The American Spectator : It's Been a Hard Year

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It’s Been a Hard Year

By Ben Stein on 12.31.12 @ 9:34AM

In some ways nightmarish — and what was Romney thinking?

Sunday
Here it is the next to last day of 2012. This has been a nightmare year. It started off with threats of litigation which were alternately comical and astounding. Some day I’ll write the full story. Suffice it to say, yes, you can get sued for telling an unemployed person to get a job instead of mooching. Suffice it to say, you can get sued (or have lawsuit threatened) over allegations of acts that are demonstrably physically not possible. And being a tiny bit famous and a tiny bit well off (a really tiny bit) makes you a target for bad people.

I was fortunate. I had a great lawyer and a fully supportive wife. I pity those who have neither.

This was also the year that someone I love, someone close to me, as close as can be, had a nervous breakdown, extraordinary delusions and paranoia, and went off the rails of mental balance. Luckily, this person also has a great wife and loving parents and excellent doctors, but mental illness in someone close to you is no joke. It isn’t funny and it’s deeply upsetting. As far as I can tell, there is no cure, just day by day palliation.

The threatened litigation had much to do with the mental problems. I hope there is a special place in hell for those who use the legal system to torment and extort without meaningful grounds, but who knows how hell is run? If anyone does know, it’s probably lawyers.

This was also the year one of my dearest friends went to prison, breaking his mother’s heart and mine and others’ as well. The sorrow I feel at missing him is more like surgery without anesthetic than sorrow.

Again, the legal system at work. For this man to be in prison is, as the saying goes, as cruel as to kill a mockingbird.

This was also the year a woman friend had a series of mental health episodes culminating in serious religious delusions. I am sure I do not know what will happen to her, but it’s probably not going to be good.

Two of my dearest cousins are extremely ill, one with cerebro-circulatory issues (stroke) and one with aggressive cancer. My absolutely favorite uncle, a huge Korean War hero, is in assisted living.

A woman who often keeps me company while I file has some painful thyroid condition that compels her to gain weight and also to languish in fatigue and pain most of the day. When I first met her four years ago, she was thin and vigorous.

It has been a trying year.

On the other hand, Skyfall came out. Not only is it the best Bond ever, but Javier Bardem, the “villain” is the single most interesting character I have ever seen on a movie screen. He may be the most interesting character I have ever seen in any drama. The depths of his personality go on forever. The vivacity and inventive playfulness of this murderer are overwhelming.

I saw it again tonight. I would call it the best movie since Blade Runner. Maybe better. I have seen it in the theater nine times and I could see it every day. You simply cannot miss this movie.

My wifey continued to be the most stellar personality on this planet, and a true gift from God. I believe that the highest good on this earth is being loved by a good woman (I know I have said this before). If I am right, I am the most blessed of men, the Warren Buffett of love.

The real estate market is starting to revive and this is heartening, although the revival is conspicuous by its absence in most of the places where I have (modest) homes. This recession has been a stone killer. Just a killer.

The election was deeply unsettling. Governor Romney basically threw it away. Just tossed in the trash can. He totally folded in debate three and tendered the election to Mr. Obama. Benghazi should have been the tragic gift that won him the election. He handed it back unopened to Mr. Obama. When his son, Tagg, recently came out and said that Gov. Romney basically did not even want to be President in the first place, I felt sick. Why did he bother to waste all of our time and hopes and money? What is going on with him? Or was his son just confused? The whole episode was disturbing.

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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 (92) | Leave a comment Leave a comment

Jim Sweeney| 12.31.12 @ 9:50AM

It is truly tiresome to listen to Stein repeatedly say: I am not rich, really, even though I have a home in Beverly Hills, condominiums over Spago's old restaurant in Beverly Hills, a home in Malibu, a home in Rancho Mirage and another home in D.C. You may not be Buffet but you are surely not poor. Poormouth? Yes. Boring? Surely.

Al Adab| 12.31.12 @ 10:43AM

Rich is relative, it is a continuum. A middle class American, one with two cars, his two TVs, a computer, cell phone and 40K a year income is richer than most everyone on the planet.

vtwin| 12.31.12 @ 11:04AM

The median income in the United States was $73,000 in 1983. In 2010 the median income dropped to $57,000 whilst the incomes of the wealthiest top 1% have risen from $9.6 million to over $16 million during the same time period.

Al Adab| 12.31.12 @ 11:19AM

Good for them. What's your point?

vtwin| 12.31.12 @ 11:47AM

Good for whom? Good for a once growing middle class now fast slipping into poverty? Good for a once great democracy now in debt to a totalitarian regime?

Drunken Sailor| 12.31.12 @ 12:27PM

Just where do you get that figure of $73,000 in 1983?
The US Census shows the median income was 29,184 in 1983 and in 2012 it is 65,000. Interesting is the fact that in 2005 (the preceding period of data) showed the median income at $67,000.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0104583.html

Arnie| 12.31.12 @ 12:40PM

Yes, median income started falling in 2007-08 as a result of the Great Recession.

vtwin| 12.31.12 @ 12:41PM

I think the discrepancy is individual incomes vs. household incomes.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/09/1.....tml?iid=EL

vtwin| 12.31.12 @ 12:49PM

Correction; median wealth not income.

Drunken Sailor| 12.31.12 @ 12:58PM

And did you notice that the article said this?
"Homeowners at the bottom of the wealth distribution were, on average, underwater, meaning they had no equity in their homes because their mortgages were more than the property's value. "

Part of the reason their wealth dropped was bad financial choices. You should never gamble and buy more than you can afford. They bought to large and paid the price.

There is no such thing as income equality. You cannot level the income playing fields, you can offer them the chance to improve their lot in life by giving them the same oppurtunities, not the same outcome.
Not to mention the rich could afford to make more money on stocks.

Al Adab| 12.31.12 @ 1:04PM

Net worth is not the same as income. Home values before the collapse were a major factor in net worth. So yes, much net worth in 2005 was lost by 2009.

D/S: perhaps when the fireworks wake me at midnight, I'll pour that Scotch and lift a glass to you. Happy New Year. May it find you blessed.

Drunken Sailor| 12.31.12 @ 1:36PM

Same to you my friend.

Jack in Wi| 1.1.13 @ 9:00AM

I deliverd food to food panteries for 4 days last week. The people are grabbing for it before I get it off the truck. Most are elderly white people. There are over 1100 food pantries and soup kitchens in my city alone supported by hundreds of people. The vast majority are conservative religious people. There are Obamavilles in the woods where people are living in shacks made from wood scraps. This is after Obama wasted 6 trillion dollars on bailouts of the unions and his rich pals in the banks and Wallstreet. The Democrats want to do to America what they have done to Detroit, Newark, and chicago. We will be lucky if we end up like Cuba with Obama in charge.

SALLYFARRAR| 1.4.13 @ 10:19AM

Yep, Jack, you nailed it.

Goldwater Girl| 12.31.12 @ 3:17PM

spot on DS! Free TLP!

TSIndiana| 1.7.13 @ 12:31PM

Yes many did make bad choices DS but that is an oversimplification.

Karma is Gods tool when the legal system fails to produce truth or justice.

Jack in Wi| 1.1.13 @ 8:51AM

I saw Skyfall a couple of nights ago. I consider it one of the worse stinkers I have ever seen. It certainly was the worst Bond film ever. My Little wife thought it was the worst too. I met a couple people at a new years eve party last night, who saw it as well. They thought it stunk as well. The story was idiotic. The writing was awful, the acting wooden, the girls average at best, and the villian was a sissy. In other words it was awful. After 50 years I just wish they would bury Bond. Ben if you think this movie was any good, you should get your head examined.

Kilgore Trout| 1.5.13 @ 2:21PM

Gotta agree with U, Jack. The flic made no sense whatsoever, the chicks were few and not that hot and the final bit HAD to be viewed as a total failure given the result. Shoot, Bond should have been FIRED for gross STUPIDITY.

Petronius| 12.31.12 @ 1:38PM

Did anybody Ever tell You the world is Not a sand box where we all get a level pail full? It's an Arena! Viewing the economy through the eyes of a 6 year old will never change that. Technical advancement has obviated and negated the unskilled occupations now gone which used to pay well. H.L. Mencken said a century ago, "Getting a living is too easy in this country. It gives rise to inferior men." The bar has now been raised. Tag. You're it.

Anton C.| 12.31.12 @ 2:07PM

So happy to see that TLP is no longer in the response thread.

Thanks, AmSpec for blocking him.

mike 3/505| 12.31.12 @ 2:16PM

Hi! My name is Mike. I will be taking over in Tim's absence. Although not nearly as smart and pithy as Tim, with the help of Big Al, Adab, we'll be able to hold our own.

Regards,

Mike

WhiteBikerTrash| 12.31.12 @ 3:39PM

V-Twin, How's the Honda? The really sad part of your posts beyond your misquoting of statistics, is that you are right but don't even see the cause. In the Communist Manifesto Karl describes what needs to happen and how to facilitate it. So that the Revolution happens in such a wealthy society as the USA. First, is the destruction of a middle class. This is done with a progressive tax, subsidy of poverty, and the transfer of wealth from the middle class to the wealthy through inflation. So far it's going according to plan. George W. Bush being a good Progressive from a long line of Progressives did the setup for Obama. Have you noted that the middle class has shrunk more in the last four year than ever in history? In fact this is the first time ever the middle class has shrunk! Obama has only four years to complete his transformation of the USA. I hope he fails.

Santiago| 12.31.12 @ 12:32PM

"The median income in the United States was $73,000 in 1983." WTF are you smoking? Where is this "statistic" from? I wasn't around in 1983 but my family could assure that if your numbers were true, they would have been at the bottom of the barrel in the 80's.

vtwin| 12.31.12 @ 12:50PM

Sorry, median wealth not income.

Al Adab| 12.31.12 @ 1:06PM

vtwin: See my 1:04 above. Net worth vs income. As you note not synonomous. Happy New Year.

Burlington| 1.1.13 @ 3:46PM

You are either mistaken, a fool or a liar.

Santiago| 12.31.12 @ 12:33PM

Rich is relative, very true. Unfortunately for middle class America compared to the rest of the world, the trend in the US is not going in the right direction.

CJW| 12.31.12 @ 1:10PM

Al Adab
Most Americans on welfare are richer than most everyone on the planet. With welfare you get food stamps, free medical insurance, Section 8 housing, an obamaphone, legal services thru Neighborhood Legal Services, Public Defender and Pro Bono from many attorneys, Access busing, and a variety of other programs from assistance to pay heating bills, etc.

How many poor people could Stein have fed if he did not lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel? BTW, stayed there once, overrated and overpriced.

Petronius| 12.31.12 @ 6:30PM

And their wealth should have stayed in the pockets of those who EARNED It.

SALLYFARRAR| 1.4.13 @ 10:17AM

Talk about relative.
The Poor in the U.S. live like rock stars compared to the "poor" on other parts of the planet.
The Poor in the U.S. have free health care; free housing ---complete, now, with WiFi and flat screen TV's; free access to education---widely rejected as seen by the illiterate, dumbed down 47% who were really responsible for sweeping obama back into office; free food---spent on crap although I've seen lobster tails and filet mignon being paid for with SNAP cards so I suppose that's a "healthy" choice; free clothing; free phones; free hair extensions and free nail-work.
Yes, I've seen "poor" and it ain't here.
Yes, it is relative.

Arnie| 12.31.12 @ 11:34AM

No joke.

Arnie| 12.31.12 @ 11:35AM

Stein is actually filthy rich. He has no clue about how most Americans live.

SALLYFARRAR| 1.4.13 @ 10:18AM

Hardcard| 12.31.12 @ 9:57AM

Benny,
I don't care how much stuff you got, if you came by it honestly, that's the American way. It's the other crap you spew that troubles me. Take a nap and count your blessings, stop whinning already.

TSIndiana| 1.7.13 @ 12:47PM

Hardcard...that's exactly the issue that gets left out of a discussion...where money comes from and if was "earned" legitimately.

Anthony| 12.31.12 @ 10:07AM

So once again Stein shows us his elitist bent. His ponzi schemer of a best friend shouldn't be in jail. The system has FAILED don't ya know. It's SO CRUEL, afterall, jail is for the hoi polli, not friends of the elites!!!
Oh well Stein, at least one of your elite pals escaped justice this year, as ole Dominique Strass Kahn merely had to pay out big bucks, as opposed to rotting in the "Tombs" in Manhatten, where he truly belongs.
Buying ones way out of trouble is right up Stein's ally, kinda like those folks from East Egg. Problem with that Stein is that you ain't Tom and Daisy, you're Jay GATZ.
I bet your lawyer laughed at Gloria Allred's suggestion that you could commit a sexual crime.
All you had to do was drop your pants and even Gloria had to admit, it ain't possible.
So see Ben, the system does work afterall.

Appleby| 12.31.12 @ 10:19AM

I know what you mean about the ticking time bomb of mental illness among your folks -- the one experience I had started with an employee who went off her meds so she could drink and ended when she eventually drowned herself. I still feel guilty that my only reaction to the news was relief. I agree with those who wonder why Mr. Stein has no sympathy for those who were bilked and ruined by his friend, who deservedly languishes in jail.

And by the way, remember what Jesus told the Rich Young Ruler that he must do to be saved? I don't recall that it was, "Force your rich friends to sell everything and give the proceeds to the Poor." Didn't He say, "Sell all YOU have and give to the Poor?" And if you read that story to the end, you will find that when faced with giving up his OWN money, the RYR went home sadly because he cared more for his money than he cared for his Lord and Saviour. Maybe you want to think about that before you bind any more burdens on the backs of others in the name of "fairness."

vtwin| 12.31.12 @ 10:47AM

And, Jesus's response to a whiny Jew looking to avoid paying taxes; "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's."

Appleby| 12.31.12 @ 2:01PM

And John the Baptist told the tax collectors, "Collect no more than is due to you," and the Roman soldiers (i.e. the government) "Be satisfied with your wages."

vtwin| 12.31.12 @ 5:00PM

Luke 3:13

There are many different translations/interpretations of what John the Baptist “told the tax collectors.”

New International Version (1984)
"Don't collect any more than you are required to."

New Living Translation (2007)
"Collect no more taxes than the government requires."

English Standard Version (2001)
“Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Collect no more than what you have been ordered to."

Holman Christian Standard Bible (2009)
"Don't collect any more than what you have been authorized."

International Standard Version (2012)
"Stop collecting more money than the amount you are told to collect."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
“And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (2010)
“Do not require anything on top of whatever is commanded you to require.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (1995)
“Don't collect more money than you are ordered to collect."

King James 2000 Bible (2003)
“And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”

TSIndiana| 1.7.13 @ 1:14PM

But what really pissed them off was Jesus throwing the money changers out of the temple. I think that one got him tortured and crucified.

Al Adab| 12.31.12 @ 10:40AM

The comiong year s going to be what we call a Red Queen year. The Red Queen told Alice, "Sometimes you have to run as fast as you can to stay in the same place." It is going to take us a lot of work just to hang on to what we have.

Norman Conquest| 12.31.12 @ 11:24AM

Fascinating, an entire Stein column and no mention of what he had for dinner. He never fails to mention his justly imprisoned jailbird friend though. This column is becoming as idiotic as that thing Larry King used to write for USA Today, just a collection of random, unconnected, uninteresting thoughts. Please Spectator, for the new year, drop this awful thing and bring in a real writer. I'm sure Jim Goad would love the extra exposure.

Cobalt| 12.31.12 @ 11:24AM

Should the coming year be called a Mulatto King year?

http://usahitman.com/wp-conten.....ctator.jpg

Rhoetus| 12.31.12 @ 11:34AM

When I die I bequeath my copy of "Human Action" to Ben Stein so that he can become a real economist.
God Bless you Ben, Happy New Year to all!

vigilant| 12.31.12 @ 11:47AM

Norman, it's called a "diary" for a reason, and is meant to be stream of consciousness-type writing. You don't have to read it if it bugs you that much. Mr. Stein, my sympathies for the struggles you've encountered this year. I, too, know the heartache of mental illness in a loved one. As for Romney, something has been "off" with him all along, even more disturbing than his political wavering. Nothing that's transpired has surprised me. My best wishes to all for a new year of inner peace and happiness, no matter the circumstances you may face.

Al Adab| 12.31.12 @ 2:47PM

Actually, I too am a bit jealous of Ben. He has a great gig. Travel around, write notes about the trips and observations and get paid. Where do I sign up?

PolishKnight| 12.31.12 @ 12:43PM

Although I sympathize with Ben's feelings about Romney, the reality is that even if Romney had aced the final debate it wouldn't have mattered. Obama had 40% of the total electorate via racist and sexist entitlements. He only needed an additional 12% which he achieved via Republicans shooting themselves in the foot on issues such as "legitimate rape" gaffes, failing to do or say anything about outsourcing (I saw the massive ads run about Bain) and finally the hurricane that Democrat pundits practically giggled over the body count since it usually means great photo ops of presidents "caring" about the victims.

Instead of blaming Romney, conservatives need to focus on the hard reality that if they don't protect their electorate's (white males) civil rights and deny vote buying to the left, then they are coming up to bat with 2 strikes against them. Republicans should be introducing civil rights for whites and men bills in congress and making it an issue. Otherwise, they're going to be playing a losing game of defense for another two years.

Appleby| 12.31.12 @ 2:03PM

Maybe next time the Republicans can choose a nominee that the Republicans in the street can support. We all said before he was chosen by the Gucci Gulch Brigade that we would not support him, and lo and behold, we meant it.

SUBVET| 12.31.12 @ 9:24PM

Well said by a true traitor.................

Petronius| 12.31.12 @ 1:43PM

PK
I got kicked out of the Republican Party for insisting that they defend the Constitution as defined by its Writers. And people in Hell want cold beer.

Occam's Tool| 12.31.12 @ 2:50PM

You can do pretty well with the day by day palliation if you just take the medication, Ben, something which you have condemned in the past.

You are right, litigation hurts like hell. That's why lawyers who do not support "loser pays," like you DIDN'T support it, are idiots. You got hoist by your own petard, and the suffering you received is as nothing to the suffering you have dished out.

Finally, you supported Ralph Nader in 2008. I supported Bush in 2008, and voted for Santorum in the primaries before giving my support to the GOP candidate. But he was not my first choice; the man who knows most about suffering children was.

You have suffered quite appropriately this year, as has your evil friend in prison.

Kingofthenet| 1.2.13 @ 12:25AM

You know a "Petard' is a Bomb.

Drunken Sailor| 1.2.13 @ 10:08AM

Yes, so?

Hoist by your own petard:
Meaning
Injured by the device that you intended to use to injure others.

Stilton A. Cheese| 12.31.12 @ 4:13PM

Ben, don't you hold a law degree from Yale University? If so, why the carping about lawyers? I have, among other pieces of paper, a certificate in welding. If I complain about welders, I complain about my colleagues and not as though they were some strange *others*.

ExpelledFan| 12.31.12 @ 4:31PM

Santorum was a conservative? Socially, yes. Constitutionally, no. More like the Catholic democrat I have always seen him as.

Gingrich was not going to be able to win. Perry is a fine, even very fine, human being but he was not presidential. Cain was not going to be prez.

Romney was unfortunately all we had.

Romney pulled back from being the Grand Inquisitor of Obama and putting him away. The deviation from a lifetime of being a good guy with his whole team of Sunday School teachers in his campaign was just too much.

Some "chicks" somewhere were not about to vote for the leering, worldly, ungentlemanly knave, "Rett Butler" and so Mitt relapsed to "Ashley Wilkes".

Sorry about all the pain you have experienced, Mr Ben Stein.

Hope the New Year will be better for you and all of us as well.

You remain a voice of decency and reason.

Thanks.

Rhoetus| 12.31.12 @ 5:01PM

The "Conservative Movement" is dead. Its founders have all passed away; Frank Chodorov, Leonard E. Read, Bill Buckley Jr, Whittaker Chambers, M. Stanton Evans, Rev. Edmond Opitz, Friedrich Hayek, Henry Hazlitt, Willis E. Stone, Barry M. Goldwater, Ronald W. Reagan, et.al.

There was some hope that the election in 1980 of Ronald Reagan as President of the United States, that the “movement” had influenced public opinion enough to turn the preverbal corner toward traditional American ideals. The “Movement” has been weakened in recent years its strength had been drained by squabbling about single issue politics and Conservative politicians that governed like Left-Liberals.

Alas, the younger generation having taken the reins of publications such as National Review has lost the meaning. With their 15 minute attention span they no longer advocate individualism and strict observance of the US Constitution. They seek legitimacy in supporting the established Progressive government institutions. They are no longer motivated to advocate free-market solutions to counter arguments for government programs. But have become defeatists willing to use government policy to manipulate (incentivize) their fellow citizens’ behavior in place of individual freedom.

fdcampbell| 1.4.13 @ 10:14AM

Well spoken.
Let us hear more of this straight talk.

Tom of the Missouri| 12.31.12 @ 6:32PM

Could not agree with you more on all points Rhoetus. I especially agree with your points about, with a precious few exceptions, the lost earnest boys of The National Review.

Rhoetus| 1.1.13 @ 12:15AM

Thanks Tom, I've been here since the 60's. We shouldn't be about personalities, only to advance reducing the size, scope and cost of government.
Let Freedom Ring (again)!

Purp| 12.31.12 @ 7:42PM

Republicans don't like government, don't know how to run the government, and aren't any good at it anyway.
You're good at what you love - they don't.

That's all you need to know to know why they have buried America in debt and then crashed the economy ...

Marc Jeric| 12.31.12 @ 10:53PM

Another RINO bit the dust. Romney brought a feather duster to the fight, while Mullah Obama brought a Chicagi machine gun.

Oatley| 1.1.13 @ 5:48AM

Obama had the MSM...all he needed.

Happy New Year, folks, and get ready for waves of tax hikes interspersed with nominal tweaks of spending. Oh, what does everyone think about Jimmy Hoffa (Trumka) running White House policy?

Discuss among yourselves....

kenoshamarge| 1.1.13 @ 6:19AM

I am so damn sick of the stomp on Romney theme. He came closer than any other candidate I can think of would have done with a constant barrage from the left and the media. There I go repeating myself again.

Mr. Romney, who is a good, decent, smart, hardworking man. Who is a good husband and father was demonized into a monster by a lapdog press and an reprehensible POS who still sits in the White House and who is still campaigning and smearing Republicans. So can we please stop the assaults on Mitt Romney? Please!

kenoshamarge| 1.1.13 @ 6:19AM

Jack in Wi| 1.1.13 @ 9:09AM

Romney was a piece of garbage, just like the Republicans have put out since 1988. The Republican party needs to taken over by real conservatives or replaced. We need a real opposition party in this party not just 2 wings of the same bird of prey.

kenoshamarge| 1.2.13 @ 5:22AM

Just because he isn't "conservative" enough for you doesn't make him "garbage." He is a good and decent man. People like you who assault good, decent people just because they aren't far enough right are as much trash as the lefties smearers. Stop it!

fdcampbell| 1.4.13 @ 10:10AM

Romney is a fine and honorable man.

He was not my first choice (or even fifth) but I respect him for his willingness to suffer the abuse that comes from being a candidate.

May God bless him and his loyal family.

James Baker| 1.1.13 @ 10:11AM

Then get off your collective rear ends and FIGHT and stop whining. I would do it, but I am not allowed to by law since I am still in the service. For the love of God and Country will one of you please step up and DO SOMETHING?

deehra| 1.1.13 @ 10:56AM

Agree with Mr. Stein about the dog. A Chocolate Lab was the best nanny/babysitter one could wish for.
The comments on Mr Stein's financial status are just mean, and represent the current plague of envy in our nation.
Making those like Mr. Stein poorer, will not make anyone else one dollar richer.
If others want to be richer, they need to change that which isn't working in their lives.

Crassus| 1.1.13 @ 5:12PM

Sometimes the simplest explanation is the best. Romney lost the election because he couldn't inspire a fart after a bowl of soup beans. It's really as simple as that.

Bill8472| 1.1.13 @ 7:17PM

How is an unemployed person aggrieved or harmed in any plausible way by being told to get a job and to stop mooching?

First, where is the damage to the plaintiff?

Second, what about the First Amendment rights of the speaker?

Suppose the speaker told the moocher to go f**k himself? How would such a statement (like the statement "F**k the Draft" on the notorious Mr. Cohen's jacket in the well-known case of Cohen v. California) NOT be fully and expressly protected under the U.S. Supreme Court's reading of the First Amendment?

Surely the unemployed guy being offended isn't enough all by itself to justify any credible lawsuit that has the slightest hope of resulting in an award of money damages?

Let's rumble| 1.2.13 @ 3:04AM

Gawd this man is a bore. Whinning bore. Nothing he says sounds authentic ,only delusional. I love Bond films. Skyfall is just so so at best. It was like a low testosterone romp. Pleasant but no real high point, ultimately dissappointing when you expect a Bond knockout? Why the skyfall fetish?
Wondering why Romney didn't put up a fight? We were hoodwinked into thinking he would scrap with the commie. In retrospect it was obviously too much for Gov "just ever so slightly to the right of Zero" to draw idealogical lines in the sand. Why the dissappointment? I thought you wanted a tax raise on high incomes like Obamo? Seems to me your preferred outcome materialized. Or you just love him to death and are so dissapointed because you knew he would have caved 5 minutes after the acceptance speech like a good Rino should? He was a mess Ben, just like you.

fdcampbell| 1.4.13 @ 10:06AM

What is your point? If Ben is boring, read something else.
For myself, I enjoy the introspection of a loving and intelligent man.

air max en france | 1.2.13 @ 3:16AM

you can get sued (or have lawsuit threatened) over allegations of acts that are demonstrably physically not possible. And being a tiny bit famous and a tiny bit well off (a really tiny bit) makes you a target for bad people.

Artie| 1.2.13 @ 5:59AM

Would you please allow TLP to comment? He makes this site more interesting. I look forward to reading his comments.

Reformed Trombonist | 1.2.13 @ 8:35AM

> When his son, Tagg, recently came out and said that Gov. Romney basically did not even want to be President in the first place, I felt sick.

Tagg's "news" wasn't news to anyone who had been paying attention.

There may be any number of irrational causes for the GOP's defeat. But if we're looking for a rational explanation, let me boil it down to the only one I can conjure up at the moment:

The GOP would rather lose to Democrats than win with a Tea Party agenda.

This explanation makes sense only if you assume that we really have two pro-big government, big spending, business-as-usual parties -- but that one of them has to pretend otherwise.

That might also explain the seething animosity the GOP leadership has for the Tea Party. Imagine. An upstart party that actually tries to champion the principles that the GOP uses for decorating their talking points. Ridiculous, or what?

The GOP is almost as happy out of power as in power, so long as they get to keep spending and remember to put on their sad faces when talking to their constituents about it.

If America were 19th century England, Republicans would rather be the Queen, whereas Democrats would rather be Disraeli. Republicans want the appearance of power. Democrats want the real thing.

Woodrow| 1.2.13 @ 4:49PM

Trombonist - Have to agree with your thoughts about the GOP's satisfaction as things are. What a shame that the most we can hope for is that Republicans raise taxes slightly less than Democrats .

fdcampbell| 1.4.13 @ 10:02AM

Accurate.

Example, the sheer viciousness with which the party turned on Scott Akin (who was clearly not an "establishment" Republican) spoke volumes.

Akin would have well represented those of us who believe in limited government.

RichardJKelley| 1.4.13 @ 9:39AM

Happy New Year, Ben

fdcampbell| 1.4.13 @ 9:54AM

Ben:
Despite our differences in worship, we celebrate our mutual relationship with the true God.
A couple lines from one of my favorite hymns comes to mind:

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand.
But I know who holds tomorrow,
and I know he holds my hand.

May God bless and keep you and your loved ones.

joeblow| 1.6.13 @ 2:04AM

Having an imaginary friend can be comforting, sure, but don't you think it's somewhat immature?

That trite little verse says it all. Were you to try and understand yourself a bit better you might then understand more "things about tomorrow". Just a suggestion... from the real world! :)

TioDon| 1.4.13 @ 11:32AM

"The men and women who sacrifice for us — military, police, prosecutors, fire fighters, teachers, nurses, parents — are the bedrock of the nation". You know, I've never gotten this fascination and adoration for these folks. They are just doing a job that they want to do and are, by the way, paid to do. They don't sacrifice anything. If they don't want to do it they don't have to. Why do we hold them in such high esteem? No More....they're no different than a surgeon, CEO who creates jobs, a small businessman that works 14 hours a day or anyone else that chooses a field to work in and gives it their all.

Messa Dave| 1.4.13 @ 12:32PM

Ben is well off, let's just leave it at that. Saying such, I as well was disappointed to hear that perhaps Romney's heart was not in the election, especially since for the first time in my life I made substantial contributions to his effort, both financially and physically. Then I recalled how McCain's people bad mouthed him after he lost. My belief is that Romney had poor handlers, like McCain and they mismanaged his campaign. I personally met the man and believe me when I say he was the real thing. Unfortunately his people ran a campaign to lose the election. Perhaps they feared the racist and black back lash any harsh criticism of Obama would incur. Guess we will never know. It is just a shame a true good guy lost. Now we merrily sail off on the good ship Obama facing a debt crisis that will make Europe's look like small potatoes and an electorate majority that pays little or no taxes but wants everything free of charge.

Brian Richard Allen | 1.4.13 @ 1:00PM

.... When Tagg, his son, recently told us Mr Romney did not even want to be President, I felt sick. Why did he bother to waste all of our time and hopes and money? What is going on with him ...?

Payback for Daddy? God forbid.

Have a wonderful year, Mr Stein -- and may everyone you love!

B A:. - L A - CA -- and The Very Far Away

Brian Richard Allen | 1.4.13 @ 1:58PM

.... It is just a shame a Truly Good Man lost ....

As did our beloved fraternal republic.

As did the very Judeo-Christian/Western/Human Civilization we have long carried on our backs. And which now be Hell-bent for a new dark age from which I fear it may never again emerge!

At the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when queried as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation by a Mrs. Powel , who asked him, "Well, Doctor, what have we got a republic or a monarchy?" Benjamin Franklin replied:

"A republic, Madam, if you can keep it."

joeblow| 1.4.13 @ 11:32PM

Ben, as always, you do a great job of promoting yourself as an all-round good guy on the side of the angels - and then, as always, you come up with a remark like the oft-repeated one about Benghazi which betrays your arch-conservative inner warmonger.

Why diffuse a complicated, delicate situation with diplomacy and understatement when you can talk up a major conflict that could engulf the entire planet, eh?

Thankfully, people like you aren't calling the shots, so Armageddon can be postponed for a further four years. That must be a major disappointment to you... Mister Nice Guy.

Marc Jeric| 1.5.13 @ 9:47AM

Another "decent" RINO - Romney - bit the dust. He brought a feather duster to the fight, while Mullah Obama brought the Chicago machine gun. Romney never mentioned Wright, Davis, Ayers, and 43 White House komissars/czars; never mentioned the Fast & Furious purposes and murder cover-up; never mentioned the Arab Spring purposes (destruction of Israel) and the Benghazi murder cover-up; never mentioned the global warming hoax and the planned cap & trade destruction of American industry...

Vance P. Frickey| 1.5.13 @ 6:09PM

We took Ronald Reagan for granted. He was the anti-Romney, the man who set aside many other personal goals to save the nation, and did so without a huge hereditary nest egg.

Who's the next Ronald Reagan? History tells us he's a Democrat who, disillusioned by the party's reality versus its rhetoric, chases the reality.

I was naive enough to expect that, when Obama started breaking Federal law to the extent of having our national gun control agency give assault weapons to Mexican drug gangs in a vain attempt to drum up hysteria for gun control, the press would react in the same way that they did when Nixon covered up a stupid burglary.

Stupid, clueless me, expecting the press to not be hypocritical, and liberals not to accept lawlessness in the White House.

Our press has suppressed much of the yearning for justice in young people, because justice can be inconvenient. Civil rights are so precious that only some of us get them - and the Democratic Party picks the lucky contestants.

Where's the next Ronald Reagan who believes in a square deal for everyone, with the government not trying to pick the winners in the game of Life?

His parents might have told him "well, it's all very well not to want the government in every aspect of our lives, but... did you remember to apply for that Pell Grant? We can't afford to pick up the whole tab for college... "

owend| 1.7.13 @ 12:50PM

Hope 2013 goes better, Ben. As to Romney, a strange guy indeed. He just didn't seem to even know how to run a campaign. He was AWOL in the last debate, and he just couldn't seem to get his act together. Some say it was the fault of his campaign staff. I buy that up to a point. However, as some have said correctly, it was Mitt who hired his campaign staff to begin with. And why did his staff so vigorously oppose the rest of the primary field, spending millions to degrade his primary opponents, only to drop the ball when it really mattered? Questions, questions. Oh well, at least we still have a D.C. dog an pony show to watch, which, if you will pardon me, is much more entertaining than any movie.

woodNfish| 1.7.13 @ 4:31PM

"The men and women who sacrifice for us — military, police, prosecutors, fire fighters, teachers, nurses, parents — are the bedrock of the nation — and the military wife is the backbone of the entire free world."

No, sorry Ben, but that is not true. That is just the koolaid talking. The last time we had a war about freedom was WWII. Everything else has been a police action where we have sent our people to slaughter to keep the military industrial complex fed and fat at our expense. Eisenhower warned us about this and he was right.

Today the USA is a surveillance police state that more resembles soviet russia or even the nazi germany than the country I was lied to about in school. And if you think I am being paranoid, then ask yourself why homeland security just bought 1 billion more rounds of 308 ammunition. Look up "Posse Comitatas" for the answer.

sineperde | 1.10.13 @ 5:16AM

I am thus damn displeased the stomp on Romney theme. He came nearer than the other willdidate I can think about would have finished a relentless barrage from the left and also the media. There i am going repetition myself once more.

Mr. Romney, WHO may be a smart, decent, smart, industrious man. WHO may be a smart husband ANd father was demonized into a monster by a dog press and an condemnable POS WHO still sits within the White House and WHO continues to be effort and smearing Republicans. thus will we have a tendency to please stop the assaults on Mitt Romney?
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