ThinkFast: April 6, 2009
ThinkFast: April 6, 2009
Although nearly half of the American public say that they hold unfavorable views of Islam, 82 percent also believe that it is important for Obama “to try to improve U.S. relations with Muslim nations,” according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Though the actual unemployment rate is at a high 8.5 percent, Americans feel an unemployment rate closer to 15.6 percent. The larger number includes “those who want a job but have stopped looking for work and those who want full-time positions but have to settle for part-time employment.”
“Cities and counties are reporting a sharp increase in homeless families as the economic crisis leads to job loss and makes housing unaffordable,” USA Today reports. The Department of Housing and Urban Development conducted a one-day count in January of the homeless and “of 56 places where figures were available, 35 reported an increase in homelessness; 12 had a drop.”
A coalition of corporate lobby and trade groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable, are increasing their efforts to block an “Obama administration proposal to raise taxes on overseas profits.” Proponents of the Obama plan argue that current tax law “encourages American multinationals to add facilities and jobs overseas rather than expanding back home.”
Today, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will “propose cuts or delays in weapons programs in an effort to rein in defense spending that has risen 72 percent since 2000.” In response, major defense contractors have been increasing their lobbying efforts in Washington in an attempt to “preserve their programs.”
A suicide bomber “blew himself up at the entrance to a crowded Shiite mosque” just south of Islamabad yesterday, killing at least 26 people. It was “the third suicide attack in Pakistan in 24 hours, in a sign that the Pakistani Taliban are overwhelming the nation’s security forces.”
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is arming her diplomatic efforts with a new set of tools including Facebook, text messaging, and YouTube. The State Department has hired a new staffer whose job will be to “blend technology with diplomacy in an attempt to help solve some of the globe’s most vexing problems on health care, poverty, human rights and ethnic conflicts.”
The U.N. Security Council met yesterday to discuss North Korea’s rocket launch but “took no immediate action.” The U.S, Japan, and South Korea said the launch violated resolutions banning missile launches by Pyongyang, but China and Russia “were not convinced that the launch…constituted a violation of U.N. rules.”
Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro said yesterday that Cuba “does not fear dialogue” with the U.S. and praised Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) “for calling for a new U.S. policy of engagement” with Cuba. “We don’t fear dialogue…[n]or do we need confrontation to exist, as some fools think,” Castro wrote in an internet column. Dialogue “is the only way of procuring friendship and peace between peoples,” he said.
And finally: Since his stints as a plumber, war correspondent, economist, and anti-labor crusader have had only mixed results, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher is taking up a new cause: abolishing the IRS. In a video at IRSvote.com, Wurzelbacher says, “I’m here to ask my fellow Americans to join me to make this the last year we ever have to file a tax return. I’m going to give the American people the opportunity to vote the IRS out.” Visitors can then “vote via the Internet, or by sending a text message or making a phone call to a 900 phone number. However, the site warns that they will be charged 99 cents a vote.”
Sign up here to receive our daily e-newsletter, The Progress Report.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Proponents of the Obama plan argue that current tax law “encourages American multinationals to add facilities and jobs overseas rather than expanding back home.”
Excellent! It will do the opposite of what NAFTA has done. I love having a smart President.
I hope he also changes the tax code to stop loopholes. Was thrilled to hear that the G-20 resulted in tighter regulations on offshore banks.
Read that we have a 300 trillion tax deficit between what people owe and what they actually pay. Time to make rich people, like illegal immigrants, pay for the systems they use.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:17 amToday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will “propose cuts or delays in weapons programs in an effort to rein in defense spending that has risen 72 percent since 2000.”
More excellent news! It’s really nice to be living back in the 21st century…
April 6th, 2009 at 9:18 amI suspect that Joe the Plumber fancies himself a modern day Howard Beale. He doesn’t realize there are some stark differences.
Howard Beale was an intelligent man who was mentally ill.
Joe the Plumber is an idiot, but (aside from delusions of grandeur) appears to be sane.
Howard Beale wasn’t doing his shtick for the fame and fortune — he just wanted to rant.
Joe the Plumber is in it for the fame and fortune, and truly believes he deserves them.
Howard Beale had an effect on the people, but was mostly oblivious to it.
Joe the Plumber has no effect on the people (other than getting laughed at), but believes he does.
Howard Beale is a fictional character.
Joe the Plumber is a real person with a fake moniker.
The only thing these two have in common is that they have both been exploited by interests with an agenda.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:20 amSamuel Joseph Wurzelbacher is taking up a new cause: abolishing the IRS.
Have fun with your tax audit, Sam… LOL
April 6th, 2009 at 9:22 amThough the actual unemployment rate is at a high 8.5 percent, Americans feel an unemployment rate closer to 15.6 percent.
_________________________________________________________
It’s about time somebody acknowledged the REAL unemployment picture. By the time you add in the people whose unemployment has run out, and those who are scraping by with part time work while still searching for a full time job, the number gets much higher. And if you add in those who are underemployed (network administrators flipping burgers because there are no jobs in their field), the number goes up even more.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:23 amTime to make rich people, like illegal immigrants, pay for the systems they use.
Interesting concept. I guess you could even say that U.S. individuals or companies that expatriate assets or production are “illegal emigrants”. Now we just have to find some way to convince republicans and right-wing radio rant-jockeys to make the term illegal emigrant as hated and villified as illegal immigrant and we’ll have it made!
April 6th, 2009 at 9:23 amI wonder if Joe the Plumber has thought out what would happen if the U.S. loses the revenue it gets through the IRS. I figure his thought processes might fall into one of four possibilities:
1. He’s thinking like Ron Paul. He wants to abolish the IRS, and offset it by abolishing most federal agencies. No taxes AND no spending. Of course, he’s fuzzy on details.
2. He’s part of the Fair Tax crowd. He wants to abolish to IRS and replace it with a national sales tax. He’s probably fuzzy on these details, too.
3. He just wants to abolish the IRS because he doesn’t like paying taxes. He has no thoughts whatsoever on how the U.S. will get income, nor does he care. He’s not just merely fuzzy on these details, he’s flying blind. And he assumes there are a lot of other Americans who are that shortsighted.
4. He really doesn’t care about the IRS, but sees this as a way to make money off people’s ignorance.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:30 amWhat was missed.
Anyone catch Bill Moyers Journal? Here is a snip:
William K. Black: Thank you.
Bill Moyers: I was taken with your candor at the conference here in New York to hear you say that this crisis we’re going through, this economic and financial meltdown is driven by fraud. What’s your definition of fraud?
Black: Fraud is deceit. And the essence of fraud is, “I create trust in you, and then I betray that trust, and get you to give me something of value.” And as a result, there’s no more effective acid against trust than fraud, especially fraud by top elites, and that’s what we have.
Moyers: In your book, you make it clear that calculated dishonesty by people in charge is at the heart of most large corporate failures and scandals, including, of course, the S&L, but is that true? Is that what you’re saying here, that it was in the boardrooms and the CEO offices where this fraud began?
Black: Absolutely.
Moyers: How did they do it? What do you mean?
Black: Well, the way that you do it is to make really bad loans, because they pay better. Then you grow extremely rapidly, in other words, you’re a Ponzi-like scheme. And the third thing you do is we call it leverage. That just means borrowing a lot of money, and the combination creates a situation where you have guaranteed record profits in the early years. That makes you rich, through the bonuses that modern executive compensation has produced. It also makes it inevitable that there’s going to be a disaster down the road.
Moyers: So you’re suggesting, saying that CEOs of some of these banks and mortgage firms in order to increase their own personal income, deliberately set out to make bad loans?
Black: Yes.
**I know that many of us already figured this out but this interview was stunning. Add this to our current administration’s heavy handed attitude to the auto dealers as opposed to continuing to hand out billions to these fraudulent “money changers” and the big picture becomes very disturbing. We have handed many of these financial institutions more than they are worth. I don’t hear one word about increasing financial oversight or antitrust procedures againt them. Watch the podcast here or read the transcript here.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:30 amI am still standing by my prediction that Joe the Plumber will become a WWF wrestler before this is all over…
April 6th, 2009 at 9:31 amWhile I disagree with your premise MissMolly, (Joe doesn’t think) I would vote for 4. Joe sees a way to make money.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:32 amtom Says: Interesting concept. I guess you could even say that U.S. individuals or companies that expatriate assets or production are “illegal emigrants”.
Like your terminology. It fits. You hear the Cons complain about how much illegals drain the system to which they do not contribute. Well, really, how are they themselves any different?
I’ve also realized that whenever they deduct their children, homes, etc. from their taxes, they are essentially taking a form of welfare (getting money back from the government, whose money is actually tax payer money, same as welfare programs to help them survive).
April 6th, 2009 at 9:32 amAll religions are stupid exercises in credulity and obedience.
No “religion,” per se, should be the animating spirit of any state.
I feel about “Islam” as a political philosophy about the same way I’d feel about “Christianity” or “Hinduism” if their tenets were concretized in the organization of ANY state.
That said, I am rapidly approaching the point at which I shall declare I do not give a raggedy shit about how Muslims ‘govern’ one another, I don’t care if they struggle under Sharia, or any other totalitarian regime, I don’t care if they’re executing children by feeding them to tigers: as long as they stay the phuque away from me, I don’t care…
April 6th, 2009 at 9:32 amSo Hannity & Hannity compares our President to the Dixie Chicks.
Congratulations, Mr. President; that’s quite an honor!
April 6th, 2009 at 9:35 amA plumber, war correspondent, economist, and anti-labor crusader have had only mixed results,What`s the matter Joe?you seem be having trouble finding your niche in the Reich Wing nut party for the GOOPers, what gives?
April 6th, 2009 at 9:37 amBobwurst Says:
While I disagree with your premise MissMolly, (Joe doesn’t think) I would vote for 4. Joe sees a way to make money.
Absolutely. I notice that TP forgot his other occupation: author. Or, really: “author.” How is that working out for ya, Joe?
April 6th, 2009 at 9:41 amNot Joe the Not a Plumber is a perfect representative of the Rushpublican mindset: ignorant and proud of it, will say anything for money, and easily believes in anything that supports his preconceived prejudices.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:42 amtokin librul Says: I don’t care if they’re executing children by feeding them to tigers: as long as they stay the phuque away from me, I don’t care…
Remember 9/11? They aren’t planning to stay the phuck away from you. It’s part of their religious doctrine to convert people or kill them. It’s what drives Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Osama bin Laden.
Fortunately, America is becoming less religious ourselves. It’s a start.
April 6th, 2009 at 9:45 amunbelievable Says:
It’s part of their religious doctrine to convert people or kill them. It’s what drives Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Osama bin Laden.
And most fundamentalists of any religion. Oh, there are those who claim they don’t want everyone to convert…. as long as everyone lives by their dogma….
April 6th, 2009 at 9:53 amCageyCretin Says: And most fundamentalists of any religion. Oh, there are those who claim they don’t want everyone to convert…. as long as everyone lives by their dogma….
I think it’s worse in the Middle Eastern religions because their culture itself is so violent and domineering.
I have a friend who is Hindu from Mumbai and when his father came to California to visit, he aksed his son to ask me about the televangelistist he saw on t.v. When I explained, he was confused because he said that they don’t have anything like that in Hindu, since it pretty much violates tenets of their religion. I’m sure there are some Hindus that do – but not to the degree of Judeo-Christo-Islamic religions.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:07 amregarding sammy Joe the Weaselbugger,
The farce is strong in him.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:15 ammisscoleopteramolly Says:
I suspect that Joe the Plumber fancies himself a modern day Howard Beale.
___________
Unfortunately for Joe, he mores closely resembles Howard the Duck…
April 6th, 2009 at 10:29 amUS prepared to oust bank chiefs
Tim Geithner warned on Sunday that the US government would consider ousting board members at American banks as a condition for giving the institutions “exceptional” assistance in the future.
The Treasury secretary said the Obama administration would be prepared to force out senior management to protect US taxpayers, and ensure accountability, as a condition for providing money to help banks restructure. “If, in the future, banks need exceptional assistance in order to get through this, then we’ll make sure that assistance comes with conditions,” Mr Geithner told CBS television.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/172538d8-2210-11de-8380-00144feabdc0.html
April 6th, 2009 at 10:29 amSam the non-plumber was/is on Bill Maher this week. It was pretty painful, and Bill was even being nice to him. I had to shut it off because the stupid was starting to hypnotize me…
April 6th, 2009 at 10:29 amAnd finally: Since his stints as a plumber, war correspondent, economist, and anti-labor crusader have had only mixed results, Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher is taking up a new cause: abolishing the IRS
___________
You forgot country & western singer and author on that list…
Perhaps we could start a pool, take bets on what Mr. Wurzelbacher will be next…
Joe the Fugitive From the Law?
Joe the Infomercial/Edutainment Host?
Joe the Pole Dancer?
Any ideas?
April 6th, 2009 at 10:36 amThere’s no tension between these two ideas.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:40 amI wonder if SamJoe the Nonplumbing Plumber has tried his hand out at being a Troll??
April 6th, 2009 at 10:43 amThe Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity Says:
Any ideas?
well, he’s a republican, so I’m betting on hearing one day about “Joe the Sex Offender”
(I am not able to pinpoint the exact nature of the ‘offense”, as they seem to run the gammut).
April 6th, 2009 at 10:44 amThe Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity Says:
Perhaps we could start a pool, take bets on what Mr. Wurzelbacher will be next…
Joe the White House Gay Reporter with a false name… no, wait, that one’s already been done.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:50 amThe Republic of Hymenoptera Stupidity Says
April 6th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Joe the Pole Dancer?
__________________________________________________________
Thanks a lot — now I have to go flush out my brain…
April 6th, 2009 at 10:51 amOkay… some pretty good choices are starting to come in on this one. We’re building up some momentum…
“Joe the Sex Offender”
Joe the White House Gay Reporter with a false name…
Any more? And don’t forget to bet early and often.
Don’t worry… I’ll hold the money.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:53 ammisscoleopteramolly Says:
Joe the Pole Dancer?
__________________________________________________________
Thanks a lot — now I have to go flush out my brain…
__________
Sorry, but once I had the idea, I knew I was doomed to use it…
April 6th, 2009 at 10:54 amI’m thinking “Joe the future county commissioner”.
April 6th, 2009 at 10:56 amOkay…
We now have Joe the Internet Troll and Joe the Future County Commissioner on the list too.
How about Joe the Iron Chef Contestant?
Joe the Celebrity Greeter at a Vegas Casino?
April 6th, 2009 at 11:01 amJoe the Celebrity Greeter at a Vegas Casino?
I think WalMart is more his speed.
Are there any semi-glamorous openings in Antarctica? Ice cube salesman? I heard they are going to have a big one real soon.
April 6th, 2009 at 11:49 amJoe the CONVICTED Tax Cheat?
April 6th, 2009 at 12:19 pmOr maybe Joe and Sara could do a double’s act…Pole Wars.
Yech.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:24 pmJoe the “Celebrity Apprentice” or “Dancing With the Stars” contestant.
After all, that’s where all the washed-up has-beens (or never-wases, in Sam/Joe’s case) go after their careers are otherwise over…
April 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pmJudge Joe on American Idol
April 6th, 2009 at 2:56 pmOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 6:02 amsac ekimi