The American Spectator : The Farce Before Christmas

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The Farce Before Christmas

By Andrew Cline on 12.30.10 @ 6:09AM

Jon Stewart and the 9/11 responders bill.

Comedian Jon Stewart is the new Edward R. Murrow. Why? He shamed Republicans into supporting a bill to pay the health care bills of 9/11 first responders. It is written in the New York Times, therefore it must be so. The cognoscenti nod their heads in agreement, and another page in the history of the Obama administration is inked.

Of course, it is all nonsense.

Even the New York Times, it seems, is getting its news from The Daily Show these days. But getting one’s facts from a fake news show, as actual journalists used to point out, is risky business.

The story of Jon Stewart saving the 9/11 responders bill from heartless Republicans has already become accepted folklore, although like most folklore, it just isn’t true.

The folklore goes like this: Senate Republicans didn’t want to pay for health care for 9/11 responders. They used the excuse of wanting to extend the Bush tax rates first to prevent the bill from passing. Then Jon Stewart ranted about their obstructionism on his show, urging them to “just @#%&ing pass it!” Shamed, they caved and passed the bill.

In fact, the bill was flawed and Republicans had serious objections to it from the start. It did more than simply pay for 9/11-related health expenses for New York City first responders who were on the scene that horrible day. According to the Los Angeles Times, only half of the people covered by the original bill were first responders. The other half were civilians — city residents, school children, and volunteers who came to help clean up in the aftermath of the attacks. But there is no telling who those people actually are. It is believed that about 10,000 people came to the city to help. They were from all over the country. Republicans were rightly concerned that the bill could become a blank check to virtually anyone, anywhere who claimed to have gotten sick as a result of 9/11.

Senate Republicans who opposed swift passage of the bill in the final days of the lame duck Congress were not opposed to the concept. They were opposed to the size and scope of the bill and to the process that would’ve fast-tracked the bill without allowing amendments. What is more, they said they were opposed to exactly that, not because they wanted to pass the Bush tax rates first.

“I’m not trying to fight it; I’m trying to get it right,” Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., told Politico.com. “There are 30 things that ought to be changed real quick in committee but very difficult on the floor. To finish a bill at this point of time, we’re not going to be able to amend it.”

The Wall Street Journal reported the opposition of Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., this way: “Mr. Coburn wants the package to be funded through spending cuts, the aide said. He and others in his party have questioned whether the money would overlap with workers’ compensation and other aid provided to Sept. 11 first responders.”

Sen. John Kyl, R-Ariz., said, “It’s one thing to make an emotional appeal to say we need to take care of people, but it’s another to do it in a sensible way.”

But an emotional appeal was all Jon Stewart had. “It’s a win, win, win, win, just f*&@ing do it!” he screamed. Never mind the facts, such as: it was a $7.4 billion bill, not $7 million, as Stewart said. Also, Democrats had plenty of time to pass it, as it was introduced in February of 2009. But they didn’t schedule it for a House vote until this past July. It didn’t come up in the Senate until after the November, 2010 elections. And then Democrats tried to ram it through with little debate and no amendments.

Fortunately for the taxpayers, Senate Republicans stood their ground in the face of emotional, uninformed appeals by the likes of Stewart. The popular narrative is that they caved after Stewart’s rant. In fact, they held out for major concessions that wound up cutting the cost from $7.4 billion to $4.3 billion.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wound up praising Republicans after the compromise was reached.

“Over the last 24 hours, our Republican colleagues have negotiated in good faith to forge a workable final package that will protect the health of the men and women who selflessly answered our nation’s call in her hour of greatest need,” he said.

In other words, the amended bill does what we claimed the original would do, but for $3.1 billion less.

In sum, Senate Democrats got cast as patriots for trying to use the cover of 9/11 to needlessly spend an extra $3.1 billion we don’t have, while Senate Republicans got cast as traitors for trying to save the taxpayers’ money. And the comedian who got it all wrong was rewarded by being cast as one of the greatest journalists of the century. The actual Edward R. Murrow would’ve had a field day with all that.

About the Author

Andrew Cline is editorial page editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader. His Twitter ID is @Drewhampshire.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (255) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 12.30.10 @ 6:36AM

Jon Stewart is an idiot and so is anyone who watches him.

As far as the bill it was a payoff to New York. There are first responders around the nation who risk their lives every day. Why is New York so special?

Good questions| 12.30.10 @ 9:55AM

The article raises a good point -- what proof will be required to verify that everyone who wants a piece of this action actually helped in the days following 9/11?

Another question: Didn't the firefighters, police officers, EMS and other first responders have health insurance? Surely it was known that they might become ill from inhaling smoke and fumes at some point. Did they lose their coverage after 9/11? Why do taxpayers have to pay billions for them now?

Won't we have to do the same after the next attack, and the next -- and won't zillions of volunteers show up to help (and later claim their due)?

Josh| 12.30.10 @ 10:16AM

It is my understanding that the first responders came from all over the country so no it is not just a NY benefit. From everything I have read, most had insurance but their benefits maxed out, they were sick and lost jobs, etc. I think it was the American way or American at its finest these guys running into burning buildings, spending weeks looking for survivors and or bodies and cleaning up. We waste so much it is a shame that it has taken so long to do the right thing. Yes if it happens again who will run into those buildings after what we have learned from the last one. I would gladly pay additional taxes to reduce our deficit or even to make sure there was health insuance coverage for the bravest of us. If they had charged for the photo ops that have been used since 9/11 for the politicans to get elected under the umbrella of their bravy then no need to pass this bill.

Clint| 12.30.10 @ 8:05PM

How could "first" responders come all over the country?!

Most had their insurance maxed out? Where did you hear that? Sick, lost jobs?

You're stretching here, Bub.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:09AM

I believe the concept of "first responders" includes the people who spent days digging in the rubble for survivors. You are correct; it would be a misnomer.

Clint| 12.31.10 @ 4:49AM

This isn't my Post.
A Poseur posted this.

Carry on.

Owen| 1.1.11 @ 10:40PM

Who will respond if we have another 9/11? What an asinine notion. People responded because they wanted to. They were trying to help. They weren't thinking, "Gee. I wonder how much I amgoing to get for doing this." Repubs did not object to helping those who helped but the wayward outsized way the Dems were going to write a blank check. Jon Stewart is a Humorist at best. He is not "Ed Murrow" .

Doug Heim| 12.30.10 @ 11:47AM

Right on brother!

We don't have $7.4 billion to spend, we don't even have $4.3 billion to spend. We dont have ANY money to spend on ANYTHING new, no matter how nice it sounds or how badly somebody wants it.

If we don't start making MAJOR cuts REAL fast, we're gong to be in a world of hurt in this new year.

bus| 12.30.10 @ 8:30PM

I hope they stick J. Stewart with a big tax bill.

Ted| 12.31.10 @ 9:57AM

Why is New York so special? It's simple: they have a large population in a system with diminishing federalism and increasing majority rule.

LazloTu| 12.31.10 @ 10:52PM

Interesting story, and interesting comment(s).
I do wonder how 'different' the aftermath of 9/11 would have been had the thousands of responders not responded; it seems to me that the response was totally a tribute to what 'made' America great. Yet, why would anyone argue that 'taking care' of these brave individuals is not the 'right' ting to do??

Turn you back| 1.3.11 @ 4:35PM

I realize 9/11 has faded from so many people's memories but what is shocking is how quickly we turn our backs on men and women who responded to New York City on 9/11 and months following. I'm not surprised by the ignorant "first responders from all over the country" comment (they are called USAR teams). Or the comment "surely it was known that they might become ill from inhaling smoke...." Wow! You are right, they should have just gone home and watched it on TV like you did with your comfy slippers on....or maybe you should have gone down to ground zero and volunteered to dig bodies out of the rubble? Then, when you are dying of lymphatic cancer, you too could watch the people your brothers gave their lives to save walking away when you need help.

Down State in a Blue State| 12.30.10 @ 6:43AM

The New York Times - "All The Fake News That's Fit to Print."

Anthony| 12.30.10 @ 12:43PM

Boy did you nail it today about the fraudulent & useless NYT. While The NY Post has a feature article today on union corruption and job slowdowns by the NYC sanitation department over bubget cuts, that were responsible for several deaths in NYC, the NYT has a picture of mayor.......Juliani about plowing woes in 2001!!!
Not a word about "No Labels" Bloomberg, who can't see over the recent snow fall, nor a word about the city unions.
The New York Times should finally die a quick death!! Liberalism is a sickening mental disorder.

Tim the Enchanter| 12.30.10 @ 1:01PM

I'd amend the slogan to read: "All the news WE think is fit to print."

Mark James| 12.30.10 @ 1:13PM

Tim - love the Python posting name.

Peter Hardy| 1.2.11 @ 8:08AM

Actually, for The New York Times, "All the news that's fit to slant." (Same amount of words, and leaves room for a paperless era.)

Barry De Lede| 1.2.11 @ 11:14AM

The New York Times: "All the News Deemed Fit to Publish."

Only Republican at Woodstock| 1.3.11 @ 10:54AM

I thought it was "All the News that Fits Our Views".

Appleby| 12.30.10 @ 6:43AM

Screaming filthy language in a public place will now get you a $500 fine in Wisconsin. I hope Jon Stewart is one of that laws first fines. (And NO, THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE FIRST AMENDMENT! I heard an alleged Constitutional Lawyer on Fox News opine that the First Amendment grants the right to shout, er, poo poo head in church without let or hindrance. Clearly he has not read said Constitution lately.

One is not daring and hip and chic if one prefaces every noun with f***ing, although it is probably more accurate for Jon Stewart to shout For F**ks Sake than to take the name of the Lord in vain, F**K being his God.

But personally I do not listen to people who scream their opinions, especially when I have to wade through a cess pool to get the gist of what they say. Jon Stewart, let him who moved you hither remove you hence!

Have you considered| 12.30.10 @ 6:55AM

I have not watched The Daily Show or the Colbert Report since their rolling of eyes and sneering when reporting on the first Tea Party in 2009. I found that sneering offensive, as I simply can not understand US citizens sneering at other US citizens who want to uphold the US Constitution.

Humphrey Dumfries| 12.31.10 @ 9:49AM

Oh, please. The U.S. Constitution has no binding power on anything. Besides, it's confusing -- I mean, it's over 100 years old! Just ask Ezra Klein...

PolishKnight| 12.31.10 @ 12:49PM

Haveyouconsidered, I watched it one time back when Stewart took it over from Craig Kilborn. It went from being a fun show under Craig to such a stereotypical, smug liberal rant that I guess it's become sublime. Is Jon Stewart's repeated smirks and rolling eyes as he lectures America that Republicans are stupid because they just don't know how stupid they are, haha! Let's hear that several times each show because before Jon came around, nobody got it.

I'm reminded of the SNL skit by Al Franken, ironically, of Stuart Smalley who would make daily affirmations "People like you! You're a good person!" Al Franken's Stuart Smalley was a messed up guy who somehow had his own television show to advise others how to improve their lives. That's liberalism in a nutshell and Al Franken and Jon Stewart's biggest jokes is that they're it! And their audience comes along!

You're a leftist and people who disagree with you are stupid because you're caring and want them to realize that you're better than them!

MikeD| 12.30.10 @ 7:03AM

Saying the media uses a double standard in their reporting of demoncraps and Republicans is like saying it gets lighter after the sun comes up. Even the lefties know this and count on it. It's worth billions of dollars in free, positive coverage and publicity for the democrats.

Every totalitarian dictatorship or oligarchy depends on absolute control of the media, and it's no different with our current regime. But, we're not completely helpless unless the Republicans just take the status quo and shake their heads while lamenting that "It's just the way it is".

It doesn't have to be. They're going to get hammered by the lamestream media wing of the demoncrats regardless of what they do, so why not release their own 'news' anticipating the bias? Make it as sarcastic and shameless as possible; and then just DARE them to come out with their drivel.

Another possibility is to go after them so hard and steadily that they're tied in knots from defending themselves. Frivolous lawsuits aren't a bad idea either; taking a page from the left's own playbook.

I still like the idea of forcing EVERY BILL introduced to cover only one issue, with no additions or amendments; and force votes on every single issue so nobody can hide behind their 'usual' excuses. We need to make the next two years the most miserable period in the history of American politics for the demoncraps. We only have our future on the line. As usual, any suggestions from the bright people who read TAS would be appreciated.

Worried Canadian| 12.30.10 @ 7:40AM

And you wonder why all of the world think you right wingers are f**king loonies!!! Just look at these responses. You are all crazy

Texas Jayde3| 12.30.10 @ 8:37AM

where did you ever get the idea that we CARE what candians think of us?

Chalkdust| 12.30.10 @ 9:01AM

"Worried Canadian" my a**. You're just concerned that someone will ask you to make a life-changing decision, like maybe.....Should I take my child to the USA for medical treatment or should I leave it to the quacks of socialized medicine?

By the way, what makes you think (stupid question) that anyone saner than a bed wetting liberals is concerned about what" the rest of the world" thinks about America?

MikeD| 12.30.10 @ 9:24AM

If you are really a Canadian, you have your own loonies to worry about. You have no stake in this, so butt out. Or should we start asking you how just criticizing a homosexual is unlawful in Canada? Do you know what these people actually DO to each other?

And your healthcare plan is SO GOOD that you're all coming here for treatment, even your own senior govt. ministers. What are you gonna do when obama destroys our heath care system? Where will you go then? (Unless you really LIKE waiting forever for tests and treatments.) And, of course, who will defend you after barry has destroyed our military just to make his homo buddies happy? Fix your own house before you throw stones at ours.

Appleby| 12.30.10 @ 10:09AM

You should be worried -- when the best the Liberals can come up with here is Iggy - the descendant of Russian Czars who has spent almost all his life in the USA, and at Harvard no less, and who has never said anything worthy of repeating. At least Jack Layton the Mustachio Commie is amusing!

Perhaps you ought to start worrying about Dalton McGinty's plan to close down all the hydro generation and replace it with subsidized windmills built by the Koreans. Or where all the Ontario garbage is going to be dumped now that Michigan has refused to take any more of it. Or why the foreigners who run convenience stores are still stealing all the winning lottery tickets.

Redstateboy| 12.30.10 @ 11:03AM

well will you just read the Liber-uls here!! LOL!!
Tell us Liber-uls.. enlighten us of all your successes.. let's name them shall we? The Bankrupt People's Republics of CA., NY., MI, IL., your crumbling, crime infested, broke Cities of SF., LA, Buffalo, Detriot, St. Louis, Nia. Falls, NY., Wash. DC., NYC. and the common denominator???!!? YES!! ALL run by Liber-ul Democrats for DECADES! Tell us how we should accept your opinions?! Tell us how Anything you have to blather is worthy of consideration when the Evidence is over-whelming of the bankruptcy of your political philosophy. Yet sadly...
Liber-uls can never admit that any of this wreckage is their fault. So kiss our Bee-hinds!

Redstateboy| 12.30.10 @ 12:19PM

ever want to silence a Liber-ul (and who wouldn't) just throw my undeniable assertions in their face.. they'll never respond to it and then you know you've won.

Les Nesman| 12.30.10 @ 12:08PM

I wouldn't be worried, I would be glad about it. These guys are doing what needs to be done to the Republican party. If you want a real show, look what they type over the health care reform.

Mark James| 12.30.10 @ 1:28PM

Worried Canuck- As is most often the case I would gladly bet you have no factual definition of what a "right winger " actually is. In America the Extreme left wing are totalitarians of ALL types (Communists, Fascists, Dictatorships, Monarchies, Oligarchies, Theocracies etc.) The extreme right wing are anarchists. We are neither. We are American conservatives which are properly defined as small government, fiscally responsible Constitutionalists.

Your definition is most probably the European definition of right versus left, i.e, the left is Communism and the Right is Fascism. Let me ask a question, if the left of the spectrum is Totalitarian Communist Socialism and the far right is Fascist Totalitarian Socialism, then what in heavens name is in the middle? I have yet to meet a "liberal", leftists , socialist or Democrat that can answer this question with any historical or intellectual prescience.

Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 12.30.10 @ 11:13PM

Just look at these responses.

We're trying our damnedest to keep from turning into Canada.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:12AM

Tell you what---be glad to trade Harper for Obama. Right now.

Canadians can't even investigate their own epidemics without the CDC. Shuddup, dimwit. I live on the border with Canada. I lose track of all the crappy vehicles, Mike.

Timothy Stanley| 12.30.10 @ 8:13AM

Nice try, but the only place on the planet where the majority DOESN'T think the Republicans showed their backsides on this one is among the readership of this far right propaganda sheet.

Tom| 12.30.10 @ 8:53AM

Let me see, was the bill passed as originally proposed? No. Where the objections Republicans had to the bill addressed? Yes.

I actually see this as a triumph of non-partisianship. In an area there was broad overlap of agreement a bill was crafted that was agreeable to both sides.

Britt| 12.30.10 @ 12:11PM

Are you serious?? This bill was in committee and most of the republicans that serve on that committee don't even remember it because they didn't show up. The bill could have been addressed or changed then. The only reason it was brought to the floor was becasue the republicans looked like complete idiots and had to save face. Unfortunately like the democrats usually do is comprimise so that the bill would pass and let the repubicans say oh yeah we intended all along to pass the bill, it was flawed. A third grader could see through the wholes in the republican argument, my question is why don't you?

Tom| 12.30.10 @ 1:46PM

Actually Harry did not allow any ammendments to the bill. Something he did more than any other Senate Majority Leader.

If the Senate Republicans had fundamental problems with the bill they would not have passed it. You did notice the failure of the omnibus spending bill? The political fallout would have been nil.

NavyBrat | 12.30.10 @ 9:02AM

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wound up praising Republicans after the compromise was reached.

"Over the last 24 hours, our Republican colleagues have negotiated in good faith to forge a workable final package that will protect the health of the men and women who selflessly answered our nation's call in her hour of greatest need," he said."

Guess you missed this part of the article. Chuckie Schumer disagrees with you too. And I doubt he's a reader of "this far right propaganda sheet."

Mark James| 12.30.10 @ 1:32PM

Of course Schumer liked it, it puts tons of federal money into the coffers of the NYC and State unions.

jb| 12.30.10 @ 8:24AM

We may be crazy but we are not stupid, there's a difference, ya know.

hardcard| 12.30.10 @ 8:24AM

thank you g.soros for the above trolls and their comments, a worried Canadian you're not.

Clint| 12.30.10 @ 8:31AM

We are in a Media War with The Liberal Mainstream Media Agendists.

The Tea Party Rebellion Escalates.

Rise Up In Rebellion.

SarahPalinsNightmare| 12.30.10 @ 8:41AM

Don't flatter yourselves. You ARE stupid--and hypocritical, and anti-American. Especially Wisconsin guy, who doesn't have the first f***ing idea what the Constitution covers and what it doesn't. Y'all look down on people you disagree with just as much as the liberals you insult. So you're going to make life miserable for us Dems the next couple of years? Strap in, Republithugs--two can play that game.

brewpop| 12.30.10 @ 9:02AM

Bring it on!

Clint| 12.30.10 @ 9:07AM

Yup ! Bring It Trash Talkin' Obamaboy.

NavyBrat | 12.30.10 @ 9:09AM

Oooh, scary! Have fun trying to accomplish your little feats of "social justice" while we hold the purse strings, Junior. Oh, & please tell us where in the Constitution it says that the gov't is obligated to pay for people's healthcare, or where its empowered to force people to buy anything, Mr. Constitutional scholar. Oh, & what would make the next two years of your insidious shenanigans any different from any other time in our history. You people are thugs. Your heros are Che, Stalin, Mao, Marx, Alinsky, suicide bombers, Black Klan/Panther members, cop killers, & admitted domestic terrorists. So we all know who's "pedigree" is that of a thug.

Butterfly| 12.30.10 @ 10:30AM

NavyBrat, this soros/obama troll doesn't give a darn about America's constitution. I'm convinced that our dear leader studied said constitution so he would know how to get around it. The only thing he didn't count on was the american people who love this great nation rising up to defend our freedoms and the greatness of this nation. Thank you Tea Party.
I have a friend who is a psycho therapist and a libertarian. He told me that there is a school of thought that liberalism is a mental disorder. That extreme liberals are stunted in their thinking, that they have never "grown or matured" in their politcal thinking. They are stuck at 18.
Interesting thought, don't you think?

NavyBrat | 12.30.10 @ 10:52AM

Jim Quinn of "Quinn & Rose in the Morning" describes it almost exactly the same way. He says, "liberalism is perpetual childhood." Its TOO true!!!

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 12:05PM

Butterfly: I think you've accurately described your friend -- a "psycho therapist" rather than a "psychotherapist".

Steve A | 12.30.10 @ 12:49PM

RCV, That was funny. Happy New Year. Be safe.

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 1:51PM

You too, Steve. Be well, and have a happy and prosperous new year!

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:13AM

Some psychotherapists are Conservative, you know, RCV. Have a safe and happy New Year.

RCV| 12.31.10 @ 3:28AM

As are some psycho therapists, apparently. But you're not one of them. Happy New Year to you as well, my friend.

Appleby| 12.30.10 @ 9:33AM

Are you one of those two little girls who were here last month getting all wee-weed up about the election and how it didn't really mean anything and Your Gang was prepared to carry on regardless? You were using another name, but the same basic spew, and you gave yourself away by saying y'all.

And precisely where did you get the impression that anybody here cares what you "think"?

Stephanie| 12.30.10 @ 10:06AM

Well darlin, I thought you democrats had been playing that game! Dirty dealings with obama's "healthcare" takeover behind closed doors and then shoving it down America's throat among other socialist garbage sponsored by Nancy and dingy Harry. You're threats are nothing new. We're ready for ya!
By your post name, I bet you're one of those who goes apoplectic (SP) when Sarah's name is mentioned. PALIN FOR PRESIDENT!

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 12:06PM

Stephanie: Ms. Palin's approval rating in her own state is now at 30%, and the polls show she's the weakest of any potential candidate the GOP could field. As a Democrat, I say: please, please nominate her for President!

LiveFreeOrDie| 12.30.10 @ 12:33PM

Nice try but just more BS with no source. How about a 62% approval rating:

"...Gov. Sarah Palin's approval rating in Alaska at about 62 percent. "

http://www.thenewstribune.com/.....-gets.html

Stop getting your info from morons like Jon Stewart!

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 1:55PM

Nice try on your side, but if you scroll down you'll see that poll is in a news story reporting that Senator Ted Stevens is "in a virtual tie" in his senate race. That poll was taken when Palin was still governor. Not sure why that old story is appended to a current one on Palin's battle to keep her emails secret, but the fact is the current polls released last week have her exactly where I said.

Mark James| 12.30.10 @ 4:09PM

SO? She doesn't work for Alaska anymore, why would she have ANY rating that has meaning? High or low it's meaningless so why are both sides talking about how Palin is viewed in Alaska?

Here's a meaningful poll, Democrat controlled Congressional approval rating "good or excellent" 13% (that's not partisan, it's EVERYBODY).

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 4:32PM

1. It means a lot. The people of Alaska had personal experience with her. They elected her, only to see her quit the job when something personally profitable came along.
2. Of course, Congress gets low ratings. They should. They spend their time using the little arcane rules they pass to avoid addressing the country's problems.

Ken (Old Texican)| 12.30.10 @ 6:07PM

RCV,
Sometimes you can be down right silly.
Missy Obama "quit" his job too as the Senator representing Illinois.
Heh,
and then tried to sell the job.
Keep the drumroll of sniggering going though.
"Madam President" is sounding better to people every day you guys do so.

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 6:11PM

Ken, I know you have a hard time telling us Democrats apart, but it was Blagovich who tried to sell the Senate seat, not Obama. Palin's resignation, and that incoherent rambling speech trying to explain it, will haunt her any time she runs. Perhaps when the Republic of Texas secedes, you guys can elect her President, Heh.

Have a happy and prosperous New Year, and be well.

Stephanie| 12.30.10 @ 6:43PM

See RVC. what you don't get is that MORE people give her a thumbs up and don't care about her "rambling speech". You can bring it up all day long and nobody but you libbies care. Again, it makes me chuckle when I see and hear you democrats getting all foamy at the mouth when the subject of her being President comes up. You see, we don't need a Haaavaaad graduate in the White House. IN fact, we would rather NOT have one. For that matter, no lawyers either. They are the scurge of the earth along with Ivy League graduates.
Someone who loves America and will stand up for her and her people, not fly around the world on OUR dime, bowing and cowtowing to foreign leaders, apologizing for our being the greatest and most giving nation on the face of the earth, is what we want. A patriot, not a socialist, let's spread the wealth around, weak-kneeded affirmative action America hater. No, I'll take Sarah Palin ANY day of the week.
And you can move on up to Canada.

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 7:03PM

Not me, Steph. I love my country and wouldn't leave it for anything. As for Ms. Palin, the latest polls show how absolutely unelectable she would be. I don't get "foamy at the mouth" about her candidacy. I genuinely would love to see the GOP blow its national chances again and run her in 2012, ensuring my President's reelection.

carnot| 12.30.10 @ 11:02PM

yes...but Obama's incompetence will haunt him when/if he runs again!

10%....for the man who really, really, really cares!

WJC| 12.31.10 @ 1:43AM

"Madam President" is sounding better to people every day

Hillary already said she is not running.

Tom| 12.30.10 @ 1:57PM

I know the date on the article says 12/28/10 but I think it is much older than that. It talks about Stevens' run for Senate and since he is dead I figure the date is wrong.

The new figures are awful. It is PPP doing the polling so take it with a grain of salt.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....01907.html

LiveFreeOrDie| 12.30.10 @ 4:34PM

I concede the outdated story. Huffpo is not a trustworthy source and Google came up with nothing solid and recent. It's a pointless debate as nobody is measuring this.

But for fun how about Palin being number 2 on the list of most admired women?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/w.....poll_N.htm

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 7:05PM

...and Barrack Obama the most admired man!

Margie| 1.1.11 @ 6:04PM

Yeah RCV, by the editorial staff @ Time Magazine.

RCV| 1.2.11 @ 2:15PM

No, in the poll cited above.

Margie| 1.2.11 @ 9:58PM

From the article:
They polled 1,019 people.
"Some of the findings reflect a partisan cast. Obama is named by almost half of Democrats but just 6% of Republicans."

That & the staff @ Time Mag will get ya a cup of coffee.

RCV| 1.3.11 @ 3:32PM

Gee, there's a news flash: Democrats admire Obama; Republicans don't. Doesn't change the bottom line.

Tom| 12.30.10 @ 8:27PM

I agree huffpo is mostly useless but the article links to the actual survey. PPP is left leaning but the numbers do not look good for Palin.

WJC| 12.31.10 @ 1:44AM

Who's #1?

RCV| 12.31.10 @ 3:29AM

Once again, Hillary Clinton.

Margie| 1.2.11 @ 10:03PM

From the article:
They polled 1,019 people.
"Hillary Clinton is cited by nearly a third of Democrats but just 5% of Republicans.
Not everyone has a hero. Twenty-five percent declined to name a most-admired man, and 22% didn't name a most-admired woman. About one in 10 chose a friend or relative."

As my teenage "BFF" used to say in high school, "Big wup."

Redstateboy| 12.30.10 @ 11:23AM

Let's see... you're a Democrat aren't you?? The Democrat Party was the Slave Party wasn't it? Your Slave Party has ruled States like CA., NY., MI & IL. hasn't it? These States are all basket cases economically aren't they? And we should give a rip about what you say why??

Phil| 12.30.10 @ 3:23PM

You keep saying this like it's your shtick. CA has had a republican governor and NY had a republican governor by the name of Putaki. Also New York city was run by Guliani, a republican. I know you love labels and are a raving ideologue, but at least stop posting the same ole drivel!

Redstateboy| 12.30.10 @ 3:31PM

isn't it convenient how you Liber-uls will cherry pick something.. and your People's Republics of IL., MI? Arnold? A Republican? and the State House in CA?? How bout those wonderful Slave Party Utopias eh? Kill-a-delphia? Detriot? Buffalo? St. Louis? Washington, DC? LA? Oh Yes.. all Bations of Conservativism right? Nice try Lib but try and pull your BS on some stupider than yourself.

Mark James| 12.30.10 @ 4:16PM

Hey dummy; yes both parties are A holes what do you think spawned the Tea party. It's not about red or blue, it's about getting rid of the present "ruling class" of Repub. and Dems and hiring new people.

Incumbency is what is killing our country. We supported mainly Republicans because there was less to have to "clean". But at least us "baggers" fired a whole bunch of our jerks, you guys (Democrats) kept the same slimy bunch in office except where we beat you in the general.

Stephanie| 12.30.10 @ 6:46PM

High Five Mark!

MikeD| 12.30.10 @ 4:35PM

Liberalism is surely a mental disorder which requires a complete disregard for facts and reality. Like: Where does the revenue come from to support libs wet dreams of 'social and economic equality', and, the nanny state from 'cradle to grave'? These cretins know nothing about economics because they consistently try to kill the business activity that generates the dreaded PROFITS that create jobs and tax revenues. But, these people are intellectually incapable of actually understanding anything useful. They sure are up on all the latest demands of homosexuals and any other self professed minority. And then theres the 'indesputable' globull warming that has been proven to be just another liberal scam that twists the facts any way they can to fit their warped world view.

I especially love the Blacks slavish (Yes, and intentional usage!) devotion to the demoncraps even after the party of the kennedys and kerrys (The filthiest rich of the filthy rich!) has destroyed their families, their communities, and their accomplishments. If you don't believe it; just look up what LBJ said after signing the 1964 Civil Rights act. It's available several places on line to anybody who has the skill to find it. And, the piece-de-resistance is the Campaign Song the demoncraps commissioned for the 1868 Presidential elections: Yankee Doodle Ni**er! Look it up. Why on earth would any American Black support them? Answer: The smart ones don't. It seems that most of the really damaging programs and policies that have hurt American Blacks the most have come from the pointy little heads of white libs soothing their own social consciences with the dollars confiscated from other people.

Yup, the demoncraps/liberals sure do have lots of accomplishments to brag about. Insanity is defined as doing the same things over and over while expecting a different outcome. If that doesn't suit the lib/dems to a "T" I don't know what would.

Owen| 1.1.11 @ 10:54PM

The Democrat Party is still a "Slave Party" Their chains are economic and bureaucracy instead of chaims and whips. Soo they have not changed their stripes..

Dale left coast| 12.30.10 @ 1:39PM

Constitution . . . you mean there is actually a Constitution? Somebody tell the O'Bumster . . . does this mean its time to produce the BC???

Jack| 1.1.11 @ 2:17AM

The common law definition of a natural born citizen now and in 1789 was a person born to two citizens of that country. Obama's father was a citizen of Britain, meaning that Obama is also British, and his actual birthplace is irrelevant. Several Supreme Court decisions have supported this point of law. Look them up, along with a gentleman named de Vattel.

Only Republican at Woodstock| 1.3.11 @ 11:07AM

Funny thing. I looked at a lot of posts here, and while some others used the "f**k" term, they were quoting someone else in the course of reasoned argument. You are the only one who used it to describe and insult the other participants. How liberal.

Brenda| 12.30.10 @ 9:03AM

The suggestion that the republicans were actually going to pass the 9/11 bill in 2010 is laughable. It was just say no to anything that got in their way of passing the Bush tax cuts. It was more important to see that the richest americans did not get hit with a 3% tax hike than a few first reponders having additional health benefits. The republicans were out to prove that they controlled the agenda and nothing was going to get passed them. This bill has been through committee but some of the same republicans that sat on the committee could not seem to remember that. It was not going to get done this year and may not have ever been brought up at all. I agree with Stewart, the party that gave us your either with us or against us, turned against the people who's coat tails they have ridden since 9/11. It is not suprising that you guys are up in arms, it is politics as usual but you got caught at Christmas giving the rich a tax break and screwing dying fire fighters. I'm sure if that doesn't bite the fact that a fake news guy who does it better than the so called real news people broke the story doesn't help.

JJStryder| 12.30.10 @ 10:02AM

Brenda: You can't really believe all that blather can you?The people of America are tired of being screwed by everyone. When are up fools going to wake up and smell what you've been shoveling. The country is broke!!!!!We can't give out the goodies anymore. JEEZ!

WJC| 12.31.10 @ 1:48AM

Unless you work on Wall Street and/or are in the top 1%
Then you get all the goodies.

Redstateboy| 12.30.10 @ 3:52PM

How do you even reason with someone this braindead? YoBrenda! Idiot!! So to You.. a Family Grossing $250K is Rich!??? Ok Brenda.. let's see if engage our brains shall we? Take 250K and subtract 39% Tax as proposed by your Messiah - that's now $152. Now let's subtract our (if you're a Business owner) your own Retirement, Healthcare, Say you have 3 Kids of College Age, Aging Parents - both mine and my spouses, Bills, Mortgage, Utilities, Insurance.. Medical Insurance for them all.. ok Brenda-brilliant... now am I still "Rich"?? Moron.......................

Tom| 12.31.10 @ 2:43PM

Um, Redstate, I think taxes are too high to but the description in your post is not how taxes work. Income tax rates are marginal, whatever bracket you are in is the tax the last dollar you made is taxed at. Someone making 250K is not going to pay anywhere near 39% of his or her income in income taxes even if there are no deductions.

Here is a good description of how it works.

http://www.moneychimp.com/features/tax_brackets.htm

MikeD| 12.30.10 @ 4:42PM

Brenda Baby: If it was so all fired important, why did the dems wait for two years before springing on an unsuspecting country in the illegal, criminal lame duck (Quack-thump) session after the American people kicked their corrupt a$$es out on election day?

That was just the latest example of the demoncrap's complete contempt for Americans, unless, of course, they happen to belong to one of the dem's chosen few; mostly public employee unions and all those who receive goodies from the government that other people pay for. You make me as sick as they do. Try reality for a change.

I'll ask you that same question that no dem or lib has EVER answered: Do you have a job that is not paid for by taxpayers? Or, do you have a job at all? If not, you have no right to even mouth out your venom on this, or any other forum that involves our government and the mess the dems have made of our Country. I'd venture to say you're most likely part of the problem, not the solution.

HAHA| 12.30.10 @ 8:30PM

How exactly was it illegal? What law was broken?

HAHA| 12.31.10 @ 11:52AM

Under your logic Mike those in the military must never speak out on anything related to the government. Or do you wish to only silence those with different viewpoints?

MikeD| 12.30.10 @ 4:44PM

MikeD| 12.30.10 @ 4:45PM

Sorry for the 'double post. Microsoft strikes again!

Anthony| 12.30.10 @ 9:15AM

Why would anybody be suprised that the left thinks Jon Stewart, aka Jon Liebowitz, is the new Edward R. Morrow?
After all, this is the same insane group of morons who still swear by Anthropogenic Global Warming and that Algore is a genius.
This is the same group who think Sarah Palin is an idiot, unfit for office, yet see Sen. Al (cokehead) Franken as a D statesman and V.P. Biteme as a serious pol.
This is the same group of morons who think Obozo is too smart for the American people and that we need to catch up to the vacationer-in-chief.
This is the same group of morons who call us "birthers" yet somehow can't comprehend that all Obozo has to do is stop paying a bunch of lawyers from withholding his vital records and just release his birth certificate, like all other Americans have to do.
This is the same group who think maintaining the Bush tax rates constitutes a " tax cut for the rich" and that unemployment benefits are the biggest stimulus to the economy.
Yep, 2011 appears to be a seminal year for America; if the 112th Congress doesn't put an end to insane liberalism, I guess we Americans will finally have to take some serious action.
So to Sarah Palins Nightmare, in case you haven't figured it out, we say bring it on, we're itching for a fight!!

Janet| 12.30.10 @ 1:05PM

Hi Anthony - I guess I would be included in the group you label "morons" (insane, no less), and I voted for the president you refer to as "Obozo." Is it possible for you to make your point without demeaning and insulting human beings you disagree with? I take very seriously my responsibilities as a citizen in a democracy. I donate time and money to causes I believe in, and I think it is important to seek information and opinions from a variety of sources when forming one's opinions on political and social issues. It's hard to come to site like this, though, when insults and name calling characterize the discourse.

Mark James| 12.30.10 @ 1:48PM

Liked your comment Janet, to a point. people are losing their temper and speaking harshly because remaining civil and meeting the left "half-way" and been a recipe for the slowly destruction of our cherished way of life. We're tired, fed up, and calling it like it is.

I agree with Antony, anyone who voted for this unaccomplished "Idiot In Chief" is a disengaged idiot. I am sorry if my true feelings and honest language offend those of you who can't think straight.

Tom| 12.30.10 @ 2:01PM

Instead of calling more than half the country 'disengaged idiots' why not just say they are wrong?

Mark James| 12.30.10 @ 4:18PM

I was simply stating my belief as to the causality. Do you really think people that ignore history, and vote party lines are intellectual, or engaged?

Tom| 12.30.10 @ 8:34PM

This is what I believe: Calling someone an unegaged idiot is no way to have any sort of dialogue. I happen to think conservative positions are the logical and right positions. I am also confident that there is an ample number of people that can be convinced that this is true. However, if I start out by calling anyone an disengaged idiot I am unlikely to convince anyone of anything.

When attempting to present an argument I try, and yes I fail, to present the facts in a way that are understandable and concise. We could call liberals all sorts of names but then we end up talking to ourselves. I'd rather give leftists a chance to change their minds because sometimes they do.

Janet| 12.31.10 @ 1:09AM

"Disengaged idiot"? Sometimes I wish I were disengaged! I was so upset about the Bush 43 Administration policies that I stopped reading any criticism of them from the Left - after awhile, I only looked at conservative sources, but I found so much there that was critical, I had to pull back. Bush sunk us into horrible debt and recklessly pursued a war that has resulted in the death of 100's of 1,000's of people. Were you worried about destruction of our cherished way of life then? In 2003, I was out marching in the snow, protesting the impending invasion of Iraq. Where were you? Do you know how many Americans still believe that there was evidence of WMD in Iraq? Do you know how many times the Bush 43 Administration changed the justification of the invasion? Do you know who has profited from that invasion? Or about the laughable qualifications of many of those sent to rebuild Iraq? http://www.washingtonpost.com/.....0193.html. So you decided I can't think straight. You don't know anything about me.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 7:59AM

how morally ambivalent of you to be content with the murders, tortures and rapes that was Hussein for decades on end. you're such a decent, noble person!!!

what? war has destructive consequences? say it it isn't so.

Janet | 12.31.10 @ 10:35AM

Really? That's your response? Where in my post can you document contentment with the Hussein regime? I said Bush 43 pursued the war RECKLESSLY. Did you even follow the link for the article about the litmus test for many of those sent to run the rebuilding of Iraq being not competence, but loyalty to Bush? And in a post farther down, I provide a link to a report by the Army War College about the failings of the Bush plan for Iraq. There was absolutely no consideration of the history of previous forays by the West into this region, and for nearly a decade now the price for this hubris has exacted a terrible price.

Tom| 12.31.10 @ 12:04PM

Janet,
Your link is broken. So it is difficult to reply to what is written in it.

You said you were out protesting against the Iraq war in 2003 bfore the war started so please do not use lack of WMD or the incompetence of how the war was handled as justification. Most everyone, including Congress and the Clinton Administration, believed Iraq had WMD. Even accepting your contention that Iraq had no WMD, a point that is mutable, the reason we know that is because of the war. Furthermore, Bush's reasons for going to war went far beyond the presence or lack of WMD.

If you were against the war before it started, and thus before Bush's mishandling of it and the concrete knowledge that there were no WMD, then you believed the status quo ante was satisfactory. There is nothing wrong with that belief, it is certainly arguable that we should not have invaded Iraq regardless of whether there were WMD or not. But please do not use lack of evidence of WMD and Bush's bad job at handling the war as proof the war should not have happened. It is disingenous and faulty logic.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 2:56PM

tom...her points are ALL irrelevant to the finger in the chest accusation I posted. End state in all of these "discussions" is an explicit or implied assertion of moral propriety (and sometimes superiority). I was fencing that path off by noting that 3 decades plus of Hussein gunpoint rule produced systematic murder, rape, torture and genocide. the Left simply ignores the full moral calculus. they don't care. worse...the policies they prefer (e.g., embargoes) not only do not effect desired changes, they often end up adding to the damage.

I was privy to some of the internal planning processes leading up to OIF/OEF. not involved, but networked to folks who were. and, yes, it was not handled well. but that has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with the moral dimensions of acting or not acting.

AND THAT IS WHERE THE COWARDLY LEFT IS EXPOSED.

Anthony| 12.30.10 @ 2:34PM

Well Janet, with all due respect to your feigned piety and dismay over my caustic criticism of folks like you, in addition to your holier than thou appraisal of your purported civic duties thus far, I notice you haven't addressed my rather brief litany of leftist thinking that has placed America in its current predicament.
I find it the case with folks like you, that when you are confronted with the real world consequences of your actions, that you all take umbrage with those of us "impolitic" enough to bring it to your attention.
You claim to be well read and take your civic responsibilities seriously, if such is indeed the case, may I suggest that you put your fragile ego in check and take a deep whiff of reality.
You should be dismayed and outraged with the things I pointed out, rather than with the manner in which I did so.
I suggest, if you truly believe what you say, that you read TAS for a month, if your opinions haven't changed, well.... I'll just leave it at that. I don't want to be further accused of boorishness.

Anthony| 12.30.10 @ 7:11PM

Hello Janet are you there?? Why the silence? Is the chirping of frozen crickets all that we will hear from you ever again?
Can you not think of an intelligent response to my response to you? I suspected not.
Oh, BTY, you want to talk about civility?, check out the post by alexcc below, then talk to me about insults and name calling.

Janet | 12.31.10 @ 12:43AM

Not sure where to start - first of all, didn't realize that you expected me to be chained to this website all day, and provide instant responses. So, sorry if my reply is tardy. Re your "litany of leftist thinking" - OK, if you really want a point-by-point response, here it is: I don't think Jon Stewart is the new Murrow. Murrow was a newsman, and Stewart is a brilliant satirist who speaks truth to power. Re global warming, yes, I think there are enough credible scientists who acknowledge it to take it seriously. Not sure where I stand on Al Gore - sometimes I think he has gotten a bum rap, sometimes I find him kind of creepy (BTW, I do find that conservatives tend to deify their leaders, where those on those on the left are more willing to acknowledge shortcomings in their leaders. Just MHO). Oh, no, I do not think Sarah Palin is an idiot. I think she is very savvy. But I certainly don't think she is qualified to be VP or POTUS. One of the funniest (but disturbing) things I ever saw was regarding her was a segment on the O'Reilly Factor shortly after the 2008 election, when Fox political reporter Carl Cameron reports on what he was told by McCain campaign insiders about her shocking ignorance and bizarre behavior - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....e=related. But, oh well, you know the leftist media! Sorry, can't comment on Al Franken, don't know enough, I'm busy enough trying to stay informed about my own state's senators. By "VP Biteme" do you mean VP Biden? Seriously, I don't let my children name call this way. Not a huge fan of Biden, but can see why Obama chose him as running mate. I don't think Obama is "too smart for the American people" but I do think the MSM coverage of politics is too simplistic and sensationalistic. I wish there would be truly in- depth coverage of issues, with a variety of viewpoints represented. Example: Jeremiah Wright was represented as a crazed racist, based on a short loop of tape from one of his sermons (you know, the post-9-11 "the chickens have come home to roost" one). How could Obama have sat in his church and listened to that insanity? Endless hours were dedicated to this discussion on cable news, but no where did I see a video clip of significant length that put Wright's comments into context. So I found the whole sermon on Youtube, and I thought it was brilliant. Wright starts by acknowledging the pain and righteous anger of the American people in response to the terrorism on 9-11, affirms that a lust for revenge is natural and understandable, but then moves through (over about 20 minutes) to advising his congregation to look into their own souls and examine their own relationship with God, and to reject angry vengeance. Do you think I am rambling here, getting off topic? But this is exactly my point - instead of having reasonable, serious consideration of complex issues, too often the media enflame an issue, and panders to those in this country who go straight to demonization of anyone on the other side. Re "vacationer-in-chief" - please, don't even go there, unless you are willing to compare him to Bush 43 and Reagan. Re birthers - please go to the snopes website for a lot of good info on why this is a non-issue. Jon Stewart also did a pretty funny skewering (The Born Identity.) Re your reference to the "Bush tax rates" - example of one of the most effective strategies of the Right - control the language, and you control the discussion. The Bush tax rates were in fact cuts to the rates that were in effect during the Clinton Administration (and how the economy suffered then because of them! What a deficit we had!! No, wait a minute, Clinton left Bush 43 a surplus . . . I digress.) I have a question for you: is it a concern to you at all that the income disparity between the wealthiest in this country and the poorest keeps growing? That 1% of this country controls an incredible percentage of the wealth?
Regarding your comment that "leftist thinking that has placed America in its current predicament" - here are some non-leftist factors I think have been significant contributors: Invading a foreign country under false pretenses and pursuing an incredibly costly war without raising taxes to fund it, and managing the war badly to boot (See the Army War College report for an analysis http://www.commondreams.org/he.....12-01.htm. I don't think they are leftists.). Removing more and more threads from the fabric of financial regulations (yes, I know, Clinton had a hand in this, too) contributed to the financial crisis that broke loose in 2008. (Credit to Elizabeth Warren for the fabric analogy). Don't worry about my "fragile ego," Anthony. You can mock me all you like. I was just trying to give you a thumbnail sketch of someone you include as part of group of "insane morons." But I guess it is easier for you to dehumanize and demonize. Sorry, but I cannot do the same. I will try to check into this site from time to time, but I do have other responsibilities. I am fortunate enough to have a job, a home, and two children. And then there is volunteering for all those crazy leftist causes . . . Happy New Year!

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 8:05AM

as expected...not one substantive response.

"feelings....nothing but these funny, funny feelings"

folks like you have a disturbing tendency to reference what "The American People want".....it should be evident by now that there are HUGE divisions separating millions. and that many of those millions will do whatever it takes legally to undermine and destroy the power grab that is currently in play.

Janet Max| 12.31.10 @ 10:39AM

Carnot -
Are you replying to my post? I'm not seeing a connection.

Anthony| 12.31.10 @ 9:14AM

Well good morning to you Janet. I've read your screed several times and I believe I've gotten the jist of who you are.
Without touching on each of your responses, let me just say your comments about comparing Obozo's vacations to Bush's & Reagan's are laughable, and telling. Bush & Reagan never cost Americans millions of $$ going HOME, as opposed to Hawaii. Do you also remember Michelle's multi- million $$ hotel takeover in Spain a few months back, with 100's of guests?
Your attempt to put Rev. Wright's comments into context is like attempting to parse a speech by Hitler for a broader context. Funny, you don't give Sarah Palin the same attempt at context.
Your analysis of the history of the Bush tax rates shows profound historical and political ignorance.
But the real clue here, as previously mentioned, is your standard nasty leftist dismissal of Sarah Palin, where you insist on believing what you hope to be true about her, yet you clearly do not hold Obama (that one's for you) or any other D to the same scrutiny of their insane comments or policies.
Bottom line, you read like a standard poster at the Huffington Post, only slightly more articulate and lucid. I don't believe reading TAS will have an affect on your thinking, nor do I believe now that your read TAS to be more fully informed. Unfortunately you have given yourself away, you're too far gone. Stick with the NYT, as what you have written could have been done by MoDo herself.
We will agreee to disagree. I'm off. Happy New Year. The great divide continues.

Anthony| 12.31.10 @ 9:24AM

Opps, I forgot, why does Obozo spend big bucks on a stable of lawyers just to keep his birth certificate and his school records from public view?
He is the one who has kept this controversy alive by refusing to do the obvious. Show us the records.
And he doesn't have to wear them on his forehead either, as he snidely said some months ago. Ta ta for real.

Janet| 12.31.10 @ 11:04AM

You really don't want to give consideration to anything I say, and seem to only have an interest in shooting me down with unsubstantiated insults. Comparing someone you don't like (in this case Wright) to Hitler - another page from the conservative playbook. Did my summary of his sermon ring any Hitler-ite notes for you? Have you watched the whole sermon yourself? And are you incapable of referring to someone you dislike by his or her actual name? Who is MoDo? You castigate me for not giving Palin a context, pointedly ignoring the contents of the link I provided to the commentary on her by one of the most conservative sources around, Fox News! I watched Palin every chance I got, the VP debate, the Couric interview, the GOP convention, etc., and nothing I saw reassured me. It's not my ego that is fragile when it comes to your commentary - it's my stomach. You know, nausea.

Tom| 12.31.10 @ 3:00PM

She was awful in the Couric debate, granted. I'll disagree with you on the VP debate, Biden was the one fumbling the facts (specifically the Constitutional role of the VP). He just did it in a more assertive matter.

As far as Clinton leaving Bush a surplus that is 2 parts internet bubble driven by the accounting scandal (remember all those corporate crooks? Bush was the one who put them away) and 1 part payroll tax surpluses masking as general funds. A large part of the Bush deficits were in fact driven by decreases smaller SSI surpluses.

Yes, I've seen the entire sermon by Wright and several others. How you can say the man is not a racist is beyond me.

Re- Financial regulations: When Bush wanted to reign in Fannie and Freddie who stopped him? Barney Frank and Chuck Schumer, both Democrats. Bush proposed reforms long before the meltdown. They did not go through because Bush never had a fillibuster proof majority and was unable to pass the legislation.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 3:00PM

bingo!

very well put.

carnot| 12.30.10 @ 11:09PM

then don't come to the site.

you might be missing the point: the time for polite debate has long passed.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:18AM

No, Janet, you were not insane to vote for him. However, if you still support the Anti-American, incompetent, antisemitic, two faced worthless wretch then I have to question your political judgment. Lots of nice people were fooled by Obama. Some of us were not. Myself, I voted for the guy whose patriotism it was impossible to question, who sacrificed himself for freedom, who suffered great pain because of his love of country and is still physically crippled as a result. I am aware that he was not the optimal candidate, but we would be in a lot better position had McCain won.

WJC| 12.31.10 @ 1:58AM

Are you talking about that guy who's patriotism is impossible to question John McCain?
The one who, as candidate McCain, said he knew where bin Laden was and how to get him?
I guess we would be in a better position if he HAD won, because then he would have told us how to get bin Laden.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 8:07AM

I thought libs were happy he wasn't captured or killed?! he executes what they dream about!

Larry| 12.31.10 @ 5:43PM

I, too, Janet, would normally prefer not to degrade my ideological opponents; but the circumstances in this country have become such that much is at stake now. This man Obama is trying by stealth to take the country in a radical direction. Far more radical than a majority of the American people want. And the man sold the people who voted for him a bill of goods (especially the so-called "independents"). So those who voted for the man deserve all the abuse they get from some of the other posters on this thread. Start reading and opening your eyes, more, dear. I would start with "Radical-in-Chief" by Stanley Kurtz to see what I mean.

Allen Texas| 12.30.10 @ 9:17AM

My question is where is all the money that was voted for them in 2001 not to mention all the money from the telethons and benefit concerts? I don't remember this kind of attention being given to the first responders in OK City in 95. Oh, thats right, the people in the fly over states aren't as important.

Tom| 12.30.10 @ 8:39PM

Allen,
Are you really comparing OK City to the 9/11? Do you have any idea the difference in scale?

I remember quite a bit of money flowing to the Gulf Coast states after Katrina.

Chalkdust| 12.30.10 @ 9:22AM

"SarahPalinsNightmare for F***s Sake" Thats my Jon (I forgot my real name) Stewart impression. What kind of an self-deluding idiot would take
such a nom de plume? I gotta say Sarah Palin has
the left more spooked than George Wallace did when he ran for president on the democratic ticket.

Joedoc| 12.30.10 @ 9:23AM

Years ago, my uncle once told me that a person uses profanity when they are too stupid to think of other words. That fits Stewart to a tee. It sickens me that some people in this country actually see Stewart as a credible source for their news.

MikeD| 12.30.10 @ 9:32AM

You have just defined the problem. Yes, the morons on the left really DO think stewart is a credible source for the news, as is chris "tingle runs down my leg' matthews. That's why we're in the crapper we are.

And yet these mental midgets still don't get it. And I'm still waiting for one democrat/liberal/union thug, etc... to provide a convincing reason why barry the muslim is hiding his past. If the GOP doesn't hold hearings on that, and initiate legislation that would require certain documents be made public, including incumbants running for re-election; they need to be kicked out on their collective butt too. We're at the "rock and hard place' situation now; there is no tomorrow.

Benda| 12.30.10 @ 9:46AM

No we are in the crapper for a lot of reasons but not that we think Stewart is a crediable source for news. The fact that the real news stopped being real news about ten years ago when the republicans tried to control the message (remember the fake news guy at the presidential breifings) and it has gotten worse now with MSNBC and Fox. Those are the fake news shows. Most politicans are self serving anything that will keep them in office and its not the middle class or some poor fight fighters, it takes real money to run a campaign. That is what was going on with the Bush tax cuts and the 9/11 bill. It is really sad that it was left up to Jon Stewart. This country has real problems that won't be fixed with tax cuts and politics as usual. I am glad that Stewart does shine the light on the republicans and democrats who talk out of both sides of their mouth.

Stephanie| 12.30.10 @ 10:12AM

Oh Brenda, do put down that crack pipe~

Brenda| 12.30.10 @ 12:20PM

Stephanie, is that the best you can do. No argument, no counter point, no facts to go along with yoru crack pipe. I agree it is hard to argue with facts. Go back to school and finish your education, read different opinions and maybe change the chanel from fox ever now and then. You can drink the Kool aid and not think for your self, just go along with the talking points but are you any different from the pot heads and the zomibies that you identify with.

Steve A| 12.30.10 @ 12:55PM

Hey Brenda, No offense, but your comments are not exactly choc full o facts their either. Please provide me with some details on Fox & MSNBC in terms of false or phony news stories & I am willing to listen.

PS: Again, let me stress, FACTS on misleading & false News, not "opinion" shows, although you can include opinion shows if you wish. I will wait on your non-response

Phil| 12.30.10 @ 3:30PM

If you need to be shown that FOX is a mild propaganda machine at this point, then you are willingly ignorant. Just look something up on your own, you'll believe it then.

Anthony| 12.30.10 @ 8:31PM

Brenda baby, for fake news go directly to the source, Dan Rather.

carnot| 12.30.10 @ 11:16PM

pot.kettle.black.

Harrison | 12.30.10 @ 1:03PM

Baghdad Bob would be proud.

carnot| 12.30.10 @ 11:13PM

it's not my responsibility to pay for the health care of someone else.....especially if they live in a different state. the real incompetents are New Yorkers who are too broke to recompense those who assisted them.

pack sand. that was a Union payoff. fights on. it's not about fixing the country's problems. IT'S FIRST AND FOREMOST ABOUT GETTING RID OF THE PEOPLE WHO CREATED THE PROBLEMS.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:24AM

Brenda:

Let me get this straight. You prefer Robert Gibbs to the witty, self possessed, sadly deceased Tony Snow. OKKKAAAY. As my favorite Jewish superhero would put it,"Hey! You think you got problems, you take a good look, pal." Obama and Gibbs are atrocious.

(The Jewish Superhero is, of course, The Thing. And yes, Clint/Tim* I can prove it.)

SarahPalinsNightmare| 12.30.10 @ 9:32AM

Hey NavyBrat, have you ever actually fought a war, or are you just riding the military's coattails? My cousin was in Afghanistan in Christmas, while that typically Repub idiot John Kyl was whining about working on the holidays being as insult to Congress. These are the kind of amoral loons you vote for. You and Anthony have just proven I'm right about you.
And Chalkdust, if you think Sarah Palin scares me, you need to grow a couple of IQ points. She's a joke. As is my screenname.
Brenda--right on.

MikeD| 12.30.10 @ 9:34AM

NOT NEARLY WORTHY TO HOLD SARAH PALIN'S GARBAGE:

I notice that you didn't serve or go to Afghanistan. If you had, your view of the world would be totally different.

NavyBrat | 12.30.10 @ 9:40AM

This guy's rich ain't he?

Anthony| 12.30.10 @ 10:06AM

NavyBrat, Ya gotta love this jerk. He thinks Jon Kyl is an amoral loon yet I suspect he just loves Charlie Rangle, Maxine Waters, Barney Frank, Chris Dodd ad naseum.
SPN also swears by Algore and Obozo, yet somehow Mr. Genius has proven us wrong. Ah the mind of a leftist.
Oh SPN, you better pray things get better or folks like you will soon be running for the tall grass, with us doing the chasing. Frankly, I can't wait.

NavyBrat | 12.30.10 @ 10:21AM

"They never open their mouths without subtracting from the sum of human knowledge."...Thomas Brackett Reed

Idiots like SPN illustrate this principle on a daily basis.

NavyBrat | 12.30.10 @ 9:39AM

I fail to see what my relation to the military has to do with the fact that I punked you out. Your reponse is irrelevant, just like you. May G*d bless & protect your cousin. Too bad you seem to be the one riding HIS coattails. My Dad served in Vietnam & in the Navy for 20 years as an officer. I could not join, due to having my colon removed at 14. And that STILL means that I've forgotten more about being a patriot & supporting our military in my 32 years of life than you will ever know in the entire, pathetic span of yours.

Steve A| 12.30.10 @ 9:45AM

Hey SPN, Couple things:

#1: If Palin is such a joke, why do you waste your time commenting on her?

#2: tell your cousin thanks for his / her service. Those of us here appreciate the sacricice. I am sure your cuz will probably sign up for an extra tour just to aviod having to encounter you at family functions.

Dale left coast| 12.30.10 @ 1:42PM

Sarah has more accomplishments than O'bummer, his parents and his grandparents all added together. He was raised by loons in a dysfunctional marxist family . . . that should scare you . . . it sure scare me!!!

NavyBrat | 12.30.10 @ 9:43AM

And for the record, Liebowitz Call Me Stewart, couldn't carry Murrow's jock strap.

Dale Cord| 12.30.10 @ 9:46AM

2011 a year that will live in Infamy. Future school history books will read: The year the Muslims conquered the United States of America. With not so much as a whimper from its cowardly military leaders, and name calling armchair patriots. Disgraceful,Shameful there are no words to adequately describe her defeat. As the 300 Spartans strength and ingenuity conquered all of those who challenged them, so a small band of renegades conquered the greatest country the world has known. When Davids rock slued Goliath. It also foretold a warning. "The bigger they are,the harder they Fall." Our country lost its battle of survival when it became intoxicated with its deceptive mentality, that it did not need its Creator anymore, and wisdom no longer was apart of its citizens physiology to survive.

Louis Jenkins| 12.30.10 @ 11:56AM

Dale Cord, you speak more of the truth than you realize. The Muslims draw nigh, and the politicians play nice. Only the people in the trenches understand what is at stake, we need the Creator to survive, we need to know that God is close by. They will not conquer the USA, keep the powder handy.

Herb Tarlek| 12.30.10 @ 12:16PM

They can't conquer Oklahoma because we passed a ban on Sharia law. I'm more worried about the death panels. And mandatory gay marriage.

WJC| 12.31.10 @ 2:04AM

Onward Christian Soldiers!
Bring back the Crusades!
No One Expects the Spanish Inquisition!

Phil| 12.30.10 @ 3:36PM

How many times have you cut and pasted this blather? Just because you say it doesn't make it so. You're also referring to a Hollywood movie with homoerotic undertones that grossly exaggerates the historical circumstances. You would make a great FOX reporter.

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 4:55PM

What purple-prosed drivel! Get a grip on reality, take a couple of deep breaths, then go back to life in the freeest, most prosperous and powerful country in history, and thank God that you do.

Blacque Jacques Shellacque| 12.30.10 @ 11:19PM

...then go back to life in the freeest, most prosperous and powerful country in history, and thank God that you do.

It'll be that way again once more Democrats are removed from their positions in DC come successive Novembers. And in 2012, that includes the top Democrat in the top seat.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:32AM

I am sorry, I don't watch cable. I know not this Jon Stewart currently, not having seen him for over a year (and miss him not). When I wish political satire, I go to IowaHawk, James Lileks, or The People's Cube, and read!

For comedy on TV I have my DVDs of MST3K (Michael J Nelson is Conservative), Red Green (apolitical and gentle), and soon I will have all the Bullwinkle and George of the Jungle cartoons. (The ENTIRE Bullwinkle collection will be ready for release on Jan 4th. I have two 7 year olds. I don't care to expose them to vulgar crap.)

NavyBrat, I'm sure your family did wonderful service. G-d Bless You, landtzmann, and a healthy and happy 2011!

gene hauber| 12.30.10 @ 10:53AM

Stewart isn't even funny,
How long can you listen to someone that sarcastic and ignorant?
Is any one in his audience more than 12 years old?

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 8:12AM

it seems this topic repeats itself every 3-4 mos. and routinely...everyone forgets to not how "unfunny" Stewart was during the writers strike.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 8:26AM

eh...fat fingers...."....forgets how "unfunny"...."

Albert| 12.30.10 @ 11:08AM

Jon Stewart is dull, dull, dull. He is not a journalist, and a poor comedian. That anyone at all gives him credence on any subject is laughable. That he is "popular" among the youthful and "respected" among the powerful is disturbing. Jon Stewart is a witless drone. Yawwwwwwwnnn....

Joe Oliva| 12.30.10 @ 11:22AM

Wow, The liberal/progressives are really out in force now that the new congress is about to take over. I guess they are truly afraid of "We The People", i.e., The Tea Party.

Run Sarah, Run!!!

Perusha| 12.30.10 @ 12:09PM

“The flowers depart when we hate to lose them;

The weeds arrive when we hate to watch them grow” Dogen

Jon Stewart = weeds.

Les Nesman| 12.30.10 @ 12:18PM

I always though Colbert was funnier.

Redstateboy| 12.30.10 @ 12:23PM

Silence a Liber-ul: employ facts and logic.

Annoy a Liber-ul: Work, Succeed, be Happy.

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 10:15PM

This liberal would love it if you would jut work, succeed and be happy, instead of acting like the sky is falling and that the apocalypse is imminent.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:34AM

Sorry, RCV, but if it wasn't for Stuxnet, the apocalypse WOULD be imminent. hard to succeed with businesses being afraid to invest with the most hostile President to business since JC.

RCV| 12.31.10 @ 3:35AM

oh, please....

take a deep breath, talk to your shrink, and you'll feel much better, Occam.

And by the way, I really liked Tony Snow. It was hard not to.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 8:15AM

ummm...most of the liberal DC power players I know...including a Presidential candidate adviser or two.....regularly visit the shrink.....while nursing their drug habits.

that's the funny part of Libs---their grand hypocrisies.

RCV| 12.31.10 @ 8:43PM

I think you need to find a better group of people to hang with then.

Occam's Tool| 1.1.11 @ 12:53AM

Still like Stuxnet. Beautifully designed, implemented, and damage controlled. (It harmed no computers infected with it EXCEPT those related to the Iranian Nuke project.)

RCV| 1.1.11 @ 2:07AM

I can't wait till the details of that fineboperation come to life someday. It will be a fascinating story.

carnot| 1.1.11 @ 5:11PM

are you sure?

Occam's Tool| 1.1.11 @ 12:55AM

RCV,

if you thought that was paranoid, check out my heavy breathing about NZed, below.

Truly, their airport security is pathetic. Really, really is. It is truly scary, no joke.

RCV| 1.1.11 @ 2:14AM

Everything you say there makes total, and frightening, sense.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 8:31AM

nope...part of the gig...if this has to be endured...is to play the "collapse the state" drama to end game. You "responsible" Libs are going to spend the country into oblivion. the comedy of a President intoning wistfully about the need to control spending...all the while massively and persistently increasing spending is rich beyond belief.

the feint to the center but steady push to the Left is out there for all to see. it won't succeed...because at the moment of truth....too many of us will be willing to let the house of cards crash. the Libs are making some fundamental miscalculations on human behavior and political consequences.

Occam's Tool| 1.1.11 @ 12:56AM

Carnot, screw the Libs for a moment, even my pal RCV who is actually likeable if misguided. Happy New Year, and may it be safe, healthy, and prosperous.

RCV| 1.1.11 @ 2:09AM

Happy New Year to all my friends at TAS. I hope it brings us all a year of peace, prosperity and good will.

carnot| 1.1.11 @ 5:17PM

back at you.

it is getting harder each day not to react on an emotional plane to the fundamentally undemocratic, unconstitutional power grab that is laid before us each day. it is also becoming more untenable to have to weather the personal and intellectual violence the Left has been visiting upon the community for years.

so let's see whether the Tea Party electees make a difference. that would spell for a better year.

Mike Gabel| 12.30.10 @ 12:25PM

Jon Stewart is playing populist, and like most statists, doesn't mind spending other peoples' money. (Shameful, Jon. You're a smart and funny guy. You can do better.)

Everyone understands that 9/11 first responders are herores and that they should be taken care of. Yes, Jon, even us f*&^%$#ing crazy conservatives.
However, the left likes to use the emotion of the issue to pack pork into the respective spending bills.
Conservative will do well to learn that people who play populist, like Jon Stewart and Obama, have a good deal of influence in our nation. Instead of ignoring this, conservatives must learn to articulate their message. We don't need to join the left in the gutter, just a simple, factual explanation of why we need to do things in a responsible manner.

Lisa| 12.30.10 @ 12:30PM

Jackass Stewart is Comedy Central's Obama -- does only what his teleprompter tells him to do like a good useful idiot, and gets his "facts" from what he pulls out of his obnoxious jackass! That this twit is taken seriously by the MSM is beyond scary!

ScrewAbagger| 12.30.10 @ 12:44PM

Hey racist-a$$ baggers:

Good to see your collective panties in a bunch now that Jon has pwned the rethuglican congress critturs :-)

Keep howling, that's all you can do.

Oh yeah, sarah palin is still an idiot !

Wayne | 12.30.10 @ 12:53PM

You know that bagger is a gay slur right? Your little rant is showing a lack of maturity and an inability to make a cogent argument. You need to watch more Stewart which will no doubt make you a bit smarter.

Steve A| 12.30.10 @ 1:01PM

Hey ScrewA, Wow, what an insightful, persuasive commentary. I am sure your Mom would just beam with pride if she could only behold the wisdom you sprinkle when you borrow her laptop.

ScrewAbagger| 12.30.10 @ 1:05PM

This is the most insightful commentary you teabaggers can handle given your walnut sized brains :)

Steve A| 12.30.10 @ 1:23PM

Cop out. Well, anyway, have a Happy New Year. Come back & visit if you decide to really play ball & bring a legitimate perspective.

Redstateboy| 12.30.10 @ 1:41PM

A Liber-ul like Screw presenting a cogent argument in favor of his/her/its political philosophy??? As Chinese say..
"Man who stand on side of Mountain with mouth open waiting for Roast Duck to fly in have long wait."

RCV| 1.2.11 @ 9:49PM

Please get yourself a new fortune cookie saying. You've worn this one out.

Clint| 12.30.10 @ 1:44PM

Presidential Tracking Poll for Thursday shows that 26% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Thirty-nine percent (39%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -13 .

Stephanie| 12.30.10 @ 7:00PM

Filthy mouthed ScrewAbagger, your disgusting tripe only shows how desperate you are. Are all the demoncrats this frantic?
Palin for President.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:44AM

I am sorry, Mr. Screw, but I am a Mensan (ACT 33, SAT (Old Style) 1400 plus, MCAT (Old Style) 68, ABPN psych reboard 92% 2005), and you are not. Your mind is to mine as that of an amoeba, but do not be afraid; no harm will come to you. Boy, I got my Doctorate at age 25.

Incidentally, a collection of slurs does not an argument make. For example, ahem, an argument---Mr. Bagger, the Democrats were beaten because threatening to increase taxes on people who have investment capital in the middle of the worst recession since the Carter administration (not the Great Depression) is an incredibly poor economic decision. IOf you agree with removing money from the investment center when investment is desperately needed, please state your counterargument. My argument is very simply summed up: full unemployment roughly 10%, dismal job outlook pushing people away from looking and underemployment raises the total to near 17%. Every time taxes have been cut (Coolidge, Kennedy, Reagan, Bush II), the economy has rebounded and done well.

WJC| 12.31.10 @ 2:15AM

You forgot Clinton.
Oh, that's right, his economy thrived and left a surplus.
How many of the guys on your list decreased the debt?
But I take your meaning, and I join you in a desire to return to the Kennedy tax rates.
Or maybe the Clinton rates would be more fair. And then there is that surplus .
BTW Reagan raised taxes 6 times, and gave us the biggest tax increase in history, mostly on the middle class in the form of higher payroll taxes.
But since you are clearly my intellectual superior, I assume you already knew these things, and left them out to strengthen your point.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 8:35AM

ummm...Clinton was maneuvered into his positions by virtue of the 94 election. but hey...I fully support your idea...cum CLinton...that we need to cut back on the welfare dole and force people to work.

nice job Clinton did btw.....during 8 years of road paving.....for 9/11!

Occam's Tool| 1.1.11 @ 12:37AM

Clinton also triangulated, and, I believe, Capital gains taxes were decreased under him. The best economic increase occurred after the 1997 Republican led tax cut:

The 1997 Tax Cut: The economy Unleashed

"In 1997, the Republican-led Congress passed a tax-relief and deficit-reduction bill that was resisted but ultimately signed by President Clinton. The 2007 bill:

Lowered the top capital gains tax rate from 28 percent to 20 percent;
Created a new $500 child tax credit;
Established the new Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits to reduce the after-tax costs of higher education;
Extended the air transportation excise taxes;
Phased in an increase in the estate tax exemption from $600,000 to $1 million;
Established Roth IRAs and increased the income limits for deductible IRAs;
Established education IRAs;
Conformed AMT depreciation lives to regular tax lives; and
Phased in a 15 cent-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax.
According to Treasury's original estimates, the 1997 tax cut was , amounting to just 0.11 percent of GDP in its first year and 0.22 percent of GDP by its fourth year. In 2007, the fourth-year effect would be roughly equivalent to a reduction in the overall tax burden of about $30 billion.

Despite its modest size, tax cut advocates had high expectations for the tax cut's effects on the economy because the reduction in the capital gains tax rate was expected to unleash a torrent of entrepreneurial and venture capital activity. They were not disappointed."

"Despite the fact that your mind is to mine as that of an amoeba, do not be afraid." The Observer, MST3K, Eighth season. Liberals have no sense of humor.

Please note:

Mark James| 12.30.10 @ 3:45PM

Your coments are brilliant somehow?

Wayne | 12.30.10 @ 12:50PM

Stewart is getting a big head, and is suffering from self-importance. His little gig had little interest for years, and now people are paying attention. Expect to hear more of this in 2011 and 2012. He must figure out how to get his guy over the line.

As far as this bill. It was not needed. The city was responsible for the clean up and they provided health insurance to their employees. As far as volunteers. Well, they volunteered. We new from the beginning that those fumes were toxic.

As someone else said. The well is dry.

hoads| 12.30.10 @ 1:11PM

So what if Republicans reduced the size of the bill. The 9/11 first responders bill is a fraud through and through. It's another pigford where despite some legitimate claims from true first responders, its open to widespread fraud and another run on the taxpayers. Its the drip by drip Democrats are imposing trying to dole out whatever they can to constituencies.

And what happens when the 4B runs out and there are "claims" left standing? It will be another perpetual govt. funded boondoggle with lawyers feeding at the trough while entrenching more people into government handouts to shore up NY's Democrat base.

DaveT| 12.30.10 @ 1:14PM

I dunno, maybe Jon Lebowitz *is* the new Edward R Murrow, who was after all a sensationalistic showman masquerading as a news reporter. His training was theater, not journalism; that quack applied to CBS with a phony resume and the charade never really stopped, right through the Army hearings where he showed up in time to shoot the abandoned corpse of Joe McCarthy. It is clear many journolists of today take their cue from Murrow

Lisa| 12.30.10 @ 8:46PM

I have even less use for Murrow than you do, but I can't find anything about him getting hired by CBS by using a phony resume.

From what I've read, Murrow became a "journalist" when CBS realized that they needed a drone to cover Hitler's rise to power, so they tapped Murrow, who was already in London as CBS's Director of Talks and Education (or Head of Propaganda, take your pick), to be their eyes and ears.

Ron| 12.30.10 @ 2:54PM

Liberalism has grown out of proportion to the population growth in this country because sometime in the sixties college professors and school teachers began teaching our youth WHAT to think instead of HOW to think. And we the people allowed this because we were too busy keeping up with the Joneses to see what our kids were being taught. I am just as guilty in this respect as the majority of other parents. Three of my four children are Liberal as a result. My bad!!!

Phil| 12.30.10 @ 3:43PM

Don't be so hard on yourself, Ron. Maybe your kids are open-minded, and they'll cherrypick the good ideologies from both sides of our political spectrum. I mean, there's no way that one side has it all figured out.

Horace | 12.30.10 @ 5:56PM

Have there been any after action reports discussing the competence of the rescue managers? The rescue effort turned into a tragedy of national proportions. In an effort to rescue the few people that were alive in this rubble, they've managed to incur serious injury to thousands of EMT and other personnel. The American people deserve to know why we burned over $4 billion dollars in a rescue effort that injured far more people than it saved. If New York City and the the state are going to put the onus on the American people, then they should account for their rescue management actions. Are there any decisions that should have been made that weren't, worker safety for one? What can we do in the future to mitigate rescuer collateral damage and mitigate the human and monetary costs? Would we do this better the next time?

Tom| 12.30.10 @ 8:47PM

9/11 was an act of war, which is a Federal responsibility. I would hope that in a future act against anywhere in the US there would be a Federal response.

Yes, there was an a lot of post-event analysis of the response. Communications was a major aspect of most failures. There was very little inter-department communications leading to duplication of effort and loss of personnel. Hopefully, we'll do a better job next time. NIMS and ICS are very robust, logical, and works well. But, when something is the size of 9/11 it is easy for chains of command to become confused.

carnot| 12.30.10 @ 11:18PM

next time? are you ****'n me?

well...on second thought...Obama is selling us out internationally.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:53AM

I would keep to that second thought, carnot, especially as the Obama administration's security measures for planes consists of alert Dutch citizens and high school educated morons prodding your privates. Yup, there will be a next time. I have a guess where, too.

Think of the two cities you would want to hit if you were an asshole terrorist and wanted to insult the Kaffir President. They would be Chicago (already unsuccessfully attacked) and Honolulu. Next, find a country with piss poor outgoing security and close ties with the Arab world. Well, New Zealand has piss poor security (I know, and Google New Zealand airport security), their America's Cup team was funded by Emirate airlines. Finally, find a City in that worthless antisemitic country where there are non-stops flying everyday to Honolulu---Auckland fits the bill.

In short, everyday I pray I'm wrong. I am scared shitless.

carnot| 12.31.10 @ 3:04PM

Occam...it'll be a "soft" kill.

Michael| 12.30.10 @ 6:01PM

Stewart and Colbert remind me of two little kids who dress up in their dad's clothes to pretend they are grown-ups.

alexcc| 12.30.10 @ 6:17PM

@wayne you are a tea bagging sack of shit. I hope your piece of shit children catch stomach cancer and die slow painful deaths.
@navyfag
You have no colon? That explains why all your shit backed up into your skull. Was your welfare queen loser father still in the navy when you got your asshole torn out? Who paid for your surgery? Please tell me its going to kill you soon!

Stephanie| 12.30.10 @ 7:04PM

Poor Alexcc. I will pray for you, that God will forgive your anger and hatred toward your fellow man. You must be a miserable and unhappy human being to say such horrible things to others.

RCV| 12.30.10 @ 7:07PM

Your hateful remarks are really reprehensible. Go spill your filth elsewhere, please.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 1:55AM

I disagree with you a lot, RCV, but you are a gentleman. And I truly appreciate that. Have a good New Year, sir.

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 12.30.10 @ 7:26PM

Alexcc, are you retarded? I hope you have a horrible New Year in 2011, and may none of your dreams ever come true again.

alexc| 12.30.10 @ 7:47PM

No LLL, I'm not one of your filthy, barefoot, mongoloid, trailer trash babies that you should have aborted had you any decency. (Its still not too late to tie them in a sack and toss them in the river.)

And from the looks of it, I'm going to have an amazing New Years. Great friends, good beer, great music. Probably not as much fun as you'll be having sitting in your trailer alone watching the Fox News New Years special. I'm sure you'll love watching Steve Dooceys balls drop.

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 12.30.10 @ 8:33PM

Alexc: Enjoy your Commie New Year's Eve Party, it sounds like fun (for a Commie)!! Now New Year's Eve for me? No trailer-just Army Barracks, no beer-don't drink, no kids-not married (so no need to tie them in a sack and throw them in the river at the moment), and I'll be in bed well before midnight (I like to stay on a strict regimented schedule, don't you know?), so I'm going to miss Steve Doocey's balls drop too (maybe I'll catch it on a repeat?). Sorry to be so boring in comparison to you, but fighting the War on Terrorism (maybe you've heard about it?), has turned me into a real party-pooper. Enjoy your Communist 2011 Party, where I'm sure you, and all your Commie friends will be making plans on how to round up us filthy, barefoot, mongoloids to send us all off to South Dakota for re-education. Marx would be proud!!

Anthony| 12.30.10 @ 8:41PM

No,no,no,no alexc, trailer park trash is your boy, William Jefferson Blythe Clinton.
You remember slick willie don't you? "Better put some ice on that". Hey Monica we don't need a cigar cutter for what we're gonna do with that Partagas. Is your memory sufficiently refreshed?
You are one sick dude. May God have mercy on your vile pathetic soul.
In the mean time, get some professional help.

carnot| 12.30.10 @ 11:20PM

don't drink and drive! may make too many wishes come true!

MikeD| 12.31.10 @ 8:44AM

alexc: I presume you know that every site with discourse on it contains tracking capabilities to determine exactly which computer the comments and responses came from. It must be comforting to know that somewhere every foul word you struggled to peck on on mom's laptop has been noted, tracked, and logged.

Thanks to the excesses of our government (yes, both parties, but dems have been much more actively engaged in tracking down everything we do...) we have about no privacy. Our cell phones have very accurate GPS capabilities, and each of us is videoed an average of SEVEN times every day. So, don't think you have any chance of hiding behind mommy when you play with her computer and try to exchange thoughts with the adults. They already know who you are and where you are. That must be comforting to someone with such a wide and varied vocabulary.

NavyBrat | 1.3.11 @ 4:04PM

Why didn't your Mom get into the spirit of the liberal "cause du jour" & abort your ass?

Horace| 12.30.10 @ 7:03PM

I think that it's great that the Spectator lets people like ScrewABagger write his trashy stuff. Contrast this with the Huffington Post which has full time moderators censoring conservative expressions so their bobblehead progressives remain happy.

alexc| 12.30.10 @ 7:21PM

Actually, stephanie, I'm quite happy. Its just that I'd be happier if worthless, uneducated, trailer trash come dumpsters like you and the rest of the walking turds on th is site would die slow, horrible, painful dceaths. I am the true patriot here. I love this country and what it stands for. But we can never achieve it as long as filth like you are standing in the way. I would be much happier if you were to see the error in your ways and join us. But if you choose to wallow in your ignorance, then its better for everyone if you end up in a camp in South Dakota and never come back.

Lullabys, Legends and Lies| 12.30.10 @ 7:56PM

Alexc: Actually, I am dying from a slow horrible painful death, I'm stuck in the same Country as you and your type, vile excuses for Americans, and it's slowly killing me.

And you're a "true patriot"? Ha!! You don't even know what that term means, and it offends me that you'd even attempt to use it!! By the way, you're losing on every front nowadays, and you know it too, and that's why you're so damn angry. Get use to that feeling, because it's not going to change anytime soon.

And I'll never get out of your way, and you'd never make me, but I'd love to see you try!! Next time you're around FT Bragg, N.C., come by and visit, I'll introduce you to some "True Patriots", then maybe you'll understand what the term means.

carnot| 12.30.10 @ 11:22PM

dude...you make for great comedy! please come back and post some more!

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 2:00AM

Dear Alexc:

I do not wish you ill will personally. George HW Bush and Bill Clinton are good friends, and FDR admired Wendell Wilkie. That is what makes our country great---that we can respectfully disagree.

By the way, South Dakota is beautiful, especially in the summer. Go see Louisa May Alcott's home, and check out Mount Rushmore and the Dinosaur museums. Rapid City has some good steakhouses---I remember trying my first Bison steak there.

I would like to see where you find the documentation that this country was based on political opponents wishing each other slow, painful deaths.

I expect the ad hominem reply---now.

alexc| 12.30.10 @ 7:24PM

And don't waste your time praying. Jesus was a cocksucking fag and his pappy is a useless piece of shit.

alexc| 12.30.10 @ 8:17PM

Awesome! I'm glad to hear it! If there's anything I can do to speed it along (or slow it down, either way is good really!) Let me know! And I can understand why you're so frustrated. It must suck being stuck and not having choices in your life. No wonder you feel so worthless!

I don't know what they taught you true patriot means in your GED class, but a true patriot is someone who loves this country and what it stands for.

Ft. Bragg? Are you a military welfare whore? Couldn't hack it in the private sector, so you're sucking off the publics teat? Don't you shit bags hate people who live off the government? It must kill you that your superiors (like me) look down on you while we pay your salary.

I can assure you I will never visit Ft Bragg NC. Its no wonder you're suicidal, living amongst all that uneducated, ignorant, hillbilly, ass raping faggot garbage. But if you ever make it noth of the Mason Dixon line, let me know. Ill buy you a beer. I might as well. I'm paying your salary anyway!

Mama alexc| 12.30.10 @ 8:34PM

Now alaexc, take mommy's dress & high heals off.
You're just like your father

alexc| 12.30.10 @ 8:44PM

Oh Please Mommy, just let me wear them a little longer.
Who's my Daddy ?

alexc| 12.30.10 @ 8:48PM

Awesome! You don't even know how to spell heels! No wonder you had to go into the military.

alexc| 12.30.10 @ 8:51PM

The fact that joining the military allowed you to get banged in the ass every night was just a bonus.
Just like your father!
Who's your daddy?

Mama alexc| 12.30.10 @ 9:04PM

Now,that you mentioned it Sweetie Pie, Your Daddy was a heal in heels.

alexc| 12.30.10 @ 9:09PM

Ummm...wow. its still heel, dummy. I'm assuming your daddy didn't send you to college.

Mama alexc| 12.30.10 @ 9:25PM

See that ! Mommy knew you could spell high heels, because you wrote Santa for a new pair for Christmas.
And now that you mentioned it how can Mommy get you healed ?

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 2:08AM

Alexc,

Your mind is to mine as that of an amoeba's. But do not worry. No harm will come to you.

Among the "Military Welfare Queens" was George S patton, who was independently wealthy and used his own fortune to perform his duties. These men and women guard you while you sleep. You have a fascinating concept of patriotism. I imagine defending you would be difficult, as you seem to be A Seriously Sick Harrasser Assaulting Troops.

By the way, Mama, I don't think your boy can be healed.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 2:11AM

Sorry, one should capitalize Patton. And Mama, was your boy's papa's name Aloysius Microcephalic, or Vlad Micropenis?

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 2:18AM

Don't go correcting people when you don't know the difference between it's (contraction of "it is") and its (possessive of it), alexc.

Your mind is to mine as that of an amoeba's. But do not be frightened; no harm will come to you.

MikeD| 12.31.10 @ 8:52AM

OCCAM; Good to see you're in great form today. We all realize that it is difficult to attempt to communicate with mental defectives like alexc; but we should at least give it a try. That is until it becomes painfully evident that we're dealing with a true mental defective with sociopathic tendencies. I don't expect him/her/it to understand any words we use with more than four letters and/or one syllable. We can drag a jackass only so far until we have to concede the fact that expecting logical discourse from somebody like that is like expecting a box turtle to perform high wire gymnastics; the capability's just not there.

Occam's Tool| 1.1.11 @ 12:42AM

Mike: a wonderful New Year to you, sir. And you are right; I was indulging my favorite weakness.

Mama alexc| 12.30.10 @ 9:57PM

You hurt Mommy's feelings. I think I might have conceived you when I was on shore leave. Of course, it could have been on The Enterprise or The San Diego Naval Base, or ........ etc. ad infinitum.

Mama alexc| 12.30.10 @ 9:02PM

I think he went by the name, Judge Constance Harm. But then it coulda been Homer Simpson or Krusty or Chief Wiggum or Professor Frink or........ etc. ad infinitum

Krusty| 12.30.10 @ 9:10PM

Gee Mama alexc, don't upset your little girl....ummm boy..... ummm what the hell is it?

mamma lullabys legends and lie| 12.30.10 @ 9:21PM

Where's all the black men at? I gots my third grade education, my welfare check and my herpes done be done flaring up! My mulatto, half breed son is down in the basement, but his tiny little man meat can't satisfy a pig whore like me. He's just like his daddy. No job, no dick morons.

Mama alexc| 12.30.10 @ 9:32PM

Mommy's black, my lovely little girlieboy.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.10 @ 2:13AM

And no doubt an ebony Goddess, Mama. But we do need to discuss your taste in men---if you have sex with a Chromosome Deletion syndrome, no way your boy is going to turn out all right despite your genes.

handbags | 12.30.10 @ 9:50PM

good post!

Leslie| 12.31.10 @ 12:44PM

Wow, I hope none of the people who posted support of this article ever find themselves a victim of tragedy. A quick count of the responses indicates that NO ONE will be inclined to help you. Compassion is definitely in short supply here. By the way, you don't give because it's convenient or only if you're able to keep all your stuff. You give because that's what people do, that is who we are, that is how we have survived as a species. Otherwise there's no difference between us and animals.

Larry| 12.31.10 @ 5:50PM

Leslie, I get what you are saying. I am glad for the bill and the thoughts behind the bill. But I am also glad that the Republicans thought enough about who the actual beneficiaries of this bill should be, as well. I'm tired of Federal legislation that serves as just another pile of pork, throwing goodies all around without regard to how properly the money is being spent. And to the extent that $3.1 billion was spared in the process and not wasted, I remain grateful.

Occam's Tool| 1.1.11 @ 12:48AM

Yes, something should be done to help. But I am reluctant to get the bureaucrats involved.

True story: in order to save money, the VA declared that all dental benefits could only be performed on inpatients; no outpatients. Decisions regarding criterion for inpatient admits were left to the MDs, who would work harder for the same amount of pay if they admitted people for dental problems---the VA bureaucrats relied on sloth and inertia to support them.

Guess what? The MDs had human compassion, and admitted people with severe dental caries before they turned into osteomyelitis of the jaw. So, the attempt to save money by the VA, which made bureaucratic but NOT medical logic, ended up costing the VA money (non-treatment would have ended up costing MORE money in the long run, though).

And that's why I don't trust Government bureaucracies,or, in the words of Bob Fossil in "The Mighty Boosh," "I don't like cricket."

Happy New Year, Larry.

cab404| 1.1.11 @ 10:31AM

Just another triumph of cheap lefty politics. The responders were drafted for the role of human-shields. Stewart and his like may be immune to reason and logic in many areas, but they are quite adept in "school-lunching".

bobbymike| 1.1.11 @ 5:19PM

From the 2008 election to today the media has gone from biased to corrupt to criminal in their defense and promotion of the leftist agenda.

RCV| 1.3.11 @ 3:28PM

...and what criminal statutes would those be? The First Amendment?

weddingdress | 7.1.11 @ 12:51AM

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