Well, the President is concerned about corporations in America who take advantage, set up operations outside of America in an effort to lower their taxes. That's not good for America; that's not good for workers; and it's something that the President has proposed legislation on that's been sent up to the Hill.
— White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, July 30, 2002

WASHINGTON - Harken Energy Corp. set up an offshore subsidiary in the Cayman Islands tax haven while President Bush sat on Harken's board of directors in 1989, the Daily News has learned.

...

White House communications director Dan Bartlett said, "As a general practice at that time ... international contracts like this one were done through a subsidiary to contain liability. ... In order to save money [on taxes], you would have to make money, and they didn't make any. They found no oil."
— Timothy J. Burger, Bush co. went offshore

Call it the incompetence defense. Harken tried to weasel out of paying its taxes, but it didn't succeed, because it failed to earn a profit. Yes, your honor, we broke into the bank vault, but since we forgot to take the cash with us, we didn't actually steal any money.
— Jonathan Chait, Stupid Is, Stupid Does

This tiny box greeted me on my last visit to the New Republic's Website:

These so-called "Home News" are that the Website is asking its users to register with them, under the promise of "never [sharing] your information with outside parties without your explicit consent." Registration? This scribbler is not too uncomfortable with giving his demographic data to be anonymously aggregated with other users', but is concerned the Republic might have a change of heart and start selling their e-mail database. Besides, it seems to me that this is turning into an epidemic. First The New York Times, then the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, now the Republic? Hasn't anyone already found their niche in the on-line world and doesn't need to keep pushing their marketing needs on their users?

It's been high time since the Republic was an affiliate of Plastic. Submitted a story letting the Plasticians know how the Republic is doing on the Web market. Will provide a link if it gets picked for discussion.

{Update, Aug. 9, 2002}

Curses, foiled again! Received the curt no thanks for the submission. Here are some select comments on it from the Plastic crowd:

• Huh, looks like Modern Humorist is cutting back to once every two weeks too. Looks like cutting ties with Plastic puts you on deathwatch. I wonder what Beth (Wired News) is doing now.
• Teevee seems to be doing just fine. Good topic, though.
• If only Plastic could bring Suck back (sniff). Plastic = Cred.
• Not an issue. People who want to lie on the registration form can lie.
• Awww, I guess I'll have to give up my weekly dose of New Democrat tripe when the New Republic starts demanding registration. Whatever shall I do with my life???