Open Thread – OBEY
This alarming graphic is a take on Andre the Giant has a Posse
Andre the Giant Has a Posse is a street art and viral marketing campaign based on a design by Shepard Fairey created in 1989 in Providence, Rhode Island. Distributed by the skater community, the Andre stickers began showing up in many cities across the U.S.A.[citation needed] At the time Fairey declared the campaign to be “an experiment in phenomenology.”[1] Over time the artwork has been reused in a number of ways and has become worldwide, following in the footsteps of World War II icon “Kilroy Was Here”. At the same time, Fairey altered the work stylistically and semantically into the OBEY Giant.
Thanks to Mudflatter Z for the submission!
Snoksred, thank you for straightening me out re: the article of tax evasion.
I apologize to Bonsai66 for going all DripZone on you.
I do appreciate the article getting out there on other blogs.
No worries Bretta. I apologize for the disruption and confusion that my story caused.
And thanks to everyone who followed up on this issue. I just wanted to get this information out, since it appears to be of interest during this election cycle.
One of the commenter in my diary mentioned that he forwarded this issue to the IRS, so we’ll see if anything comes of it.
Thanks again. You guys have an amazing and active community here. The Alaskan bloogers are much respected and admired in the lower 48.
Go Scott McAdams. Y’all can do this thing!
I feel a nanner nanner coming on…I’m probably the only one awake at this point but even so…
To the poster who said in the last day or two that Scott was not “prime time material” – you could not be more wrong! Nanner nanner! Go meet him, coche, or forever hold your narrow view of Alaska politics and continue to be brainwashed by the conservatives.
I concur MUYS!!!!
If anyone is so inclined, and can afford a few bucks, let’s make that campaign war chest reach a million and send Scott around the state in these last two fast and furious weeks. He has to reach the progressives and moderates who are voting out of fear to keep Miller out. Once you meet him, and hear him talk – the fear goes POOF. Do it! He is one hundred times the man that Miller claims to be. He is one hundred times the potential Senator that Lisa is!
If you have questions, are sitting on the fence, are undecided…make a point to go wherever he is speaking and get those questions answered. He’s not slick, he’s smart! And he has a very commanding presence, but an open expression that really speaks to caring about our wonderful state. I haven’t been this proud to be Alaskan since the Twit slimed out from under her rock. Scott puts back the PROUD in being ALASKAN!
I have to second everything that MUYS just said. I was very impressed with Scott. He understands the issues facing Alaska, including the economics that face this state. The Twit and her endorsed Joke have no grasp of the economic issues of this state. Scott gave a great speech, went around the room and thanked everyone for being there. In fact, the first thing out of his mouth was always “Thank you for coming tonight” and unlike most other politicians that I have met he truly meant it. He was actually appreciative that people were there.
Important post note!!!
I’ve heard Mr McAdams speak in person twice now and listened to 3 forums.
He speaks his mind clearly.
And for a physically and intellectually big person, Mr McAdams does NOT speak down to people…
physically or intellectually.
Mr Miller speaks down to anyone who’s not a supporter or insider.
Ms Murkowski frames waaaayyyy too many responses with “what you need to understand…” without ever seeming to want to understand how anyone else understands the issue at all.
She’s getting more and more patronizing.
Go Scott!!!!!!!!
I LIKE his bigness! He’s got a big presence, a big brain, and a big stout body. He fits Alaska just right.
OK Firecracker and Alaska PI – no fair-ifudiation! Yep, I was there, too at the Juneau Meet and Greet, and for all of you supporting Scott who haven’t met him yet, you are in for a most pleasant surprise! He is smart, funny, and thoughtful. He is taking this candidacy extremely seriously, but he’s not afraid to inject some humor (which is so needed right now!).
You had to be there – I could do the “Scott is a Great American, we should vote for him” parody of Joe Miller’s supporters, but you had to be there to appreciate the story. He went to the Fairbanks Solstice fair, and introduced himself to everyone no matter who they were. When he met Joe Miller supporters, he told us what he said to introduce himself and shook their hands. They all responded like robots…”Joe Miller is a great American, we need to vote for him…”. If you do this in a robot voice, with stilted body movement and no expression, then you have it down as a Joe Miller supporter.
So – of course we had to do it ourselves! It started with the bartender giving us our wine after the speech. We tipped him nicely and he did the blank stare into space and said…”I am a great American (bartender), you must vote for me” in a robot voice. I’m afraid for my friends now, and my hubby. They might have to put up with a robot voice for two weeks. No – wait – I already voted because I’m headed out of state, dang it! No one in OR is going to understand the parody of the robot voice. So, mudpups, I leave it up to you to carry the torch…
We have a chance here – a real chance – to vote someone into office who has a brain, compassion, knowledge – and isn’t afraid to use any or all of them like the Rs are. Go Scott!
His campaign has raised $955,000 so far – NONE from PACs or corporate sponsorship. He is not only very proud of that, he’s humbled by it. Can you see Lisa or Joe Militia humbled by anything? Nope, nope, nope. They are the party of NOPE and DOPE and hang us with our own ROPE.
@47 — if Miller is claiming +/-$10K for payroll tax purposes, is that the same amount he’s claiming for overall income and why he and his family have been/are [therefore] eligible for all the state and federal assistance programs he’s availed himself of…those selfsame programs he now wants to abolish for everyone else? beth.
For Mudpuppies coming to the Restore Sanity Rally in DC, we now have a venue for the post-rally Mudstock. Please check here – https://themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,10670.0.html
Thank you. 😀
I’m extremely disappointed that the APD won’t investigate further. Is this the hand of Mayor Dan?
Just heard on radio that Drop zone head guy Fulton is being investigated by Dept. of Public Safety or something and he has hired WAR (Wayne Anthony Ross) as his lawyer. Oh wow, this just keeps getting weirder. I honestly didn’t realize how strangely connected Joe Miller is. Creepy.
Scott is speaking to a packed meet and greet in Juneau. Great speech to a fired up crowd. Go Scott!!!
It was a great speech!!!!
Go Scott!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[[Hey gang — not to get all prude-y and picky or anything, but (you knew there’d have to be a “but”, didn’t you?) we’ve got to really watch posting full texts of articles we’ve read/seen somewhere else. I know it’s tempting, but it’s a major no-no…copyright infringement, intellectual property infringement, or some such pesky thingie like that. We also have to really watch that precise (or as precise as possible) attribution is given to what we post (that’s originally from someone else).
We have to make *sure* we, whenever possible, include a link for the information shared/cited…or at least include information about *exactly* how/where to find it (i.e. exactly where it can be found — if it’s on an easily ‘find-able’/recognizeable source.) You wouldn’t want *your* written thoughts (on paper, blog, or wherever) ‘borrowed’ by anyone without proper attribution and (preferably) a link to the original, would you?
‘sides, don’t want the ‘flats accused of being a blog that accepts/posts/promotes, as a matter of course, materials that are plagiarized and/or are unattributed when the author is known (even if the author is *not* known/’anonymous’, *that* information should be included in the ‘flats post).
OK – stepping out of buttinsky-scoldy mode.]]
Sorry for the interruption — now, back to our regularily scheduled programming… beth.
Beth –
You are 100% spot on – not only is it a copyright issue, but from the above comments it looks like it has caused a lot of confusion today.
The correct way to post an article –
– you can post a short quote from the article
– you then post a link to the article.
I will go back and fix that comment so that it does exactly that, and I will do it here too, so there is no further confusion.
QUOTE –
Based on a quick analysis done by a reader at Andrew Halcro’s blog, (Andrew is a 45 year resident and former President of Avis Alaska), it looks like Joe Miller is gaming the system in order to avoid paying payroll taxes on his income as an attorney.
END QUOTE
You can read the rest of the article quoted above here –
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/10/19/911676/-Breaking:-Joe-Miller-is-a-Tax-Cheat
Why is there a Postma link on Mudflats?
Special hearing set in Miller records lawsuit
“In hearings Tuesday in Fairbanks, attorneys for Alaska Dispatch, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and the Anchorage Daily News asked for expedited consideration of Alaska Dispatch LLC et al v. Fairbanks North Star Borough so the issue can be resolved prior to Election Day, Nov. 2.
Attorneys for Miller opposed the request, arguing that errors could be made and Miller’s rights could be violated if the process is rushed through the court system. Judge Winston S. Burbank agreed to hear the case on an expedited basis, however, and scheduled a special hearing for Saturday, meaning some or all of the case issues could be resolved as early as this weekend.”……….
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/blogs/political-animal/7204-special-hearing-set-in-miller-records-lawsuit
Some folks recommended that I post this here, since they felt that this community would be interested in it. Perhaps y’all already know about it, so I apologize in advance if this is repetitive.
It’s about how Joe Miller is avoiding paying Social Security taxes on his earned income, by converting it to rental income via some accounting games in his law office. The idea original came from Andrew Halco’s blog, and I just fleshed it out a bit.
Again, I apologize if this was not an appropriate thing to do.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/10/19/911676/-Breaking:-Joe-Miller-is-a-Tax-Cheat
I was a bit tetchy about your posting because it did not cite Andrew Halcro except in the tags.
I was pretty sure he wrote it. I.Just.Don’t.Appreciate.Plagerism. I want the author credited.
And if your fleshing out clarified statements or ideas, you should take credit for that. I am happy it is on the Kos because that is an important blog source.
Actually, I do cite Andrew prominently at the top of my diary and provide complete attribution to him and his reader at the very beginning. I did not make that other cut and paste post above, and I don’t who did.
If you click on my link, you’ll see what I mean.
Unless I’m misunderstanding your comment, there was absolutely no plagiarism involved and my analysis is extremely detailed and goes well beyond anything written or posted on Andrew’s site.
I’m looking back at KOS but I haven’t found your post yet – I only remember looking for attribution to Andrew but not seeing it (except, as I said, in the tags). I’ll keep looking.
I still support the fact that I want this potential tax-evasion story out there – especially where the IRS will pay attention – because apparently this GOP senate candidate will get a pass, again, from law enforcement, for the illegal kidnapping of a journalist, along with all of his other ‘flaws of character.’
Okay, Andrew Halcro’s blog is called “unidentified reader” WTF?
I mean, you may not be from Alaska, which is a large state but a Very Small Town, but, hey, Andrew Halcro?
He is known, he is a known, and he is read, and
ummm, like I said, I recognized the story and it should have had a more direct attribution. IMHO. As one who writes a lot.
It is only respect.
Respectful.
I can’t respond to 50.1.1.1.1 directly, but the problem wasn’t with Bonsai66. The problem was that another poster here clipped so much of Bonsai’s post, losing the links and fonts etc., that the whole thing got garbled up. Halcro’s blog was clearly identified in the Kos article, right up front, and in the mouseover link. The confusing thing was that Halcro himself only refers to an unidentified reader as the writer of the original piece. That’s why it says that in Bonsai’s piece.
I’m not trying to be supremely picky, but am responding because I wanted Bonsai66 to feel welcome posting here.
Bretta, just a note – there has been some confusion here. You can find the Daily Kos article quoted above here –
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/10/19/911676/-Breaking:-Joe-Miller-is-a-Tax-Cheat
The “unidentified reader” mentioned in the Daily Kos article refers to a reader of Andrew’s blog, and Andrew wrote about what that reader had to say here –
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/what_readers_say_about_joe_miller_hiding_his_past
Bonsai66 was correct – the reader was not identified in Andrew’s post. 😉 And Bonsai66 does mention who Andrew is, and quotes from the post on Andrew’s blog, then takes a look at Joe Millers financial disclosure forms.
The confusion seems to have begun when someone here copied and pasted the article to the comments section here – but the links do not copy and paste, and they did not link to the original article. I am about to go back and edit that post to have a small quote and a link to the article. 🙂
Ok, this (from the adn comments section) gave me a chuckle:
Breaking news:
This just in, attorney Joseph W. Miller of Fairbanks has been placed under citizens’
arrest by Alaska voters for impersonating an ethical candidate for U.S. Senator.
Although details are sketchy at this time, several witnesses say Mr. Miller
became agitated and violent when asked by voters to answer questions
regarding his past employment history and other issues pertaining to
his personal conduct.
Mr. Miller was handcuffed and seated in a chair behind the counter of a local
military surplus store on Spenard Avenue, and was prohibited from talking to
other Tea Party members who were in the store at the time, although he was
heard shouting “ it was on my lunch hour, so it doesn’t count” several times
during the arrest.
The Anchorage Police Department has been notified of the situation,
and officers are on the way to the scene.
We’ll have more details as they become available.
Funny, funny, funny. if only it were true.
Yep, if only! 😉
Anchorage Daily News reports no charges being filed against anyone in the Miller/security guards/blogger situation.
I do hope that the people being hassled by the goons will lodge complaints against The Drop Zone. The reporter certainly has grounds for a lawsuit against The Drop Zone and Miller. Miller’s follow-up “explanations” leave him open for defamation or slander charges as well.
Hopefully, The Drop Zone will be out of business soon – particularly with its attitudes towards customers, “employees” and the public at large. Taxing authorities, licensing authorities, and the military have a lot of juicy issues to address with the owner. Voters have a lot of juicy issues to address with Miller.
Please pass the popcorn, and share the footstool. It’s Miller Time – an unraveling to savor.
The Drip Zone has those “attitudes towards customers” because it is not really a retail store but a front for other activities.
JOE MILLER A TAX CHEAT?
Just saw this on Daily Kos and wanted to bring it to the immediate attention of AK Muckraker and fellow Mud Puppies. Read on.
Based on a quick analysis done by a reader at Andrew Halcro’s blog, (Andrew is a 45 year resident and former President of Avis Alaska), it looks like Joe Miller is gaming the system in order to avoid paying payroll taxes on his income as an attorney.
You can read the rest of the article quoted above here –
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/10/19/911676/-Breaking:-Joe-Miller-is-a-Tax-Cheat
(edited by Snoskred – please see my comment below re quoting which can be found here – we cannot quote entire articles here on the blog. 😉 It is a copyright thing, nothing personal. )
If he did this he is a fool. Every business owner knows you must take a reasonable salary before you take any draws or rents from yourself. Accounting 101!
This is almost identical to the article written by Andrew Halcro today published in the Alaska Dispatch. Did someone plagerize?
I think Halcro had this first, but there is a DailyKos diary up indicating old Joe may have had a reason for delaying filing that financial disclosure report: tax evasion? http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/10/19/911676/-Breaking:-Joe-Millers-Big-Tax-Evasion-Problem
Any diabetic mudpups who love dogs out there?
Check this out: http://www.dogabetics.com
They train service dogs to detect fluctuations in their owners’ blood sugar levels. Their sense of smell is said to be more accurate than a glucose meter. And you have your furry glucose meter available 24/7. How cool is that?
That is pretty darn cool.
It’s kind of like cats in nursing homes signaling to nurses and families when the end is near. Perhaps there are olfactory traces in the health crisis or dying process that they can pick up on as well.
I know people are skeptical about that, but when my folks were in nursing care, I saw the resident cat do just that with several people, including my mother. It would come up to her and stay near just before a crisis would erupt that necessitated hospital care, and the day before she died, the cat came in and stayed beside her for hours. The cat ignored people otherwise.
It sounds a little creepy, I know, but people began to trust the instincts of that cat and adjust their plans accordingly. That cat’s accuracy was astounding over the five years I saw it perform in this way. I’ve since read accounts of other cats providing similar signals, so the article and service you point us to intrigues me a lot.
I knew it! Cats kill people!
Do they steal souls? Do they work for Christine O’Donnell who is not a witch? Inquiring minds want to know!
HEY YOU GUYS! Bonsai66 over at Daily Kos has put up a clear and concise diary breaking down how Joe Miller is evading payroll taxes by paying himself enormously inflated rent for his law office!
This could be the big one.
http://t.co/xw8GCU0
I wonder if anyone has asked Carly Fiorina or Meg Whitman WHY they are spending Millions of dollars to get a job that pays less than $200,000?
Power, of coarse, is what is behind all of these public ‘servants’.
If you don’t see it up front (as in the 2 Californians’ open purse policy) then it is a hidden factor. Namely, all those astro turf organizations that are now allowed to be funded in a nameless/faceless manner.
So if Sharron Angle, for example, does become the next senator from Nevada, she won’t be thinking of her cactus constituents. She’ll be dancing with whoever brung her to the dance.
Same with all the Teaparty ‘grassroot’ candidates.
Re: Meg Dubya’s 141+ million spent to date
Mark Fiore: animated comedy: CA: “Meg 2010”
http://www.markfiore.com/
Vote, Californians!
Thanks, nswfm. Carly Fiorina must fit into the hidden purse choice then.
(Sorry, duplicate post stranded above)
Cuttingly funny…from Andrew Halcro
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/voices/tundra-talk/7198-dear-joe-what-are-you-thinking
“Dear Joe,
Wow. For the third week in a row you start off the week with really bad press. What are you thinking?
Two weeks ago the story broke that you had used government equipment to do some serious politicking. Last week you topped that by saying you wouldn’t be answering any more questions until after election day about your personal or professional history. And this week you start off the week by having your personal security force handcuff a journalist for asking you questions.
I’m holding my breath for next Monday…”
I wonder if, as Halcro states, that DripNoseJoe’s wife was “badmouthing the Alaska Dispatch” at the time Hopfinger got false arrested?
Is that how she keeps from getting abused by TalibanJoe after events like this?
Here is a new low, in a political season of many lows:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/19/latinos-for-reform-vote-nevada_n_767991.html
I would put nothing past the far right any more.
Univision is pulling the ad. (This ad was asking Latino voters in Nevada not to vote. I guess they were afraid that the Republican Sharron Angle would be in jeopardy with all those ‘brown people’ clamoring to vote against her; better they just sit this one out.)
But not to fear. The Latino vote is still part of the Right’s agenda. Fox news has recently started up Fox En Espanol and it is fully integrated into their propaganda machine.
Phrenology? It’s not included in the Word Salad Dictionary (flipping pages)…could you use it in a sentence?
In a sentence, huh? How about two. OK…here goes…
“Phrenology is the special and unique type of knowledge favored by Palin, Palinites, Baggers, Beckers, and the like; not being tied to, or based in, any factual knowledge, and not being tied to, or based in, reality, phrenology is just what it says: free knowledge pulled out of one’s arse. A much under-appreciated branch of Truthiness, phrenology has a decidedly Palin bent…hence the cutesy ending. [See: “hopey-changey”.]”
How’s that? beth.
Sarah Palin, couldn’t discuss phrenology with us? I’m sorry, the woman is a fool!
I have been thinking about several things for the past week or so.
Is anyone else troubled by the amount of money that goes into our elections? I was watching a PBS program about the flooding in Pakistan last night and thinking to myself “Carly Fiorina has reportedly spent something like $140 million on her campaign…how many people could that feed? How much medicine for children? How much help to farmers whose land is under 3 feet of now-sun-baked mud? How much seed could that buy for replanting?” And in this country “How many underpriviledged kids could that send to college?” What in the heck is going on here????
Then I sat down for my weekly dose of mindless entertainment DWTS:
Now I have been trying to give Bristol the benefit of the doubt (as much as I resent her being there). She has done OK so far and the people voted off ahead of her deserved to be voted off ahead of her. But she has such a blank, vacant face. I thought, well, there are some who have said that she is terribly shy and she certainly doesn’t have any training as an entertainer of any kind so……But last night they showed her talking to her partner and what I was struck with is that she has ZERO ambition. She doesn’t seem to care whether she is there or not. Her only goal was to “make it through the first night” WTH??? Who goes to a job in show business (which believe me, requires a great deal more work than one sees on the surface) without any ambition to succeed? Especially with a mother who is toxically ambitious. Now it may seem to be all fluff but I know her partner is working his butt off to try to make her look good. She could put a LITTLE effort into it, dontcha’ think? Or is she just somehow entitled to be there? NOT.
Before this anti-elitist crap started getting bandied about I never told anyone where I went to college. It was difficult for me and I had to work really hard to graduate. I worked just as hard at my second degree (in my thirties) from a state university. There was, however (as I get older I see this more clearly) a BIG difference in the ways that I was asked to think. Rachel Maddow was the commencement speaker at my alma mater last spring and here is a snippet of what she said:
“How do you become part of good decisions in the absence of a crystal ball? The best way…is to get smart and get smart fast, to take the opportunities that you’ve got very seriously, to continue your education not necessarily in a grad school way, but in a lifelong way, be intellectually and morally rigorous in your own decision-making and expect the important people in your life do the same if they want to stay important to you.
Gunning not just for personal triumph for yourself, but for durable achievement to be proud of for life is the difference between winning things and leadership; it’s the difference between nationalism and patriotism; it’s the difference between running for office and devoting yourself to public service; it’s agreeing that you’re part of something; taking as your baseline that you will not seek to reach your own goals by stepping on your community; it means coming to terms that your country needs you…..
Life might very well be long. Keep your eye on the horizon and live in a way that you will be proud of. you will sleep more. You will be a better partner. You’ll be a better mom. You’ll be a better friend….And you will not have to remember any complicated lies to brag about at the old age home because you can brag about the truth of your well-lived life.”
Maybe someone needs to say something like this to Bristol….
Sweetheart you gave me chills with that comment. i do love our Rachel!!
thank you for posting this.
Excellent post.
FYI, it is Meg “eBay” Whitman who spent that obscene amount of money, not Fiorina. Fiornia nearly drove HP into the ground. I’m not defending these GOP females, just trying to keep the facts straight.
I stand corrected.
A slight tangent…
What is it about us humans that compels [for lack of a better word] us to find a connection -no matter how tenuous- to others? A need to connect through the six-degrees of separation, if you will. Personally, I’ve felt always felt a close personal connection to Julia Childs ever since I found out my sister-in-law’s mother was the year behind Julia at college and the two of them took some classes together. Now I find out that those degrees extend and include LoveMyDogs…not only am I connected to LMD through being a mudpeeps, but through marriage also, too! beth.
huh????
Did you attend the school from which Julia Childs graduated? If so, my six-degrees would be: me > sister-in-law > sister-in-law’s mother > sister-in-law’s mother’s alma mater > LMD. So, by marriage, I’d be ‘connected’ to you. Follow? beth.
Did Julia Childs go to Smith?
Yuppers. Julia McWilliams sure did. As did Bobbie Nichols. beth.
Welcome to the family. I warn you, we are very disfunctional.
Lordy, LMD – you’re talking “dysfunctional” to a woman who six-degrees-of-separation to Julia Childs…through marriage! How much *more* dysfunctional can one get? beth.
oh, LoveMyDogs, your family put the FUN in dysfunctional. 🙂
(just like mine does, also, too.)
Many mudpups have that funny functional thingie workin’ for us, eh? You betcha!
Comedic relief; twitty-quitty has picked a fight with Maureen Dowd.
“That’s so funny, because I don’t think I’ve ever met that gal, Maureen Dowd — O’Dowd — whatever the heck her name is,” Palin said.
O’bitter-quitter, “O’Dowd”. O’noes ~ ROTFL
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/19/dowd-responds-to-palin-we_n_768173.html
I mean really. . . . . Do intelligent women really call other women “gals”?
Where I come from, this usually comes out the mouths of eighty year old men.
Or maybe it’s a regional thing . . . .
Where I’m from, the word used is “guys.” It is now generic. “Gal” is used by old men occasionally and as a dismissive term.
Lainey:
Can we ship the box to Siberia, with no return address? Just a thought-
Cuttingly funny…from Andrew Halcro
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/voices/tundra-talk/7198-dear-joe-what-are-you-thinking
“Dear Joe,
Wow. For the third week in a row you start off the week with really bad press. What are you thinking?
Two weeks ago the story broke that you had used government equipment to do some serious politicking. Last week you topped that by saying you wouldn’t be answering any more questions until after election day about your personal or professional history. And this week you start off the week by having your personal security force handcuff a journalist for asking you questions.
I’m holding my breath for next Monday…”
lol yes! that should’ve been done BEFORE palin took hold. I’ll go for it now tho…anything to shut her/them down and shut her/them up.
after we get the box closed again…dont EVER let palin, miller, or anybody else out again, who cant think like a normal person! …and don’t tell me that they are ‘normal’.
Who here would ever call those creeps normal? And since they are out, we have to deal with them. And the next ones, and those after that…
there are too many right now…a new breed. as if palin was having litter after litter
Think about the GREMLIN movies. Adorable until you broke the rules about the care and feeding of alien lifeforms.
I suggest that as many Alaskans as possible call the Division of Occupational Licensing in Anchorage (I don’t know the phone number, but they should be listed in the blue pages under the Department of Commerce) and make a complaint about the Drop Zone operating without a business license. There actually is a process for dealing with this issue. I would also suggest a complaint to the Alaska Bar about Miller’s ethics violations. I am a real advocate of working through the system, and Alaska still has good systems in place. Thank you.
That’s great advice Mag. I hope Alaskans follow it.
That’s why people like Sarah and Joe want to abolish so much of government – because it works to prevent them from fleecing even more people for their own benefit (and the benefit of the corporations, organizations, and money people they front).
Joe Miller violates laws and ethics so he can work for the government. Now there’s an oxymoron… or just a moron.
LOL. so true
Like when she ended the need for building permits just as the extra stuff for the arena was falling off the truck.
You will have better luck going here:
http://www.dced.state.ak.us/occ/
My experience with this area is that they do not often answer the phone.
are you sure they aren’t operating under a different name? worth checking.
Exactly. I guess the military is looking into the matter of whether or not they were allowed to be working for Drop Zone so stay tuned!
(in reply to bubbles @ cassie jeep at 28.1.1).
Yes…anyone who is going needs to get vocal. Don’t make fawnskin do all the work.
i need to take a moment here…putting on mod hat…..o.k. i ready.
*****************************************************************************
please everyone who is going to the Rally for Sanity and or Fear; who wants a mudflats identifying scarf to wear please go now to the forum and e-mail or PM your address to Fawnskin. there isn’t a lot of time left for her to get them to you in a timely manner.
for the those coming with me you are covered. the scarves will come to my house. no worries. please go everyday to the forum to see what’s what. we have to be fluid in our thinking and trying to find each other in such a crowd will be impossible unless we work together ( mudpups are very good at working together). as we know more we will tell you: https://themudflats.net/forum/index.php/topic,10670.0.html
This guy nailed it!
http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=10&year=2010&base_name=joe_miller_freedom_fighter
Indeed!
According to the ADN, it looks like the two security guards that Jo(k)e hired on Sunday were active duty military and may not have been authorized to work for Drop Zone, according to the Army. The owner said he doesn’t check to see whether active duty soldiers are allowed to work or not and the two soldiers called him Monday to say they may be in trouble. You can read the rest of the ADN article here.
This story just keeps getting better and better…
I don’t know why I just thought of this now, but those soldiers are employed by a company that has offensive images of President Obama (their Commander in Chief!) plastered on the front windows. That is truly sad.
…and actionable. i would like to see them thrown the hell out of the service with a dishonorable discharge. who can we write to and what should we write.
Base Operator
(907) 552-1110 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (907) 552-1110 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
DSN: 317-552-1110 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 317-552-1110 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Public Affairs (673 ABW/PA)
(907) 552-8151 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (907) 552-8151 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Newspaper Editor: (907) 552-8918 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (907) 552-8918 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
DSN: 317-552-8918 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 317-552-8918 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
this is the info i found by looking up Fort Richardson’s website.
you Alaskan pups who incensed over this can and should call the base and let them know how you feel. then the rest of us can pile on….go pups go!!!!!
Thanks for the info!
Not only sad, but possibly actionable.
Yes, they work for a security company whose license expired in December 2009.
Apparently the license was renewed on 18 October 2010 – a full how many months *after* it had expired? Hmmm…when was it they handcuffed Holfinger? beth.
Current license: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/bussearch/BusDetail.cfm?LicNum=914300
Here’s the old license — it expired 31 December 2009…a full 9 1/2 months before being hired to protect The Joe Miller from whatever it is The Joe needs protection from: http://www.commerce.state.ak.us/occ/bussearch/BusDetail.cfm?LicNum=907643
Y’know, come to think of it, The Joe Miller would be *perfect* as a Senator…he contracts out for a service that isn’t even needed [the school did *not* require security] and hires a company that is not even licensed to perform any business of any type, to perform the service that isn’t even needed. Pork all the way. And to cap it all off, he lies about it. Yup — just the type of Senator the Baggers and Republicans think are perfect for the job; the type that drives the rest of us up the wall! beth.
—I do have to wonder: What in the heck is a company with a “Line of Business: Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services”? b.
“””—I do have to wonder: What in the heck is a company with a “Line of Business: Administrative, Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services”? b.”””
It is for garbage (non-hazardous solid waste), documentation and/or personnel management, and services related to cleaning up contamination such as oily soil or other property damaged by hazardous materials or hazardous waste.
Security services would not be included in this context. Providing security is a different function altogether and would have a different category number.
the license that was just renewed on Monday is NOT for security services, it’s for trade (ie the military surplus store.
And even if it was for security services, it wouldn’t retroactively cover the events that took place on Sunday.
The Twit’s latest Twitter fail:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/10/fail-palin-endorses-raese-in-pennsylvania-hes-from-west-virginia.php
that was hilarious. what’s even funnier is that Raese doesn’t really live in WV, he has a huge multi-million dollar house in Florida where he spends most of his time. One of Raese’s better known quotes is “I earned my money the old-fashioned way, I inherited it.”
His wife got taken off the voter rolls in WV I think I remember, because she really lives in FL.
yes, and his kids are enrolled in school in Florida.
This is the one who said workers are not happy with earning only $7.25/hour, so do away with the minimum wage law so they can earn more, right?
Does Florida want to keep him? I thought not… 😉
also, Raese is very vocal about getting rid of the minimum wage.
Just what they need in the poorest state, lower wages.
ugh
and then she doubles down by saying ‘pa and wv’…she will not ever admit to a mistake, she just tries to make it look like she meant it–in some bizarro land twisted logic.
Rut Roh -maybe the Joe Miller endorsement will be the one that destroy’s
Palins political career. Rather ironic since McCain selected her and she
destroyed his.
Interesting brief @ The Daily Dish
snip] An ABC News/Washington Post poll released today reflects that view. Sarah Palin’s seen as more interested in political division than in cooperation by 56-34 percent, and the Tea Party political movement gets a very similar 56-31 percent. [ end snip
little more infor @ http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/
And the President is seen as a someone willing to cooperate with others.
I wish he were MORE partisan, but he is the president of all the people.
I hope he changes that around the next two years. Sometimes that is what it takes to make people WAKE-UP!
Huff Po has Joe Miller admitting to the Ethics breach, saying it “was never as dire” as described by Jim Whitaker. (As in “only a little pregnant”?)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/19/joe-miller-fired-fairbanks_n_767852.html
Please. Tell your neighbors. Get out the vote. He’s already using public property to advance his private campaign, and calling it a “minor violation” as though quantifying it is an option. Don’t let it happen to you again.
Sarah has taught her well…O’Donnell doesn’t know what the first amendment is all about:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/19/christine-odonnell-church-and-state_n_767910.html
Sadly, most Tea Partiers don’t either.
I hope she has the decency to feel embarassed after she makes such an a$$ of herself. People were actually astounded by and laughing at her ignorance. How did this idiot get nominated? How is her opponant able to keep a straight face?
It appeared that she thought that the audience was laughing ‘with’ her not at her, which makes her even more pathetic.
I heard the audience laugh on several times—–and I agree—-they were laughing AT HER!!!! She is too stupid to know the difference.
which is what she and palin really have in common. too stupid to know the difference.
WOW is all I can say. I used to think Sarah Palin was the dumbest politician walking the face of the earth. I can see now, she has met her match. This woman needs to go on Foxworthy’s show and see if she’s smarter than a 5th grader.
My guess is no. To call her dumber than a bag of hammers, would be an insult to the hammers.
I just love this!
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sand pile.
These are the things I learned:
– Share everything.
– Play fair.
– Don’t hit_ people.
– Put things back where you found them.
– Clean up your own mess.
– Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
– Say you’re sorry when you hurt_ somebody.
– Wash your hands before you eat.
– Flush.
– Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
– Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
– When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Excerpt
by Robert Fulghum
One of my favorites as well. Continued:
“Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if all–the whole world–had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had a basic policy to always put thing back where they found them and to clean up their own mess. And it is still true, no matter how old you are-when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.”
((((((Grami and Scout))))))))
*********************************
this is why i love you. i needed that this morning. thanks pups.
I highly recommend Mr. Fulghum’s books. They are collections of heartwarming short stories. In one of my favorites he speaks of walking his grandchild to the park. Every spring they would drop flowers seed along the way as they hiked past abandoned properties and overgrown lots. He called it “affirmative vandalism.”
Edit: “flower seeds”
OT–even on an open thread……
When I saw this I nearly lost it! Looks like SP is kissing a dog instead of a baby…apparently she was preparing to “sign” the poor puppy! (at least she didn’t shoot it!) yesterday in Nevada.
http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20101018/capt.127052a81d0a450592982eef2785450d-127052a81d0a450592982eef2785450d-0.jpg?x=400&y=293&q=85&sig=cSpoOC0LcNNnhi3k2fIabQ–
PETA could be Sarah’s downfall!
Wow I just read the ADN article about Drip zone using active duty military. I stay up till 2 AM and get up at 6 AM and it’s still difficult to keep up with the Miller debacle. It gets weirder every minute. There is something sooooooo wrong with this guy. Early release from his military service, gets into elite law schools and then can barely earn a living, and on and on. I’d personally like to see his mental health records 🙂
The name ‘Jackboot Joe’ has a nice ring to it. I’m from Massachusetts, where teabaggers feel disenfranchised, but since the passing of Ted Kennedy, that excuse doesn’t work any more. Good luck up/over there, the whole country is watching now.
Some of Joe’s thugs are in the U.S. military service moonlighting for Joe. There is the issue of whether guns are illegal in a school building. Someone please pursue this!
I was wondering if any of the town hall participants were carrying?
Dropped-on-their-heads was operating without a business license on 10-17-2010. Active duty military personnel and possible weaponry in our public schools – joke’s over and there was nothing funny about it. These and many other issues are being pursued.
From what I remember from my service years, active duty members are prohibited from secondary employment without the express written consent of their superior officer. As military members are subject to immediate recall at any point in time, they cannot be under any obligation to other employers.
Now for the sake of full disclosure, as an active duty member I did have an off-duty job. It did not interfere with my on-duty obligations whatsoever, and the employer fully knew of my “other” employer, i.e. it was not hidden. Even my supervisor had a similar job, and so did many others in my job specialty at that unit, so permission was granted. It was also peacetime. Right now, it isn’t exactly peacetime, and if this proves true, I hope those idiots get what they deserve.
I doubt they will be discharged (if truly service members) but they would be subject to Non-Judicial Punishment (NJP), which means going before your CO and taking your lumps. Said lumps may be quite large in this case, such as reduction in rank, and monetary fines, and so on. It can be very harsh…
Oooh, I just read the ADN on this. They are active duty. If they can’t prove any superior officer authorized this, their a$$e$ are gra$$! Fulton probably was paying them cash too, no taxes there. The doo-doo is deep with this one…
Here’s the thing about Miller: nothing is EVER is fault. Embarrassing Twitter posts? That was a staffer. Three-car accident? Not his fault. Goon squad handcuffs a reporter? He was on his way out the door.
Well, I’m sorry Joey Boy. You hired them, so you’re responsible. Just like Palin, Miller lacks any sense of accountability. Why would ANYONE want to work for this guy as a U.S. Senator is beyond me. Because every time he’d screw up (and that would happen a lot), he’d blame a staffer.
Total douche.
He did tell John King on CNN that he has cited for illegal behavior while employed by the Borough– but it was because he was trying to stop something more unethical. So much for an admission of guilt. not.
Sorry. illegal behavior to stop unethical behavior? That’s like saying “I had to rob the bank. That bank used the money to make loans only to companies that refuse to negotiate with unions.”.
That is why the Borough reprimanded him. What he did was wrong. Period. He should not be making up excuses.
Slimeball.
Right, like he goes anywhere without his security detail. He ran out the door for deniability. He knew exactly what his security was doing.
He’s a real no-where man, living in his no-where land
Making lots of no-where plans, for no-body!
Sheesh! He looks like Soapy Smith! Surely there’s a lesson there.
Good reprint from CSM …
http://alaskadispatch.com/voices/tundra-talk/7164-how-is-elitist-ayn-rand-a-tea-party-hero
at heart of many of the questions I have for Tea Party neighbors…
Here’s one for you all to finish…
is a word game
J oe
O bviously
E ndorses
M ore
I
L
L
E
R
J oe
O bviously
E ndorses
M ore
I llogical
L ousy
L lies
E xpecting
R esults!
J oe
O bviously
E njoys
M ore
I mmigrants walled out
L oony antics
L argesse in his own pockets
E xtra special benefits for Koch Brothers, Inc.
R epeal of social security
I love all of ’em, any of ’em!
Does anyone have the latest numbers? I would love a link. Thanks!
Frum Forum also ran the Miller/East German comments. Take a look and read the comments:
http://www.frumforum.com/miller-cites-east-germany-on-border-security#comments
Finally…they are starting to pick up Miller’s East Germany border control comments:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43820.html
I hope this Joe Miller thing blasts open the hidden agenda up there in AK. The militias and the AIP have far too much control of things. AK is becoming a rogue state, much like Mrs. Palin wants. Then she can go back home and be the self-appointed queen of said state.
I hope the FBI is paying attention.
I believe SP is beginning to show what that she really is an Alaska Independent Partier rather than a Tea Partier. Crazy ideas for a small group of crazy people. Maybe Todd really was a shadow governor, found out he couldn’t really do much while in office, and decided to resign.
i agree Ripley and Doodlebug…..if they should dare to become a rogue state and secede from the union Alaska will lose that star on the flag and become a territory again and under martial law. Sarah Palin and her husband and Miller and all the rest will spend the rest of their lives in a federal penitentiary. whatever treaties and benefits Natives and others receive will be null and void.
all them good paying federal and state jobs will cease. Medicare gone. unemployment gone. social security and government pensions gone. food and gas deliveries gone. if i were a citizen of Alaska i would be very,very careful now about who i send to Washington and how they behave once they get there.
Here’s something to hopefully provide you with a giggle to start your day.
It seems like an ad that Joe Miller or Sarah Palin would run. After all, the phrase “willfully ignorant” is often used to describe either or both of them.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/18/elect-the-willfully-ignorant_n_766659.html
I was just about to post that link! Truly inspiring candidate for the Tea Partiers!
Bwa ha ha! Hilarious! Wait…why am I laughing? It’s too close to the truth (sigh).
OBEY that clown? I don’t think so. He looks much more like The Joker there than our President does on the Drip Zone poster. I’m pretty sure his Karma is fixin’ to run all over his Dogma, also, too.
Early voting started Monday here in Florida, so let’s get out there and elect Alex Sink for Governor. She’s no mama grizzly, she’s no fraidy-cat, she’s the rill dill! She’s got the smarts, the experience, and the work ethic to lead the Sunshine State to a better tomorrow.
thatcrowwoman’s picks:
VOTE NO on amendments 1, 6, 8!
Loranne Ausley for CFO
Dan Gelber for Attorney General
Scott Maddox for Commissioner of Agriculture
(Marco Rubio is our Miller/Bush, Charlie Crist is nearabouts our Lease-a-Much-cow-skee, but Kendrick Meek is our Scott McAdams)
Kendrick Meek for U.S. Senate
I’m thatcrowwoman and I approved this message.
off to the library, then school board meeting after…long day on the Gulf Coast
hope yours is a happy one
L’Shalom
… my choices as well!
Go Crow go!!!!!
Bravo!
That whole poster thing is kind of lost on me. I’ve never heard of it, so it just seems odd.
I have to say that Megan McCain is about the only Republican that I like. I still don’t agree with her on policy, but I respect her courage to stand up for her beliefs and to take what has become a very unpopular stance in conservative circles. Good for her.
And it’s nice to watch Megan and Rachel have a conversation on issues – it’s something we should be watching in the House and the Senate, but there aren’t enough grown-ups left on the right and some of the ones on the left are forgetting they should still act like adults no matter what the other side is doing.
Megan McCain takes another (deserved) swipe at Christine O’Donnell and takes the heat for it. Sadly, what Ms. McCain is fighting for and against is the product of her father’s choice of Sarah Palin. As Ms. McCain tries to bring sanity back to the GOP, Mrs. Palin continues to drive the Tea Party to take over the party.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-10-18/meghan-mccain-on-why-shes-against-christine-odonnell/?cid=hp:mainpromo9
(The above link may actually be page two of the column because I’m having a fight with my computer and it seems to be winning. If the link does not work the story is one of the headline stories on http://www.thedailybeast.com)
Meghan McCain: “Well, I speak as a 26-year-old woman and my problem is that, no matter what, Christine O’Donnell is making a mockery of running for public office”
Dear Meghan ,
What about sarah Palin ?? I’ll say the same thing to Levi , until either one of you bring some serious goods on her , STFU and go away.
i am solidly with you on this Austin.
i really and truly got nothing for the McCains..any or all of them.
I saw Megan last night and she does not agree with her Dad on DADT. But I wish she had gone further and said she did not agree with her Dad for bringing Sarah Palin out of the woodwork, and what she is doing to American Politics. I find it interesting that He is keeping quiet on Palin. Of course he wouldn’t want to admit that he made a VERY BIG MISTAKE!!!!!!
Megan also made a remark that the big wigs in the Rep party are not coming out and saying what they think and say behind the scene. They are all sitting on a powder keg and don’t know what to do. They love that she is tearing down the Democrats, and want to hold on to what “help” they are getting for her. It is just that she is not helping sane people.
At least JMcCain had half-a-the-yarbies to step away from the Alaska GOP senate candidate last week; had he said the true reason, that the candidate is a Fascist with a serious mental health problem, I would have had some respect for JMcCain. It was truly a missed opportunity.
I love Rachel. Unfortunately the is preaching to the choir.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#39731775
So true, but her intro last nite was phenominal.
Oh yeah—I got Orwellian chills all up and down the spine.
I heard a great story yesterday. I was told that Drop Zone Security was dabbling in the bounty hunter business when they had an unfortunate incident. As the story goes, one of their “agents” was chasing a bail jumper, and decided to fire some warning shots in the air.
The real law enforcement folks looked dimly on this behavior.
I’m not sure how this could be confirmed or denied? Maybe APD would give up the story? I did hear Lt. Parker say yesterday during a press brief that APD has had contact with Drop Zone in the past. Could this be the contact he was referring to? If any of you mudpups have an in at APD, maybe you can find out if this story has any traction.
Looks like you get what you pay for – one of the boy scouts (no slur intended to Boy Scouts of America) working for Drop Box… note the SIDEARMS that they carry:
http://www.myspace.com/healing2suffer_again/photos/38247620
Be sure to click through the photos… what a CHARMING group of individuals!
Lower48 / KatieAnnieOakley
The “Red Eye” sure makes this baby thug look like a Meth addict! My Marine Corps Master Sergeant father would role over in his grave if he saw this little punk!
Thanks for the link. I found it almost comical. I especially like the claim that his German Shepherd is 4′ tall at his back. He seems to have an identify crisis. He cant decided if he is a gangsta, a soldier of fortune, or some kind of pseudo law enforcement. I get the impression that these guys watched one too many episodes of Dog the Bounty Hunter.
His poor wifey. {{{{Chills}}}} too and also.
Andrew Halcro has a new post entitled “Is Joe Miller Scamming the System?” It appears Joe is paying himself salary disguised as unreasonably high rent for the office he rents in a building he owns. Is anyone here surprised?
http://www.andrewhalcro.com/what_readers_say_about_joe_miller_hiding_his_past
I expect this is fairly common among business owners, but it doesn’t look good when you’re asking to be trusted with public office. What’s next?
Great article. I hope someone will send this article to the IRS and Alaskan tax authorities so Alaskans can rest assured Joe is doing his part to support the government he so desperately wants to be part of and wants represent. After all, I am sure he doesn’t like people who cheat or lie or scams. He is, after all, an officer of the court – being an attorney and all.
“He is, after all, an officer of the court – being an attorney and all.”
For how much longer, I wonder. If people really start digging around, I wonder if he would land in hot water up to his beady little eyes.
Sounds as though a Native needs to study up on the Code of Ethics and file a Bar Complaint.
And this is where Sarah will come in to criticize the opposition researchers for discouraging good, patriotic Americans from running for office.
Paladino stumbled badly at the Gubernatorial debate last night and he’s already trailing badly to Cuomo, but it’s folks like Paladino, powerful novices, that stir the ire against thoughtful public discourse. Christine O’Donnell is a trainwreck. Sharon Angle, who doesn’t know the difference between an Asian and a Latino, is a frightful monster. Rand Paul is a socialized medicine hypocrite and you can’t follow his bizarre thought process and logic. Joe Miller. Well. For a guy who advocates for the smaller government, he sure makes sure his shoes are large and wide over the little guy. Never heard of a never-before elected candidate using force to subdue critics and the Q&A process.
In the way Sarah’s cultivated this ability for public figures to run-around open and transparent accountability to the public through the media, she’s been finessing this sympathetic victimhood of regular folk running for office with some serious flaws, orchestrating a back-lash against the messengers, whistle-blowers and reasonable criticism.
As much as she damages the standing of the mainstream press, they continue to publish her message without standard vetting. Until she can face the press and say these words and thoughts and back them up in an unscripted exchange, she is not a reliable source for her supposed ‘platform.’
For these untested Tea Party candidates in a national playing field, their lack of substance and narrow-mindedness would reveal itself in practice, and the American public will be stunned with the lesson learned that a political fad does not a nation make.
“political fad”, very on point.
So why does the media keep giving her a platform.
Interviewing her on radio.
Giving her the same status as a thoughtful, reasoned person.
Two words. Corporate media. If the big men upstairs say soft pedal the moronic woman, they soft pedal her to keep their jobs . . . .
They want you to listen and watch.
Correction – Giving her the same status as a train wreck in slow motion.
The No-Nothing Party, come back from the dead.
Perhaps voters, looking for a quick and simple solution to these difficult times, will learn that electing ignorant neophytes to solve complex issues does not work. I hope it doesn’t lead to disaster-
That was suggested w/Palin too and nothing has ever happened to her! It more than likely will not w/Miller either.
Folks in Alaska are really going after Miller – and, I think even more so than was done to Palin! I’m so disgusted w/politics in Alaska! We look like idiots to the rest of the United States – and it all started w/Palin who continues to have a voice daily for her idiotic commentary!
I have voted for McAdams already (absentee), but totally expect Murkowski to win and that will upset me even more because the tearing apart of Miller will not have worked. We will STILL have a member of Congress that will not represent Alaska who has proven herself to have significance in the ‘party of no’!
I know, my attitude sucks – I’ve been involved w/this stuff for far too long….need to take a break!
Buck up Millie….it’s just politics and we aren’t even in the 4th quarter of the game yet. If you take too much of this too seriously it will actually make you ill. So come by my house and have a cuppa tea (or something stronger if you like), popcorn is a popping and I might even be able to scrounge up some biscuits with fireweed honey. Put your feet up. Stay awhile and we’ll speak of something else. Something fine and grand like the snow on the mountaintops, fall in the air, mudpup friends….you are not alone.
Thanks for the invitation…how about a gin and tonic!!! I do take it too seriously! But, it is so damned serious!
I think the brightest part of this election has been the rising star of our own SCOTT McADAMS. He’ll be around for some time. And my bet is that other progressives are considering getting involved because complacency is a thing of the past.
I can’t wait for my absentee ballot. My big black pen is just itchin’ to fill in that oval for SCOTT McADAMS.
So if Joe Miller is paying himself rent for an office in a building that he owns, he is doing several things. He is giving himself unearned income which is not subject to social security and medicare tax, which as he is the owner, is saving 15.3%. Also, as he is the owner of the building, he can deduct any of the expenses for the building, proportionate to the space ‘rented,’ thereby decreasing the income amount of the rent that he receives and thus decreasing the income tax due on that rental income.
Again, as stated previously, that is a common maneuver among business owners. But the questions of ethics are valid considering the rent amount is unreasonably high.
Ah, I see that you’re already talking about Halco’s diary. Check out Bonsai66’s diary today over at the Daily Kos! I put the URL in as my “Website” for this comment.
Chills, I tell you! Chills!
“The Left” in the United States, like Europe needs to take a stand and stop playing games that “The Right” has used to shift our national discussion further and further to the right. I don’t see that happening – indeed, right here in Alaska the current discourse, from the left, with the exception of some native groups, seems to be making the case for resource extraction (with the proper “safe guards”) just about anywhere in the state.
Check out Slavoj Zizek and simply insert US for European.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/18/slavoj_zizek_far_right_and_anti
While I agree with you on general principle, I do not think it is an either/or choice. We need to keep our focus on various issues and use various strategies to stop the right-wing extremists. We cannot afford to ignore what the right is doing because they are using emotional and behavioral tactics that work at a deeper level than intellectual arguments.
We have to find the energy and stamina to go after them and still keep other (the real) issues moving forward, because if we don’t we won’t have a chance to address the issues they want to distract us from. We cannot allow ourselves to burn out, be used up, or just become immobilized because of the seriousness of the issues before us.
I believe that is not an accident that the right is using social issues that are really smoke and mirrors to wave in front of gullible voters. They can turn out the vote using those faux issues and take away from us the opportunity to even get deeper issues on the table for discussion.
If we do not keep punching holes in the idiot arguments and exposing the idiot candidates on the right, we may never get where we need to go on what matters for the long-term.
I agree, they are smooth-talking issues such as resource development, essentially saying “trust us,” when we all know the track records of these industries. However, when people are out of work, are afraid of the “other,” and are continually bombarded by emotional arguments that scare the bejabbers out of them, they will cling to what sounds good, what makes them feel good and they will turn out to vote because they are not voting with their heads, only with their emotions – fear, angry, resentment.
Palin, Miller, Paul, O’Donnell, Angle and the rest are playing the game their handlers know can work in hard times. Most people are operating at the bottom of Maslow’s pyramid – just trying to survive and will not pay attention until their basic fears are addressed and resolved.
I understand and can empathize with you when you warn us against focusing on the game players, but, honestly, I don’t see how the majority of voters can or will turn away from the emotional factors right now. The widespread perception is that too many people are suffering and that their fate will be ours at any moment. It’s almost impossible to reason with people who are afraid. It is certainly exhausting to try.
It’s one of the reasons I love mudlfats so much — people here tend to acknowledge their fears and work to rise above them often through humor and action. I do not believe for one instant that people visiting and interacting on this blog take these matters lightly.
I think they are working as hard as you are in trying to get us back to the deeper issues, but are trying to stave off the fear as best as they can. We all cope in different ways, but on the important issues, every mudpup cares and is working in their own to their own strengths to make a difference.
By allowing ourselves to indulge in levity and using a forum such as this to vent on the absurdities of current candidates espousing foolish, short-sighted, and misleading stands, we can avoid becoming overwhelmed by the craziness of it all. I trust someone who can laugh at danger and still move forward to have the stamina for the long haul.
Mudflatters are generally go-getters who follow-through. We use the flats as our touchstone for humanity and humor while we fight against those who would destroy what we care about. I know I speak for others when I thank you for caring so much, we can feel the vibrations of your concerns through your posts. I take you seriously, and followed-up on your suggested readings. You are a valuable addition to this blog, and serve to remind us to keep a balance and infuse us with new energy when we start to lose our focus or our energies seem to wane.
That was a great link. Thanks.