Political & Elections

The fact is the BNs did not request the tax break that was done by the developers and as stated in the article they get the cut for building low income housing, but are not required to use the break at that property. Building low income housing usually results in lower to no profits in this current economy, thus it was a win-win all the way around for everyone.

Developer built low income housing which helped these buyers.
Developer took those breaks and used it to motivate high income buyers to purchase, which helps the economy, thus employs people.
Developer made a profit, and was able to employ people instead of laying off people.

You only are looking at what the BNs are getting out of it, not what everyone else. Let's be honest if that loophole of the 421-a didn't exist do you think developers would be looking at building low income housing? They still would have built the One57, and people would have still purchased, probably at a lower cost, but what about those low income houses buyers, would they have a new home too at a lower price? Do you think they are spitting nails at those dang One57 owners for getting the tax cut and not them? Probably not because they realize without those homes they wouldn't have a new home at that price either.

At least for me I wouldn't care at all. Good on them they can spend 90M on a home, I am not going to be angry at them or the developer. If you want to have an issue with this, it really is the govt and the regulations they put into place. Govt. not the BNs.

I really feel sorry for those billionaires: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/billionaires-low-income-tax-breaks-194500791.html;_ylt=Apc5T1dUBikEK3jKnTTPftqiuYdG;_ylu=X3oDMTQ4NmlyMWE1BG1pdANDTkJDIFRvcCBTdG9yaWVzBHBrZwMzM2ExNWMyOC03NWJjLTNkZGItYWZlMy04ZmUyZDI3YmRkMzMEcG9zAzEEc2VjA01lZGlhQkxpc3RNaXhlZExQQ0FUZW1wBHZlcgNhZWU4NmVhYS0xMzE3LTExZTItODM2Zi1hNzVkNGY4Mzk4OWY-;_ylg=X3oDMTFpNzk0NjhtBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

Putin’s comments reinforce the serious policy implications that come along with Romney’s bombastic rhetoric. Although his stance on Russia has primarily been met with mockery — as when Senator John Kerry joked at the Democratic Convention that “Mitt Romney talks like he’s only seen Russia by watching Rocky IV” — nuclear security is clearly no laughing matter. That Romney has managed to damage U.S.-Russian relations without even holding a government job should be filed along with his bungled response to the current crisis in Libya and his reckless remarks in Jerusalem over the summer as reasons to seriously doubt his capacity to manage American foreign policy.

Let me get this right, I should think Putin is to be respected as a democratic leader? A guy who has tweaked the system to never leave Russia in the context of political leadership?
A guy who is in talks with Chavez and Castro for military exercises in their region?
A guy who gives Ahlmendijad a pass, and questions exist if Russia has an oil deal with Iran?

I guess if I did feel this way and lived in my USA bubble, Putin is not a threat.

Criticizing MR's "bungled" response for Libya on a score of 1 to 10 compared to our President's cabinets "bungled" actions is what?

MR is a candidate BO is our President. We have UN ambassador Susan Rice saying it was a film that caused the attack in Libya. We have diaries, personnel stating it was planned. The only apparent aspect that American voters can agree on is one thing...our President has been silent on this matter and would rather talk about Big Bird.

Seriously, this is what his team is suggesting him to talk about for his stump speech? Even sadder is his campaign people made an ad for him regarding Big Bird, and Sesame Street is asking him to remove it. How many millions of dollars did that cost his campaign? Did nobody on his staff understand it is an NPO and they would ask for it to be removed because it is an NPO?
~~~ JMPO that ad hurt them more, because they asked the Obama campaign to remove it.

When a President can only get MSM bites about him talking about Big Bird and not the issues than you have to realize the rest of his stump speech nothing in that speech was worth the 30 secs. He didn't offer any ideas that would have slammed MR politically.

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked Mitt Romney earlier this week for labeling Russia as America’s “number one geopolitical foe,” explaining that Romney’s position has helped to justify Russia’s strong opposition to a NATO missile defense shield in Eastern Europe.

“I’m grateful to [Romney] for formulating his stance so clearly because he has once again proven the correctness of our approach to missile defense problems,” Putin told reporters, according to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Russia has long opposed NATO’s plans to build a ballistic missile defense shield, which would theoretically be able to destroy incoming Russian warheads over all of Europe by 2018, and over the United States as well by 2022. According to Putin, this would irrevocably damage Russia’s nuclear deterrent. An interim version of the shield has been up and running since May.

The United States has claimed that the shield is not meant for use against Russia, but to protect from rogue states such as Iran. Russia has demanded that the United States back up that claim with a legally binding treaty. In May, Russia’s top military official went as far as to threaten a pre-emptive military strike if NATO doesn’t alter its plans.

Although Putin has called President Obama “a very honest man” who is “quite sincere” in his willingness to negotiate with Russia over the issue, he believes that Romney’s aggressive stance vindicates Russia’s refusal to compromise on missile defense.

“The most important thing for us is that even if [Romney] doesn’t win now, he or a person with similar views may come to power in four years. We must take that into consideration while dealing with security issues for a long perspective,” Putin said.

Putin’s comments reinforce the serious policy implications that come along with Romney’s bombastic rhetoric. Although his stance on Russia has primarily been met with mockery — as when Senator John Kerry joked at the Democratic Convention that “Mitt Romney talks like he’s only seen Russia by watching Rocky IV” — nuclear security is clearly no laughing matter. That Romney has managed to damage U.S.-Russian relations without even holding a government job should be filed along with his bungled response to the current crisis in Libya and his reckless remarks in Jerusalem over the summer as reasons to seriously doubt his capacity to manage American foreign policy.

It is far more typical for men to become LDS missionaries, although some women do a service mission. The LDS families I know have all sent their sons. They typically break from college and then go back after their two year service. It can be very expensive for these families who are already tithing 10% of income. One of my friends sent twin boys to South America - cost them something like $8000 for both, before other incidental expenses. They still had a daughter in college but they budget for these emergencies. They are very, very good at this, as a rule. If you have friends who are LDS casually ask them abouth their emergency survival plans. They may not be thinking Zombie Apocolypse, but they probably have a year of food stored in case their family falls on hard times. They also probably have kids that are hard working and good in school, too. I have known other families who have lost jobs and the church was great about helping the, get on their feet without long term dependence. You might think their religion is whackadoodle - but I would trust a Mormon to figure out a solution for what ails our government in terms of managing the country's checkbook, every time. Mitt Romney is no exception.

MR could eventually out do PBO.  

-- Edited by longprime on Monday 8th of October 2012 05:12:54 PM

I too wonder what that comment means, the only thing I could think of is the LDS requires church members to tithe their salary to the church where they decide how to spend it on their social programs.

Off topic:
One thing I learned about the LDS due to this election was about the 2 yrs that the Mormons must volunteer at 18 yo. I always thought the church paid for them to do this, but in an interview on tv given by another successful Mormon (Chik-a-Fil ???) they said that the member pays for it in part out of pocket. I.E. why Elizabeth Smart did hers in France, not North Dakota. Her parents are affluent and could afford to send her to France. That was interesting to me.

He is a true LDS.

What are you trying to say longprime?  I don't understand what this is supposed to imply.

You mean like Bloomberg paternalistic? 

Will I lose my soda priveleges if I vote for him?

-- Edited by blankmind on Monday 8th of October 2012 12:25:12 PM

I'll tell you what I think.  I think that Putin and the other Russians are conspiring with Obama to manipulate the polling numbers and the jobs report (only the 7.8% part - not the U6 numbers since only economists look at that) so that Obama can let them take over the country like a good communist.

David Brooks, comments on Romney's 5 points revelled during the debate.

http://www.adn.com/2012/10/05/2651998/david-brooks-return-of-governor.html

My ears perked up when MR said the Rich will pay the same as they are paying now ( Romney asserted, “I cannot reduce the burden paid by high-income Americans.” ... "Closing loopholes and reducing deductions." )  So, if this is true, the Wealthy will pay MORE in taxes while reducing tax rates. Hear It - Read It, and Reap It. I always knew Republicans are for a pretty face rather than for true ideology. 

"Mitt Romney’s Plan for a Stronger Middle Class is a five-part proposal for turning around the economy and delivering more jobs and more take-home pay for American families. While President Obama continues looking to big government spending programs as the solution to the nation’s challenges, Mitt understands that it is hardworking Americans in the private sector who will achieve economic growth and job creation. His plan will end the middle class squeeze of declining incomes and rising prices, bring back prosperity, and create 12 million jobs during his first term.

Part one of Mitt’s plan is to achieve energy independence on this continent by 2020. America is blessed with extraordinary natural resources, and developing them will create millions of good jobs – not only in the energy industry, but also in industries like manufacturing that will benefit from more energy at lower prices. America’s economy will boom when the billions of dollars we send overseas for our oil are kept here at home instead.

Part two of the plan is trade that works for America. Mitt believes that trade can offer enormous opportunities for American businesses and workers, but only if they are given a level playing field on which they can compete and win. That is why he will work to open new markets for American goods and services, while also confronting nations like China that cheat on trade and steal American jobs.

Part three is to provide Americans with the skills to succeed through better public schools, better access to higher education, and better retraining programs that help to match unemployed workers with real-world job opportunities.

Part four is to cut the deficit, reducing the size of government and getting the national debt under control so that America remains a place where businesses want to open up shop and hire.

Finally, part five of Mitt’s plan is to champion small business. Small businesses are the engine of job creation in this country, but they will struggle to succeed if taxes and regulations are too burdensome or if a government in Washington does its best to stifle them. Mitt will pursue comprehensive tax reform that lowers tax rates for all Americans, and he will cut back on the red tape that drives up costs and discourages hiring.

This election presents a clear choice, and an important one: Will America once again be the best place in the world to start a business, hire a worker, or find a job? Or will it continue down the path that President Obama’s borrowing and taxing and spending has led? America is still waiting for its economic recovery and, as president, Mitt Romney will deliver it."

 

I have only one comment - LOL!!

I do! McCain was/is know for reaching across the aisles, plus he is probably the only Senator that never took a dime for his state. Hard to argue against a President that demands cuts in spending when it comes to pork barrel. I get that pork is a drop in a bucket, but if we add those BNs spent over the last 3 yrs, + interest, the debt would still be in TNs, just maybe a TN or 2 less. We would not be nearing the debt ceiling again.

Remember it was McCain, the military guy that due to costs killed airframes, including the new Marine 1 and AF Heavies.

The only reason I am happy that Obama won over McCain is the repeal of DADT.

Didn't candidate Obama also deliver big promises too?
~Gitmo closed in 100 days...guess my arithmetic is pretty bad, that or my hearing because I think we are over 1000 days
~ Out of Iraq in a yr.

My favorite was 10% cut across the boards within 100 days. The only cabinet member that believed he was serious about the cuts was SOD Gates, the rest didn't take him seriously. The media seemed to ignore his campaign promises. If you recall BO had both houses, MR might be lucky to have 1 house. A lot easier for PBO to keep his campaign promises which he didn't.

Going back to education, the problem with our system is the govt keeps putting their hands into it! Clinton had Goals 2000, Bush had Gateway, Obama has Race to the Top program. MR will have his program. Everytime a new President comes in with their program, schools have to change direction to meet federal standards while they also deal with state standards. A child that entered elementary school in 97 would have had 3 different programs before they graduated HS. OBTW, if you read the newest stats out regarding SAT scores Race to the Top is not helping since the scores have dropped TY for the 1st time in 4 yrs. Most kids take the SAT when they are 16, that means his program because the previous 3 yrs those kids were taught under the Gateway program.

10 will get you 20 one way MR will be able to get to the cap is he will go back to the Clinton/Bush program regarding defense contractors. Obama converted a very large percentage of defense contractor to GS positions. That decision indirectly increased the budget. Placing them back changes spending budgets.

Additionally if they align to the private sector regarding compensation many GS employees will be hired by counterparts for the same job, stay at the same desk, but they will see their benefits change drastically. Bullet as a contractor got 23 days of leave and we were happy with that, as a GS it went up @3 weeks (business days) and received more comp time, plus part of his salary is not taxable as a GS. Although he makes the exact same amount, the govt is better for us financially as employers.

Remember when MR talked about broadening the tax base to increase revenues, this is one way to do it. Bullet and I will see our taxable income go up by a lot just with this switch. You will also see corps paying more taxes because they will have more on their payrolls.

That is of course not taking into the equation of the sequestration issue at hand that has a deadline of Jan. 2, 2013. Love how the media isn't talking about the letter the Obama administration sent out this week. url: http://www.stripes.com/partisan-debate-deepens-over-layoff-notices-before-sequestration-1.192039
The Obama administration is taking criticism from Republican lawmakers for encouraging defense contractors not to give out layoff notices this year to prepare employees for the possibility of massive sequestration-spurred layoffs in January.

Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and EADS North America said this week they wouldn’t be sending out sequestration-related notices after the Office of Management and Budget and the Defense Department released guidance Friday telling contractors it would be unnecessary.

The guidance cited “uncertainty about whether sequestration would take place at all,” and noted that even if sequestration happened, contract changes would not occur immediately. Changes would not come until months after the Jan. 2 enactment of sequestration, which calls for $1.2 trillion in across-the-board automatic cuts, divided between defense and nondefense accounts over 10 years. Under the guidance, the government also assumed liability for compensation and litigation costs related to sudden layoffs.

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act requires employers with 100 or more employees send written notice 60 days before layoffs occur. Failure to notify the employees leaves companies open to lawsuits.

To send notices 60 days before Jan. 2 would lead to employees receiving them just days before the November elections.

People in VA, especially in No VA and Hampton Roads are talking about this, more so than the debate.  This issue is bread and butter to them, it may be the reason why MR is now up in polls.  Texas, Florida, and many jobs in many communities will have this on their mind even if the letters don't go out before election day because they know it will still be coming in a few days.

Have to love Huffington post bloggers.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-greenwald/deadline-looms-congress-n_b_1941205.html

When they get it wrong, they really get it wrong.  Did they forget the fact that because the military is winding down in the conflicts they are bloated and are cutting AD military members?  Or is it they didn't realize that those same people will need to be employed and with a 8.0% unemployment rate there aren't a ton of jobs?

Maybe they just forgot that the plant that produces the paint for the next airframe or carrier is usually in some town somewhere nowhere near K street.  That cut that program and more people will be out of work, just like their defense of why GM or Chrysler needed to be bailed out in their minds.  Same with RE bailouts.

I was for  the bailout because I understood that 1 in 6 jobs are tied to the auto industry.  Before they say kill a defense program I wish they would take the time and go to an airshow or visit the Enterprise.  Look inside the hardware, start counting how many American jobs will be impacted.  They don't outsource this stuff because the companies producing the paint, the computer chips, the fabrics, etc that goes into the classified hardware is vetted for security reasons.

Go for it, believe in what Greenwald is saying, just don't beaach to me when the plant that had a contract to create that shade of paint loses it because the program was killed and had to lay off more people.  Don't beaach to me when that town's Mom and Pop Pizza jt closes where your kid works as a hs student because those employees aren't spending buying pizza from there instead of Red Baron's for 4 bucks.  Don't beaach to me when your housing prices drop because people need to sell their homes.

We talk about a global economy and how it is intertwined, guess what?  So is the military spending! Heck, don't even get me started on the 1st thing to go...ROTC scholarships!  ROTC scholarships are like any other merit scholarship...recruiting the best and the brigtest.  Difference is merit from the college doesn't have a 4 yr payback, ROTC does.  No scholarship to pay for college (MIT, Harvard, Stanford, etc), many would not join.  What does that leave you with?

OH, I remember the same hollow military Ronald Reagan got after Carter!  Clinton even understood the value of the military.  Clinton was the one as a D that did exactly the same thing as RR, spent the money bringing their salaries back up to current standards.  What did we get with Obama? Pay is tied under the COLA. 

Buy what Huffington is selling, but if you do, and you place Clinton as a great President, ask yourself why he chose a opposite path than Obama when it came to this area of spending?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- Edited by pima on Saturday 6th of October 2012 12:01:30 PM

from what little I get, PBO is applying leverage to schools that get government contracts and grants, which usually are colleges that are landgrant, large public reseach, and privates with large graduate. 

the second avenue is to the online/no campus schools with poor records of completion and student loan outcomes. This proposal has some MOC both Republicans and Democrats upset.

Haven't any solutions. But this is a problem of the 47%.  53% don't find it much of a problem 

Congress doesn't have the stuff to solve the 'problem' .  

MR kids went to BYU, tuition free? 

The technicals: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_elasticity_of_demand

-- Edited by longprime on Thursday 4th of October 2012 09:09:25 PM

Correct, pima.

IMO, it is the privates and OSS who are setting the pace for tuition and expense increases. If you see privates colleges reduce their COA's, you will see the cost of publics decrease. 

Our niece is not either of these two avenues. She attends a private college that is accredited.

Our DS graduated last May and he didn't want to walk, he was commissioned AF O1 6 days later that was the big deal to him. He asked me DO I HAVE TO, WHY?

My response, I will give you 135K reasons why! I.E. the cost for 4 yrs.

He attended a public university OOS(nationally ranked top 20 USNWR, Money, Fortune, etc) with the bulk picked up AFROTC and merit, but as a parent when I added the cost that was how much it would have cost as an OOS student.

Our DD's IS tuition for another nationally known public university has gone up 40% since she entered two years ago. I expect when she graduates as an IS student I will have 100K reasons!

DD's school is VT.

http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2011/11/111511-vtf-endowmentaward.html
he Virginia Tech Foundation received the 2011 Award for Excellence for Mid-size Nonprofit of the Year from The Foundation and Endowment Intelligence daily (FEI).

FEI cited an endowment performance over the past several years placing the foundation “solidly in the top quartile of performers” and for having made several tactical moves that earned the endowment a 19.6 percent return for fiscal year 2011....he university’s endowment topped $600 million for the first time this year.

Isn't it sad that as a parent we saw tuition go up again? Even more so as VA residents that pay state taxes, but here on vt.edu they are bragging about an award.  A 20% return to boot on their investment while they increase the cost to attend!

Look, my DD loves VT, and I am a Hokie fan too, but when our President says he will get college costs under control and at the same time criticizes MR for no plans, he needs to tell me how...no more hopey changey thing. Tell me how because I have a freshman in college along with a jr in college.

I have sacrificed buying not just new cars, (5 and 6 yrs old), but even me buying my own new clothes so our kids don't go more in debt. My monthly tuition statement for 2 kids this year Sept-April is 2500 dollars a month. 

Obama tell me how you will make it more affordable...plans, not words. If you can't than don't throw stones at MR when he doesn't give you a plan either! I am not stupid, this is politics.

-- Edited by pima on Thursday 4th of October 2012 07:37:06 PM

longprime,

I agree with you regarding to tuition, but IMPO, the fact is the avg American is stuck on pride and will pay so they can say their child is attending a 4 yr college, be it private, IS or OOS. They need that to validate their worth as parents and colleges know that fact.

My niece attends a no name private college, 43K a yr. SIL brags that according to USNWR it is a top 10 school in the nation. She is right, it is a top 10...for the highest amount of students that do an overseas semester. She forgets that the reason why is it is mandated, 100% of the students go, hence they will be one of the top 10 statistically. Our niece in her 1st semester fall took a class in Chocolate. Honestly, how can a parent think that is worth 43K a yr, unless your child is intending in majoring in food industry, she is not! She is going for Interior or Fashion design, yet to decide.

This is the thing, there are many colleges you can buy an admission to attend.

Obama is selling something to Americans that he can't control. It is like telling Americans he can control the cost when it comes to buying a Suburban SLT over a Cadillac Escalade or GMC Yukon Denali. Same company, car, different price tags. BS flag!

Obama's tag line is still true...he is selling HOPE, not reality.  He is making promises like controlling college education costs he can't fulfill or control. 

Enough with selling HOPE, time to deliver. Obama was lucky last night.  Jim Lehrer didn't ask him about his promises as candidate Obama.

~~~ Gitmo closed ASAP

~~~ 100 days out of Iraq

What did he deliver?  GITMO is still open.  We are still in Iraq and OBTW he did a surge in Afghanistan.

 

I think Romney did well, but I think he could have done better.  I think he should have said... Mr. President you said if unemployment was at this rate 3 yrs later he basically doesn't deserve a 2nd term.  You promised to close Gitmo and leave Iraq.  You are stating I will give 2 BN to the military, how about you fulfill your promises if elected that added to our deficit before you start attacking me?  

 

 

 

 

 

-- Edited by pima on Thursday 4th of October 2012 06:55:41 PM

the Pres and Gov. should MTOB. The free market will put the right amt of pressure in controlling costs. Pells and Stafford and direct loans is the same amt given to students as in 2002. It just costs more today than 10 yrs ago. Public school costs is always the state's problem thus you should blame the voters who vote or not.

Really? 

Which brings me to the next "I am kinda sick about hearing about, EDUCATION."

Kids and colleges have got to change their focus from finding a good job, to making a business. MBA students have got to change their objective from working at a $100,000 job at a Fortune 500, to a starting a business that has a loss of $100,000 in the first 2 years. 

I agree with you geeps, it really showed his need for the teleprompter. Kind of reminded me of Linus and his security blanket.

Am I the only one that noticed how many times he brought up cities in Ohio, i.e. Toledo, Cleveland and Columbus? I thought according to polls he had that state sewn up already. Seriously, when he was talking about automotive jobs in Toledo, I had to stop and think for a minute whether he made a mistake and meant to say Detroit. I than realized that Toledo and auto workers was hitting 2 birds with 1 stone. OH and auto industry.

Did anyone see the interview with Ms. Cutter on CNN afterwards? It was comical how she insulted Jim Lehrer and moderators...comical because guess who the next moderator will be...Candy Crowley from CNN.

I get it she was upset because OMG the media actually said negative things about Obama, especially that he seemed annoyed he had to be at the debate, but come on, attacking the moderator, implying that he couldn't control MR, when in fact O by the clock had 4 more minutes than MR, so the person he couldn't keep control regarding time was her boss!

My favorite line was not the plane and house, but when MR said as President Obama shoved his healthcare program down our throats because he wanted it. I think that resonated with a lot of people because most people felt that way back in 10.

obama really needed his teleprompter...he was unprepared and looked meek