What goods a taxcut if you just raise the deficit, more inflation, more poor people
Rufus
· 11 months ago
We can only hope that Obama is very smart and is just sucking those Repubs in for a fall. I hope.
lucky hussein
· 11 months ago
if you give working people a tax cut, in the long run the employer will effectively keep it by paying the employee less or firing and re-hiring someone else at less salary (same effective take-home for the employee). It helps employers, and those who don't work, but not employees. It's essentially 'trickle-down' economics. Since BO got in, I have been holding my nose at so many things and waiting for the 'grand strategy'. I doubt it's coming...
LeftCoastOracle
· 11 months ago
A tax cut cannot be kept by an employer. Even if the employee gets a smaller salary their employer does not keep the tax cut. A cut is a cut.
lucky hussein
· 11 months ago
"effectively" keep the tax cut by "paying the employee less" - the employer 'keeps it' by paying less - get it? think about it... If I give you $5 a day, then someone give you $3 a day - I cut back to $2 a day - guess where that $3 went...
LeftCoastOracle
· 11 months ago
I disagree. The tax cut is completely separate. Whatever the employee is paid, the tax cut does not come out of the employers hide so it cannot benefit the employer if it is reduced.
nero
· 11 months ago
I'm feeling more and more like Nero every day.
HarpoSnarx
· 11 months ago
Nero,
Would you mind playing The Burning of Troy while same old, same old heats up?
nero
· 11 months ago
Harpo, I was thinking of something more upbeat. No sense getting all down about the collapse of civilization. Fiddle away! Enjoy the Day! (Hey, that would make a good song title).
coolcatdaddy
· 11 months ago
I have three really good friends that I'm really close to. One works for a textile company. Another works for a software startup. The other works for an advertising company.
The textile company moved their plants to Mexico in the Fall. They're keeping a skeleton staff in place for the headquarters. My friend who works there isn't confident he'll have a job very long.
The software company today laid off one third of their workforce and the investors are giving it until the Summer to turn around. My friend there wonders if he'll have to go back to janitorial work.
The advertising-related company has seen a steady dribble of layoffs all through the Fall. The company is heavily in debt. The employees there think it may declare bankruptcy soon.
I work in higher-ed. Our university has a hiring freeze at the moment and it looks like we're going to see a 15-20% budget cut for the next academic year. They're not laying off people - yet. But another institution in our area is expected to within the next few months.
It seems like everyone I talk to has been laid off or works somewhere that layoffs have occurred or will soon. I lived through the Reagan recession and the 70s economic downturn. I don't ever recall this many people this concerned about the future.
I thought we'd get some bold new ideas that might inspire confidence when we voted for change in the last election.
I'm still waiting.
LeftCoastOracle
· 11 months ago
I was talking to the guy who lives in the penthouse of my building. He told me he's just been laid off by Chas. Schwartz. Actually he said he's leaving by mutual consent because they wanted to transfer him to Austin and he didn't want to leave the Bay Area so he agreed to a lay off. It means that Chuck Schwartz no longer had room for him here and found a spot for him - in Austin.
This is not good.
Catfish
· 11 months ago
Check my new blog for comments of this and other similar news.
Sorry ro digress but I didnt hear this earlier....
Obama has appointed an openly gay man/former Think Progress colleague as the Director of the Office of Management and Administration:
This afternoon, the Obama transition team announced several new White House staff members, including our friend and former colleague Brad Kiley as the Director of the Office of Management and Administration. Brad is currently the Director of Operations for the transition team. He served as Vice President of Finance and Operations at the Center for American Progress, and before that, as deputy assistant to the president for management and administration in the Clinton White House. With his new position, Brad is the highest ranking LGBT appointment in the White House.
coolcatdaddy
· 11 months ago
According to a synopsis of an article in Presidential Studies Quarterly:
"The Office of Management and Administration (OMA) grew out of President Carter's 1977 reorganization of White House administration. Its title dates to the administration of George H. W. Bush. The head of the office, the assistant to the president for management and administration, currently handles numerous White House administrative functions such as salaries, office space, and budgeting, along with the allocation of perquisites like mess privileges and parking. OMA supervises units collectively called "White House Operations," including the Travel Office, the Visitors Office, the Intern Program, and personnel security. The assistant for management and administration also oversees the White House Military Office."
This isn't really a high level position, as far as these kinds of things go. According to this website, there are four levels of offices at the White House.
At the highest level is the Off of the Chief of Staff, which manage the White House staff system.
Below that are units that deal with policy deliberations - the White House Legal Counsel's Office and Staff Secretary's Office that oversee the flow of paperwork and issues coming in front of the President.
At the third level, are units that work on trips and appearances and the President's schedule (the Advance Office and Scheduling Office).
Finally, at the fourth level are the offices that deal with administrative work - the Office of Management and Administration, Presidential Correspondence, the White House User's Office, the White House Curator, etc.
So, if this is the highest ranking LGBT appointment in the White House, you're looking at a position that has nothing to do with policy making or deliberations with the President and is basically equivalent to the Information Technology staff or a security and travel staff at a corporation.
<snark>I'm not sure where the Gay marching band fits into the White House pecking order.</snark>
Steve_in_CNJ
· 11 months ago
Obama will have a gay butler. how original.
larry
· 11 months ago
1. how is it that giving working stiffs a tax cut helps employers but they in turn hiring lower waged employees? odd logic and a bit a far a field. 2. Obama has for two years harped on 90% folks will get tax cuts. How is that a GOP thing? That included small businesses. He is snatching the GOP issue and for once it will benefit the natural Democrat electorate and American middle class rather the the GOP Country Club set. 3. Do not make the same mistakes the McCain and the GOP and Hillary and under estimate this guy . He is smart, and smart is pretty damn tough. For once someone who is grown up, smart, in charge and doesn't need to prove that he is macho by prancing around in a flight suit stuffed with tube socks. 4. And since McConnell, the GOP, or most of the Democrats in congress, much less the media have NOT seen the plan as yet it is just Lots of blathering in the media, and by the pundits.....but just that blather. Until its out ...lets not get out in front of parade that does not exist.
larry
· 11 months ago
Interesting that Josh also says:
"These are just leaks. We don't have details. Some are speculating that this is part of some global head fake by the Obama folks. I hope so. But put me down as very skeptical."
Yeap just leaks. Yeap, suckered.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 11 months ago
diluting the public works spending is what bothers Krugman too, i think. i'd love to know whose idea this was.
red_dwarf
· 11 months ago
Obama already played his hand, he invited his buddy, a homophobic bigot to his inaugaration.
I use to the change channels when Bush was on TV because I don't have time for sick rat bastards. I now turn the channel when Barack is on because I can't stand spineless leaders.
TheNeedle
· 11 months ago
Damn right. Obama is Bush with a tan and better diction.
reflux1000
· 11 months ago
A note to Obama and Democrat's "if you treat Republicans like they've got power you give them power,that's why since 1994 the Republicans treated Democrat's like shit they know how to treat powerless wimps".
dula
· 11 months ago
Don't worry, it's all part of a master plan Obama has strategized. We aren't sophisticated enough to grasp the intentions yet but we will soon see that Obama has defanged the oppostition by making them our friends. They will soon retreat in support of Obama's groundbreaking, history changing agenda...just you wait.
Abe Turany
· 11 months ago
The latest thing that I've watched about tax cuts was Rep. (R) Patrick McHenry talking about a 2 month tax relief where are income taxes would not be taken out of our pay checks. My question is this; where is the moneys to run the country going to come from during this time? Everyone hates taxes, but that is what finances our country. How much would the country lose when the proposed tax cut ws added to the $700 billion bailout we've already paid out (and for what)? I read in the paper this week that an increase in gas tax was need to finance road upkeep. Sounds sort of like a slide-of-hand trick to me. The caller from Ohio was right in that Congress needs to stop voting for their own pay raises. To add to that, shouldn't they vote for a pay-cut, and suffer like most Americans are doing right now? I do appreciate our Congress, and the hard work that they do, but come on-the average American people shouldn't be the only ones to suffer.
Abe Turany
· 11 months ago
When I siad, "The latest thing that I've watched about tax cuts was Rep. (R) Patrick McHenry talking about a 2 month tax relief where are income taxes ...", I meant "...our income taxes...". and " How much would the country lose when the proposed tax cut ws added to the $700 billion bailout...", I meant, "tax cut was...". Sorry about that folks!
All Comments
If I give you $5 a day, then someone give you $3 a day - I cut back to $2 a day - guess where that $3 went...
Would you mind playing The Burning of Troy while same old, same old heats up?
I was thinking of something more upbeat. No sense getting all down about the collapse of civilization. Fiddle away! Enjoy the Day! (Hey, that would make a good song title).
The textile company moved their plants to Mexico in the Fall. They're keeping a skeleton staff in place for the headquarters. My friend who works there isn't confident he'll have a job very long.
The software company today laid off one third of their workforce and the investors are giving it until the Summer to turn around. My friend there wonders if he'll have to go back to janitorial work.
The advertising-related company has seen a steady dribble of layoffs all through the Fall. The company is heavily in debt. The employees there think it may declare bankruptcy soon.
I work in higher-ed. Our university has a hiring freeze at the moment and it looks like we're going to see a 15-20% budget cut for the next academic year. They're not laying off people - yet. But another institution in our area is expected to within the next few months.
It seems like everyone I talk to has been laid off or works somewhere that layoffs have occurred or will soon. I lived through the Reagan recession and the 70s economic downturn. I don't ever recall this many people this concerned about the future.
I thought we'd get some bold new ideas that might inspire confidence when we voted for change in the last election.
I'm still waiting.
This is not good.
http://catfishwallow.blogspot.com/
Obama has appointed an openly gay man/former Think Progress colleague as the Director of the Office of Management and Administration:
This afternoon, the Obama transition team announced several new White House staff members, including our friend and former colleague Brad Kiley as the Director of the Office of Management and Administration. Brad is currently the Director of Operations for the transition team. He served as Vice President of Finance and Operations at the Center for American Progress, and before that, as deputy assistant to the president for management and administration in the Clinton White House. With his new position, Brad is the highest ranking LGBT appointment in the White House.
"The Office of Management and Administration (OMA) grew out of President Carter's 1977 reorganization of White House administration. Its title dates to the administration of George H. W. Bush. The head of the office, the assistant to the president for management and administration, currently handles numerous White House administrative functions such as salaries, office space, and budgeting, along with the allocation of perquisites like mess privileges and parking. OMA supervises units collectively called "White House Operations," including the Travel Office, the Visitors Office, the Intern Program, and personnel security. The assistant for management and administration also oversees the White House Military Office."
This isn't really a high level position, as far as these kinds of things go. According to this website, there are four levels of offices at the White House.
At the highest level is the Off of the Chief of Staff, which manage the White House staff system.
Below that are units that deal with policy deliberations - the White House Legal Counsel's Office and Staff Secretary's Office that oversee the flow of paperwork and issues coming in front of the President.
At the third level, are units that work on trips and appearances and the President's schedule (the Advance Office and Scheduling Office).
Finally, at the fourth level are the offices that deal with administrative work - the Office of Management and Administration, Presidential Correspondence, the White House User's Office, the White House Curator, etc.
So, if this is the highest ranking LGBT appointment in the White House, you're looking at a position that has nothing to do with policy making or deliberations with the President and is basically equivalent to the Information Technology staff or a security and travel staff at a corporation.
<snark>I'm not sure where the Gay marching band fits into the White House pecking order.</snark>
2. Obama has for two years harped on 90% folks will get tax cuts. How is that a GOP thing? That included small businesses. He is snatching the GOP issue and for once it will benefit the natural Democrat electorate and American middle class rather the the GOP Country Club set.
3. Do not make the same mistakes the McCain and the GOP and Hillary and under estimate this guy . He is smart, and smart is pretty damn tough. For once someone who is grown up, smart, in charge and doesn't need to prove that he is macho by prancing around in a flight suit stuffed with tube socks.
4. And since McConnell, the GOP, or most of the Democrats in congress, much less the media have NOT seen the plan as yet it is just Lots of blathering in the media, and by the pundits.....but just that blather. Until its out ...lets not get out in front of parade that does not exist.
"These are just leaks. We don't have details. Some are speculating that this is part of some global head fake by the Obama folks. I hope so. But put me down as very skeptical."
Yeap just leaks. Yeap, suckered.
I use to the change channels when Bush was on TV because I don't have time for sick rat bastards. I now turn the channel when Barack is on because I can't stand spineless leaders.