Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

JScott

David, very true, especially with economics you can find someone who has data to support anything! Capital gains is about as straightforward as it comes, though. Since tax revenue derived from capital gains is at its own rate and is therefore tracked separately, it is not difficult to see what happe...

JScott

Bacchus, thanks for the clarification. Private insurance is permitted, but seeking care at a private clinic outside the government approved system is not, correct? I think that may be the source of my confusion. Of course I could still be wrong! I also recall reading that certain provinces were begi...

JScott

Also Stefan, at the very top of the wage scale you begin to see earned income replaced by capital gains, so the curve gets skewed. The problem is that raising the capital gains rate reliably lowers revenue and tends to inhibit economic activity. While it may make some feel better, we are all worse o...

JScott

Stefan, the Wiki data seems to be quite a bit different to me, by 100%! I am confident in the data I gave you from '05 ( as I said it comes from the IRS) but don't know the current numbers. Reading between the lines, I get the sense you're arguing that the percentage of tax paid should mirror the pe...

JScott

Great exchanges, gang! David, the cost of the stimulus, in the strictest sense, is absolutely certain. It was roughly $900B. My point was that revenue raised from that top rate won't raise that number for a decade. Clearly the point you are raising is whether spending that trillion - and adding it t...

JScott

Very true, Tom. Not so sure as many have the longevity they used to, with some exceptions. Togni, Monetelena, certainly Dunn still have as long a life as any notable Bordeaux.

JScott

I disposed of two cases of this I think. Ah well......

JScott

Stefan, data from the IRS website shows in '05 the top 1% paid 39.38%. (I would link it here but they put in spreadsheet form for some reason and Jim will kill me if I load the whole sheet!) I haven't found more recent data yet (still looking) but it may well be lower than that now. I have no idea w...

JScott

Ramon, in a word, no. Many Ridge Zins hold up surprisingly well out past 15 or even 20 years. I personally wouldn't hold them longer than that though some will still be going.. Don't get me wrong - top end classified Bordeaux are among the most age-worthy reds in the world and I'm a huge fan. Those ...

JScott

Bacchus, as an outside observer, my impression was that the main controversy regarding health care in Canada had to do with the proposed attempt to introduce private health care insurance. Certainly opponents would prefer that issues be resolved with more government spending, but proponents would se...

JScott

KL has some Conterno for sale. Hard to find better wines in the price range.

JScott

I'm a huge fan of Ridge Zins (and Monte Bello). The zins will age better than 98% of the world's cabs. I still have some '90's era zins in the cellar.

JScott

Ohio is really, truly a microcosm of the whole enchilada. There is the deeply conservative southwestern section and the progressive northeastern corner around Cleveland. There is almost a perfectly representative cross section of upper middle class professionals, blue collar union folk, farmers, urb...

JScott

Jim, no doubt Rubio is the bald political choice. You can bet that as we speak he's being grilled and examined, plumped and fluffed, to see if he's ready for prime time. He's telegenic and fairly well-spoken but not really tested. If he proves to be even a few steps ahead of Palin and Quayle they co...

JScott

Bacchus, just to clarify, I was intending to imply you were tossing out lousy data; just saying I hadn't heard of them. The last two days news cycles have actually been busy with how badly most of the major pollsters missed this, at least with exit polling. To the point, actually, where I've heard t...

JScott

Bacchus, actually I'm not familiar with the pollsters you cited above. The major outlets had the race tightening as the day approached and on election night virtually every major network, including CNN, MSNBC and FOX all cited exit polling that showed the race a 50-50 dead heat.

JScott

Also this: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/ ... UG20120607

Looks like you're all over it, Jim.

JScott

Funny, my first thought looking at those polls was that these are the same people who had Walker in a dogfight the other night! I have no idea how accurate any of them are any more. Jim, I figured since you were feeling a flicker of optimism I may as well go ahead and squash it!

JScott

Interesting article, but a few things strike me. Even as he attempts to lay out the case for compromise, how you define that is all perspective. For example, he views the healthcare bill as center right, apparently, and while it certainly isn't hard left the public doesn't seem to be receiving it as...

JScott

David, the exit polls I've seen aren't quite that optimistic, but I agree WI is still Obama's to lose. Still, the biggest losers here are the public unions and maybe the Dem Party as a whole. They should've passed on the recall vote and tried to rally the base for November. They likely could have ra...

JScott

....and in Wisconsin the fun has already started. The Dem Party is calling for an investigation, four hours into the polls, that calls are being made to constituents telling them if they signed the recall they don't need to vote. There are also claims that some homeowners were paid to post signs in ...

JScott

Comte, agree on the problem with the money and the rest. Of course you can't allow some rich guys to spend their money and others not. I'm not about to make assumptions about the motivation for the Koch family any more than the rest of them. I assume they are attempting to advance an ideology they b...

JScott

The latest issue they're raising with her is that she and her family apparently were in the business of flipping foreclosed properties back in the '90's I think. Again, fairly remote history but when that headline sits next to her message about predatory lending and such, she's going to get tagged a...

JScott

Comte, I share your concern about the undo influence of money in US elections - from every source. Not just the super rich, but also corporations, unions and everywhere else it arises. That said, I'm not sure these individuals only motivation is "to avoid taxes" as you say. What sense is t...

JScott

No problem, the Lafite's all in the rack above the window. Is that a cozy fireplace in the middle there? Looks like a great place for a snifter of brandy and a fat cigar.

JScott

I think it's fairly well known that Premier Cru circumvents the traditional distribution channels...

JScott

JimHow wrote:....The problem is that there is going to be just enough of an exodus to shave away those 2 or 3 crucial percentage points in the key swing states.....

Agreed. Ditto with the younger voters.

JScott

Houndsong wrote:If the election were held today ...

However, I hear helicopters. "I love the smell of QEIII in the morning" - Col. Kilgore.

LOL. Nice!

JScott

Stefan, agree completely regarding Maher. He's clearly a bright guy with a very sharp wit but lacks a bit of judgment sometimes. What might be acceptable for a standup in a smoky nightclub over drinks doesn't always play well in a setting of supposedly serious sociopolitical roundtable. We have more...

JScott

Jim, I've also become a bit pessimistic about the odds of righting the ship. I think it's still possible, but absolutely requires someone bold, charismatic and brilliant, someone with vision who is able to promote that vision convincingly, who is able to build an undeniable consensus, someone who do...

JScott

I heard a recent commentary that posited either a very narrow Obama win or a comfortable Romney win. I didn't catch the thought process, unfortunately, but those were the two proposed scenarios. It seems plausible to me in that Obama will either lose big because of a flagging economy or find a way t...

JScott

Hi Jay. Yes, one of the originals.This place has brought alot of great people together over the years, even as it evolves and people come and go. Amazing to think about from that perspective, both in the sense that these are people who would've had virtually no chance of meeting prior to the advent ...

JScott

I'm betting he doesn't get hurt too badly in the polls. Gay marriage always seems to poll well. Publicly - and in polls - people will say they approve. It's at the ballot it gets killed, which should worry them most. His bigger problem is that he's still trying to have it both ways, which is the asp...

JScott

(...and just to be completely clear, Tom, I was not remotely intending to imply that you are either bloviating or a schmoe. Or even wild-eyed for that matter! Just like the band name with a front man. Could as easily be Jimmy Howitzer and the Bloviating Schmoes, or maybe Scentless Scott and the Blov...

JScott

Tom, needs a front man, like Wild Eyed Whettle and the Bloviating Schmoes...

JScott

Thanks Jim, David, Tom and Bill for the well wishes. Life goes on and is still glorious.

I admire your optimism, David. Hope you're right!

JScott

Jim, interesting poll out in the past few days. Ohio is statistically a toss up at this point; one day Obama will have a small edge, the next poll is reversed. What's interesting is that something like 70% of Obama supporters say they're voting for Obama while about 65% of Romney supporters say they...

JScott

Hello all. Been away a long time. I guess some catching up is in order. A few years back I began to have some significant sinus issues and ultimately had corrective surgery, which does seem to have solved the issues for which it was intended. Unfortunately, since that time I have effectively lost my...

JScott

Jim, stick with the wine; stay away from the damn Gummi's. Take up granola. Doctor's orders.... Gotta love a nice Burg now and again, don't ya?

Amen, Bill. I may be doing this for quite some while, but there's worse penance.

JScott

I bought alot of '01's but not much newer. Went back for a bunch of older stuff after visiting with Pappa and being blown away by some of the stuff he opened. I have some '67's, '76's and '83's I need to find a reason to open. Need to get back up to NYC one of these days but they won't let me carry ...

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