• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Come on, man.

We still have time to mess this up!

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

DeSantis transforms Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

… among the most cringeworthy communications in the history of the alphabet!

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

I conferred with the team and they all agree – still not tired of winning!

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

We’ll be taking my thoughts and prayers to the ballot box.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

Mobile Menu

  • Winnable House Races
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Balloon Juice 2023 Pet Calendar (coming soon)
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • War in Ukraine
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • 2021-22 Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Personal news

Personal news

by DougJ|  December 30, 20174:00 pm| 127 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M.

FacebookTweetEmail

My wife gave birth to our son Benjamin on December 24. That probably means I’ll be cutting back on posting in the coming year. I do want to do a couple things, though: namely raise a lot of money and keep reminding everyone what a disaster the Republican tax scam bill is. The single most important thing any of us can do for our children, beyond being good parents, is to put the country in the hands of the Democratic party. Here’s a one minute summary of Republicans’ plans for the country.

I haven’t been paying much attention to politics the last week or so, obviously. But when I was driving home from the doctor’s the other day, just listening to my usual jazz station, the three-minute news update came on and the whole damn thing was about people in the area lining up outside town clerks’ offices to try to prepay their local taxes before the Republican tax scam kicks in and takes away the local tax deduction. So, yeah, I think people in New York State (and probably in high-end suburbs everywhere in the country) are pretty fucking pissed.

Anywho, people sometimes wonder, is giving money to candidates and political parties a good way to spend their dollars? Well, I’ll tell you, our Galtian overlords spent maybe billion-and-a-half on the last election, and they got a trillion-and-a-half back. That’s a thousand-fold return. I can’t speak for everywhere but in my area people like me are probably getting about a 3K a year tax hike from this piece of shit. We can keep paying that vig forever or we can fork over the money it takes to get Democrats in to repeal this thing, and also too save the fucking country from ruin.

I’d say give til it hurts, but, honestly, give til it helps. Do it for Benjamin.

Here’s the Balloon Juice House fund (cut equally between Democratic nominees in every district currently held by Republicans). I just upped the goal on this sucker to 25K. Let’s try to hit 20K by the New Year.

Goal Thermometer

And here’s the fund for Conor Lamb, a great Democratic candidate who’s running in the House special in March (for a pretty red district in PA).

Goal Thermometer

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Clown Under (Open Thread)
Next Post: Saturday Evening Open Thread »

Reader Interactions

127Comments

  1. 1.

    Dorothy A. Winsor (formerly Iowa Old Lady)

    December 30, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    Congratulations. There’s not much that’s more astounding than the arrival of a whole new person.

  2. 2.

    MazeDancer

    December 30, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    Congratulations on the new baby, Doug!

    And if you manage to keep posting the Act Blue thermometers throughout the year, it definitely helps.

  3. 3.

    Mary G

    December 30, 2017 at 4:04 pm

    My birthday! Congratulations on winning the parent lottery, Benjamin. And Doug and spouse, go you.

  4. 4.

    sharl

    December 30, 2017 at 4:09 pm

    Congratulations you and your family, Doug, and welcome to Benjamin! It seems rare these days to be greeted by good news upon opening the laptop, so YAY for this. And cosign with the rest of your message as well.

  5. 5.

    ET

    December 30, 2017 at 4:10 pm

    Congratulations on the new baby! A truly joyous event for the season!

  6. 6.

    mb

    December 30, 2017 at 4:11 pm

    pix or it didn’t happen. Tiny baby pix ASAP.

  7. 7.

    JPL

    December 30, 2017 at 4:11 pm

    Congrats Doug! My seventy-one year old neighbor is still upset because he felt that x-mas eve took away from his special celebration.

  8. 8.

    tobie

    December 30, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Congratulations, Doug! May Benjamin grow up to be a proud liberal, fierce fighter for democracy, a jackal if this blog is still around, and all other good things.

  9. 9.

    donnah

    December 30, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Congrats and best wishes for a new baby in a New Year!

  10. 10.

    Betty Cracker

    December 30, 2017 at 4:15 pm

    Wonderful news, Doug! Welcome to the world, Benjamin!

  11. 11.

    chopper

    December 30, 2017 at 4:17 pm

    congrats Doug.

  12. 12.

    Spanky

    December 30, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    So this post really is about all the Benjamins. Congrats!

  13. 13.

    mvr

    December 30, 2017 at 4:19 pm

    Congratulations on the new family member. I always enjoy your posts, so I’ll miss them when you slow down to focus on other things. But best wishes to all of you in the new year!

  14. 14.

    R-Jud

    December 30, 2017 at 4:20 pm

    Two of my favourite humans were Christmas Eve babies. Good timing, Benjamin. Congratulations, Doug and Lady Doug.

  15. 15.

    Mike J

    December 30, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    December boys got it bad.

  16. 16.

    bmoak

    December 30, 2017 at 4:22 pm

    Congrats! But you can hold and burp your baby boy with one hand and text posts here with the other, y’know.

  17. 17.

    Sab

    December 30, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    Good for little Benjamin. Just barely made it for that last dependent exemption on your tax return. Well done!

  18. 18.

    frosty

    December 30, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    @JPL: I have a cousin born on 12/24. The family celebrated her birthday on 6/24.

    PS Congratulations DougJ!

  19. 19.

    Snarkworth, short-fingered Bulgarian

    December 30, 2017 at 4:26 pm

    Wonderful news! Did Benjamin! arrive with his own exclamation mark?

  20. 20.

    Emma

    December 30, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    Congratulations! Maybe we should consider a Benjamin Fund, to support candidates that are specially strong on family issues.

  21. 21.

    eemom

    December 30, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    How wonderful!! Congrats to you and the Mrs!!!

    Babies are the BEST.

    And Benjamin is a great name….excellent choice!

    Pix plz…..

  22. 22.

    germy

    December 30, 2017 at 4:29 pm

    Congratulations to Doug! A future front-pager is born.

    But you said ” I can’t speak for everywhere but in my area people like me are probably getting about a 3K a year tax hike from this piece of shit.”

    The New York Times sees it differently:

    If you are among the majority of Americans whose tax bill will decrease next year, there are some obvious ways to put the money to work.

    People who are sick, indebted, or in an unstable job or relationship will need to pay the bills or save for imminent hardship. Others who are more stable but not saving enough to meet even modest retirement or college savings goals should probably increase account contributions by the amount they’re getting from the tax bill.

  23. 23.

    DougJ

    December 30, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    @Mike J:

    Ha

  24. 24.

    Felanius Kootea

    December 30, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    Congratulations Doug!

  25. 25.

    Sab

    December 30, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    @germy: The NYT is buying this everyone gets a tax cut hook line and sinker, aren’t they?

  26. 26.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    December 30, 2017 at 4:32 pm

    Congrats on the new member of the family.

  27. 27.

    Steeplejack

    December 30, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    Congratulations, DougJ!

    What’s the over-under on Benjamin’s age when he first successfully trolls the old man?

  28. 28.

    satby

    December 30, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    Congratulations and welcome to the world Benjamin!

    @germy: the NYT is garbage.

  29. 29.

    germy

    December 30, 2017 at 4:35 pm

    @Sab:

    The NYT is buying this everyone gets a tax cut hook line and sinker, aren’t they?

    Yes, that’s the line they’ve been pushing. And my local TV station reprinted it on their website and are reporting it on the air. Right after their story about local residents lining up to prepay their property taxes…

  30. 30.

    Mike J

    December 30, 2017 at 4:36 pm

    @DougJ: And congrats, too.

    If you have another you’ll have to try timing it for September and hope for a gurl.

  31. 31.

    Mary G

    December 30, 2017 at 4:37 pm

    @Steeplejack: Considering his genes, he may have done it already.

  32. 32.

    geg6

    December 30, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    Congratulations to you and Mrs. Doug! What a lovely Christmas present!

    And yes, Conor Lamb is a great candidate. If any Dem can win that district, it would be him. He’ll have an uphill battle and can use all help he can get. But he has a good chance.

  33. 33.

    MomSense

    December 30, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    Congratulations!!!?

  34. 34.

    eclare

    December 30, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    Congratulations!

  35. 35.

    Baud

    December 30, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    Hazzah! I am going to Applebee’s salad bar tonight to celebrate!

    ???

  36. 36.

    SgrAstar

    December 30, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    Yay Doug!, Mrs Doug!, and Benjamin! Welcome aboard, Benjamin.

  37. 37.

    germy

    December 30, 2017 at 4:48 pm

    “OK, Mr. Moskowitz!”

  38. 38.

    Manyakitty

    December 30, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    Mazel tov! Welcome to the world, Benjamin!

  39. 39.

    Yarrow

    December 30, 2017 at 4:51 pm

    Congratulations! What great news! Welcome baby Benjamin. You’ve already started his music education, right?

    people in the area lining up outside town clerks’ offices to try to prepay their local taxes before the Republican tax scam kicks in and takes away the local tax deduction. So, yeah, I think people in New York State (and probably in high-end suburbs everywhere in the country) are pretty fucking pissed.

    This made national news. Saw video of the lines out the door at tax offices or courthouses or whatever they were in various places around the country. People are paying attention that Republicans took away their tax deductions.

  40. 40.

    Jamey

    December 30, 2017 at 4:52 pm

    @Steeplejack: I’d guess pretty quickly. I think waiting for the diaper to be lowered before starting to pee is a pretty good troll.

  41. 41.

    RandomMonster

    December 30, 2017 at 4:53 pm

    Mazel tov!

  42. 42.

    Yarrow

    December 30, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    @Sab:

    The NYT is buying this everyone gets a tax cut hook line and sinker, aren’t they?

    No. The NYT is trying to sell the idea that everyone gets a tax cut. They know it’s a lie. They want you to believe it.

  43. 43.

    germy

    December 30, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    Never change diapers in midstream.

  44. 44.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 30, 2017 at 4:54 pm

    So happy for you and your wife! Big congratulations to you both, and a huge warm “welcome to the world” to young Benjamin.

  45. 45.

    rikyrah

    December 30, 2017 at 5:00 pm

    CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR WIFE :)

  46. 46.

    Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)

    December 30, 2017 at 5:01 pm

    Congratulations Doug. And nice name.

  47. 47.

    WaterGirl

    December 30, 2017 at 5:02 pm

    Congratulations on your your new baby. I can’t believe you didn’t title this post Benjamins for Benjamin!

  48. 48.

    Ohio Mom

    December 30, 2017 at 5:05 pm

    Congrats!
    And take an extra deep breath of Benjamin’s new baby scent for me. There is nothing so sweet as the smell of a baby…

  49. 49.

    Steeplejack

    December 30, 2017 at 5:07 pm

    @Jamey:

    The geyser! A classic.

  50. 50.

    Sourmash

    December 30, 2017 at 5:09 pm

    Congratulations! And damn right. We can pay that vig forever or take care of this. Thanks for the reminder!

  51. 51.

    kbuttle

    December 30, 2017 at 5:09 pm

    May he have
    the intelligence of a Brooks,
    the fairness of a Broder,
    the charisma of a Rubio,
    and the purity of a Paul,
    as imagined by our betters.

  52. 52.

    p.a.

    December 30, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Congrats! Economical: you’ll be present shopping anyway, so birthday & xmas/hanukkah/solstice all in one shot.

  53. 53.

    Schlemazel

    December 30, 2017 at 5:13 pm

    Congrats, doug!, you will experience the most painful joy and the most joyful pain you can imagine. Don’t know how it is around your house but if it was like mine growing up you might consider celebrating Benjamin! half-birthday so his special day is not lost in the shuffle of the holidays.

  54. 54.

    Debbie(aussie)

    December 30, 2017 at 5:16 pm

    Welcome to the world Benjamin! Congrats Doug and the lucky but probably already sleep deprived Mum. May his life be a good one, filled with love an joy!

  55. 55.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 30, 2017 at 5:17 pm

    Congratulations, Doug and spouse! Welcome Benjamin! Let’s hope you don’t go all Kylo Ren on us!

  56. 56.

    Svensker

    December 30, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    Congrats, DougJ & spouse! Hope you’re getting some sleep. I know you’ll introduce little Ben to all the good music, so there’s one worry for the future gone. Happy New Year!

  57. 57.

    spudgun

    December 30, 2017 at 5:20 pm

    Doug!, coming out of lurkdom to say congratulations!! So happy for you and your family!

  58. 58.

    Jamey

    December 30, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    @Steeplejack: The joy of baby boys

  59. 59.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 30, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    Congrats on the new arrival. Here’s wishing you and the kid and his mother good health and lots of sleep in the new year.

    Meanwhile, is grifting genetic?

    @ kylegriffin1
    In June, the Commercial Bank of Dubai sought and received permission to subpoena Ivanka’s now-defunct jewelry line, claiming its diamonds were used in a massive scheme to hide roughly $100 million that was owed to the bank, according to court filings.

  60. 60.

    patrick II

    December 30, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    Congratulations! I remember the joy at the births of our children and it is a once in a lifetime thing, savor it. Also good news for me, an insomniac, DougJ will be up at 3 in the morning and maybe fit in a little time for a post for us to read. Wonderful news!

  61. 61.

    mattH

    December 30, 2017 at 5:24 pm

    @Mary G:

    Congratulations on winning the parent lottery, Benjamin. And Doug and spouse, go you.

    Exactly! And congratulations Doug!

  62. 62.

    TaMara (HFG)

    December 30, 2017 at 5:27 pm

    Welcome Benjamin!! Sorry about the mess, we’ll do our best to clean it up.

  63. 63.

    Another Scott

    December 30, 2017 at 5:29 pm

    @frosty: Clever!

    Welcome Benjamin! I’m sure he’ll have the usual resentments about the particular date. I’m an early December kid, so I had some of those resentments as a kid, but nothing like those born on that particular date!

    Donated.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  64. 64.

    DougJ

    December 30, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    Thanks everyone!

  65. 65.

    Marcopolo

    December 30, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    Let me add to the congrats. Also thanks for the fundraising threads and to all the BJers out their who are kicking in. Finally, and I don’t know how much interest there’d be, but how about a designated weekly thread (same day/same time) where folks can say what they are doing to help elect better lawmakers and otherwise talk about tangible activities (aside from giving cash) that we can do where we live.

  66. 66.

    Tazj

    December 30, 2017 at 5:36 pm

    Congratulations! What wonderful news! I enjoy reading your posts even though most of them make my head spin.

  67. 67.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 30, 2017 at 5:39 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Well, well, well. Little miss female empowerment seems to actually be a Mafia princess.

  68. 68.

    zhena gogolia

    December 30, 2017 at 5:40 pm

    @DougJ:

    Congratulations, great news.

  69. 69.

    JamesKPolkEsq

    December 30, 2017 at 5:41 pm

    Congratulations! Baby Casey was due on Christmas day last year – because we are awesome planners – and it’s been great.

    You are in for an incredible ride. Try to savior the sweetness of the journey.

    Pic please!

  70. 70.

    JMG

    December 30, 2017 at 5:41 pm

    Congratulations, Doug!

  71. 71.

    schrodingers_cat

    December 30, 2017 at 5:41 pm

    Congratulations to DougJ and Lady DougJ. Also, many thanks for the fundraising posts.

  72. 72.

    Bonnie

    December 30, 2017 at 5:42 pm

    Congratulations! Benjamin is a great name.

  73. 73.

    Patricia Kayden

    December 30, 2017 at 5:45 pm

    Congrats on your Christmas Baby, Doug!!

  74. 74.

    Chat Noir

    December 30, 2017 at 5:46 pm

    Congratulations! I think Benjamin is an excellent name and I wish you and your family all the best.

  75. 75.

    KS in MA

    December 30, 2017 at 5:48 pm

    Congratulations, Doug!

  76. 76.

    Yutsano

    December 30, 2017 at 5:54 pm

    MAZEL TOV!!!

    And don’t worry too much about us jackals.

  77. 77.

    Nicole

    December 30, 2017 at 5:55 pm

    Hooray! What wonderful news! Congratulations! Oh, the first year goes so by so fast. I think that’s why parents take so many pictures the first year- you’d never remember it otherwise. Probably due to the limited sleep, but that time, too, goes by quickly.

  78. 78.

    Mike in DC

    December 30, 2017 at 6:00 pm

    Congrats, Doug. Don’t forget to introduce him as “my only begotten son, in whom I am well pleased.”

  79. 79.

    David Hunt

    December 30, 2017 at 6:03 pm

    Congrats to the whole family. Benjamin shares a birthday with my Aunt Merry. And yes, that is the spelling that my grandmother gave to her.

  80. 80.

    Barry

    December 30, 2017 at 6:06 pm

    Congratulations! I guess that 2017 did bring something worthwhile into the world :)

  81. 81.

    mg_65

    December 30, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    Delurking to say congratulations, Doug, Mrs. Doug, and wee Benjamin!

  82. 82.

    SuzieC

    December 30, 2017 at 6:13 pm

    Donated.

  83. 83.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    December 30, 2017 at 6:17 pm

    Congratulations!!! Many Blessings to you and yours

  84. 84.

    Leto

    December 30, 2017 at 6:17 pm

    Congratulations Doug, and welcome Ben! Wishing the best for you and the family :)

  85. 85.

    CaseyL

    December 30, 2017 at 6:27 pm

    Congratulations! We look forward to many posted photos of the new guy!

  86. 86.

    Tom Levenson

    December 30, 2017 at 6:29 pm

    Awesome news. Congrats, Doug

  87. 87.

    artem1s

    December 30, 2017 at 6:32 pm

    I’ve been giving to various campaigns since W stole the election in 2000. It’s important but I found a way to get involved in voter turnout. https://postcardstovoters.org/

    Seems they were very active in AL for Doug Jones campaign. they pick a race and put together a postcard writing campaign. I’m looking forward to helping with turnout as well as funding campaigns. Makes me feel a little more connected.

  88. 88.

    Adrift

    December 30, 2017 at 6:44 pm

    Mazel Tov!

  89. 89.

    Central Planning

    December 30, 2017 at 6:46 pm

    Congrats DougJ. Benjamin is an excellent name – the name of my first-born.

    And congrats on a 2017 deduction!

  90. 90.

    Big Picture Pathologist

    December 30, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Congrats to you and mom, and welcome to earth Benjamin!

  91. 91.

    The Moar You Know

    December 30, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    The New York Times sees it differently

    @germy: That’s some goddamn industrial strength shit they’re smoking, there. Like road tar or battery acid or spray paint. Just got back from lunch with my FIL, who quite frankly is a fucking Nazi, and he is getting absolutely fucked by the new tax bill and knows it, is not keeping quiet about it and is fucking pissed. The NYT normalizes this at their peril. EVERYONE knows this is a fucking tax increase and a rip-off.

  92. 92.

    justawriter

    December 30, 2017 at 7:01 pm

    You know, a Democratic Congress would be the perfect first birthday gift for young Benjamin.

  93. 93.

    Cheryl Rofer

    December 30, 2017 at 7:13 pm

    Congratulations, Doug and family!

  94. 94.

    debbie

    December 30, 2017 at 7:18 pm

    Congratulations! If it’s your first, double congratulations!

  95. 95.

    sheila in nc

    December 30, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    Congratulations, Doug! and Mrs Doug!, and welcome to parenthood! All the best for you and your new family.

  96. 96.

    Cacti

    December 30, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    Welcome to fatherhood.

    Nothing quite like it. ;-)

  97. 97.

    OzarkHillbilly

    December 30, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    Congrats Doug. My sons are the best thing I ever did. ( so long as I didn’t screw them up too much)

  98. 98.

    Lizzy L

    December 30, 2017 at 7:35 pm

    Congratulations! Wonderful news!

  99. 99.

    Mnemosyne

    December 30, 2017 at 7:40 pm

    Late to the party, but sincerest congratulations! The sleep deprivation will be worth the rest of it.

    And if all you can manage for 2018 is keeping the ActBlue thermometers updated, that in itself will be a great help. Now go nap while you can!

  100. 100.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    December 30, 2017 at 7:45 pm

    Congratulations! Don’t worry, you’re young and don’t really need all of that sleep for the next few months. ;)

    One good thing is that no matter how poor you get, you’ll always have one Benjamin that you can’t spend. :)

  101. 101.

    RobertDSC-Mac Mini

    December 30, 2017 at 7:54 pm

    Congrats to your new addition!

  102. 102.

    Elizabelle

    December 30, 2017 at 7:58 pm

    Welcome to Benjamin. Congratulations, Doug. Wonderful news. My best to you and your wife.

  103. 103.

    Waratah

    December 30, 2017 at 8:07 pm

    Congratulations To you and your wife. You will love your December baby they are special.

  104. 104.

    Amir Khalid

    December 30, 2017 at 8:14 pm

    Adding my congratulations to the pile. Welcome to Earth, Benjamin.

  105. 105.

    Miss Bianca

    December 30, 2017 at 8:20 pm

    Congratulations!

  106. 106.

    Kay

    December 30, 2017 at 8:28 pm

    What good news! Hi baby Benjamin! We’re glad you’re here.

    I’m only working on/following state races. The national scene disgusts me. I know that sounds snobby but it’s true. These people are just too appalling for me to deal with at this juncture. The state Republicans are just…smaller. You can get your arms around the awful. Manageable.

  107. 107.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    December 30, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    Congrats Doug. That is awesome. I enjoy your posts and will miss you but i am sure you’ll pop in every so often. You better bring Benjamin up to be a true blue Democrat!

  108. 108.

    Bill Arnold

    December 30, 2017 at 8:46 pm

    @germy:
    Headline for that article is Expecting a Tax Cut Next Year? Spend It on Others so it’s not targeted at the people who are looking at a tax increase.
    Doug has a good point at top. FWIW, because donations are effectively no longer deductible for me, a much larger percentage of mine will be for political activity (lobbying, political campaigns, etc). This will continue until the Democrats have sufficient numbers in power to undo the new Republican corporate tax giveaway, which is paid for (approximately) by debt (which children and grandchildren will inherit) and enscrewment of large segments of the not-1-percent, including the new Tax Tax (Blue State Tax on SALT), which is increasing my Federal income taxes by roughly 16 percent (have run the numbers). It will be interesting to observe the effects on donations; perhaps they will not be what the Republicans expected. :-)

    Also, there needs to be unrelenting messaging about this, else large numbers of the middle class will go into voting booths in November 2018 not realizing that their tax refunds in 2019 with have shrunk a lot.

  109. 109.

    JGabriel

    December 30, 2017 at 8:49 pm

    DougJ @ Top:

    My wife gave birth to our son Benjamin on December 24.

    Belated Congratulations, Doug! Best wishes for Benjamin and the DougJ family!

  110. 110.

    mainmata

    December 30, 2017 at 9:07 pm

    Heartfelt congratulations for your son’s birth. Our son was also born close to Christmas (less than 2 weeks before) and this can be awkward in terms of celebration and presents given the proximity to Christmas. When they’re real little, they can feel a little slighted. In your son’s case, it basically becomes an identity. Don’t know if your family even celebrates Christmas so it may/may not matter.

  111. 111.

    Aleta

    December 30, 2017 at 9:08 pm

    Congratulations!
    + Thanks for giving so much time and good writing to us readers this year.
    Will miss you, but all joy to the wondrous Benjamin and your family.

  112. 112.

    Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho

    December 30, 2017 at 9:19 pm

    Welcome Benjamin!, we will delight to hear of your milestones when Doug!Dad! has time to keep us updated.

  113. 113.

    TomatoQueen

    December 30, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    Welcome in, baby Benjamin, and best wishes to you for a long and fulfilling life, filled with love and happiness. Congratulations to your parents, Doug! and Mrs Doug!, who will do their best for you, and look upon you with delight and devotion all your days.

  114. 114.

    Johannes

    December 30, 2017 at 9:25 pm

    Many, many congratulations, and welcome to the world, Benjamin! (And, sorry, we are trying to fix it. Promise.)

  115. 115.

    Brachiator

    December 30, 2017 at 9:37 pm

    Coming late to the thread. Been away from the Inter Webs.

    Doug!, this is wonderful news. Just wonderful.

    My deepest warmest wishes to you and your family.

    Great way to close out the year.

  116. 116.

    Mandarama

    December 30, 2017 at 9:43 pm

    This is wonderful news. Congratulations to your family! Welcome, baby Benjamin.

  117. 117.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    December 30, 2017 at 10:02 pm

    ¡Merry Christmas Baby!

  118. 118.

    cbear

    December 30, 2017 at 10:03 pm

    Congratulations, Doug!!

  119. 119.

    SFBayAreaGal

    December 30, 2017 at 10:49 pm

    Congratulations to you Doug, your wife and family.

  120. 120.

    Original Lee

    December 30, 2017 at 11:00 pm

    Congratulations on the new addition to the family, Doug!

    ETA: And it probably feels as if you’ve built a whole new piece of house onto your existing dwelling at this point, too.

  121. 121.

    Sister Golden Bear

    December 30, 2017 at 11:14 pm

    Congratulations to you, your wife and your family! And pics or it didn’t happen.

  122. 122.

    J R in WV

    December 31, 2017 at 12:13 am

    Congratulations. I was born on Dec 27. They always made it a point to have a special dessert and some presents to unwrap on my birthday. Even gathered uncles and such into the plot.

    Now we don’t celebrate xmas much, small gifts to friends, like copies of old photos of long gone friends working their crop this year. And when you’re old as I am, birthdays are milestone more than parties. Glad to make another one, hope I keep it up.

    Again, congrats, and I contributed, again. Still on a monthly, too!!

  123. 123.

    Lurking Canadian

    December 31, 2017 at 8:37 am

    Congratulations to Doug and welcome to Benjamin. Our side needs all the good people we can get

  124. 124.

    msdc

    December 31, 2017 at 8:44 am

    Congratulations, Doug!

  125. 125.

    O. Felix Culpa

    December 31, 2017 at 9:45 am

    Adding my congrats to the chorus! Happy birthday to Benjamin and happy blue wave new year to us all!

  126. 126.

    DougJ

    December 31, 2017 at 7:51 pm

    Thanks everyone

  127. 127.

    SFAW

    January 1, 2018 at 1:32 pm

    Doug –
    Congratulations to you and your wife!

    And a big welcome to Benjamin! Let’s hope that, by the time you’re old enough to understand politics, all vestiges of the Shitgibbon Maladministration (and its attempted destruction of America) will have been wiped from the country.

    Failing that: Chinese is a good choice of languages to learn.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Comments

  • TriassicSands on Friday Night Wind-Down Open Thread – David ‘BoBo’ Brooks Edition (Sep 23, 2023 @ 2:33am)
  • TriassicSands on Friday Night Wind-Down Open Thread – David ‘BoBo’ Brooks Edition (Sep 23, 2023 @ 2:30am)
  • NotMax on Friday Night Wind-Down Open Thread – David ‘BoBo’ Brooks Edition (Sep 23, 2023 @ 2:21am)
  • wjca on Friday Night Wind-Down Open Thread – David ‘BoBo’ Brooks Edition (Sep 23, 2023 @ 2:21am)
  • Ukai on Friday Night Wind-Down Open Thread – David ‘BoBo’ Brooks Edition (Sep 23, 2023 @ 2:13am)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
We All Need A Little Kindness
What Has Biden Done for You Lately?

Balloon Juice Meetups!

All Meetups
Talk of Meetups – Meetup Planning

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
TaMara
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Join the Fight!

Join the Fight Signup Form
All Join the Fight Posts

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Cole & Friends Learn Español

Introductory Post
Cole & Friends Learn Español

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!