Monday Open Thread
Welcome to your Monday open thread. It’s Monday so you’re no doubt ready and raring to go! Right? Share your thoughts below.
Conservatives have weird obsessions. Especially with so-called “manliness.” I’ll spare my usual observation that you talk to most about that which you feel most insecure.
I think the hug lacked dignity. It did not send a message of American power and forcefulness. So I fret about the reaction around the world to this kind of fraternity-like emotionalism in full public view.
Why not just a dignified, stand-up, serious handshake? That’s what Reagan would have done. A strong handshake shows friendship, respect, and even affection. But a big fat hug seems to go over the line.
Perhaps I’m overreacting to this. But when it comes to the presidency and the behavior of our top leaders, I think the image we want to send at home and abroad is one of serious strength of purpose. Not some kind of collegiate squeeze. Somehow the Obama-Emanuel embrace seemed demeaning — to the presidency, to our officialdom, and to our strength of purpose.
Let us behold the horror:
I just don’t know how America can hold its head up high anymore. 🙄
Are the DNC’s September fundraising numbers more evidence of the closing of the “enthusiasm gap.” The DNC had a record-breaking haul in September.
The Democratic National Committee will report today that September was the committee’s best fundraising month of the election cycle, besting its previous high, in March, by a significant amount.
Brad Woodhouse, a spokesman for the DNC, said the organization plans to report raising more than $16 million last month; in March, the committee raised about $13.3 million.
Even better for the Democrats, most of that money came from the kind of contributors who fueled the Obama for President campaign in 2008: low-dollar donors who gave online or sent small checks in the mail.
I hope the enthusiasm gap is closing. The return of Republican rule could mean a disaster for our economy.
Tags: Open Thread
still think Obama can tax your way to prosperity???
London’s 50% Bonus Tax Continues To Fail Miserably, Now Costing City $791 Million Annually
Business Insider ^ | 10/04/2010 | Courtney Comstock
A whopping one in four hedge funds have left London because of the 50% bonus tax, or coincidentally since the tax was instituted.
Brevan Howard, Moore Capital, and Michael Platt’s BlueCrest are the biggest fund names to leave for more profittable pastures in Switzerland, but clearly they are three of many. And losing them is costing the city tons of money and pride – their tax is totally backfiring. At some point they’re going to break even, if they haven’t already.
We predicted the loss in taxes for London was up to £400 million in July, based on the city losing taxes on hedge fund employees’ incomes alone.
Now the Financial Times is estimating the city is losing up to £500 million annually. Oof.
A prediction. We’re going to see 1934 all over again. People aren’t neccessarily wild about Obama but they sure don’t hate him like they did “W” only two years ago. Voters do have memories. While the Republicans and the conservative media types would like us to believe that we’ve all forgotten how we got into this mess, we haven’t forgotten. In 1934, while the Depression waged on, the Democrats picked up 9 seats in the Senate and 9 seats in the House.
The Great Recession is still raging through our society and 2010 isn’t going to be a typical mid-term election. It will be much closer to 1934. Not only will we not lose control of the House or Senate, we will make some net gains in both chambers.
From what I’m seeing, the enthusiasm gap is a figment of the GOP’s dreams. We’ll be there on November 2nd and we will win. So join in with the winners. Vote, win, celebrate.
Oh, if anybody wants to cut this limb out from under me, please remember I’m old and don’t bounce well.
Fine – let Switzerland bail out those whiners next time. London has already spent $10 billion on Goldman Sachs alone.
U.I.,
The departure hug for Emmanuel does not horrify me. But the real horror still does.
Agreed, Auntie Dem. I’m discouraged, too. I thought we might get a pony by now, but we still have heaps of pony poo to shovel away from the mess left behind for us. I’m not so down that I won’t go vote.
Ishmael: Obama is proposing an extra 3% on marginal income above $250,000. That’s a far cry from 50% on bonuses above about $40,000, which is what the British enacted.
Chris Coons is over at dKos today talking about O’Donnell’s destructive plan to privatize the VA Hospitals.
“That’s what Reagan would have done.”
Ah, yes, St. Ronald. When in doubt, turn to the patron saint.
Check out the Delawareonline updates on COD’s latest.
Man paaaaaanntts!!!
Anyone see the online chat with Chris Coons? It sounds like a man with a point of view. Got me all excited. 😀
Will you be my Aunt, too, Auntie Dem? I think that we keep both houses, too.
cassandra,
I checked out the Coons discussion at Dailykos and found this down the comment thread. First I’ve heard of it. Anybody else hear this?
snip
Maybe I’m the only one (0+ / 0-)
who thinks this is of interest, but apparently Christine O’Donnell was actually living in Philadelphia — not the state of Delaware — as recently as the spring of 2010. My understanding is that her parents own a rental property in Roxborough, and Christine was in one of the apartments. Guess she didn’t have to use campaign funds to live there.
by Montco PA Dem on Mon Oct 04, 2010 at 01:45:35 PM EDT
Jon Stewart on Fresh Air right now.