Still depressed

Still depressed but less so. We have a deal on the Bush tax cuts -- maybe. Nancy and Harry don't like the deal that Barry struck with Republicans. They want to "fix" it. It might not then be a deal. If Democrats ruin it then Republicans will work out their own deal with Barry in January. Don't Democrats know that? Sure they do. They're just politicking now. It gets really tiresome.

Depression

The more I read the news the more depressed I feel. Everybody who pays attention has known for many years that the Bush tax cuts would expire at the end of 2010. Democrats have been in charge of both houses of Congress and the presidency for two years. We're now in the lame duck, the last month before tax hikes kick in but Nancy, Harry and Barry still dither. How can our leaders behave so irresponsibly?

Millions of tax-paying individuals and businesses need time to plan their affairs. Individuals must decide whether to accelerate income or deductions, whether to convert an IRA to a Roth, whether to sell stock or real property in 2010 or 2011 -- or whether to sell at all or buy instead.

Good businesses (don't we all want those, for the taxes they pay and the people they hire?) plan so as to maximize profits or minimize losses, insure they have enough capital to survive and prosper, determine how many people (with what kinds of skills) they need for the coming year or years, decide what new facilities they will need to accomplish their goals -- or what facilities they should dispose of because they don't meet current or future needs. Good businesses do this regularly, and continuously. But income taxes are a huge factor in business planning. The federal government is a roughly one-third partner in nearly all successful businesses -- but doesn't supply any of the capital. State governments are 5 to 10 percent partners, and they don't supply any capital either. Business can't plan without knowing tax rates.

Besides the tax problem, we have the risk of the government shutting down. Without a continuing resolution, the government shuts down tomorrow. At this point, a 15-day continuing resolution sits on the president's desk for signature. Assuming he signs it, we're good until December 19th. Then what? A new CR for another 15 days?

The CR is only necessary because we don't have a budget for the federal fiscal year that began October 1, 2010. Why? Congress was busy on other things. What was so important that agreeing to a budget had to be postponed? You tell me.

That's why I'm depressed. The people running the government seem to be out to lunch. They put politics before governing. Getting re-elected is their primary focus. It's disgusting. It's time to throw the bums out. Well, voters did some of that in the mid-term. We'll see if that helps.

LAT editorializes on California

California's Republicans were wiped out in the 2010 mid-term. All is lost for them unless they become more moderate, more like Democrats, according to the LAT in an editorial today.

But then they wouldn't be Republicans and Californians wouldn't have a two-party system. Democrats would control everything, kind of like how it is now.

The LAT says all that Republicans are good for is to say no, because that's all they ever do. Thank goodness someone does.

LAT: GOP lacks candidate

Writer James Oliphant argues in a piece on the LATs front page today that Republicans could beat Obama in 2012 if they had a candidate, but they don't. He goes on to badmouth all the potential candidates.

The Democrats had only one candidate for the 2008 race, Hilary Clinton. She supposedly was a sure thing but Obama came out of nowhere. The same thing could happen to Republicans. If it doesn't, several candidates could turn out to be good choices. Among them: Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels, and others. Be careful about what you read in the LAT.

Lexington

Lexington, on November 20th, argues that Obama's policies, which Lexington accepts that voters rejected in the mid-term election, were not extreme. Obama's policies, Lexington explains, were too conservative, and that explains why the left is angry at him. Obama is more conservative than Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, Lexington argues.

The garbage goes on and on. It makes sense to The Economist.

Lexington on Bush's book

Early in Lexington's review of Decision Points, George W. Bush's new book, he or she writes that the book "will not change the minds" of Bush's detractors. Being one, Lexington, goes on to prove that's true. In the end, Lexington claims that Bush "did not cover himself with glory," which is what you would expect from a Bush detractor.

LAT editorials

The inmates took over the institution at the LAT when today's editorials were written.

The first of three argues that Israel should cave to Palestinian demands to stop building settlements as a condition to starting peace negotiations. Wrong. Negotiations begin when the two sides sit down across the table from each other, not before. Let the parties negotiate.

The second editorial defends Pelosi's decision to run for minority leader, saying she did all the heavy lifting while Obama failed to sell Obamacare, etc. Right but wrong. Pelosi did the heavy lifting but she lifted the wrong stuff, stuff voters didn't want. She refused to listen, the same as Obama and the LAT didn't or don't listen. It ought to cost her her job.

Finally, the LAT takes Oklahoma voters to task for passing a state ballot measure that bans state judges from considering international or Islamic law when deciding cases before them. Wrong. Oklahomans can do what they want without help from the LAT. Besides, why should the Oklahoma initiative present a problem for judges?

LAT reacts to election

In an editorial today, the LAT charges the new House Republican majority with helping to govern, "not just dissent." That depends on what the president proposes. If he does what he's been doing, Republicans have no choice. They must oppose him.

In a second editorial, the LAT says that Obama should immediately push for repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell during the lame duck session. Makes a lot of sense. Obama just got his brains bashed in for doing stuff that voters oppose -- like stimulus and Obamacare. The LAT says Obama ought to take another bashing to advance the gay agenda.

It's sort of reminiscent of the LAT's reaction when the Democrats lost the Kennedy seat in Massachusetts to Senator Brown. Talking heads said that was because of Obamacare -- Democrats pushing something the public didn't want. The LAT recommended full speed ahead and a huge Republican election victory resulted.

It's maybe a good idea for Obama to do the opposite of what the LAT recommends.

The LAT on Palin

The LAT reports this morning that Sarah Palin "has a number of detractors within the Republican Party and is viewed more negatively than positively by most Americans." Since they cite no source for these "facts" nor any evidence at all, it appears the reporters who wrote that were expressing opinions instead of reporting news. Further, the opinions seem to be gratuitous since the reporters were, ostensibly, reporting on Palin's appearance on Fox News Sunday.

Race

Lexington of The Economist argues this week that Democrats are losing in the mid-term election because the shine has worn off Barack Obama. It's not about his race this time, Lexington says, it's about his policies.

Agreed, but Lexington argues unconvincingly that Obama's near total support among blacks is not about race.

Toles cartoon

Tom Toles has a cartoon in today's LAT in which he suggests that the American people are the losers in the upcoming election and he wonders why the tea party has ignored it. But the American people likely will be the winners, in part because of the tea party.

Jerry Brown is winning

The LAT reports this morning that Jerry Brown is winning. That's based on polls paid for by the LAT. If enough people read the LAT and believe the poll results are accurate then maybe it will turn out to be true. Personally, this old fool doesn't trust any poll paid for by the LAT.

California's taxes

The LAT reports this morning that California is kind to businesses and that's why so many are staying home and not leaving the state. Corporations are under-taxed in California, the LAT argues. As proof, the LAT says corporations are paying a smaller percent of California's income tax revenue than they used to. But that may be because there are fewer of them, the others having left the state.

LAT covers the candidates

This morning, Scott Gold of the LAT paints an unflattering picture of Carly Fiorina -- she was born wealthy, has a great education, is stiff and goal driven. Besides that, she was fired from HP, did a poor job there and fired too many people. Other than that ...

A day or so earlier, the LAT published a flattering portrayal of Barbara Boxer. She may be an arrogant, Brooklyn-born Jew but she's the LAT's arrogant, Brooklyn-born Jew. Besides, she fights for the underdogs -- providing they're union members, feminists, gays or radical environmentalists.

LAT politicking

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom is a pro-business Democrat who is labeled "too conservative" by some. He's not just the "Gay Marriage Mayor" as some have called him. Besides, he earned his way from rags to riches before be became mayor.

That paraphrases a piece in the LAT on today's front page which purports to be unbiased news. The LAT had a piece on Newsom's Republican opponent for lieutenant governor, Abel Maldonado, a few days ago. That piece focused on how poorly Maldonado's family farm obeys the law. It also purported to be unbiased news.

Bipartisanship

The theme of the day at the LAT seems to be bipartisanship. That's what Democrats press for when they're losing.

French strike

The LAT has a picture in today's newspaper of French people waiting to board trains at Gare du Nord in Paris. The trains were slowed by a nationwide strike of transportation workers over government plans to raise the retirement age to 62 from 60. According to the LAT, the strike was spreading as the newspaper went to press.

Republicans on verge of victory?

According to the WSJ, 162 of the 179 Republican House seats are safe; only 146 of the Democratic seats are safe. If the unsafe seats split 50-50 then Republicans will take the House 225 to 209, a pick up of 46 seats.

CA budget can't be cut: LAT

In front page reporting today, the LAT claims that California's budget can't be cut further. But politicians and reporters always say that. It makes no sense. Cuts are possible until expenditures reach zero. Politicians just need the will to cut them.

California's budget

The LAT describes last minute negotiations in Sacramento leading to the new budget agreement. It wasn't pretty. The legislators were petty and greedy and undignified. The description reminded this old fool of Bagdad negotiations as described in various newspapers. We Americans were supposed to be above that kind of negotiating.

KCET vs PBS

KCET Los Angeles has announced it is leaving PBS at year end. A ploy? Will PBS and KCET settle their differences? Probably. Will viewers miss PBS? Not much. KCET? Not much. KCET viewers most frequently get, instead of entertainment, begging -- for money.

Reward the providers, punish the customers

Rupert Murdoch writes in today's WSJ about public education. He laments the condition of our public school system and claims it produces poorly educated graduates, or students who quit school before they graduate. Murdoch charges that our public school system rewards the providers (teachers, principals, unions, etc.) and punishes the customers (students, their parents and future generations who will pick up the tab for people who may not be able to provide for themselves because they were not educated.) If Murdoch is right, and it appears he is, then the U.S. faces a bleak future unless changes are made.

"Gay" -- who defines it

The LAT has a front page piece today about a young guy who took his own life because, they say, he was gay and kids at school treated him badly. Didn't read the whole thing but the thought occurred: how do they know he was gay? So far as this old fool knows, there's no infallible test for that. No app for that, you might say if you wanted to add a little humor to a dismal subject. The paper said he thought he was gay and that his mother thought so too. That doesn't make it so, necessarily. They might both have been wrong.

It's a tragedy when any young person loses his or her life. It's worse when a newspaper uses such a tragedy to sell newspapers or to promote a lifestyle that the newspaper favors. It appears that the LAT did both.

LA teachers threaten lawsuit

Some LA teachers may lose their jobs and the union isn't happy about it, according to the LAT. The union plans to sue the school district.

Great. Sue or strike. The union gets its way. The students and their parents and the taxpayers be damned. Why were public employees ever allowed to unionize? Schools were better before unions. Perhaps governments were as well. It's certain that schools and governments were less costly before unionization.

Philosophically, it doesn't make sense to pay public employees well because that means you'll get more of them. They ought to be paid just enough to attract the minimum number needed. There is no magic formula for determining the minimum number or the right pay level but we know that what we have now is too much pay and too many public employees. It's time to cut both down a little.

Global warming

Southern California has been rained on the last three days. Highly unusual. It never rains before November. Must be global warming. Last week the heat was record-breaking, exceeding 100 degrees near the beach. Highly unusual. Must be global warming. The summer was cooler than usual with only a couple of short hot spells. Must be global warming.

LAT absolves Whitman, then says she's guilty

In an editorial today, the LAT acknowledges that Meg Whitman did what she ought to have done about her illegal household help. She got the woman through an employment agency who should have checked her credentials, and presumably did. Meg withheld on wages and reported them to IRS and Social Security. When the woman finally admitted being illegal Meg let her go.

But that's not enough according to the LAT. Meg should have reported the woman to the Border Patrol or the Immigration Service. Otherwise, Meg is inconsistent. According to the LAT, Meg's is arguing in her campaign rhetoric that illegals already in the U.S. should be sent back where they came from.

Maybe but not likely. Hardly anyone seems to be arguing that all the illegals already in the U.S. should be sent home. Rather, the argument seems to be that the borders should be closed so that no new illegals can cross. What to do with those already here can be discussed and debated after the borders are closed.

LAT boosts Democrats

The LAT tries, at least. The LAT's Kathleen Hennessey writes in today's newspaper that Democrats seem to be successful in painting Republican opponents as extremists by exposing embarrassing comments made during campaigns or in earlier life -- Christine O'Donnell's reference to witches in her early life or her arguing against masturbation while appearing on MTV, for example.

But George Will explains in today's Orange County Register that this isn't new and he argues that Democrats stoop to such tactics because they can't run on their records -- Obamacare and the stimulus aren't selling. Will points out that there is "precedent for mainstream media being megaphones for Democratic-manufactured hysteria."

Meg, the employer of an illegal immigrant

The LAT reports today on the controversy concerning the illegal that Meg Whitman and her husband employed for nine years. They refer to the letter from Social Security that Gloria Allred presented at the news conference that supposedly proved that the Whitmans knew about the woman's immigration status when they hired her. But they failed to print the letter in the newspaper.

Show us the letter! If Allred won't allow that then the letter probably doesn't help Allred's case.

Praise for Emanuel

The LAT's Peter Nicholas lauds White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel in today's newspaper saying Emanuel "steered passage of two major packages: a stimulus bill that experts say prevented a sour economy from getting even worse, and a healthcare overhaul that will provide coverage for 30 million more Americans over the next decade." Nicholas doesn't name the experts he's relying on nor does he acknowledge the possibility that what he claims about Obamacare may not be true.

Instead of lauding Emanuel for steering these two packages, it would make more sense to blame him. The American people seem to think these two packages are not so hot. In fact, they seem to think the Obama administration forced these packages on them against their collective will. They seem to hold the Obama administration and Congressional Democrats responsible and plan to make them pay. We'll see in November.

Expect public employee union strikes

Newspapers are reporting that public employees have struck in Ecuador, Greece, Spain, France and Portugal. Look for them to strike in California if their wages or benefits are cut.

It's alive!

This is the first post since December 2009. Whether this marks a return to regular posting remains to be seen. Here are a few things that bug this old fool. Perhaps they'll be subjects for future posts:

• California's budget deficit
• California's inept government
• California's inept governator
• California's misguided Democratic legislators
• Unions that represent California's public employees

Come to think of it, those are all one subject -- except for the inept governator. California's public employee unions finance the election campaigns of Democratic candidates for the legislature. Once elected, the legislators are beholden to the unions. Legislators structure legislation to require more workers or higher pay or both. Unions collect more dues and use a portion to elect more friendly legislators who vote to increase public sector payrolls. As a result, Californians get more government than they need and bigger deficits than they can afford.

As for the governator, he's simply incompetent. Ostensibly a Republican, he's often gone along with legislative Democrats and he refuses to defend Prop. 8. Each year he signs roughly three quarters of the thousand or so bills that the legislature produces.