Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 16 December 2007

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Former Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine, author of a report on performance-enhancing drugs in baseball; Reps. Pete Hoekstra, R-Mich., and Jane Harman, D-Calif.; Ted Leonsis, owner of the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals.

THIS WEEK (ABC): Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.; former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

LATE EDITION (CNN) : Edwards; Sens. Joe Biden, D-Del., Kit Bond, R-Mo., and Evan Bayh, D-Ind.

We probably have a semantics disagreement here. I think of a tax as 1)fee charged by government for any number of things. Drivers license fees, sewer and water bills....none of which are commonly referred to as taxes, nor perhaps thought of as such. 2) a charge above and beyond the cost of a service, a surcharge if you will. Sales tax, etc.

If you think of every government fee as a tax, that's fine. I have no problem with that.

You mentioned a drivers license--while voluntary--is nearly universal, even by those New Yorkers and Chicagoans who don't own cars. I'd guess 99.9 % of Americans have a drivers license, but an an equal 99.9 percent probably do not pay the govt. for roadside adverts. There is a difference here. One is broadbased and affects nearly everyone. The second is very narrow and directly affects almost no one, and then only by choice. So when Mitt raised "taxes" on roadside advertisements he was not taking money from all the citizens of Mass. In fact, he saved all the citizens money. That's what he was explaining, and I understand the difference.

Self-employed, by the way, running my own business for 10 years, so I understand that taxes are part of the cost of doing business and are incorporated into the cost of the products we sell. Businesses, however, do pay taxes, as I just wrote checks for 10 grand yesterday to the US Treasury. Happy to do so, even if they're a bit steep.

From Babbah on Phsstpok’s Preview thread:

Hi there, guys.

rodguy is swamped with work. He was to do the awards for last week, but asked me to step in and save his sanity, even at the risk of mine :)

Alas, if you could link to this tomorrow on the Sunday thread, that would be appreciated.

#10 Timeout for #121j( It’s [Huckabee] the 1988 GOP convention all over again. All that’s missing is for Huckabee to start waving around a pitchfork and wearing chaps.

And the MSM loves it.)Visually appealling.

#9 Mr Rogers for his excellent advice to our candidates in #156 (No TV here, but it seems like Mitt ought to reply, “I’m not running to be chief priest. Would you stop wasting my time and ask a question about politics? Something people care about, like...”) The candidates would be well advised to have someone reading this thread, I think.

#8 Carolinamom for #57 (The Huckster’s religiosity reminds me of Uriah Heep.
(religiosity...exaggerated or affected piety and religious zeal) and for the link giving us insight into Mrs. Huckster at #169.

#7 anita (one of our thread treasures) for her reminding us of what happens when you buck the trend and don’t dis the Prez at #34 (hint: you win your race), and for her wonderful Media Nuggets at #59.

#6 advertising guy for posting such great news at #173 (I’ve been doing a Arizona and California hands on
survey of voters and the two parties

almost 9 outta 10 literally hate Hillary

almost 6 outta 10 believe the WOT is deadly real). How great of an early Christmas present is THAT!

#5 AliVeritas for linking to the Clinton/Rose interview, which became a really hot topic of discussion in the dbm, at #209, for some outstanding and important links at #223, and for this comment at #556 (Think about it, Bill C is in a corner. If Hill wins, he can’t play around like he’s accustomed to (and no, a heart attack wouldn’t make him slowdown, it’s mental). I bet he doesn’t want her to be prez more than anybody else.

I man can only take so much lockbox.

So he makes little mistakes, speaks out of turn... sorry dahling... I didn’t mean to, so sorry.

Scrappleface wrote that Hill hired Juan Carlos from Spain to travel the campaign trail with him. LOL) LOL indeed :)

#4 668-Neighbor of the Beast for thoughts on the impact of looks and appearance in campaigns at #196 (...Because apparent youthfulness, wit, a pretty wife, style, and a good shave on tv...are not irrelevant to most voters. There are a lot of shallow voters out there. At least, when they’re infatuated, they go out and vote.
It’s going to be Romney vs. Edwards if I’m right.)and analysis on why the drive bys would push Edwards at #316 and #359.

Top Three still in my back pocket to be revealed later. Right now I must simultaneously clean this house, do the wash, shop for provisions and bake cookies.

And Bahbah’s top three!

Wrapping up last week’s awards with my top three picks.

#3 chiller for the great reporting on Mitt’s appearance on MTP at #153, the interesting thoughts on Mitt at #175 and the musings on the state of the campaign at #504.

#2 HonestConservative (what other kind could there be) for the enthusiatic advancement of the candidacy of William Russell to “boot Murtha” in the best traditions of FR at ##70, 84, 95 and 106, on the manufactured nature of the rise in the polls of the Huckster at #234, and on the prediction that the next thing we would see would be Huck in a sweater at #254, a prediction that promptly came true in the “that’s not a cross” ad. LOL.

#1 My top prize goes to altura for being ahead of Rush Limbaugh (an almost impossible feat) in opining on the role of appearance between men and women in today’s political world at #150 (The only person who has a right to resent Mitt’s good looks is his wife!

And maybe all the rest of us girls as it just ain’t fair that men age so much better than we do.), the comment on the lack of passion for Romney in his supporters at #130, the warning over HillaryCare at #137 (don’t get sick), and #141 (We’ll murder them if we have Fred on the ticket.

We’ll probably wound them slightly and be able to step over them with any of our other candidates.) LOL

Thanks to all. I must now make a pot of coffee and pour some in my eyes so I can see properly.

18 posted on 12/23/2007 7:42:50 AM CST by Bahbah
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