I’m writing for tomorrow and am feeling tired, because it’s been a busy day. My stovetop percolator arrived, and I must say, even though it’s not yet “broken in”, brewed coffee is far better than dripped. I’ll need to get more tubing, though, because running an IV from the stovetop is further than from the countertop. Store to Door delivered groceries, so I had to clean first. It’s a beautiful 62° day, so I took an hour to go out and cat-bask in the sunshine. I should probably go lazy, but the tomorrow’s lead article just needs doing too much.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:01 (average 4:40). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: FL-13: After an intensely hard-fought special election where total spending likely topped $13 million, Republican David Jolly defeated Democrat Alex Sink by a margin of 48.4 percent to 46.6 percent in Florida’s 13th Congressional District on Tuesday night, holding the seat for the GOP. Libertarian Lucas Overby ended up with 4.8 percent of the vote. Even though Barack Obama narrowly carried the district in 2012 by about 1.5 points, it appears Sink couldn’t overcome the troubling tendency for key chunks of the Democratic electorate to stay home during non-presidential elections.
Republicans will crow that unhappiness with Obamacare, which was the focus of much of their advertising, led to Sink’s undoing, and it’s possible those attacks provided Jolly’s winning margin—but of course, with such a tight outcome, anything could have been responsible, such as Sink’s personal flaws as a candidate. And importantly, the November electorate will likely be less Republican, on a relative basis, than you’d find in a March special election, so Democrats should likewise exercise caution before panicking that the Affordable Care Act spells doom.
Of course, a win is still a win, but there’s a constant Beltway temptation to read far too much into a single special election. Close races also make for poor object lessons, as luck tends to play an outsize role, much like in a baseball game decided by a single run. But at the same time, even if this election augurs nothing for November, this was still very much the sort of district that Democrats need to capture in order to have a shot at some day taking back the House.
Voters, if you vote for the Democrat, you’re voting for the Democrat. If you vote for the Republican, you’re voting for the Republican. If you vote for a third party, you’re voting for the Republican. If you do not vote, you’re voting for the Republican. All the people of FL – 13 will now be punished for the stupidity, apathy, and laziness of their district. The ones who stayed home deserve it most of all.
From The New Yorker: In a preview of what promises to be a heated race for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2016, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) head-butted his rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on the floor of the United States Senate this morning.
The melee “came without warning,” one observer said, as Sen. Paul took to the well of the Senate to give a speech recommending a strong but measured response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Almost immediately, a furious and beet-red Sen. Cruz began heckling Sen. Paul, calling him a “Kentucky-fried Communist” and demanding that he “apologize to Ronald Reagan this very instant.”
Sen. Paul seemed to ignore the heckling at first, but as Sen. Cruz’s taunts descended into a stream of profane name-calling, the Kentuckian leapt from the well of the Senate and began throttling Sen. Cruz before administering the decisive head-butt.
Andy has reminded me of Mad Magazine’s scenes we’d love to see.
From Think Progress: The largest American multinational companies parked an additional $206 billion of profits in offshore accounts last year, according to Bloomberg, bringing the total amount of profits stashed where U.S. tax officials can’t touch them up to about two trillion dollars.
The 307 companies that Bloomberg examined now hold a combined $1.95 trillion offshore, allowing them to avoid paying U.S. taxes on those earnings. The majority of the total is concentrated in just a few corporate hands. The largest 22 of those companies hold more offshore than the other 285 combined.
General Electric leads the pack, with $110 billion held offshore. Tech companies like Microsoft ($76.4 billion), Apple ($54.4 billion), IBM ($52.3 billion), and Google ($38.9 billion) also dominate, along with drug companies like Pfizer ($69 billion) and Merck ($57.1). The tech giants have drastically accelerated their offshore holdings in recent years, with Microsoft and Google more than doubling and Apple more than quadrupling offshore profit holdings from 2010 to 2013.
I’d say it’s time for an offshore profits penalty of 90%. That would move those funds onshore in VERY short order!!
Cartoon:
19 Responses to “Open Thread–3/13/2014”
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Happy Birthday, TomCat! May your day be filled with catnip.
3:23 I drifted ashore slowly today.
3:07 The birthday boy is leading so far!
3:23 Patty and I got stuck on the same piece of driftwood.
I love Andy's dream of Ted Cruz and Rand Paul at odds like that – hysterical!
I will never understand those who don't vote – I do sometimes wonder though if the powers that be have managed to get apathy in the tapwater(!).
Agreed TC – companies parking their money in offshore accounts to avoid tax when they benefit so greatly from the poor who DO pay tax should be dealt with summarily – and ALL our nations should do the same, relieving the tax burden on the poor and putting MUCH more money into each economy.
Enjoy your coffee!
Thanks for sharing your birthday pic TC – I love it!
5:34 At least I didn't trip over it, or it would have ben even longer.
Daily Kos – I just cannot tell you how bummed I am over this. I have been following this one for months. I don't read the polls myself, I let David Jarman and David Nir do it for me, because they are so much better at it. I don't suppose it needs to be said how much money the Kochs threw at this. But Alex Sink HAD a lead. It was only Monday the Election Digest reclassified it from Toss-up/Tilt Democrat to Pure Toss-up. We really came much closer than the final numbers show. And may I point out it is not only the voters of FL-13 who will be punished, it is ALL of us. This is the US House of Representatives. When it has a Republican majority, we ALL suffer.
New Yorker – I loved the bit about one of the pullers-apart being "a C.I.A. agent who had been monitoring the Senate’s activities at the time." And I would really love to see Senators suspended for inappropriate behavior.
Think Progress – Yes, one more thing we can't accomplish without majorities in both the Senate and the House big enough to neutralize the blue dogs who are always with us. Which we are now one seat farther away from thanks to FL-13.
Cartoon – H*A*P*P*Y B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y !!!
Daily Kos ~ It looks like the Kochs were successful in buying that election. Too bad.
New Yorker ~ A preview of the RepublicanT Presidential Primary debates? Great column, Andy! Jon Stewart had an excellent segment the other night talking about the straw poll at CPUKE. He brought up the fact that the winner hasn't been the Presidential candidate in the last 3 or 4 elections. It has been the second place finisher. If true, move over Idiot, Son of etc., make room for the Crazy Cruz-man from Texas.
Think Progress ~ Yes! A 90% penalty on off=shore accounts. Bring the money home. Too bad it will never fly.
Cartoon ~ A very Happy Birthday to you. May your day be as special as you are to us.
You share your Birthday with my nephew who was also born on my dad's 50th Birthday. You were born on a very good day.
PS on FL-13 – I read TC first and have now read the Kos Election Digest, who have referred me to this article: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2014_03/midterm_falloff_by_the_numbers049454.php It's very, very pertinent.
Happy Birthday!
How about a good chuckle – why, I even chortled! You just don't see obits like this anymore.
But HOW he expected his family to get him propped up in a corner holding a glass of Jack Daniels I'll NEVER know!
http://capegazette.villagesoup.com/p/walter-george-bruhl-jr-dupont-co-retiree/1139838
Giant Birthday Hugs, TomCat! May you live long enough to see every single Republican out of office!
Happy Birthday, Tom. Love the cartoon.
Daily Kos: FL-13: There is one item not mentioned anywhere that I was able to read about this election. Were the voting machines certified to run correctly as designed or were they "rigged"? Is there a "paper trail"? Guess that the people in FL-13 did not understand the importance of this election. Guess that the voters do not hate Gov. Rick Scott (R) enough after what he has done to the people in Florida.
Love this:
"Voters, if you vote for the Democrat, you’re voting for the Democrat. If you vote for the Republican, you’re voting for the Republican. If you vote for a third party, you’re voting for the Republican. If you do not vote, you’re voting for the Republican. All the people of FL – 13 will now be punished for the stupidity, apathy, and laziness of their district. The ones who stayed home deserve it most of all."
The New Yorker: Isn't dueling legal… "dueling served as a form of scapegoating for unresolved personal problems."[37]…" Rand vs. Cruz. lol.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duel#North_America
Think Progress: Tax laws and its loopholes need to be changed. Large corporations should not be allowed to park their monies offshore.
Cartoon: Big Hugzzz for your B'day. IV coffee. lol.
Happy Birthday, TC. First, the catnip, then a catnap. Purrfect!
Puzzle — 3:07 The birthday boy is leading so far!
Daily Kos — The Republicanus/Teabaggers never fail to disappoint and are so predictable!
It would be nice to know what the turnout was. Is this loss mainly because of low voter turnout or because of gerrymandering as the article suggests, or because of GOP sponsored election fraud.
Gerrymandering, lying, pushing buck after buck into the mix . . . The only good Republicanus/Teabagger is an unemployed one!
The New Yorker — Well, if a head-butt gets a 7 day suspension from the senate, too bad Paul didn't do more damage to Cruz and get a longer suspension, and Cruz in the hospital for a longer period. LOL!!! I love seeing Republicanus/Teabaggers attacking eachother.
Think Progress — I think it is time for the major governments globally to come together with a cohesive taxation plan so companies don't move themselves to other locations, or come up with plans to tax offshore holdings.
Cartoon — Another year older, just like a fine wine and growing finer and smoother! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, TC. Enjoy your day tomorrow.
Daily Kos: Those who don't vote should not be allowed to complain about the results.
The New Yorker: I would pay to see that happen!
Think Progress: I agree with your conclusion. Let them feel the pain, they will bring the money home.
Cartoon: Love the black and white cat.
Jig Zone Puzzle: 5:38
Happy Birthday TC… 😆
The game is rigged…