Who Writes Their Material?

The NY Times covers the tough talk coming out of Washington in response to the Crimea crisis:

ROME — The United States escalated its response to Russia’s military and economic threats to Ukraine on Thursday, announcing it has imposed visa bans on officials and others deemed responsible for actions that have undermined Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Hit the oligarchs where it hurts! No more Broadway plays for them or Fifth Avenue shopping sprees for the wife (or arm candy). Get out EU allies to close off Paris, London and Milan and we can force these guys to spend their loot in Hong Kong.

The punchline is here:

The announcement, a senior official said, should prompt individuals in Russia and Crimea to wonder if they are going to “find their name on a list.”

I think plenty of Russians and Ukrainians have had that worry for decades. But it's not lists kept by Barry and Johnny that have them worried.

CRUEL AND UNUSUAL: Instead of suspending visas, make each visa come with two Knicks tickets? Geez, what would the World Court say? And don't escalate by mentioning the Mets here.

Comments

[jimmyk]

Megan pointed out tonight that Lerner, while pleading the 5th to Congress, has been talking to the Justice Department that is supposedly "investigating" the scandal.

First, how do you plead the 5th in one venue but not in another? That seems a bit odd. But more important, this makes me think that the DoJ "investigation" is really an effort to find out the best way to cover up or come up with a consistent story that will exculpate everyone involved. In other words, far from investigating, they are conspiring. I can't think of a better explanation for why she is talking to them.

[Ignatz]

Nixon could take these creeps' correspondence course.

[I had to search to be sure he wasn't dead.]

Hah, 'late, great'.

[Who dat Vlad et?]

Would I trust Issa to valet my car?

[daddy]

Santorini should be on that list - I think it is my favorite place ever.

Concur with Jane's recommendation. Spectacularly beautiful, and the ancient Minoan ruins of Akrotiri are small but fascinating. You stroll high up on the rim wall of a gorgeous steep crater, overlooking your cruise ship floating in the gorgeous blue ocean that fills the middle of that crater that blew sky high in 1,500 BC. Incomparable scenery which tells the whole story.

Delphi is also amazing if you've got a day or 2 to kill and you want out of Athens. Driving in Greece for us was very easy once we got out of Athens.

[Threadkiller]

The bill passed by a 229-183 vote. Ten Democrats, mostly from coal-producing states or the South, joined Republicans in support of it. Three Republicans opposed the bill.

http://m.cnsnews.com/news/article/house-passes-bill-block-obama-climate-plan

LIR?

[Danube on iPad]

I could do this if I wanted to.

http://vimeo.com/m/88260703

[Danube on iPad]

"First, how do you plead the 5th in one venue but not in another?"

She may simply be talking to Justice about immunity.

[Bori]

Juan Williams said something that I agree with, I never thought I'd see that day.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/03/06/rutgers-rage-against-rice-why-do-liberals-have-so-much-hate-for-black/

[anonamom]

Sen. Lee's charge to conservatives from his CPAC speech:

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2014/03/06/lee-before-conservatives-can-celebrate-victory-we-first-must-deserve-it/

.

[Miss Marple]

Just 8 points separate 9 candidates in the New Hampshire GOP primary polls:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/nh/new_hampshire_republican_presidential_primary-3350.html

[Miss Marple]

Regarding the polls above, Christie has a slight lead, which is not surprising since he is the only centrist in the group. What is surprising to me is that he is closely followed by Rand Paul.

[narciso]

So now Comey is getting involved, I leave it to you, to see if that is a good thingl

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/03/06/3979210/fbi-probing-alleged-removal-of.html

[Jane on Ipad]

Daddy,

I think I loved Delphi too. It's interesting that it all runs together, except for Santorini, which I still remember vividly, to this day.

[narciso]

Just more mischief with the lads.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/03/
_at_first_nasr_staye.php

[marlene on Kindle]

anonamom,we're in Naples.The temp was 10 below when we left Bangor!

[Jeff Dobbs]

Whew. I'm plum tuckered out.

But I made it back to get to work.

Four inches of wet, heavy, slushy global warming to deal with.

[Jeff Dobbs]

Over there on the memeorandum sidebar:

Bernie Sanders: ‘I Am Prepared to Run for President of the United States’

Sure, why not.

What difference, at this point, does it make?

[sbwaters]

Bernie Sanders: ‘I Am Prepared to Run for President of the United States’

Along side Harold Stassen. He's stil running isn't he?

[Captain Hate]

Juan Williams said something that I agree with, I never thought I'd see that day.

Juan is right to defend Rice from this dumbass posturing by the whores of Slutgers, but calling Condi a conservative is false labeling.

[Jeff Dobbs]

So quiet around here.

But just so you know...the truth is out there in here.

[narciso]

Really, Juan, Clarence Thomas? doesn't ring a bell, had Rove defended the administration then,

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Hit&Run-- how did Bunko go last night?

[Jeff Dobbs]

The first rule of drunko....

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Mike Lee never fails to impress me-- he will do the heavy lifting in a Repub Senate, drafting legislation to repeal the ObummerCare monstrosity, reform entitlements to avoid national bankruptcy, and fix the Tax Code. He is a serious man of substance. of course, for him to be in a position to do those things, Repubs have to win in '14. Otherwise you get Majority Leader Schumer, and the national collapse will continue.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Heh.... what was the female/male ratio at Bunko?

[narciso]

the Al Sheikh's referenced above, are no mere
lads, it is the Wahhabi religious establishment that married into the Sauds.

[narciso]

as you see in the memeorandum the Caucus is satisfied by Issa's gesture, shocker.

[Jane]

"Juan Williams said something that I agree with, I never thought I'd see that day."

I first became familiar with Juan because his vigorous defense of Clarence Thomas during the confirmation hearings. It was brave and correct. I've always had a soft spot for him as a result. When Obama won in 2008 Jay Nordlinger asked a bunch of us how we felt that morning and my response was "I was happy for Juan Williams".

He bugs the shit out of me these days, but I still appreciate him for that.

[narciso]

The Top Men, have been doing their best to give Lee, the 'William Wallace' treatment, ala Edward Longshanks.

[Danube on iPad]

Own goal:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2575346/Iranian-student-burns-death-Molotov-cocktail-Georgia-Tech-University.html

[narciso]

and the brothers were singled by Abu Zubeydah, who according to Soufan and co, was totally out of his depth, but apparently was AQ's human resources and logistics chief,

[Janet - the districts lie fallow while the Capitol gorges itself]

2 articles were kinda interesting..

Virginia Dems are mad....a fight about their next party chairman. "Meanwhile, LGBT Democrats are seeking an alternative, urging the party to support a candidate who backs marriage equality."

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/dems-assembly-leaders-back-jones/article_347f0467-bfad-5507-8b76-653cf48396ee.html

and

Apparently Hispanics aren't so excited about Wendy. "Wendy has a pro-life Catholic problem and may not hold the support of motivated Latino voters by default."

http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/dgreenfield/abortion-barbie-shockingly-not-popular-with-texas-latino-voters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=abortion-barbie-shockingly-not-popular-with-texas-latino-voters

[Captain Hate]

as you see in the memeorandum the Caucus is satisfied by Issa's gesture, shocker.

Where is the Repub advocacy group in the Senate demanding that Reed apologize or be removed for calling every person claiming to be harmed by 404Care a liar? That was an insult to regular citizens who have demonstrably been harmed, not some partisan gasbag making a fool out of himself by yammering something incomprehensible during a closed hearing like an insane person.

I don't think the Repubs understand what it is to be an opposition party.

[Captain Hate]

Reed == Reid

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Fascinating 9/11 story in the UK daily mail. I didn't realize Chic Burlingame had been a 4 stripe USN captain. The clearest sat photo shows 9/12 conditions. The small Island to the east of Manhattan is Governor's Island, the very northern tip of Governor's Island and east across 'Buttermilk Channel" is the Brooklyn waterfront, for 6+ years I lived 2 blocks in from the waterfront in Cobble Hill. I moved in '90. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2575305/Footage-9-11-filmed-astronaut-aired-time-series-exploring-memorable-moments-space.html

[henry]

My mom was born on Governor's Island.

[narciso]

No they don't Captain,

[Threadkiller]

Paige v Vermont Case Moving to U.S. Supreme Court

http://www.birtherreport.com/2014/03/evasion-another-obama-eligibility-case.html?m=1

[Threadkiller]

Independent observers were unaware of a precedent for the CIA spying on the congressional committees established in the 1970s to check abuses by the intelligence agencies...

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/05/obama-cia-senate-intelligence-committee-torture

[narciso]

Yes it's back to the era of the Church and Pike committees, oh frabjous joy.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Henry- was your maternal grandad Coastie or USN?

[narciso]

At the American Thinker, there's a piece about the awkward lobbying connection to the fmr, possibly 'Norwegian Blue' Yanukovich, by a Top Man,

[daddy]

Via Insty

How Iran’s rulers see Obama

[henry]

NK, Army.

[jimmyk]

She may simply be talking to Justice about immunity.

Her lawyer said otherwise.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/03/06/former-irs-official-lerner-gave-interview-to-doj/

[Danube on iPad]

Unemployment back up to 6.7%.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Ed M's take on Cruz is virtually identical to mine: http://hotair.com/archives/2014/03/07/cpac-cruz-meets-the-bloggers/

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

henry-- OK I remember now, you mentioned that before. Governor's Island was idylic, even in the bad old 70s when I first visited there at the invite of HS football teammates whose dads were serving USCG officers. It was a bit funny to me that 10 years later I wound up married and living across buttermilk channel from Governor's, and then in the late 80s, we used Governor's island as the staging place for Fleet Week VIP viewing.

[Danube on iPad]

The Birthers remain the only people in the country who say a case has "moved to the Supreme Court" just because some nutball has petitioned for certiorari. Certiorari will not be granted in Paige v. Vermont.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Our friend in ChiTown's professional take on the employment #s is 'largely unimpressive'. The biggest hires were in Temp services and government. My take: For people searching for jobs, the best that can be said is it wasn't horrific. And, hopefully, this small 'beat' will allow the Fed ChairDwarf to continue 'tapering' and slow the buying Treasurt Debt. 4 years of that nonsense is enough.

[Threadkiller]

Ed M's take":

Cruz clearly knows how to connect to the grassroots, and more than that, knows how to fire them up. Even if one occasionally disagrees on strategy and tactics, there is no doubt that the future of the GOP lies with Cruz and others similarly talented in this generation of Republican lawmakers.

Cruz struck me as a one-issue sort of guy.

[Captain Hate]

That's pretty red meaty for Poppin', with nary an "in fairness".

[Threadkiller]

“VT Sup Court ruled today. Interesting decision that will allow us to proceed to SCOTUS.

”Instead of expediting this case the lower court and VT Supreme Court dragged their feet thus making their decisions after the election.

In essence, the case is moot because Obama is already president and cannot run again.”

http://citizenwells.wordpress.com/2013/10/19/vermont-supreme-court-obama-eligibility-october-18-2013-h-brooke-paige-appeal-vt-justices-rule-case-is-moot-obama-already-president/

[Danube on iPad]

"Independent observers were unaware of a precedent for the CIA spying on the congressional committees..."

So they were able to do it despite the absence of a precedent. So much for precedents in the executive branch.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

How to win in November: Run on ObummerCare, energy prices and jobs. There are no jobs and gas is $3+/gallon. easy to run on. ObummerCare? The latest Obummer 'delay' is a hail mary to prevent premium rises to group plans this summer autumn. Obummer will put huge pressure on BigGovInsurers to continue existing plans and not discontinue them for small employers to minimize the rate increases, simultaneously he'll offer the bribe of the loss bailout ($5+B in his budget.) The red State Insurance Commissioners need to reject the delay and demand compliance now. That will force employers and insurers to face the consequences of ObummerCare now. Those stories of millions losing employer group coverage will hammer home the ObummerCare message. Strike 3 for Dems in Nov.

[henry]

I'm shocked to see that gambling was going on. WI Republican Party files complaint about AFL-CIO undisclosed campaign funds. File this under things not investigated by a John Doe prosecutor, and note the R won the election here this took place.

[Threadkiller]

What they did now won't be considered a precedent in the future. This will be especially true when reporters go about looking for precedents.

[sbwaters]

TK: Cruz struck me as a one-issue sort of guy.

I had to laugh. ;-)

[Old Lurker]

"Juan Williams said something that I agree with, I never thought I'd see that day."

Is that a cleaned up version of the boy digging for the pony?

[Jim Eagle]

NK,

I have actually played the par 3 executive course on Governor's Island back in the 70's. I think they revived it for an LPGA event back in 2005 of 2006.

LIttle known fact is that both Smother Brothers were born on GI.

[Miss Marple]

I don't like Ted Cruz, even though he is right on the issues. Maybe it's something I don't understand about myself, but I just cannot like him.

I realize this is not how people should decide who to vote for, and I can overcome it if need be (especially if he's running against Huckabee).

I just want to caution you guys that in the general elections a large number of voters will vote based on visceral reactions, and the media doesn't help.

[Old Lurker]

MM, if there are other women who have that feeling, you can bet the media will shout it from the rooftops (eg Palin).

[narciso]

So I looked at Zero hedge, and the number of jobs in 'unexpectedly' only 95K, so chocolate rations up to 40 grams, one feels a little like Morpheus in the Matrix, it's all a facade.

[Jane]

"Cruz struck me as a one-issue sort of guy."

Yeah, the Constitution.

I've got the same one issue.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Ted Cruz-- I agree with Ed M's take on Cruz. IF Cruz is a team player IF (and I think he is) his role in the conservative movement is to be an idea man for policy and legislation, and to be a cheerleader for people already conservative. I think he can also be a gigantic fundraiser. But he won't win votes or converts because of his personality... he's blunt and arrogant (those of you out there who don't like me know what I mean) and he will not be well received by women voters. Nor would he be an effective Majority Leader or Texas Governor IMO for those same reasons.

[narciso]

As opposed to Garfield and McTurtle, seriously

[Threadkiller]

Is the best candidate that can win best described as one who appeals to emotions rather than logic?

Is this the path to LIVs?

[Account Deleted]

c-c,

Issa was set up by Lerner lying about agreeing to testify. He wanted a little cheap theater and bit too soon. The lying buffoon Cummings had his "protect the terrified lying bitch innocent little woman" speech ready to go to establish the 'black man protecting defenseless woman from Tea Party terrorists' meme. Issa kicked his soapbox away before he could generate his bullshit.

The apology to the mendacious thief was the price. If he didn't pay it, we'd get to listen to the Black Thieves Caucus Chorus singing Disrespect for a month.

Political theater is going to be pretty boring for a while. The key audience demographics match those for the tabloids and The View so it's gonna be Punch and Judy until the election.

[Miss Marple]

TK, It is what Reagan did. I am not recomending an emotional only candidate, just one who knows how to appeal to the LIV's.

[narciso]

I'd prefer a Reagan, I'd settle for a Nixon, last time we got a Scranton, scratch that.

[jimmyk]

I just want to caution you guys that in the general elections a large number of voters will vote based on visceral reactions, and the media doesn't help.

As I've said many times, I think he'd make a much better (almost ideal) VP candidate than presidential candidate. Reasons include

1. Senators don't usually make good presidents.

2. He's ideal for the usual good cop-bad cop routine of Pres-VP candidates. People vote almost entirely on who's at the top of the ticket, which allows the running mate some freedom to speak candidly.

[Danube on iPad]

"What they did now won't be considered a precedent in the future."

That is correct, although you abd I are ascribing different meanings to the word precedent. It will be considered a precedent only in the sense that it has happened before. It will not be a precedent in the sense that it renders the behavior any more lawful.

In short: anyone contemplating such spying in the future will be utterly indifferent to the fact that it is being done now, just as those doing it now are utterly indifferent to the fact that it hasn't been done before.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Denying the need to persuade LIVs and convince them to vote conservative, frankly smacks of at best arrogance, and possibly something worse.In any event, we've seen the result of leaving the election field to the Left/Dems in Blue Hells like Calif and NY. I'd rather the entire USA not become a Blue Hell.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Both Smothers Bros born on Governor's I? who knew?

[Ignatz]

The only problem I have with Ted Cruz's list of 10 essentials is not one of them even mentions reducing the size or reach of government.

[narciso]

the serious one, played Harry Reid in Casino,

the whole brouhaha in the Senate, feels like the return of Sandy Burglar, who know who they were going to leak those records to, recall Kirikaou was at one time, a Senate staffer.

[Threadkiller]

I agree, Danube. The meaning of 'precedent' is important.

[Danube on iPad]

"...not one of them even mentions reducing the size or reach of government."

I'd put the abolition of the IRS in that category.

[jimmyk]

not one of them even mentions reducing the size or reach of government.

Well, he did say "end the corruption" and "stop the lawlessness." That would eliminate about 80 percent, no?

Seriously, abolishing the IRS, repealing Ocare and Dodd-Frank would reduce the size and reach of government. As does school choice (though I'm not sure what the Federal government has to do with that.) But I agree that if he'd have added "Eliminate the DoEs, Commerce" and something about reducing and eliminating entitlements, it would have been more satisfying.

[Threadkiller]

'Asian professionals' won't vote for Cruz?

Even if he offers a solution to 'progressive fascism?'

[Old Lurker]

I still like the idea of leaving the filibuster at 51 for appointments and adding "wholesale housecleaning" (EVERY non civil servant protected appointee to submit resignations effective Jan 20 2017) to the Ted Cruz list of 10 which should be 15. No point in pussy footing around the plan.

[Ignatz]

Yes but it's a pipe dream with a flat tax.
The flat tax on ones income still has to have a way of calculating that income. That means Schedule Cs, Schedule Ds, 1099s etc. Not to mention 501(c)3s to manipulate etc.
Now it may have economic advantages but the idea it will allow the abolition or even significant reduction of the IRS seems unlikely, IMO.

[Ignatz]

--Well, he did say "end the corruption" and "stop the lawlessness."--

While he's at he should pledge to end fraud, waste and abuse. Every politician even Dems claim they want to do that and yet it never occurs.
The only way to end corruption, lawlessness etc is to end most of the government; they are endemic to all government.

[Ignatz]

--repealing Ocare and Dodd-Frank would reduce the size and reach of government--

True, but getting it back to the area of Bush's Gigantor state isn't much of a goal.

[Cecil Turner]

Juan Williams said something that I agree with, I never thought I'd see that day.

Except for the bit about WMDs and coercive interrogation techniques, I agree.

[Ignatz]

Before the thread is completely dead I'd like to acknowledge the accuracy and honesty of WeeDavey's 1:20AM entry.
I hope someone files it away for future reference.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Because of the concentration of income in a smaller percentage of TPs an income tax is inevitable. The IRS? Privatize it. How? Pass a flat tax, convert the IRS from a policy/enforement leviathan into a mere collection agency. Give US Attorneys tax fraud investigation/jurisdiction to prosecute TPs and the collection agency for fraud or abuse. This would be a practical way to implement the principles Ignatz describes.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Ignatz@1040-- I don't agree with that. The 24/7 Legacy Media memes against GWB drove down his approvals, and their misrepresentations about Benghazi and IRS, PLUS the DoJ coverups have kept Obummer afloat. The House has no power to indict.

But good to see DD knows that Obummer is liar and a criminal.

[jimmyk]

Because of the concentration of income in a smaller percentage of TPs an income tax is inevitable.

I don't follow that logic. A sales tax would be preferable to an income tax, especially as it would leave investment income (interest, dividends, etc.) untaxed as they should be. But will never happen. Still, the income tax could just be "x% of your W-2", period.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

21st century sales Tax = VAT. No thanks.

The 10 minute/50 key stroke Income tax return is the practical and very worthy approach. At minimum it will cut the leviathan IRS down to size.

[Captain Hate]

Issa was set up by Lerner lying about agreeing to testify. He wanted a little cheap theater and bit too soon. The lying buffoon Cummings had his "protect the terrified lying bitch innocent little woman" speech ready to go to establish the 'black man protecting defenseless woman from Tea Party terrorists' meme. Issa kicked his soapbox away before he could generate his bullshit.

The apology to the mendacious thief was the price. If he didn't pay it, we'd get to listen to the Black Thieves Caucus Chorus singing Disrespect for a month.

Issa was a fool for getting conned by Lerner and jumping at the chance to go on FNS and say "look what I got". He got played badly and there should be consequences for being a witless dunce taken in by these sub-B actors and actresses. Sorry, no participation trophy for him.

[jimmyk on iPhone]

The VAT in Europe is a distaste because it's in addition to an income tax. A VAT to replace the income tax would be ok.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

"A VAT to replace the income tax would be ok."

Jimmy... Jimmy come back to us. Even I could demagogue VAT as an attack on the middle clss to replace the Income Tax.

[Ignatz]

--Even I could demagogue VAT as an attack on the middle clss to replace the Income Tax.--

IIRC the Fair Tax proposal replaced all taxes including FICA, not just income tax.
As long as income is taxed citizens will be subject to invasive government intrusion into every facet of their lives.

[jimmyk]

"distaste" => disaster in my 11:13. /autocorrect

[jimmyk]

Even I could demagogue VAT as an attack on the middle clss to replace the Income Tax.

I didn't say it was politically feasible. But the bigger problem for a transition is the retired: All those people who paid income taxes all their lives now get hit with a huge tax on their spending.

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

The effect on the retired, that goes to replacing income taxes with a significant across the board VAT, is a disproportionate change from a progressive income tax, the demagoguery opposing it would be successful, because a lot of it would be true in substance.

[Stephanie VIP shhhhh its fight club]

No tax on retirees over retirement age. Problem solved. Next?

[NK(withnewsoftware)]

Massive federal tax increase for <$250k households-- massive. That's where the votes are, complete nonstarter.