The American Spectator : A Painful Night

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A Painful Night

By Ben Stein on 11.7.12 @ 6:10AM

But we have faced far worse.

A painful night. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan came so close. They worked so incredibly hard. It really brings tears to my old eyes to see it.

My pals are calling me in hysterics about the loss and four more years of Mr. Obama. So, let me try to make a few respectful points on this bitter evening:

* It is nonsense to say that this election is in any way a repudiation of the GOP or principles of conservatism. Facing a totally united front of the mainstream media, the beautiful people, the unions, the black block vote, the incredibly, unbelievably powerful gay and lesbian forces, in the media, all of whom have as much right to campaign as anyone else… but still facing all of that, and facing an incredibly skillful incumbent in office, the Romney-Ryan campaign got almost exactly as many votes as the Obama-Biden campaign.

That is, with every wind of modern political culture against them, Romney and Ryan drew forth endorsement of conservative principles on a truly virtuoso scale.

* It is the mark of a genuinely great campaign that Romney and Ryan did not back down one inch on the main moral issue of our time, the mass murders of the unborn. This is the primary evil of our era and it may take years to make things better, but as the saying goes, that Dr. King used to say, “Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne, yet that scaffold holds the future and beyond that dark enclosure standeth God, within the shadow, keeping watch upon his own” (paraphrased for this occasion). You can call it anything you want, but abortion is a wicked evil and we will never be what we should be as long as we treat is as a right. No one has the right to choose to kill an innocent human being.

* Yes, the Hispanic community is incredibly important now in America. They should be conservatives. The ones I know are all ferociously pro-life and pro-work. Let’s make an effort in their direction in a big way.

They are fabulous people. We are blessed to have them. They should be Republicans.

* We just had an efficient, loving, intelligent man in our party run and put up a magnificent fight. But he, as the Wall Street Journal edit page said during the primaries, was not a real conservative and believed mostly in his own résumé. Let’s have a real conservative with real principles next time.

Mr. Romney is a great man. Ann Romney is something close to a saint to have worked as hard as she has while fighting Multiple Sclerosis. Let’s honor them and have them teach us the lessons they learned in this losing campaign so the next one will be a winning campaign.

* Let’s not keep on ignoring the reality of our budget crisis. We need higher taxes. It is too bad. It is a shame. But we need more revenue to have a strong defense, to reduce the deficit, to lessen the burden on our children. To imagine we can get it with small spending cuts is a fantasy.

* Finally, this seems like a terrible fate. But our party has faced far worse. We were pronounced dead after JFK stole the 1960 election in the cellars of the Chicago City Hall. We were in the morgue after the Goldwater defeat. We were dead and buried after Watergate and the 1974 Congressional elections, when the GOP was just a nub in Congress. We always come back because our principles are better suited to human dignity and human happiness than the other side’s. We will come back stronger than ever this time, too. We are not afraid and we shall overcome. Our best days as a party and a movement lie ahead. We will rest, regroup, and fight for our beliefs, and next time, it will be different and better. Truth crushed to earth will rise again, as the saying goes — as the truth goes.

About the Author

Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (219) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.7.12 @ 6:14AM

Good comments Ben but one has to wonder if we have reached the tipping point. The American public has bought into the blame game in politics and those who stand for any form of personal responsibility are going down.

The takers ran the table and if anything is indicated, it's that the majority of the public now has an entitlement attitude and doesn't understand how their paycheck (If they're making one) fits into the overall picture.

Alan Brooks | 11.7.12 @ 7:18AM

You deserve it, you ran another empty suit- the 7th since 1988:
'88, '92, '96, 2000, '04, '08, '12.

Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 11.7.12 @ 8:27AM

Soon, we will have empty wallets and no one will be able to afford a suit.

Pony Express| 11.7.12 @ 9:06AM

' . . . the incredibly, unbelievably powerful gay and lesbian forces . . ."

You talkin' 'bout Nate Silver?

Silver is the man. Spot on target, as always.

It's another great day for America.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 12:58PM

Nonsense.

edwardode| 11.7.12 @ 3:02PM

unless you have silver or gold

AmericanCynic| 11.7.12 @ 6:36PM

Then you will continue to make them out of straw.

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 10:49AM

You'll be whistling a different tune when EICOTUS gets lung cancer and that Water Head Biden starts WW IV trying to answer his cell phone...

Frank "I built that piece of shit" Drackman

handsoff| 11.7.12 @ 12:54PM

The empty suit dressed in lies won but only by a handful of the popular vote. Half the country was not deceived, half was, the half that was deceived is the half of the country that wants a dictator a king a liar and someone else to pay for them.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 12:58PM

Bullshit.

edwardode| 11.7.12 @ 3:06PM

He won because we live in a country of uneducated morons.If Romney won that would of been because of the other 40% of uneducated morons.Only about 10% of the people in the US even know what is going with the banks and the military industrial complex.And Ben Stein is in the 90% crowd.

Bob From District 9| 11.8.12 @ 9:08AM

Gore won the popular vote in 2000. The Bush people knew the recount would show he won Florida also, so they got the supreme court to annoint Bush president.

Working people voted for Obama, the entitled ones voted for Romney.

Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 8:43PM

Democrats ran:
1988: Dukakis- Egghead fool
1992: Clinton- A Draft Dodger and hypocrite
2000: Gore- Con Man
2004: Kerry- Gigolo, coward and a fool
2008: Con Man Supreme who sealed his records who had a hard-core Stalinist Communist as a Mentor.
Oh-Yea - I'd be proud to be a Democrat.

C. Vernon Crisler | 11.7.12 @ 9:22AM

"We just had an efficient, loving, intelligent man in our party run and put up a magnificent fight. But he, as the Wall Street Journal edit page said during the primaries, was not a real conservative and believed mostly in his own résumé. Let's have a real conservative with real principles next time."

Why didn't we run a conservative this time? Instead we had Ann Coulter, RET, National Review, and many other so-called conservatives championing Romney during the primaries.

Have they learned their lesson? I doubt it. Next, they'll be touting that fasto from New Jersey.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 12:56PM

Still perseverating on Reagan's welfare queen driving her Cadillac, I see. Only, now, according to Romney it is fully 43% of the country. The "takers," you say. The problem, of course, is the country sees too many Tea Partiers collecting Social Security and taking advantage of Medicare and Medicaid. And, oh, those Red State, low tax, small government farmers lined up for their subsidies. And, the ridiculousness of the right's position that the only part of the federal government that wastes no money and creates jobs is the Pentagon.

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 3:38PM

If you resent eligable citizens from taking advantage of social programs we created perhaps you would wish to means test them by political affiliation. That way only those of whom you approve would receive any public benefit.

Many of us would gladly trade our SS or Medicare for a refund of our extorted tax dollars. Would your lawmakers provide that option? Choice is the supreme word is it not?

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 6:05PM

Eligible citizens taking advantage of social programs. Food stamps excluded, right?

Biff| 11.7.12 @ 8:09PM

gadzooks, man, can you not understand the difference in receiving benefits promised by our government, financed by deductions over a lifetime of work, and the assistance program responsible for providing sustenance for the needy?

Bob From District 9| 11.8.12 @ 9:11AM

It was Romney who didn't know the difference.

PCC| 11.7.12 @ 7:06PM

History lesson for Mr. Stein and others: The Chicago machine did not steal the presidency for JFK in 1960. He would have won without Illinois. You can look it up.

Biff| 11.7.12 @ 8:01PM

We have indeed reached the tipping point, obvious by the fact that more than half of America now values food stamps and welfare checks over a viable economy and self-esteem.

Bob From District 9| 11.8.12 @ 9:11AM

It was Romney who didn't know the difference.

Bob From District 9| 11.8.12 @ 9:12AM

That was stupid when Romney said it, it's still stupid.

Toinfinityandbeyond| 11.7.12 @ 9:22PM

It's god's intention that GOP lost.

It's time to shut down GOP!

Appleby| 11.7.12 @ 6:35AM

Relax, Ben; you're still wealthy and I'm sure that when the Storm Troopers come for your bankbook, you will willingly hand it over and go off to "mixed use housing" to live side by side with the people who are out burning the cities to the ground. Because a man who is so wealthy and so determined to force others to hand over their wealth must certainly wish to dwell among the rioting looters whose god is Gimmee.

mike 3/505| 11.7.12 @ 7:59AM

Miss Appleby,

I stand solidly with you on that one. why supposed conservatives give one iota to the matra, "raising tax rates raises revenue," is beyond me. A booming economy raises revenue!

Regards,

Mike

Bob From District 9| 11.8.12 @ 9:17AM

From the end of WWII till 1981 the debt to GDP ration went down from 122% of GDP to 33% of GDP. Obama inherited a debt to GDP ratio pushing 90% of GDP. 100% of that increase came from three anti-tax republicans, Reagan/Bush I/Bush II.

Obama inherited a nation debt of $11.7Trillion, 80% of which was accumulated under those same three.

Yes, after 220 years of this country's existance, 80% of the country's debt is by those same three presidents.

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 11:16AM

Even if they rob the rich, Romney's point is still valid: The money will go into the black hole that is the federal budget. Yum yum yum! Feed me!

Funny thing: The world doesn't "need" defending anymore! Most of them wanted Obama to win, remember? So pardon my French but F' 'em. Japan loves Obama? Let's pull our bases out and let the Chinese party. Get out of NATO. And let's drop all those defense jobs that are going mostly to liberals voting in Northern Virginia anyway.

djn1313| 11.7.12 @ 11:40AM

The world loves obama because he is the mole that will destroy our nation, something they all want. Too many newer Americans are unproductive and stupid. They embraced EVIL and have set this nation on a path to become another EU socialist failure like Greece, Spain, Italy, etc. Stupidity never ends with some.

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 11:45AM

The funny thing is that the USA is far worse off than an EU socialist state. They're getting something more in line with Mexico and its wonderful social safety net and honest public officials. Hehehehe.

Limosine liberals are going to be on the move...

Appleby| 11.7.12 @ 1:47PM

What's intersting to me today (86% of Ontario, Canada, where I live, would have voted for Zero, according to Ipsos-Reed) is an article titled "What if America Fails? And what happens to Canada if it does?" I bin tellin' ya! Ain't I bin tellin ya? But y'all were so busy sawing through the branch you are sitting on that you couldn't pay attention until--what's that ominous cracking sound?

AmericanCynic| 11.7.12 @ 6:41PM

You forget that much of the Federal budget goes into the hands of of Federal Employees who buy stuff like cars, houses and goods. Oh, and taxes too! I bet there are more people on Wall Street that hide their money than Federal employees do.

AmericanCynic| 11.7.12 @ 6:43PM

Explain to me how millions of dollars in off-shore tax shelters helps America or its economy?

Biff| 11.7.12 @ 8:16PM

you seem to forget that the entire paycheck of federal employees - the taxes, the deductions, as well as the net pay which they spend on "stuff" - must first be extracted from the producers of the economy.

AmericanCynic| 11.8.12 @ 7:14PM

And what you seem to forget is that 1) they are also producers of the economy and tax payers 2) the money came from consumers first before it landed in the coffers of "producers." You can't just frame the economy according to your view point.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 1:00PM

Storm Troopers? Stupid rhetoric is indicative of stupid thinking.

edwardode| 11.7.12 @ 3:12PM

The wealthy, like Stein know if you raise taxes on anyone,only the poor and middle class will wind up paying them.The rich will just find ways to hide their wealth or pass along costs to their business expenses.The rich claim they don't pay enough in taxes but when they are told they can write a check to the US treasury anytime they want nothing happens.Taxes are theft,period.

beebop2| 11.7.12 @ 6:27PM

Ben was a big 0bama supporter in 2008.

Reap meet sow.

Havoc| 11.7.12 @ 6:47AM

Sorry, Ben, you lost me with that 'need higher taxes' nonsense. Your father would be ashamed.

C.B.| 11.7.12 @ 7:20AM

I agree, where did that comment come from, Ben? It really is simple, though, just pay more when you file your taxes next year and make your own contribution to bring the deficit down....

Mike W| 11.7.12 @ 8:07AM

Stein has advocated for higher taxed for years now. I saw him on Fox in the morning pushing his higher taxes agenda a month ago.

David T| 11.7.12 @ 10:04AM

Actually, Ben's father was a firm believer that higher taxes bring higher revenue. He thought supply-side economics was rubbish. So Ben is just a chip off the old block...

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 1:02PM

Supply Side economics is rubbish. It is used as intellectual cover for those motivated solely by greed. Patriotism is the other cover.

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 3:44PM

Ibn Khaldun, the fourteenth century Moslem historial know that "The wise ruler keeps his imposts low to prosper the kingdom".

JFK knew, "A rising tide lifts all ships".

Jefferson knew, "A wise and frugal government shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned".

The Left only turned against the concept when Reagan promoted it. Every time it has been tried, it worked.

John W. Davis, the Dem candidate for President in 1924 knew, "To tax one individual, group or class, to benefit another individual, group or class is theft".

Any takers Mike? Your confiscatory theory is false.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 7:58PM

C'mom Al Adab. You can quote wise men across cultures, but the fact is taxes are at an historical low and you are complaining. When we need To raise taxes to down our deficits and reduce our debt, will you cheer shared sacrifice? I doubt it

Biff| 11.7.12 @ 8:22PM

with the exception of 2003, federal revenues have been at all time highs. could it truly be that we have more of a spending problem than a revenue problem?

AmericanCynic| 11.8.12 @ 7:15PM

"federal revenues have been at all time highs"

Bullshit.

handsoff| 11.7.12 @ 1:03PM

Half the country not only does not pay taxes, but much of that half gets earned income credit, up to 10k per year, intended to be welfare without the bureaucracy. Just eliminating the reverse income tax that is EIC will raise taxes and revenue.
Give Ben the benefit of the doubt here. He framed higher taxes with the distressing fact that any spending cuts that can be obtained realistically will not be enough to prevent the need for more taxes, which we will all be faced with once the penalty/tax/obamacare/higher "ins" rates, come due in 2014. The only way we can prevent more of our substance thrown into the black hole is if BO embraces the oil and gas boom and independence, which he might because it will make him more popular and annoint him king messiah and he'll be Pres forever.

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 7:10AM

Its painfully obvious.
This country isn't ready for a White President.
But (Dr. Strangeglove voice) I HAF EIN PLAN!
well not really a plan.
1: EICOTUS tragically dies prematurely from Heart Disease/Lung Cancer/actually walks around unguarded in SE DC.
2: Joe Biden ass-umes office , asphyxiates himself autoerotically in Lincoln bedroom
3: Speaker Ryan ushers in a new era of prosperity and growth.
well even if he doesn't he's White.
Oh yeah, we gotta get rid on that Bonner idiot.
I'll be in my Achterhaus let me know when it's America again.

frank

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 9:06AM

Drack,

Please tell me you have a plan for Nancy Pelosi?

Ya crack my up. Keep posting 'cause humor will be the soothing relief we'll need to get through this. The Preparation H for the reaming we are about to receive.

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 10:55AM

My plan for Nancy Pelosi,
well first I'd need that Delorean from Back to the Future, go back to when she was hot, say, 1964, pick up a young Hilary Clinton wearing one of those "Goldwater Girls" Skirts with saddle shoes, and have a Massage-a-Twat for the ages...
Frank "Where We're Going we don't need Dildos!" Drackman

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 6:26PM

I was hoping something more sinister than a gang-bang, circa 1964. I was hoping for something more sinister.

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 6:27PM

sorry, my comments sorta-blended with one another.

Biff| 11.7.12 @ 8:23PM

dude, you're going to have to go much further back than '64...

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 1:06PM

Climb out of the cesspool of right wing idiocy, take a shower, turn off Fox and Limbaugh, pour yourself a nice drink and relax. You are going to be okay. No Storm Troopers are going to appear at your door. Nobody is going to convert you son and daughter to the gay life. Nobody is going to make your wife get an abortion. You won't be living under Sharia Law next week and Obama will not steal and eat your family dog. Get a grip.

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 4:05PM

Mike, it seems as though you might want to relocate to a more enlightened region of the country, one which shares your views and vision.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 8:04PM

Quite happy with where I am. Thank you.

Stormzeye| 11.7.12 @ 7:13AM

Excellent points Ben but your support for more taxes contradicts your call for clearer conservative values and candidates. I especially agree with your praise of the hardworking, family-centered, hispanics. I would add their strong commitment to the military and their strong faith. I don't favor open borders but we have to study and modernize our immigration system.

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 11:20AM

Hispanics, like most non-white ethnic groups, are bought by the democrat racial entitlements agenda. Until the Republicans firmly fight the reverse discrimination, reverse Jim Crow agenda, they cannot win any more presidential elections.

These racial entitlement groups go to church (or other places of worship), say their prayers, and then the moment they leave the church they immediately start looking for what entitlements they can get from the white Christians by "krystalnachting" their homes and businesses. The women pray in church and then go out and sleep around and become unwed mothers. For them, their religion is simply a community center.

handsoff| 11.7.12 @ 1:13PM

I heartily disagree. Most of the Hispanics I know (I work with, live in predominately Hispanic neighborhood, work for, and rent to hispanics) are Republican, hardworking, moral, don't have cc, refuse to go into debt, pay their bills early and are very clean and keep their homes well maintained and beautiful, even if not to my taste (theirs is better).
The largest number of welfare recipients happen to be black, followed by whites, and a distant 3rd are Hispanic (2nd and 3rd generation).
What in the world is "krystalnachting"?

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 4:22PM

I'm referring to "Krystalnacht" which was the night that Nazis smashed the windows of German businesses and raided and looted them. The anti-white rhetoric of the left is astounding especially when millions of whites in Ohio and Pennsylvania voted for them.

Sure, many hispanics are Republican, hardworking, religious etc. especially from the older generations. But a significant portion of them buy into identity politics and racial entitlements and their lifestyle reflects it. Whites come in second as welfare recipients only due to the still larger number of whites in the country but per capita, hispanics are higher and the illegitimacy rate is also approaching that of blacks.

Mriordon| 11.7.12 @ 7:39AM

Sorry Ben, you are a dummy. There's no coming back from this, not next time, not ever. There's more of them than there are of us and it's only going to get worse. You pay your higher taxes and I'll go down and apply for foodstamps- I've always been eligible, just never really needed them. I might even get me an Obama phone.

Mike W| 11.7.12 @ 8:05AM

More junk for this clown. Hispanics are overwhelmingly big government Democrat types. A push to get more hispanics by pandering to them will be the tipping point to truly end this country. If the Repubs go along with a true Obama amnesty then there is no hope.

Will| 11.7.12 @ 8:32AM

Ah yes, no compromise with the electorate! Everybody who voted for Obama is a fool, they will see the error of their ways, all the GOP has to do is explain its existing policies better.
Sorry, down that road is electoral oblivion. Face it, the GOP can no longer simply win with policies aimed exclusively at ageing white men.

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 11:23AM

Just the opposite actually. The GOP cannot win by trying to be more democrat and pandering to the left's race entitlement bases since they cannot hope to compete. However, there are still plenty of aging white men around AND their women. Quite simply, if they show up to vote and if they say they won't buy women diamonds and meals unless they go Republican as well, they can easily sweep the next election. Do the numbers and math.

Certainly, the left has a lot of lesbians out there and they're great voters (they tend to be affluent and alone precisely because they can't find the successful, 1950's breadwinner they dream of) but the rest of women who want children who won't appear on the next episode of C.O.P.S. will chase after hot, Republican, hard working, non-drug using men.

Want to see the typical Democrat elite? Watch the film "Clerks." That's the kind of guy that Democrat women have to pick from. No wonder so many of them go lesbo.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 1:11PM

It may surprise you to find out that people like me think people like you who voted for Romney are the fools.

Stilton A. Cheese| 11.7.12 @ 1:40PM

One must have principals that one adheres to.
You can't kick my dog! I won't compromise and let you kick him *a little bit*.

I'm a social liberal and fiscal conservative. I don't *like* gay marriage but there's a bunch of behavior *I* don't like which is quite legal..

That said, *Republican* is a brand name, and any Republican who thinks that they can be elected by being a *kinder - gentler* Republican better think again. If you say "sure I'm ok with Gay Marriage or abortion" because that is what you really believe you may have a shot at some independent voters, but as soon as you say "smaller government, lower taxes, less red-tape" you've lost the vote. And Democrats have perfected the game of *If (Republican candidate for any office) had won the primary I would have voted for them... Except when the same candidate *does win* the nomination they vote for the Democrat because he/she is more qualified for the job.

A dark skinned Republican running against a darked skinned Democrat with the same party platforms would lose to the Democrat.

I don't care how it all works out; you still can't kick my dog.

Ralph Novy| 11.7.12 @ 6:31PM

"One must have principals that one adheres to."

One of the most glaring and despicable deficiencies of conservatism, as it's practiced, is the tacit credo that one ought to adhere to principals, not principles.

Thanks for the Freudian slip.

R Martin| 11.7.12 @ 8:35AM

The reality of American politics has sunk to special interest group pandering. Labor unions, unmarried women, Hispanics, African American, homosexuals etc. are all Democrat Party protectorates and Democrats woo them with transfer payments from a diminishing tax base. Sadly, such coddling serves to increase interest group numbers and make them stronger. As that vicious circle grows it can only come to a very bad end. E pluribus unum has clearly gone the way of high school Latin class.

Will| 11.7.12 @ 10:43AM

There are 2 sides to this. Democrats might pander to these groups, but the Republicans have alienated them through evangelical social conservatism, a brutally hardline immigration policy, no concern at all for poverty and assaults on collective bargaining. Don't forget that the republicans pander to their own interest groups- the rich, big business, Christian conservatives, white southerners who never got over the Civil Rights Act, Cuban-Americans in Florida.

PolishKnight| 11.7.12 @ 12:11PM

When Dems shove white males under the bus, it's called "leveling the playing field", when Republicans simply state that maybe the USA's borders are not open for unlimited immigration and entitlements, it's called "alienation".

Exactly, the left defines the notion that white Christian males as human beings to be "racism" and the right has tolerated this racism for decades in the hopes they could win on economic issues and appealing to patriotism.

Tonight, we see that is officially over. The foolish white voters of Pennsylvania and Ohio are going to see in the next few years that Obama plans to toss them under the bus. And they clearly deserve it. In the meantime, Republicans need to address Democrat reverse Jim Crow head on or simply become irrelevant. Simple as that.

Simon Templar| 11.7.12 @ 8:22AM

Ben, you said on radio you had little problem with the Fraud.
You leave me speechless. You really are an idiot.
I am so outraged by the hypocrisy, stupidity, self indulgence, and pretense of people like yourself that I.....

Who is John Galt?

Ross Kaminsky| 11.7.12 @ 8:31AM

Ben,

While I appreciate your years of wisdom, I do not understand your persistent push for higher taxes given the lessons of history.

Higher taxes have never cut our deficit. They simply allow the further expansion of government.

As Milton Friedman said, government will spend everything it takes from people, plus however much more it can get away with.

We must not let them raise tax rates. That said, I am not very optimistic about holding the line on this given last night's horrific results.

TLP| 11.7.12 @ 3:12PM

He's a Liberal Idiot.

And, how is it that you can Slum It on this Loser's Column, but you refuse to join us in The Contest, every Friday? He couldn't be more BORING, if he tried.

What's his Wife's Maiden name?

Tyrell?

222 Last Friday, by the way.

Just sayin.

Toinfinityandbeyond| 11.7.12 @ 9:23PM

It's god's intention that GOP lost.

It's time to shut down GOP!

edwardode| 11.7.12 @ 3:21PM

Well said.When are people in this country going to realize that taxation is theft,period.If you and I can't steal,then the government can't steal.Same goes for murder,torture and rape.America is an immoral nation that is why we have immoral politicians and people like Stein.Also if Ben Stein wants so badly to pay more in taxes he can write a check to the treasury any time he wants.

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 8:40AM

This election is 1936, part deux.
We now get to see how bad the economy is when the REAL numbers start to become known.

You see, Post November 6, 2012 it will be in the best interest of the Permanent Liberal Government to let "citizens" know how bad our country is doing economically and that the only cure to our economic ills is massive government intervention, ala 1936.

Quantitative easing on a much grander scale, higher taxes, massive "investments" as far as the eye can see.

It's the only way to keep this thing going. "there is a crisis in our midst and government is the only solution" , ala 1936.

You want to know where we are headed, just read the next Paul Krugman article. He will lay it all out for you.

Personally, I hate this, but we should all at least understand it.

Alan| 11.7.12 @ 8:48AM

Your already well on the way to one party rule Ross. If they take the House back in 2 years whats going to stop them from taking more? Higher taxes are the least of our long term concerns. The entitlement mentality class is now the permanent majority and in four years after the doors get kicked open for good with more illegal immigrant entitlements argueing about deck chairs on the Titanic is going to seem miniscule.

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 8:50AM

3 new ultra-liberal supreme court judges...

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 8:52AM

Countless ultra-liberal federal court judges...

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 1:12PM

By ultra liberal, you mean somebody to the left of Scalia and Thomas. Give me a break.

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 3:52PM

Actually yes. Those you name are Constitutionalists.

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 6:18PM

No, I mean the first muslim supreme court justice and perhaps another Sotomayer or Kagan.

Bill8472| 11.7.12 @ 8:56AM

In my state, the voters all voted in favor of every proposed tax increase.

They voted in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

They voted in favor of Barack Obama over Mitt Romney by a margin of 54% to 46% in a state that until recently was a red state.

In my opinion, this election seems to have been a watershed one, in which a cultural shift has now been formalized with the notion that we can just vote ourselves benefits without making it possible for the wealth that creates those benefits to be amassed.

Oh well. Thank God I'm in my 60s and probably won't have to watch what the future will bring for very much longer.

LarryinArlingtonTX| 11.7.12 @ 11:04AM

I'm only 58. I live in Texas. I still have to endure the nonsense in the rest of the country for quite a few years (God willing). Can we secede? Lol!

Riff Raff| 11.7.12 @ 12:08PM

If you do secede, I moving to join you. I just can't stomach 4 more years of Bozo the Clown President. What in Hell are people THINKING?! Was no one awake these last 4 years?! An unmitigated disaster President is re-elected?!

drake1456| 11.7.12 @ 8:58AM

Taxes need not go up if more people are working and I see us at the Tipping Point where more are taking than are giving. If this is the need for more taxes , then NO conservative can EVER solve that conundrum.And people who dont work have lots of time to stand in line to vote themselves more benefits.

Riff Raff| 11.7.12 @ 12:12PM

Buying votes with other people's money is a time-honored political tradition dating back to ancient Rome and before. Power, Prestige, Money, and Women. THIS is the essence of politics, the driving force behind the corruption. Egomaniacs like Bozo will say and do anything to get these four little things that make their puny lives SO important to themsleves while ruining other people's lives in the process. My life has been harmed by Democrats and their relentless corruptions. I am sick of it.

Bill8472| 11.7.12 @ 9:00AM

The addicts have taken over the pharmacy, the children the school, the lunatics the asylum.

Riff Raff| 11.7.12 @ 12:14PM

And the tyrants the palace.

Tarquinius Superbus has returned.

nathan| 11.7.12 @ 9:04AM

This is directed at "conservative" Christians in the group.

For the last year many of you have been "obsessed" with BHO, I've heard him called "evil" the "anti-christ", all of it. Defeating him became your only priority. So many of you treated MR almost as if he were another messiah sent to lead us all to the promised land.

He wasn't . . .

100 years from now this election will mean nothing to anyone alive today. All that matters is whether you have a personal relationship with the Risen Christ. We as Christians don't live here, our home is in heaven, we are tourists/observers. Paul never tells us to go and talk politics with unbelievers. Christ didn't either. The prime directive is "go into the world and preach the gospel." With the election over, finally, all of you need to get back to your primary duty which is not to worry about who is in the white house, but who makes it "home" with you. The current environment may require you to take risks for God, but so what. "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ" right? We are obligated to go out and bring the lost home, not convert liberals to conservatives.

Now get back to work folks.

David T| 11.7.12 @ 11:09AM

Nathan--The mission of the Church is two-fold: to evangelize and to teach. Evangelizing without forming Christian character results in the moral rot that we see today. The Church cannot stand back and allow evil to permeate the culture.

TLP| 11.7.12 @ 3:16PM

He IS Evil, and The Anti-Christ.

Are you Blind, as well as Stupid?

Cause, I'm thinking you are.

What do you think will happen to Israel, now, Dumbass?

TLP| 11.7.12 @ 3:17PM

And, as a Christian?

I could give a shit, what you have to say.

AmericanCynic| 11.7.12 @ 6:47PM

TLP, are you an Israeli spy?

nathan| 11.8.12 @ 7:46AM

We are enjoined so very many times in the Bible to pray for wisdom. I'm not sure what "wisdom" means in responding to you.

I'm not necessarily in position to comment on your relationship with God. But your constant cursing in your posts are not necessarily the actions of someone who has a personal relationship with that Risen Savior I make reference to.

Regardless of what you think of me, be angry with me all you want, what's at stake for you sir is more than what happens in Congress in January. I'll ask you this. If you die today, do you absolutely know where you're spending eternity? At the end of the day, for you, me that's all that counts. Do you know KNOW where you're spending eternity? Have you acknowledged yourself a helpless sinner in God's sight? Do you believe that Christ died to be the Savior that you need (Romans 5:8) and rose from the dead to defeat sin? Have you repented of your sins (Luke 5:32) and confessed Christ as Lord over your life (Romans 10:9-10) believing that as God He can and will forgive your sins and grant you eternal life?

If you have great. If you haven't I urge you to do so. Don't let your anger for me keep you from the relationship with God that will last forever.

Take care of yourself here sir.

gene| 11.7.12 @ 9:06AM

"..... the incredibly, unbelievably powerful gay and lesbian forces,....."
If this had been a Republican President, they would have MARCHED on Washington and spoke up for the Ambassador who was brutally tortured and murdered.
Instead they followed Ideology and Politics and remained silent.

The Big E| 11.7.12 @ 9:22AM

Ben, I have one question for you. If the Republican Party cannot engineer a victory in a Presidential election against an opponent with a record like BHO's, then what exactly is the justification for the Party's continued existence?

I agree with you about Mitt Romney. He ran an honorable campaign talking about the issues that matter to this country. But the fact is that the issues which matter to this county do NOT matter to the voters of this country.

TLP| 11.7.12 @ 3:20PM

Obviously, you're a Dumbass.

You can lead a Horse to water, but you can't make him Drink.

And, you can't fix Stupid, as you prove with each and every Stupid Scribbling that you Scribble.

norma| 11.7.12 @ 9:39AM

I wish you were right, but I am afraid you are not. If the thing that wins elections is making promises to give away the taxpayers money as bribery, then the only way the GOP can win in future is to follow that lead -- and that way lies disaster. There will be a disastrous loosening of our borders to bolster the Democrat party, which will intensify the changing of the entire character of this country. The despair among those of us who fought with Romney is very real. I, for one, am looking into leaving the country. I never thought I would live to see such a day.

R Martin| 11.7.12 @ 10:17AM

Brush-up on your French and consider Mauritius.

Bill8472| 11.7.12 @ 10:11AM

It's a moment of truth for the GOP. It's time to decide how the party is going to connect with the hearts and minds of Americans, because this election shows us that we're almost exactly divided 50-50 right down the middle. That kind of equal division must stop, or America will have some kind of disaster. Yesterday's election may have been the disaster we need to bring us out of our fever dream. I hope so.

Bill8472| 11.7.12 @ 10:12AM

We can't continue to exist half-collectivist and half-individualist. Sooner or later, we're going to be one or the other.

Riff Raff| 11.7.12 @ 12:18PM

History suggests we will go collectivist, until the next revolution. And History suggests we will go quietly. It will be for future generations to reverse the corruptions of today. And we will all suffer under tyranny for the rest of our natural lives. "Blessed is the State, Blessed are the Masses."

handsoff| 11.7.12 @ 1:31PM

That die was cast with Teddy Roosevelt, cast again with WW and FDR and Carter or does no one remember how enthusiastically and overwhelmingly the voters embraced the socialist programs and entitlements and government coddling and 90% taxation of the rich? Yet, conservatives still exist and are growing and more aware, as are the gays (self annihilating hopefully) and marxists. True, this is the first time we have had an openly self admitted 1/2 white Marxist in the WH, but not the first time we have had Marxists, communists, socialists running this country and our foreign and domestic policy. This time it is open and only half the voters care, but that is an improvement over formerly, when less than half cared.
One way of increasing the odds in favor of conservative values is education-get it out of the hands of the government at all levels and teach real history real economics and the Constitution as it was intentionally founded. Start with the fundamentals, it may take awhile but truth does have a way of winning, even if not the way we would like....

ElGordo| 11.7.12 @ 10:17AM

Apparently Romney received 7 million fewer votes than McCain.

How could this be if the Republicans this time were so enthusiastic.

My guess is that Obama's ground game picked up all the possible Obama voters they could, while the Romney team's ground game didn't.

I think that the Romney team lost it for Romney by their relatively less effective ground game, not using Libya to attack Obama and selecting Ryan instead of Rubio.

LarryinArlingtonTX| 11.7.12 @ 11:02AM

You are right in principle; the latest election results appear to show that Romney received 3 million fewer votes than McCain, not 7 million. Nevertheless, if Romney had gotten those 3 million, spread out properly throughout the battleground states, Romney would have won Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, and maybe even Pennsylvania.

Hard analysis of the election demographics needs to identify who stayed home. Obama lost over 9 million votes; a lot of those moved to Romney, but not all of them - many of them stayed home, too. Why did the Romney campaign not find those voters?

Bill8472| 11.7.12 @ 12:30PM

Why didn't the Republican campaign not find those millions of lost votes?

1. The GOP is less interested in politics and power than the Democrat Party;

2. The GOP ran a campaign that highlighted mostly things that did not resonate with the public;

3. Obama somehow persuaded voters that continuing on the path he has taken us down is the solution to our economic problems.

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 1:11PM

Larry,

Republican strategists seemed to have operated on old data. Specifically, the actual number of base democrats. The number was 3 to 4 points higher than what the republicans thought. The Democrats seemed to have operated on current, more accurate data, and concluded that they could appeal to their base constituency at the expense of independents and still win.

All this time republicans such as myself interpreted this as an act of desperation and politically suicidal, but in reality, they were spot on in their calculation.

I give the devils their due and tip my hat to them. Well played, well played.

TLP| 11.7.12 @ 3:26PM

You know that I love you guys, but your Conclusions are Idiotic.

It's DEMOGRAPHICS.

Period.

We have become Outnumbered.

The Takers have become the Majority.

They don't want JOBS.

They want a check, for staying home all day, and Banging their Hoes and Bitches all night.

Open your eyes.

This ain't Quantum Physics.

It's Reality!

Bob Grant| 11.7.12 @ 6:21PM

Why are you calling my conclusion idiotic. It pretty much mirrors yours.

Grzmlyk| 11.7.12 @ 10:35AM

Look on the bright side, Ben old buddy old pal:

Your taxes are sure to go up. Isn't that what you wanted?

Harry the Horrible| 11.7.12 @ 10:44AM

Oh, really? We have previously elected a President who was openly endorsed by the CP-USA?

mike 3/505| 11.7.12 @ 1:00PM

Wilson

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 10:53AM

Hey, its not lost yet.
How much money has the RNC got? few hundred million?
How many electors we gotta flip? 50?
Lets just say, Money Talks, BS Walks..
It's not over till Lincoln Frees the Slaves, Sherman burns Atlanta, and Jefferson Davis
gets his own National Holiday...

Frank

AmericanCynic| 11.7.12 @ 6:51PM

Frank for President of the Confederacy!

Thank you for proving once again, that you guys are living in the past!

LOL@SoreLosers...OfTheCivilWar!

Frank Drackman| 11.8.12 @ 4:07AM

"Living in the Past"??
you mean with an unqualified Black Dude in a position of Power? See, "Reconstruction, US"
And if getting 20 million (Redacted) to move North is "losing" I'm a loser baby,
so why don't you kill me, I mean yourself.

Frank "Fuck Neil Young" Drackman

AmericanCynic| 11.8.12 @ 7:21PM

Nice Beck reference, traitor lover, here's another music ref:

"The South's going to do it again!" - Charlie Daniels Band

"Do what again, LOSE?" - American Cynic

LOL!!!

LarryinArlingtonTX| 11.7.12 @ 10:58AM

"Let's not keep on ignoring the reality of our budget crisis. We need higher taxes. It is too bad. It is a shame. But we need more revenue to have a strong defense, to reduce the deficit, to lessen the burden on our children. To imagine we can get it with small spending cuts is a fantasy."

Huh? The top 10% of income earners in this country already pay about 70% of all income taxes. So, are you suggesting that be 80%? Or 90% of all taxes? I doubt that most businesses will want to remain in business if that becomes a reality; I also doubt that those who survive for a while can survive the higher prices for goods or services they will have to impose in order to stay in business.

You want to eliminate the earned income tax credit, which is the main reason why almost 47% of individuals pay little or no income taxes (a concept expanded by Bush and the Republicans as a consequence of trying to encourage work as a part of welfare reform).

This is a runaway freight train. Raising taxes only means the politicians will spend more. That has been the nature of the phony Federal "budget" process since the enactment of the Comprehensive Budget Reform Act of 1974 by a Democratic Congress as a response to Nixon's impoundment strategy. You see, I'm old enough to remember this, too.

Looks like we are going to have to go the way of Greece before people realize the party is over.

Will| 11.8.12 @ 1:44AM

Of course a big part of the reason Greece is in such trouble is because their citizens avoid paying any tax.

Right_is_Wrong| 11.7.12 @ 11:12AM

Earlier this year, R. Emmett Tyrrell predicted that our president would lose the election in "a landslide". He was spectacularly wrong. I will never believe another word out of his mouth. Two words, crybabies: Nate Silver.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 1:14PM

R. Emmett Tyrrell is frequently wrong. He shares this distinction with the likes of Kristol and Krauthammer.

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 1:26PM

Nate Silver?
I enjoyed his earlier work(the guy in the Beastie Boys "Fight for your Right(To Party)" video who says "Do you like Parties???.............

Frank

Anthony| 11.7.12 @ 11:14AM

Sorry Ben as usual you're way off base. This ain't Kansas anymore, this ain't 1964 America anymore, the takers and the radical left outnumber the makers and the Constitutionalists.
They'll be coming for you soon Ben, best of luck.

Lyneuss Fields | 11.7.12 @ 11:22AM

This election wasn't won by President Obama; it was lost by the Republican Party. The bottom line is this: Republicans nominated a man who wasn't trusted by the American people. From his foreign bank accounts to his refusing to release adequate tax returns, Romney was simply the last person standing (after the primaries) among a field of incompetence. In short, Willard Mitt Romney was a hollow piece of stinking poop Republicans dropped on the American people to run against a slick soft-shoe shuffler.
http://lyneussfields.blogspot......ative.html

djn1313| 11.7.12 @ 11:36AM

The black poop is sitting in the WH thanks to unproductive twits like you. All of obama's records have been sealed from the public for four years, yet dopes like you look the other way. obama poops on you everyday and you ask for more. Talk about being a stinking piece of poop, you just described yourself.

Lyneuss Fields | 11.7.12 @ 12:55PM

Well at least "your" racist, Mormon stink has been kept out of America's White House and much of your Tea Party scum washed from The Senate and House of Representatives.

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 1:09PM

Black poop? Trying to be a bigger asshole than Limbaugh?

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 1:24PM

Mike, I'm usually a nice guy, but..............

I hope your kid gets Eye Cancer that blinds him before he/she dies a miserably painful death,

Feel better now,

Frank

Lyneuss Fields | 11.7.12 @ 1:29PM

And Frank, I hope your wife dies of leprosy from your infected cock!

Regards,
Lyneuss

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 2:32PM

Lyneuss, I'm gonna reach across the aisle,
and Bee-Otch Slap you like the Bee-Otch you are...
I thought we had a deal, I don't talk about your Gonnocockal Pharyngitis, you don't talk about my Grungy-rhea...
Frank

Lyneuss Fields | 11.7.12 @ 3:25PM

Wee-wee well said, Frank!

Bill8472| 11.7.12 @ 3:03PM

Actually, Lyneuss, it appears as if your wife has just as much to fear. Of course, no doubt, YOU yourself have nothing to fear with regard to infection from either...

Mike in N.C.| 11.7.12 @ 3:12PM

Thanks Frank. But you really don't feel better. You're still the same old bitter clown you were before you wrote this post.

djn1313| 11.7.12 @ 11:32AM

This nation is doomed. Four more years of the liar-in-chief, the murderer of four Americans, and the muslim brotherhood puppet will be the end of our republic as we know it. Half of Americans have embraced EVIL, they are truly stupid.

djn1313| 11.7.12 @ 11:43AM

The nation will soon enter its 5th year of the "dark ages" the "black plague".

stmichrick| 11.7.12 @ 11:47AM

Ben; this is the best I have seen from you in a while! (I try to ignore some of your fuzzy lefty monologues on CBS Sunday Morning).

There should be no serious recriminations against the candidate in this case. True, Mitt 'spoke conservative as a second language,' but did not shy from making a case for capitalism, American power and the flawed worldview of Barack Obama. Romney was taunted as some kind of heartless misogynistic fat cat and he acquitted himself well. The only thing I think he missed was seriously confronting Obama on the Libya debacle.

As to demographics; I get a little nervous when I hear about the need for more outreach to preferred 'minorities' as we do from many in the media today. Outreach to sell capitalism and traditional (life) values, yes, you are right. However many politicos will take this notion to mean pandering to victim groups who they perciece feel cheated out of the 'goodies' in America. In other words effectively turning Republicans into Democrats.

Obama's men successfully found their voters; we should never forget the 'cancer murder' and the 'first time sex' commercials. They lied and called Romney a liar. They showed us how national politics is done; Chicago style.

Derek Leaberry| 11.7.12 @ 12:01PM

Americans have had it worse. Think of the desolation that your average Southerner experienced in the summer of 1865, his nation invaded, his country destroyed, a quarter-million dead, his family financially bankrupt, and Yankees riding roughshod over his land and people. In comparison, we have it good. And to think positively, the Democrats won't be so gleeful two years from now.

Frank Drackman| 11.8.12 @ 4:10AM

umm and 1865 was different from today how???
At least Andrew Johnson was just a drunk...

Frank

Bill8472| 11.8.12 @ 11:31AM

Well, in 1865, we were shooting each other in large numbers. Northerners were beseiging Petersburg and Richmond, and cutting a 50-mile swath through north Georgia and South Carolina, and burning everything that would burn in the Shenandoah Valley.

Politically, the Republican Party was in sole control of the United States. The Democrat Party was perceived as the peace party in a nation that was (after the 1864 election) committed to bringing the war to a conclusion. Radical Republicans, who wanted to punish the states of the Confederacy, were ascending in power. Freed blacks were wandering through the South, looking for food and work.

The states of the United States were much fewer.

I'd say the U.S. in 1865 was quite a bit different.

Wrongway| 11.7.12 @ 12:06PM

Thank you Ben: Finding perspective this morning has been a challenge and you hit some great points. I can't agree more about Hispanics and there really is a great trove of conservative blacks who need our support as well.

Gigi0102| 11.7.12 @ 12:10PM

Nothing rong with Romney or the campaign. This was a fair election. We can only imagine the state of the population if they voted for this fool and liar.

“In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all – security, comfort, and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again.”
― Edward Gibbon

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 4:00PM

After all the months of campaigning, the billions spent and the effort of staging the election the result was foreordained and only two or three states changed from '08. Was there really any point to the excercise or any justification for pretending in the future? We have become Rome, Ave Ceasar!

Harriet| 11.7.12 @ 12:21PM

What a wonderful compliment to Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan. I agree with Mr. Stein in all that he said. America has simply lost its way. We must listen to the words of God and we must not allow the killing of babies for they are alive from the moment of conception.

NixDebt| 11.7.12 @ 12:22PM

Ben, I love to read your column, but please, please -- get rid of that ridiculous cartoon drawing behind your caricature. What the heck does it mean?

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 2:33PM

"what the heck does it mean??"
I thought people only talked like that in "Fargo"

Frank

Henry Bechard| 11.7.12 @ 12:31PM

Ben:

Well said. This was a painful night indeed. But, the battle continues and we must not lose sight of the fact that the Republican message and agenda remains strong by stint of the number of voters who voted in favor of the Romney-Ryan ticket. That being said, we have to make the GOP relevant to Hispanics whose values are essentially the same of those espoused by the majority of Republicans. Fortunately, Obama does not have the political support to further his radical agenda; so the struggle continues and I firmly believe Obama's policies will ultimately fail provided the GOP remains united, on-message and reaches out and welcomes Hispanics into the Party.

LindaKaye| 11.7.12 @ 12:32PM

Mr. Stein, I liked your article. But please get of that drawing of a scantily clad female which is your logo. It's degrading to your wife, and it prevents me from being able to post any of your articles to Facebook.

LindaKaye| 11.7.12 @ 12:32PM

Ok, correction: I meant to say "get rid of that drawing..."

Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 8:50PM

"That Drawing" is an illustration of the content of Ben's columns, I like it. Ben is very good humorist.

Nomadc| 11.7.12 @ 12:45PM

Oh, the angst, the utter suffering of humanity seen here today. Is it just possible that the majority of Americans who re-elected this president did so because the conservative message of the GOP at no time spoke to shared sacrifice? Is it not just conceivable that the majority of Americans are willing to take their medicine to solve our problems but want to be sure that everyone is taking the same medicine?

At no point during the campaign did anyone on the GOP ticket promise that the medicine we need (reduced government spending, increased tax revenues) would be administered in equal doses. What was promised was a bitter tasting pill for most of our population and a candy-coated chewable for those at the top.

Conservatives can continue to deride the majority who re-elected this president as "takers". But that doesn't solve any problems. How about we stop labeling each other and start working from the perspective that we're all in this together?

rustyrail| 11.7.12 @ 1:10PM

I love your articles Mr. Stein. They are beautifully written. They contain unique kernels of truth presented with a lyrically engaging style. This article helped me recover from this stunning debacle. My immediate reaction was one of depression. I 'd lost the the faith in the survival of the American experiment. You've helped to restore that faith with your uplifting piece.

TeaPartyNow| 11.7.12 @ 12:58PM

If being a pandering RINO all year long is what you consider hard work Ben, you've got allot to learn about work.

We did not have a conservative nominee in 2008, & we thought that if we all "got on board" with another pandering RINO in 2012, all would be well.

All that it did was make liberal ideology swell in every instance in America because the rights leaders solemnly refused to fight for us on every last thing here.

Another pandering liberal lost. Why not go conservative now? After all, we haven't tried that for a while, have we?

SteveHC1| 11.7.12 @ 1:01PM

Upon reading all of the comments herein, I now have a much greater understanding of the reasons why Mr. Romney lost the election. It wasn't because he did anything "wrong," or because "he wasn't conservative enough." He lost because Americans are growing increasingly intolerant of hate, bigotry, greed, and government intrusion into their personal lives. Good luck to all of you haters, bigots, ostriches and dinosaurs out there; you'll need it. The USA, Israel and the rest of the world will not vanish with your disappearance.

Maggie| 11.7.12 @ 1:04PM

Stay with us Ben.......we need your wisdom,encouragement and understanding of human decency.

solidground| 11.7.12 @ 1:12PM

Two suggestions: First, be afraid, be very afraid.
Second, use that fear as a motivator to get out now, while the getting is at least half-good. Find a developing country where real estate and body guards come relatively cheap and evacuate within the next year. By 2016, the U.S. will be a rotting carcass with every one of Obama's narrow constituencies and extra-special interests fighting over the bones--while the Chinese prepare to foreclose on the infrastructure.

Judd Magilnick| 11.7.12 @ 1:15PM

Comforting thoughts, Ben.
Especially, since, most of us "were" Ben Stein last night - the Ben Stein of the movie "Dave" smugly arriving at Frank Langella's place to watch the anticipated immolation of their foe.

Occam's Tool| 11.7.12 @ 1:17PM

One final comment, from the wife: (Summa Cum Laude business degree in accounting) "Get the gun permits, and put our new investments into Gold and Silver. Get proofs, and slab them when the time comes to buy. Get the Gun Cabinet for the guns and the Gold and Silver. Keep the stocks we have, and keep the money flowing into the tax deferred accounts, but with what is available, put into gold and silver."

I'm done here on blogging. I wish you folks well, even Jack in Wi. who voted for Romney, at least. My country is going to hurt terribly terribly soon, and I'm going to make sure my family will ride through the rough times. I'm not a prepper, but I will damn well be prepared. G-d Bless and Good Bye.

handsoff| 11.7.12 @ 1:47PM

A good plan, but you need to stay a little engaged or hilbil clinton will sell US to the UN and we won't be able to keep our guns. Help fight that so your plan will have a chance to work. I am planning the same.

Malka| 11.7.12 @ 3:03PM

No need for guns the guy is ready to be impeached. It must be done quickly.

Bill8472| 11.8.12 @ 11:37AM

Good luck getting the Senate on board with the impeachment plan.

Butch| 11.7.12 @ 3:13PM

Don't leave us, Occam. I always enjoy your comments. At least visit from time to time. But if not, it's been nice knowing you, so to speak.

Bill8472| 11.8.12 @ 11:35AM

Good luck. You're probably 'way mistaken about what will happen, but investing in precious metals may be a wise move, keeping in mind that you're buying at or near the top of the market. Maybe it will go up.

I doubt you're going to need guns and ammo to survive, but maybe... And guns, if you buy quality ones, are a pretty good investment.

Jack in Phoenix| 11.7.12 @ 1:17PM

Ahh, Ben Stein, you are a tonic for my sad soul.

All morning long I've been going around with my mind possessed of dread:

Dread for the crushing, unfair burden we are placing on our children. Dread, because I have this sneaking feeling that this, right now, is as good as it gets in America.

Decay commences its corrosive activity now. As Neil Young says: "Rust never sleeps."

It is so terribly sad to see the smart, handsome and wealthy among us abandoning their critical faculties to follow an illusionist down a path that leads to doom.

They are so in Obama's thrall that when the road reaches a dead end in 2016, it will be Joe Biden's turn to heap the blame for the Administration's fecklessness on George Bush. And he will get away with it.

I'll probably get over this in a few days, but then what?

I thank God for His generosity in giving us gentle, wise counselors like Ben Stein.

Ermengrabby| 11.7.12 @ 1:19PM

I hope you are right. The problem is that MY generation is running things. I went to school with these guys -- and some pretty good schools, too. (Stuyvesant HS in NYC, Harvard.) We are not a promising generation. We are smart, but we are not analytical. We are obsessed with being cool, hip, and young. We think if we like it, it must be a "public good," and worthy of tax dollars. (This was the dominant pro-Big Bird argument on my Facebook page.) If we don't work in business, we have NO idea how business works. Even if we are in business, it is unlikely we make anything you can actually hold in your hands. We are snobs. We like the thought of aiding the poor and downtrodden, but find a trip to Walmart a soul-searing experience akin to a visit to the outer circles of hell. We have elected the government we want. Obama was right, we are the change we have been waiting for. God help us all.

Frank Drackman| 11.7.12 @ 1:23PM

Hey Christ Christy,
when you choke on that footlong coney island dog, don't look at me, get your Muslim Boyfriend...
OK, I'm just bitter, if I wanted to live in a Muslim Dictatorship I'd move to Michigan...
Anyone notice that Christ Christy sounds like Richard Pryor's impression of "Pissed off White Guy when (N-Words*)cut the line"???
Seriously, if there's a Surpreme Being how come Breitbart gets the heart attack instead of Tubbo?

Frank

*wanta complain, dig up Richard Pryor and yell at him

J.J.| 11.8.12 @ 1:15PM

I live in New Jersey and you can go to Hell! I don't agree with this policies, but thank God he and the president cared about us before he worried about the election.

In case you forget, Chris was the first governor to endorse Romney and he traveled to raise millions of dollars for Republicans. I'm glad he expressed gratitude just as he did when the president visited Paterson after Irene. That will only help get the aid our residents need faster.

RichardJKelley| 11.7.12 @ 1:23PM

A sad day - - - like the death of a friend - - - . I never dreamed I would be this embarrassed and ashamed of my country. The country I know, love and remember no longer exists - - - . It is a country of low-life parasites that would allow someone like Barack Obama to be their world representative - - - and I AM ashamed to be though of as part of an electorate that would stoop that low.

For me, the whole mess is a long overdue wake-up call. I'm going one step short of open revolt - - - . Screw the Republican party. Not only are they every bit as self-serving and corrupt as the Dimos, they can't put together a successful campaign against an idiot. We have four years to get the Libertarians ready for the 2016 election. Don't waste them.

As long as there is a Constitution, there is hope. Demand it be followed, before it is completely undone. The Democrats have abandoned you, right along with their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America.
Guess what? So have the Republicans!

Fall back & re-group. It is time for the Libertarians to take their place in American history - - - .

rike101| 11.7.12 @ 1:29PM

Ben, the main difference between the other defeats and this one is the vast amount of people on public assistance of some sort, who will always vote in their own best interests. My fear is that this election has revealed that there are more of them than us. If that is so, the country is lost.

The Federal Farmer | 11.7.12 @ 1:29PM

Ben you're obviously a bigot. You assumed that Romney's rod was smaller and thinner than Obama's so when he jammed it up your poopchute it would hurt a lot less. http://halebobb.com/Patriot/vote.htm

Cienega| 11.7.12 @ 1:36PM

Romney wanted to go back to a system of healthcare that excludes over 30 million American citizens. A cruel and disgusting policy. He wanted to repeal Dodd Frank, so his pals on Wall Street can resume their vile depredations. He wanted to cut taxes for the wealthy and well-off, thus adding to our deficit. Even a 4th grader can figure that math out. Yeah, Ben, your eyes are a tad old. So is the rest of you. Retire. You haven't a clue any more. Do some reality T.V. It's mindless, and lucrative. A good fit.

RichardJKelley| 11.7.12 @ 1:46PM

1. Healthcare is not the business of Government, as clearly demonstrated by their incompetent attempts to "regulate" (read "run") it. . . or bznking - - or education. Dodd-Frank - - - aren't they the 'watchdogs' & loan recipients of/from Fanny & Freddie??

2. You would think that a 4th grader could figure out that adding $4T to the national debt is somewhat different than meeting a campaign promise to "cut the deficit in half' - - - but then - - - some 4th graders are smarter than others - - -

Bankrupt_R_Us| 11.8.12 @ 6:24AM

NHS is having quality issues. The government is sending all its managers to training and requesting each sign "pledges". Here are some comments from Brits from the Rebecca Smith Nov 7 2012 Telegraph article:

"Politicians need to realise that they cannot legislate to make people good. If patient care in the NHS is in the state it is in, it is because we live in a vortex of moral relativism in which the 'I' is paramount and to hell with everyone else.

NHS managers can be made to sign up to all sorts of "be nice" pledges - it will change nothing, and the NHS' terminal decline will continue. The reason is simply that the model is no longer sustainable.

The model is unsustainable and outmoded first and foremost because the people who are at its heart are very different from who they were when the NHS was first conceived. Both patients and healthcare providers, and their expectations and standards, are unrecognisably different from those of the 1940s and 50s.

In a system in which last year alone forty-three patients starved to death and one hundred and eleven died of thirst, the last thing we need is more government-sponsored rhetoric. We all know that these pledges will not be worth the paper they are written on and will arouse the same cynical reaction in the public as celebrities' apologies (= sorry I got caught) or the PC knee-jerk reflex 'Our thoughts are with their families at this time' in the face of anything deemed to be a tragedy.

billwitten| 11.7.12 @ 1:44PM

The estalishment RINOs in DC and their liberal friends in the electorate refuse to acknowledge that they are the problem and the result will be continuous electoral losses until they either step down and allow conservatives to ascend or the Republican party comes apart at the seams. Either way, I walked away from them after 2008 and I vote Libertarian now. I will stay here until I see concrete actions on the Republican party's part to promote conservative values. I do not mean the neocon internationalist crap they have been spewing, I mean Constitutional Conservativism. A return to sound monetary policy, a sane engagement in foreign affairs (no nation building), a respect for Constitutional principles and a recognition that government is the problem--not the solution. No more EPAs. No more TSAs. No more Departments of Homeland Security. No more big government crap. Pay attention you liberal Republican scumbags. This is the SECOND big message. No more M'can'ts, No more Robamas. No more Nixons. WAKE UP!!

RichardJKelley| 11.7.12 @ 1:53PM

Hi Bill - -

Wish I had known you in 2008, but I have it now - - - If you are not from Texas, we had a minor revolt in the Republican party when the Rep. Party hack was replaced by a T-partyer in the Senatorial primary - -

Consider Ted Cruz - - -

To me, Cruz is the ultimate 'up-your-nose' statement to the Republican party. Dewhurst? Did somebody say Dewhurst? Oh, yeah. the Republican's 'darling' - - Rick Perry's poster boy - - - he even had Sarah Palin pulling for him - - - . Guess what. "NO!"is what! Enough business-as-usual-party-line-good-ol-boy-bull! Whoa! THAT's pretty strong!

I'd love to see the follow-up - - - Publicly, and with as much press coverage as he can put together, QUIT the Republican party, and join the Libertarians. Better yet, become the first Tea Party Senator!!

billwitten| 11.7.12 @ 4:43PM

Amen, Brother.

Freedomfighter_99| 11.7.12 @ 10:04PM

Heard one of those Ron Paul clowns on the radio tonight. He chose to write in "Paul" instead of voting for Romney. Nice job, kid.

billwitten| 11.8.12 @ 11:26AM

Wow. So you call yourself "Frredomfighter_99" yet you vote for folks who have no respect for the Constitution. To top it off, you insult the folks that fought for Ron Paul. I guess the party just doesn't need those "clowns", right? Doing just fine without them, right? Do you think when you type or is it just stream-of-consciousness?

Spokgary| 11.7.12 @ 1:47PM

Dear Ben,
The quote in this article you credit to Dr. King is actually from a great hymn called "Once to every man and Nation" Romney should have used this in the campaign. Please read the lyrics. Thanks,
Spokane Gary

Third Army| 11.7.12 @ 1:48PM

Ben says raise taxes. Ben has lots of money and can afford to pay more taxes. My family can't. And high income earners like Ben contributing more in taxes won't be enough to feed the hungry beast. I guess he wants the middle class to hand over more and more. I notice from his musings that he often employs a driver. I wish I could drive to work and back without looking at the gas gauge and wondering when I'll have to fill it up again and where the money will come from. But Ben says I should be paying more.

MrsduToit| 11.7.12 @ 1:54PM

Since you are so wise, Mr. Stein, I'm shocked, that you conflate tax RATES with needed tax REVENUE as a method of reducing the deficit. Yes, we need to reduce spending too, but our REVENUE shortfall is a major component. I believe you offer the wrong approach.

If those 43 million un- or under-employed were earning closer to their full potential, that would work towards reducing the deficit--much more than a tax RATE increase. To get those people working again, there's no better way than a tax RATE DECREASE, especially on higher incomes, & on the corp tax rate (to encourage more businesses to operate here). Those two changes alone would make a difference in the positive. A tax RATE INCREASE would only REDUCE REVENUE because "the rich" can decide when to take revenue, are the ones who make hiring decisions, have the capital to invest or create businesses, or can move to another country with more favorable tax policies, or can stop working/close their businesses out of protest.

We're also not seeing the tax revenue on the $4,300 that each HH has lost from income stagnation.

Fat chance any of that will happen in the next 4 years, so we can predict that the deficit will rise to at least $20T. The ignored, pillaged, and unfunded liabilities in both Medicare and Social Security will blow on the gaskets on the rest of our sinking ship.

Frankenstein Government | 11.7.12 @ 2:25PM

I gotta disagree with you Ben.

I think the people in this country are tired of the aristocracy that runs this place. They have been sold out by old, rich, and elite and they feel disenfranchised.

This is a horrible President. Bringing a squishy elitist here was on par with bringing a knife to a gunfight. My premise is here...

http://thecivillibertarian.blo.....-away.html

Malka| 11.7.12 @ 2:59PM

Anyone have comments about re-election of this Anti-Semite/closett-Muslim returning to the White House. Personally, if he's not impeached for the Benghazi attack or the way he treated the Navy Seals I feel ready to rescind my US Citizenship. I live in Australia, voted with absentee ballot

edwardode| 11.7.12 @ 2:59PM

Increasing taxes on the wealthy to 100% wont fix the problem,Ben.There has to be big time cuts and the military sending should be the first to go.No more building roads and bridges in other countries,time to defend this country with our troops on our wn soil.

conradgaarder| 11.7.12 @ 3:41PM

Unbelievably powerful gay and lesbian forces, indeed. And again, with the conservative Hispanic delusion.
Ben, the future portends unassailable black/brown majorities which will keep Democrats in the White House. Future administrations will be Neo-Socialist, still mostly white people, with women, Jews, homosexuals and public employee union bosses prominently represented. This will obtain until they run out of money to feed their monster (which includes your "conservative hispanics") and the monster turns on them. Look for these "hispanics" to be the first to turn Muslim, by the way.

Will| 11.8.12 @ 1:56AM

Take some prozac, have a cup of tea and a lie down

Marc Jeric| 11.7.12 @ 4:25PM

Another decent RINO bit the dust. What about the Benghazi coverup? What about the Fast & Furious coverup? What about Obama's mentors Wright, Davis, Ayers?

Al Adab| 11.7.12 @ 4:36PM

What about them Marc? They have been validiated by the electorate.

rdjhoya | 11.7.12 @ 6:15PM

Sorry Ben. Game over. I'll pick up my Obamaphone as soon as this global warming caused snow storm ends.

AmericanCynic| 11.7.12 @ 6:33PM

" It is nonsense to say that this election is in any way a repudiation of the GOP or principles of conservatism. "

Right, because to think that Republicans or Conservatives could EVER take responsibility for a loss is simply contrary to the the way the GOP does things.

NO APOLOGIES, NO CULPABILITY!

ONTIME| 11.7.12 @ 6:37PM

Oh De pain, de Pain!
How about the next round we be prepared to fight a gun toting gangster with a real gun and a lot of political ammo, no more dull knives in a gun fight. I like winning and doing the right thing, when I win, a bloody nose is the least of my thinking.

No more elite R's who cannot seem to get it right about losing fingers when shaking hands with gansters and communist, these folks have to go, they got no clue about winning or stepping down when confronted with failure to perform..

Out of the trenches lads, we can't sit and take fire all day....

CountNomis| 11.7.12 @ 7:12PM

I think that it would make sense if we stopped to think what mistakes we made that led to this defeat, and what mistakes Romney made. I believe that many people voted the GOP because they voted AGAINST Obama and not FOR Romney. Like it or not, Romney was not the best choice that we made against Obama.

CountNomis| 11.7.12 @ 7:13PM

With all due respect it's that outlook that will lead us to another defeat in the next election if we don't do a reality check and next time choose a viable candidate. Romney was a terrible, terrible, candidate for anyone who didn't have a blinding hatred of Obama. He had a Swiss bank account and a Cayman Islands tax dodge; that's a red flag for anyone. When the hurricane devastated New Jersey, he insisted that the governor drop everything and come campaign for him; then, he had a tiny U-Haul that he said he was going to put stuff to send there. He oozed hypocrisy everywhere he went, telling them what those people wanted to hear, then going to the opposite stance elsewhere. He was against the same Obamacare that he instituted as governor. His refusal to release all his tax records and then releasing one that would make even Wesley Snipe laugh. His "I like to fire people," remark. I mean, he was possibly the worst candidate to put up against Obama. And Paul Ryan's speech at the convention where he uttered lie after lie after lie. And, my god, the arrogance of that family, especially his wife!

Next time we have to pick a better candidate. Maybe Rubio?

CountNomis| 11.7.12 @ 7:14PM

Look, if it makes you feel better to look for a scapegoat in the MSM, fine, but you have to take into consideration that it has always been hostile to conservatives, yet conservative presidents have been elected. Why was it different this time, then? Because we chose an arrogant, lying jackass as a candidate. That is it. Hell, even Romney did not carry his own state! Ryan didn't carry his either! That should tell you something. Face reality, folks, we chose a jackass.

This is not wishful thinking, but I truly believe that Rubio has a very strong shot at the presidency, if he doesn't shoot himself on the foot between now and then. Will the MSM be hostile? Yep, so what else is new?

spoofproof | 11.7.12 @ 9:09PM

We may have faced far worse but it was when people were sane. The aggregate unsecured indebtedness of the U.S. Government and its citizen clientele is now around 500 TRILLION dollahs and growing by the minute. The government's answer to the problem? Print more money and hire more bureaucrats. The geniuses in charge have no inkling of what is about to fall on them-- no clue at all. Hear that funky noise? That's the tightening of the screws. Listen to the Stones. They will tell you all about it and make you like it, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPFGWVKXxm0

Toinfinityandbeyond| 11.7.12 @ 9:12PM

It's time to shut down GOP!

mlaforet | 11.7.12 @ 9:14PM

I would like to see Paul Ryan for President, with Marco Rubio as VP

Tom near Boston| 11.7.12 @ 9:20PM

So many liberals are crowing that the tipping point has been reached, and so "you" (conservatives, Republicans) are toast.

I've seen the metaphor used that the Republicans are embarking on a voyage into exile. I think the image is valid, but it's not just for one party.
When the tipping point was reached in ancient Judea, the whole nation (except a remnant) was dragged to captivity in Babylon.

If it's going to get uglier -- and you know it will -- it's going to get seriously ugly for the whole nation, not just the political fortunes of some.

Ron Ackenberry| 11.7.12 @ 9:26PM

Very Pollyanna-ish Ben.

I almost shed a tear.

However, you need to take off your rose colored shades and see the new demographic. The Old White Republican Party died last night as it should.

But, real life radicals will keep ranting and raving scaring off the new majority of minorities.

The only hope for Republicans is the Democratic Party will double down on their incompetence and uselessness... then the GOP might have a chance as the slightly less evil again.

And it never was close.

Nate Silver said so.

He was right.

jvnvch| 11.7.12 @ 9:29PM

Yes, Ben, painful, and more devastating than you seem to understand. It really is a matter of demographics, and the majority of voters in this country at this point in history, at least in general elections, will vote Democratic from now on until the wheels fall off. If the wheels fall off in the next four years, which is entirely possible, a Republican presidential candidate may win next time. But only then.

Freedomfighter_99| 11.7.12 @ 9:51PM

Ben I love you, man. But increasing taxes ain't gonna do squat. It's "pennies" when we need dollars. The only way out of this mess is to cut spending - BIG TIME - and start removing the impediments to business. The IRS, EPA, EEOC, CRA, and while we're at it we should disband the Dept. of Ed and cease 90% of all foreign aid.
Raising taxes is just going to give the govt more to spend. And they WILL!! -- Cheers!

Uncle Jack| 11.7.12 @ 10:25PM

"Let's not keep on ignoring the reality of our budget crisis. We need higher taxes." I can't believe you wrote that, Ben. You obviously know nothing about economics and finance. Needing more revenue is not a reason for raising taxes. More revenue is created by investors investing. The propensity to invest is increased by lowering taxes. This has been proved over and over for many years. Where have you been, Ben.

Ralph Novy| 11.7.12 @ 11:18PM

"* Yes, the Hispanic community is incredibly important now in America. They should be conservatives. The ones I know are all ferociously pro-life and pro-work. Let's make an effort in their direction in a big way.
They are fabulous people. We are blessed to have them. They should be Republicans."

Wow.

How dismissively imperious and racist that is. Just as easily might have been said by Cecil Rhodes about the Zulus and other indigenous peoples 150 years ago.

At long last, sir, have you no sense of history and decency and shame and reckoning?

Frank Drackman| 11.8.12 @ 4:17AM

Well said Ralph, I couldn't disagree with Ben"Most Annoying Voice in America" Stein more.
Most of the Hispanics I know sell drugs and steal cars, which I know is Racist, Sexist, Homofobic, and backed up by nothing but 30 years of observation...

Frank "I Stole that" Drackman

Bob From District 9| 11.8.12 @ 8:56AM

" It is the mark of a genuinely great campaign that Romney and Ryan did not back down one inch on the main moral issue of our time, the mass murders of the unborn."

It is sad that neither of them, or you, is willing to oppose the other main moral issue of our time, the depraved indifference murder of the born.

Bob From District 9| 11.8.12 @ 9:00AM

"We were pronounced dead after JFK stole the 1960 election in the cellars of the Chicago City Hall. "

Are you truly stupid enough to believe that lie? Or are you evil enough to repeat it knowing it's a lie.

What would it be worth to you if I could prove it's false, in five minutes or less? Or do you want to keep believing the lie?

Bob From District 9| 11.8.12 @ 9:04AM

"Yes, the Hispanic community is incredibly important now in America. They should be conservatives. The ones I know are all ferociously pro-life and pro-work. Let's make an effort in their direction in a big way."

I've never discussed abortion with most of the black people I know, but I do know they are ferociously pro-work. But you don't want them to be Republicans, do you.

Miche| 11.8.12 @ 11:14AM

I read all the comments. What else to expect from liberal New Yorkers, the "American Elite", they call themselves .....
But.. M. Stein you are very right. We'll be back.
Same place , same time,... in four years.
Thank you for your article !
Best Regards,
Miche

HarryMasters| 11.8.12 @ 12:41PM

The ability of the Media to suppress and promote information, particularly in today's age of short attention spans, creates an almost insurmountable advantage to the candidate of their choice.

If the economy doesn't recover in the next 4 years, Obama will still be blaming Bush , and the feeble minded will continue to buy the story.

HarryMasters| 11.8.12 @ 12:49PM

I find it confusing that many people will Howl at the mistreatment of animals, whilst they eat their flesh and advocate the abortion of human unborn fetuses.

How does one square that away?

dannye| 11.8.12 @ 12:51PM

As long as we have prominent members of the party calling for a "revolution" if the voting does not reflect their views or wishes, and as long as we have leaders of the party that prefer plunging the country into a depression rather than negotiate a compromise in good faith with the other party we will never be able to get a winning majority.

mg1313| 11.8.12 @ 4:20PM

"We always come back because our principles are better suited to human dignity and human happiness than the other side's. "

Not quite. The GOP comes back because there are only 2 parties and Americans don't have a desire to live in a one-party state. Ballot access rules and general political sclerosis make it impossible for a different party to take the Reps place, so the GOP will always come back.

As to whether the GOPs principles are better suited to human dignity and happiness, I wonder what Mr. Stein thinks about Nixon's wage and price controls (a bit of trivia: they were written by Cheney and Rumsfeld in the 70s).

George666| 11.8.12 @ 11:26PM

No, we do not need increased taxes. Lowering taxes produces more revenue while increasing taxes produces less. This has been proven on a number of occasions (Kennedy, Regan, Bush). We need to stop the profligate spending. Not SLIGHT cuts in spending, but REAL cuts. Baseline budgetting needs to be abandoned.

mymyti | 11.9.12 @ 3:40AM

Obama's victory makes me feel excited. I think this is God's will.

Nightwinger| 11.9.12 @ 6:00AM

Myth vs Reality:

Big government is BAD.....until you need a friend.

I think the folks along the devastated Eastern coast who lost everything and barely escaped with their lives are indeed grateful for a government big enough and strong enough to come to their assistance during their time of greatest need.

Rhoetus| 11.12.12 @ 8:32PM

Rules for Conservatives @
http://www.saveamericanow.us.com

rpenkala1456| 11.13.12 @ 11:22AM

Sorry Ben...I love you, but you are dead wrong on the tax increases....we have a spending problem, not a revenue problem....you know this game better than most

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