The American Spectator

Appleby| 1.29.10 @ 6:38AM

Just remember, you are talking about the moral equivalent of a University Sophomore, who has lived all his life on the cheque from Mom and Dad. He has never HELD a job in the private sector, much less CREATED AND SUSTAINED either a job or a business. He has only the vaguest idea what working for a living entails. He is like TheKids who created the DotCom Bubble and blew all their Venture Capital on decorating and furnishing their *campus* before discovering that in order to run a buiness you actually had to make and sell something to customers who were persuaded that your product was betterand cheaper than someone else had to offer.

When my oldest boy and my nephew were 12 and 14 respectively, they were very involved in baseball card trading. One day they announced that they had discovered a foolproof way to get rich at it: they would buy cards and then sell them for lots more than they paid for them! Both were disappointed to find out that this was basically what everybody in business did.

I think King Zero has yet to reach the point where he understands that a job is not all about What You GET or what you can be forced to hand over to your employees. It is about selling something people want for more than it cost to make.

The best thing for him would be to join the private work force -- if he has any actual skills -- and try to work under the laws he wants to proclaim.

Unfortunately we are stuck with him for another 3 years. We must work diligently to neutralize him in the next election cycle, for his own good and for ours.

Jim Hlavac| 1.29.10 @ 11:24AM

Join the work force -- yes.
Any skills? Yes, I suppose he can sell lemonade, or have a paper delivery route. And too, there are many a place that needs mopping up. I can see it now, a small panel truck, filled with supplies:
Obama's Mop Up Service -- no job too small, most too big for me.

Coal Carrier| 1.29.10 @ 11:58AM

Sorry. That's above his pay grade.

chris pedersen| 1.31.10 @ 11:39AM

He couldn't open a lemonade stand for profit if he got the lemons for free. Pelosi/Reid would tax the lemons at 90% as a bonus! Bailout followed by Bankruptcy!

As for a paper route he'd whine the tires went flat on his China made bicycle due to global warming and wouldn't think of, or make any attempt at patching the hole in the inter-tube because he probably isn't aware it even exists following his torn shin bone wrapped up with the front page of the NYT rag sheet where Chris Mathews is pictured blowing him a kiss and rubbing his own er' leg. I think? The NYT agreed to $7.25 an hour as long as he doesn't dump them in the Hudson river to avoid his job duties of delivery as he has done thus far as the FECAL-MATTER & Chief evidenced by every stinking lying word he utters. How about placing a liars tax[per word] to solve our national debt. We should be out of red ink by next Friday the POS that he is! He should give Acorn/Stern/SEIU Shovels and direct them to follow him for the next three years "mopping up" his B.S while claiming an increase in jobs. Hell the whole Country for that matter could be re-employed cleaning out the Obamas' stall

bob| 2.1.10 @ 12:27PM

Chris... I think you just insulted fecal matter.

Medina, Fl.| 1.31.10 @ 9:15PM

Sorry, the King will not like that type of job! He is a community organizer. It's the only thing he may be really good at or may be now since he is living it up at the W.H. having taxpayers paying for his parties & good living with all kind of servants can't do that anymore either The KING is too sophisticated already and want to be the one who control everything and every body! He is the untouchable like Mr. Chavez!

DaveS| 1.29.10 @ 4:02PM

Do you mean he's just like the Clintons (never held a private sector job)?

joebob| 1.31.10 @ 9:07AM

Actually more like GW Bush!
Or maybe GW's daddie.

Alan Brooks| 1.29.10 @ 8:24PM

"another 3 years."

You mean seven years. He will be re-elected. Now I'm not saying he ought to be; I don't know who today should be president-- things are so complicated in the 21st century you need a scorecard. And the level of ill will is staggering.
Jack Kemp ought to have been president, but he never got above being a candidate for the warm-bucket-of-spit-post.
We are not in Heaven.

chris pedersen| 1.31.10 @ 11:45AM

NOT A CHANCE HE GETS RE-ELECTED AGAIN! I'LL BET $1,000.00 AGAINST HIM IN VEGAS ANY DAY WHEN THE ODDS APPEAR ON THE TOTEBOARD

Neolibertarian| 1.31.10 @ 8:00AM

Obama is the Elmer Gantry of presidents. I get the perception that to him the Presidency is personal, nothing more than a political exercise, his grade self-administered and skewed by his affirmative action background. Real men, women and institutions have uplifted him through his life with the hope that he could be groomed into leadership. He has been spawned in the corruption of Chicago politics, and schooled in the Alinsky mindset of elitist wealth distribution. Consequently, he has earned very little fairly, accomplished hardly anything with personal initiative, or accepted responsibility for any dysfunction his community organization has produced. He postures, relies on those who placed him in this position to do all the heavy lifting, and then blames everyone for the inevitable failure of his “vision.”
His Presidency founded and funded by the Soros’s, banking lobbyists, ACORN and beltway cronyism is the only thing that, ironically, has actually gained any of his pledged transparency; a transparency that has spawned tea parties, Republicans landslides, and the catcalls of “liar” and “robed rectitude” in the most hallowed halls of our failing democracy.
His staunchest ally the MSM is revolting, and the anger and frustration of his narcissist mindset cannot be hidden behind the teleprompter. His entire political persona so far has been to shirk responsibly, to constantly seek a “fall guy” or to throw somebody under the bus.
That blame game is a two way street, it is downhill both directions, and the chickens have come home to roost.

CHRIS PEDERSEN| 1.31.10 @ 12:03PM

NOT TO MENTION THE CHICAGO "MOB" TIES [a/k/a La Cosa Nostra] via MAYOR DALEY AND OBAMA'S GREEK BANKER FRIEND WHO'S A BIG TIME OBAMA CONTRIBUTOR NOW RUNNING FOR THE SENATE IN ILLINOIS

WHAT'S NEXT? RENAMING THE COUNTRY THE UNITED STATES OF La Cosa Nostra BACKED UP BY THE IRS a/k/a THE Internal Racketeering Service WITH THE POWER OF THE GUN

Jerry S. Dickinson| 2.2.10 @ 7:05PM

Obama's plan to loan tax money to small business and receive interest is a plan right out of the Rules of Racketeering. If he were of Italian descent he would go to jail

michigander_sandusky| 1.29.10 @ 6:40AM

Once again the POTUS has revealed either his terminal stupidity or that he lives in la la land. The idea that the U.S. can snap its fingers and double its exports is absolutely ludicrous and shows how out of touch Barry is with how real economics works. Can 2012 come to soon?

crookedwren| 1.29.10 @ 1:53PM

Obviously we can export those solar panels being made by felons now (after law-abiding citizens who have to support themselves and -- possibly -- others were laid off). Oh, and that company doesn't have to pay the convicts nearly so much -- so that'll make the product sell out there -- to China and India and all those great countries that Obama seems to like so much. Well, China anyway.

The US has to produce a product that other countries will want to buy! DUH!

The govt. can't litigate that. Sorry, Obama, for the reality check.

Beverly| 1.29.10 @ 2:14PM

I just installed solar panels and the US company went out of business and they had to be imported from China, delaying the installation. What irony!

Alan Brooks| 1.29.10 @ 10:49PM

It's yet certain Obama will be re-elected. The GOP is clueless still, after two decades of post Cold War discombobulation.
I resent the Bush family dynasty's power grabbing, but don't care either way about the GOP. Political minutiae is for politicos. GOP minutiae is for the GOP.

Winston chirchill ziro| 2.1.10 @ 8:43PM

America needs a wake up call and run Obama and his thieving Fed, AIPAC, and ADL, criminals out of town, and out of the White house.

Jim O'Brien| 1.29.10 @ 7:10AM

Obama is a totally incompetent liar and fool who is arrogant, ignorant of economics and history, and a friend of Islamism. Obama and Biden were meant for each other, but not for America. What would Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Reagan think? And what would they do?

Jim O'Brien| 1.29.10 @ 8:12AM

Bin Laden Blames U.S. for Global Warming in New Tape:

Obama, Usama, Congressional Democrats and other morons are on the same page.

Winston Churchill ziro| 2.1.10 @ 8:33PM

If you people don't WAKE UP soon, you will wake up and the recivers will come in to claim AMERICA. This Bil Layden nonsense is to fool the masses.
9/11 The Gold stolen from under the trade centre, had to be some one who knew it was there.
2. The people involved in the Insurance FRAUD, who would buy a building you knew was condemed due to asbestos, deposits 1,5 million and with the insurance tries to claim 7billion.
Then there is the Put options betting on the decline in stocks. That resulted in the Banfruptcy of AIG, the bugest Insurance bankers in the world.
3. The Mossad agents caught at the seen of the crime with residue of explosives on their hands, held and released. Fire fighters spoke of explosions on various levels, the melting of the steel structure could not be melted with that type of aivation fuel.
4. The Banks who profited from the 9/11 attacks.
5. The stolen passports found at the seen of the crime.
6. Regime change, Karzai, and SADDAM.
7. The people who stole the assport to plant at the crime seen.
Still believe Osama Bin Layden has anything to do with the mass murder of 3000 Americans, if you still do you need to wake the hell up.
8. No investigation, why?
Who has something to hide, who has something to gain follow the money.

joebob| 1.31.10 @ 9:14AM

You mean GW Bush don't you?
I remember GW bringing the Islamic Saudi Prince to his ranch and seeing pictures of the two hugging, Bush was hugging Islam! And remember that the 911 hijackers were mostly. And then there is the problem of oil we buy from the Arabs, both Bushes were into Islamic Oil.

Homer| 1.31.10 @ 11:32PM

joebob, Bush is History. Try living in the present.

phat shantz| 1.29.10 @ 7:18AM

Ruling the recalcitrant and intransigent masses is hard. Why don't you all submit to the incredible superiority of this mental monarch?

Man and nature must submit! Economics is subservient. Physics is subservient. Subjects of the monarch are subservient.

Resistance is rebellion. Rebellion is criminal.

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 8:48AM

Yes, "Orwellian" is the state of the union.

chris pedersen| 1.31.10 @ 12:11PM

I have started my own campaign. Its theme is simple "Bread, Butter & Bullets" Lock and Load!

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 7:34AM

Andrew, it seems that you are the one that doesn't understand business. Have you ever run a business? I know you worked at Business Week, but you were never a business executive. For example, you claim that by lowering the minimum wage, a company will hire more people. I've spent my entire career running businesses and that is wrong. You hire the number of people to do the job. If you lower the minimum wage, you just pocket the difference in profits.

Regarding exports, have you ever heard of something we call the "trade balance"? The importance of increasing exports is two-fold. First, we increase the number of manufacturing jobs and secondly, we keep the capital and profits in our country thereby increasing federal revenues and doing less borrowing from China.

Regarding China -- do you really want to use them as an example? They don't have "innovation", they have an "industrial policy". The government controls who gets the capital for growth. They certainly want to export more.

Both India and China are far more socialist than Obama could ever make the U.S. They are just willing to let more people who don't have any money die.

When you have anything related to factual information, let us know.

Indiana Alex| 1.29.10 @ 8:11AM

Bob,

Thanks for coming back around. It is wonderful to hear someone who thinks so much of his intellect to spout such absolute nonsense as this.

"If you lower the minimum wage, you just pocket the difference in profits."

Rubbish, Rubbish, Rubbish.

Of course you, Obama and his Pay Czar believe you know how much everyone should "take home". You see, you people can't bring yourselves to say "earn" because you aren't quite sure of the concept. Money is simply "made" and "taken home", with no real idea of where it comes from, or why. And it it's not given to you to "take home", it is simply gobbled up by The Man and turned to profit.

Your drivel on trade balance is incredibly sloppy and exposes you, as always, as a very poor, eclectic armchair economist who borrows pieces of varying principles in an attempt to make yourself seem intelligent.

In truth you are even a lightweight in the sense of an intellectual who has nothing to do but post bad counter arguements on a blog.

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 8:38AM

Indiana -- your response is empty rhetoric, as usual. "Rubbish", of course, shows that you have no logic -- as usual. If you've ever actually run a business, which I doubt by your point of view, you certainly don't understand supply and demand. If you think that you hire minimum wage people simply because you have the money to do so, then you are more of a fool than I imagined. You could use the decrease in wages to lower the price of an item by 1% or so, but then you'd be fired by your board because that will not raise demand. That's why in 99% of the cases, you'd put that money into the bottom line so your bonus is increased. Remember that executives are not rewarded on long term success, but quarterly results. Until that changes, it would be dumb for a salaried CEO not to pocket the difference.

Of course, regarding the trade imbalance, you have drivel without any economic principles. So you're saying that exports are bad for our economy? Did you learn that from Palin or Beck?

In truth, you don't even rise to the level of a lightweight in anything.... Have fun...

Howard| 1.29.10 @ 8:51AM

I guess it depends on how you handle the lower cost wage environment. For instance, if you lower your prices due to lower costs, it is likely, though not certain that your sales units will increase. Presumably you can hire extra people, due to increased demand for your service or goods. In my case I tend to pay people more than the minimum required. I get better workers , and I can get a premium price for my companies services ( to an extent). There is no way minimum wages are coming down anyways.

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 9:08AM

Howard, I can tell you actually understand how to run a business. However, go through an exercise with your income statement where you lower the wage levels for your lowest paid workers. Let's say you lower their wages by 10% or so. Let's say that COGS is about 40%, taxes are 25% and profits are 8%. That leaves 27% for wages and overhead. If overhead is 10%, then wages are 17%. Your lowest paid employees (minimum wage), are probably about 10% of payroll. 10% of 17% is 1.7%. However, most businesses are like yours, where lowering the minimum wage would not affect your business at all. A 1.7% price reduction would not stimulate much business, and we both know it. Thus, the argument that lowering the minimum wage increases the number of people employed makes little sense.

PolishKnight| 1.29.10 @ 10:02AM

Ah yes, the minimum wage. I've got into virtual fist fights with conservatives here over that issue. Time to pick another one:

In most metro areas of the country, the minimum wage is irrelevent since few people can justify even showing up at that price. That brings up illegal immigration (which the author didn't touch. Don't know about Obama. I didn't bother wasting an hour and a half of my life watching him...) Small business owners are notorious for hiring illegals and then sticking the excess costs and problems, such as healthcare and crime, on the surrounding community. This puts them on the same level as a chemical company that cuts prices by "1%" by dumping toxic chemicals into the public water supply. "Hey! I save you 1%?!?! What are you whining about?" and then the talking heads at CATO scratch their heads and can't seem to figure out why people don't trust small, much less, big businesses to do the right thing and court socialism...

When my wife was going to school, she had to go for service level jobs and I advised her to avoid minimum wage jobs like the plague and here's why: The employers have the attitude that these employees are disposable and therefore they treat them poorly both in terms of wages and overall attitude. They engage in numerous labor law violations (I remember one expecting me when I did such a job to come a half hour early, unpaid, and conduct an inventory and register count) unpaid overtime, etc.

Ken (Old Texican)| 1.29.10 @ 12:28PM

Polish,
No fist fight here, poor baby.

carnot| 1.30.10 @ 10:01AM

yea...right on! truth to power! rah rah.

and I...as a consumer...of course want to pay higher wages for what is afterall usually the lowest level of service....because it really, really makes me feel good. and it's really, really the ethical thing to do.

there are lots of equities in these exchanges......not just the myopic views you really, really conscientious servants of the public weal consider.

Julie| 1.29.10 @ 4:04PM

Wait a minute! Andrew started out saying that more teenagers would be able to find jobs if the minimum wage were lowered. How can you dispute that? In New York City the Bronx borough president persuaded the City Council to kill a big mall development because (after making a number of concessions) the developer drew the line at requiring mall tenants to pay above minimum wage for retail employees. Consequently, the Bronx, where 80% of the people live at or below the poverty line, missed the opportunity to generate 2,200 new jobs. And here's what Bronx Borourgh President Ruben Diaz said in reference to killing the project: "The notion that any job is better than no job no longer applies." Puhlease! Andrew is right.

joebob| 1.31.10 @ 9:27AM

Bob - youes problem is that here we talk 'Tea-Bagger', we talk like we is intella..intelle...um...smart......what ever duh word for smart..asses! ya'no, down and dirty!
If you uses you lingo right you must be left!
If you aint caarfull you will be ...left behind...or is that the left cheek?

chris pedersen| 1.31.10 @ 12:23PM

PASS THE FAIR TAX PLAN H-R 25 AND ALL OF THIS WILL BE PAST HISTORY.

ONLY A COMPLETE FLAMMING FOOOOOOOOL WOULD ARGUE AGAINST KEEPING ALL OF THEIR OWN MONEY AS WELL AS AGAINST THEIR OWN MONATARY SELF PRESERVATION BY RETAINING IT! EVERY PENNY, EVERY PAYDAY!
See: fairtax.org for all the details.
WHILE REMEMBERING
LIBERTY=FREEDOM--- FINANCIAL FREEDOM=TRUE LIBERTY

Becky| 1.29.10 @ 8:39AM

Raising the minimum wage does increase business costs and reduces employment. Not only does the wage raise, but so to the employers share of taxes and workman's comp, unemployment. We are in business, have business freinds, and Bob's comment about pocketing the difference is disqualifying. Workman's comp rates vary and are based on the type of job.

When you have anything related to factual information, let us know.

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 8:50AM

Becky, bless you. How any business survives in this atmosphere is beyond me. You have normal Americans in your corner. Hang in there!

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 9:12AM

Becky, I see you don't have a lot of business experience. When your costs go up, you pass on the increases to your customers in most cases. Your competition, will also have to raise their prices. That's what occurs when the minimum wage rises. Now are you telling me that when the minimum wage goes down you're going to pass the savings on to customers as well?

When you have anything related to business knowledge, or gain more business experience, let me know.

Indiana Alex| 1.29.10 @ 9:24AM

I really hate responding to such thoughtless dog logic, but I would like to point out what an idiot you are.

You state that when the businesses costs go, up the increase is passed on to the consumer (in most cases). This is not a true statement at all, but a generalization that represents pretty lazy reasoning.

Yet, when costs go down, this is never passed on to the consumer, but "pocketed" or turned into a "big CEO bonus".

You are really starting to reveal yourself as an ideologue that has very little real world experience.

You are also incredibly annoying, but that's most likely intended.

John Conners| 1.29.10 @ 9:35AM

"You are really starting to reveal yourself as an ideologue that has very little real world experience."

Starting? Bob's droppings have always had this smell.

LQQKY| 1.29.10 @ 10:13AM

In Bob's case, ideologue is a misnomer -- idiot comes closer. I believe he can't wait for the messiah to be voted or run out of office so that he can take over.
I love the way he negates most of his arguments with "I see you don't..." which presumes by definition that he does... NOT! Most of his arguments are specious and designed to show how really (self) important he is. Obviously the lion's share of his presumed education has come from our failed education system (K thru college).
Have faith Bob, when the messiah is gone and his ignorance has virtually destroyed the greatest nation ever known, you will be over qualified to step in and finish the job -- can't wait!

carnor| 1.30.10 @ 8:01PM

there's some logic to Bob's argument. problem is....he ignores data vis HUGE jumps in unemployment following the most recent min wage increase....even after accounting for macro conditions.

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 10:50AM

Right, Bob - and with the utter nonsense you spout, you have run a business?

If minimum wage goes up across the board, affecting all businesses,and they just blithely raise prices, a consumer will respond by purchasing less from that business - or from its competitors, or from other businesses. Consumers can't just print more money in their basements like you do (that would be inflationary, wouldn't it?)

As a result of the decrease in customers, the business winds up laying employees off. Or they move to automation, which is why grocery store cashiers are disappearing and movie house ushers are an artifact of history. These are minimum wage jobs that are disappearing thanks to the continual ratcheting up of minimum wage.

And if a rise from $7.50 an hour to $8.00 an hour has no discernable effect on a business's fortunes, why not $20 an hour? Or does your logic bump up against the ceiling of reality?

You are an idiot, bob.

Of course, I know none of this occured with the business you "ran" (nudge, nudge, wink, wink), of course, because you sold unicorns to leprechauns, didn't you?

Let's see, how many careers are you up to now, anyway?

As for your attempt to prove that most Wall Streeters are Democrats, your comment a week or so back was, I believe, that none of your friends were Democrats when you "worked" on Wall Street. Uh huh.

Investment bankers have, net, donated more to Dems than Repubs for the last 25 years. Look at all the former Investment Bankers that are in the Obama administration or lobbiests for Dem causes.

With "conservatives" like Bob, who needs liberals?

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 2:27PM

Excellent, Grzmlyk. I laughed out loud at "because you sold unicorns to leprechauns" -- thanks for providing exercise for my stomach muscles!! They truly need it!

JP| 1.29.10 @ 3:38PM

Bob,
That model does not always hold true. As a matter of fact, in a highly competitive market, the seller may not have the option to pass on the cost increases to his customers. This is true in many, many markets. The bottom line is that when state mandated costs go up, the firm has to:

a)Find savings in other areas to offset the higher labor costs.

b)Reduce labor costs and become more efficient.

c)Absorb the higher costs and accept a lower profit margin.

d)Lay-off workers and force the remainder to become more efficient.

e)Offshore your low end labor to Asia.

Most firms to a combination of all of the above.

Stammon| 1.29.10 @ 8:29PM

I'm sorry Bab but you obviously do not have much experience with low wage employees. I do. I was involved with a manufactuing company that was struggling to compete with imports. With 150 employees at near minimum wage, we would have been out of business if we paid them 25 cents more an hour. We survived, and prospered, but small business is often an iffy proposition. Make the minimum wage high enough, and that 17 year old is just not going to be hired.

Scott A Joseph, MD| 1.30.10 @ 4:54PM

Actually, when the cost of producing the product goes down, in a properly competitive situation, the cost of purchasing the product DOES go down. Take computers, for instance. Competition does work, Bob. And I have met a payroll, sucker.

Neolibertarian| 1.29.10 @ 10:45AM

If you want to know the effects of wage manipulation simply ask any employer what would happen if he arbitrarily raised all of the employees wages one dollar an hour. The answer you receive will be honest, tested, and the inverse what would happen when you lower the standard wage.
I recently reentered the work force after four years of retirement to provide some unencumbered cash flow for the candidates I support. The minimum wage I receive is now a moot point as the business expense of wage is controlled by maintaining hours worked so benefits are not applicable and raises are nonexistent as they are “performance” generated either by company “bottom line” bonuses or employee behavior (you are fired, another “minimum” is hired).
My real income and that of my remaining family is generated by the “inherited” (I inherited the work, not the money) family rental business (retail outlets and residential) and the first thing I did this year was LOWER everyone’s rent after several of my renters were late (and apologetic, they are good renters). This voluntary concept “works” and should serve as an example that applies to the understanding of the cash flow and services rendered relationship.
Note that none of the flexibility exists in my part time (tea anyone?) job, which is totally corporate, or government regulated. Finding new renters is exactly the same as training new employees; you do not want to do either.

MikeBee| 1.29.10 @ 9:22AM

Bob,
You're partially correct on the minimum wage. An employer hires only the number of people that he/she needs to get the work done. However, raising the minimum wage does serve as a disincentive to hire new workers. This has been proven many times in the past, as employers simply hire fewer workers as the minimum wage rises, and try to get more production out of their present workforce. Also, as Andrew points out, placing a new punitive "cost of hiring" on a business with the proposed healthTAX scheme will also impact hiring negatively.

With regard to the trade balance, this president's policies are actually pushing the U.S. toward more exporting. What has accomplished this is the devaluation of the dollar. As this administration has printed more dollars to pay its now-much-higher bills (thanks to dramatically-increased spending), and to pay interest to China, the value of the dollar, with respect to other currencies around the world, has dropped. This creates the situation where other countries may increase business with the U.S., and may buy things here, increasing exports. However, the downside of this situation is that WE can buy LESS with our dollar, as it is devalued. Our interest paid to China increases, along with bank interest rates increasing, as well. This causes prices to increase here, as well. Sure, the Fed Reserve is still holding down interest rates, but as the dollar is devalued further, eventually the Fed will have to raise rates to reflect reality. This will raise the cost of living for everyone in this country, including businesses. Already the cost of gasoline in this country has risen simply in response to the devaluation of our dollar. Wages will be forced higher, as folks won't be able to afford to pay a now cost of living. So, greater earnings from higher exports become offset by higher costs, due to the devaluation of the dollar. Most folks, including the Big O, don't understand the BALANCE of trade which always exists.

MikeBee| 1.29.10 @ 9:25AM

left out a word: "folks won't be able to afford to pay a now HIGHER cost of living."

Stuart Koehl| 1.29.10 @ 1:22PM

A minimum wage disincentivizes employers from hiring additional entry level workers because such workers are, by definition, marginal employees whose value added is relatively low. A worker I can afford to hire at $5/hr may become a liability at $6 or $6.50, particularly if I am in a competitive market, and cannot simply pass along the cost to my customers. Insofar as the market is now global, American employers really cannot pass on those additional labor costs.

Instead, they will make the workforce they have more productive through automation, improved work processes and elimination of non-essential administrative and overhead costs. The net result is less employment for those who are trying to enter the labor force with minimal experience and skills.

I have seen the same problem in Europe, where there is very high structural unemployment. There, the problem is not only high minimum wages, but also generous mandatory benefit programs and restrictions on employee termination that make the labor market inelastic.

In many discussions with European industrial representatives, I have been told repeatedly that they cannot afford to do low value added work (which is thus outsourced to low cost centers in Asia and Latin America), nor is it really practical to increase the workforce, since it is extremely difficult to fire workers once hired. When business goes bad, such workers have to be maintained on payroll, or if furloughed, still paid the majority of their wages.

Rather than investing in new workers, European businesses prefer to invest in automated systems that make their assembly lines more productive while reducing the labor content of their products. An industrial robot does not belong to a union, nor does he have to be paid when not being used; you simply press the off button until you need him again.

jeff| 1.30.10 @ 10:47AM

Bob,
I have run a business for 26 years myself. You pay what the labor market demands & bill what the customer will pay period. If you cannot find employees that will work for the wage you can afford then you go out of business or find a way to
be more efficient period. I have recently sent an employee to school a a cost of $2200 dollars if he
does well it will mean he will make about 70% more than he does now. But more important to me I will make more also. We will both do better
because of increased usefulness of his labor to my customers. You can't increase peoples value to the customer by fiat, if you could why not make minimum wage $100 an hour so we could all drive
nice cars & retire young?

carnot| 1.31.10 @ 1:51PM

errr....yes...productivity matters!

martin j smith| 1.29.10 @ 7:57AM

These were the people Obama was talking to in his speech:
1) the "true believers"--the marxis,scoailist,statist core.
2)Knee jerk democrat: they vote only one party.
3)The gimmeeez: they want a free ride in goodies.
and cash
4) the "wanna beeeeezzzz" they want to believe in Obama inspite of reality.
5) The " lets make a deal" crony capitalist big business such as AARP,Big Pharma,MSM ,GE etc.

But Not to the majority of the American people who do not buy Obama. As far as Obama is concerned we are peasants and his political prisoners.

Mattled| 1.29.10 @ 8:14AM

Ah, the patina has worn off. With NRO and Instapundit now acknowledging he has a "glass jaw" and ridicule is his "kryptonite", the crack up begins.

It isn't government who is Humpty Dumpty, it is Odoogie hisself.

Begala is revealing the man unwittingly (or willingly for Hillary?).

Throw Scott Brown an elbow.
Punch Boehner in the face.

The vase is leaking. The man who woulda, coulda, shoulda been God is now a sophomoric, banal bad TelePrompTer reader who can be thrown off his game by a chuckle.

Wow, that was fast.

Get the popcorn. This is getting good.

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 1.29.10 @ 8:28AM

I bet you, if we threw a measly $600 Billion dollars or so, at this task, we could put this poor Humpty Dumpty fellow back together again. Then we can sign him up for medicaid, and maybe get him a job in the Federal Government, with Union protection. It'll only cost American's a few thousand dollars each, but won't we all feel better about ourselves, for helping put Humpty back up on that wall? I know I will. Deficit be damned!!

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 8:31AM

He ignores common sense because he believes he has uncommon sense. He's above all the political debating stuff because it's just not fast enough for him, and he gets bored. Just do what he says and all will be right with the world. Forget about the collective intelligence of the American people because they are a bunch of rubes.

Don't debate, says The One, just let him dictate and all will be right with the world! Yeah, that's the ticket!!

Margie| 1.29.10 @ 2:24PM

Yup. That's why they call him the Narcissist-in-Chief!

Becky| 1.29.10 @ 8:50AM

Being self employed is the hardest way to make a living. Every day when you deal with customers, you are interviewing for a job. You have to explain your rate or price and ask for the job. You don't qualify for unemployment when the business goes south. You can't complain about the boss, because you are the boss. You can't feel free to speak your mind on politics because some of your customers may disagree and in today's climate, it could damage your income.

My husband owns a small business, and I have worked at the corporate level in a large one. From what I experienced and from what I've seen of the President, he is more of a large monopolist type business president than a small innovative one. Small businesses have to adapt, change and get smart quicker than large ones with lots of assests. GM knew it was in trouble for years.

The president knows he is in trouble also, he is just trying to buy time.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.29.10 @ 8:50AM

The relationship between the minimum wage and unemployment was defined by Nobel prize winning economist Gary Becker who stated, "A higher minimum will further reduce the employment opportunities of workers with few skills."

The state of Washington currently has the highest unemployment rate in the nation for entry level employment. The state of Washington also has the highest minimum wage in the nation. Two other states Alaska and Oregon have high minimum wages and these three states combined have the highest entry level unemployment in the country.

In October of 2009 the Wall Street Journal did a good investigative article which clearly highlighted the rising minimum wage and rising and astronomical level unemployment amongst the unskilled and young.

In September of 2009 the teen unemployment rate hit 25.9%, a record not seen since Word War II, another era of big government spending.

Since the minimum wage started it's upward climb in 2007 over 693,000 jobs have disappeared.

Here's real irony for you. The federal government spent 1.5 billion on youth summer jobs, but could not overcome it's own stupid policy created by manipulating free market forces, i.e., the minimum wage.

Several studies have indicated that these minimum wage jobs help provide skills that lead to better jobs, but the insistence of manipulating wages has lead to the disappearance of many opportunities that were provided by the private sector.

As has been pointed out by so many parties, the well intentioned federal mandate has drive the wages of so many down to zero.

http://online.wsj.com/article/.....69840.html

Howard| 1.29.10 @ 8:53AM

Good points. Dr. Becker has done great work in this area.

Indiana Alex| 1.29.10 @ 8:58AM

Gary Becker is an esteemed economist. Unfortunately, blogger "Bob" would disagree.

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 9:19AM

Actually, Alex, I agree with Becker. We weren't talking about RAISING the minimum wage, we were talking about making it lower. Those economic dynamics work differently in those situations. For example, in pricing, we know it is easy to lower prices but difficult to raise them. Therefore, once you raise a price, you will not lower it unless forced to do so. If your COGS goes lower, you keep the profit. The same is true for wages.

Now go and learn something about economics and business.

Baloney Guy| 1.29.10 @ 9:45AM

I see why you like Obama. You talk in circles just like him. The only difference is we don't know if you're a liar.

Truth to Power| 1.29.10 @ 9:55AM

Yes we do.

Blogengeezer| 1.29.10 @ 10:43PM

Agree on Keep the profits Bob, but only in a virtually nonexistent, No Competition scenario.. and even then, not for long. Competition will quickly come in, due to the product or service vacuum, and profit opportunity. they will quickly seize any initiative to lower their prices, to take away a share of your business. After all, their 'costs' went lower as well. The inevitable price competition, lowers the overall prices as well as choices to the consumer. Bob you need at least adequate, business experience to add to your extensive 'virtual' knowledge. That will, at the least, provide you with a comprehensive Resume that is competitive in today's market. I wish you well...

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 8:58AM

Deborah...

"Forget about the collective intelligence of the American people because they are a bunch of rubes."

Unfortunately, this is true. We don't educate the electorate anymore. How many people take economics in high school? Only half of our kids even graduate from high school.

We no longer have "collective intelligence". We have Palin, Beck, Hannity, Olbermann, Maddow and Matthews. Republicans were in charge for 8 years, and look what they did to the economy.

Our problem is not Obama, he's just a symptom. Our problem is Washington and our educational system (or lack thereof). Nobody in Washington does the people's business, they all do the lobbyists business. Their primary goal is to get reelected, not to govern. They spend more time raising money for their campaigns than they do studying problems and making legislation.

Obama lacks perspective on the importance of fiscal responsibility -- but then, so did Bush. We find mistaken rhetoric on both sides. For example, Obama believes that a government option will lower healthcare costs. It won't because insurance companies will just let their most expensive customers move to the government plan. Republicans believe that tax cuts are stimulative. The data shows they aren't, but who cares about analysis and reality. Let's just tell the "rubes" out there that if we give you more money, you'll make the economy grow. By the way, let's also tell them the world is flat and that the universe was created in 6 days.

We need to get rid of BOTH Democrats and Republicans and get term limits. We need to have people with both real world experience AND a good education. We need fewer populists and more creative thinkers. We need people who are willing to test before they implement.

AmSpec proves that most people who read this blog are "rubes" who never look at the data or study both sides of an issue. But then again, I could say the same of the Huffington Post. They want to give everything to everybody and not pay for it.

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 9:28AM

Bob, did you chew through your restaints AGAIN?

Is that You Ellie?| 1.29.10 @ 9:30AM

3/5 Bob knows what he writes when it comes to the lack of education in our society. What he fails to mention is that many of these same people are extremely arrogant and seem to think they can run the world from their mama's basement. 3/5 Bob is that bad example from which we are all supposed to learn.

"We need to get rid of BOTH Democrats and Republicans ..."

We need to get rid of 3/5 Bob and his sophist dribble. The world doesn't need trolls.

crizzyboo| 1.29.10 @ 4:01PM

Hey Bob,

I can see you know nothing about America.

According to you, everybody's a rube, neither party has any answers, and there's no hope. Trust me, there are plenty of people out here who know what they're doing. They just want to remove the obstacles (government regulations).

Go get a full-body massage or do some breathing exercises or something and when you're done, let us know.

Blogengeezer| 1.29.10 @ 10:11PM

Actually agree with you on most points Bob. You conveniently omitted, or just forgot about the glorious (Carter) Community Reinvestment Act getting it's 'false' teeth in 1999 (Clinton signed that IED meant to destroy the following admin, into law).

After being in the 'finance related' sales business before and after, that easily foreseen fiasco. Seeing the difference in a 600 'Dirt Bag' and an 850 'Gold'. Where the '600' and worse, got equal treatment, amazingly protected by government mandate muscle. I reluctantly participated in the predicted 'Meltdown'.

They rolled in luxury with No Job, No Credit, No down, Low monthlys, Low interest. All based on their 'fed mandated acceptance' of reported income. Subsidized Housing, Welfare income, IBT cards, Child allowance, ADT, Food subsidies (dollar amount). Most often by the time of repo, the property was totally destroyed out of habit (never paid anybody for anything) of the Dirt Bag (Hence the name). The financial industry was mandated by CRA law, to loan out a given percentage of 'Sub' Loans. We always knew which sources had 'Sub' quota to meet.

Our sales closed faster and faster, with no regards for the future. After all, it was CRA mandate by Feds, with AG enforcement muscle at State level. We actually were threatened by lawsuit from the AG if we failed to write the 'Sub' paper.

When the other people saw what what was on the 'buffet', they assumed (correctly) that they could obtain even more, because They had a job and at least some credit.

Buy, and Buy they did. Two 'units' at a time were the expected norm. The prices were assumed to always go up, so why not always have one more to sell at a profit. So what if every dollar went for interest and principle on their 'ARM' (another mistake). They would be living in luxury and have unprecedented wealth. We all know, that 'Pay the Piper' eventually comes due.

Bush II warned Barney, but in his infinite wisdom, Barney (not the purple one) said all was 'Strong'. Now it is obvious, Barney, as usual for Congress, had absolutely No Clue what what was happening.

Now we all Enjoy the 'Aftermath' of the fantastic 'Bubble'. I lived it, feasted on it, helped drive it, what a ride. Too bad for the USA. What an IED it was.. Community Reinvestment Act. Lets rename it and try it again.. LOL

carnot| 1.30.10 @ 10:20AM

you actually believe this arrogant cant?

the fundamental divide in society today derives from hardened divisions over values and..derivatively......goals. "knowledge"/"education" and intellectual/"scientific" investigation..as we have seen over and over....have been almost entirely suborned by intentions and values. global e-mail anyone?!!! it was these atmospherics that Obama exploited in the run-up to the election...the emphasis on symbolism and opposition to opposing value systems (the blogs were intentionally divisive while preening "hope and change").

soooo....now the First MF'er and his party have to live with the consequences. everyone can see the schism between rhetoric and action. everyone by now can see the pattern/MO: in each instance this President has encountered resistance/complexity, his response is to demonize and moralize - more values lectures. few results. large swathes of the public are figuring it out: he is in over his head - grossly.

my favorite has been and remains the entirely fatuous rhetoric on race and racial relations we have been inundated with for decades by the left/Democrats. while solemnly preaching harmony, the reality is that the political and intellectual expression of the will of these people has operated tirelessly to destroy ANY black, ANY woman, ANY caucasian, ANY minority who doesn't support their value system...their will to power. just ask Thomas Sowell...or Clarence Thomas.

The irony in all of this? Barak Obama has finally provided the critical mass of bad ideas, ankle deep substance and mediocre to horrendous results (what an abysmal foreign policy!) that the decades of pent up anger cornered by political correctness social pressures are finally unleashed. there's much, much more going on here than the pundits have weighed into their calculus.

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 9:26AM

I agree, Mattled, watching the towering shrine to The One that Obama, his fellow travelers and the mainstream media have erected begin to crack is just a precursor to an inevitable thundering crash to earth in shards.

But: Because he isn't alone, because other forces have channeled Obama's naive, ignorant, messianic megalomania for their own purposes, because Obama remains the ideal man for Big Government's expansion, there will be further destruction to our country by its internal enemies before this entertaining show ends.

And the pieces of that giant monument are going to land on Americans who don't deserve such a fate, but who will bear the scars for years to come.

It is tragically ironic that this nation's de facto Public Enemy Number One is none other than our whack-job in chief.

Once he is thoroughly rejected - and I agree, ridicule is his kryptonite - he will pick up his marbles and ride his bicycle home in a snit.

That will be a moment to cheer.

Well, Chris Matthews will always have Barack's skin color. And David Brooks will always have the crease in Obama's pant leg.

The rest of us will be left with the tattered remnants of the worst, most incompetent, most malevolent president and administration this country has ever had. And that includes Jimmy Carter.

Mattled| 1.29.10 @ 11:10AM

This is too easy. I predicted he would tire of being president last year and wouldn't run again.

Now Byron York has done a piece on Odingo that he is bored with the job.

Not only is he incompetent, mentally and physically ill, and clueless, he is now bored.

Can he be any more of a ridiculous caricature?

Yes He Can!!

carnot| 1.30.10 @ 10:30AM

there's a large measure of truth to your post.

problem is....even when Obama vacates his perch as Prevaricator-in-Chief.........the real divide between the extremes and a vacillating middle remains.

how can power be deployed to the short and long-term interests of the public...when the public itself is fundamentally divided? there is no American "people" or American "identity" IMO.

victor| 1.29.10 @ 2:11PM

Grz,
My word do you ever put it so well. Re your last paragraph, Obama combines the ineptness of Carter with the unctuousness of Bill Clinton so that while he comes up with incomprehensible solutions that will never work, he manages to convince you that it is you that is the uncomprehending and therefore, truly unsophisticated one that cannot appreciate what he wants to do.
After all, why would he lecture a group of free market capitalists, House Republicans and Mike Pence, in particular, that it is they who are the rigid and uncompromising schlubs that Obama really thinks they are.
When actually, he is the unsophisticated, condescending, arrogant, uncompromising idealogue.
It is truly galling that the One who knows Not, lectures those who do know.
Speaking of those who know not, read the accounts of the growth in GDP. It is all abot inventories and increased productivity, rather than job growth, but then again when did the AP or any other Lib Media Organ, know anything about business anyway?

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 2:31PM

Agreed, Victor - my guess is they'll also revise the GDP numbers down. And of course GDP ain't what it used to be anyway, since such a huge percentage of that is government work.

My guess is the worst of this mess hasn't hit yet; those who think we're through the woods are sadly mistaken.

(No doubt Bob will enter here and try to say government work is no different from private sector work, and that blue skies are ahead no matter what real human beings are experiencing.)

But yes, you describe Obama's lecturing to a Tee: He's a callow, resentful adolescent who's in way over his head, and to cover the capacious gaps in his intellectual/moral/political landscape, he simply lies with no compunction whatsoever (hence Obama's entire administration can be summarized by the old Richard Pryor line when his wife catches him in bed with another women: "who you gonna believe, me or your lyin' eyes?").

I would think Bob would like Obama - they have so much in common.

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 2:39PM

Sounds like a poster to this site who will go unnamed.

Great evaluation of The One, Victor.

Chris| 1.29.10 @ 9:30AM

For our clueless president, who probably busy smoking crack, instead of attending Econ101 at his legendary and completely undocumented tenure at Columbia, there is only one valid economic approach -full blown Marxism. Obama surely believes that the way to stimulate the economy is to start breaking windows.

Bob Miller| 1.29.10 @ 9:50AM

1. If the minimum wage affects youth hiring or any other hiring, there should be statistics to back this up. So why is there a fact-free discussion here? Everyone, support your case.

2. Democrats and even Obama do have ideas, revolving around ways to retain and increase their power over us. They can't exactly say that in public, can they?

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 10:17AM

http://mises.org/story/2130

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 10:49AM

Here's the opposing case for the minimum wage:

http://www.epi.org/publication.....efs_ib149/

You almost never see data analysis that back up any points here at AmSpec -- after all, it is a populist site that believes in fairy tales. Grzmlyk shows the case made by D.W. MacKenzie - an economics teacher at the Coast Guard Academy. The MacKenzie brief noted that raising the minimum wage did not significantly raise unemployment levels for the population in general but did have an effect on selected populations. (He didn't present the numbers). There were also historical fallacies in his argument trying to make a direct relationship between unemployment rates and the minimum wage. Unfortunately, there are a number of factors much more important in determining the the unemployment rate than just minimum wage. That part of the argument would never stand up to any intellectual defense. Then again, people don't understand rigorous analysis.

From what I've studied and read, raising the minimum wage probably raises unemployment, but not measurably. That's because only 1.6 million people (from the Heritage Foundation) are on minimum wage. That is an extremely small percentage of our population.

But the people here aren't interested in facts -- just rhetoric.

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 1:12PM

What are those other, "more important" factors, Bob? If that part of the argument "would never stand up to any intellectual defense," why haven't you applied a rigourous intellectual analysis, but merely generalized?

Please list all factors involved in the unemployment numbers in, say, Chicago (or pick your city) - including minimum wage laws - in descending order of their importance, and, by all means, back up your suppositions with myriad charts and graphs.

Hint: You can't use lack of businesses hiring as the primary reason there are no jobs.

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 1:23PM

By the way, 1.6 million people out of work IS a relatively small percentage of overall unemployment. But it's a large percentage of unskilled, entry-level and older people looking for part-time work.

By encouraging the automation so many processes in favor of paying ever-rising minimum wages to employees who aren't going to be around long enough to really add valuet to the organization, minimum wage laws also rob the younger, unskilled folks of opportunities to gain experience.

hjoo| 1.29.10 @ 9:55AM

Log Mp3 | File Lyricsthere is only one valid economic approach -full blown Marxism. Obama surely believes that the way to stimulate the economy is to start breaking windows.

Joan Wayne| 1.29.10 @ 10:05AM

Having run a number of businesses most of my life I want to know who hires anyone at minimum wage except for teenagers and illegals? And yes these were industries that required physical labor not the Presidents idea of workers. And we exported too. Believe me no one can live and support a family on minimum wage and we all know that. We would have exported ALL we could if we didn't know you had to keep a domestic base to fall back on. We were in business to MAKE money!! Please Bob, stop spouting off that only you know anything about real business. Our worst years were when Jima Cotta was pres. We were paying 20% interest on our bank loans and that almost broke us!! This Man in the WH wants us to turn everything over to him and trust him!!!!

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 11:00AM

Joan, there's a difference between macro and micro data. Here's a graph of the Fed Funds rate and you'll see there was a long term rise in interest rates long before Jimmy Carter took office. Was he responsible for the rises in the 1960's too? From a macro basis, who is President has little effect on our economy. Want proof? Just look at inflation adjusted GDP over time:

http://www.data360.org/dsg.asp.....oup_Id=230

So you have no data to back up your point? And by the way it was Volcker who convinced Reagan to back him in controlling interest rates. It is the Fed, not the President who controls interest rates.

LQQKY| 1.29.10 @ 10:24AM

One thing about Bob that I forgot to mention: It is obvious that he has does not have to work for a living since he can spend so much time readin {;-)
and repondin (:-{ to the discussions. BTW has anyone noticed that his rants are almost as long as and more inane (by at least one order of magnitude) than the messiah's SOTU meanderings?

Northern Rebel| 1.29.10 @ 10:27AM

How did this turn into a discussion on minimum wage? Eliminate it, cut business taxes, and everyone who wants to work, will have a job.

The delicious part of this story, is that "President" Anti-Christ, just doesn't get it!

He's going to go blindly forward against the wind, voter approval be damned!

PERFECT!

This is the dream of conservatives, to see a liberal fool, so out of touch, destroying his chances at re-election, and his socialist party at the same time!

It's like watching defenses continue to blitz Peyton Manning, as he smiles, and throws TD after TD!

Keep on truckin' Barack!

You're doing patriotic America lover's a favor!

Margie| 1.29.10 @ 3:30PM

And this Patriotic American Soldier puts it so very, very well!

Northern Rebel| 1.29.10 @ 10:36AM

Come to think of it, has anyone seen Osama, and Obama in the same room?

Holy Clark Kent, Batman!

Margie| 1.29.10 @ 1:12PM

Rush was just talking on his show about the latest from Osama bin Laden. Have you heard? Osama is in agreement with Algore on global warming! He actually BLAMED BUSH too just like Obama does! Now we know that the biggest terrorist there is is on the same page as the President of the United States! It's on Drudge.

Louis Jenkins| 1.29.10 @ 10:38AM

I do not claim to know a lot about economics, but if the Chinese and Indians are manufacturing washing machines, TVs, computers, coffee grinders, refrigerators, clothes, and yes, wood splitting wedges ($20.00 at the local hardware), cheaper and marketing them in the US at less cost than US made goods (if there are any left), there is absolutely no way to create jobs in this country. China and India has cheaper labor costs, no environmental standards, and, according to a friend who just returned from India, no workplace safety. Workers building infrastructure in India get crushed to death all the time. No steel toed boots, no hardhats, no goggles. No big deal, another man is ready to take his place. Their products, and workforce, are cheaper to throw away than repair. So how will America compete? By lowering the US standards on all of the above? Won’t happen. Obama’s drivel was just that. He has no intention of beefing up American job and manufacturing creativity/innovation. I am open to a no nonsense, non-governmental approach, but I didn’t see it during the State of the Obamanation.

LQQKY| 1.29.10 @ 10:48AM

One way to create jobs: GET RID OF THE UNIONS -- they long ago outlived their usefulness.

LoafinPJs| 1.29.10 @ 11:40AM

I doubt the workers who built the railroads in the US had steel toe boots, hard hats, goggles. Neither did police officers have armored vests in the first part of the 20th century. Environmental standards and workplace safety standards arise out of rising wealth and quality of life. It was only in 1949 that all states in the US had worker compensation schemes.

While China and India have cheaper labor costs, the US has several comparative advantages. Lower costs and easier access to capital, infrastructure, abundance of natural resources, technology, innovation, research, services, etc. One competes by focusing on their advantages, not on others.

LQQKY| 1.29.10 @ 12:37PM

I don't disagree that the unions did a lot of good in a log of places, the coal mines being one of the better examples. My argument is that they have outlived their usefulness and are more interested in politics and their executive salaries than the workers they purport to represent. They have almost destroyed the automobile industry which is why we had the takeover of General Motors and Chrysler. Just look at the foreign automakers in this country -- they built their plants in right to work states and do not have to put up with idiotic union work rules -- a prime reason they have been able to outstrip our domestic industy.

Ken (Old Texican)| 1.29.10 @ 12:49PM

I scrolled Bob. Got a kick out of the reponses though.
Today I don't want to play with him.

International trade: Louis, Lqqcy, Loafin, Others here,
Very on point, guys. Thanks.
Been there done that.
One short example: Who do you think built virtually EVERYTHING, to make Saudi Arabia...well rich as a Saudi. Heh.

Margie| 1.29.10 @ 2:16PM

That would be US, as in the U.S.A., wouldn't it?

LoafinPJs| 1.29.10 @ 11:46AM

Ahh, the minimum wage!!

http://www.businessinsider.com.....omy-2010-1

Employment opportunities increase when local wages reflect local demand and supply of labor, skills, education levels, costs of living, etc. A central mandate on wages achieves nothing for anybody.

Al Adab| 1.29.10 @ 1:35PM

Grz, Deborah, Ken and all other friends:
It was Marcus Aurelius who said, "Don't waste time banying words with phillistenes and crackpots."

A good lesson there. Unfortunately in our world, unlike his, they have the vote.

Al| 1.29.10 @ 1:36PM

oops: bandying

grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 2:46PM

Al Adab, you are wise.

There's another one about aguing with a fool.

I plead guilty.

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 2:47PM

Thanks, Al. I made the mistake of doing that about a year ago, and I decided to never feed the troll. They always want the last word too...which is always so pleasant. :)

Stammon| 1.29.10 @ 8:40PM

Never fight with a pig. You both get muddy and he likes it.

Margie| 1.29.10 @ 1:47PM

Hey~ Grz used the Humpty Dumpty analogy the other day!
It seems like one thing is certain about Obama. When he says he is for something, he's usually against it. Like how he's for the American "workers", (really, Union workers), when in reality he's for punishing us. When he speaks about putting people to work, it's puttung people to work for the government, not the private sector. After all, the fastest growing sector has been in the public sector (gov.). Free Market Enterprise is suffering at the expense of government "enterprise". He speaks just like Stalin spoke. In broad generalities..how what he's doing is "for the good" of America. He continues to be despicable!

I worked for 10 years for the owner of a very small business so I got to see how punished he was for having a small business. Taxed to death! He would have had to grow in order to prosper but he couldn't afford to hire any more people. He did all the work himself (grunt work carpet cleaning).

While the Deceitful one tries to tell us how he's FOR the workers, small business will continue to go BUST under his dictatorship.

crookedwren| 1.29.10 @ 2:06PM

Whenever he starts focusing on something, look out. Obama has a knack for lecturing and admonishing and looking down at everyone from on high. You know, he's the kind of guy who, when he calls another meeting, you sigh, grab some serious caffeine, and suffer as bravely as you can.

He starts focusing on jobs and the private sector, as he is, we're seriously in trouble.

grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 2:51PM

Hey, Margie, I must say that "Humpty Dumpty" connection occurred to me, too!

But of course when it comes to Obama, I don't want to put Humpty back together. I want him to rest in pieces (as a force in politics, of course).

As for the owner of the small business you worked for: If only he could have spoken to Bob, Bob would have explained to him that he's just too stupid to understand that he's NOT paying onerous taxes, and then Bob would have showed him charts proving it.

Do ya think Bob wears a Superman costume as he types from deep within the bowels of the psych ward?

See Al Adab? I can't resist. :-)

Margie| 1.29.10 @ 3:28PM

I want him to rest in pieces!! R.I.P. !! HAhaha! (Slaps hand on knee laughing so hard). You kill me, absolutely kill me Grz.

Yes, and it is to our grief :^( that that all small business owners everywhere cannot consult with ChartMan Bob, the all-snowing, all-sneering, all-encompassing know-it-all, condescending Liberal from parts known (Saul Alinsky's office?) before they do anything.
Pity, pity, what a pity!

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 2:52PM

George Will made a very good point today, which just shows how nothing adds up when Obama talks...

"Obama’s leitmotif is: Washington is disappointing, Washington is annoying, Washington is dysfunctional, Washington is corrupt, verily Washington is toxic — yet Washington should conscript a substantially larger share of GDP, and Washington should exercise vast new controls over health care, energy, K-12 education, etc. "

Yeah, let's add that up. It does not compute!

Great observations, Margie.

Margie| 1.29.10 @ 4:02PM

Deb D.~ Common sense "rules", doesn't it?

This is the reason Sarah Palin is so hated as well. The Left has to have it so complicated, that only "they", the elite snobbery, the haughty, intellectually superior know-it-alls can possibly understand and know what is "best" for the country.
Reality: Americans know what is best for the country. We don't need anyone to tell us how to live, we just want to be left alone. Prosperity happens best when government stays out of it. We need to take back our country from the Left. If they make no sense when they talk, they ought not be listened to. If it's convoluted, you can always know there's rot behind it!

stevor| 1.29.10 @ 1:47PM

Sure, Obummer has lots of "ideas". If you watch any beauty pageant, all of them have the "idea for world peace". Obummer has the idea of mom, apple pie, baseball, and Cheverolet for America.

Well, as this shows, IDEAS DON'T count. PLANS COUNT and Obummer has had no plans and thus his failures. His only true plan is to give good speeches to people that listen to their sound but not their words, as if they're listening to music and not paying attention to the dreadful lyrics!

Obummer is a loser/MORON.

Martin j smith| 1.29.10 @ 2:11PM

the role of trolls:
1) to disrupt the discussion
2) to dominate the discussion
3)to change the subject
Thus: It is in my huble oppinion :DO NOT SPEND ONE SECOND TO RESPOND TO THEM1111111111111111111111111111111

Ken (Old Texican)| 1.29.10 @ 2:46PM

Martin, thanks.
Pretty succinct.
Guys, I have discovered that especially in their blogs, several authors here mine some great thoughts from some of you.
I'm always delighted when I see one of your thoughts pop up in a contributer's blog or column.

Deborah D| 1.29.10 @ 3:02PM

Ken -- I have noticed that too. That's what's so great about this site. We exchange ideas, make each other laugh, and educate each other.

Thanks, TAS, for the forum and for allowing us to expand the discussion.

Margie| 1.29.10 @ 4:06PM

Agreed. TAS is like what the great Bob Grant used to say when opening up his radio program~ It allows for the "free and open exchange of ideas and of opinions."
You couldn't ask for anything more!

Bob| 1.29.10 @ 2:23PM

The role of lemmings:
1) Hate Obama
2) Never look at facts
3) The bible has all of the answers
4) Kiss each other's ______'s.
5) Don't say anything that would make you seem educated.
6) Play the role of the three monkeys.
Thus: It is in my "HUBLE OPPINION":

"HUBLE OPPINION"???????? Thanks, Martin for making my point....

FG| 1.29.10 @ 2:42PM

Bob, you are so gifted why do you not run for public office? You are hiding your GIFTS from the electorate in your area.

Troll Watcher| 1.29.10 @ 2:44PM

The role of Bob:
1. Attack those who attack Obama
2. Confuse facts and use dumb sounding jargon.
3. Hate Christianity
4. Promote gay marriage through dictatorial judges
5. Say stupid things about history, science, the Constitution, math, economics, on and on.
6. Act as a spell checker for your betters.
7. Brag about his education when he sounds like someone who didn't get through high school.

It is time for Bob to start advising his man, Joe Biden and his assistant, President Obama. Spending all his time with people he hates is taking its troll on him.

carnot| 1.30.10 @ 8:14PM

you don't get it! the Bobs of the world have real value - they remind others to redouble their efforts in the fight against hypocrisy and elitism. invariably, across a wide cut of life's activities, these pretenders to "wisdom" have no real foundation grounded on the hard anvil of experience. it's easy to easy see.

RAMIII| 1.29.10 @ 2:54PM

Jimmy Carter was a dangerous man in all the wrong ways. President Obama is even more dangerous.

martin j smith| 1.29.10 @ 3:17PM

More on the role of trolls: They are operatives of the Left Democrat Party. Paid or unpaid I do not know or care but--if its with tax money-you bet I care. But its the tone of trolls that is most telling. they reflect
exactly the Obama adminstration: arrogance,condescending and totalitarian in tone. Thus it is my view they should be 1) identified,2) called for what they are ( with their right to have their views of course --unlike the Marxist Left-- and ignored once this happens. That means do not even refer to their posts. Except to identify who they are.

Al Adab| 1.29.10 @ 3:18PM

Grz, Deb, Ken, Margie et al:
Some day we need to pick a venue and hold the AmSpec blog convention. Would love to meet each and every one of you.

MikeBee| 1.29.10 @ 3:45PM

Al,
Absolutely!!! Wonder what location would be central to everyone? I write from the People's Republic of Michigan........I think Ken (Old Texican) is from Texas.......

Grzmlyk| 1.29.10 @ 4:06PM

I think that's a great idea!

It would be a lot of fun.

Maybe it could be a luau and we could roast a troll!

Lullaby's, Legends and Lies| 1.29.10 @ 4:13PM

AL: That's a great idea, and maybe the Trolls; Booby, Lib-Readard, Defeated Pork, Toddass , and a few others, could come too. And then we could finally find out, just how tough, they really are, if they'd be brave enough, to show their Troll faces (but I doubt it). It could be, the Spectator Tea Party, if you will. And if somehow, we could get that together, you could count me in for sure.

Bob could bring his charts, and then we could draw all over them. Great fun!!

Walter H. Steinlauf| 1.29.10 @ 3:23PM

The reality of this catastrophy is that we are witnessing a "silent" coup-de-etat by the Obama forces. How on earth could all this be happening otherwise: Eric Holder is giving constitutional rights to sworn enemies of this Republic hell-bent on destroying US; this is a "clear and present danger" under the US Constitution and - in my view - a treasonable offense. This is but one example of what is going on. Times are DIRE. Talk is Cheap! What is needed now is authentic action. So far, all I have seen from Obama and much of Washington it TALK!

Mattled| 1.29.10 @ 3:47PM

Al Adab
Redstate had a gathering of their writers and contributors last summer ---it was great seeing everyone. There were people from as far as Minnesota and I met some great folks. Liz Cheney, Karen Handel, Marco Rubio----a whole bunch of folks were there.

Mr Tyrrell should have something like that.

That was the weekend I first starting hearing about a congressional takeover..

Martin J Smith----I'm with you buddy!
Please don't provide an roles for the trolls!

E. Patrick Mosman| 1.29.10 @ 4:03PM

The reference to Humpty Dumpty in the headline reminded me that listening to Obama is akin to sitting down with Alice at the Madhatter's Tea party as sheer nonsense is being uttered according to the Alice in Wonderland linguistic world of Humpty Dumpty ""When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less."
The promised " jolt' to the economy by the stimulus package didn't mean a sudden result that would cap unemployment at 8 percent but a long drawn out rather 'iffy' result maybe sometime in the future unless things change in the meantime.
The same holds true for all his State of the Union promised actions.

JJ| 1.29.10 @ 4:11PM

Watching the State of Union and Obama's performance with Republicans today I would simply say there is something wrong with this man. He is a tortured soul. He does not want you to see who he really is. His State of Union was so poor that he is assured of a one-term lame duck Presidency. The best hope for America is that he does nothing and that we keep him contained or in Hawaii. He's lost.

MikeBee| 1.29.10 @ 5:01PM

I say sent him back to Kenya. He and Michelle can stay with his brother in his digs. It will be a great homecoming......
Where he really belongs, though, is leading the U.N. Over there, they'll all fawn over him, and he can then be legitimately ignored by the nations who matter, like always happens with whomever is leading the U.N.

Mattled| 1.29.10 @ 5:01PM

JJ,

I picked up a "he's not well" vibe the other day. A couple of journo-types were speculating his mental health.

I always believed he was not physically well---now it's his psychological well being we have to fear.

Perhaps someone will call up Rev Wright and confront the poor wretched soul?

I think the vase really cracked when he lost Mass and the crucial 60th vote.

Northern Rebel| 1.29.10 @ 5:23PM

AmSpec convention! What fun to meet a bunch of like minded patriots!

In the financial business, our annual conventions were fun, because people were motivated to succeed.

I can't imagine a group of people more motivated to succeed, than a bunch of American Patriots, trying to save their country, and continue it's greatness!

Bob Tyrell would do well to pay attention to this idea, as it could only help continue the spectator's prominence, as the greatest magazine ever produced.

COUNT ME IN, if you'll have me.

Petronius| 1.29.10 @ 5:27PM

As I stated in my lsat post. Charles I bankrupted His Kingdom and lost a civil warre. Obama has no men, just commissars and supplicants. As he never learned any history, somebody should tell him what happened to King Charles on this day in 1649.

megapotamus| 1.31.10 @ 12:31PM

I think that should be Warre Civille, but we get it.

Blogengeezer| 1.29.10 @ 5:55PM

I find the little Trols quite amusing. In one comment they present facts from some source or another.

Down further they present even more facts, that totally reverse the former comments of other Trols and even themselves. I would presume it is meant to be Divisive.. Of their own self interest at best.

To proclaim China and India as super socialist States above the USA's assumed goals, then telling their record on Human rights? I see a definite 'Circular Logic' in neuron activity of the Liberal Left 'Progressive' Mentality.

Pity that their Liberal Left Professors were filled with such vitriolic hatred of the same system that allowed them unfettered, comfortable 'Tenure'.
Oh well, as is often said "Those that Can't Do, Teach".

Those that can not logically create or innovate, only record the static from a mentor source and repeatedly 'Playback'..

Only in Digital format is the 'Copy' as true as the Original. The human brain, although marvelous in its design, is far from Digital Quality.

Sue| 1.29.10 @ 6:02PM

Last night, grandchild asked what a command economy is. I replied immediately marxism where the government controls the resources, distribution, and decision making processes. Apparently the word marxism is too "naked" in its meaning so the public school system dresses it up by using "command economy." Now maybe this word has been around for awhile, but what the hell was wrong with "marxism?"

I asked here if she knew what one would lose by the government controlling everything - she responded - dignity?

Yeaaaaaa! Maybe there is "hope" after all?

gmiller| 1.29.10 @ 9:28PM

Learn more about who Barry really is, to understand what he is doing and will try to do:

Read : "The Obama Timeline," by Don Frederick (see www.colony14.net )

scott| 1.29.10 @ 9:38PM

Bob, do you happen to own an AKA? Let's see now, yeah that's it Ellie Light, but not too bright.

Josephine Havlak| 1.29.10 @ 10:22PM

Why hasn't someone mentioned that the teenage black unemployment rate in July 2009 was 17%. In November after the increase of the minimum wage was enacted it rose to 34%. Bob is correct that a rise in minimum wage affects certain groups more than others. I agree with Rush that Obama wants more and more people out of work and therefore totally dependent on the government.

FeralCat| 1.30.10 @ 12:36AM

Bumpty Odumpty has spoken as his true self in too many an unguarded judgment call
Bumpty Odumpty has had a great fall
All the tyrants Axelrods and all the tyrants Rahm con men
Can't put Bumpty Odumpty's mask back on again

Annie| 1.30.10 @ 1:08AM

As a regular reader of the comments on TAS, I want to thank you all for the lively and intelligent back-and-forth, the humor and supporting each other. I don't feel I have much to offer as a commenter, just wanted to let you all know how much you make me think and laugh, and I often learn a little something when my brain cell is awake.
I signed a petition to impeach Obama on grounds of malfeasance and misrepresentation. Doubt it'll do any good, but thought it was worth a try.
Anyway, keep those wise words and witticisms coming! Thanks. :)

megapotamus| 1.31.10 @ 12:29PM

Annie, your thoughts are coherent, properly spelled and scrupulously grammatical which puts you in the 99th percentile of the internet scrum. Every President deserves a serious impeachment effort so that is far from, um, unprecedented. If you feel like chiming in you certainly should. It ain't rocket science but it is, as RET puts it so often and so well, a cruel and entertaining sport.

Northern Rebel| 1.30.10 @ 11:56AM

Last night, I woke up in the middle of the repeat of Glen Beck's show about "progressivism."

I thought I was having a nightmare, because Osama Obama, and McCain were the same people!

AND THEY ARE!

Neither one cares about the constitution our founding fathers put together to guide future Americans.

That was our choice for President! two men, who think the preamble to the declaration of independance, is inconvenient to there idea of governance.

If I were evre elected to congress the first bill I'd put forth, would be to sandblast Theodore Roosevelt's face off of Mt. Rushmore, because he was not a great American, he was a "progressive" who's intent was to destroy the Constitution of the United States of America, just as "President" Anti-Christ is attempting to do, as we speak!

I encourage my fellow Americans on this site to investigate Teddy, and Woodrow Wilson, and Walter Lippman, because I woke up last night in the middle of a nightmare, and I realized I was not dreaming, they really are trying to take my country from me, and they'll succeed, if we we don't rise up as one voice, and stop the Osama Obama's and McCain's from eroding what makes America great.

Humpty Dumpty, is not the real threat.

Paul Revere| 1.30.10 @ 12:04PM

The man is a traitor, puppet of the "New World Order", as was Bush - heads - tails same coin, as well as a would be Marxist Dictator! Check out what Government is doing behind your back at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VebOTc-7shU

John3| 1.30.10 @ 1:06PM

Now, do not forget about building the "fast train!" The president went to Tampa to say that jobs will come from this! I have always loved trains and used to ride them regularly when I was living on the East Coast. However, nobody in his right mind would do this now! First, Americans are supposed to be innovators, not imitators (we cannot be second to China and Europe: they have "fast trains"). Second, China is a communist country and they can order their citizens to use their government funded trains. Europe, on the other hand, has a very long tradition of train use: European contries are smaller than the US: trains work well in those situations. On the other hand, our very own Amtrak-despite subsidies-are not competitive in terms of price and Americans just don't want to use them. This "fast train" thing is just not a good idea.

A.B. NORMAL| 1.30.10 @ 1:27PM

The real psychological damage to Barak is that he had NO father. His father abandonded him and his mother. To a young boy, this is a real disadvantage. i.e. :
dad, can you give me a car?
NO you dummie, buy your own .

that is real life.

Mommie can give me a car?
of course my little angel, i will get you anything you want (to make up for my stupid choice of a husband) and you are perfect and sooo smart.

unreal life with overcompensating guilt ridden parent.

Young boys need fathers.
Also mothers.

adios,
ab
lancaster, taxifornia
push 1 for english only in the USA

got Comprehensive Illegal Alien Drug Gang Immigration and Fast Track Citizenship Bill for Future D voters?
(coming to a country near you)

A. B. NORMAL| 1.30.10 @ 1:33PM

I remember the D party tried to put Herr Bush in a bad light by supporting the rumor that he used pot and cocaine. This was not Presidential.

Obama writes in his book of his cocaine use and that is Presidential.

adios,
ab
lancaster, prop8ifornia
push 1 for english_for_gringos in the USA only

got blow?
who go for the blow? the S.S.? Michele? Rahm?

did i just make the enemies list? OK !

A. B. Normal| 1.30.10 @ 1:40PM

The mass transit whether rail or bus is a benefit for the illegal aliens by the tax payer subsidised MTA. The system is broke and they want more taxes to keep the fares down.
If I took a bus or train, i would be sitting 2+ hours for a 1 way ride and get off about 3 miles from where I work and 2 miles from where i live.

adios,
ab
viva homedepot
viva illegal alien drug gang sanctuary cities
viva wic
viva section 8
viva la raza
viva clueless nordamericanos

ABNCp| 1.30.10 @ 3:08PM

Come on folks, this President has skills. He would make a great late night talk show host. He has all the shallow snake oil salesmenship, the puffed up concent and self admiration required for that job. After 2012 Dave be afraid, be very afraid.

Richard Bagg| 1.30.10 @ 5:57PM

I don't care who replaces Obama in 2012 as long as the person is White..

megapotamus| 1.31.10 @ 12:18PM

Hello, Moby! Where you been?

Richard Baker| 1.30.10 @ 6:22PM

So which is he? Humpty Dumpty or the King? I'm so confused.

megapotamus| 1.31.10 @ 12:24PM

He's the Humpty-hump.

Karcarius| 1.30.10 @ 8:30PM

Mr. Obama's call for an all-out effort to double the nation's exports in five years is probably the worst idea since Jimmy Carter called for energy independence back in 1979.

This reminds me of FDR when he imposed extra taxes on foreign imports to try to force Americans to buy American.It had a nasty reverse effect in that the countries that we exported to we also imported from and their production was down as a result and then they in turn imposed extra taxes on our exports to them thus adding to the Great Depression.Really shows Obama doesn't know much about economics.

xiaobo| 1.30.10 @ 10:52PM

China and the old Soviet Union used to manage their economy with their so-called 5-year economic plans. When Obame talks about doubling the exports in five years, he is talking like a communist. He has revealed his Comunist True Color.

carnot| 1.31.10 @ 1:56PM

oh pls....I'm aware of multiple, large organizations in DoD that have "5oo Day Plans"....

Northern Rebel| 1.31.10 @ 1:34AM

Richard Bragg:

I can't let your racist comment go unanswered.

I know you are a liberal, planting this shit, to make us look bad, and I want to be the first to say, I don't care what race my President is, as long as he believes in the constitution and the American way.

I would vote for Clarence Thomas, Thomas Sowell, Walter E Williams, and Robert Jindall, and none of these people are caucasion.

What they are, simply put, are American patriots, who believe in our constitution, and want The United states of America to continue on the path our forefathers set forth on.

Don't come on this site, and make believe you are a conservative, and spout bigotry, and attempt to taint us all, so mediamatters has something with which to condemn AmSpec bloggers!

Take your BS back to Mother jones, or Daily Kos, where the the real racists bleat their nonsense.

The people who write on this sight, believe in the content of a man's character, and Barack Obama has no character, because he is an anti-American peice of shit, and the color of his skin can't change that.

You, Richard bragg, are also a piece of shit.

Louis Jenkins| 1.31.10 @ 10:53AM

Mr. Bragg:

While I concur with Mr. Rebel I will not use the same words or language, but your comment was uncalled for. If you wish to dislike a person, or think highly of them, there are plenty reasons to do so. Basing a public comment on skin color has no merit at this site. Besides, GW was white, and I'm sure a lot of voters said "I'll be glad when we can get a black man in the White House." Didn't help did it?

martin J smith| 1.31.10 @ 7:45AM

I saw Obama co-anchor a college basketball game. he may have found his new calling, I hope. But, back to reality. At time on some level deep in the recesses of Obama's mind he knows he is seen as fraud. If you look at his remarks at the Republican Party retreat it is quite telling. He dares Republicans to call him a Bolshevik, or an ideologue or whatever. But he knows on some level that it is not just the Democrat Party but the voters that see it. In the end the choice is his. We will soon find out if he has any notion lf even making believe he is changing course or not. Two decisions are major issues will be telling us what his decision is: One is if the democrat party decides togo the "reconciliation route" to jam home Healthcare the other is if he moves KSM trial out or in the US. If he supports "reconciliation" then he wants "war" if he forces the KSM trial on some other US town, he get a war, of a political kind. But, even if he does not do these things, he has shown himself so much a slime that he simply cannot be trusted. He must be watched at all times and thus, ones guard cannot ever be let down with him or this democrat Party.

One more idea. It was suggested that Hillary Clinton may look to challenge Obama in 2012. After all Hillary ( the one with infinite ambition )has said she would not serve a second term as Secretary of state. So what would she do instead ?
She is no house mom. Here is an idea that I have on Hillary: A hypothesis: Recall the backroom deal of democrat leaders that "chose " Obama as the candidate. Is it possible that there was an " agreement" that Obama would serve the first term and Hillary would go for the second. Remember Obama did say he would rather be a " good one term president" than a mediocre two termer. ( I think he will be at best a horrible one termer, but that is me ). The question that comes to my mind is this: Are the democrat leadership.stupid ? blind? or do they have a nefareous plan up their sleaves to fraud up the 2010 and or 2012 ? In politics there is little reality, but a lot of theatre . So, lets go to Broadway for a reaaaaaaaaaallly greaaaaaaaaaaaat shuuuuuuuuuuu.

Mattled| 1.31.10 @ 8:21AM

martin,

I've been saying for 14 months that Ozero will not run. BILLIONS await him in post-prez.

Why did Hillary take SecSate everyone asked. He told her to get some foreign policy chops (her weakness in 2008) and he would step aside for another historic "first" ---just in case he tanked (which he did).

If he was popular---he would say sorry, didn't mean it. No offense---just politics.

But now he is polling in the 30's. Toast.

Paula| 1.31.10 @ 9:17AM

The emperor has no clothes!! He is the pied Piper to the liberals among us. No matter what he does they defend him and adore him. I have never seen such blind adoration. He is in the drivers seat of the giant USA bus with all of us in the back, whether we want to be or not, and we are headed for a cliff. I want out!! He is so unAmerican it is almost like he came from a country that hates us....oh wait.....wasn't that underpants bomb guy from....wait for it....KENYA?
Everyone should read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. You will be going around with these words in your head, "who is John Gault?".
Barry is the first president in decades that refused to go to the Army Navy football game, or go to any Christmas themed event.
I cannot believe that I am now looking back at Jimmy Carters days in the White House as the good old days!

joebob| 1.31.10 @ 9:37AM

Paula,
Let me assure you he is not the 'pied Piper' to liberals. He has essentially carried on the Bush policies on the wars and security and he simply expanded on the bailouts that Bush gave before he left office. Bush did the bailouts as a Lame Duck, classic Lame duck Bush was-is, giving away to friends after you election is lost.
Obama is NO liberal......and I can guarantee you he is no Tea-Bagger.....he is the one being Tea-Bagged.....with Tea-Bagger Teeth.

Ken (Old Texican)| 1.31.10 @ 10:17AM

joebob
You probably need to change your screen name after that disgraceful post. You are on everyone's scroll-past list.

joebob| 1.31.10 @ 10:58AM

Ken,
Sorry if you were offended but I was just echoing some of the language I have seen here before. What is interesting is that what is offensive depends upon ones biases. If the offensive language is supportive of ones biases the tolerance level is different.
Have you ever put on political blinders and looked at how some of the Tea group use language?

What is good for the goose must surely be good for the gander......another way.......do unto others as they do unto you.......as you do unto others may they do unto you.

it would be good to have more intellegent conversations and chat. I an many of my friends on the left and some on the right want to keep trying and using the proverb this way, Do unto others as you wish they would do unto you...... but.... every time I have tried this with many on the right what comes back are personal insults rather then content.........so i have decided to do unto others as they do unto you.

megapotamus| 1.31.10 @ 12:12PM

Good point, blowjob. I'm sure that here and elsewhere you have been named, say, Cornholer.... WITHOUT textual foundation of course. It is a barbaric practice indeed so your pre-emptive sexualized insults are not merely justified but an absolute necessity. Indeed, you hold the vituperative high ground. In any event Insultaggedon is in the rearview mirror and it is Thunderdome! Rhetorically. So I say, let it all hang out. To hell with so-called civility, the same hell where rightly resides bi-partisanship. And just for the record, yes I certainly do hate Barack Hussein Obama but not for racial reasons. That would only allow me to hate 50% of him and I have a cellular level hatred... a molecular hatred. I am watching the big Hadron collider story with interest as I hope for some new particle discovery that can unify all my hatred for Obama, Democrats, the Left and kitty cats and puppy dogs under one, coherent, unified theory. Now THAT is Progress.

carnot| 1.31.10 @ 2:02PM

must be because so many "on the right" were subjected to an unrelenting, orchestrated and vicious assault in the blog-o-sphere leading up to the last election.

one has to decide...in the end...who the real enemies are.

paula| 1.31.10 @ 1:05PM

I find the best way to respond to a comment like joebob or bob (notice the similar names? hmmm)is to ignore the poor liberal sheep. It makes them so mad that you don't acknowledge their obvious intellectual superiority. I find it interesting that they are not on their own left wing websites, but instead, choose to spew their socialist propaganda here. I wonder at what point in the future, good ol George is going to stop being the lefts kicking boy? I imagine we would have world peace, no one would be hungry and everyone would own a home and hybrid, if it just wasn't for George! I just know that "cash for clunkers" was a BRILLIANT step in that direction!! Thanks barry, I feel so secure in my nations future!

carnot| 1.31.10 @ 2:06PM

funny think about the intellectual wizards on the Left...in the end:

- they can't lead

- they seem singularly inept at understanding/predicting the social behaviors they so often base their policy nostrums on

megapotamus | 1.31.10 @ 12:22PM

And don't forget the Lefties "outing" the Gay Cheney. Not that there's anything wrong with that....

mega| 1.31.10 @ 12:23PM

This should have posted under ABNormal's above.

martin j smith| 1.31.10 @ 1:51PM

Paula: Absolutely. Once you identify a troller, ignore. It is not worth the effort all.

George F| 1.31.10 @ 1:52PM

This article has reinforced by belief that this administration is unable to learn from other socialist-communist country's mistakes.

It's like they're living in a dream world.

Alpon| 1.31.10 @ 3:07PM

Hurray, hurray ... some of us are finally getting to the 'real' truth. The world IS controlled by a few hundred, maybe a thousand or so, ultra rich, ultra secretive families. For all who still wonder why and for those that can't seem to understand what's going on in the world. For all those still divided by petty differences. For all those that still have a partisan mindset. In other words; us vs. them and Dems vs. Repubs. Let me present the ultimate evidence of world wide manipulation and control. Written over 150 years ago, by the evil doers, for the evil doers, this document has been denied by them as bigotry. But after you read it and see that all the plans and proficies have come to fruition there can be no denying the truth. They never denied the existance of this document, only to say it is racist and bigoted. They never deny the contents thereof. For over 100 years it has been hidden and censored.
Every citizen of the planet needs to read this book. It will rock your world and you will never be or think the same afterwards. I'm not selling anything. Unlike so many web sites trying to get rich by informing us of what we should already be aware of. My only motive is too circulate this publication. To help the citizens of the US and the world in general to see and discern the truth. The REAL truth.
At the risk of disappearing or being 'rubbed out' I am revealing this to all the world. The name of this tome is "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion". If you can't find it with your browser, as I said, they want this kept under wraps, I will provide it free as a WORD or PDF document. Just request a copy from alanponelli@hotmail.com. I will promptly reply and attach said doc to my email.
Let’s see how many people have a quest for the truth or just like to hear their own gums slam together.

martin j smith| 1.31.10 @ 4:17PM

alpon seems like a sick troller to me. THAT'S ALL FOLKS.

joebob| 1.31.10 @ 5:05PM

Yep - the world is run by a few thousand. They like to watch the left and the right go at it, who ever wins a round gets the bucks for awhile. Think of our elections as a super-bowl ever 4 years, the winner gets the money the whiner has to pull dirty trick to get back in power so they can get the money. The big ones get to be entertained by the sides fighting it out.....cause they buy off who ever wins and they own the playing field cause we sold it to them or they foreclosed on it

The global game is now run by corporations, not governemnts, corporations. The governments are expected to toe the line where it is NAFTA or GAT or WTO or the crew at Davos this year, the IMF or the World Bank.

Those organizations have both some of our demos and repubs and liberals and conservatives.

The real battle is a class battle not like a marx thing or any ideology we might have except for fascism or corporate rule. The classes are divided up into the corporations and the others.

The end od communism is an authoritarian state but so also is the end of corporatism we are now in.

I don't want to live in a world run by either communists or corporations - both limit the free market system and stop it from working, both are evil in the end.

So thanks for showing me you all can get down and dirty, now can you show the world you can work against the corporate rule?

No conspiracy is necessary to see where the few thousands of leaders came from, they came from the end game of the big fish eating the little fish.

Marcia C| 1.31.10 @ 10:34PM

A bunch of rightwing losers saying how they are going to take over the world!

(and then destroy it like they destroyed the economy of the world, and we had to bring in the adults to fix it)

Marcia C| 1.31.10 @ 10:46PM

megapotamus | 1.31.10 @ 12:22PM
And don't forget the Lefties "outing" the Gay Cheney. Not that there's anything wrong with that.... "

Why was Cheney so angry about it? He seems to love his daughter so why pretend nobody knew she was gay? Must be a big hypocrite. But we knew that too.

Marcia C| 1.31.10 @ 10:48PM

martin j smith| 1.31.10 @ 4:17PM
alpon seems like a sick troller to me. THAT'S ALL FOLKS. "

Yeah, free speech is SUCH a burden eh? Let's get rid of it!

Unless it only applies to the far right of course.

rbblum| 2.1.10 @ 11:35AM

Overlooked has been the characteristics of a 'community organizer'. . . . someone who is a control freak, wanting to micro-manage . . . . believing that anyone and everyone should not be without regardless of the underlying reason(s)
. . . . even through the expense of re-distribution based on ones personal (subjective)
assessment for what is best for all . . . . impervious to the basic laws of economics and the law of the land.

Northen Rebel| 2.1.10 @ 6:00PM

I apoligize for my vulgar language, but sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.I have spent my whole life being bad cop, and i'm used to saying things politically incorrect that most people are afraid to do. I accept that role, proudly.

keyboard555| 2.2.10 @ 11:44PM

OBAMA belives that with his academic brilliance , he is above the masses.His believes , in his mind, that he is the manflesh messiah, or the chosen one, whoes only purpose is power over the mass of human flesh.
In his fanasty world, his lies are truths to him, and the mass will believe these lies, because the mass will be enlightened and prosper.
If any parts of the masses disagree , they will be delegated to the lowest form of life. His civilian army will punish those , who disagree, either verbally or by physical means. HIS LIES ARE ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
OBAMA is a true narcissit. He can't seperate realoty from fanasty.

arizona glass| 2.21.10 @ 7:03AM

One political party believes government is the solution to all our problems. The other party is not sure which is the right answer. Our hope lies in the people to come to their sense and realize that what Ronald Reagan said was right - government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem.

mili8951| 5.8.10 @ 1:32AM

http://www.edhardycawholesale.com/

Converse| 8.12.11 @ 2:34AM

is good

android 2.2 help| 9.9.11 @ 2:56AM

we are all cannot change anything, this is a lot of people choose the reason
android 2.2 help

gavin1| 9.20.11 @ 7:06AM

A good post.
Do you know tablet computers . Need a tablet pc ? We supply kinds of tablet pcs, google android tablet, windows tablets. Wholesale tablets from China.

Jessica| 9.27.11 @ 2:12AM

A good post.

yanyan| 10.10.11 @ 10:49AM

I found very useful and interesting posts in this blog which is the great signs for a good bloggermesothelioma attorney

yaz class action| 10.22.11 @ 1:44PM

i hope this comment will be open every time when we give some comments here. thank you

malibu real estate| 10.11.11 @ 1:09AM

hi
this blog explaine something good and the good is about your topic..thanks its a good pleasure for me to write comments and from now on im your fan,one big fan thanks again for posting keep it up...

L Tod Schlosser| 11.4.11 @ 11:30AM

I have read your article.Article is very interesting,thanks for your sharing. I will necessarily add it in the selected works and I will visit this site.

yanyan| 10.11.11 @ 12:12PM

i took my friend advice and it was awesome i know its cool to be here and i should get more topic from here..cool :Dmas200

yanyan| 10.11.11 @ 2:17PM

This is a good post. This post gives truly quality information. I’m definitely going to look into it. Really very useful tips are provided here. Thank you so much. Keep up the good works.zoloft lawsuit

yanyan| 10.12.11 @ 8:26PM

I am very curious person, but here I was able to find answers to my query.
Yaz lawyer

yanyan| 10.14.11 @ 12:03PM

american spectator is bullshit i can't express my feeling here so bullshit..

Rinah| 10.17.11 @ 5:18AM

I admire what you have done here. I like the part where you say you are doing this to give back but I would assume by all the comments that this is working for you as well.

spot price of silver

ruth| 10.17.11 @ 8:37AM

i going home and i already bookmark this blog so i wanna say thank you for sharing this blog..

silver spot price

fiance visa| 10.17.11 @ 8:41PM

Sites are nice and interesting. Internet always I need in my life. Lots of information and things you can do over the internet without having to leave the house. Technology is so much easier my life.

fiance visa

creamer| 10.19.11 @ 8:09PM

walaAmazing blog and incredibly interesting things you got here!
actos lawsuit

creamer| 10.20.11 @ 5:25AM

Your site is important; the issue is something that not enough people are talking intelligently about. Im really happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something relating to this issue.
Actos Cancer

love| 10.20.11 @ 5:26AM

I am happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality content and this thing I found in you post
Actos Cancer

love| 10.20.11 @ 1:25PM

i love good blog thanks for posting this is it..

accident attorney dallas

devourment| 11.4.11 @ 12:44PM

im very sory i like this blog so much thank you..i will keep touch in here,,

L Tod Schlosser

PIERCE| 11.8.11 @ 2:37AM

. I thank you for taking your time sharing your thoughts and ideas to a lot of readers out there.....
filipina girls

chester| 11.11.11 @ 1:12AM

These things are very basic and important. I will keep them in mind. It's nice to share your post. Good article!
zoloft lawsuit

Perfect !!!| 11.14.11 @ 3:39AM

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about information and love learning more on this. If possible, as you gain expertise, It is extremely helpful for me.

mesothelioma lawyer