in his employment situation often do.  His solution was to hire a professional.  Not exactly a bad idea.

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 21:21:43 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I'vd paid self employment tax for years - if a professional advised me to skip paying five years, we'd BOTH be in jail! (4.00 / 1)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 00:38:46 AM CST

[ Parent ]

don't you work for the state? (3.00 / 1)

People of your ethical stature really should think twice before throwing stones.

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

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by: huh @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 02:02:47 AM CST

[ Parent ]

People of your information level should do likewise. (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Sat Jan 24, 2009 at 01:50:41 AM CST

[ Parent ]

take it up with Howie Carr (0.00 / 0)

He's the one who called you out on your hypocrisy.

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

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by: huh @ Sat Jan 24, 2009 at 03:03:44 AM CST

[ Parent ]

And you choose to rely on his accuracy? (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Mon Jan 26, 2009 at 18:37:04 PM CST

[ Parent ]

More than someone sockpuppeting as a 245 year old man? (0.00 / 0)

Yes.  

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

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by: huh @ Tue Jan 27, 2009 at 17:57:47 PM CST

[ Parent ]

So logically you're implying... (6.00 / 1)

... that Geithner should be in jail.  Exaggerate much?

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 08:14:36 AM CST

[ Parent ]

a much nicer way of saying it than my post (0.00 / 0)

PP herself would have gone with "are you going to suggest jail time for ALL tax evaders or just the Democrat ones?"  Either way, it's snark for snark's sake.

For me the issue is: is he personally attacking other BMGers. I don't think he is, here. He's just using the word "fag" in a way that is insulting to a whole group of people under the rubric of "discussing it." -- Bob Neer  

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by: huh @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 15:16:38 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Geithner (6.00 / 1)

I pulled out an old copy of TurboTax. 2001 edition.  Then I input a W-2 without FICA or Medicare.  The edition accepts the entry quite easiy, and does not assess SE tax.  To accomplish that, you must go deeper into the tax return, and a layman might easily miss it.

Based on that, I can accept that it was possibly, even probably, an error of omission, and not intentional.

However, the real question, and I'm beginning to see it more in the media, is that when audited, and upon realization that his returns were wrong, why didn't he amend his 2001 and 2002 returns?  Answer: they were closed to statute and he knew the IRS wouldn't compel him to do so.

Frankly, had it been me, I would have done the same thing, but had he ask professional advice, the advice would have been:  you have no obligation to amend those return closed to statute, however it is clear that you owe tax on said returns.  Call me if you want to amend them.

The question that the Committee should ask is: Had you not been nominated for Treasury Sec, would you have amended 2001 and 2002?

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by: gary @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 08:34:05 AM CST

[ Parent ]

My understanding is that... (0.00 / 0)

... he did have outside professionals handling his taxes.  The conversation you hypothesize may have just as easily gone like this: "You on the case for dealing with my tax obligation?"  "Yeah."  So the question is, was the lack of amendment of his returns (until last month) previously also a function of assuming that his tax guy should have been on the case?  For you and me, yeah.  For him, probably yeah, depending on how busy you figure the head of the IMF is on a day to day basis.  

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 08:45:19 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Not for 2001 and '02 (0.00 / 0)

He testified that he did his own taxes in '01 and '02 using Turbo tax. Tax professional don't 'handle cases', they advise, giving ultimate authority and responsibility  to the taxpayer's.

The excuse that 'I'm the head of IMF and too busy' holds as much water as 'I'm the head of a family of 4 and too busy'.  My scenario's believeable; yours just makes him sound like a dope, which he's not.

Seriously, if I look at your 2004 tax return and tell you it's wrong and I'll fix it for $300 and when I fix it you'll owe $1000 to IRS.  But, you have i) no legal obligation to fix it and ii) the IRS probably can't get to you because of statute of limitation, and iii) you aren't nominated to high public office (yet).

Do you fix it?

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by: gary @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 08:56:38 AM CST

[ Parent ]

The excuse of... (0.00 / 0)

...'I'm the head of a family of 4 and too busy' works perfectly fine for the IRS.  You just pay your back taxes and any penalties they assess.  

The issue you brought up was back taxes.  It's meaningless to point out that he didn't have help in 2001, since at that time they were not back taxes.  Any review of back taxes in order to take advantage of their being closed to statute would have to necessarily have been done after that, when he did have help.

Your hypothetical is certainly possible or even plausible and never claimed otherwise.  But as you point out, the particulars are:

But, you have i) no legal obligation to fix it and ii) the IRS probably can't get to you because of statute of limitation, and iii) you aren't nominated to high public office (yet).

... and these particulars have the unfortunate requirement that you'd have to know all of those things to take (or not take) action on it.  It's not clear that he knew unless you hypothesize that he did.  It seems perfectly reasonable as well that he might not have known.  In either case, the IRS didn't make a big deal of it... they asked for the back taxes and assessed no penalty.

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 09:14:07 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Huh - I thought dissent was our patriotic duty! :~) (0.00 / 0)

Yr. Obedient Servant, Peter Porcupine, Republican

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by: Peter Porcupine @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 19:16:12 PM CST

[ Parent ]

huh - I thought dissent was something that involved actual policy! (0.00 / 0)

...not the criticism of the POTUS offspring...  

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"Providing health care to the uninsured is a job killer, while not providing health care is merely a people killer....   Bonus: Job Openings!!"

--Stephen Colbert

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by: petr @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 20:38:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

This is Washington---EVERYONE is on ground zero. Everyone is a target of opprtunity. It is New York Times Policy. (3.00 / 1)

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by: MCRD @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 21:13:09 PM CST

[ Parent ]

How is the air on your planet? (6.00 / 1)

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by: KBusch @ Thu Jan 22, 2009 at 16:00:16 PM CST

[ Parent ]

bad link (0.00 / 0)

You linked to http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl... which is a link to a blog, not a specific post.  The bit you quoted will soon scroll off the front page, and people following the link won't know what you meant to link to.

This is the post you meant to link to.

(C'mon, you're a blogger, you know this stuff :)

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by: Cos @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 14:33:55 PM CST

Thanks! Fixed! (0.00 / 0)

Slip of the copy function ... :-)

BMG: Reality-based commentary.

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by: Bob Neer @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 15:01:44 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Another perspective (0.00 / 0)

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 15:17:43 PM CST

it looks like (0.00 / 0)

ants gathering at crumbs. Cool.  

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My thoughts are mine and mine alone. They should not be considered representative of any other organization, group or person - save me.

~Ryan.

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by: Ryepower12 @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 18:51:59 PM CST

[ Parent ]

There is a high-res (0.00 / 0)

image here.

9.7Mb

"It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult." - Seneca (5 BC - 65 AD)

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by: Mr Lynne @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 19:28:17 PM CST

[ Parent ]

What a day is right! (0.00 / 0)

Just back from D.C.  My 11-year-old son and I stood on the mall right in front of the Natural History Museum with a great view of a jumbotron.  Freezing cold but worth every second.  

I've not read a single word about any of it, so I'm just going to put up my succinct personal response:  As a citizen, I've never participated in any activity as meaningful to me as this one.  It felt like a pilgrimage.  

Pilgrimage.  That's the best word for it, and I'm sticking with it.  

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by: lightiris @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 19:48:40 PM CST