Налоговая реформа

Какая-то комедия с перекидачками.

Коркер, единственный сенатор-республиканец, проголосовавший против проекта налоговой реформы в Сенате, теперь собирается голосовать за согласованный с нижней палатой проект закона.

Тут же выяснилось, что в проект налоговой реформы было внесено изменение, которое весьма выгодно лично Коркеру. Естественно, публика объясняет изменение позиции Коркера именно этим -- #CorkerKickBack .

Реакция Коркера -- я вообще не знал об этом изменении.

Bob Corker says he didn’t know tax bill included provision that may help his real estate biz

Sen. Bob Corker said his sudden switch from a no vote to a yes vote on the GOP tax bill had nothing to do with a last-minute provision that could benefit his real estate empire.

Just days ago, the Tennessee Republican was the only senator in his party to vote against the bill when it passed in a 2 a.m. session in early December.

But Corker says he has since seen the light.

“I know every bill we consider is imperfect, and the question becomes is our country better off with or without this piece of legislation,” Corker said in his statement. “I think we are better off with it. I realize this is a bet on our country’s enterprising spirit, and that is a bet I am willing to make.”

Corker also insisted his bet is not based on a provision that would put more money in his pocket by cutting taxes on income from real estate-affiliated limited liability corporations.

Corker made $7 million from such companies in 2016, according to records obtained by the International Business Times.

President Trump made between $41 million and $68 million of the same kind of income, the report said.

But the senator denied any knowledge of the so-called “Corker kickback.”

Corker said he hadn’t even read most of the bill.

“I had like a two-page summary I went through with leadership,” Corker told the International Business Times. “I never saw the actual text.”

“I don’t really know what the provision does, to be honest,” Corker told the publication. “I would need an accountant to explain it. I had no knowledge of this.”

Пара комментариев из Твиттера.

“I can’t have had corrupt motives to vote for the tax bill — I didn’t even read it and had no idea what it said”

— Subscribe to My Newsletter (@mattyglesias) December 18, 2017

I'm not sure that saying "none of us have read or understand this provision in the tax bill that seems to make us all much richer" is as exculpatory as Republicans seem to think.

— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) December 18, 2017

Про инопланетян

NYT опубликовали какой-то bombshell report про НЛО.

Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program

Первая подсказка, которую Гугл сейчас выдает, когда в него вводишь "nyt", -- это "ufo".

Кто-то читал эту статью, вообще? Я думаю прочитать, но еще не читал.

(no subject)

Tom Nichols пишет:

Let's play Alternate Universe.

It's 2017, and President Hillary Clinton is facing charges that Chelsea met with Russians who offered oppo on Trump. Chelsea didn't call the FBI; and Clinton nat sec adviser Jake Sullivan lied to the FBI about talking to the Russians.

Sullivan is perp-walked into Federal court and pleads to a felony. Chelsea spends hours with congressional investigators and then mugs for the cameras with a cake that looks like Trump.

Meanwhile, Hillary, who has shady ties through various organizations to tons of Russian money and mobsters, refuses to release her tax records and refers to "existential" threats to her presidency from the crooked FBI.

In fact, in her first year in office, Hillary asks the FBI director to "let it go" on Jake Sullivan, and when he doesn't, she fires him. Deputy AG Sally Yates appoints an SC, a lifelong Dem. Hillary mulls firing him.

Then, at least three other Clinton campaign officials end up indicted. All of them are tied in some way to a hostile foreign power. Robby Mook is confined to his home with an ankle monitor.

As the 2018 midterms approach, Hillary publicly mentions how the FCC should crack down on broadcasters who lie, and maybe yank FOX's license. She also notes her warm relations with Nicholas Maduro and calls him to say hi.

I'm sure... totally sure... that stalwarts of the GOP would say: Look, this is a nothingburger, you can't define "collusion," it's just "the coffee boy," and on and on.

Let's cut the nonsense. The GOP would be in full impeachment mode, even without the completion of the special counsel investigation. This is not a partisan point; it's a common-sense point.

I don't mind having arguments, but I'd prefer to keep them here on Planet Earth.