... talk all you like.
(And consider shopping at Amazon through The Althouse Portal. And thanks to all the readers who have directly supported this blog by making a PayPal contribution. Cookies for everyone.)
December 20, 2017
At the Frosted Cookie Café...
... talk all you like.
(And consider shopping at Amazon through The Althouse Portal. And thanks to all the readers who have directly supported this blog by making a PayPal contribution. Cookies for everyone.)
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120 comments:
Those mitten-shaped cookies look as though they have the measles.
I found this thanks to Instapundit:
“But the response of the Palestinian public has been lukewarm. Jerusalem was decidedly calm on the morning following Trump’s pronouncement and it has largely stayed so. International opprobrium notwithstanding, clashes between Israeli troops and Palestinian protestors have not escalated beyond the almost perfunctory. While casualties on either side should surely be mourned, there has been no widespread outbreak of hostilities toward Israel.”
So much for the allegedly knowledgeable “experts” who predicted a third Intifada.
Yesterday / Today are the wife's Xmas baking days. House smells great! She gives everything away, too, so I don't eat it all.
Looks like Rosie might be in some deep Doo Doo as she offered a 2 million dollar bribe to flake and snowe (?) To vote against the tax bill.
Oopsie!
My bad, it was Senator Susan Collins.
Following up on the Jennifer Rubin/Charles C. W. Cooke/David Frum kerfuffle...
Jonah Goldberg has published a column just now up at National Review Online. Including this, which I like as a description, and which I subscribe to as a position I support, for what it's worth...
Additionally interesting is the thought that Jonah Goldberg might recognize that Fox might dump him soon, for being too critical of Trump and Fox.
...The Trumpists want all conservatives to share their reflexive support of everything Trump does. The Resisters want everyone to share their reflexive opposition to everything he does. In other words, the important criterion is enthusiasm not reasoning. Charlie’s position, like that of many of my colleagues at NR, as well as that of Ben Shapiro, Erick Erickson, John Podhoretz, Steve Hayes, and many others, is to resist reflexive, unthinking, passion in favor of facts and skepticism. It’s fine to disagree with this position from the pro- or anti-Trump camps. What is unfair is to claim that if you don’t fall in line with one team or another it must be because of corrupt motives, cowardice, or some other mental defect. Indeed, one could argue that it is much more difficult, costly, and risky to not get swept up in either movement. For instance, unless trends change, I suspect that when my Fox contract is up, I’ll be going the way of Erickson. I have not “caved” to that possibility. Rather I have spoken out against the excesses of Fox more than once while defending the good work it does (including last week). I’m sure I’ll do it again. In other words I make meaningful distinctions, which is what I thought I’m supposed to do. David may think what I am doing is not enough. That’s fine. But that is not a justification for some of the things he’s written.
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/454791/david-frum-conservatives-trump
Can we call the Rosie O'Donnell scandal: Snowe-Flake-gate?
Ho, ho, ho.
Even thought it was Collins!
Anyone aware of any leaking on McCabe's testimony yesterday?
The next POTUS is K. Gillibrand. The NYT will assign Amy Chozick to cover her starting next year (Jan. 2018) through her inauguration in Jan. 2021.
To GOP: Your days are numbered.
To Trump: Get ready to be shellacked in debates for 2020. You still have time to consider to not run again due to illness or family issues or FBI investigation.
Game over for GOP - They lose WH, House, and Senate. They are now on way to becoming extinct - like dinosaurs!
Cheers!
Christmas is the season when all the failed cookie recipes are realized.
Our friend Chuck cites Jonah Goldberg, who begins his argument with the following premise:
The Trumpists want all conservatives to share their reflexive support of everything Trump does.
It's funny -- I haven't met too many Trumpists who reflexively support everything he does. In contrast, I've met many anti-Trumpists who reflexively oppose everything he does.
Many supporters of Trump hover where I am (voted for someone else in the primary, reluctantly voted for him in the general, pleasantly surprised in the first year of his administration.)
Just an observation, I could be wrong.
Pascal's political wager:
Following the tax cuts of December 2017, the economy will either get (a) better or (b) worse and in the 2018 elections, the Dems will either (c) win more congressional seats or (d) lose more congressional seats.
4 scenarios:
1. Economy gets better, Dems lose Congressional seats
2. Economy gets worse, Dems win Congressional seats
3. Economy gets better, Dems win Congressional seats
4. Economy gets worse, Dems lose Congressional seats.
Dems are banking on 2. If 3, they're still happy, but will have to ignore the economic results or take credit for them. But they violently oppose 1, and don't think 4 will ever happen.
Sounds like good advice Chuck. With any President (or party, although that particular opportunity has probably gone by the wayside after Obama). It is a course I try to follow, but I can't help but be exceptionally pleased by what President Trump is achieving, with the notable exception of fiscal responsibility (which appears to have gone by the wayside also).
It's funny -- I haven't met too many Trumpists who reflexively support everything he does.
I haven’t met any. I think they’re a made up construct, a straw windmill Jonah Goldberg and George F. Will can tilt against. There are too many
I love the new tax law. As a person who owns his home, lives in a low tax area, and lives off his 401K, Social Security, and pension, my tax rate is going to go way down (unless the market booms even more, which will be good, too!). My old limousine liberal neighbors living in high tax Fairfax County will pay their fair share at last. Life is good.
Yum . Confectioners sugar coated sugar cookies. Add a mug of coffee and Kahlua topped with real whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. I will take three orders of that in a row.
I personally don't know any people who blindly ("reflexively") support Trump without any reservations. I'm sure some exist, his rallies seem to be packed with some very enthusiastic supporters. But it would be interesting to interview some those people to see if they really are as blindly loyal as certain factions contend.
Pretty much everyone I know who is supportive of Trump seems to dislike certain aspects of his personality (like he's a garish bore, a vulgarian), and/or they'll have some qualifications on particular policy points. But despite those reservations they like what he's done overall more or less. It's as if the perfect is the enemy of the good or something.
I think the new tax bill hurts us a lot... unless we move.
Bay Area Guy,
I think you're spot on.
Though..some of the noted reflexive antitrumpism by some Repubs who voted for him seems to extend beyond what Trump does into bizarre tangents in attempt to turn everything into an antitrump screed.
If only these cookies could talk...
Our gracious and fearless Hostess says:
"I think the new tax bill hurts us a lot... unless we move."
Yeah, but the Left views you as a rich, privileged white woman. So, no tears for you!
I'm in California, so whenever a tax bill is passed, regardless of who sponsors it, regardless of whether it's at the Local, State or Federal level, I know my taxes are going up.
It's a one way ratchet, Baby!
Move on out to Jefferson County, Ann.
Meade could be workin' a small farm.
Fish Fry on Friday, meat raffles..and Arctic Cat jackets.
Rumor has it Tooothless has been eying up a 2 bedroom above a bar here.
Just finishing Christmas baking. Last thing I want to see is more Christmas cookies. Just got back from one big delivery run.
As for Gillibrand, well Am-Po, if it makes you happy to believe it, that's great. But she does not make me want to vote for her for president. I don't really see what qualifications she has to be president, aside from boobs. I am a woman, so boobs hold no mystique for me. Of particular concern for me is Gillibrand's initiative to try to criminalize boycotts - see her Wikipedia bio - which appears flatly unconstitutional. That is the last type of person I would ever vote for to be president. She is a lawyer, so she should have known better.
Sadly, from my perspective, because he was never my "dream" president, President Trump is looking ever better. He has done a lot for the country already.
Bay Area Guy said...
Our friend Chuck cites Jonah Goldberg, who begins his argument with the following premise:
The Trumpists want all conservatives to share their reflexive support of everything Trump does.
It's funny -- I haven't met too many Trumpists who reflexively support everything he does. In contrast, I've met many anti-Trumpists who reflexively oppose everything he does.
Many supporters of Trump hover where I am (voted for someone else in the primary, reluctantly voted for him in the general, pleasantly surprised in the first year of his administration.)
Just an observation, I could be wrong.
Well, I think you are wrong. Do you see the way that I quoted Jonah Goldberg? I quoted him, and quoted him both accurately and fully. But I quoted him out of context from his entire column, which I linked. You should read the entire column.
I think a fairer reading of Jonah is that he was trying to draw conclusions about two opposing viewpoints. I don't think he was trying to categorize large groups of people. Jonah, for his part, wants to be neither reflexively support of, or in opposition to, Trump. he spends most of the column arguing that fact, and also the fact that someone could be supporting of Trump or opposing Trump based on legitimate viewpoints, and not based on personal gain.
As for whether there is anybody who is "reflexively" pro-Trump, I think that about half of FNC is reflexively pro-Trump. Sean Hannity might not support every single thing that Trump has done or said, but Hannity is conclusively a "reflexive" Trump supporter. Hannity's whole being right now is devoted to supporting Trump and if there is something about Trump that Hannity is not supporting (I can't think of anything like that), it has to be trivial in its nature and overwhelming in terms of proof. The Hannity reflex is to support Trump at all costs. When has Hannity NOT supported Trump?
I think the new tax bill hurts us a lot... unless we move
The CPA/MST spouse says we don't really know what it does for us yet but still studying. There's a reading of the law that says business owner's will get to keep at least part of their SALT deductions. We'd be winners in that scenario but end up about the same otherwise.
Ann - I'm sorry about that, but our current law subsidizes the very well-off and does so in ways that tends to impoverish the less well-off, but also hurts American productivity immensely. You guys could vote with your feet. There's a whole huge country out there. You're the lucky ones - you have the resources and the health to go anywhere you want.
We would all be better off if we became a more productive economy, but that does require some changes.
"Rumor has it Tooothless has been eying up a 2 bedroom above a bar here."
I don't think his mom is going to let him move out of the basement. Who's going to take out the trash? Who's going to cut the crusts off of ritmos sandwiches?
Perhaps surprising to some: for the very wealthy taxes aren't a large factor in the location of domicile. We think it is because of the distinction between wealth and income and because they aren't motivated by money as much as people believe.
"Yeah, but the Left views you as a rich, privileged white woman. So, no tears for you!"
I've actually noticed a different reaction. A lot of my rich white liberal friends are assuming the tax bill will hurt them because they have mortgages and pay state and local taxes. They complain that the tax bill favors the rich, but it hurts them, so I can only surmise that they consider themselves to be middle class. And I'm not a mind reader, but I do get the impression they're almost exulting at being victims of Trump's policies. They want desperately to feel solidarity with all the immigrants, gays, trans, etc., who've been harmed by Trump. So, in a sense, the tax bill is going to be a godsend for them, at least so long as they can credibly claim that their taxes are going to up to pay for corporation or whatever.
I suspect many will have to rethink their arguments after they file their 2018 taxes.
"Many supporters of Trump hover where I am (voted for someone else in the primary, reluctantly voted for him in the general, pleasantly surprised in the first year of his administration.)"
Of course. And lots of people similar to us. That is why the Goldberg premise is absurd. I like him, I would like to keep liking him, but the bad-faith reasoning of the NeverTrumpers makes it hard.
They should get out of their bubble more. Reading comments on this blog would be a start.
@Chuck,
Good points, but you are too narrowly focused on the Trump/Foxnews/Hannity axis.
I'm more focused on the 63 Million folks who voted for Trump. This means 2 things.
First, as a crude measure, it means that Trump has a heluva lot more support than his political foes: Pelosi (275,00 votes), Schumer (5.2 Million votes), Jonah Goldberg (zero votes) and Bob Mueller (Zero votes).
(Yes, I know Hillary got 66 Million votes, but we can debate the Electoral College later)
Second, though, it means that these 63 million Americans seem to like what Trump was promising, or at a minimum, preferred his promises over Hillary's. We will see in 2020, whether the voters believe that Trump fulfilled these promises, or whether he gets thrown out, a la George HW Bush the first.
To me, this larger picture is much more important than focusing on what Goldberg is writing in NR or what Hannity is saying on Foxnews.
I think the new tax bill hurts us a lot... unless we move.
12/20/17, 12:57 PM
New tax calculator
One of the best things California ever did was pass a law limiting property tax increases. Happened in the seventies when high tech was taking off and property value was rising dramatically. Saved a lot of retirees from being forced out of their homes. Their are old people living in homes they paid twenty or thirty thousand for that are now worth a million dollars. They could not afford the tax if it was based on current value. Naturally, the new guy buying the house across the street is not happy he pays 10,000 + while original owners pay less than a thousand. Can't say I blame him.
>It's funny -- I haven't met too many Trumpists who reflexively support everything he does.
I'm of the same opinion. I doubt these"trumpists" exist in significant numbers.
...The Trumpists want all conservatives to share their reflexive support of everything Trump does. The Resisters want everyone to share their reflexive opposition to everything he does. In other words, the important criterion is enthusiasm not reasoning.
What about someone who occasionally likes what happens under Trump but invariably goes on to state why Trump should not get the credit for it happening?
Should Jonah consider that person part of the non-reflexive class? Or have they shown themselves to be oppositional at all times, getting there through reasoning or pure enthusiasm depending on the issue?
Original Mike at 11:30 AM
Anyone aware of any leaking on McCabe's testimony yesterday?
If nothing has been leaked yet, then that means nothing was said that might damage Trump.
Excuse my reflexive support for our great communicator with immense courage who is our always positive leader. Doesn't anyone remember that we just spent 18 months in the school of Persuasion under Scott Adams. It's the unprecedented skill sets of DJT that has saved our asses.
Speaking of leadership, we are heading to see Darkest Hour as soon as xmas trips permit. The movie trailer seems to get it. Winston's much despised skill set saved The United Kingdom's asses in May , 1940.
All these analyses assume everything else stay the same, but they won't. The taxes assessed make certain investments more or less attractive, and people will adjust themselves to the new conditions in a remarkably short time.
That Last Jedi was so disappointing.
"That Last Jedi was so disappointing."
How so? This has been the most reliable thing in our culture for 40 years: Star Wars movies suck.
>Star Wars movies suck.
I have sworn an oath. I will not go to a Star Wars film until the Imperials fool the Rebels by pretending to build a new Death Star.
Some day, someone will notice that the best Star Wars film had no Death Star.
Nor did the prequels, which I guess ruins my argument.
Senator Orrin Hatch seems also to be a reflexive Trump supporter. Be sure to see his succinct 3 minute speech given today.
One more add to the Chuck comment.
One Hannity vs. 40+ over the top haters doing the reflexive thing in the MSM. A lot of what you are seeing (and I'm sure you're familiar with it from the responses to your comments on this blog) is pushback to the reflexive haters. Pushback to the hate is not the same as reflexive support. Don't confuse the two.
They're low cal, right?
I think the new tax bill hurts us a lot... unless we move.
I did notice that this year, my property tax went down! From just above $10K to just below. (I think a 1.5% drop). Only the Dane County portion of the tax assessment increased. Schools, city, MATC -- all dropped.
Up your game Dane County. No one likes a money hog.
" A lot of what you are seeing (and I'm sure you're familiar with it from the responses to your comments on this blog) is pushback to the reflexive haters. Pushback to the hate is not the same as reflexive support. Don't confuse the two."
Exactly. According to the Left and Chuck (but I repeat myself), if you haven't joined in the Trump hate, you're a Trump sycophant.
Here's the latest on Alfranken --
LINK TEXT
eric said...
Looks like Rosie might be in some deep Doo Doo as she offered a 2 million dollar bribe to flake and snowe (?) To vote against the tax bill.
Oopsie!"
Apparently Rosie tweeted out that she had "Fuck U, Trump" tattooed on her ass, which still leaves room for "War and Peace."
This has a nice ring:
"We are the wealthy we waited for to pay their fair share of taxes."
@Michael K, is your son still on the line at the Thomas fire? I don't like the latest wind reports. Hoping for the best for him.
Rusty said of Toothless: "I don't think his mom is going to let him move out of the basement. Who's going to take out the trash? Who's going to cut the crusts off of ritmos sandwiches?"
I somehow doubt that Ritmo was of much help around the house when he was a teen.
Mom: Take out the trash.
Ritmo: 20,000 word diatribe on how she is oppressing him.
Mom: Nevermind, I'll do it myself.
Apparently Rosie tweeted out that she had "Fuck U, Trump" tattooed on her ass, which still leaves room for War and Peace.
FIFY
BTW, Rosie can have those cookies as her last meal... Then tell her they were decorated by Harvey Weinstein.
Ann Althouse said...
I think the new tax bill hurts us a lot... unless we move.
Aside not being able to deduct property taxes against income...
Do retired UW faculty even pay Wisconsin state income taxes on their pensions?
We did all nearly all of our Christmas shopping using the Althouse Amazon portal. Waiting for my gold star.
Someone sent me a pack of flavored ("hot buttered grog") coffee as a Christmas present. I made a cup of it this afternoon for the first time. I took that cup, sat down and opened up Althouse and looked at these cookies. For a good couple of seconds, before I figured out what was going on, I thought I was smelling the cookies.
“Do retired UW faculty even pay Wisconsin state income taxes on their pensions?”
Yes.
The most annoying tax is neatly $18,000 in property tax. I think when I moved into this house it was about $3,000. It’s just gone up and up and up.
Nearly
Not neatly
The next POTUS is K. Gillibrand.
Oh, to be back in college and drunk before noon again.
Good times.
But I do understand why Americans may think it’s not fair for me to pay less federal tax just because my local government is taking more. I get a better funded local government, and why should they subsidize that?
I mostly wish our local government were a better steward of the money it takes from us.
“Someone sent me a pack of flavored ("hot buttered grog") coffee as a Christmas present. I made a cup of it this afternoon for the first time. I took that cup, sat down and opened up Althouse and looked at these cookies. For a good couple of seconds, before I figured out what was going on, I thought I was smelling the cookies.”
The magic of Althouse!
No income tax in Tennessee. Move to eastern TN near the mountains. You might like Johnson City, a university town.
exiledonmainstreet said...
" A lot of what you are seeing (and I'm sure you're familiar with it from the responses to your comments on this blog) is pushback to the reflexive haters. Pushback to the hate is not the same as reflexive support. Don't confuse the two."
Exactly. According to the Left and Chuck (but I repeat myself), if you haven't joined in the Trump hate, you're a Trump sycophant.
See what you did in that comment? Precisely what you accuse me of doing. That is, you don't regard me as a conservative, a lifelong Republican, and a Trump voter who happens to dislike Trump and much of what Trump does and says. You accuse me of being something I am not; a leftist. You do that along with several others on this blog's comment pages.
That is what got Jonah Goldberg to disagree so vocally with David Frum; Frum's thesis that conservative writers who were softening up on Trump were doing so for corrupt reasons. Such as they feared the loss of positions at Fox, or feared loss of audiences in the conservative media world. Frum wanted to categorize them.
I didn't think I've been too categorical about Trump supporters. Up above, Bay Area Guy remarked about the 63 million people who voted from Trump. I'd be among the first to say that those 63 million can't be easily categorized. There are some like me who loathed Trump personally but who could not abide a Clinton presidency. There were no doubt some who think that Trump is the best thing to happen in American politics in their lifetimes. And a whole range in between.
Not everybody who voted for Trump really "supports" Trump. At the same time, there really are some Trump sycophants.
Live in Washington and shop in Oregon. WA has no income tax, OR has no sales tax.
I mostly wish our local government were a better steward of the money it takes from us.
How dare you, you oppressive, privileged capitalist! Don't you realize there are starving Ethiopian bisexuals somewhere being oppressed by Christian Theocrats, who need hot lunch programs at local Head Start disability clinics.....
Will the tax bill suppress house prices in Madison if the property tax and interest aren't deductible?
I suspect even if house prices dropped, the tax bill wouldn't. I wonder how many 'studies' are paid for by Dane Co and the city of Madison each year. Those things are pricey, and they happen because elected officials are afraid to make a decision and have it linked to them. Instead: "Well, the Study that we Paid Good Money for told us to do it this way!!"
I'm paying off my house next year come hell or high water.
Live in Washington and shop in Oregon. WA has no income tax, OR has no sales tax.
Washington residents are required to pay a Use Tax - which is equal to the state sales tax - on out-of-state purchases.
I mostly wish our local government were a better steward of the money it takes from us.
Think Global, Act Local
Ann, my son bought a house in Belleville. He likes it and it is a pretty easy commute for him. (He and his fiancé are Epic 'kids'). Frankly, I don't see you living in Belleville - it is almost too farming/blue color for me - but New Glares? Maybe. And perhaps a few of the other small communities around Madison could fit the bill. Or, come to New Mexico. The weather is much nicer and you could get a nice home in Corrals or Rancho de Albuquerque, maybe even here in Placitas, close to walking trails and lots of fresh air. We'll teach you how to make tamales and Mead could learn how to grow cactus.
Ann Althouse said...
The most annoying tax is neatly $18,000 in property tax. I think when I moved into this house it was about $3,000. It’s just gone up and up and up.
I know your neighborhood (a friend and UW faculty member lived near the Spooner Street bridge over the bike path). And property values have gone up pretty dramatically in the time you have lived there.
Is that an explanation? Do you have any capping/limits for property tax increases? California and Michigan do.
Vancouver WA - Portland OR is the metropolis choice. Lots of places along the Columbia River including scenic, mountains, hikes, water features. Or get nearer to the ocean.
My suggestion: Live in Washington and shop in Oregon. WA has no income tax, OR has no sales tax.
Jim respondeth: Washington residents are required to pay a Use Tax - which is equal to the state sales tax - on out-of-state purchases.
I've always wondered how they could audit that and bust you. If you don't rat yourself out, how would they catch you?
Kentucky has a use tax, too. I'm not saying anything about the extent to which I rat myself out or not.
"The most annoying tax is neatly $18,000 in property tax." Wow.
Eastern TN/Western NC is your best bet. Knoxville/Asheville, thereabouts.
The most annoying tax is neatly $18,000 in property tax. I think when I moved into this house it was about $3,000. It’s just gone up and up and up.
I'm willing to bet that you voted in favor of most of the programs that caused it to rise. If you want to live in a blue environment (and you seem to want to) you have to pay blue taxes.
Speaking of baked goods: today, I had a nostalgic craving for kringle. This is not the pastry of my people*, but I grew up in proximity to the people whose pastry that is.
So I ordered kringle today. One pecan and one raspberry. Racine WI. Won't be here in time for Christmas so it will be a New Year's Kringle.
This is on topic because our blogress is in WI and baked goods were featured in the pic.
* The pastry of my people that I am currently craving: Battenberg cakes. I'm not ordering any, because it's on my wishlist, so we'll see if Santa brings me some. If no, then I will order some. Other people go on diets in January. I eat Kringle and Battenberg cakes and perhaps some Dolly Mix (candy) too. Self acceptance is priceless.
"The most annoying tax is neatly $18,000 in property tax."
The doubled Standard Deduction should cover a bit of the $8000 you can no longer deduct.
Our blogress would love Asheville, doncha think? Wondering if she's ever visited?
The magic of Althouse!
She can't smell the cookies but magically transmits the olfactory sensations to us!
You accuse me of being something I am not; a leftist.
The internet is a Turing test. We don't know who you are or if you're really a dog*. We can only read what you write and compare it to what other people write when trying to discern what kind of entity is on the other side of the computer screen.
I've outlined your posts from time to time just to let you know how they read to me. If I ran those comments through a computer and compared it to posts from people of known political affiliation, the computer would put you in the Democrat pile.
I would never tell someone who they are. It's just that if it types like a duck and snipes like a duck, we have nothing but your word that the duck is actually a Lifelong Republican...
* As Instapundit would say, classical reference included.
Work to create the change you want to see...
You have the time, in retirement, and the resources, surely?
What is stopping you?
Why do you think she's typing away at this blog every day?
Kevin said...
"You accuse me of being something I am not; a leftist."
...
I've outlined your posts from time to time just to let you know how they read to me. If I ran those comments through a computer and compared it to posts from people of known political affiliation, the computer would put you in the Democrat pile.
Then that computer would need to be re-programmed, because it would not be accurately appraising folks like Jennifer Rubin, David Frum, Charlie Sykes, Bill Kristol, Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, etc. I hope I sound more or less like all of them.
None of whom are Democrats. They are all self-proclaimed conservatives. To the extent that perhaps none of them voted for Trump, I am more pro-Trump than any of them.
I've always wondered how they could audit that and bust you. If you don't rat yourself out, how would they catch you?
Oregon retailers - specifically auto dealers and other, large-ticket vendors - conveniently provide the paperwork to declare such taxes. They also - quite helpfully - coordinate with the Washington state Department of Revenue on said transactions.
Sure. Some people chance it, not pay the tax on items and hope. Others chance it, not pay the tax, get busted and then pay the tax plus penalties.
It's not like the tax collectors in both states throw up their hands and figure they might as well get outsmarted.
Got to love At&T kicking Chuck Schumer in a very painful spot: Literally while Schumer was bloviating about the tax bill and evil AT&T who was greedy and would never do anything for an employee blah blah blah, At&T announced a thousand dollar bonus "in honor of the tax cut" to every single employee.
--Vance
The doubled Standard Deduction should cover a bit of the $8000 you can no longer deduct.
Yeah, probably. But what the Blue States really wanted was a “double standard” deduction. Something that lets them take their constant wish for high taxes off of their taxes!
Besides, she isn’t getting the same bang for that doubled standard deduction that she might get in Yeehaw Junction, FL, were she to move there and open a shop selling bags of grapefruit and knick knacks made out of shells, and tickets to the gator rasslin’ show to passing tourists stopping off from the turnpike. (Man, sometimes a sentence just goes on by itself of its own momentum!)
Jennifer Rubin. Lulz
Althouse sez: "Cookies for everyone"
Hillary denigrates cookies in 1992: "You know, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was to fulfill my profession, which I entered before my husband was in public life,"
Jimsplained.
OK thanks for that. So if you make your big ticket purchases in WA, and purchase ordinary consumables in OR, you can get away with it then?
Cars and other registerable vehicles would be difficult to do, because they're sending in a vehicle registration. Automatic ratting out.
Well they are covering it with a small pillow:
https://mobile.twitter.com/RealSaavedra/status/943567055407558656/photo/1?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=zaphod77&utm_content=943606285211258880
"They are all self-proclaimed conservatives."
So is Trump: "Trump: I am a commonsense conservative" http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/16/politics/donald-trump-commonsense-conservative/index.html
Trump is a Republican. So are Jennifer Rubin, David Frum, Charlie Sykes, Bill Kristol, Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson.
So what is your major malfunction, Chuck?
Will the tax bill suppress house prices in Madison if the property tax and interest aren't deductible?
That's an interesting observation. Were the deductions introduced or preserved in order to make inflated asset prices tolerable? Cosmopolitan areas affordable, or less personally burdensome, through national redistribution schemes?
Oregon retailers - specifically auto dealers and other, large-ticket vendors - conveniently provide the paperwork to declare such taxes. They also - quite helpfully - coordinate with the Washington state Department of Revenue on said transactions.
When I lived in New Hampshire, so many people went to NH to buy cars that Vermont exempted cars from their high sales tax.
When Costco and Walmart wanted to build in West Lebanon, across the bridge from VT, NH made them pay for the infrastructure themselves. They did.
I wonder what other market, civil, and human distortions have been sustained through government regulation and collusion. Environmental and labor arbitrage, for one and two. Selective-child and recycled-child, for three and four. Immigration reform for welfare profits, gerrymandered districts, and compensation for five, six, and seven. Diversity and political congruence for racism, sexism, and "=", as eight, nine, and ten. Also, refugee crises and a compliant fourth estate to carry out elective regime changes, open abortion fields, and suppress news of collateral damage, including a contemporary trail of tears. Not to mention so-called "Net Neutrality" to subsidize high bandwidth media consumption and increase corporate profits.
@Michael K, how’s your son doing? I saw a report that the winds driving the Thomas fire are picking up again.
Always interesting to look around at the freest, richest, healthiest, most long-lived society in history, the one with the most art, most leisure, most interesting jobs, greatest comfort — and see how many absolutely hate it, loath it with a blind rage.
"How so? This has been the most reliable thing in our culture for 40 years: Star Wars movies suck."
Spoiler warning...
As a fan of the original trilogy, and even The Force Awakens, despite its many plot holes and such, the new movie didn't continue The Force Awakens. Johnson said, "none of that matters, I want to tell a different story." And the new story was a 2.5 hour car chase in space with a strange and boring sub-plot.
The Washington citadel is much like canto bligh in last Jedi, the ultimate swamp holdout. It requires a blunt instrument, I had my reservations about trump, particularly re the Iraq war, the obsession with birth certificates
But he has delivered on removing us from the Paris accord the Iran deal, the deal with the Castro regime, net neutrality .he couldn't remove the leviathans of obamacare, at first glance but I blame haskell and mcturtle,
As for the film, it did rehash elements mostly from empire and return of the Jedi. The retreat from hath in two places. And the consequences therein. Remember their capital had been blown. In force awakens so much of their forces were destroyed or scattered.
Lewis Wetzel said...
"They are all self-proclaimed conservatives."
So is Trump: "Trump: I am a commonsense conservative" http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/16/politics/donald-trump-commonsense-conservative/index.html
Trump is a Republican. So are Jennifer Rubin, David Frum, Charlie Sykes, Bill Kristol, Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson.
So what is your major malfunction, Chuck?
So where does anybody step off, calling me a leftist or a Democrat? Fans of Trump don't get away with othering all critics of Trump as leftists or Democrats. There are plenty of people with better records as conservatives and Republicans than Trump, who are criticizing Trump. With really valid complaints, that Trump is harmful to conservatism and to the Republican Party.
"Our blogress would love Asheville, doncha think? Wondering if she's ever visited?"
Yes, we visited Asheville. It's where Meade and I traveled in the summer of 2009 for him to meet my sons for the first time (just before we got married). It was actually a reunion of my first husband's family, so Meade met RLC and his 2 brothers along with my 2 sons. 5 of them for the first time, in Asheville.
It's easy to find in the archive. Photographs in restaurants and landscapes. It was very nice! Definitely on the list of possibilities.
LLR and "Accidental Leftist" Chuck: "There are plenty of people with better records as conservatives and Republicans than Trump, who are criticizing Trump."
LOL
We are right smack in the middle of Reagans 3rd term and Chuckie thought it would be smart to write that!!
LLR Chuck, like his alter ego Jen Rubin, ain't gonna sit and let Trump get away with doing all this conservative stuff!!! Not without a fight, eh LLR?
Vance: "Got to love At&T kicking Chuck Schumer in a very painful spot:..."
That ain't the only "Chuck" that AT&T kicked with their announcement. We have our own LLR that was also "hardest hit".
LLR Chuck: "None of whom are Democrats. They are all self-proclaimed conservatives."
LOL
And ARM claims to be "reasonable" and Cookie swears he is not a marxist!!
The proof is in the eating of the pudding, and so far this Trump conservative governance pudding is tasting mighty good to me.
The more Trump succeeds in getting us back onto the conservative path the more LLR Chuck howls in a decidedly Jen Rubin-y way.
In fact, with precisely the same "screech" quality to his postings.
It was so important to cut taxes for corporations that CHIP was not renewed. This should tell you all you need to know about the priorities of Republicans.
In other words it was a grim but more realistic depiction of events there are very few cruisers to be had unless they are stolen. Resistance movements are like the forest bros of Lithuania or the escambray waging quick strikes and retreating, not holding territory.
As a fan of the original trilogy, and even The Force Awakens, despite its many plot holes and such, the new movie didn't continue The Force Awakens. Johnson said, "none of that matters, I want to tell a different story." And the new story was a 2.5 hour car chase in space with a strange and boring sub-plot.
The 1st movie was good: good guys fight bad guys in space.
The 2nd movie was good, too: bad guys strike back at good guys in space.
The 3rd movie was a little slow: good guys strike back at bad guys in space.
But I had trouble following the next 5 or 6 movies.
New Hampshire, I am telling you. Primaries are great theater, see it all up close. See the candidates in person in “intimate settings. Dodge presidential motorcades! The natural beauty, mountains, lakes, the ocean, you could probably have lunch with Mark Steyn sometimes. The movie “What About Bob” is pretty good, to get a taste, and you can never go wrong with a Bill Murray movie.
Property taxes reasonable. No income taxes on wages, no sales taxes, that’s right, even on cars. Still somehow they manage to keep the roads plowed.
Ot, carried fisher didn't look wel through out the shoot, the Mary popping in space twist seemed ridiculous Laura dern's character as a little standoffish but ultimately redeemed herself, mark hamill didn't seem happy to be there.
"...better records as conservatives and Republicans than Trump..."
Ronaldus Maximus mortuus est.
What evidence of their work, sakes hascsome success in debunking academic boondoggles, but he goes crying to Carlos slims (I'm going to change my shorthand, because Carlos is bailing on it, like gecko on teldat paper)
It was so important to cut taxes for corporations that CHIP was not renewed. This should tell you all you need to know about the priorities of Republicans.
I'm trying to avoid Inga but this is so stupid that the vary stones cry out.
The tax cut affects 85% of the population. Try to pay attention.
Do you have any capping/limits for property tax increases? California and Michigan do.
The Democrats will eventually kill Prop 13. They have been trying for years.
As Howard Jarvis once said, "You can't ask pigs to step away from the trough. You have to kick it away."
Before Prop 13, a friend of mine had a house that he paid $250,000 for. A lot in those days. His property taxes were about $7,000.
That was when real money was at stake. That was almost 20% of the purchase price of a house I bought in the same area about the same time.
I bought my last house in CA in 1991 and paid about $3000 a year, after annual increases that is about right.
I moved to Tucson and bought a house for about $350,000 and put another $50,000 into it. My taxes are about $3000.
This house, in Orange County, would be $2 million.
DJT is tormenting the never Trumpers with ads running on Tucker Carlson tonight of ordinary happy Americans saying , " Thank you, President Trump for ..."
I can see Chuck trying to practice those words with a sincere smile.
Crazy Chris Mathews said he just cannot understand today's ceremony on the White House lawn... why it was like a mentally ill Trump demanded to be praised.
It is Torture by Trump!
Deep pocketed foundations like those mentioned above, are screaming like ports:
http://freebeacon.com/issues/memo-reveals-100-million-effort-by-clinton-foundation-donor
All roads lead to red queen
Can't talk when I'm eating.
The sources said that when asked when he learned that the dossier had been funded by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, McCabe claimed he could not recall – despite the reported existence of documents with McCabe’s own signature on them establishing his knowledge of the dossier’s financing and provenance.
My, my, my, ...
"The most annoying tax is neatly $18,000 in property tax."
That is really an insane amount of property tax, especially considering that Wisconsin has state income and sales taxes.
18k prop tax in Wisco?!
That is really an insane amount of property tax, especially considering that Wisconsin has state income and sales taxes.
I know a guy with 1500 feet of lakefront including a sandy beach, a heated indoor pool, and three hundred acres with multiple barns, who pays around that.
"I know a guy with 1500 feet of lakefront including a sandy beach, a heated indoor pool, and three hundred acres with multiple barns, who pays around that."
Exactly.
So if you make your big ticket purchases in WA, and purchase ordinary consumables in OR, you can get away with it then?
Sorry. Just getting back to this ... if you're still reading.
I don't live close enough to the Oregon border to 'take advantage' of their tax system. However, I have lived in both states for extended periods of time. I'd much rather pay a tax on what I choose to purchase than to be taxed on what I earn. So, I'd side with Washington's system, and have.
One could do what you suggest, and I'm certain many people do. I just never figured it was worth the hassle.
So if you make your big ticket purchases in WA, and purchase ordinary consumables in OR, you can get away with it then?
Sorry. Just getting back to this ... if you're still reading.
I don't live close enough to the Oregon border to 'take advantage' of their tax system. However, I have lived in both states for extended periods of time. I'd much rather pay a tax on what I choose to purchase than to be taxed on what I earn. So, I'd side with Washington's system, and have.
One could do what you suggest, and I'm certain many people do. I just never figured it was worth the hassle.
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