-
Alan Abelson, RIP
May 10, 2013 | 20 comments
-
South Carolina on My Mind
April 30, 2013 | 31 comments
-
Dream Sequences
April 26, 2013 | 62 comments
-
Just Like a Woman
April 25, 2013 | 35 comments
-
Missing So Many
April 19, 2013 | 41 comments
Ben Stein's Diary
Presidents’ Day in L.A.
Beverly Hills remains taxable country.
(Page 2 of 2)
I told you I was in L.A.
I went home and took a long nap with wifey and Julie. I got up and watched on TV Obama talking about how urgent it was that “we protect the most innocent and vulnerable among us… the children.” He wants to do that by gun control, as if the Newtown massacre were not in the state with the strictest gun control laws in the country. You lying creep, I thought to myself. If you really believed that about protecting the most innocent among us, you would not be the most pro-abortion President in history. Well, he’s hopeless on the subject of human life. And that is a BIG subject.
Why can’t people see that issue for what it is? It is as clear as day. Do we kill those who are inconvenient or do we revere life? It isn’t more complex than that.
Out to dinner at Nonna with Big Wifey, talking about old age. It is a scary subject. “Old age is not for sissies,” says the cliché.
What is for sissies? I guess nothing. Maybe other sissies.
Now, comes bliss: going to sleep with Julie Good Girl. It is supposed to rain tomorrow. No problem. I will be with Julie in bed. The summit of man’s desires.
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 (65) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Ben Stein
More Articles From Ben Stein's Diary
http://spectator.org/archives/2013/02/19/presidents-day-in-la
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
Current Issue
- The Demise of Money and Credit
- Public Nuisances
- The Great Train Robbery
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
CJW| 2.19.13 @ 9:13AM
Speaking of Hermes, a friend of mine was at the Hermes store in Paris where she saw Jean Kerry selecting ties. As the libs say, at $200 a pop, how many poor people could be fed with Jean's tie collection?
Hardcard| 2.19.13 @ 9:16AM
benny....I still can't believe you get paid for this crap, E.Bob must be very charitable or you have him over a barrel. I did see Skyfall over the weekend it's very good! Take a nap and keep on collecting all those royalty checks.
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 2:35PM
C'mon Hardcard, give Benny a break here. After all, the guy has been fighting the good fight against racism.
Give the mench credit dude, da man is up for the struggle against racism in Malibu and Beverly Hills.
Bull Conner's got nothing on dem Malibu pigs in their Gucci jackboots.
C. Vernon Crisler | 2.19.13 @ 9:40AM
I'd love to tax all of those Hollywood rich -- most of them in the tank for Obama. However, the Founder's principle is that if you do it to the rich, you have to do it to everybody. So, if we want to apply our envy or hate or indignation, we can't be selective about it.
Seek| 2.19.13 @ 4:24PM
Envy, hate and indignation -- that sounds like your political program. Or maybe it's the name of a hot law firm.
C. Vernon Crisler | 2.19.13 @ 4:38PM
That's the left's and Ben Stein's political program, you putz.
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 9:53AM
Who knew we have so much in common Ben? I also have women asking me for money, and begging me for sex.
But you wouldn't know about that.
Frank Drackman| 2.19.13 @ 10:19AM
Ben, its only been 26 years since Med School, but I think you're having a Myocardial Infarction.
They call it "Acute Coronary Syndrome" now, we doctors do that, change the name of a physical condition so we can tell the old farts from the new farts.
And howcome people are always coming up to you, you're not THAT famous.
Frank
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 10:25AM
OK, Ben. I'll ask this like I ask other liberals:
What's the limit on taxing the wealthy? 80 percent? 85 percent? 90 percent?
Man up and give us a number!
R Martin| 2.19.13 @ 12:50PM
Mr. Stein never responds, even to a reasonable request such as yours. He just reads from his tired old Keynesian playbook, tax, tax, tax, tax and then...more tax.
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 7:12PM
R,
He's an elitist. I've never heard of an elitist conservative. George Will comes close. He's no George Will.
pigdog| 2.19.13 @ 10:36AM
Re: "I had a deluge of texts from women wanting money. This has to stop and it will."
Find a charity that deals with whatever the problem is. Donate some money. Tell the babes where to go for the money.
If you can't find an appropriate charitable organization, start one. Donate. Hire Tommy to run it. Solicit more money. Pay Tommy a percentage of the take.
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 11:06AM
This is good advice. I would also suggest Benny not respond to all these women who frequent the porn sites Benny spends most of his days on.
Remember what your mommy used to tell you Benny, looking at porn will make you go blind.
And you of all people, hawking eye wash.
Occam's Tool| 2.19.13 @ 8:23PM
Well, they can be taxing, eh, Ben?
mfeder| 2.19.13 @ 11:05AM
Ben you have on numerous occassions stated the rich are not taxed enough and that you are not one of the rich. It is past time for you to define what rich in America is and how you they should be taxed. You have skirted the issue a long time. Let's have it so we better know what Ben Stein believes.
Trish Trotter.| 2.19.13 @ 11:09AM
Ben, loved your first paragraph and that little detail about you having to cover yourself with a Body-Med heating pad. I'm gonna do a Google search.
But you are a bad boy. You do not listen to me and my warnings. You're still sleeping with Julie Good Girl, and when you come down with flesh eating bacteria you'll really have something to complain about.
Old? There's no fool like an old fool.
Trish Trotter.| 2.19.13 @ 11:20AM
Ben, there's this "Rent-a-Puppy" store down in San Bernandino where you can rent a puppy for a day or for several days.
I rented a little English bull dog last weekend for Chloe, my darling dachshund, and they loved playing with each other. They chased each other all over my spacious apartment--sliding across my waxed wooden floors-- having tugs of war with a rope toy, and they even slept together in Chloe's doggy bed. Sweeet, sweeet, sweeet.
To rent a puppy is expensive, and you have to fill out a lot of red tape, but just think how much Julie Good Girl would enjoy having a little playmate.
Drive down there Ben, and pick out your pup. Do it for Julie Good Girl!
Trish Trotter.| 2.19.13 @ 11:24AM
". . .Though you may live in town, you live so far away when you've lived too long . . ."
Jacques Brel
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 11:38AM
Ageist, aren't we?
Trish, how 'bout you Dish out your own age to give us a better perspective on your rantings.
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 12:37PM
See Ben, I warned you about those porn web sites you frequent, and now Trish has followed you to TAS.
Trish can't wait to tell us about your exploits in a Body-Med heating pad, and frankly, neither can we.
As Trish says, Ben you are a bad boy!! Just how bad a boy have you been, Benny?
Ron in Philly| 2.19.13 @ 1:01PM
Not funny.
anna k from emory u| 2.19.13 @ 1:57PM
Actually, I found it quite comical. I have found Anthony and many of his fellows here at The American Spectator to be quite humorous, particularly when confronted by the sanctimony that some of my colleagues in academia and elsewhere in the Progressive world use in order to try to constrict them.
If I may be familiar, Anthony, given your earlier request for a photo of me, you go, boy.
Mr. Grant, I too am discouraged about the hateful rhetoric used which reveals an innate feeling of superiority by the youthful regarding "people of years". On behalf of those who haven't lived long enough to achieve wisdom, please allow me to apologize on their behalf.
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 2:20PM
Dearest Anna, So good to hear from you again. Are we still an item?
I thought I was quite funny as well, don't know what Ron in Philly's problem is, except perhaps he's been a bad, bad boy himself.
And dearest Anna, you can always be familar with me, and where's my picture???
anna k from emory u| 2.19.13 @ 2:25PM
I need an e-mail address so that I can forward it. I am afraid some of my less than charitable behavior here in the past has caused many to develop negative feelings toward me, and so I can't say "I'll give you mine first" without being exposed to all of the hate.
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 3:01PM
My dearest Anna, if I were to give out my email address here at TAS, there'd be no end to the amount of hate mail (or solicitations for sex) that I would get from Purp, vtwin and Arnie, just to name a few of the lefty trolls who dwell amongst us, as you yourself fear.
Unfortunately, a man of my position and standing in the community cannot allow these reprobates to have any access to me, lest I be forced to fend off their boorish behavior.
You'll just have to be creative and find me on your own. I am worth the effort.
R Martin| 2.19.13 @ 4:21PM
Anthony, I can tell you what Ron's problem is--he's from Philadelphia. If you had to live there you'd be a grouch too.
Good luck with the lovely Anna.
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 7:27PM
Ah,so that's his problem. Much appreciated R. And you felicitations are most appreciated.
Mike W| 2.19.13 @ 11:44AM
This post lost me when I saw "Elliot Abrams, smart guy" . Abrams, like Stein is a chickenhawk little creep.
bustunloose| 2.19.13 @ 11:50AM
So you have stumbled upon the reality of most of us vs. you. We have had enough of Guv waste, fraud and abuse-and are now sadly at the point that we must choose military cuts over more and more bottomless pit spending. The Gop has alway fought for the military getting what it needs-never forget this. The vilification heaped on them by the usual suspects was immense ion those years after Viet Nam. The dems were ready for us to have a Sweden defense. Nixon, Reagan, the Bushes went thru hell. So don't lecture me on not being willing to pay. Once in your life, won't you on tv ever say we need to keep pissing away $$$$$$$$$$$ on nonsense and set priorities. No you have quit, you are a quitter-it is to you inevitable that guv enventually take all the money. And, these high priced items-the jewelry, clothes and accessories,yacts, mansions they employ alot ot what is left of mid class in Cal and NY. The GOP and others never did this-we are the ones fighting for real private sector jobs. But, hell wipe out the rich in Hollywood, huh, do it. Before that income tax raise they gave Hwood all sorts of special loopholes. Why debate-say Newt on this stuff Ben. I'd pay to see it.
Trish Trotter.| 2.19.13 @ 12:29PM
From Trish to Ben (may this bring you comfort):
The old folks don't talk much
And they talk so slowly when they do
They are rich, they are poor, their illusions are gone
They share one heart for two
Their homes all smell of thyme, of old photographs
And an old-fashioned song
Though you may live in town you live so far away
When you've lived too long
And have they laughed too much, do their dry voices crack
Talking of times gone by
And have they cried too much, a tear or two
Still always seems to cloud the eye
They tremble as they watch the old silver clock
When day is through
It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, "Yes," it says, "No"
It says, "I'll wait for you."
The old folks dream no more
The books have gone to sleep, the piano's out of tune
The little cat is dead and no more do they sing
On a Sunday afternoon
Trish Trotter.| 2.19.13 @ 12:30PM
Continued:
The old folks move no more, their world's become too small
Their bodies feel like lead
They might look out the window or else sit in a chair
Or else they stay in bed
And if they still go out, arm in arm, arm in arm
In the morning's chill
It's to have a good cry, to say their last good-bye
To one who's older still
And then they go home to the old silver clock
When day is through
It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, "Yes," it says, "No"
It says, "I'll wait for you."
The old folks never die
They just put down their heads and go to sleep one day
They hold each other's hand like children in the dark
But one will get lost anyway
And the other will remain just sitting in that room
Which makes no sound
It doesn't matter now, the song has died away
And echoes all around
You'll see them when they walk through the sun-filled park
Where children run and play
It hurts too much to smile, it hurts too much but life goes on
For still another day
As they try to escape the old silver clock
When day is through
It tick-tocks oh so slow, it says, "Yes," it says, "No"
It says, "I'll wait for you."
The old, old silver clock that's hanging on the wall
That waits for us All
H. Stanley Hursey| 2.19.13 @ 2:49PM
These are beautiful lyrics--the best I have ever read about old people. Thanks Trish.
I'd even go so far to say these lyrics are poetry.
anna k from emory u| 2.19.13 @ 3:20PM
Of course, since Jacques Brel is not alive, well, or living in Paris, he is not able to sue for using translation of his lyrics from the musical of the same name.
In light of your hateful screed, though, he should.
I think I need to find a copyright lawyer.
Trish Trotter.| 2.19.13 @ 12:32PM
Ben, I am getting older, and it frightens me. What am I to do with myself when I reach my 70s?
I cannot imagine!
anna k from emory u| 2.19.13 @ 3:31PM
I can't imagine that you'll get very old. Like a chimpanzee that mauls its owner, I expect those puppies one day will gnaw through either your carotid, brachial or other critical artery, and cause your death.
Meanwhile, stop worrying, you'll give yourself cancer.
Sunny out here in Phoenix today, though I can't wait to get back to Atlanta.
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 3:59PM
Ouch! This does not sound like you at all, dearest anna. Did that bad man Ron in Philly get you upset?
I shall spike his cheese steak sandwich with Velveta, that will show em.
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 4:30PM
Remember, he's from Fishtown.
What's lower than Velveta?
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 3:48PM
Careful Trish, don't let Obozo hear you fear reaching 70, he's got plans for those who manage to make it to 70, you can't imagine is right.
Occam's Tool| 2.19.13 @ 8:21PM
Anna, be nice to Trish. She tried to ban me, after all, which shows she has good taste. :-)
Frank Drackman| 2.19.13 @ 1:13PM
I've finally decided "Universal Background Checks" are a good idea.
FOR ILL-LEGAL ALIENS!!!!HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
seriously, that guy who cleans my pool could be the next Richard Ramirez AKA"The Night Stalker"...
thats what got me thinkin about this, his "Nombre" IS Richard Ramirez..
OK, he goes by "Ricardo" its like calling someone named James "Jimmy"...
Frank
anna k from emory u| 2.19.13 @ 2:00PM
I do look forward to meeting you, even after I failed to find you at "Down the Hatch" last weekend.
The chocolate fondue is to die for...
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 2:40PM
Fondue? What year is this, '76?
Are you for real Mrs. K?
Ron in Philly| 2.19.13 @ 2:47PM
Obviously, this is not the real Anna K. from Emory U. She used caps.
The imposter (Anthony) does not have the intelligence Anna K. displayed, although I do find the real Anna K.'s posts extremely irritating. But it's a good thing she rarely posts anymore.
Oh, and one more thing: Anthony and anna k (lower case) are not amusing.
CJW| 2.19.13 @ 3:14PM
Lighten up, Ron, you are from Philly, home of Fast Eddie Rendell, and Mayor Goode who had the police torch an entire city block, and where the Dems regularly produce a 300,000 vote margin, regardless of the candidate and regardless of the actual voters who show up.
anna k from emory u| 2.19.13 @ 3:23PM
How dare you question my integrity, or the fact that I had to to stop using capital letters because of all of the stalkers peeping over my privacy fence.
You're clearly not from "Philly", Ron, but you sure do smell bad. Maybe you're from "Fishtown".
Anthony| 2.19.13 @ 3:29PM
Hmmm, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot, Ron in Philly.
Don't know why exactly, nor frankly, as Dr. Frankie D. would say, do I give a damn.
Do my references to porn sites stir unpleasent memories?
And how astute you are!! anna k is not the same Anna K., yes Mr. Broad St. bully, (or shall I call you Mr. Broad St. pansy, tough times in Phila these day, eh) we know, but she's still a hellofa lot more funny and wittier than you pal.
If I didn't know better, I'd think you have a thing for anna k.
anna k from emory u| 2.19.13 @ 3:38PM
Thank you, kind sir. The world is so full of phonies. I am glad that we have a chance to be real.
Also, Mr. Grant, fondue is timeless, though if this were 1976, my forebears tell me that the most important namesake of your family name would be "Lou Grant".
What a man that Ed Asner is.
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 4:36PM
I'm sure he is. He's probably guest lectured the young "fertile" minds at your beloved Emory U.
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 5:00PM
And by the way, never invite drunks to a fondue party. They get drunk, they knock over the cans of sterno, they catch the avacado-green table cloth on fire, they torch your matching shag carpet, along with your den.
Fondue parties shouldn't be "timeless". They should be put in a time capsule and dropped to the bottom of a sea.
Bob Grant, nor Lou Grant , would never attend a meatless party!
Occam's Tool| 2.19.13 @ 8:15PM
Bob: meat is one of the things most commonly fondued.
Here's what I recommend you do: you catch a plane flight to Atlanta. You then take a cab FROM THE AIRPORT to "Dante's Down the Hatch" in Buckhead.
You then have a Tasmanian beef fondue dinner with a chocolate fondue for dessert. Then fly home. Then thank me. Worth every penny.
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 8:22PM
Occam, I've been to several (not recently) fondue parties.
No meat to be had!!!
Regardless, who would want to dip a respectable piece of meat into a fondue pot?
Resist the fondue!!!!!
Occam's Tool| 2.19.13 @ 8:16PM
Anthony is amusing, and beloved. Friend of mine.
Occam's Tool| 2.19.13 @ 8:17PM
And my second favorite attorney in the world.
Occam's Tool| 2.19.13 @ 8:20PM
I did not read your e-mail before I recommended "Down The Hatch" to Bob.
The Chocolate Fondue is fantastic, but you forgot to mention the antibiotic free Tasmanian beef fondue, which is also to die for, or that Dante is a manic ex-Seal. Or the quality of the Jazz Quartets, or the crocodile sanctuary that the restaurant is (see, I have been there).
Bob, this place is CHOICE. No bullshitology on this one. My wife and I loved it.
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 8:28PM
Sounds like a cool place what with the Jazz Quartet and crocodile sanctuary, but, respectfully, the connection to fondue kills it for me.
On the other hand, I'm sure they have a decent wine list and something edible that's not fondue related.
wrlord| 2.19.13 @ 2:20PM
At this point, Ben, it is absolutely irresponsible to talk about the rich needing to pay more without defining the term "rich." The current operating definition is anyone making $250,000. As absurd as that is, you need to address it if you're going to use the term.
cicero| 2.19.13 @ 3:12PM
Don't you love all these rich guys advocating taxing the rich some more? These are the same guys that lobby to have carve outs for themselves, and special tax treatments for their type of incomes. I have a suggestion that might get their attention, if not their votes. Since they think that the government is doing such a great job, and should have more money to do more of it, why not tax all of their assets over a static amount? Let's say, for sake of argument, that the government decides that no one needs more than $10 million. If all of the folks in Washington come to that conclusion, they can pass a tax law that accomplishes that. So, if Warrn B happens to have a billion or two, the government can tax his assets at 100% over that amount. I'm sure he won't mind. Taylor Swift can do with $10 mil, so they can take the other $46 mil she made this laswt year. That's fair, isn't it? And just think how much less Tiger Woods would have had to fork over to his ex if he was only allowed to keep $10 mil of his winnings andd earnings.
Oh, you say that that wouldn't work, because they would just stop earning money, building companies, and employing people? Not so. Just ask our fearless leaders. They would keep earning and generating income because they do it out the goodness of their hearts.
Bob Grant| 2.19.13 @ 3:19PM
I wonder what kind of carve out you get for 18 holes of golf?
delahaya| 2.20.13 @ 9:12AM
Brilliant, cicero.
Occam's Tool| 2.19.13 @ 8:12PM
Ben, if you tax those purses you will not hurt your Malibu friendsd---they will send their income overseas, etc.
But you will hurt American workers who make and sell the purses. You, sir, are a very stupid man in this.
But you are dead on correct about the Israelis.
Occam's Tool| 2.19.13 @ 8:15PM
"friends." Sorry, Ben.
homme nike air max BW | 2.20.13 @ 1:18AM
Mozart piano concertos on my headphones. Soon, I am back asleep, happy as a clam.
hrgfue | 2.20.13 @ 2:33AM
Kickoff to you with the online store 2013
delahaya| 2.20.13 @ 9:11AM
I have a love/hate relationship with Ben Stein. He says the rich should be taxed more - really? Then why keep giving loopholes to Hollywood? The top earners already pay the lion's share of income taxes in this country - its already "progressive" (shudder). Also, most of us don't get to nap all day and get paid to talk about it. Ben is becoming an elitist out of touch with normal folks. Sad. I still like him though.
Tina Trent | 2.21.13 @ 7:32AM
Tobacco Road, Ben? If you want to fight racism, you might start with that. Goodness.