Congestion Charge-Free Open Thread

By Neil Stevens Posted in | | | | | — Comments (17) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

There's a neat little story in the Japan Times today about how various diplomats have stopped paying Red Ken's 'congestion' car taxes in London:

The biggest debtor is the United States, which owes over £2 million. Japan is currently in second place. More than £10 million is owed by 20 embassies, according to Transport for London.

The U.S. and German embassies stopped paying the charge in July 2005 and there are thought to be around 50 missions not paying now.

While opposing their actions, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone knows there is nothing he can do by law to prevent the diplomats' refusal to cough up.

What's especially funny about this is that Livingstone is beclowning himself so thoroughly by comparing this with the aggression of old militarist Japan:

He told a radio station: "I think there are several problems with Japan that we could go on about here. Admitting their guilt for all the war crimes would be one thing. So if they've not got round to doing that, I doubt they're too worried about the congestion charge."

How did this fool get elected? Open thread.

Congestion Charge-Free Open Thread 17 Comments (0 topical, 17 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
Isn't NYC also thinking of doing this? by shooflyguy68

I hope the folks in NYC and surrounding areas come up with an effective opposition campaign and prevent this kind of nonsense on our shores.

Reply To This — User Info — #1
It wouldn't be a bad idea to just ban private vehicles by Joliphant

Manhattan. Its almost impossible to use them for the intended purpose anyway.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777

Reply To This — User Info — #2
Terrible idea J by David Hinz

just what would car thieves do for a living?

Reply To This — User Info — #3
There's gotta be a better way. by shooflyguy68

There are many times that I've been sitting in cab in Manhattan wondering why so many people insist on driving their personal vehicles on the island. But, the thought of the governent trying to collect these fines and giving "important people" a pass just gives me the willies. All I see is a new opportunity for corruption.

Reply To This — User Info — #4
When I lived there by Joliphant

Parking was running me 400 buck a month
insurance 6k a year
It took a half hour in advance call to the garage to get my car out. When it finally got out I had the privilege of being in a car and going no place.

Funny enough during those years I don't ever recall being upset about the price of gas.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777

Reply To This — User Info — #5
Red Ken by Risky

My formative political experiences were getting angry with Red Ken in his first stint of power in the eighties. I will gloss over that and provide a few more recent highlights for RedState:

Ken call US Ambassador to London a crook

Ken finds more Jewish people to insult

Ken invites extremist Islamist cleric back to London

Ken hosts Hugo Chavez

more corruption allegations

This guy has actually got the capacity to make me more angry than the traitor George Galloway and got all the honesty and principals of a syphilitic hyena.

I will return to this thread for a more when I have time.....

Reply To This — User Info — #6
Was there much lead paint in london in the fifties ? by Joliphant

There has to be some explanation, Is he a phenomenal administrator ?
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777

Reply To This — User Info — #7
He's a populist by Risky

with no primcipals and you can fool enough of the people for some of the time, but the chickens are coming home to roost now.

He's picked up some enemies on the left too, whoare hammering away at him and the scamdal with his advisors giving away money to his mates is still running.

Still he's an operator and will do anything it takes to get elected. The Conservative candidate, BBrois Johnson is probably the most popular figure in the party with the pulic, having doner a lot of TV in the past and is bright, if a bit flaky on the details. London naturally leans to labour, but I think Ken may well lose and it will be well deserved.

Reply To This — User Info — #8
The Florida/Michigan Question by reldim

I am watching Corrine Brown on CNN blame Republicans for the fact that there are no Democrat delegates from Florida, because Republicans control the Legislature and the Governor's office. Basically, she says that Democrats couldn't stop Republicans from forcing them to break the rules.

I found the bill that moved the primary, and it can be called a "liar liar pants on fire" item. Ms. Brown should check her facts before she lies on national TV. Here's the bill summary page:

Scrolling down you will find that the House vote was 115-1, the Senate vote 37-2, and a second House vote was 118-0. Now, I'm pretty sure that, though in the minority, there are quite a few Democrats in the Florida Legislature. If they were so appalled by the bill and the potential consequences for their party, why wasn't there a block vote by Florida Democrats against the bill in the Legislature?

The Democrats in both Florida and Michigan went along enthusiastically with the idea of moving their primaries up even after the DNC threatened them (along with the RNC). Now they want to be absolved from their decisions.

Personally, if Florida and Michigan Democrats want a say, they should be required to come up with a party-run process that will be paid for by the STATE party treasuries - the national parties should not be required to bail them out, nor should the states' taxpayers.

One thing I can say, Florida has a better argument than Michigan. At least Florida had an election in which every candidate was a ballot option and both Clinton and Obama could have gotten votes. Only Clinton was on the ballot in Michigan (though, that was because Obama and others actively went and had their names taken off the ballot - had they all done nothing their names would have been on the ballot).

Through all this, the one thing that seems clear - the resolution of the this problem looks to be bad for the Democratic Party - it does not look like all sides will agree and that means someone will be upset. Either the Obama folks because the delegates are seated as is, the Clinton folks because they wind up being forced into some sort of "do-over" in Florida that results in the loss of delegates, or the people of Florida and Michigan because nothing happens and they are not seated at the convention at all.

Reply To This — User Info — #9
Oh goody an open thread.. by jadedmara

Because I so wanted to point people in this direction. (warning: dkos link).

I love the primaries.

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Barack Obama. A Change for the Worse.

Reply To This — User Info — #10
5 and thank you by Joliphant

It looks like Injuries is definitely in the lead for the Dems.
______________________________
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
-Thomas Paine: The American Crisis, No. 4, 1777

Reply To This — User Info — #11
The greatest part is this exchange: by jadedmara

hillary will not be president

several reason why hillary will not be president

she units republican
she has now [DKOSLANGUAGE] off a great group of true democrats.......
The hell with the witch.

i said it and will say it again.

Hillary wil end up endorsing John Mccain......

Viva Obama........

by orman on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 03:49:47 PM PST

TR'd
for the "witch" remark. Obnoxious and unnecessary.

I will proudly support the Democratic nominee.

by SingularExistence on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 03:51:53 PM PST

Agreed, witch has a gender connotation

and therefore shouldn't be used.

Can't we all just agree that Hillary is an [DKOSLANGUAGE] and move on?

by Sun dog on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 03:54:31 PM PST

------------------
Barack Obama. A Change for the Worse.

Reply To This — User Info — #12
oops by jadedmara

Sorry for the language. If I could go back and edit I would.
------------------
Barack Obama. A Change for the Worse.

Reply To This — User Info — #13
Done (nt) by Neil Stevens

HTML Help for Red Staters
"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater

Reply To This — User Info — #14
Heh by jadedmara

That makes it funnier.

She's not a witch, she's a BEEEP.
-----------------
Barack Obama. A Change for the Worse.

Reply To This — User Info — #15
Have to love the feminist police there though by Neil Stevens

I bet you when people use male genitalia as an insult, nobody even blinks.

HTML Help for Red Staters
"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater

Reply To This — User Info — #16
Laws of Poli Sci by ofbbg

OFBBG

To answer the question, remember Poli Sci 101 - People get the kind of government they deserve.

Reply To This — User Info — #17


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