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Eminentoes
Dupe of the Year 2012
You may be sick of hearing about him again, but Warren Buffett did huge damage serving as Obama’s useful fool last year.
Dupes comprise a long, dubious tradition in American history. Over 200 years ago, George Washington warned the nation about “dupes” in his historic Farewell Address. Such warnings would echo from the founding of the republic through the Cold War. During the Cold War, “dupe,” like the associated word, “useful idiot” — attributed to Vladimir Lenin — became an everyday term. Dupes were legion during the Cold War, a unique breed of (largely) left-leaning Americans who, unwittingly, allowed or enabled themselves to be deceived or misled by communist propagandists. Communists were natural liars, and liberals/progressives were their primary suckers. In fact, Obama’s communist mentor, Frank Marshall Davis, excelled at this crass craft. In all, there were so many dupes during the Cold War that I’ve often said that my book on the subject could be the first in a multi-volume set.
But dupes did not end with the Cold War — hardly. Consider any number of exhibits over just the last four years:
Remember the Stupak Democrats? There was Congressman Bart Stupak of Michigan, who, on March 24, 2010, along with 12 other beaming pro-life House Democrats, stood aside President Barack Obama as he signed an executive order promising to prevent abortion funding in Obama-care. They made another group of dupes, the social-justice champions at Notre Dame who gave Obama an honorary degree a year earlier, look shrewd as serpents by comparison.
Dupes come in many shapes and sizes. Who was the biggest dupe of 2012?
That’s no easy call. To name a group, I’m partial to the majority of professing Roman Catholics who once again elected Barack Obama, thereby obliviously authorizing Obama’s HHS mandate and voting to violate their own religious liberty.
I also think Bill Clinton deserves special recognition. This self-proclaimed fiscal moderate, who, along with a Republican Congress and Reagan “peace dividend,” presided over a budget surplus and booming economy, told his party and his nation that Barack Obama was responsible for none of the fiscal/economic disaster he created over the last four years. No, Clinton assured, it was George W. Bush’s fault. Clinton’s endorsement of this outrageously disgraceful political canard by the Obama-Axelrod campaign paid off big time, as a majority of those reelecting Obama amazingly agreed that our fiscal/economic disaster is, yes, Bush’s doing. Clinton served up that whopper at the Democratic National Convention, and then repeatedly resurrected it on the campaign trail. Somehow — incredibly, incomprehensibly, unthinkably, unbelievably — it actually worked, yet again proving that no level of political obscenity is gross enough for the average Democrat voter.
Of course, for Bill Clinton, I can’t say he was acting as a dupe. A dupe is oblivious, clueless as to how he is being used. Clinton wasn’t ignorant at all. He willingly fed the faithful a giant whopper — a big lie. Clinton is more prone to that ignoble tendency than to political naïveté. Bob Kerrey once said that Bill Clinton is an unusually good liar. It is the unseemly art of the lie that is Bill Clinton’s domain.
And so, for masters of dupery in 2012, we must look elsewhere.
To that end, I urge American Spectator readers to take up their own vigorous debate. There are plenty of worthy candidates, not a few of which sit at the tip of my fingers as I type. Nonetheless, not wanting to delay the anxious anticipation any further, I now present the 2012 Dupe of the Year: Warren Buffett.
Every dupe requires a duper, and, for Buffett, his master manipulator was President Barack Obama. The way that Warren Buffett has been used by Barack Obama — on a grand scale — is nothing short of astounding. Consider the how and why, and thus the gory details of Buffett’s improbable achievement:
The reason for America’s current unprecedented fiscal calamity is crystal clear to anyone but a complete fool, or a Democrat so blindly politically partisan as to be lacking any semblance of rational political judgment: We spend too much money. Spending has long been, and remains, the unquestioned reason for this nation’s fiscal crisis. This has been especially true since the massive growth of the federal government begun in the 1960s by LBJ’s Great Society.
Proof of this is not difficult to find; it’s as easy as googling the words “historical tables deficit.” Doing so yields the two go-to sources for budget data: “Office of Management and Budget historical tables” and “Congressional Budget Office historical tables.” To keep it simple, and to perhaps keep Democrats interested, go with OMB, which is Obama’s own budget office. See Table 1.1, titled “Summary of Receipts, Outlays, and Surpluses or Deficits: 1789-2016.” This is an official report of all federal spending since the founding of the republic, since the first presidential administration, when George Washington first warned us about dupes.
Studying that chart is an unforgettable albeit painful lesson in fiscal reality. As the first two columns show, receipts (i.e., revenues) and outlays (i.e., expenditures) vacillated up and down throughout the first approximately 180 years of U.S. history. The federal government was fully capable of cutting spending when revenue waned, just as you do in your household or as any organization or business does — including Warren Buffett’s. Look at that chart closely. You will observe that even super-liberals like Woodrow Wilson and FDR presided over spending cuts when necessary.
To the contrary, such fiscal common sense ended in 1965, the start of LBJ’s Great Society. That year initiated something historically perverse: Spending began ratcheting up literally every single year, without exception, right into the Obama presidency, from 1965-2009. A slight decrease came only in 2010, but then promptly jumped back up, and now remains on a predictable upward trajectory through 2017.
The conclusion is obvious. This nation has a serious spending problem, not a tax-revenue problem. Our problem is the federal government’s unparalleled inability to control its reckless spending.
About the Author
Paul Kengor is professor of political science and executive director of The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College. He is author of the new book The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis, The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor. His other books include The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism and Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (111) | Leave a comment
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spike59| 1.4.13 @ 6:45AM
dupe? hardly...Buffett has been rewarded HAND$OMELY from ObaMao's incompetence and agenda; he's laughing all the way to the Caymans
Buffett is using ObaMao every bit as much as ObaMao is using him, and then some
Jack in Wi| 1.4.13 @ 8:17AM
Buffet is just another plutocrat living off his government contracts. Remember the pigs in Animal Farm and how they all came together with the farmers next store to become the same. Look to Chicago for the future of this country. In Chicago businees people have ot connected with the Machine to get ahead. no one bucks the machine. That is why it has been in power for 80 years. Business will do whatever it has too to get ahead. They will work with anyone.
old white guy| 1.11.13 @ 7:00AM
jack, these guys make al capone look like an honest man.
Bob K| 1.4.13 @ 10:12AM
Buffett has become the best argument for Conservatives and Republicans in Congress to vote to raise taxes on the rich! And by "rich" I mean people with great wealth.
He has done nothing with his wealth to create new jobs but has used it to gain access to government monies taxed from the earnings and investments of the Middle classes.
We now live in an age when governmental "Crony" Capitalism reigns and more and more Capitalists realize this and are joining this gadarene rush over the cliff to the riches they think will result in a soft landing for them.
There is no longer any reason for Conservatives to be reluctant to raise taxes on this class.
Nor should they be reluctant to incrementally increase Federal Inheritance Taxes on the wealth of these people after they die providing that the first $20 Million dollars of all Decedents Estates are exempted from this tax to protect Estates of the Middle Classes. If Steve Forbes objects that is his problem. He doesn't have the votes-the middle class does!
People like Buffett, Bill Gates, Senator Feinstein and her husband, Al Gore, -- and you can name hundreds more --- are in the process of abandoning America they deserve no special treatment.
Doctor Right| 1.4.13 @ 11:23AM
I'm against raising taxes on ANYBODY because I understand simple economics, how wealth is created, and the damage that unrestrained envy can do to a nation's spirit and economy.
SUBVET| 1.4.13 @ 12:30PM
Get rid of the Fed................or at least look into their books.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:21PM
I got a better idea.
Look into their Bank Accounts.
Get thee to Mr. Bowman's Column from yesterday.
NOW!
Occam's Tool| 1.4.13 @ 12:44PM
Buffett's company was involved fighting owed back taxes while he was claiming he was undertaxed.
Since he gets all of his money by capital gains, his tax rate will be 23.8% maximum. I happen to think he is overtaxed, incidentally. But he could at least be intellectually honest by paying his back taxes.
Buffett also was opposed to the Keystone Pipeline and hurt his country immensely.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:22PM
Occam.
Yesterday's Column by Mr. Bowman.
We're waiting.
Dajake| 1.10.13 @ 6:13PM
I believe he was opposed to the Keystone Pipeline because of his billion dollars investment in BNSF railway which would profit enormously if the pipeline was not built.
Von Mises Jr| 1.4.13 @ 11:34AM
Exactly Spike. Buffet owes $1B in back taxes, refuses to pay up and is treated like a celebrity. He may alone have been the reason for the death of the Keystone Pipeline. Old Warren has some choo choo trains that now have a crony capitalist monopoly on shipping oil from the Dakotas and Canada to the Gulf.
Old Warren also owns several insurance companies that do swimmingly well when the "death tax" rises dramatically. Since life insurance is tax free, if you own much property or a business and have to pay close to 50% upon your death, you take out a policy for half your net worth with old Warren and the insurance lets your kids keep the house and business.
So old Warren knows exactly how fascism and crony capitalism can cement his name in history.
My dupe of the year goes to Karl Rove. Although Karl may also know exactly what he is doing. Bush increased spending from $1.8T to $2.9T in eight years, and pompous ass Karl helped Obama win a second term since he only increased the Budget from $2.9T to $3.8T in four years. Much work still left to do. I wonder if Karl is on Obama's payroll.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:23PM
He will NEVER have to pay that money.
"We REWARD our Friends, and PUNISH our Enemies."
Nuff said. (Marvel Comics)
Von Mises Jr| 1.4.13 @ 2:03PM
I am of the opinion that there are not enemies of the DC Establishment to be found in that city. All their enemies are in fly over country.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 3:22PM
Get thee to Mr. Bowman's Column from yesterday.
You won't be disappointed, and I'm sure that everyone there, would be Honoured by your Prescence.
Rhoetus| 1.5.13 @ 5:22PM
Buffett was a Hillary Clinton supporter and they keep telling me that the Democratic Party is the Party of the Workingman. Ha ha ha ha ha- psst, hey buddy want to buy the Golden Gate Bridge?
OP4| 1.4.13 @ 7:24AM
You have your dupes reversed. Buffett is using Obama and pretending to care about personal tax rates.
Tina B| 1.4.13 @ 7:32AM
Well, in that sense they are both dupes then. Buffett is ObaMao's dupe and ObaMao is Satan's dupe. And you and I know that when Buffett meets the real CFO, the real Chief, he will realise who he has served as he laughed all the way to the bank all his meager life. His pride has served him well.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 10:31AM
Have you been over to Mr. Bowman's Column from yesterday, yet!
I'm just sayin.
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 1.4.13 @ 7:33AM
Buffett duped? No, I think it's the public who are the dupes being fed honor stories about Buffett proclaiming his desire for higher taxes for the hated rich while Buffett's companies receive billions in federal subsidies.
In fact, Buffett just purchased a solar company and one of the secret deals encased within the Fiscal Cliff awards those companies billions.
Buffett is the biggest welfare queen in America who flies under the radar because he's a liberal.
Rush Limbaugh is 100% correct. When you're a liberal you can get away with anything including murder.
Just ask Mary Jo Kopechne. Oh wait a minute, she's dead. Murdered by the negligence of Ted Kennedy.
When you're a liberal crime doesn't matter and neither does the truth.
In that sense we're the dupes for letting them get away with it and not pointing it out at every opportunity.
Suzyqpie| 1.5.13 @ 6:57AM
That reminds me of Jon Corizine of MF Global fame., poster boy for crony capitalist.
benny havens| 1.4.13 @ 7:43AM
Maybe Buffet figures that if he is a Dupe for Obama, the president will call off the IRS on Buffet’s $300 million corporate tax liability.
But the real Dupes are the 51% that voted for Obama. The Duper got the Oval Office and higher taxes and the 51% will get jack.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:25PM
If you're not too busy?
You might wanna join us at yesterday's Column by Mr. Bowman.
I'm just sayin.
MelvinNC| 1.4.13 @ 7:55AM
This scenario is a bit like having a date with a hooker. You have sex, you go to the bathroom, she goes through your wallet to scam extra money, and then she goes to the bathroom and you go through her purse to scam money thinking you got something for nothing.
Then both part ways thinking they just got over on each other.
Hey it's Friday and I am a grumpy SOB today.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 10:36AM
That's it. Get it all out there.
Nothing like a good Confession. It's good for the Soul.
Ever been with Purp?
C'mon. You can tell us.
MelvinNC| 1.4.13 @ 10:47AM
Hmmm. you first.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:26PM
Touche.
Purp| 1.5.13 @ 5:59PM
Ha! You really are stuck on having a man in your bed, aren't you? You sure talk about it all the time.
Are you pining for a stiffy, is that it? Why don't you go get laid and spare us the homo talk. It is discrimination - unless you are gay I suppose. Oh, is that it? You are gay and don't want the cretins here to know it? Ahhh, now I get it.
Criticize and degrade that which you are so it deflects criticism away from you... how clever you are Timmy.
Oh, and, btw, It's not a put down to me, but you sure keep bringing it up. Some very good people are gay, and you just can't help yourself can you?
SUBVET| 1.4.13 @ 12:34PM
And the next day your underware has this yellow stain...........and it burns everytime you take a leak.
MelvinNC| 1.4.13 @ 1:04PM
Sounds like Liberalism oozing out.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:39PM
I wanna thank you for reminding me of something that I've spent 35 Years trying to forget.
B*st*rd!
Drunken Sailor| 1.4.13 @ 1:56PM
Sounds like someone had to make a trip to the old Penis Machinest.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 3:27PM
I just remember Passing Out and falling to the floor, after the second Penicillan Shot.
And the burning.
And the wet underpants.
And the toilet paper in my underpants.
Other than that, I don't remember a thing.
Drunken Sailor| 1.4.13 @ 3:35PM
Shouldn;t have slept through those training tapes. Could have been traumatic.
Joellen| 1.4.13 @ 8:10AM
As a Catholic I have to respond to the Notre Dame reference. Jenkins (will NOT call him Father), like Buffet were not duped, no, they were willing pawns for Obama and his ilk (has anyone else notice we never mention Soros anymore - is it just a given he's always there in the shadow).
The Catholic Church has been INFESTED by the marxist progessive agenda, and once we admit it, we can properly cleanse it.
No, the real dupes are those who truly dont know their faith, and thus voted for this party who three times denied GOD (must never let the public forget this).
These CINO's voted for a party that many believe won, because woman were afraid that Romney would take away their contraception devices - a lie perpetuated by one of their servents Stephanoplous - but a lie that once fed to the delusional masses was savagely devoured because they are so devoid of truth.
So, who are the real dupes in this crime of our century, they are the ones who re-elected Obama, Biden, Reid, that crazy senator from Florida (someone help me by the grace of GOD I cant remember his name), etc., etc., simply because they were fed lies by the media, ill-informed of their faith, and by their own laziness and and lack of independence, voted for a group who made outlandish promises and didn't consider the consequences of those promises - or didnt care as long as they "GOT" what they thought was theirs to "GET".
sickofit5| 1.4.13 @ 9:58AM
Joellen, you are spot on. I sat through that atrocity at ND in 2009. It was an abomination committed under the pretense of finding "common ground". The USSCB has been in the thick of this through their Social Justice efforts. Now, since they have learned that there is no common ground with this POS, they are scrambling to save their enterprises, e.g. Nuns on a Bus. A great read is a book by a former Dem. Rhode Island state senator and graduate of ND. "Can a Catholic Be a Democrat: How the party I loved became the enemy of my Religion" by David Carlin. Catholics that voted for this, many of whom are Dupes, betrayed their faith and their country.
CJW| 1.4.13 @ 2:57PM
David Carlin's "Can a Catholic be a Democrat" is a terrific book. Because of abortion, the answer is no. Of course, the same applies to Republicans who support abortion.
The last Democrat who opposed abortion was Governor Bob Casey of Pa, father of the current Senator Casey.
dickdata| 1.10.13 @ 2:58PM
Well, his son, the current Democratic Senator from PA, opposes abortion.
Bob K| 1.4.13 @ 10:30AM
As long as Notre Dame University has a football team and a lucrative contract from NBC to entertain the unwashed louts which TV appeals to, not to mention the bettors who contribute to America's huge untaxed gambling industry, we can't expect the so called "religious" Fathers who run the University to put "First Things" first!
They have a lower calling now. What is abortion to all that?
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 10:56AM
Joellen.......The Catholic Church has always been infested with Leftist Ideology. The jungles of Central and South America were crawling with Jesuits, and Roman Catholics for 30 Years. They were preaching Revolution Theology, when Jeremiah Wright was selling Dime Bags on the corner, outside the Housing Project where he lived.
This is what happens when you FORBID Men, their Natural Right to Procreate, and to have a Family. Their Idle Hands become the Debil's Tools.
As I recall, there was a big move for Celibacy during the early days of Christianity. If those people had gotten their way, there would be no Christians today, anywhere.
If the Catholic Church does not rethink this Unnatural Decree that all Priests shall be Celibate Priests? The Catholic Church will cease to be. The recent SCANDALS in the Church are a Direct Result of this affront to the Laws of God and Nature.
When HE said: Go forth and Multiply, HE was speaking to All Of Us.
I'm not attacking the Church, Joellen.
I'M TRYING TO SAVE IT.
I hope you understand that.
CJW| 1.4.13 @ 11:27AM
Tim
I disagree.
Celibacy does not cause pedophilia or leftwing ideology or homosexuality.
Dems believe in leftwing ideology but certainly do not believe or practice celibacy.
Unfortunately, the priests in Latin America that believed in liberation theology believed their mission was to get involved in primarily commie politics to help the poor, and forgot their mission is the souls of the poor. They were wrong to get involved in politics , especially commie politics, but nor wrong in their belief to help the poor as the Catholic religion has done since its inception.Their means were wrong.
But on the other hand John Paul II, and the Polish Catholic Church, did get involved , with Lech Walensa and Solidarity, to bring down the evil empire. There was a Polish priest killed by the commies in the early1980's who became a martyr.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:43PM
I disagree.
If you only allow guys who can never have Sexual Relations with a WOMAN?
Who ya gonna get to join?
Like I said.
I'm not attacking the Catholic Church.
I'm trying to save it.
CJW| 1.4.13 @ 3:02PM
Not saying you are attacking the Church, but you are wrong. Celibacy means no sex with anyone, not just women. Pedophiles are criminals and should be treated as criminals.
Jerry Sandusky, as an example, and the numerous Boy Scout leaders, took no vow of celibacy.
CJW| 1.4.13 @ 3:05PM
PS. In a disagreeable mood today.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 3:28PM
You?
Or me?
CJW| 1.4.13 @ 3:49PM
Me
Joellen| 1.4.13 @ 4:15PM
Thank you CJW, you conveyed just about everything I wanted to say to T, except for one thing.
T, JESUS himself said to Peter "you are the Rock of MY Church", that would be the Catholic Church, Peter being the first Pope.
Yet T, of course I dont disagree with your argument that man & women were made to procreate; however, some choose to abstain for their faith, just like some fast in eating, or alcohol, etc. The Catholic Church being run by man is corrupt. This is not Heaven, so it cannot be perfect. However, there are many in the Church who still stand by the Church doctrine. I say this everytime, but please go onto ChurchMilitant.com. Michael Voris explains this and more so very well.
So listen to CJW, who is not disagreeable, just happens to be strong in his belief, and get ye to the contest!
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 6:23PM
Yes, some CHOOSE to be Celibate.
This is not a choice.
Don't be mad at me.
I just call'em as I sees'em.
Joellen| 1.4.13 @ 8:28PM
I am not mad - I just disagree with you on this one. I do know some good Priest who Choose to serve the Lord - I believe them when they say "they love to carry their cross". T - please do me this one favor - go on ChurchMilitant.com and listen to Michael. Give him a couple of weeks - then get back to me on this.
TLP| 1.5.13 @ 12:07PM
A coupla weeks?
Are you an Alcoholic, Joellen?
You can tell me.
dickdata| 1.10.13 @ 3:00PM
Do the teachings of Jesus fit into your concept of the Roman Catholic church at all???
JimH| 1.4.13 @ 8:10AM
The recently passed tax bill was another case of having to vote for it in order to see what was in it. Now we see that if was larded with all kinds of credits and goodies for O’s big business friends. Once again we see how he talks left and acts Corporatist (Facist).
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 11:06AM
Face it. It's over. Short of Taking up Arms? There's nothing to be done. The Corruption has become so entangled throughout the realm of the Political Classes, that it resembles the Weeping Willow, whose Root System probably single handedly put guys like Rotor Rooter on the Map.
The entire Country has become Tamaney Hall, Albany, and Chicago.
And, they won't stop until the rest of us all live in Detroit.
One need only Look at this Administration, to come to the realization that the Barbarians are already inside the Gates.
I'm just sayin.
dickdata| 1.10.13 @ 3:02PM
When you guys take up arms, I hope that they sell the tv rights - I would like to watch you guys take on the 101st Airborne with your semi-automatic rifles and no logistics.
Louis Jenkins| 1.4.13 @ 8:51AM
Dupes, there are far to many to be counted. But let us also call out "liars, thieves, brigands, and flotsam." Hanging would be too good for them.
Pecos Pete| 1.4.13 @ 8:55AM
Warren Buffett is no dupe. Nor is he stupid. He wins, we lose. He is laughing all the way to the bank while we cry every day at the loss of our money and freedom.
The 51% who voted for King O are the dupes.
CJW| 1.4.13 @ 9:18AM
I agree. If Buffet believed the nonsense about paying more taxes, he would voluntarily pay more in taxes. Instead he, like Gates and other limo liberals, put their money in foundations so they can control how the foundations spend the money. That tells you they do not like or trust the manner in which the government spends money.
For further proof, ask Algore whether he will pay the cap gains rate of 20% on the 100 million he pockets from selling Current TV to radical muslim cable company Algazera ( Algore and Algezara!!) or if he will pay the more "fair" rate of 39% that Congress and Obama just decided is the top rate for those earning over $450,000.
Bob Grant| 1.4.13 @ 10:19AM
He avoids paying taxes AND he's the poster boy for Crony Crapitalism.
This guy profits from every direction.
Who's the chump?
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 11:07AM
Have you Three Amigoes been over to yesterday's Column by Mr. Bowman?
No reason.
CJW| 1.4.13 @ 3:03PM
Si,senor.
Kwan| 1.4.13 @ 9:00AM
Congratulations to Warren Buffet the recipient of the dubious I mean prestigious 2012 Dupe of the Year Award. The real concern here is which mental malady, senility or dementia has led to Warren becoming a useful idiot for a ghetto street hustler like Barack Obama. When Warren had something resembling a functioning brain he would never of hired an incompetent leftist bum like Obama to run any of the businesses that he invests in, yet here he is supporting a guy who wants to turn the country into Venezuela and nationalize all of Warren's businesses. Giving credence to the saying that there's no fool like an old fool.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 11:09AM
Mr. Kwan.
Your attendance is requested at Mr. Bowman's House.
(His column from yesterday)
Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.4.13 @ 12:53PM
...and I believe you promised to bring Jackie Chan...
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:47PM
You would think that all of Mr. Kwan's analogies would have something to do with Jackie Chan.
Am I right?
Bob Grant| 1.4.13 @ 5:31PM
...or perhaps the lovely Olympic skater Michelle Kwan but it's rassist any way you 'kiru' it.
Rhoetus| 1.5.13 @ 5:25PM
Well put! Congrats!
Anthony| 1.4.13 @ 9:21AM
And just how is Warren Buffet a dupe? After John Boner's and Mitch McCunning's capitulation to the $5M Christmas holiday Muslim Marxist, Buffet's secretary is still paying higher taxes than Buffet. In fact, more so now.
And today comes Sandy relief for the Tony Soprano wannabe governor of N.J. Some fiscal cliff!!
No Mr. Kengor, the only dupes are those of us Americans who haven't mustered the guts to burn Washington to the ground, but hope springs eternal.
Besides, what's a roast without the congressional whores and the Muslim Marxist present?
Russel| 1.4.13 @ 9:33AM
Just an aside , but I had to chuckle that Christie got hot when he learned fed assistance was not all that forthcoming . Whether deliberate or not , his chumming with the skinny little worm might have done more harm than good .
Stormy| 1.4.13 @ 10:17AM
Christie is dead as a Republican. Any career future he has is as a Democrat.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.4.13 @ 10:28AM
The teachers unions might exercise their veto on that.
CJW| 1.4.13 @ 3:04PM
Hopefully, he is finished with both parties, and can pursue his real vocation of attending Springstein concerts.
Tina B| 1.4.13 @ 7:48PM
And his real passion of eating.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 1.4.13 @ 8:12PM
"Born to Run" is apparently not an exercise video for the Governor.
Russel| 1.4.13 @ 9:01PM
One -liners are tough . Either one , you get the Leno or Carson award today .
Teflon93 | 1.10.13 @ 4:18PM
His secretary isn't paying higher taxes than Buffet is. Buffet was taxed on those dollars when first he earned them----thus accumulating the wealth he invested and now lives off of. His money is being taxed twice at least---when he earns it and when the investments he's made show a profit.
You liberals really don't get math.
cicero| 1.4.13 @ 9:50AM
With the demise of respect for patriots comes the free for all where people vote and act solely in their own interests, and often to the detriment of their country. In the end, they will be destroyed, like their country. It is only a matter of whom the alligator eats last. They hope that they will not be around to grace the menu.
The liberals began to mock patriotism years ago. Our schools took up the chant, and our kids have been taught that this country, and its founding principles, are not worth the fight. What did we expect. As they are taught, so will they act. Now we have people willing to sell out the economic well being of their country to make another $100 million, when they couldn't spend anywhere near that in 10 lifetimes. I guess if you are blind, you don't care if your neighbor's eyes are put out.
Doctor Right| 1.4.13 @ 9:58AM
Buffet is not a dupe; he's a greedy, narcissistic control freak who uses government to squash his competitors and make it that much harder for anyone else to acquire his level of wealth.
He and Obama relate to each other...
Bob K| 1.4.13 @ 10:48AM
He is the quintessential "Crony Capitalist" and his showing the way to all the other Capitalists in the United States. He is living proof that despite all the reasonings of Ludwig Von Mises, and other members of the Austrian School of Economics that Capitalists will abandon this philosophy when it is in their own personal interest to do so.
And when members of this Capitalist Class start doing this in large numbers, as they have been doing it over the last two decades, then it is time for Conservatives to consider raising taxes on their incomes, and closing loopholes designed for them in the tax code, and also raising the Federal Taxes on the estates of all people of great wealth.
When they find out they have no friends on the right or on the left they will have 2nd thoughts.
jaytrain| 1.4.13 @ 10:31AM
Facts as usual are in short supply here in the comments section , so let's add just a couple . Buffett's RR , the BN , is running flat out shipping crude that should be going thru Keystone Pipe . Buffett's insurance co.s are writing life policies whose purpose is to pay the inheritance taxes on the family farms and small businesses which otherwise would need to be sold to pay those taxes . And BTW the greatest tax scam on this planet are the socalled reseves which ins co.s use to stash untaxed earnings . No , you got it flat backwards : the useful idiot is Obama who could not read a set of financials if his life depended on it . Warren is laughing all the way to the bank , in Bermuda , BTW .
cicero| 1.4.13 @ 10:48AM
Jay - You got it exactly correct. Most people are not aware that insurance companies are allowed to place money in "reserves" to cover any potential claim. The money in reserves are not taxed, nor is the income earned on them. As a result, if an auto company writes a policy with a $50k maximum limit, and a claim for a minor injury is filed, they reserve the entire $50k. Some goes for the life policies. The money sits there earning tax free income until the claim comes due. Not a bad deal. Wish I could do the same. I could shelter all of my money tax free until my family claim for food, clothing and shelter came due.
Buffet is no dupe. He is just another politically connected hypocrite who doesn't want to pay his "fair share".
Controse| 1.4.13 @ 11:48AM
Buffet is not a dupe. Buffet is an agent. A self-dealing agent of Obama's, or whoever he is, crusade to "fundamentally transform America." Of course the award winning dupe of 2012 are all those who voted to keep the Democrat Party in charge. Their very freedom is at stake. The only conclusion one can draw is they prefer feel good ignorance over freedom.
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:49PM
Do you actually have anything SUBSTANTIAL to bring to the discussion?
Or, is this it?
Stan Redmond| 1.4.13 @ 12:18PM
Buffet a dupe? Are you kidding me. He's the one playing Obama and the American taxpayer as dupes. Obama has killed the Keystone Pipeline keeping Beffets oil tanker trains filled with Canadian oil. The IRS, SEC, and DOJ is letting Buffet get away with back taxes and who knows what else.
Obama's real dupes are the fools that voted for him. If OBamaphone lady's life any better with Obama's reelection? How about the black Americans who voted overwhelmingly for Obama? Is the 20% black unemployment rate going to improve? Will the out of control crime and poverty in places like Chicago and Detroit be any better?
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 3:31PM
Stan.
Non-Contest at Mr. Bowman's Column from yesterday.
Join us.
Ronsch| 1.4.13 @ 1:17PM
The picture says it all: Buffet grinning like a baboon...and I can hear his thoughts now.."And he gave me a medal to boot...SUCKER!"
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 1:50PM
Ronsch.
Go to yesterday's Column by Mr. Bowman.
Join us.
Oldefarte| 1.4.13 @ 2:31PM
I don't know about being a "dupe", but the American people sure are STUPID:
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfro...../id/470102
TLP| 1.4.13 @ 3:32PM
Oldefarte.
Go to Mr. Bowman's Column from yesterday.
It just ain't the same, without you.
Arnie| 1.4.13 @ 3:14PM
Uh-oh. It looks like Obama does have a mandate. He got more than 51% and wooped Romney pretty badly. By 3.85%.
https://docs.google.com/a/aauni.edu/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AjYj9mXElO_QdHpla01oWE1jOFZRbnhJZkZpVFNKeVE&toomany=true
"Months after the November election, the final official vote from all 50 states and the District of Columbia showed Obama with 65,899,660 votes, or 51.1 percent, and Romney with 60,932,152 votes, or 47.2 percent. Obama is the first president since Republican Dwight Eisenhower to win back-to-back presidential elections with more than 51 percent of the popular vote."
Arnie| 1.4.13 @ 3:18PM
And why do you guys go on about Obama's vacation so much? He actually has vacationed a fraction of what Bush did. In fact, Bush broke the records. But if you're pissed off that you did not have that much vacation while working, you could move to Europe where they have generous vacation laws.
http://news.yahoo.com/comparis.....00657.html
JD| 1.5.13 @ 12:39AM
No statistic is too dishonest for you Leftists, eh?
As in all things, you create some "official" count which is patently absurd and then demand that we recognize it.
That piddling count of Obama's nominal "vacation" days doesn't come close to accounting for all his golf or for all the days his family spent millions of taxpayer dollars on lavish excursions without him.
But of course, if a statistic were honest, the Left could never use it!
russedav| 1.4.13 @ 3:22PM
While Buffet may be the king dupe in the mere earthly sense, 0bama is surely that when the supernatural realm is taken into account with the devil of 0bama's vile Moloch worship (see http://www.revisionisthistory.org/massacre.html & blackgenocide.org) and his Planned Parenthood dupes. As a tool for proaborts and sodomites 0bama will surely go down in history as the biggest pervert fool President in US history and at God's Judgment bar I suspect his elections will also be exposed as evil, godless frauds only earthly courts have succeeded in covering up.
Arnie| 1.4.13 @ 5:18PM
russedav, you are the perfect example why so many Americans (and other people around the world) consider a huge portion of the Republican party is freaking insane.
Why don't you tards just take a state like Mississippi, and make your own little theocracy? You can seperate from the U.S. Just let the sodomites, minorities, people with puck hair etc. get out before you start lynching them for their anti-biblical beliefs.
JD| 1.5.13 @ 12:47AM
You allow yourselves to call us racists for merely disagreeing with you, but we are unreasonable if you can find even one whom you can associate with us who considers it abhorrent to kill babies?
Hardcard| 1.4.13 @ 8:27PM
Ok arnold whatever you say I think you should leave that rent controlled apartment on west end ave. and move to Mississippi you wouldn't last long away from zabbars and H&H and all lose dirty Christians that are working hard to survive in this socialistic takeover of freedom. FU
sdfhlk | 1.5.13 @ 1:23AM
Happy New Year,NBA ,NFL 2013
air max en france | 1.5.13 @ 3:51AM
Obama as he signed an executive order promising to prevent abortion funding in Obama-care. They made another group of dupes, the social-justice champions at Notre Dame who gave Obama an honorary degree a year earlier, look shrewd as serpents by comparison.
N8tivTxn| 1.5.13 @ 8:54AM
The real dupes of 2012 are the Low-info Voters who reelected this regime. Methinks some of the pop-culture mesmerized, mouth-breathers have already noticed the "take-home" pay from their first paycheck of 2013 was smaller. Not to worry though, they'll make it up in theft. If not theft of supplies they have regular access to, they'll just steal more time from the "boss" by shaving off minutes and hours around the edges of their work-week, not to mention the time the cubicle dwellers spend blogging and on-line shopping wasting company time.
I disagree that Buffet was a pure dupe, since the regime is repaying him handsomely for his ongoing silly meme of wanting to be taxed more with the most blatant boondoggle ever devised. The Corps of Engineers is manipulating flow into the Mississippi River, causing it to be too low for loaded barge traffic in a few sections. Now tell me, who the Hell could possibly benefit from THAT? Who bought himself a railroad a couple of years back? Why, who else - Mr Buffet of course.
The brashness of their duplicity is jaw-dropping to most of us who operate within the production chain. Surely this must be unprecedented, yet the Right continues to think our only recourse is compromise. Integrity is so passe'...
Ura Frecal| 1.5.13 @ 1:11PM
I believe the thesis of the good professor is true, but also Buffet Table became a Democrat because of ease and probability of buying influence, protection, and favorable treatment. Guys like Buffet, and the other Marxist millionaires and billionaires can shield themselves from regulation, prosecution, promote laws and regs that favor them over competition, suppress competition-all through government. It is more than lobbying.
Years ago some Texas politicians were caught buying land where a new highway was going to be built and urban buildup to follow. They were to determine where the highway would be directed. Really large amount of money can be made with government collusion. Everything from civil engineering projects, fending off prosecution, crony capitalism (Green Energy, HIgh Speed Rail, Financial Services subsidies, etc., anti trust, etc, etc. Don't be fooled. Obama and the gang will be richly rewarded in the future, whether transparently or not.
Think of Buffet using the Democrats-where everything and everybody is for sale to the highest bidder-as a hedge, guarantee, catalyst, for any investment. It's called cheating, insider trading, corruption, and favoritism. Virtually all the modern day city government, state government corrupt machines have been Democratic, going back to Boss Tweed, the Daly's, Kevin White (Boston), Oklahoma and Texas state governments in the 60s and 70s, etc, etc.
Purp| 1.5.13 @ 6:03PM
Ever hear of the Koch Bros? Sheldon Adelson? Rupert Murdoch?
If you think a Democratic Billionaire buys influence, you should pay attention to what they are doing to feather their nest. They are Buffet on Steroids!
But then, they pay the bills at Fixed News and the EIB Network and the Heritage Foundation, so that's okay, right?
Clean your own house before you whine about the other one's house. Hypocrites!
Rhoetus| 1.5.13 @ 9:46PM
Rules for Conservatives @
http://www.saveamericanow.us.com
Arnie| 1.6.13 @ 12:43AM
It looks like the dupes are the old white guys across the country that thought the Tea Party was a grassroot uprising. Actually it was a corporate, and wealthy donor started media campaign to try to keep taxes low on those corporations and wealthy people.
Useful idiots indeed.
http://www.motherjones.com/pol.....-super-pac
Rhoetus| 1.6.13 @ 6:46PM
Mother-fucking-Jones socialist rag.
air max en france | 1.7.13 @ 3:23AM
stood aside President Barack Obama as he signed an executive order promising to prevent abortion funding in Obama-care. They made another group of dupes, the social-justice champions http://modemodeme.eklablog.com/ at Notre Dame who gave Obama an honorary degree a year earlier, look shrewd as serpents by comparison.
grassroot| 1.10.13 @ 3:17PM
liberal fascism,,
Teflon93 | 1.10.13 @ 4:16PM
What makes you think Buffet was duped? He's making money, isn't he?
Pablo| 1.10.13 @ 4:27PM
It is extremely ironic that you mention George Washington's farewell address. Let's roll the tape:
============================
Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests.
— George Washington
============================
This neatly describes republicans, who surrender their economic interests to the ultra-rich, on whom you heap applause and confidence.
ONTIME| 1.10.13 @ 5:43PM
In this article Buffet exemplifies the phrase, "There is no fool like old fool." this Faker in the WH talked this guy out of half his fortune, told him he didn't need it...and Warren agreed and is still stuck witha big Ol' tax bill.
J Baustian| 1.10.13 @ 10:48PM
Regarding Warren Buffett: he is earning billions from hauling crude oil in the tank cars of his BNSF Railway -- 700,000 barrels a day this year, according to CEO Matt Rose. I've read somewhere that it costs $1.50-2.50/barrel to transport by pipeline, but ~$10/barrel by rail. A lot of that is pure profit.
Every day that Barack Obama delays the construction of pipelines, is another profitable day for Warren Buffett.
Yes, he is a dupe. But I have a different name for all the voters who reelected Barack Obama: chumps.
Lgbpop| 1.10.13 @ 11:38PM
Sorry, but I disagree. Buffett and Obama have taken measure of one another, and I'm sure both have found it politically expedient to try and take advantage of the other. Buffett is smarter than Obama. Obama has more rabble in his coterie than has Buffett. Stop analyzing this, grab some popcorn and sit back and watch the silliness. Buffett will win, and he will make Obama think HE did.
Vance P. Frickey| 1.11.13 @ 7:10PM
To be a "dupe" implies (in my opinion) lack of any awareness of the lie, and lack of any pecuniary incentive; neither applies to Warren Buffet during his shilling for Barack Obama.
Warren Buffett has demonstrated during his awesome stewardship of Berkshire Hathaway portfolios that he's nowhere near stupid enough to have fallen for Obama's lines - he can't have believed a single lie Barack Obama has told.
Likewise, Obama's placing so many American assets in "distressed" status was a bonanza for a canny investor with plenty of cash; enter Warren Buffett and his very solvent merchant bank.
Finally, trade with China - especially the trade in coal travelling across North America (on BNSF, Buffett's railway, to ports run partly or completely by China's COSCO, which benefits from its deals with the husbands of Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, and Feinstein's own insider trading with them) from a place where it cannot be legally or cheaply burned under Obama's executive orders to China, where no strictures on the use of coal apply at all.
No, Warren Buffett has to be considered a witting accomplice to Barack Obama in gutting American industry in favor of China. The word for him isn't "dupe," it's "quisling." Look it up.
owend| 1.13.13 @ 9:07PM
What this proves is that wealth is not necessarily due to excessive intelligence. In fact, I humbly submit that Buffett is no longer operating with a full deck. That being said, it is also difficult for anyone, Buffett included, to resist the positive press and the fawning media attention as well as the approval of so many liberals in high places. I do believe that Buffett is enjoying his celebrity, as relatively short lived as it may be. As to Buffett's financial savy, that too seems to be slipping as he slips further into old age. Someone once commented that if Buffett tried to start up Berkshire in today's business climate, he would never succeed. I would probably agree. Buffett is the recipient of a time when Government was not nearly as intrusive, and taxes weren't nearly as confiscatory as they are today. Buffett is truly out of touch with reality. But then he is in good company.