Take heart, progressives, the best is yacht to come…

zed. Teddy!

Sugar Mama Express Jets. Yachts. Probably some cigarettes (boats) as well.

D’oh!
congrats, Albatross..
Since there is no universal definition of what constitutes a “yacht”, does this apply to all boats, I wonder?

“Thank you, Republican Party!”

I love it. And all that skin in the vid should get it lotsa views, don’t you think?

In California- bein a gooper is 100% about taxes an nothin else.

Goopers in the state assembly vote against anything that increases revenues and the rules allow their minority to hold out against all reason…

Gov Arnie promised to balance the budget and instead is staring a 20 billion dollar annual deficit in the face.

Gooper, gooper uber alles.

The real issue is the car tax- it’s what sunk Grey Davis’s boat. Raising it back to the level where it was before the goopers reduced it would just about save the budget- but Arnie can’t afford to do it-

It seems like anyone that wanted to run against Arnold could simply use clips of his speeches against Gray Davis.

Yeah, but c’mon Teddy – a black person allowed on a Republican yacht? As a guest? Puh-leez! what would the neighbors think?

Well I don’t think Arnie can run again- and he ain’t about to re commit the car tax mistake that sent Grey packin- but your point is a good one- he didn’t even come close to doin what he promised (balancing the budget) but Californicators love him anyway. Go figure.

Black women with cafe au lait skin color have a special dispensation.

Anyone with a 100 million net worth can get on any gooper yacht in California- it’s an affirmative action move.

And I guess they get their tax rebate as well.

The in state / out of state loophole is actually pretty common for yachts, across the US. There are, in fact, quite a few boat owners who buy boats outside of their home state and sail/ship them home. (When you find the right boat at the right price, you grab it, regardless of location.)

Part of the reason for this is that boats are registered by state, so the laws are set up to allow an out-of-state purchaser time to get the boat home and registered in their home state. Do people exploit the loopholes? No doubt, but it’s not necessarily a matter of ultra-wealthy folks getting away with something. Certainly, it’s an issue that could use some revamping to prevent exploitation.

I should add: The term ‘yacht’ may be a bit misleading to some people. Generally, any sailboat of a certain length is considered a yacht (the minimum length varies by state) in the marine and legal sense. The sales tax rules would apply to a 30′ sailboat as well as a 100′-plus mega-yacht. I don’t know, offhand, if the rules are comparable for smaller power boats.

So?

I should also add that I’m not defending a program to avoid paying sales tax. Just thought I’d put some boating background out there.

Not loving Arnold as much as before, tho:

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s job approval ratings have plummeted to 41% approval and 48% disapproval by Californians and 45% to 44% approval from likely voters. This is a decrease of 16% since December. In the year he proclaimed as the “Year of Education,” He gets even lower marks on his performance on K-12 education with 56% disapproval and 25% approval and virtually the same marks from likely voters. Even Republicans are disapproving of his handling of education by a margin of 43% to 37% with independents disapproving 52% to 30% and Democrats by a lopsided 67% to 18%.

Also, he can’t run for Governor again.

There’s talk he’ll run against Boxer, or for Mayor of LA, since Maria doesn’t want to live in DeeCee.

Thanks.

Elsewhere, the point’s been made that this keeps yacht-revamping jobs out of state, since the vessel must stay out of California for the first 90 days after purchase.

So the loophole is also anti-jobs.

Arnie would be a good (do nothing talk a lot) mayor.

LA?

Don’t know bout that one.

Can’t see Arnie havin a good time as a senator.

While a loop hole may allow avoidance on use/sales tax, counties do collect 1% property tax annually on boats and aircraft. So a $5,000,000 jet would pay $50000/yr, so there is some contribution to the tax base.

And jet-revamping jobs, too. I imagine when one buys a private jet, there’s lotsa customizing to be done. Putting in shag carpeting and mirrors on the ceiling.

Or taking them out.

I guess.

Often, lately, when I see an African American on a political teevee show, he or she is supporting right-wing ideology. My heart sinks when I hear those words come out. George Jefferson used to call them Uncle Toms. One does not hear that term much anymore, but I’m thinking that is accurate. Juan Williams is perhaps the most famous Uncle Tom.

Well, he could vote to allow himself to run for prez. Conflict of interest? What conflict of interest?

I paid tax on my rowboat that I bought out of state…I don’t think it has Yacht credentials though

She’s only a twelve footer, but she’s got the heart of a Lion!

FWIW, I avoided sales tax on a car I purchased in Kentucky when I got out of the AF.

But that was because I was registering and tagging the car in New Hampshire which has no sales tax.

Goopers rented em a bunch of african americans- cause they can’t own em anymore. They put em in executive positions of political organizations with only two members an get em on teevee regularly…

Only a Tom can get on TV Obama has been accused of being a Muslim trained in a Madrassa and that he hates America all because he is not a Tom.

There’s a crossover term in the GLBT community, too: Auntie Tom, for a successful gay who wants to haul up the ladder once he’s arrived. Like the Castro homeowners who opposed the homeless gay youth shelter in their midst the last few years.

“I’ve got mine” seems to be the primary motivation.

Remember the federal tax loophole for Full size SUV’s (Escalades, Navigators, etc)? They were using a farm equipment loophole with a wink and nod promised from Bushco. Bushco encouraged Americans to buy big vehicles and to burn lots of fuel.

One other issue for sailboaters is that slips for larger boats (30′ and over) are becoming scarce. (This may be more of a problem in FL than CA, I’m not sure.) It’s easier to buy a boat than find a place to keep it, frankly, so a lot of boats are moved right away.

There are a few boat builders in CA, and I’m sure they hold some sway over the issue, as well.

I think you’re getting too esoteric on jet interiors/avionics,etc.. Most aircraft are sold complete, including exterior paint, interior design and avionics. Few buyers what a “green” plane with no paint or interior.

OH YEAH…..That was a good one.

Yeah but NO ONE want to buy a USED jet and keep the leather, rosewood, and granite from the previous owner- TACKY TACKY.

The Dems need to remind voters that Arnold lied about taxes and because he DID NOT pay them the interest on that debt has grown (to how ever much it will be when Arnold leaves office.
When the GOP talks about taxes the reply should be we heard that from Arnold.

The Shock Doctrine looms in CA.

Arnold is exaggerating the size of the budget, refusing to give on new taxes (along with the republican minority in the legislature), and giving evidence that despite his efforts to remake his image as a republican lite politician, that he is true to the corporate core a republican. Let us not forget his admiration for Milton Friedman. California will experience the shock doctrine unless the dems in the legislature push back with the voters at their backs. I am concerned.

Hadn’t noticed the slip- thanks- but he should by rights be at 20%.

The REAL problem in California is the voters. They won’t elect anyone who threatens to raise taxes- nor will they elect anyone who says they’ll cut services—so this is what we get.

He’s already closed some of our state parks. MediCAL and ADAP are next, I fear.

There will be many caravans of sick people to Sacramento this summer, when folks can ill afford to protest this evildoing, for their health AND their pocketbook.

On the basic California 540 tax form (state equivalent of US 1040), after you’ve calculated your state income tax, there is a section for payment of other taxes. One of these other taxes is the “use tax,” which is basically sales tax on items you purchased out of state where no sales tax was collected from the other state. Most of the time, this means telephone, catalog, or internet purchases from smaller companies (large ones with significant out of state sales take out the sales tax and send it on to the appropriate state).

If a CA resident bought a 2007 yacht last year, kept it out of CA for the required 90 days, and then brought it back and registered it, it seems to me that this resident might be liable to pay the state use tax for this purchase on their CA 540, since they didn’t pay the sales tax elsewhere.

Any CA-based CPAs want to chime in on this one?

If he refuses to give on taxes then get an independent audit of the books by a big accounting firm this will embarrass him.
Arnold will laugh but I bet the independent audit will lower California’s credit rating making borrowing more expensive.
Arnold to protect his legacy should make a deal with you after the election rather than open up his books.
I say don’t let him force the issue do a statewide petition on the issue ask What does Arnold have to hide, and We need to find out all of Arnold’s lies.

yo, goopers: yacht to know better.

hi punaise!

Start cutting services the rich want and need.

hey Teddy…

Bob Barr on CNN right now, before that the town of Palm Bay, FL was on. There is a fire in Palm Bay, two schools evacuated and at least one house burned down. Yes, I live in Palm Bay and the fire is a few miles south of me. All is well, here.

…private jet purchases are untaxed as well. I guess we know which side of this fight the McCains will be on. Sugar Momma’s side.

Air Farce Cindy wouldn’t disclose it even if it were taxed.

Such as?

Are major fires burning east of 95 yet?

those streets in Jackson Hole don’t get plowed by themselves, you know.

Everything that is funded by the state government in their towns.

hmmm – listening to ron reagan guest-hosting this week on air america – kinda like what i’m hearing thus far ;o} nature is very displeased with america right now……. very weird nowadays…..

OT, but I was hoping someone had a clue to some help. I’ve spent some time this morning looking for an interview of Cheney shortly after 9/11 when they had just found out that Al Qaeda was responsible for the twin towers catastrophe. In that interview he stated the fact that Al Qaeda was the perp, and when they asked directly if Iraq was involved, he said no, apparently not. It was Al Qaeda. I’ve only seen the video played a few times, probably less than half a dozen. Far more of Cheney trying to tie Saddam to the incident and to Al Qaeda. But this was very shortly after, and they were still surprised that there was no indication of Iraqi involvement. I cannot find a link, but I’m sure one exists because I remember it on national TV. Anyone have any memory or any clues whether it’s in a private archive or whether it’s publicly available?

That sounds dirty.

I don’t think so, but I-95 is closed for smoke reasons.

O/t -

Susan DuQuesnay Bankston (former owner of a beauty shop in Texas) is having herself a verrrrrrrry fine day……she just bagged a thug she’s been huntin’ for 18 months. *G* Every once in a while, the good guys do win one!

[Copy & paste on URLs is totally fubar for me these days…..you can find her at kissmybigbluebutt dot com for May 12.]

Maybe push a bill that says that if the government debt is higher than when you came in yo must pay back your salary and then make the bill retroactive.

Didn’t think about that. I guess the rich do “need” some things – soon they’ll own everything anyway and can have private firms to do their streets.

Down south we call it the Ya’ll Club.

I think airports are the one thing the rich use most of all and that is supported with taxpayer dollars.

A couple of points:

First the comment about allowing a black woman on a Republican yacht–she is pouring the champagne, clearly a servant, so it is allowed.

Second–as for Teddy’s wondering about installing/removing mirrors on the ceilings of jets–Republican women do not allow mirrors on the ceiling. They don’t like to watch themselves “faking it”.

1,840 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND…

Citizen TeddySanFran and the Firepup Freedom Fighters:

Havin’ lived in both Californias (northern and southern) and havin’ given a few precious years to the California University system in return for a degree and a good case of “smog lung”…California state politics will forever be a multi-variable calculus for me. Why in God’s name can a state with the black, brown and yellow cultural strength and creative energy and brain power that California has…why does a state like that produce Governors like Ronald Reagan and Arnold “I am not a Nazi” Schwarzenegger? How ken the home of Darhma bums, surfers, hippies and beatniks rise up and help ta turn a fascist like Richard Nixon out in the street but can’t put Patty Hearst in prison??!!!

I will NEVER understand California…but it seems ta me that if ya look at the numbers and the human capital in that state…it should be a prototype for a new kick-ass democratic politics and new “take no prisoners” Democratic politicians. I think that if we roll the rock over and look at the way elections and election suppression has been perfected in California, we may get a look at what we’re facin’ in states like Ohio, Michigan, Florida and Missouri.

Ever since Proposition 13 and the successful term limits movement, it seems that every workin’ class and minority population has been triagulated, Balkanized and simply terrorized outta political power. I hope Obama’s carde’s of organizers ken bring the Black and Brown communities together to turn that state OUT this fall!!

What about it Citizen Teddy, why is California still wallowin’ under fascism with a happy Terminator face?

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, FIRST WE ELECT ‘EM AND THEN WE TEACH ‘EM HOW TA SHOOT!!

707 !

Rightwing pundit jobs for African-Americans is the only affirmative action the GOP supports. Talk about a minority group that is over represented in the media. Ron Chrusty, J.C. Low-Watts, Alan Keyes and the holy grail of rightwingers….Thomas Sowell.

-G

The head of the State Senate GOPs is, of course, a yacht owner himself. From Calitics last August, at a time when Arnold cut $55 million for assistance for mentally ill homeless Californians:

Here’s some trivia about State Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman which may shed some light on the late round of budget cuts for social services. No, Ackerman’s not a mentally ill homeless person, but he is a yacht owner.

Several lawmakers at the center of the budget dispute did not return phone calls or could not be reached. They included Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman of Irvine — a yacht owner who pushed to ease the tax burden on owners of yachts, planes and RVs.
An Ackerman spokesman said the senator was unavailable.

In other news, it’s 79 degrees and excellent sailing weather in Irvine!

We need to tie Arnold’s not doing anything about state debt to Arnold well that and how much the interest on the debt has grown because Arnold did nothing.
Maybe get some numbers of the debt when Grey Davis was gov and compare it to the Debt that Arnold is projected to leave behind.
The only problem is that thanks to the downturn in the economy projections for tax revenue should keep going down all throught the election cycle the ad would need to be updated repeatedly.
Of course that would convey the impression that Things are Getting Worse fast.

Michele Bernard, Tweety’s favorite, the head of the “Independent Women’s Forum” or somesuch nonsense, clearly a Schlafly clone.

Bumpersticker:

Where are we going
and why am I in this handbasket?

J. C. Watts appears to have the IQ of a turnip.

Municipal Airports are underutilized by the majority of citizens. Fatcat Republicans like to use these Socialized airports for their private jets. They hate welfare, though.

Well, he did play football at Oklahoma.

Yeah the GOP also finds jobs for girls who are a little to thin.
We need some true Lefties on TV besides KO and Rachel, and what about PBS the Mclaughlin Group’s liberals are to the right of 70% of the country.
Gwen’s show is a corporate media love fest. BBC news is the only voice for America’s Left in the Country!

I have forgotten – did he lose or did he just not run again for the House?

You can forward this YouTube, or even help the Courage Campaign put it on the California airwaves this Thursday when Arnold announces his newly calculated budget deficit (possibly north of twenty billion dollars) here

Old sayin in Texas:

Every migration from Texas to Oklahoma raises the average IQ of both states.

He left office voluntarily it seems.

Whats that Mike Ryoko piece about Schalfly that has the Super tramp lyrics in it?

Although elected on a pledge to serve no more than two terms, Watts sought and won a fourth term in 2000. In 2002 he decided not to run for re-election, publicly citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

per wiki

Ask him about his family values :)

Strangely

I have found the partisan lefties beginning to appear on teevee nearly as infuriating as the partisan righties we’ve seen for years…I just don’t much care for dogmatic diatribes.

I heard he wanted a bigger Leadership position in the House and Newt I think told him no.

Gasp! I am this late to Teddy’s yacht party and the first Digg!!

They always put Left and Right to scream at each other but the Righties get more alone time to say whatever they want. Plus they pick Juan Williams Lefties who fold when they are told to and or scream and discredit us.
There is a reason that Jane, Kos and Digby don’t get on TV much the MSM does not want a reasoned but fierce debate on the issues.

We really don’t see discussions of the issues- but rather of personalities…Is Hillary evil? Is McBush too old and stupid? Is Obama aggressive enough? etc.

All puke no matter which side is being discussed or who’s discussing it.

31% JAR for Clusterfuck from WaPo- career low from them…

Little fucker’s makin history every day!

He has a child from a White Cheerleader his parents have raised the kid, not him and the cheerleader and her family have nothing to do with their child as well.
But the GOP under Newt and even now under Bush loves to say that racial problems are over in America.
When the only GOP congressman I can remember in my life can’t even get his babymama to visit her kid.
So outside of J.C Watts how many African American people do GOPers in the Congress and White House know? From what evidence do they draw upon for their statements about race not being a problem in America?

the only pink slips Goopers care about are the ones at the tropical yacht club.

The absolute WORST discussions on teevee occur when representatives of two parties or candidates are given five minutes to “debate”. I turn the teevee off during these bits of silliness.

I seem to remember that Cheney was upset with Reagan because he left office with high approval ratings. Cheney figured that, because there was no need to get re-elected, Reagan could push through some really bad stuff and there sould be no effect on Reagan.

Thanks, ES!

Well look at the way our news sets it up as a fight…between idiots. Diane Rehm on the other hand handles issues with differing viewpoints quite well.

waccamaw at 57—i love that site!!! i had feb 4th bookmarked, must have been extra good that day, but came up as today’s, wish i knew how to do that-mark a page on the date it is……….

anyway, love her site

because their repug african-americans are always on faux news telling them racism is over…………………..

Teddy thanks so much for putting this up. And thank you to all the FirePups for their comments, forwarded links etc.

We can use all the help we can get to expose the Republicans.

Julia
Online Political Director
Courage Campaign

If they want to plug a $22 million dollar hole, they should change the escape-paying-sales-taxes-by keeping-your-car/boat/plane-out-of -state period from 3 months back to a year – or more. The real sales tax dodgers are the car dealerships and beauty supply folks, but if Courage Campaign wants to conflate yacht buyers with elitist GOPers to cover what is really a small hole in the grand scheme of things, well, they are welcome as long as they understand what they are doing.