Al Gore: Another guy who’s not ‘patriotic’ by Obama’s standard
Ira Stoll notices a timely little nugget in the New York Times’ story about the sale of Current TV, co-founded by former Vice President Al Gore, to Al Jazeera:
Al Jazeera did not disclose the purchase price, but people with direct knowledge of the deal pegged it at around $500 million, indicating a $100 million payout for Mr. Gore, who owned 20 percent of Current. Mr. Gore and his partners were eager to complete the deal by Dec. 31, lest it be subject to higher tax rates that took effect on Jan. 1, according to several people who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. But the deal was not signed until Wednesday. (emphasis added)
Hmmm. Does this mean Gore is not one of the “well-to-do Americans, patriotic Americans, who,” according to President Obama in a campaign speech back in August, “… are willing to do the right thing, willing to do their part to make this country strong” by paying higher taxes? One of those people who has “made enough money”?
In fact, amid all the stories about companies paying dividends early to help investors avoid higher taxes (such as Costco, which like Current TV was co-founded by a confirmed Democrat) or doing the same with bonuses (such as Goldman Sachs, whose executives famously supported Obama heavily in 2008 before largely abandoning him last year), can anyone find a story about companies or individuals actively taking steps to ensure they do pay higher taxes?
Who are these well-to-do, patriotic people trying to do as Obama wishes? And don’t give me a link to op-eds Warren Buffett has written about the need for wealthy people to pay more taxes. Not when his company has been fighting the IRS about its tax bills — presumably not in an attempt to pay more than the feds are seeking — and recently bought back $1.2 billion worth of its shares to keep a single unnamed investor from having to pay higher tax rates.
Who are these patriotic Americans? If their cause is so good, why haven’t we heard about any of them acting on it rather than just grandstanding about it?
– By Kyle Wingfield
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247 comments Add your comment
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
1:56 pm
“How does that make them different from Fox News ?”
Very much so, if you actually acknowledge that Fox News has opinion and news programs that are quite different in their approach.
But if you cannot face reality, Chessy, you’ll never know the difference.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
1:57 pm
Just showing you that there WERE in fact people on the right who were critical of Bush’s spending.
Yeah, they talked about it in private while spending all their public time defending every little thing the man did.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
1:58 pm
Steve @ 1:21: When did I say anything about terrorism or even Islam? My point is about taxes.
TOTAL BS.
This was all about Al Gore The Democrats and Al Jazeera.
Thats a lot of red meat for the dummies around here and you know they will eat it up.
Period.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
1:59 pm
If you actually acknowledge that Fox News has opinion and news programs
News programs? Name just one. It’s all opinion and talking heads, 24/7.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
1:59 pm
“If you dont know the difference between a handgun and an airplane.”
The only thing I have to know about both (and I’ve handled both in my time – have you, Cheesy?) is that if both are not operated by responsible people, others can be killed by them.
It still all revolves around the people – not the weapon.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:00 pm
joe
January 3rd, 2013
1:42 pm
“We should’t ban guns, we should hate/ban/go to war with Christians!”
Tell me, that black guy, how does someone go about “banning” Christians?
____________________________________________
You would have to ask Finn, those were his words, not mine.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
2:01 pm
Very much so, if you actually acknowledge that Fox News has opinion and news programs that are quite different in their approach.
I dont acknowledge that.
Because they dont. Its all the same opinion show. Just to lesser degrees.
Anyone with an IQ over 80 can see that as well.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:01 pm
Joe.
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
1:10 pm
I guess we could say Adam in Sandy Hook was a christian terrorist/ mass murderer because he is from the US which is primarily christian and, in fact, Adam was known to be a christian himself.
We should’t ban guns, we should hate/ban/go to war with Christians!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
2:02 pm
the 2012 election will be known henceforth as:
“Humiliating Beat Down 2012″
Rather exhilarating because all the Cons were caught completely by surprise because their news channels/outlets told them to expect the exact opposite.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
2:02 pm
The only thing I have to know about both (and I’ve handled both in my time – have you, Cheesy?) is that if both are not operated by responsible people, others can be killed by them.
It still all revolves around the people – not the weapon.
Sigh
If guns made people safe America would be the safest place on the planet.
It isn’t.
Why.
BECAUSE OF ALL THE **** GUNS !!!!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
2:04 pm
How do we ban Christians?
Well, we start by burning their leaders at the stake. The followers will self ban after that.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:04 pm
“News programs? Name just one.”
The Fox Report w/Shepard Smith.
Studio B w/Shepard Smith
America Live w/Meghan Kelly.
America’s News HQ.
Happening Now.
America’s Newsroom.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
2:05 pm
The Fox Report w/Shepard Smith.
Studio B w/Shepard Smith
America Live w/Meghan Kelly.
America’s News HQ.
Happening Now.
America’s Newsroom.
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
2:06 pm
The sole purpose of an airplane isn’t to end life.
And the gun nuts will say the sole purpose of a gun is to shoot bottles and cans out back of the trailer.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:06 pm
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
1:52 pm
those who lecture the rest of us about needing to pay more taxes while going far, far, far out of their way to keep from paying higher taxes themselves.
far, far, far out of their way? Gore wanting to sell in 2012 is far, far, far out of his way?
_______________________________________________
because that was the *ONLY* example that Kyle gave.
From the piece kyle wrote…
“In fact, amid all the stories about companies paying dividends early to help investors avoid higher taxes (such as Costco, which like Current TV was co-founded by a confirmed Democrat) or doing the same with bonuses (such as Goldman Sachs, whose executives famously supported Obama heavily in 2008 before largely abandoning him last year), can anyone find a story about companies or individuals actively taking steps to ensure they do pay higher taxes?
Who are these well-to-do, patriotic people trying to do as Obama wishes? And don’t give me a link to op-eds Warren Buffett has written about the need for wealthy people to pay more taxes. Not when his company has been fighting the IRS about its tax bills — presumably not in an attempt to pay more than the feds are seeking — and recently bought back $1.2 billion worth of its shares to keep a single unnamed investor from having to pay higher tax rates.”
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
2:08 pm
Tib, you watch Regis and Kathie Lee? Is that “news”? When one of more talking heads are discussing current events, it isn’t the same thing as “news.”
People need to be shown some old Walter Cronkite tapes so they will know what “news” is.
Thulsa Doom
January 3rd, 2013
2:08 pm
“Big big difference.”
Spent a lot of time figuring that out did ya?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:08 pm
“If guns made people safe America would be the safest place on the planet.
It isn’t.”
For a country with as much wealth and remaining individual liberty (even if it’s being decreased every day), we are safe. Unfortunately, we also coddle the criminals who prey on our population and allow them to continue their unlawful (as opposed to liberal lawful) attempts to steal what isn’t theirs.
JamVet
January 3rd, 2013
2:09 pm
A beat down. Utter beat down bordering on public flogging. That’s how I would describe election 2012.
Yep. And watching the worst of the worst of them get publicly flogged was the best part. (The pathetic Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan getting stomped was a foregone conclusion.)
Here’s to more Uncle Sam hating, tea flavored, fake conservative success in the next few elections!
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:10 pm
Finn McCool (The System isn’t Broken; It’s Fixed)
January 3rd, 2013
1:57 pm
Just showing you that there WERE in fact people on the right who were critical of Bush’s spending.
Yeah, they talked about it in private while spending all their public time defending every little thing the man did.
_______________________________________
Didn’t bother to click on the link showing all those *private* conversations in newspapers, magazines and TV.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:10 pm
“Tib, you watch Regis and Kathie Lee?”
No.
“Is that “news”?”
No.
This ends the portion of our program called “Short answers to stupid questions”.
Just Saying..
January 3rd, 2013
2:13 pm
“…lapdog hypocrite Obama minion.”
Having adjective withdrawals, Rafe?
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:14 pm
Although, Finn, I have heard that the show is now called “Live with Kelly and Michael”.
Given that Kathie Lee left years ago and Regis recently retired, I figured you know that since you’re such an expert on that type of show.
JDW
January 3rd, 2013
2:15 pm
@Kyle…”My point actually has nothing to do with whether the fiscal cliff deal was good or will reduce deficits. It has to do with the infuriating hypocrisy of those who lecture the rest of us about needing to pay more taxes while going far, far, far out of their way to keep from paying higher taxes themselves. That, and the absolute, willful ignorance of those who cheer them on without acknowledging what’s really happening.”
My point is that you are attempting to hold individuals accountable for actions by organizations with which they are associated but not wholly responsible and with no regard WHATSOEVER for the myriad of issues involved or even knowing if the individuals in question supported those actions or not. You are inferring with no basis.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:18 pm
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
1:58 pm
Steve @ 1:21: When did I say anything about terrorism or even Islam? My point is about taxes.
TOTAL BS.
This was all about Al Gore The Democrats and Al Jazeera.
_______________________
Cheesy, be honest, did you actually READ the piece Kyle wrote?
Al Jazeera in mentioned ONCE.
The piece was about those who champion people paying their “fair share” while going out of their way to avoid paying their “fair share” themselves.
Ok, we both know Mr. Buffett has said over and over that the rich should pay their “fair share”, pay what they owe, pay more. Then he (Berkshire, his company) fights the IRS for YEARS to avoid paying what they owe.
What do you think about Mr. Buffett’s (Berkshire’s) actions?
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
2:24 pm
Cheesy, be honest, did you actually READ the piece Kyle wrote?
Al Jazeera in mentioned ONCE.
The piece was about those who champion people paying their “fair share” while going out of their way to avoid paying their “fair share” themselves.
No it wasn’t. It was about informing his base here that Al Gore was doing business with Muslims.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:25 pm
“You are inferring with no basis.”
Too funny.
Is painting with a broad brush suddenly passe’?
Given that’s all you do, we can only hope . . .
curious
January 3rd, 2013
2:25 pm
Nothing like sources that won’t reveal their identity.
I suspect it was the same crack investigators that Donald Trump had find the true story of Obama’s birth certificate.
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
2:26 pm
“A beat down. Utter beat down bordering on public flogging. That’s how I would describe election 2012.”
You might, rather, be thinking of the 2010 election. I would contend a “beat down” results in a substantial change in Congress or an overwhelming presidential victory by popular vote (3.85% is way down near the bottom of the list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_elections_by_popular_vote_margin). But if it makes you feel better, then call it what you will.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:26 pm
“It was about informing his base here that Al Gore was doing business with Muslims.”
Not surprised that’s all you took away from it, Cheesy.
What’s it like to be so one-dimensional?
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
2:27 pm
For a country with as much wealth and remaining individual liberty (even if it’s being decreased every day), we are safe.
Tell that to the kids and parents in Newton.
Or the next one.
Or the next one.
Or the next one.
Or the next one.
Or the next one.
The sad part is a lot more people will have to die before this country gets serious about gun control.
As far as im concerned there is a lot of blood on the NRA and the people who support them hands.
One day it will change. And the liberals will win just like we always do ( See gay marriage for recent example ) It will just take more people dying to get there.
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
2:27 pm
“What do you think about Mr. Buffett’s (Berkshire’s) actions?”
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”.
Real Athens
January 3rd, 2013
2:29 pm
“Hmmm. Does this mean Gore is not one of the “well-to-do Americans, patriotic Americans, who,” according to President Obama in a campaign speech back in August, “… are willing to do the right thing, willing to do their part to make this country strong” by paying higher taxes? One of those people who has “made enough money”?
No it means you reported as fact, and published an opinion based on heresay or “several people who insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.”
You should know better. I guess you were snoozing in Don Davis’ JRL 301. Such reporting didn’t work out so well for Frank Graham Jr. and Furman Bisher did it? Butts and Bryant prevailed.
Let us know when your sources can go on record.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:30 pm
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
2:24 pm
Cheesy, be honest, did you actually READ the piece Kyle wrote?
Al Jazeera in mentioned ONCE.
The piece was about those who champion people paying their “fair share” while going out of their way to avoid paying their “fair share” themselves.
No it wasn’t. It was about informing his base here that Al Gore was doing business with Muslims.
___________________________________________
Cheesy, what do you think about the other 200 words that Kyle wrote dealing with tax avoidance.
Or are you still seeing the 2 words he wrote that told you who it was sold to. Also note, “Muslims” is NO WHERE in the article.
What do you think about Costco, Berkshire, Sach’s actions to avoid paying the taxes? Can you address that?
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
2:30 pm
Not surprised that’s all you took away from it, Cheesy.
Just telling the truth. If you think for one second this sale would have been mentioned if it didn’t include Al Gore and Al Jazeera.
Well I dont know what to say if you’re really that gullible.
What’s it like to be so one-dimensional?
Your a Fox News viewer right. So why dont you tell me.
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
2:31 pm
“I guess we could say Adam in Sandy Hook was a christian terrorist/ mass murderer because he is from the US which is primarily christian and, in fact, Adam was known to be a christian himself.”
Because he attended church once in awhile? Because he “asked Jesus into his heart” (whatever that means) once? Because his mother perhaps went to church? Because he was born in America?
I guess you need to define your terms before using them here. I suspect you haven’t the vaguest notion of what a Christian is.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:33 pm
Real Athens, do you have an opinion about the tax avoidance by Buffett (Berkshire), Costco, Sach’s and others. Those have been documented.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:33 pm
“Tell that to the kids and parents in Newton.”
They would have been safe if you didn’t disarm everyone surrounding them, Cheesy.
Their blood is on YOUR hands. And always has been.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:35 pm
Finn, do you have the link with Adam professing that he is a Christian?
Cheesy, can you answer my question?
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
2:35 pm
“What do you think about Costco, Berkshire, Sach’s actions to avoid paying the taxes? Can you address that?”
Yes. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”.
curious
January 3rd, 2013
2:36 pm
Tiberius – pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
“They would have been safe if you didn’t disarm everyone surrounding them, Cheesy.”
As Vinny said in My Cousin Vinny; “Are you sure about that?”
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 3rd, 2013
2:36 pm
They would have been safe if you didn’t disarm everyone surrounding them, Cheesy.
LOL.
Pure and total BS.
The more guns in a society. The more gun violence in a society.
The answer to gun violence is not more guns.
Eventually that will get through to you guys.
Like I said though more people are going to have to die to get there.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:37 pm
“If you think for one second this sale would have been mentioned if it didn’t include Al Gore and Al Jazeera.”
There are many reasons to mention this sale, Cheesy. Kyle noted one of them not surrounding the Islamic reference and built on that same theme with other non-Islamic tax avoidance schemes being used by the very people who attacked Republicans for using them.
You’re the only one focusing on Al Jazeera.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:39 pm
“Pure and total BS.”
Really, Cheesy?
Tell me how many police stations have been attacked in the past 10 years in this country by gunmen.
Wolves primarily attack sheep.
YOU created the sheep.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:40 pm
All, please take note who refuses to discuss the topic at hand, tax avoidance.
Al Jazeera is NOT the topic.
Also, I bet they will pay the taxes they owe without demanding someone else pay more.
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
2:40 pm
“What was it someone was saying about corporate masters? Check out this account by Tim Carney about how $76B in special-interest tax breaks made it into the fiscal cliff bill.”
It is simple, Kyle. Orwell said it best: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”. Hypocrisy is a fact of life. And so is the attempt to hide it.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
January 3rd, 2013
2:41 pm
“Are you sure about that?”
More sure about that than thinking that anyone could have provided a moderate defense while their only weapon available was a stapler, curious.
That Black Guy
January 3rd, 2013
2:41 pm
TC, that question was for Cheesy.
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
2:42 pm
“Tell me how many police stations have been attacked in the past 10 years in this country by gunmen.”
Didn’t the Terminator do that? You point is thus invalidated.
Towncrier
January 3rd, 2013
2:43 pm
“TC, that question was for Cheesy.”
I know, my friend. I was giving you what I think is an honest answer (and not the run around). My response was actually aimed at Cheesy.