Talking Points Memo

Buh-Bye

2012-05-16T19:54:35Z

Over recent days we've been following the story of Eduardo Saverin, the co-founder of Facebook, now resident in Singapore, who has renounced his citizenship to avoid the big time tax bill that would have come with the Facebook IPO windfall. But will Saverin ever be able to set in the US again?

]]> Over the last few days I've been exchanging emails with TPM Reader PM, who notes that US immigration law does not look kindly on former citizens who renounce their citizenship to avoid US taxes. Specifically, it doesn't look like Saverin should ever be able again to get a Visa to enter the United States.

Sec. 212. [8 U.S.C. 1182] details general classes of alients ineligible to gain entrance into the United States. And the law specifically references people in Saverin's category ...

Former citizens who renounced citizenship to avoid taxation.-Any alien who is a former citizen of the United States who officially renounces United States citizenship and who is determined by the Attorney General to have renounced United States citizenship for the purpose of avoiding taxation by the United States is excludable

The question PM and I have had was whether Saverin realized this was a consequence of his decision. And the latest from his lawyer suggests that he very much does. His lawyer is now attacking the "the false impression that tax was the reason behind Eduardo's decision."

The law certainly says he's excludable and probably would be excluded by default. But I'd be curious to hear from tax and immigration attorneys whether we should expect this to actually be enforced. His lawyer certainly appears to be laying the groundwork to claim that taxes had nothing to do with the decision.

Crosstabs: Episode 2

2012-05-16T19:26:45Z

In today's Crosstabs, TPM Poll Editor Kyle Leighton looks at the key demographic groups Obama and Romney are fighting over for November.

To view full sized video, click here.

Small But Solid Lead

2012-05-16T18:55:25Z

Three polls out in the last few days show a very consistent picture. Gov. Scott Walker has a small but solid lead over Democrat Tom Barrett in the Wisconsin recall election. The TPM Poll Average has it at Walker 50.5% to Barrett 44.2%.

Well That Settles That!

2012-05-16T18:33:39Z

The National Coalition for Men has endorsed the House GOP's version of the Violence Against Women Act.

John Boehner's Selective Accounting

2012-05-16T17:55:11Z

Speaker Boehner's insistence that no increase in the debt limit is possible without corresponding dollar-for-dollar budget reductions does not apply to the House GOP's own Ryan budget.

Volcker Smokes Dimon

2012-05-16T17:43:05Z

JP Morgan can do all the proprietary trading it wants, Paul Volcker tells Bill Moyers -- it just has to surrender its banking license.

What's Your Favorite Recent Book?

2012-05-16T16:02:46Z

Besides non-stop coverage of politics, one of my biggest interests with TPM over the years has been books -- reviewing them, discussing them with readers and so forth. And we're planning a new section of the site to do that in a more compelling and on-going way. But for today, I have a more specific question.

]]> As I've told you many times before, my own free time reading is almost 100% popular history. No politics. No fiction. Just history -- what I'd call high-end popular history. And I'm constantly scrounging for the next book I can dig my teeth into. One I just finished was Roger Crowley's history of City of Fortune: How Venice Ruled the Seas.

I was feeling sort of at sea when I finished that one but then noticed that just yesterday a new book for another favorite of mine Tom Holland came out: In the Shadow of the Sword: The Birth of Islam and the Rise of the Global Arab Empire. The first book I read of Holland's was Rubicon, which was great. And I've loved the rest of the ones I've read of his. So I started this one last night with very high hopes.

Now, what's the most engrossing -- I mean, you couldn't put it down -- work of history you've read in the last six months? Send me your best and I'll share your comments with you and other readers.

Big Vote Today

2012-05-16T14:58:04Z

The House votes today on the Violence Against Women Act, with Republicans introducing amendments to tone down their version and escape some of the heat they're getting and Democrats saying, not good enough.

Good Money

2012-05-16T14:38:27Z

Bloomberg says Facebook Co-founder could save a cool $67 million by dumping his US citizenship.

Kinda Weird

2012-05-16T14:03:49Z

The new Washington Post/ABC poll shows independents are pretty negative on Gov. Romney's proposal to repeal 'Obamacare' root and branch -- yet at the same time, fairly big majorities of voters say they want the law repealed.

Sure, Sign Us Up!

2012-05-16T13:57:31Z

Senate Republicans back Speaker Boehner's call for another debt limit showdown.

The Birthers' Last Gasp

2012-05-16T12:41:01Z

It having been proven (again, and again, and again) that President Obama is indeed a citizen of these United States of America, what's left of the 'birther' brigade has been getting busy inventing other alternate histories. But not everyone on the lunatic fringe is happy about it.

The New Debt Limit Deathrace

2012-05-16T10:14:57Z

So just why is the GOP toying with another debt limit disaster? Brian Beutler explains.

Big Upset in Nebraska

2012-05-16T04:09:48Z

State Sen. Deb Fischer pulls off an upset in the Nebraska GOP Senate primary.

Da Dough Run Run

2012-05-15T22:45:14Z

Depositors withdrew nearly $1 billion (U.S.) from Greek banks Monday.

Everybody's Doing It

2012-05-15T22:09:31Z

Even Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) is evolving on gay rights -- now saying that sexual orientation should not be considered when nominating judges to the state bench.

Yeah, So Uh ...

2012-05-15T20:09:16Z

Speaker Boehner's big threat today to tie up the lame duck session of Congress after the election with a debt limit showdown doesn't amount to much of a threat. Brian Beutler explains why.

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

2012-05-15T16:59:28Z

Ron Paul's campaign acknowledges what many of his most ardent supporters often forget.

He remains a dutiful member of the Republican Party.

Debt Limit Disaster, The Sequel

2012-05-15T16:14:07Z

Steny Hoyer responds to John Boehner's threat to take the country back to the default brink.

Boehner Declares War On Christmas

2012-05-15T14:46:32Z

Playing chicken with debt limit disaster was apparently such a blast last time that John Boehner wants to do it all again this December.

The JP Morgan Miss

2012-05-15T14:43:25Z

Brian Beutler explains why politicians on both sides of the aisle are treading carefully in the aftermath of JP Morgan's $2 billion blunder.

Trayvon Martin Update

2012-05-15T12:53:16Z

Florida prosecutors on Monday handed over evidence, including security camera video from the night Trayvon Martin was killed, to George Zimmerman's defense team.

Bained

2012-05-15T12:20:59Z

Mitt Romney fires back at the Obama campaign's Bain fusillade.

Rhode Island Gov Issues Gay Marriage Order

2012-05-14T20:06:25Z

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, the one-time moderate Republican who is now an independent, has issued an executive order declaring that Rhode Island will recognize out-of-state same sex marriages.

Rhode Island currently permits civil unions but not same sex marriages.

Yet More Evidence

2012-05-14T19:16:23Z

Another poll -- now from Pew -- showing that most voters aren't moved either way by President Obama's announcement on gay marriage. But among those who are, a very small margin say they're less favorable.

Meanwhile, Mitt Romney continues to play down or avoid opportunities to play up the issue of same sex marriage.

Paul Packs It In

2012-05-14T18:54:09Z

Ron Paul effectively suspends presidential campaign. Supporters will focus on picking off delegates already won by other candidates.

That A Pistol In Your Pocket?

2012-05-14T17:24:17Z

Do you love carrying your concealed weapon around town, but tire of the discomfort and ridicule you receive from cramming it into your pocket?

A Texas cop and entrepreneur has solved the former -- we're less sure about the latter.

The Numbers on Gay Marriage

2012-05-14T16:26:00Z

Today in Episode 2 of my new show, The Set-Up, I look at whether President Obama will lose votes for his announcement on gay marriage ...

]]> To view the video in full size, click here.

The Big Tell on Gay Marriage

2012-05-14T13:53:42Z

We have and will keep reviewing all the polls. But I think nothing says more about the transformation of the politics of gay marriage than the fact that the main reaction from the GOP has been to claim that President Obama is just playing politics, playing for political advantage.

]]> It is as it seems a tacit refusal to engage -- at least in the main political arena -- on the politics of the issue. This is compared to 15+ years ago when the Defense of Marriage Act fell like a dirty bomb in the middle of national political dialog and a Democratic president and (let's not forget) the vast majority of national Democrats scrambled to get behind it.

This is probably the best example that the fight over gay marriage is all but over for those who have eyes to see it. Accusing you of a 'playing politics' is pretty much always a sign that they're conceding the politics are good or at least good for significant parts of your coalition.

But there's another part of this that merits mention. I think this is actually a smart and somewhat subtle approach from national Republicans. I think these folks realize that going all out culture war on President Obama on this is not a good idea. It will have bad knock on effects in future elections. But even more important, too strong a push would confirm the idea a lot of people got during the primaries that the GOP is a narrow and exclusionary party, holding on to viewpoints that are clearly receding into the past.

That can be damaging politically even among voters who -- all things being equal -- would just as soon not have two men (or two women) be able to marry each other. In other words, there's a real trap Republicans and Romney can fall into here.

As long as they can play it cool in the mainstream political dialog (opposing without demonizing) they can assume (correctly) that the folks who passionately oppose gay marriage don't need harsh statements to get riled up.

As a political approach it makes a lot of sense to me. The question is whether core Republican voters will be satisfied with such a low key response from Republican leaders.

Constituuuution-al Convention?

2012-05-14T13:52:35Z

Are Ron Paul supporters preparing to sow chaos at the GOP's convention?