fantapolitica
humorous look at Italian politics (bilingual)Thursday, September 30, 2010
Readers (if any) will have noticed that this blog has been quiet for a while. I just can't compete with Berlusconi
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Permanent Extension of the R&D Tax Credit
This is an unusually pointless post, since I am arguing that a dead on arrival proposal shouldn't have been made. The Obama administration proposed (or maybe just leaked that they might propose) a permanent extension of the research and development tax credit. This is (or would have been) an odd proposal, since it is very high minded and far forward looking.
The credit is extended every year. Permenent extension will have no effect on actual policy. It is partly a matter of honest budget forecasting -- pretending the credit doesn't exist in the future is one very minor way of understating future deficits. It is mostly a matter of removing uncertainty. Firms can't be certain the credit will be extended (even though it always has been) but they can be sure a permenent credit won't be revoked -- it takes 41 senators to block extension and 60 to revoke.
The really dismal prospect is that Obama thinks he is engaged in a serious debate with his critics. I understand that this is implausible, but recall the brief popularity of the argument that Obama and the Democrats were bad for the economy because they caused uncertainty. I don't think anyone took that argument seriously. Certainly elected Republicans didn't as is obvious from their enthusiasm for vague promises of major change of some kind.
Obviously Obama knows they aren't sincere, but he may have thought that journalists who quoted the Republicans argument would note that Obama's proposal reduces uncertainty. If so, he just doesn't understand the rules. If an argument is repeated and repeated, it will be quoted. If not it won't be quoted. Logic and consistency have nothing to do with it.
I know my hypothesis that the Obama administration thinks there is an actual policy debate is implausible, but can anyone think of a more nearly plausible explanation ?
I mean the proposal (or trial balloon) is long forgotten so no harm done, but it was worrisomely strange.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Extraordinarily hard working and productive blogger Marcy Wheeler who shows what other journalists could accomplish if they were able to concentrate on deadly boring legal documents hundreds of pages long without getting distracted wrote
First They Came for Women Enjoying Sex, Then They Came for Men Jacking Off
Referring to Christine O'Donnell's opposition to masturbation. I thought of sending her an e-mail noting that masturbation isn't just guys jacking off, but then I thought maybe she wouldn't be so willing and able to read hundreds of pages without getting distracted if I informed her about that little point.
Also Martin Neimoller might not like a paraphrase which can be edited down to "they came ... men jacking off."
p.s. I really hope readers of both genders know which little point I have in mind.
Tbogg has an idea "Someone should float a rumor to Andrew Sullivan that Christine O'Donnell is Trig's mom. Best week of posts ever"
Well that's OK. Certainly one doesn't get pregnant masturbating, so there is a link, but it has nothing to do with dabling in witchcraft, so it's like totally so last week.
I'd say the really good rumor is that Christing O'Donnell performed a voodoo ritual in which she stuck needles shaped like 23rd chromasomes into a wax model of Trig so that he would have Down's and Palin could prove that she is really absolutely pro-life and get elected and then appoint O'Donnell vice President when McCain keeled over. Now that's a rumor.
It's hard for fantasy to keep up with reality these days.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Atrios at 12:38 and 16:42
The Dangers Of Not Checking Article Dates
[skip]
-Atrios 12:38
The Obvious Course Is To Do The Opposite
I haven't figured out of the Blue Dogs and assorted fellow travelers really think supporting tax cuts for rich people is the way to keep their jobs or the way to audition for their next job... Because, you know, it isn't popular.
-Atrios 16:42
Which links to
April 6, 2009 6:30 PM
Poll: 74 Percent Support Higher Taxes On The Rich
I guess it depends on what the definition of "isn't" isn't.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
humanity is a Glenn Reynolds testicles weed-whacker
