Wimpy, Wimpy, Wimpy? Obama Strikes Deal With GOP On Taxes

In the early 1980s, a television advertisement for Hefty brand trash bags declared the competition "wimpy, wimpy, wimpy." That commercial came to mind when I read about President Obama's deal with the GOP regarding the extension of Bush's tax cuts.

Think Progress has the details, but here are the major points. Under the plan: 1. Bush's tax cuts will remain in place for over two years; 2. in exchange, expired unemployment benefits will continue for another 13 months; 3. payroll taxes will decline 2 percentage points for a year; 4. various tax credits (e.g., the Earned Income Tax Credit) will remain in place; and 5. the estate tax will return at a rate of 35% with a $5 million exemption.

Undoubtedly, mainstream media will declare the deal a sign of Obama's heralded pragmatism. Nevertheless, the compromise represents a retreat from one of the issues that defined his campaign.

Furthermore, the package of tax cuts will also likely add to the deficit because it was not coupled with any spending cuts. The Bush tax cuts have already increased the size of the national deficit. Extending them will likely lead to the same result. Finally, as Think Progress observes, many of the cuts -- particularly the estate tax provision -- represent a major windfall only for the most wealthy households in the nation.

It is unclear how this deal makes sound economic policy. Instead, it looks more like politics masquerading as policy.

No Tongue-Lashing For Ice Breakers

You're watching NFL Sunday ... the extra point is kicked ... it's good!! 

And, now a word from our sponsors.

The commercial that comes across the screen brings to mind images of the opening ceremony of the Olympic winter games.  A bunch of people all dressed in white passing a large white object around.  Then, the object goes up into the air and lands squarely ....

Wait, what is this? Where does it land?

On a tongue. Inside the mouth of a pleasantly attractive woman who smiles as the sensation cools her taste buds with icy cool flavor crystals.

Pretty cool. (Both literally and figuratively.)

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Sarah Palin Is Generally Ignorant and Wrong

It seems as if every week some mainstream media outlet publishes an article with the redundant title "Sarah Palin Is Wrong..." The latest version of this tired story, an op-ed written by Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, appears in today's Washington Post: "Sarah Palin Is Wrong About John F. Kennedy, Religion and Politics." Last week, Richard Cohen of the Washington Post stated the obvious in his article: "Attack on Michelle Obama Shows Palin's Ignorance of History."

Earth to Cohen and other commentators who are eerily attracted to the loser VP candidate, half-term Alaska governor, and former mayor of Wasilla: Palin is generally ignorant and wrong. Palin's rookie status partially explains her atrocious performance on the campaign trail in 2008. Nonetheless, it has become abundantly clear that her gross lack of intelligence was the leading cause of her ineptness. Even many Republicans acknowledge this. So, perhaps the media and liberals should discard their bizarre fascination with Palin.

Charles Blow, a columnist for the New York Times, shares my Palin exhaustion. He tells the political left and "liberal" media to "get over" Palin. He also suggests that they probably continue to write about her in part to drive traffic to their websites (today's Washington Post op-ed already has over 1200 reader comments):

Yes, she’s about as sharp as a wet balloon, but we already know that. How much more time and energy must be devoted to dissecting that? How is this constructive, or even instructive at this point? What purpose does it serve other than inflaming passions to drive viewership and Web clicks?

Blow has the right idea. The public already knows that Palin is an idiot. At this point, those who do not know agree will never think otherwise. Let it go.

DADT: Senate Republicans Hold Civil Rights Over A Barrel

Senate Republicans have decided to hold civil rights over a barrel. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said that Republicans will not allow a vote on the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell until they reach a consensus with Democrats over the Bush tax cuts. Republicans favor extending all of the cuts, which have exacerbated the federal budget deficit. Most Democrats, however, favor allowing the cuts for the highest income owners to expire.

Recently, Senators Scott Brown and Susan Collins, two moderate Republicans, have expressed support for repealing DADT. While Brown's statement does not reference a tax deal, Collins explicitly ties her support for a repeal of DADT to a resolution of the tax issue.

The Republicans are simply engaging in smart political bargaining. Democrats know that the DADT repeal must take place, if at all, before Republicans assume control of the House next year. Republicans are using the DADT issue to gain support for their tax plan.

Good politics, however, also requires parties to frame the terms of the debate. Democrats should continue working on the tax issue, but they should also call out Republicans for threatening civil rights in order to provide handouts to wealthy Americans.

Repealing DADT is a cost-free measure. It is unrelated to tax policy. Repealing DADT will end a policy of irrational and unfair discrimination by the national government. Many Republicans support the ban because they or their constituents oppose equal protection for gays and lesbians. Democrats should not allow their bigotry to go unrecognized in these debates.

Senator Scott Brown Backs DADT Repeal

US Senator Scott Brown (R-Mass), has released an official statement that announces his support for the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Although Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says that Republicans will oppose lifting DADT until the Democrats accept their demands on the Bush tax cuts, Brown's statement suggests that moderate Republicans might vote in favor of repeal despite McConnell's threat.

If repeal does not take place before the Republicans assume control in the House in 2011, then DADT will likely remain law for the indefinite future. Even if repeal soon takes place, the Department of Defense will undoubtedly have the authority to determine the timeline and substance of changes to the formal policy. These details will require immense scrutiny from DADT opponents.

Washington Post blogger Greg Sargent initially reported Brown's position on DADT, along with a copy of the his formal statement. New York Magazine, however, wins the prize for the best headline regarding this news item: "Scott Brown Does Not Care If You’re Gay If You’re Willing to Get Blown Up for America."

GM: We All Fall Down ... But Some Fall Harder

Two years ago, the federal government made a controversial decision ... to offer bailout money to Detroit automakers to help them get back on their feet. General Motors received $9.4 billion; Chrysler received $7 billion; and in a surprise move, Ford refused any bailout money from the government.

While I don't claim to even remotely understand the world of finance, media sources like Fox have reported that GM's April repayment of their bailout loans was not obtained through car sales, but rather was repaid with money that GM withdrew from yet another TARP fund at the Treasury Department.

Whether this is true or not really isn't what's rubbing me the wrong way. It's the latest TV commercial that GM began airing Thanksgiving weekend. 

The spot begins with images of people that have been defeated - a knocked down boxer, a rocket that explodes upon takeoff, a catastrophic motorcycle crash, a weakened Popeye listlessly floating to the bottom of a lake.

Then ... triumph.

Popeye eats his spinach and his muscles instantly grow. a rocket bursts from its launching pad as it heads for the stars, Harry Truman triumphantly holds up a "Dewey Beats Truman" newspaper. The super reads:

“We all fall down. Thank you for helping us get back up.”

Let me start by saying that as ads go, it's a good one. Goodby, Silverstein & Partners delivers a poignant message very effectively ... we have all suffered at the hand of defeat at some point in our lives.  Often, through sheer grit and determination, as well as the support of those around us, we pick ourselves up off the ground, stare adversity in the eye and prove to ourselves and the world that we are not quitters and we cannot be defeated.

So, it really isn't the ad per se that I have trouble with. Rather, what angers me is the money that GM spent on this advertising, as well as the message it sends - we'll take your taxpayer dollars and then spend millions thanking you for that handout.

Is it just me or is this a paradox of the worse kind?

The Feds stepped in to help GM and Chrysler because they believed it was in the public interest of our country to save Detroit. They preserved jobs for tons of UAW workers, as well as for all the suppliers that serviced that industry.  The government didn't ask our opinion before giving all this money to GM and Chrysler. My guess is that if this decision had been put to a vote, many citizens would have voted it down. So, maybe GM should be thanking the federal government, not us.

Plus, let's be real ... typically when a company mismanages their way into failure, they are forced to deal with the consequences of their own actions. They file for bankruptcy, figure out when went wrong, fix it, and move on or close their doors. All without a penny from the U.S. government.

So maybe we should be thanking Ford for getting back up ... all on their own.

Starbucks: Go Fly A Kite

Starbucks has launched an intriguing campaign this holiday season. The ad opens with graceful snowflakes falling from the sky. Person after person looks to the sky, intrigued by the cornucopia of interesting snowflakes that seem to be floating everywhere.

And then the perspective changes. You learn that they're not really snowflakes. That is, they're not snowflakes created by Mother Nature. These are man-made snowflake kites that are being flown by people.  As an increasingly larger number of onlookers gaze upon these kites, you find yourself drawn to the kite strings, the unique shapes, the happiness that seems to be multiplying as more and more kites fill the sky.

What's amazing is that you have no idea whose commercial this is ... and you really don't care. It's just so enjoyable to hear the "Snow Days" music in the background and to watch the graceful and delicate snowflakes create artistic splendor in the sky.

In the last few seconds of the ad, a super comes up, declaring: 

"You know when the holidays are here. Share in the first taste of the season." 

Three fabulous beverages - peppermint mocha, caramel brûlée latte, and gingerbread latte - appear on the screen, followed by the URL link to Starbucks 12 Days of Sharing site.

The site itself is worth looking at. Secret doors open to reveal 12 days of sharing - five cents of the cost of a special beverage goes to The Global Fund to help fight AIDS in Africa. You can also find out the seasonal beverages that are brewing and share a story or a wish that you may have.

Share your spirit - whether it involves Starbucks beverages or not - with the ones you love this season.  Happy Holidays!