The Trump Presidency – 2016

[miked]

I sure hope they fix the grad school tuition waiver issue. My PhD students take classes, work about 70 hours a week in the lab, and TA for 2 classes during their stay...all for 30k a year. If you tax them on 60-70k of income because the PI or university is paying the tuition, nobody will want to go to grad school. Talk about an innovation killer.

But hey, maybe they can all band together and buy a G4 to get that tax break.

[PilotMan]

More food for thought:

If it's the biggest tax cut in the history of the US, and my taxes go up, what is that saying exactly?

[PilotMan]

dola

If every person in the top 1% doesn't incorporate in some way they are idiots. The top tax bracket being 30-whatever percent is all for show. Pass through's will now be at 25% and as a corporation you can take an income of $1 and everything else will be your business expense. Really what you're seeing is a massive gain for anyone who is in a position to benefit from it.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by PilotMan

If every person in the top 1% doesn't incorporate in some way they are idiots. The top tax bracket being 30-whatever percent is all for show. Pass through's will now be at 25% and as a corporation you can take an income of $1 and everything else will be your business expense. Really what you're seeing is a massive gain for anyone who is in a position to benefit from it.

The top 1% aren't salaried already - I totally agree the top tax bracket is just there for 'show', its the other changes which make a difference.

[Jas_lov]

Yeah, looks like my taxes will go down by a whole $200. Yipee! I had $11K itemized deductions plus the $4K personal exemption and about $800 student loan interest deduction last year and now I'll just have the $12K standard deduction. And the tax brackets in the Senate bill aren't nearly as generous as the house version to make up for the lost deductions.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by miked

I sure hope they fix the grad school tuition waiver issue. My PhD students take classes, work about 70 hours a week in the lab, and TA for 2 classes during their stay...all for 30k a year. If you tax them on 60-70k of income because the PI or university is paying the tuition, nobody will want to go to grad school. Talk about an innovation killer.

But hey, maybe they can all band together and buy a G4 to get that tax break.

You could probably skip buying the plane and just get by on the tax break for your luxury car.

Here’s another fun one: school teachers won’t be able to deduct the cost of school supplies they buy for their students — luxury car owners on the other hand... pic.twitter.com/pZuGGhdg8T

— Jenna Ruddock (@natlsciservice) December 2, 2017

[mckerney]

I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017

Oh my god, he just admitted to obstruction of justice. If Trump knew Flynn lied to the FBI when he asked Comey to let it go, then there is your case. https://t.co/c6Wtd0TfzW

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) December 2, 2017

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by miked

I sure hope they fix the grad school tuition waiver issue. My PhD students take classes, work about 70 hours a week in the lab, and TA for 2 classes during their stay...all for 30k a year. If you tax them on 60-70k of income because the PI or university is paying the tuition, nobody will want to go to grad school. Talk about an innovation killer.

That's the fix. Punish (liberal-leaning) universities, punish students who have the gall to be not-rich. Limit their opportunities so they can be taken advantage of by the corporate sector.

[GrantDawg]

There is a clear message here about what is going on with this bill. They are going to institute everything they possibly can into law, knowing that if they lose control of either side of congress, it is going to be near impossible to roll everything back.

[Flasch186]

Looks like the news is up in arms that he just admitted to OoJ via twitter...

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by mckerney

I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017

Oh my god, he just admitted to obstruction of justice. If Trump knew Flynn lied to the FBI when he asked Comey to let it go, then there is your case. https://t.co/c6Wtd0TfzW

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) December 2, 2017

This is why lawyers tell clients to not talk.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by miked

If you tax them on 60-70k of income because the PI or university is paying the tuition, nobody will want to go to grad school.

I think that's the point.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

This is why lawyers tell clients to not talk.

Lawyers also don't release statements in Comic Sans, yet here we are.

Trump’s lawyer Ty Cobb: "Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr. Flynn." pic.twitter.com/vk7Hx9pOm0

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) December 1, 2017

[Atocep]

Cobb is fighting for his job. Bannon has been pushing Trump to fire him and Cobb had told Trump the investigation should be wrapped up around Thanksgiving. Continuing to sell Trump in the light at the end of the tunnel is vital to his employment.

[Flasch186]

KT's emails are coming out implicating everyone... huzzah!

[JPhillips]

“Which has just thrown the U.S.A. election to him” https://t.co/Nun3wVfP6K pic.twitter.com/xhqGqifcgi

— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) December 2, 2017

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by mckerney

Originally Posted by RainMaker

This is why lawyers tell clients to not talk.

The Post is now reporting that the tweet was authored by Trump's personal lawyer, John Dowd, according to two people familiar with the situation. The fact that Dowd authored the tweet could limit its salience to the investigation, but the White House still hasn't publicly corrected anything.

WTF?

[BBT]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

“Which has just thrown the U.S.A. election to him” https://t.co/Nun3wVfP6K pic.twitter.com/xhqGqifcgi

— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) December 2, 2017

Oh my

[Flasch186]

Trump tweeted today that he never asked Comey to back off and basically called him a liar.

The real issue is congress under GOP control would never impeach him/put country before party.

We've got so far to go to get the country back from the special interests and gang mentality in DC.

[JPhillips]

71% of likely GOP voters no not believe the allegations against Moore

Moore has a 6 point lead in the same poll

McConnell now is saying that the voters of AL will decide who is in the Senate

[cuervo72]

He's beginning to realize it's like Trump said - he (and probably other Republicans) could shoot somebody in the middle of the street in broad daylight and followers wouldn't care. They don't care if their side lies, they don't care if they beat up reporters, they don't care if they harass or molest women/girls.

[RainMaker]

Remember Democrats are elitists.

https://iowastartingline.com/2017/12...=socialnetwork

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by cuervo72

He's beginning to realize it's like Trump said - he (and probably other Republicans) could shoot somebody in the middle of the street in broad daylight and followers wouldn't care. They don't care if their side lies, they don't care if they beat up reporters, they don't care if they harass or molest women/girls.

Molesting girls and killing kids is accepted in the US to protect freedoms for everyone.

[mckerney]

When you're attacking FBI agents because you're under criminal investigation, you're losing https://t.co/SIoAxatCjp

— Sarah Sanders (@SarahHuckabee) November 3, 2016

[Ben E Lou]

Having grown up and gone to school less than 10 minutes from Alabama, it's not surprising that my social media contacts contain a fair number of people who live there. In the last couple of weeks, I've endeavored to engage (mostly privately) with old friends who are current Alabamians. There's not a consensus among conservatives that I know there. They range from holding their noses and voting Jones to voting Moore enthusiastically, and everything in between. That said, one common theme definitely has emerged among the ones who say they intend to vote for Moore despite thinking that there's at least *something* to the charges. This sentiment was best expressed in two sentences in an email that I received overnight from a friend who is the father of two teenage daughters.

"It's quite possible that he's a child molester, and there's no way I want him anywhere near {daughters' names}, but we're not hiring a babysitter. We're hiring someone to wage political war against our enemies on the left, and there's no question that he's the best candidate for that job."

This is where we are.

[Ben E Lou]

Hmmmm...when the President's lawyer is saying that the President cannot obstruct justice, I'm guessing that's an admission that if it were anyone else, it'd be obstructing justice.

Exclusive: Trump lawyer claims the "President cannot obstruct justice" - Axios

[bob]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michael.../#3a16282832ba

I find this argument to be laughable as household actually do pay down their debt by making mortgage and other loan payments, but this does bring up another question - when does the federal debit become a problem?

[corbes]

Another way of putting it: Nixon's only error was admitting defeat.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by bob

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michael.../#3a16282832ba

I find this argument to be laughable as household actually do pay down their debt by making mortgage and other loan payments, but this does bring up another question - when does the federal debit become a problem?

For current policy makers, it doesn't. Not as long as GDP keeps growing and even if it doesn't as long as there's some other way to rationalize it, they'll just keep letting it ride. Hey, they'll be dead long before any of this really matters to them.

[Shkspr]

Originally Posted by Ben E Lou

Hmmmm...when the President's lawyer is saying that the President cannot obstruct justice, I'm guessing that's an admission that if it were anyone else, it'd be obstructing justice.

Exclusive: Trump lawyer claims the "President cannot obstruct justice" - Axios

The problem with this view, of course, is that the President can ABSOLUTELY obstruct justice, because the concept of Presidential infallibility implies a form of Divine Right that is not inherent in the American political tradition. The man isn't a King; he's simply the guy we hired to see to it that the REAL infallible part of American democracy, the Constitution, is followed. The President can only be incapable of obstructing Justice when his actions are in service to the document. If he is obfuscating the attempt to determine whether his administration's actions undermine the Constitution, then you can't consider that anything BUT obstruction.

[mckerney]

Senate GOP Accidentally Killed All Corporate Tax Deductions

This screwup — like most of the tax plan’s oddest features — was born of a math problem. Due to arcane Senate rules, the Trump tax cuts can only add $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. Last Thursday, the Senate tax bill already cost about that sum, and then McConnell started making expensive promises to his few holdouts. Susan Collins wanted a $10,000 property tax deduction for Americans in high-tax states; Ron Johnson wanted a 23 percent business-income deduction for the company that his family owns. This left the Senate Majority Leader searching under the tax code’s couch cushions for new sources of revenue.

Eventually, he came upon the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT). At present, most corporations face a 35 percent (statutory) rate on their income. But by availing themselves of various tax credits and deductions, most companies can get their actual rates down far below that figure. To put a limit on just how far, the corporate AMT prevents companies from paying any less than 20 percent on their profits (or, more precisely, on the profits that they fail to hide overseas).

The GOP had originally intended to abolish the AMT. But on Friday, with the clock running out — and money running short — Senate Republicans put the AMT back into their bill. Unfortunately for McConnell, they forgot to lower the AMT after doing so.

This is a big problem. The Senate bill brings the normal corporate rate down to 20 percent — while leaving the alternative minimum rate at … 20 percent. The legislation would still allow corporations to claim a wide variety of tax credits and deductions — it just renders all them completely worthless. Companies can either take no deductions, and pay a 20 percent rate — or take lots of deductions … and pay a 20 percent rate.

With this blunder, Senate Republicans have achieved the unthinkable: They’ve written a giant corporate tax cut that many of their corporate donors do not like.

McConnell’s mistake has two big implications. First and foremost, it means the Senate will almost certainly have to vote on a tax bill again before one goes into law. Previously, it looked as though Paul Ryan had enough votes in the House to pass the Senate bill as is. This took pressure off the party’s conference committee (the House and Senate leaders tasked with reconciling each chamber’s bills). Worst-case scenario, the House could just rubber-stamp the Senate’s work. Now, that option is deeply undesirable. It remains overwhelmingly likely that Republicans will pass a giant tax cut. But their task is now a bit more difficult.

The second implication is that McConnell is going to need new revenue. In all probability, Republicans are going to drop the alternative-minimum tax rate well below 20 percent. That will put the bill’s price tag over $1.5 trillion. Right now, some of the House’s most heinous revenue raisers — including the infamous tax on graduate student tuition — are not in the Senate bill. Chances are now somewhat higher that these odious provisions will make it into the final legislation, as Republicans will once again be desperate for pay-fors. That said, it’s also possible that the GOP will simply revise their bill’s corporate rate up to 22 percent, now that President Trump has given the party permission to do so.

[RainMaker]

It would appear KT McFarland committed perjury.

McFarland Contradicted Herself on Russia Contacts, Congressional Testimony Shows - The New York Times

[NobodyHere]

Manafort worked on op-ed with Russian while out on bail, prosecutors say

[Thomkal]

Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli capital | TheHill

Because we want, you know, more unrest in the Middle-East than there already was.

[Shkspr]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Trump to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli capital | TheHill

Because we want, you know, more unrest in the Middle-East than there already was.

On the bright side, the knowledge that Trump is calling Jerusalem the capital of Israel should be enough to unify the rest of the world in the belief that it isn't.

[JPhillips]

This attack on Romney by Steve Bannon is really ugly:

“You hid behind your religion. You went to France to be a missionary while guys were dying in rice paddies in Vietnam. Do not talk to me about honor and integrity,”

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

This attack on Romney by Steve Bannon is really ugly:

But his former boss... deferments...okay.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

But his former boss... deferments...okay.

Those heel spurs are nothing to mess around with. Trunp is lucky that he can still golf 5 days a week.

[Edward64]

Not sure what to think about recognizing Jerusalem. Its not as if anything is happening right now anyway but is definitely dangerous ... this may change the calculus, spur more talks (after the initial intifada-like reactions) or blow things up long-term.

The so-called ISIL caliphate has been cowed, we are much less beholden to ME oil, and some Arab countries are probably more concerned about the SA-Iran power struggle. All makes for a very interesting dynamic.

[whomario]

The issue isn't really recognizing it as the capital, the issue is that there is zero chance he is doing it for the right reasons and not as some sort of demented powerplay (towards other countries), political statement against the arab world and as a showboating move.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Not sure what to think about recognizing Jerusalem. Its not as if anything is happening right now anyway but is definitely dangerous ... this may change the calculus, spur more talks (after the initial intifada-like reactions) or blow things up long-term.

Don't forget about blowing things (and people) up short term.

[Ryche]

Funny how we demand something from countries for everything else but we're giving this to Israel for nothing. America first...after Israel.

[Groundhog]

Israel have a whole lot of leverage, being located where they are.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Ryche

Funny how we demand something from countries for everything else but we're giving this to Israel for nothing. America first...after Israel.

so much for being a great deal maker.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Ryche

Funny how we demand something from countries for everything else but we're giving this to Israel for nothing. America first...after Israel.

To be fair, we also don't demand anything from Russia.

[mckerney]

Wonder how this is gonna go pic.twitter.com/HtX5uwTWzc

— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) December 6, 2017

[BBT]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...=.73b3cca2ba8f

As President Trump delivered his inaugural address on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in January , his new national security adviser, Michael Flynn, sent a text to a former business associate telling him that a plan to build nuclear power plants in the Middle East in partnership with Russian interests was “good to go,” according to a witness who spoke with congressional investigators.

Flynn had assured his former associate that U.S. sanctions against Russia would immediately be “ripped up” by the Trump administration, a move that would help facilitate the deal, the associate told the witness.

Drain the swamp?

[Logan]

What a deal for Russia. Either they get everything they wanted from Trump or they end up having us look like complete idiots to the rest of the world while not-so-slowly destroying us from within.

[Marc Vaughan]

Originally Posted by BBT

Drain the swamp?

You appear to be misunderstanding what that term means ... it was first thought to mean 'remove money from politics' or 'remove corporate interests from politics' ...

But what it means to the right is 'removing any left wing influence from politics' - as far as I can see most right wing people on Fox don't care about Russian influence, Corporate influence or billionaires milking the system ... so long as anything associated with the Democrats is destroyed.

[Fidatelo]

Originally Posted by Logan

What a deal for Russia. Either they get everything they wanted from Trump or they end up having us look like complete idiots to the rest of the world while not-so-slowly destroying us from within.

In the end it might be both.