State of the Union

[tribe_pride]

Presidents don't usually act this smug and put others down like this during the SOTU, do they?

[93henfan]

Christ, is it over yet? Pelosi is snoring and her PoliGrip has worn off.

That was one hell of a long winded marathon with some nuggets but lots of meaningless rah-rah. Did you see Harry Reid yawning in the first ten minutes?

I did see the Reid yawn. Perfect timing.

[93henfan]

Two quick random observations from this evening:

During the Republican response, I saw an Army enlisted soldier placed strategically behind the VA Governor and enthusiastically cheering his every word. I was intrigued by this. When I was in the military we were instructed that we were never to attend a political function in uniform unless it was our appointed duty (such as the Joint Chiefs at the actual SOTU or a large gathering of military on a base during a Presidential visit). I'm not sure if that soldier should have been there in uniform for a partisan response.

David Axelrod: Dude, when you have one lonely patch of hair on your forehead, surrounded by a sea of bald scalp, DO NOT grow it out and attempt a comb-over. You look like a fucking used car salesman.

[Mountaineer]

During the Republican response, I saw an Army enlisted soldier placed strategically behind the VA Governor and enthusiastically cheering his every word..

There was actually a little republican diversity square around the governor. Military guy (bottom left), black chick (top left), asian dude (top right), white woman (bottom right). I laughed immediately.

[93henfan]

There was actually a little republican diversity square around the governor. Military guy (bottom left), black chick (top left), asian dude (top right), white woman (bottom right). I laughed immediately.

I would have so hit that.

[TheDancinMonarch]

I didn't know small business paid capital gains taxes. Do they for real?

If they sell capital assets then yes, they pay capital gains tax just like the rest of us.

Also, so many small businesses in the US are LLC's now, which are disregarded for Federal Income tax purposes. So their owners pay personal income tax on the business earnings, which does include capital gains tax.

Real small business tax reform needs to come in the form of personal income tax reform and it needs to start on the state level in a lot of states.

I guess I asked the wrong question. How many small businesses have capital assets to sell? I'm not selling the land my business is on. My equipment depreciates. My point is, it sounds good but in practical reality is there any positive effect for small business?

[native]

Two quick random observations from this evening:

During the Republican response, I saw an Army enlisted soldier placed strategically behind the VA Governor and enthusiastically cheering his every word. I was intrigued by this. When I was in the military we were instructed that we were never to attend a political function in uniform unless it was our appointed duty (such as the Joint Chiefs at the actual SOTU or a large gathering of military on a base during a Presidential visit). I'm not sure if that soldier should have been there in uniform for a partisan response.

David Axelrod: Dude, when you have one lonely patch of hair on your forehead, surrounded by a sea of bald scalp, DO NOT grow it out and attempt a comb-over. You look like a **** used car salesman.

Probably National Guard from the State of Virginia. In this case the governor would be his commander, and it is probably OK for him to be there.

Somewhat similar to the JCS sitting in the front row for the President.

[BDKJMU]

Christ, is it over yet? Pelosi is snoring and her PoliGrip has worn off.

That was one hell of a long winded marathon with some nuggets but lots of meaningless rah-rah. Did you see Harry Reid yawning in the first ten minutes?

Like I said earlier:

Convention speeches, Inauguration speeches, SOTUs, I never watch them anymore, Conk or Donk. Haven't in years. All they are is generalities, platitudes, fluff, hot air, etc. I want specifics and details. And you won't get it from these staged dog and pony shows, so why watch? Its a waste of time. Save yourself some time and just read about the highlights later.

So I assume I didn't miss much??

[kalm]

Actions speak louder than words.

[ngineer]

Actually, I liked the shot he took at the Supreme Court sitting there in front of him regarding the recent ruling allow unlimited corporate and union purchasing media time to support or oppose candidates, stressing the concern of foreign corporations/governments being able to now influence elections.

[kalm]

Actually, I liked the shot he took at the Supreme Court sitting there in front of him regarding the recent ruling allow unlimited corporate and union purchasing media time to support or oppose candidates, stressing the concern of foreign corporations/governments being able to now influence elections.

Yeah the camera shot of the judges was timely, although I don't think they ever show much reaction.

There were many reasons, as always, to give a few harumphs, but like I said; actions speak louder than words.

We shall see.

[Mountaineer]

I would have so hit that.

She might be down as it doesn't look like the governor is doing it for her.

[93henfan]

I would have so hit that.

She might be down as it doesn't look like the governor is doing it for her.

You're right though about the "diversity square". How much do you want to bet that the soldier is hispanic?

[SeattleGriz]

During the Republican response, I saw an Army enlisted soldier placed strategically behind the VA Governor and enthusiastically cheering his every word..

There was actually a little republican diversity square around the governor. Military guy (bottom left), black chick (top left), asian dude (top right), white woman (bottom right). I laughed immediately.

Same here! I immediately pointed that out to my wife.

[native]

There was actually a little republican diversity square around the governor. Military guy (bottom left), black chick (top left), asian dude (top right), white woman (bottom right). I laughed immediately.

Same here! I immediately pointed that out to my wife.

Humans are still visual creatures. The symbol of diversity is not without meaning or substance. It is and should be important, not just to the governor but to his entire constituency.

I am not the biggest fan of faux diversity programs, but sometimes form follows function, and sometimes function follows form. In my view it's a win-win.

[Baldy]

I have NEVER heard a president speak who SO hates business in America.

It is truly frightening to listen to this guy speak.

WTF? Eliminating capital gains taxes for small businesses means he hates them?

That's what so hilarious. It sounds great, it even got a nice hurrah from the Donk side, and I guess that tells you how stupid they really are because you will be hard pressed to find that maybe 0.1% of small businesses actually have capital gains in which they will be required to pay taxes.

[travelinman67]

If they sell capital assets then yes, they pay capital gains tax just like the rest of us.

Also, so many small businesses in the US are LLC's now, which are disregarded for Federal Income tax purposes. So their owners pay personal income tax on the business earnings, which does include capital gains tax.

Real small business tax reform needs to come in the form of personal income tax reform and it needs to start on the state level in a lot of states.

I guess I asked the wrong question. How many small businesses have capital assets to sell? I'm not selling the land my business is on. My equipment depreciates. My point is, it sounds good but in practical reality is there any positive effect for small business?

With so many businesses going under, I'd suspect quite a few would be subject to CG. More importantly, however, is why Obama would give a friggin f*** if Joe Small Business either liquidates fixed assets or goes under and pays CG on the sell off.

...chew on this...

...a friend of mine who works for a large U.S. construction firm doing new and retrofit construction for large franchises and branch corporations (has done Starbucks, Chase, WF, fast-food outlets, etc...) due to the shutdown of new and retrofits, has taken on the task of traveling around to the avalanche of recently closed franchise/branch locations to appraise/estimate what remains for corporate assessment. The inventories he's handled are in the high hundreds of millions, just in the western states.

Add to that all the business closures in the manufacturing sector...and the "off-the-charts" volume of unmarketable commercial real estate held in trusts, LLP, LLC's etc...

I.e., I could definitely see a CG break benefiting the larger corporations who are looking to unload huge portfolios of fixed assets.

The "small business" label is just to appease the populist political winds.

[Ibanez]

Saw the Drudge headline that Hilliary was a no sh ow and therefore, up to something. Was it not her turn to be absent?

[89Hen]

There was actually a little republican diversity square around the governor. Military guy (bottom left), black chick (top left), asian dude (top right), white woman (bottom right). I laughed immediately.

Same here! I immediately pointed that out to my wife.

Ditto, but on the feed I was watching you could only see the two in the top row. I said "What are the chances the two people you can see are a black woman and an asian man"


BTW, I thought the SOTU address is supposed to be live?

[Gil Dobie]

Presidents don't usually act this smug and put others down like this during the SOTU, do they?

I agree, he's trying to make his candle shine brighter by blowing someone else's out.

[Ibanez]

Presidents don't usually act this smug and put others down like this during the SOTU, do they?

I agree, he's trying to make his candle shine brighter by blowing someone else's out.

He was right to call out the SOTU. They sold us out and gave us no p ower.

[Ivytalk]

I didn't know small business paid capital gains taxes. Do they for real?

If they sell capital assets then yes, they pay capital gains tax just like the rest of us.

Also, so many small businesses in the US are LLC's now, which are disregarded for Federal Income tax purposes. So their owners pay personal income tax on the business earnings, which does include capital gains tax.

Real small business tax reform needs to come in the form of personal income tax reform and it needs to start on the state level in a lot of states.

Invoice to: The Dancin Monarch
From: danefan
Re; Tax Advice
Amount Due: $250.00

[mcveyrl]

If they sell capital assets then yes, they pay capital gains tax just like the rest of us.

Also, so many small businesses in the US are LLC's now, which are disregarded for Federal Income tax purposes. So their owners pay personal income tax on the business earnings, which does include capital gains tax.

Real small business tax reform needs to come in the form of personal income tax reform and it needs to start on the state level in a lot of states.

Invoice to: The Dancin Monarch
From: danefan
Re; Tax Advice
Amount Due: $250.00

I'm not sure if you're going flat rate or not, that's probably about a .5 for danefan.

[ysubigred]

I have NEVER heard a president speak who SO hates business in America.

It is truly frightening to listen to this guy speak.

After watching the History Channel yesterday; could he (O~bin~ladden~obama) be the 3rd anti-Christ Nostrodamus was speaking of

[danefan]

If they sell capital assets then yes, they pay capital gains tax just like the rest of us.

Also, so many small businesses in the US are LLC's now, which are disregarded for Federal Income tax purposes. So their owners pay personal income tax on the business earnings, which does include capital gains tax.

Real small business tax reform needs to come in the form of personal income tax reform and it needs to start on the state level in a lot of states.

I guess I asked the wrong question. How many small businesses have capital assets to sell? I'm not selling the land my business is on. My equipment depreciates. My point is, it sounds good but in practical reality is there any positive effect for small business?

Yeah, probably limited actual capital gains in small businesses but moreso nowadays with pre-bankruptcy liquidations and winding ups.

So I agree, as others have said - not a huge impact on small businesses.