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Jobs Report Day turned out to be confusing rather than crazy. But the news and political talk didn’t take an early weekend break:
* Responding to baiting from Harry Reid, Romney says he paid “a lot of taxes” in non-disclosed reports. Next question for Mitt: bigger than a breadbox, smaller than a Buick?
* Check out Jasmine Beach-Ferrara’s fine analysis of the fight for marriage equality in the South.
* Federal judge blocks big chunks of new Texas GOP voter registration law aimed at inhibiting organized registration drives.
* At Ten Miles Square, Michael Kinsley notes that flip side of Romney complaints about Obama’s alleged insults to the “successful” is that Mitt may be accusing the unsuccessful of being lazy or stupid.
* At College Guide, Daniel Luzer has some fun with USC’s new Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.
And in non-political news:
* Speaking of Ah-nold: Critic opines that compared to the new remake of Total Recall, “the original is Citizen Kane.”
So a bicoastal week for me comes to a merciful end. Kathleen Geier will be back for Weekend Blogging. I trust her many fans will welcome her with attention, “Likes” and comments.
Selah.
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Mitch on August 03, 2012 6:10 PM:
So Romney paid "a lot of taxes" did he?
Did he lose a full third of his income on taxes? Because that's how much we working stiffs pay.
I'm sorry that his likely 14% average is too much for him. Perhaps he can find consolation in the fact that his wife's horses give his family considerably more money that my entirely salary, and FAR more money than the median American income.
Solid Sid on August 03, 2012 6:18 PM:
Mitt's intransigence about not disclosing his taxes might not be that there is something to hide....it might be the CEO/king/ruler mentality that underlings/serfs/peasants/ordinary people do not need to know or have the ability to understand what the CEO/king/ruler knows...
Us ordinary people should only praise his success...not question his motives or actions.
I have another question for Mitt: if you are elected President, will you disclose your income taxes then?
Well, Mitt, after November when Obama exceeds 300 electoral votes, you will never have to worry about disclosing you tax returns
FriscoSF on August 03, 2012 7:33 PM:
Keep it up, Harry !!
Thank you
Are all the other Senate Democrats asleep ?
WHY doesn't someone else mention Romney's taxes ??
mb on August 03, 2012 10:57 PM:
Giving Romney the benefit of the doubt that this denial is not an outright, baldfaced lie, I think Romney may be playing a game with the term "taxes." I'm sure Romney paid a (not so) small fortune in property taxes and sales taxes over the past decade. Thus he can, with some veracity, claim that he has, indeed, paid "taxes" contrary to what that mean ol' Harry Reid is saying (bless his heart.)
IDTT on August 04, 2012 7:42 AM:
When he was on Sean Hannity's show and he told Harry Reid to "put up or shut up" I wondered if that was his Gary Hart "follow me if you want to moment".
kevo on August 04, 2012 8:24 AM:
Yeah, Mitt Romney has paid lots of taxes, as Sarah Palin reads all the magazines and newspapers she can get her hands on!
Harry Reid is not my favorite elected character in DC, but it is not he who must put up or shut up this time Mitt - that's your turn!
Show us your tax returns Mitt! -Kevo
Marc on August 04, 2012 9:40 AM:
Mitt flip on tax returns on Rachel Maddow's show:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/
I am reminded of Ben & Jerry's bumper sticker path to fame. To paraphrase; "What is the Mitt Afraid Of"
jpeckjr on August 04, 2012 10:38 AM:
Two thoughts on Mr. Romney's taxes.
One: I continue to believe the problem is not with what he paid in taxes but with his contributions to the LDS church. If he failed to pay the 10% tithe the church requires to be a member in good standing, he would be subject to church discipline and the public embarrassment of not being as good a Mormon as he wants us to believe. On the other hand, if he paid the 10% on his pretax income, it would be a huge amount of money to a church many Americans are uncomfortable with.
Two: What will Mr. Romney do and say if Mr. Reid "puts up?" If the anonymous source goes public, with evidence?
N.Wells on August 04, 2012 7:00 PM:
I've no doubt that Mitt has paid lots of taxes: property taxes, gas taxes for his wife's couple of Cadillacs, sales taxes, $30,000 sales taxes on his $500,000 horse alone, long-distance phone taxes for checking on his bank accounts, airport taxes, etc., etc. However, federal income taxes? - well, probably not so much.
I hope Reid keeps pushing him on this.