The American Spectator : Spreading the Incompetence

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Spreading the Incompetence

By Jeri Thompson on 2.17.10 @ 9:15AM

He's creating no real jobs, just Chicago jobs for the grossly unqualified.

You know the old fable about the scorpion and the frog, and how the frog is nice enough to help the scorpion cross the river on its back even though it's certain the scorpion will kill him, and the scorpion promises that he won't so the frog does it, and the scorpion does poison the frog midstream and they both drown, and the scorpion apologizes by saying that he couldn't help himself because it was just his nature?

Well, that's just a long-winded way of saying that no matter what President Barack Obama says, he's like the scorpion. He might say he's seen the light and believes the American economy is his Number One priority. He might say he's learned his lesson and that he's going to end partisanship on health care "reform." He might even start reading notes off his hand instead of his Teleprompter. But in the end, he's still Barack Obama, a politician from Chicago who knows only one way of doing business.

Take the economy. The United States is now in the 27th month of an economic recession that has cost our nation more than 8 million jobs -- and trillions of dollars worth of government spending has failed to turn things around.

If Obama has seen the light, you'd assume he'd turn away from his Keynesian playbook, and maybe consider going to the policies that pulled our nation out of the last economic ditch we were in: lower taxes, fewer regulations, and less government. But instead it's more of the same.

But as with so much of Obama's worldview, the policies are only half the problem. The other half is the people he puts in place to put those policies into action. Remember Van Jones of environmental policy fame? How about Susan Crawford of Internet policy fame? Well guess what? Obama hasn't learned his lesson, and he's putting the same kind of people in place to "work" on the economy.

Nicole Lamb-Hale, for example, was recently confirmed as Obama's Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing. Ms. Lamb-Hale's job is to represent U.S. manufacturers to the world -- although as a bankruptcy attorney she has no real experience in the manufacturing industry. In fact, her primary qualification appears to be that she went to law school with the President.

According to the National Association of Manufacturers, this vital segment of our economy lost nearly 2 million jobs over the 19-month period between December 2007 and July 2009, with additional job losses forecast for 2010.

Given the immense challenges U.S. manufacturers are facing, what kind of message does a President send when he puts a bankruptcy lawyer in charge of the manufacturing sector? It's comparable to appointing a tax cheat to run the Treasury... oh... wait... never mind. In fact, the Lamb-Hale hire is about as nonsensical as a plan to levy during this great period of economic uncertainty an additional half-trillion dollars in corporate taxes -- which is what Obama's budget proposes.

Speaking of taxes, Obama's appointment of Mary L. Smith as Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice's tax division is another troubling choice. Smith has been nominated for one of the most important tax policy positions in Washington -- despite the fact that she has no prior experience in tax law. Not only does Smith lack a degree in her field and relevant experience with IRS tax cases, she admitted during her Congressional testimony that she personally hasn't tried a tax case in her life -- ever. Smith also acknowledged under questioning that she hasn't taken any continuing legal education classes on tax-law issues, either. This is the person who is supposed to head up the Justice Department's tax division?

It's these kinds of hires -- and there are plenty more in the confirmation cue waiting for their chance to do Obama's bidding -- that just confirms Obama's true character. In all things he does it's the Chicago way: just "Rahm" like-minded cronies and acolytes through the process no matter what the cost, and hope the American people don't notice the damage that results.

If President Obama has truly seen the light and understands that jobs and the economy are what matters most to the American people, he'll at least make an effort to allow the free market to provide some of the solutions to lift the United States out of its economic troubles. And as for jobs? Well, first he can put in place some policies that allow the private sector to create real jobs in real communities across America. After that, putting a lot more of his Administration's hires and prospective hires like Lamb-Hale and Smith out on the street looking for new jobs of their own, wouldn't hurt either.

About the Author

Jeri Thompson is co-host of the "Fred Thompson Show," heard on Westwood One radio. Listen live at http://fredthompsonshow.com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (89) | Leave a comment

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.17.10 @ 9:45AM

Yes, it's wonderful having a President with such a vivid imagination.

Obama's job claims are beyond ridiculous and, according to an article in The Hill, Nancy Pelosi chimed in today bragging about more non-existent jobs which were allegedly created by the massive 787 billion stimulus cum porkulus bill.

Therefore, it is no surprise that you would staff your government with incompetent people who are too stupid to catch up on what you are or are not doing.

The ultimate goal of the politically elite is to dumb the public down and you can't dumb the public down with competent caring officials in place.

No, it's far better to find incompetent morons to take these jobs, making it far easier to achieve the plans of the politically elite by the politically elite.

David R| 2.17.10 @ 11:54AM

What is so funny about Obama and Obama haters is that Sarah Palin is just like him. She excites her base andshe sets the grassroots on fire. If it wasn't for Sarah half the people screaming their heads off at tea party rallies, would not be there. Sarah palin is that she is just like Obama in more ways than one, check out this story I saw comparing them a sec ago

http://bit.ly/bHesDn

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 2.17.10 @ 12:04PM

Sarah Palin does not believe the nation is full of bitter people. Sarah Palin does not believe in 787 billion porkulus. Sarah Palin does not believe that the Constitution is to be perceived as a "negative" set of rights. Sarah Palin did not sit in a church full of white haters who also hated and still hate America. Sarah Palin does not believe in civil rights for terrorists. Sarah Palin knows there are 50 states, not 57. I don't see your comparison.

Bethany| 2.17.10 @ 1:33PM

Nothing you say will ever sink in with libs. And I'm not sure what it is about Palin that makes the left HATE her so much. I mean, she really strikes a chord with them...I think it's more fear than anything else.

But notice that she's always the go-to comeback..."Yea, well Sarah Palin (insert random falsehood or insult here)...." Don't assume just because I'm conservative that I'm in love with Palin. There's no kool-aid drinking worship to be had on this side of the aisle :)

Nick| 2.17.10 @ 2:01PM

Bethany,

I am convinced, in my bones, that the reason stinking libs hate Mrs. Palin so much, is because she didn't kill Trig when she found out he had Downs.

Either, they have killed their unborn baby, for similar reasons, themselves; or they know someone who did.

Therefore, Mrs. Palin must be destroyed.

Everytime Trig is on their TV screens, he is a potent, physical reminder of what they did. And it makes them lash out in hatred.

Sir| 2.17.10 @ 5:12PM

Simply, it's the depravity of the Godless. They'll reap it for sure.

Ruth L.| 2.18.10 @ 2:07PM

Amen to that!! The feminist Nazis especially hate Palin because she is beautiful, talented, etc. and many of them are just plain ugly, but most of all they hate her because she didn't abort her kid. To the Feminist Nazis abortion is sacred.

Rosalee Adams| 2.21.10 @ 1:43AM

Whenever their hackles are raised the highest, in discussing Palin, they never fail to parrot Tina Fey. If it were not so sad that they cannot tell the difference between what Fey said on SNL and what Palin has said, it would be quite funny. I have heard this over and over again ad nauseam
The dufus minded at their finest moments.

Hamo| 2.17.10 @ 9:16PM

"Sarah Palin does not believe the nation is full of bitter people."

No, but she believes much of it is anti-America (whatever that means):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsps2bNOpPs

"Sarah Palin does not believe in 787 billion porkulus."

She supported the TARP bailout. 700 billion big ones, my friend:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txfqWzGMgmY

Hamo| 2.17.10 @ 9:17PM

"Sarah Palin does not believe that the Constitution is to be perceived as a "negative" set of rights."

There is not much out there to indicate how deep Palin's understanding of the constitution goes (apart from many indicators of a lack of interest in governance in general), but there are clear signs that she lacks some basic fundamentals:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXfIZ_De-B8

Ruth L.| 2.18.10 @ 2:19PM

Well so Hamo claims that Palin doesn't know the constitution but his hero Hussein Nobama is trying to destroy the constitution. Only an idiot voted for Nobama. Only a deranged person would support a guy who is destroying this economy. He wants people to lose their jobs so they lose their health care because he wants to force his so called health care on us. Nobama is a budding Communist, or should I say a FULL BLOWN COMMIE????

Hamo| 2.19.10 @ 1:44AM

Not that she just doesn't know the constitution. She knows hardly anything about governance and politics.

dennisintn| 2.18.10 @ 2:27PM

i don;'t see that palin lacks any fundamentals. as a mayor and governor in alaska, she has an impecable record or achievements and (according to parnell) had accomplished all the tasks she had based her compaigning on, and had accomplised more for alaska than any other governor, even the 2 term ones. palin is head and shoulders above obama. and even more importantly, you can believe what she says.
dennisintn

Hamo| 2.19.10 @ 1:46AM

Um, dennisintn. She quit barely half way through the first term. Not impeccable.

Hamo| 2.17.10 @ 9:17PM

"Sarah Palin did not sit in a church full of white haters who also hated and still hate America."

Nope. Just a church that fights witchcraft and believes Alaska will be a refuge for Armageddon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIOD5X68lIs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjl_ng0u10c

Hamo| 2.17.10 @ 9:17PM

"Sarah Palin does not believe in civil rights for terrorists."

Where were you when Bush tried terrorists in civil courts?

"Sarah Palin knows there are 50 states, not 57."

No. She just had no idea why there is a North and South Korea; she thought that Saddam Hussein masterminded 9/11; she had to learn the very basics of America and world affairs by cramming with flash cards:
http://www.politico.com/news/s.....31335.html

I agree on your basic point, Bill: I don't see the comparison either. Palin is a complete fake:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtcVMTZkTZQ

Baloney Guy| 2.18.10 @ 7:59AM

Margie| 2.18.10 @ 1:22PM

No Hambone. You are the fake. And a LIAR. You enjoy it. You are a sad excuse for a human being.

Hamo| 2.19.10 @ 1:48AM

Those who resort to name calling in a discussion lack confidence in their argument.

Hamo| 2.19.10 @ 1:54AM

Speaking of liars.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlan.....undup.html

While your instinct may be to call me or Andrew Sullivan all sorts of names while taking a quick glance at this, I'm curious... Can you disprove that ONE of these are not lies? I bet whomever responds would prefer insults over exploring what is the truth about Palin aye?

I rest my case :)

Nobama bin Lyin| 2.20.10 @ 9:26AM

The daily dish??? Are you serious? this is your source of info to make attacks and substantiate your dorky claims? That's like asking NAMBLA for sound advice on running a boys school. 'And those who resort to name calling'... Yeah, good call there genius. Btw? can you disprove there is no God? How about 'saved or created'?

Hamo| 2.24.10 @ 12:53PM

Demonizing the source doesn't disprove Palin's lies. Just like I said, whomever responds would prefer insults over exploring what is the truth about Palin. Let's try again: Can you disprove that ONE of these is not a lie? Just one.

Ruth L..| 2.18.10 @ 2:10PM

But President Nobama can't say a word without a teleprompter. He even used one when speaking to first and second graders a few weeks ago. The guy doesn't have a thought of his own. I would love to see Hussein and Palin debate --- WITHOUT A TELEPROMPTER. Nobama would lose.

Hamo| 2.19.10 @ 1:49AM

I know that's what you would like to believe. Maybe we'll get to find out if that's true in 2012.

L. Ross| 2.18.10 @ 11:53AM

I'll tell you the biggest difference between Sarah Palin and Obama. Sarah Palin is HOT. Next time, vote GILF.

Hamo| 2.19.10 @ 1:52AM

:-)

Hamo| 2.19.10 @ 2:01AM

While still after her plastic surgery, here is the real Palin. No makeup, no hair extensions, no high-end NY designer labels.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix.....34x878.jpg

Enjoy!

Hamo| 2.19.10 @ 2:06AM

Maybe you think this is hot. Hey, to each his own. If so, enjoy!

http://www.celebrity-gossip.ne.....2169-5.jpg

birther1957| 2.20.10 @ 12:35AM

She still looks better than monkey face Michelle. lol

Marcus| 3.2.10 @ 6:02PM

Yes, the First Lady is BLACK. Get used to it ;-)

KMichaels| 2.18.10 @ 12:58PM

Only a fool would say that Palin is like Obama. A very superficial fool. Palin believes in America and common sense. Obama believes in himself and communism, with him at the helm in all his snooty glory. Only a blind foolish person would think them the same.

ann frattaroli| 2.18.10 @ 1:04PM

The big difference is that SARAH PALIN IS NOT THE PRESIDENT AND SHE IS NOT ENDANGERING THE COUNTRY!!!!!

shipley130| 2.18.10 @ 10:41PM

David R aka dum-dum,
Tea parties have nothing to do with Sarah Palin, other than she is one more citizen worried about the future of the country. When I got involved with tea party type groups, Sarah Palin wasn't involved in that decision.

Pammy| 2.19.10 @ 11:26AM

Observing from a world stage which we have always suspected - you people will never get it.

This is post 2000- the party is well and truly over, the rot has already begun, you always reap what you sow - it is a universal principle.

We don't see your President as incompetent, we see a man of principle whose time has come, in other words, he is too good for you.

You won't have him again foryou have all lost a great opportunity, you are all welcome to the likes of Sarah Palin and co

birther1957| 2.20.10 @ 12:40AM

We'll take Sarah over Stupid A$$ anytime.

birther1957| 2.20.10 @ 12:43AM

And Sarah also is a Natural Born Citizen and has a vault long form Birth Certificate and Obumbo is not and has not.

Nobama bin Lyin| 2.20.10 @ 9:11AM

You're absolutely right, he is too good for us. Will you take him? Please?

Gary| 2.19.10 @ 7:51AM

Sarah Palin isn't the President of the United States. She is a private citizen who happens to be in the public eye and can speak her mind. She is a politician, but that is probably the only way in which she resembles BHO.

danfromatlanta| 2.19.10 @ 5:21PM

Oh really? Palin at least governed a state, and has some experience as a governing executive. More than we can say about anyone in the Obama adminstration. By the way, the policies Palin promotes have proven to actually work, Obama continues to favor policies that have historically proven to fail. Not much of a comparison if you ask me.

Ret. Marine| 2.17.10 @ 10:16AM

You worte this article as if you think this pretender would get a clue and really think of doing something, anything, that actually makes sense. Ain't gonna happen. This crook, the pretender, is a fraud through and through, he specialized in what, law you say, I say horse hockey, he specialized in disruption, aggitation, spreading lies, speaking half truths and stupidity, plain and simple. And what did he do to reinforce it? of course he brought to the People's house a whole cabal of the most vicious anti-American traitors this country could find to the halls of power, and you Sir, expect to see what?
Some may pen after me and even suggest he has this country's safety and security at heart, that too is a big fat lie. He is bidding his time for that crises to come that's too big to waste. Mortage (ARM's) are going to reset soon, and there are hundreds of billions in the business real-estate markets that are on target to default, what then?
The unemployment is another thing all together, and just where are all those jobs saved and created, why of course, in the gubmint sector, why? they produce what exactly?
I see this fall as a start to the crackes becoming breaks in the markets and those breaks are going to turn to a tidal wave of misery this country has never witnessed. Then what?
He is no klinton, not even a second close to Karter, he if far behind when it comes to common sense and the American way. This porkulus package was meant to support his fellow travelers, and that all it was meant to do, funny isn't it how these scroundrals are all jumping ship while the getting is good for their political careers, maybe they do see the storm heading their way. Maybe they invision the pitchforks and fire spreading to their personal hubs looking for an excuss to burn them to the dirt.
If anything, I am willing to put stock into the American Patriots willingness to forgive and forget and get to the business of doing what is morally correct, like following the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and obeying the laws of this Land, I am not delusional to think this fraud has anything good up his sleves, if anything, I think he is right on target to make history, that being the first president to be impeached for having the nerve to think We the People are going to go along with the destruction of our moral fibers our way of life and the guarentees of God-given rights he see to have no problems with trying to deny us all.
All though I would like to pen somethig positive, I cannot seem to muster any such notion of who this fraud is, he's not an American, not a Patriot, not even close to honest of forthright issues. That makes him in my book a first class fool and a traitor to this Republic, please do not think he's anything good for this Country, because he's a fool who boarded his only ship of idiots thinking he's important to whom is yet to be determined.

Bill| 2.17.10 @ 7:55PM

AMEN!!!!! And thank you for serving this great country!

Ruth L.| 2.18.10 @ 2:14PM

Amen to that!!! Nobama majored in "community organizing" which is another word for "community agitator. He never had a business of his own, he does not have a clue how to run a business. Nobama is going DOWN, along with so many of his looney Dems. They are dropping like flies since Scott Brown took Poor Old Teddy's seat. I hear that Teddy is still rolling over in his grave. Poor Ted.

birther1957| 2.20.10 @ 12:51AM

You forgot one thing Hey Obama "Where's the Birth Certificate ?

LoafinPJs| 2.17.10 @ 10:39AM

Loyalty, not expertise, is what tyrants and rulers surround themselves with.

You missed another small appointment - the appointment of the New York state AFL-CIO president to the position of Chairman of the New York Fed. Of course, his expertise in 'persuasion' may be necessary to keep Wall Street in line with the Administration's bidding.

JP| 2.17.10 @ 10:55AM

The President has a very cynical opinion of the American voter. I really do believe that he and his advisors thought that the Stimulus Bill would create enough economic activity and jobs to give his administration and his party the breathing room to enact thier expansionist domestic policies, as well as retain thier super-majority status in Congress. Call it a Faustian bargin -Jobs for Liberty. In his view, Americans when it comes down to it are no different than the 1933 Germans who traded freedom for economic comforts. Occiasonally over the last few years he did let his elitists views slip -most notably his famous Bitter Clingers quip.

The President has no real love for this nation or its people. I really think he sees himself as a kind of Philosopher King, whose benevolency is superior to that of the people he governs (or in his mind, rules). We see much the same in Hillary Clinton's stridency. Whether he is speaking to the average American wage earner, suburban professional, or CEO, the President sees himself as a superior. For him there is no politics -only edicts and obedience. He feels much more comfortable giving grandiose speeches (like a King), making grand poses, and issuing commands. Unlike Presidents Reagan or Clinton (who loved the political tussle), President Obama has no skill in crafting laws, making compromises, and forging political alliances (no matter how temporary). Last July he was much more at home dealing through other would be tyrants (Pelosi and Reid). It was the perfect situtation for him; rely on his super majority in Congress to forge a series of radically unpopular laws that would forever expand the size and scope of the federal government (Cap and Trade, ObamaCare, and Card Check), while he posed and preened before the cameras. He can be theAnointed One while Pelosi and Reid wrestled in the muck known as the Beltway.

But the jobs never came. The warning signs were shot as early as May and with each subsequent jobs report. Then came the Teaparties and Townhalls. The Barbarians were at the gates! But the sychophants who surround the President (as well as the MSM) were too enthralled to Him Whose Name Shall Not be Spoken to warn Him that things were slipping quite fast. But have no fear! With a quip and a speech all shall be saved. The President gave over 435 public utterences, speeches, seminars, and interviews as his administration sank into the muck.

The President's ego, his dreams of being our Messiah will not allow him to act as a normal pol. There is no Dick Morris in his future. No triangulation. He did not spend his adult life running for President in order to be the Second Coming of Slick Willie. For him, there can be no compromise. I think the average Sixpack Joe knows this. But does the GOP?

P. Smith| 2.17.10 @ 11:07AM

I would rather have incompetent boobs in these positions, rather than competent ideologues who could execute real damage.

R. Lindemann| 2.18.10 @ 2:24PM

So Mr. Smith are you saying that Obama is a "incompetent boob" or a competent ideologue"? I think he is little of both thats why he is a dangerous man.

J.C.Eaton| 2.17.10 @ 11:13AM

There is much to admire about Chicago and Chicagoans. By and large the town is beautiful[save for the slums], the restaurants, cultural enclaves, and architecture are terrific. The sports teams almost always attend their own games, and the people generally work like the devil. But try as I might, I can't find one good thing to say about the puss-ridden, open-sored lesion that was, is, and always will be Chicago political culture. Nothing virtuous has come out of that carbuncle has it? Bammy is a derivative of that culture and will never change....he simply knows no other way.

JohnMD1022| 2.17.10 @ 11:50AM

Since his name came up...

Why does Timmy Geitner always look like he just stole some other kid's lunch box?

Franklin| 2.17.10 @ 1:53PM

I'm sorry - really have to apologize in advance - but I'm going to make a reallllly evil statement:

I can't look at Tim Geitner and NOT see horns!

Sorry...

JO4USA| 2.17.10 @ 2:43PM

LOL !!

Louis Jenkins| 2.17.10 @ 4:24PM

Because he did. And their milk money too! Next it will be the 401Ks. But come on guys, the Pretender n Chief has really created a lot of jobs. Just look at the number of czars we now have.

Marc Jeric| 2.17.10 @ 11:58AM

OK, we got it. The only qualifications for an Obama nominee is a thorough grounding in marxism, no private enterprise experience, and local soviet organizing background.

Nick| 2.17.10 @ 12:08PM

Mr. Jeric,

Don't forget a strong hatred for Chistianity.

Although, I guess that is implied in your list of qualifications.

Drew| 2.17.10 @ 1:48PM

You gotta love The American Spectator. For sheer, unbridled, economic no-nothingism you guys sure take the cake.

Quote: consider going to the policies that pulled our nation out of the last economic ditch we were in: lower taxes, fewer regulations, and less government.

Let's just step back a second. Didn't the lower taxes of the GW Bush administration help run up the massive (and continuing) deficits. Without managing to actually spur much in the way of sustainable growth? And having spent a trillion or so dollars to help clean up the mess caused by under-regulated financial institutions - I'm guessing that that "fewer regulations" policy prescription is going to be a tough sell too.

But no matter. Today the subject is the "wrong sort" of job creation. Never mind the growing consensus that, reich-wing screeching notwithstanding, the Recovery Act certainly has been effective in preventing the US economy from sliding, precipitously, into a second Great Depression. (Note - you gotta chuckle at the irony of arguments from conservative theoreticians who work at a think tank named after effin' Herbert Hoover. Talk about brand awareness.) No - today's rant is against a couple of Obama's political appointees.

Just to take one of them, Nicole Lamb-Hale, who was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing. (Note: This position was created by GW Bush. I don't know about the intellectual or business qualifications of President Bush's appointee. But, whatever they were, they obviously didn't do us much good - since the US economy managed to lose about 4 million manufacturing jobs between Bush's 2003 creation of the position and 2008. Whoops..)

The author makes a big deal out of the fact that Ms. Lamb-Hale was an attorney whose practice centered on bankruptcy law. What the author fails to mention is that her most recent private-industry experience was as managing partner of law firm Foley & Lardner's Detroit offices. In other words, whatever her skills as a lawyer might be, she's obviously highly skilled at managing the sort of bureaucratic bun-fights that erupt when you've got a bunch of over-educated smartypants sitting in the room. Perfect, in fact, for the sort of policy-wonk supervising she's going to be doing over at the Commerce Department.

Lastly, there seems to be this continuing conservative meme about what constitutes appropriate qualifications for political office. I frequently hear businesspeople talking about their "job creation" skills. Quite how these "job creation" skills are supposed to be translated into a political agenda or policy prescription are -conveniently - never actually expressed.

I doubt anybody ever went into business for the express purpose of "creating jobs." Businesses prosper by keeping costs (and the number of people they employ) to their absolute useful minimum. There is nothing inherently evil about this. But for businesspeople to enter politics declaring that they "know how to create" jobs is a canard. Businesspeople know how to create businesses - the jobs that come with them are a fortunate side effect. Politicians aren't (and shouldn't be) in the same game.

JP| 2.17.10 @ 2:40PM

"Let's just step back a second. Didn't the lower taxes of the GW Bush administration help run up the massive (and continuing) deficits. Without managing to actually spur much in the way of sustainable growth?"

If you mean no sustainable growth, do you mean 18 quarters of positive GDP growth? And you confuse spending with revenues. Tax revenues for 12 consecutive quarters outpaced CBO estimates beginning in 2004.

"the Recovery Act certainly has been effective in preventing the US economy from sliding, precipitously, into a second Great Depression. (Note - you gotta chuckle at the irony of arguments from conservative theoreticians who work at a think tank named after effin' Herbert Hoover. Talk about brand awareness.)"

And how is that? As saving the banking system, all of the work was done prior to Obama's inaugeration. Paulson, Bush, and Bernecke implemented TARP and the Fed policies that prevented a full banking meltdown in Nov through Dec 2008. Obama signed TARP II (which has yet to be spent), and I dare you to prove that one nickle of stimulus created anything other than adding to the public payroll. Since Feb of 2009, over 3 million jobs have been lost. The vast majority of stimulus money has gone to back fill state budget shortfalls. That is far from saying the Stimulus saved the economy.

"But, whatever they were, they obviously didn't do us much good - since the US economy managed to lose about 4 million manufacturing jobs between Bush's 2003 creation of the position and 2008. Whoops..)"

And what would a debate about be without bringing up GW Bush? Talk about a strawman. The US lost over 8 million manufacturing jobs during the Clinton years. We are talking about the here and now. Obama has incurred as much public debt in his first 12 months as Bush incurred during 8 years.

Ret. Marine| 2.18.10 @ 5:36AM

Did you conviently leave out the fact that the CONgress was controlled by demonrats during the last part of the Bush admin. or are you less inclined to admit their failures and prefer to blame it on Bush for a reason?

Everly Waverly| 2.17.10 @ 3:04PM

Hey chump, mediocre presidents don't get elected to a second term!!! Yeah, I'm talking to you Obonehead! What a hubris inflated ego...

Drew| 2.17.10 @ 3:07PM

Quote: If you mean no sustainable growth, do you mean 18 quarters of positive GDP growth? And you confuse spending with revenues. Tax revenues for 12 consecutive quarters outpaced CBO estimates beginning in 2004.

You're ignoring the elephant in the room: By 2007 the economy was beginning to slide into recession. And just as an athlete who dopes up on steroids eventually pays the physical price for his artificial and unsustainable juicing - so did the US economy.

Whatever growth the US economy had during the middle part of the Bush presidency was sustained by an artificial inflation in home prices. This resulted in a lot of jobs building Arizona and florida condos; mortgage brokers selling subprime loans; and financial types slicing and dicing these loans into ever more impenetrable instruments. It also meant that Americans used their houses as "piggy banks" to finance the purchases of everything from cars to big screen TVs.

The problem with this game of financial musical chairs is that, once it was apparent that the music had stopped (ie. house prices weren't in any inevitable upward growth spiral) that the entire economy came crashing down. And the legacy of the entire Bush presidency can be seen very clearly in two economic statistics: zero net private job growth; and zero net income growth. Toss in the fact that Bush took a budget that was estimated to throw off $5 trillion in surpluses - and turned it into an inevitable decade or two of trillion dollars deficits - and its hard to find much positive about Bush's economic-growth credibility.

I find it interesting that you bring up TARP, because if ever there was an example of Republican (and Conservative) hypocrisy it has to be the way that program is discussed. I disagreed - strongly - with many, many of the policies of GW Bush. But I at least give him credit for recognizing and acting upon the advice given to him by his financial advisers. But when it came time to actually authorizing action through the Congress, it fell to Democrats - starting with Conservative's favorite bete noires: Nancy Pelosi; Harry Reid; and Barney Frank to act like responsible legislators and get the authorization passed. Republican lawmakers were notably - and noisily - absent from the party. With few exceptions the vote on TARP authorization came down to a straight party line vote: Democrats supported it, Republicans were against it. Thank God the Democrats had sizable enough majority - or else this country, and indeed the entire world econom, would be in a very dark place indeed.

Die Fledermaus| 2.17.10 @ 8:15PM

Please. What drivel. Only a true idealogue or a gullible moron would possibly think arguing that Bush took "estimated surpluses" and created deficits. Another typical lie by Democrats and idiots (I know - repetitive) made into a talking point.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to estimate the future deficits or spending since government, from it's inception, is incapable of estimating anything near the actual result. Every program cost and time to complete (i.e. the Big Dig in Boston) are wildly off by billions and years.

TARP is another lie. All of the money is nothing but a slush fund for Democrats and their cronies across the country. What has been spent is nothing but pay offs to local unions and friends of Obama and is just stretching out the inevitabilty of state's financial messes.

The rest of the money just went to print signs saying existing projects were now brought to us via "stimulus". Oh and those 6 guys digging that ditch now have "saved" jobs.

The remainder of the money will be spent (surprise, surprise, surprise) by the middle of this summer and fall right before the ELECTIONS! Amazing isn't it? And I'm sure you'll be here with your DNC talking points spouting off how the economy is now completely turned around thanks to TARP, or Son of TARP or the Bride of TARP or whatever.

Sell somewhere else...no one around here is buying.

Margie| 2.17.10 @ 8:22PM

Leftist Troll Liar talking points. You're a joke and a loser. Does your boss pay you well?
Your Master is the Hypocrite-in-Chief and no one here is fooled by you.

Drew| 2.18.10 @ 1:26AM

Continue to impress me with your reasoned, penetrating analysis.

Assuming, Margie, that you can read, I suggest you take a look at the Congressional Budget Office report from January of 2001 (http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/27xx/doc2727/entire-report.pdf) Page 21: Projects approximately $5.6 trillion worth of surpluses through 2011.

Didn't exactly work out that way, did it?

How come it didn't work?

1) Spend a trillion or so invading Iraq - without bothering to fund it.

2) Give another trillion or so in unneccessary tax cuts to the richest Americans.

3) Push through Medicare Part D, without bothering to fund it.

4) And lastly, so mismanage the financial system that it creates the worst economic crisis in half a century.

Which of these things didn't happen? Really? Did Bush NOT invade Iraq? (Or did you think we did that for free?)

Tell you what, Margie: Instead of insulting people, why don't you at least try citing facts in your arguments.

Margie| 2.18.10 @ 1:18PM

Answer the question Leftist Liar~ Are you getting paid well, Troll, for taking up space here with your Leftist lies?
Are they making worth your while?
At the end of your life you will sigh and groan for your lying life but it will be too late.

Hamo| 2.24.10 @ 4:38PM

You seem real sweet.

KJW| 2.17.10 @ 3:47PM

What is most troubling is the analogy (quite fitting, I believe) you used of the frog and the scorpion at the very beginning of this piece.

In the end, the scorpion DIED midstream alongside the frog he stung, because "he couldn't help himself".

Rush Limbaugh has called this current crop of Democrats (seemingly willing to sacrifice their careers to do their master's bidding, i.e. "Yes" votes on cap-and-trade, health care, etc. even though their constituencies are heavily against that legislation) the "kamikaze Democrats". But he's also wisely cautioned that this party wants to stay in power through perpetuity.

It appears to me we are up against something worse: the "Suicide Democrats". There almost seems to be a death wish emanating all the way from the top of this modern Democrat party ticket, something grounded in an "I can't help myself" type of mentality. And I'm seriously questioning whether they can sanely say they want, much less are able, to stay in power for a long, long time.

Consider any significant communist, marxist, national socialist government of the last century, many of whom are being compared to this current American administration. Regardless of how closely some of their economic policies might mirror those of today's dominant party, there was one key difference - many of those governments sought and bought a strong military to try and secure their nation. Remember Nikita Khrushchev insulting western nations' belief in the Christian gospel by saying "We reject your notion of 'turn the other cheek'. If someone slaps OUR cheek, we will kick their head off"?

We (our current American government) act as if we're READY to have our own heads kicked off...economically AND militarily, and my concern is that this may be based on this long-standing sense of guilt at being from the United States with its supposed list of grievances inflicted all over the world. I'm neither a psychiatrist nor a psychologist, but such collective guilt, allowed to fester for decades in this group's subconscious minds, could seem to explain why they appear to have a thinly-concealed bent towards self-destruction. If they do possess it, one thing's for sure - you don't want someone from among their ranks to also have the title "leader of the free world".

Isaiah 30:12-14 , in the NIV tranlation of the Bible, reads: "Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel (God) says:

'Because you have rejected this message,relied on oppression and depended on deceit,this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.It will break in pieces like pottery, shattered so mercilessly that among its pieces not a fragment will be found for taking coals from a hearth or scooping water out of a cistern.'"

Is there a better way to describe this administration than relying on oppression or depending upon deceit, or as a lofty wall cracked and bulging for all to see? Yet whether this high, proud fortress eventually collapses under the weight of porous security in an age of rabid and potentially nuclear Islamic terrorism, or horrible, self-destructive economic policies, it won't make the final result any less lethal. Or easier to recover from, regardless of whether whomever brought it down was intentionally suicidal or not. One thing's for sure, though - those who might have thought themselves somehow safe atop that structure, or have deluded themselves and others into thinking so, will find themselves suddenly on the ground, tragically vulnerable and quite possibly without their livelihoods, if not their lives.

Both this verse and your scorpion analogy may eventually prove, I'm afraid, deadly accurate for this entire administration. The question will be who, if anyone, won't end up drowning in the river, or won't have the big, bulging wall fall either out from under them or on top of them.

Greg RN| 2.18.10 @ 1:39PM

Very eloquent, nice to see some clarity here and truth. But with all the ranting about the "O"bvious one, no one mentions the handlers behind the scenes of this sick puppet show. Big names going back to the creation of the FED RESERVE. The real one knows he has but a short time and so many don't see it. Your analogy reminded of a verse where people cry out for the rocks to fall on them to escape the wrath of a long ignored GOD who sent his only son to save our sorry asses.

Oldefarte| 2.17.10 @ 4:32PM

We, the American people, made the biggest mistakes of all in this fiasco, when we hired Obama, a Harvard trained lawyer; political street hustler for Acorn,etc in Chicago; US senator who fulfilled his obligations to his constituents by saing PRESENT; Christian church attendee who supposedly failed to hear the radical ranting and ravings of his socialist pastor for twenty years; etc ALL because we needed to elect an African-American as President of the US. We're all to blame, whether or not we voted for him; since we should have known the preciding and we should have prevented our ignorant friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow church attendees, children, relatives,etc from ever voting for him, BUT WE DIDN'T. Beginning in November, we'll have one chance to remedy our mistake, and I hope and pray that we DON'T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE!!!!!!

pugsley| 2.17.10 @ 4:59PM

I keep dithering back and forth on one point, is there enough time to correct almost a century of progressive mischief? We are right on the brink of at the worst disaster at the least a depression. Proven fact every 60-80 years there is a world wide depression-folks we are there and I don't know if anything can be done other than to endure it. If you have no debt better stay that way if not pare it down as low as possible because we may be in for as the old folks used to say HARD TIMES. At the very least I think we are going to return to old time values after this is over if there is a country left called America.

R. Lindemann| 2.18.10 @ 2:35PM

I tried to warn my liberal brother and sister of the dangers of electing this man. But you can't reason with some liberals because they are brain dead and no matter what you say they will not admit that they made a mistake. Of course I found out from another family member that this liberal brother knows that Nobama is completely incompetent but he won't admit it to me. Hopefully the public is beginning to see the light, smell the coffee, etc. etc. but is it to late?

Richard Baker| 2.17.10 @ 6:22PM

Liberals are soooo upset. Big deal.

Marty Noel| 2.17.10 @ 6:30PM

Sadly, the voters of our country hired a man to be our President who had no real qualifications as a governor - none. This man then surrounded himself with friends, party hacks and political payoffs and these are the folks who are running our country. The White House is commanded by a Chicago thug, a personal friend and a group of advisors who have no credentials in running a business or a government. Everything our President does is as a result of a political consideration, not a consideration of whether or not it is in the best interest of ALL the American people - the people he represents. With his personal lack of credentials, a house full of political operatives and a Congress headed by extreme political idealists, it is easy to see why nothing substantive is getting done on our behalf. Clean our house Mr. President. Go get some people who know how to run something big and tell the extremists in your party that there has to be some give - even a little bit will bring meaningful results.

Gary Marchinke| 2.18.10 @ 4:44AM

It looks like global warming is no longer a hot issue. This winter weather may have cooled things down a little bit.

R. Lindemann| 2.18.10 @ 2:30PM

Has anyone wondered where the Idiot Algore is this winter? He is keeping a low profile isn't he? I wish he would get stuck in a snowbank --PERMANENTLY. He is a clown, but a rich clown due to the idiots that support his "global warming" garbage.

Brian| 2.18.10 @ 8:46AM

It's interesting that the Libs instead of addressing the incompetence of Obama's appointments, goes after Sarah Palin. It's almost like a bait and switch.. see I can't address the crap in my right hand so look at the pile of stench in the other. Libs, never gonna get "it". They can never address the problem, it's just "Yeah but......your side......" What about it Democrats, do you support the incompetent choices that Obama has made?

digison| 2.18.10 @ 10:19AM

They're donkeys. It's the donkey's nature to act like an ass.

Jack Kinch(1uncle)| 2.18.10 @ 1:39PM

We need a 28th amendment to the constitution, maybe more. Cut congress in half to help pinpoint responsibility and cut costs. Bring control of education back to local s. Most important, stop congress form spending our taxes on their special interest groups, like Acorn, it's affiliates or similar orgs., like things shown on Fox News last week . Google Gov. Waste. Like paying mostly single mothers support for having babies, that cost and the cost of their crime,dumbing down schools for them. In other words, take back control of our money and our government from the power hungry.

shipley130| 2.18.10 @ 10:50PM

Returning schools to the district level seems to be catching on. Rex Rammell is running for Governor against incumbent and this is one of his ideas.

Ken Roberts | 2.18.10 @ 2:15PM

Ret Marine: DITTO . YEAH MAN YOU ARE RIGHT ON , No words were ever spoken any better .

S. S. Norawitz| 2.18.10 @ 3:23PM

While I like the idea of "Mrs. Smith Goes to Washington", I'm not sure if Lamb-Hale is a Hale lady well met, or an Obama Lamb...

shipley130| 2.18.10 @ 10:47PM

The pond scum floating around in the white house and the fed reserve were the criminal class that had an opportunity to regulate derivitives, but, were such pigs that they couldn't bare to do that. Too busy at the trough. Oink, oink.

shipley130| 2.18.10 @ 10:53PM

The liberals don't respect you, the taxpayer. The taxpayer is just a money barge being towed by them. See Ed and Sean Hannity's exchange about social security that aired tonight, 18 Feb 2010. If that doesn't turn the light on, I don't know what will.

evan| 2.19.10 @ 11:30AM

What happened to Hamo? His last entry critical of Palin was on 2/19/10 at 2:06 A.M. Did he go to bed after his last entry? Does he work somewhere at night that he is up at that hour? Or does he stay up all night and sleep all day? We still don't know.

Hamo| 2.24.10 @ 12:58PM

Hey, maybe you can help shut all those people up who are into that whole wild "truther" conspiracy:

"... in that weird conspiracy-theory freaky thing that people talk about that Trig isn’t my real son. And a lot of people say, 'Well you need to produce his birth certificate! You need to prove that he’s your kid!' Which we have done."

Can you show those foolish conspiracy idiots when Sarah has done this?

Hamo| 2.24.10 @ 12:58PM

Hey, maybe you can help shut all those people up who are into that whole wild "truther" conspiracy:

Can you show those foolish conspiracy idiots when Sarah has done this?

birther1957| 2.20.10 @ 12:15AM

I was looking at the help want ads in our community paper and came across this ad. I just about shi+ my pants. It reads
Working America
AFL-CIO has FT openings M-F 1:30-10:pm
$11.00 /hr + excellent benefits
Experience is a plus.
Woman, people of color and bilingual strongly to apply!
www.working america.org
I have never seen a help want ad asking for people of color shouldn't that part have been left out? I'm white, maybe I should apply for this job and cry racist.

Hamo| 2.24.10 @ 2:28PM

You see that sort of thing all the time for positions where the work is done in a certain ethnic communities. Especially in community and social services.

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