The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Oh, Boy! House Democrats Trying to Screw Up Lame-Duck Tax ‘Compromise’

Posted on | December 16, 2010 | 7 Comments

Understand that (a) I hate this godawful bipartisan monstrosity as an unwarranted sellout by Senate Republicans and (b) there’s very little chance that the House Democrats can screw things up so completely as to wreck the deal. But yet there is a glimmer of hope:

A final House vote on President Obama’s tax proposal could be delayed after Democratic leaders were forced to pull a procedural measure off the House floor Thursday.
The House was set to vote on the rule governing debate on the broad tax bill, but the measure was withdrawn at the last minute when leaders realized it was likely to be rejected. Liberals opposed to the deal Obama struck with Republicans were upset that the procedure approved by the House Rules Committee on Wednesday did not allow them a clean opportunity to vote on the legislation the Senate passed on Wednesday. A final vote on the tax deal had been planned for Thursday evening.

Never underestimate the stupidity of House Democrats. It’s “Panic at the Disco,” says Nice Deb. As Ed Morrissey says, they wanted to do the old “deem-and-pass” trick, but had a “screw up” on a parliamentary maneuver. Here’s one of the great “principles” liberals are fighting for:

The change, offered by Rep. Earl Pomeroy (D-N.D.), would renew the 2009 inheritance tax at 45 percent for individuals with estates worth more than $3.5 million, a level identical to the rate passed by the House last year. The bill passed by the Senate on Wednesday sets the estate tax at 35 percent for individuals with an exemption beginning at $5 million.

Good Lord — 45 percent? That’s not taxation, that’s theft.

Suppose that beautiful young Taylor Swift were to marry handsome young Jake Gyllenhaal, and they had a baby. You can bet that would be one of the cutest babies in the history of the w0rld.

Now, suppose that there were some kind of horrible accident — say, Taylor and Jake went sailboarding near the Great Barrier Reef and were both eaten by sharks.

OK, so the world mourns the tragic loss of the country songstress and her movie star husband — and then the IRS swoops in to grab 45 percent of their estate, which otherwise would have gone the couple’s adorable little orphaned baby.

Why do liberals hate orphans so much?

And while we’re at it, why is Gyllenhaal “taking it slow” with Taylor Swift? Close the deal, Jake. If you think you’re going to do better than that, you’re wrong.

Category: Taxes

It’s All About Him

Posted on | December 16, 2010 | 1 Comment

Having already cost House Democrats 63 seats in the mid-term election, now St. Hopey tells ’em they’ve got to sacrifice everything for him:

In urging lawmakers to vote for his tax deal, President Obama is using one of his go-to lines from the healthcare debate, according to a Democratic lawmaker.
Obama is telling members of Congress that failure to pass the tax-cut legislation could result in the end of his presidency, Rep. Peter DeFazio (Ore.) said.
“The White House is putting on tremendous pressure, making phone calls, the president is making phone calls saying this is the end of his presidency if he doesn’t get this bad deal,” he told CNN’s Eliot Spitzer.
But the White House shot back late on Wednesday.
“The president hasn’t said anything remotely like that and has never spoken with Mr. DeFazio about the issue,” said White House spokesman Tommy Vietor.

Well, of course they deny it. They always do. That’s the job of a White House spokesman, to deny stuff. 

But Obama (or whoever is twisting arms on his behalf) is basically right: Democrats in Congress cannot benefit by “distancing” themselves from a Democratic president, no matter how unpopular he may be. This was likewise true of Republicans during the Bush years.

It’s a simple reality of partisan politics. Whatever the personal disagreements within the party over policy, when it comes time to engage in political combat against the other party, it’s Sharks and Jets, baby.

And when you’re a Jet, you’re a Jet all the way.

Category: Barack Obama

Julian Assange Wins; Swedish Appeal Denied; Will Be Freed on Bail

Posted on | December 16, 2010 | 5 Comments

Latest news from Great Britain:

WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange was granted bail by a London court Thursday, meaning he is free to leave jail until his next scheduled court hearing in January.
The exact timing of his release will depend on the speed of the paperwork, his lawyer Mark Stephens said in a statement outside the court, adding that he hoped Assange would be free later Thursday. . . .
A judge granted him bail on Tuesday, but lawyers representing Sweden immediately filed an appeal, keeping Assange behind bars until the High Court judge decided on the Swedish appeal.
Assange won the appeal Thursday. . . .

Remember this is only about the sexual assault charges in Sweden. U.S. officials are still trying to build a conspiracy case against Assange.

Meanwhile, Glenn Greenwald asserts that “it is impossible to invent theories to indict [Assange or his sources] without simultaneously criminalizing much of investigative journalism.” Which is false, and absurdly so. Army Pvt. Bradley Manning committed a crime — he was, at the very least, guilty of insubordination — and WikiLeaks abetted that crime.

Contrary to whatever cloak-and-dagger fantasies may exist in the imagination of Glenn Greenwald, “investigative journalism” is not dependent on illegally obtaining classified national security documents.

UPDATE: What Sweden needs is its own Antoine Dodson: “Julian Assange be snatchin’ yo’ people up and rapin’ ’em out here!”

Category: WikiLeaks

LIVE AT FIVE – 12.16.10

Posted on | December 16, 2010 | 2 Comments

TOP NEWS
Senate Passes Tax Compromise 81-19

Looking for the recovery

But will it pass the House?

Border Patrol Agent Slain In Arizona
Bandits preying on illegal immigrants suspected

House Passes Standalone DADT Repeal
Final vote 250-175

Administration Files Suit Against BP, 8 Others Over Gulf Spill
Seeks up to $21 billion in damages


POLITICS
Congress Up Against December 18 Deadline To Pass Spending Bill

Saturday midnight deadline looms

GOP threatens to have bill read aloud, use other stalling tactics unless pork removed from spending bill

President Meets With Business Leaders


FBI Joins Hunt For NY Serial Killer

Hillary Unveils Her Vision For Foreign Policy in QDDR

Marine Widow’s Immigration Bill Passes Congress
Welcome home, Hotaru!


THE ECONOMY, STUPID
McDonald’s Sued Over Happy Meals
As if we needed more reasons to support tort reform.

No Profit Yet, But Twitter Valued at $3.7 Billion

GM Pays Treasury $2.1 Billion To Buy Back Preferred Stock

Gas, Heating Oil Prices Still Rising

Google’s “New Concept” In Computing: A Thin Client By Any Other Name…

Facebook Brings Facial Recognition To Photo Tagging

Did FBI Covertly Plant Back Door In OpenBSD?


SPORTS
God Rest Ye, Rapid Robert

Bob Feller, 1918-2010, RIP

Flamethrowing Hall of Fame Indians starter dies of pneumonia after two weeks in hospice

Knicks Can’t Beat Buzzer Or Celtics; Eight-Game Streak Snapped



Wade Comes Up Big In Fourth Quarter As Heat Beat Cavaliers

Hornets Complete Record Comeback, Edge Kings 94-91


FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Jake Gyllenhaal Shells Out $11K For Taylor Swift Birthday Gift

What do you buy the country star who already has everything?

Here’s a hint: what are you more likely to find in Nashville than anywhere else?

Scarlett Johansson On Vacation With Johnny Depp

Denise Richards Dating Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx



David Arquette: Having a Nervous Breakdown?

Former Child Star Melissa Gilbert Thinks Miley Wanted To Get Caught


FOREIGNERS
Assange Bail Decision Made By UK, Not Sweden
As In Iraq, So In Afghanistan: Surge A Success, Troops Coming Home On Schedule
Baluchi Rebels Take Credit For Suicide Bomb Attack In Iran
UNSC Removes Restrictions On Iraq


BLOGS & STUFF
NRO Corner: START’s Lame-Duck Prospects Take a Big Hit
Newsbusters: Far Left Attacks FNC For Telling Reporters Not To Take Sides In Climate Debate
Allahpundit: Hatch Stripped His Earmarks From Spending Bill, Why Didn’t The Rest Of You?
Jawa Report: Merry Christmas From Al-Qaeda In Iraq


— compiled by Wombat-socho

Category: Live at Five

Merry Christmas, America: Feminists Attack Michael Moore as ‘Rape Apologist’ Over Swedish Case Against Julian Assange

Posted on | December 16, 2010 | 23 Comments

Short of nuclear war between North Korea and Iran — or maybe Barack Obama accusing Markos Moulitsas of racism — it just doesn’t get any better than this, my friends:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Never have I been so happy to link Melissa McEwan, who provides this transcript, complete with descriptions of Moore’s laughter and facial expressions:

KEITH OLBERMANN: One complicating issue here—address the charges against Assange in Sweden. Are they—are they a ruse? Are they—are they a front for something else? And even if they are, indeed, something nefarious against him, you are still, in essence, participating in bailing out a man who has been charged with criminal sexual charges, or will be charged under these circumstances. Address that.
MICHAEL MOORE: That’s the thing. He hasn’t been charged. They’ve brought no criminal charges against him. They want to talk to him about, about— This whole thing stinks to the high heavens. I gotta tell ya. I mean, I—I wasn’t born yesterday, but I [laughs]— I’ve seen this enough times where governments and corporations go after individuals— Geez, wasn’t I— I think I was just on your show a couple of weeks ago talking about this—
OLBERMANN: Uh-huh!
MOORE: —with my film and the health care industry. They go after people with this kind of lie and smear. Daniel Ellsberg told you about it last week on how they went after him. This is— We’ve seen this before. Now, his guilt or innocence of this— I mean, what he said they did— [grinning] and the lawyer said this today in court in London—that what they say he did and the charge is his [rolls eyes] condom broke during consensual sex.
OLBERMANN: Mm-hmm.
MOORE: That is not a crime in Britain, and so they’re making the point how can we—how can we extradite him over this? This is all a bunch of hooey as far as I’m concerned! And, and the man at least has a right to be out of prison while awaiting the hearing, and I believe that, that, uh—and this is why I participate in it; this is why I put put up a chunk of the bail money, and, um, you know, I’m proud, proud to do it because I think this man and what he’s doing, and what his group is doing, is going to save lives.

Regular readers (and everybody who hates me) will recall how disastrously things went sideways when I mocked feminists over this Swedish rape charge against Assange. The accusations, as described in published news accounts, certainly seemed to me like a case of post-coital vengeance — two of the socialist women the LeakyWicker bedded while in Stockholm compared notes and realized they’d been the unwitting (or perhaps witless) victims of a serial seducer. It did not seem to be the sort of case that lent itself to a pious “no means no” lecture from Jill Filipovic.

If you hate me, all that explanation isn’t going to convince you of my bona fides. Yet even my worst enemies must admit (a) I never used the phrase “a bunch of hooey” and (b) I’m a right-winger and therefore automatically presumed guilty of patriarchal misogyny, even if I never wrote a word about feminism.

But for Michael Freaking Moore to roll his eyes and chuckle derisively at the rape accusations on Keith Olbermann’s show — oh, my goodness! Pop the popcorn mon amis, because the flaming fatwa of feminist fury has been unleashed on the obnoxious America-hating Jabba the Hut:

Ask the women who are pressing these charges — their names have been so widely leaked, in one case by your fellow “progressive” media dudebro, Keith Olbermann, that it is possible to find their home addresses, their personal blogs and social media accounts, and to track their activities and personal lives. I’d imagine that they are very much in fear for their lives, due in large part to people like you, Michael Moore, who are insisting that they should not be believed.
And you’re the face of the Left. You have the platform, you have the power, you have the cash and the fame and the name and face recognition: You claim to speak for us. And when you speak, you don’t stand against rape.

That’s from the feminist blogger who has accused Moore of “rape apologism” and launched a Twitter hashtag campaign “#MooreAndMe” to protest against Moore, whose Twitter handle is @MMFlint.

Dear Feminist Ladies: Please forgive me for all previous offenses to your egalitarian sensibilities. Clearly, I deserved every bad name you ever called me. But I’m going to do everything I can to assist you in your current campaign of hysterical vindictive frenzy, because air should be illegal, if Michael Moore is breathing it.

OMG. I just thought of something.

What will Ace of Spades say when he finds out about this? If this doesn’t merit the legendary Flaming Skull Alert, I don’t know what ever will.

Merry Christmas — and God bless us every one!

Category: Crime, Feminism, Sweden, WikiLeaks

MELTDOWN: Wisconsin GOP Chair’s RNC Bid Destroyed by Stimulus Scandal

Posted on | December 15, 2010 | 11 Comments

Wisconsin Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus was, until tonight, a contender to replace Michael Steele as chairman for the Republican National Committee. But Priebus’s evident involvement in soliciting federal stimulus funds for his law firm’s clients emerged Tuesday as a scandal that will likely destroy whatever chance he had, as Dan Riehl explains at Big Government:

Reince Priebus is currently being touted as a front-runner to replace current RNC Chair Michael Steele. But Priebus’ leading role among a select group of high-powered Wisconsin attorneys targeting clients to assist them in maximizing stimulus dollars, at the same time the anti-stimulus RNC employed him as interim general counsel, raises some troubling questions, not just for Preibus, but for the Republican Party as a whole.

Go read the whole thing, including Dan’s links indicating that Priebus attempted to flush the evidence down the Internet memory hole. In fact, when contacted by Tim Mak of Frum Forum, Priebus denied working on the “Stimulus Legislation Team” at his Milwaukee firm, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP — but Mak produces abundant evidence contradicting that denial.

In a year when the Tea Party movement has made opposition to the Obama administration’s stimulus spending a key issue for Republicans, Priebus would obviously be hurt by this revelation. But the apparent effort to to hide the contradictory online evidence raises even more serious issues.

Exactly how this story was made public the same day both by a conservative like Dan Riehl and by the “centrist” GOP site Frum Forum . . . well, I don’t know the answer to that question. At a minimum, we can conclude that some Republicans aren’t members of the Reince Priebus Fan Club.

UPDATE: “I Did Not Have Sex With That Stimulus Package.”

Man, that’s cold. Maybe you see why I always say I’d never want Dan Reihl mad at me. Maybe you don’t want Dan as your friend, but you sure don’t want him to be your enemy. He’s from Jersey, you know.

UPDATE II: Now a Memeorandum thread.

UPDATE III: “Is it just me, or does ‘Reince Priebus’ sound like a character in the Star Wars prequels?“

Category: Dan Riehl, Michael Steele, Republicans, Wisconsin

This Week’s Installment of Burning, Pillage, Etc.

Posted on | December 15, 2010 | Comments Off on This Week’s Installment of Burning, Pillage, Etc.

And let’s face it, if any modern organization ever deserved a visit from history’s best known hostile acquisition specialists, it’s CBS News. Since Vikings are a bit hard to come by these days, we have to do the best we can. On that note, take it away, Joe!

Category: CBS, Media Bias

Oh, Yeah: Senate Passes Pork-Packed Bipartisan Gang-Rape Act of 2010

Posted on | December 15, 2010 | 2 Comments

Only five Republicans — including Coburn, DeMint and Sessions — had the guts to vote against this “compromise” abomination from Hell. “Temporary tax relief, permanent entitlements,” says Michelle Malkin.

Because yesterday’s cloture vote was the real decision, I almost forgot to blog about the final passage.

In other Stupid Lame-Duck News, the Corporal Max Klinger Memorial Bill of 2010 passed the House on a near party-line vote.

Speaking of horrific congressional abominations, Iowa’s Tom Harkin is third runner-up in the Earmark Queen of the Senate pageant.

Category: Congress, Taxes
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