Wednesday: January 6, 2010
A few things I found interesting at the mid-to-late afternoon mark of the day
* Does Newt Gingrich Speak for Either Republicans or Tea Partiers?
Reason's Matt Welsh: "If the former, I hope the wilderness gets even colder. If the latter, it's a matter of time before the currently popular governance-less anti-big-government movement fractures along some of the same idiot lines that helped shrink and divide the GOP coalition in the first place.[...] Most likely, Newt Gingrich speaks just for Newt Gingrich."
* Deep secrets of economic growth
In an excellent editorial on December 4, Investor's Business Daily reported that Chile was expected to win entry to OECD's club of developed countries by December 15 -- "a great affirmation for a once-poor nation that pulled itself up by trusting markets." (The OECD followed up as expected on December 15.)
More at The Internet: A Few Interesting Items from Afternoon Surfing
* Obama's C-Span Problem
Today, when asked for the 3rd time whether President Obama believes that the "standard" he set during the campaign for transparency on health care negotiations is being met by the current process (which now appears to include bypassing the formal conference process), White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs gave a flaccid but telling response.
"Flaccid but telling response" = "dodging like Neo in The Matrix".
* Congress Tinkers with Tax Withholding Tables for 2010
The trick, when looking at the new withholding tax tables for 2010 as compared to post-stimulus 2009, buries an increase in federal withholding taxes–for all income categories–basically giving the government an interest-free loan until current year taxes are filed next year. Some would blame the increase in withholding on the Making Work Pay tax credit being spread out over 12 months as compared to 2009, which was only over 9 months, but this would be impossible as some middle class wage categories carry an increase in the withholding tax of over $200 per pay period.
Unlike the middle class wage earners, who are going to see huge amounts taken out of their paychecks, unless they increase their exemptions on their W4 form, it’s an increase that most wouldn’t even notice–$10 or $20 in some cases. Here are some of the “highlights” of the new 2010 withholding tables:
Bastards.
* Andrew Breitbart's Big Journalism is up and running. Good.
by Mondo Frazier
image: babble