DL Open Thread: Friday, April 22, 2022
DeSantis Vs. Disney: Can We Root For BOTH Sides To Lose?:
Disney employs 38 lobbyists in Florida’s capital. Each election cycle, the company gives generous campaign contributions to Florida candidates on both sides of the political aisle. Its theme park megaresort near Orlando attracts around 50 million visitors a year, powering a Central Florida tourism economy that annually generates more than $5 billion in local and state tax revenue.
That era ended on Thursday, when the Florida House voted to revoke Disney World’s designation as a special tax district — a privilege that Disney has held for 55 years, effectively allowing the company to self-govern its 25,000-acre theme park complex. The Florida Senate voted on Wednesday to eliminate the special zone, which is called the Reedy Creek Improvement District. Having cleared the way to this outcome with a formal proclamation, Gov. Ron DeSantis will almost certainly make the measure official by adding his signature. It would take effect in June next year.
Florida has hundreds of similar special tax districts that would be left in place. One covers the Villages, a huge senior-living community northwest of Orlando. Another covers Daytona International Speedway and the surrounding area.
DeSantis ain’t revoking The Villages’ special tax district status any time soon. Or, for that matter, Daytona, unless NASCAR suddenly becomes ‘woke’. This guy is really dangerous. BTW, guess who’s left holding the bag once the status is revoked. Hint: It’s not The Mouse.
Mark Meadows Was Simultaneously Registered To Vote In Three Different States. Submitted without comment. BTW, Even Professional Narcissist Omarosa Is Besting Trump In Lawsuits. Have I mentioned lately that DeSantis is dangerous? I wonder what ‘Democratic consultants’ have to say.
Bernie: Congress Considering Bailout For Bezos. Because he lost a spacecraft bidding contract to Elon Musk:
As it stands now, as a result of the 2015 Space Act that passed the Senate with virtually no floor debate, private corporations are able to own all of the resources that they discover in space. In other words, the taxpayers of this country who made it possible for these private enterprises to go into space will get a 0% return on their investment.
The time is now to have a serious debate in Congress and throughout our country as to how to develop a rational space policy that does not simply socialize all of the risks and privatize all of the profits. Whether it is expanding affordable high-speed internet and cellphone service in remote areas, tracking natural disasters and climate change, establishing colonies on the moon and Mars or mining asteroids, the scientific achievements we make should be shared by all of us, not just the wealthy few.
‘Democratic consultants’ approve of bailout; Chris Coons says the situation is ‘complicated’. I made that up, but did I really?
Wilmington City Council: Still Delaware’s Most Dysfunctional Political Body:
Congo finished the evening by saying he hopes in the future disagreements over protocols can take place behind closed doors.
“We don’t to be remembered as the council people tune in just to see a circus, we don’t want to be a part of that.”
Why else would anyone tune in?
What’s The Deal With Tower Hill And Child Porn? No, I’m not advocating that they change their nickname from the Hilltoppers to the Groomers. Actually, I find it weirder that the same school turned out, I mean graduated, Dr. Oz and Chris Coons. Those are two strange characters, right there.
What do you want to talk about?
Quoting the democratic consultants internal memo: “don’t say or do anything. Keep your head down and answer any question with “I’m very concerned and am watching the issue closely”
Spot on.
More evidence of Trump de facto blanket pardon:
NEW YORK — A bank’s decision to loan Donald Trump’s company $100 million is the latest evidence the former president might survive fraud investigations and a business-world backlash over his efforts to stay in office after losing the 2020 election.
San Diego-based Axos Bank finalized the loan with the Trump Organization on Feb. 17, according to documents filed with the city Tuesday.
That’s just three days after public revelations that the Republican’s longtime accountants had disavowed a decade’s worth of his financial statements amid allegations by New York’s attorney general that they had exaggerated his wealth.
The Axos loan is being used to pay back an old loan backed by commercial space at Trump Tower that was coming due in September.
In this case, and with Trump’s history, how can you not read “loan” to mean “gift” ?
Axos is publicly traded. The Vanguard Group, Inc. owns 9.43% of the shares.
Not to mention, it’s a loser’s bet. Trump’s not getting reelected in 2024 and the bank’s not getting their money back.
Anybody watching the MTG hearing on CSPAN? Her stupidity is only exceeded by her smugness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWUPRb2fBkg
Great clip. And I feel sorry for anyone who thought that Green’s testimony was going to be anything other than wider audience for her lunacy, or result in anything.
Joe goes off:
“What the hell is going on here?… The far right has taken over that party,” Biden said. “It’s not even conservative in a traditional sense of conservative. It’s mean. It’s ugly.”
… about forty years too late. I guess the epiphany ain’t happening.