Yay Us!
Posted on December 7th, 2010 by D. Aristophanes
So the White House and GOP leaders have worked out a deal to make sure they still get historically low taxes on their millions while the working people of this country struggle to make ends meet and all of us keep trundling along towards the cliffs of fiscal doom. Hooray!
But for all the efforts Obama is making to pretty himself up to be John Boehner and Mitch McConnell’s prison bitch, has anyone told the Dems in Congress about this ‘compromise’ on the Bush tax cuts? They’re the ones who’d have to sign off on this giveaway to the wealthy if it’s going to pass before the New Year. So tell your Congress critter not to go for it.
Meanwhile, Ezra discovers that shit sandwiches don’t taste nearly as bad as he thought!
“But for all the efforts Obama is making to pretty himself up to be John Boehner and Mitch McConnell’s prison bitch, has anyone told the Dems in Congress about this ‘compromise’ on the Bush tax cuts? ”
Yeah, and they’re not fucking happy about it. Even Harry Reid is throwing a little hissy.
Harry Reid?
I find that hard to believe.
Not that he can’t throw a hissy, the little prig, but that tax cuts for the wealthy he gets his knickers in a twist over.
Screw Harry Reid. John Kerry, Pelosi, Bernie Sanders et. al. are the Dems who could and should walk away from this nonsense.
Well, he was “noncommittal,” which is the same as throwing a hissy for him, I think.
I still don’t understand why tax cuts are tied to unemployment benefits extension.
actor – it’s because the deficit is such a concern that the only solution is to make it even bigger in as many ways as possible, all at once.
I refuse to believe that the so-called “super-wealthy” represent only 0.5% of the American population, what with their majority representation in both houses of Congress and control of the White House. They must be everywhere in the USA, working menial jobs at McDonalds, throwing trash, begging on street corners. Otherwise, they would not be so well-represented in a democracy. Right?
I still don’t understand why tax cuts are tied to unemployment benefits extension.
You’re assuming that Democrats use pro-middle and working class rhetoric as anything other than a tool to get us to vote for them.
What do you expect from a politician like Obama who is putting highly carcinogenic XRay scanners in airports to benefit well connected corporations? Obama is just as corrupt as any other Republican. Tax cuts for the rich are another extreme example of this.
Oh, but it’s only a “temporary”, 2-year extension for the cuts, so we get to go through the whole kibuki again, in ’12, when the Repubs can run on Obama Wants To Raise Your Taxes! by allowing them to expire. And if unemployment improves, it’ll be because of the tax cuts, and if it gets worse or stays the same or doesn’t improve enough, it’ll be because Obama didn’t promise to extend the cuts because, y’know, business won’t hire folks when there’s “uncertainty” about the tax rates they might face in the future.
Jeez, how did I end up rooting for such a stupid team? It’s like being a Broncos fan…
Jeez, how did I end up rooting for such a stupid team? It’s like being a Broncos fan…
Ha! I was just thinking this morning that this must be like being a fan of a losing sports team that constantly snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.
More like being a Niners fan – at least you guys fired the dipshit running your team into the ground.
Make the pie higher.
I’ve about resigned myself to Obama being a one-termer. He hasn’t managed to do anything with the economy, and that’ll ruin him at the polls, even without the FDL’ers trying to cook up someone to run against him.
Hell, at this point, I’m okay with Palin getting in the White House. May as well go out with a bang. 🙁
Poop sammiches tonight, and for the foreseeable future. Please try to eat as much as you can.
TYIA.
Yeah. Niners fan. With the glorious past of Montana (FDR) and Rice (Truman) fading away, never to return.
You guuuuuuuuuuuuuuys are being super-unfair! Obama can’t pass up this opportunity to be besties with the Republicans. One of these days, they’ll let him sit at the cool table! He’s one capitulation away from totally being BFF’s with Boehner and McConnell.
The tough part is how you overcome this mindset:
Senate GOPpers filibuster middle-class tax cuts = DEMOCRATS RAISING YOUR TAXES.
House Dems not acting on a $5 million exemption to estate taxes = DEMOCRATS RAISING YOUR TAXES.
Because Democrats are first and foremost spineless bastards that piss themselves at the thought of being portrayed negatively by Broderella, et al.
He hasn’t managed to do anything with the economy, and that’ll ruin him at the polls, even without the FDL’ers trying to cook up someone to run against him.
Two words: George Bush.
The economy never recovered after his first term, and unlike his dad, he didn’t raise taxes.
Also note the brilliant stratageries of 38-dimensional chess! The tax cut extension is to the end of 2012, so they’ll expire then unless something is done about it. Yahoooo! A New Presidential Campaign Issue!
*sigh*
Are they doing this on purpose?
It’s a very clear choice. On onside we have the tax and spend liberals and on the other side we have the don’t tax and spend even more fiscal conservatives.
Stop it, okay? Stop this gloom-and-doom bullshit. We just got an extension on unemployment benefits – something we were all sure wouldn’t happen – plus a payroll tax holiday and a continuation of the EITC, all things that will be a big help to the unfortunate in the coming year. So do you lead with those? No, you lead with the one thing the Republicans got, just so you can work yourself and everyone here into a lather over it. And now, you’ve come out and essentially said “fuck the poor if I don’t get my way.” No, fuck you Aristophanes. This isn’t about your feelings. This isn’t about making you feel fulfilled as a “liberal” or “progressive” or whatever you want to call yourself. It’s about making sure that people aren’t out in the street and, beyond that, that the whole damn country doesn’t slide into oblivion. That’s a bit more important than being a big tough liberal, isn’t it?
As shit sandwiches go, Ezra’s feasted on way worse than this.
The brilliant chess maneuverations of political genius Obamaroo Banzai and his White House Cavaliers is astounderating!!
The 2% FICA cut? Could reduce the solvency of Social Security – i.e it’s a cut in the dedicated inflow of money. But the brilliance of this tax cut package is that the shortfall will be made up for by general revenue. i.e. the perpetually imminent collapse of Social Security is NOT brought any closer with this tax cut deal.
BUT, Social Security will now for the first time be explicitly supplemented by General Revenue. As in, it will no longer be a separate entity funded by it’s own dedicated revenue stream, but just another government program paid for by (at least in part – and in this case a very small part, but no respectable journalist is going to point out how insignifcant this is) income tax. FFS, letting the “trust fund” run to zero would be less damaging to the long-term outlook for Social Security than this is.
Fuck you, D. Johnston – I’m on unemployment right now, with kids, so I fucking well know what’s at stake here. And the deal to extend the most reckless tax cuts of the Bush era really is going to send us careening into the fiscal oblivion that you perversely claim we just avoided somehow with this latest clusterfuck of an ass-reaming by our feudal overlords.
If you’re capable of imagining how things will look in the economy beyond the next few months, please explain to me how the extension of unemployment benefits (which I’m obviously for) offsets what will almost certainly be a far greater gutting of equally important social services down the line (including, in all likelihood, unemployment benefits) as the deficit beast finally demands feeding.
And while you’re at it, explain to me how it is that the Dems are so piss-poor at governmenting that they actually just had an opportunity in which they ACTUALLY ONLY HAD TO DO NOTHING to shitcan the worst domestic policy of the worst administration of our lifetimes … and they blew it.
We just got an extension on unemployment benefits – something we were all sure wouldn’t happen – plus a payroll tax holiday and a continuation of the EITC, all things that will be a big help to the unfortunate in the coming year. So do you lead with those?
D,
When the history of this administration is written, which do you think is going to resonate with people? That the poor got crumbs, or the rich got the loaf?
Stop it, okay? Stop this gloom-and-doom bullshit.
Agreed. Moping and saying “why not just have Sarah Palin as president” is letting the terrorists win.
When the choices are between bad and insane, I’ll take bad and look for opportunities for better.
POOP.
As others elsewhere have pointed out, the Bush tax cuts are now the Obama tax cuts. These are the same cuts that candidate Obama correctly pointed out have devastated our fiscal outlook. They were sold a decade ago as job creators. What happened to those jobs?
And while you’re at it, explain to me how it is that the Dems are so piss-poor at governmenting that they actually just had an opportunity in which they ACTUALLY ONLY HAD TO DO NOTHING to shitcan the worst domestic policy of the worst administration of our lifetimes … and they blew it.
DING DING DING DING MOTHERFUCKING DING.
I’ve fucking had it with these people, and can really only come to the conclusion that they really don’t give a fuck about any of us.
Not only that, they’re shitty politicians who don’t understand a goddamn motherfucking thing about messaging.
Gr.
I fear Dragon-King is right about the effect on Social Security.
Whose bright idea was that, anyway?
Whose bright idea was that, anyway?
I don’t know, but they obviously had no understanding of how cutthroat the Republicans can get.
Obama doesn’t have the votes in the Senate. He never has (or ever really had) the votes in the Senate to do much of anything progressive. Sure, on paper we’ve got 59 seats. In practice, we’ve got 40+ on a good day. Same thing with the House. A 230 vote majority on paper. In practice, we’re talking about less than 100.
The difference between the House and the Senate is the leadership. Nancy Smash. Reid and Obama coddle up to unpopular losers like Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, and Joe Lieberman.
I’m with you, DA, there’s no “win” here for the Democrats or for America.
They have to know about the Two Santa Claus Theory, but I suspect they just don’t give a shit. We’ve raised an entire nation of selfish, greedy climbers. They all want to be rich, and they all want to taketaketake from Big Gummint, but boy oh boy do they angrily want the money to pay for their takings to come from someone else, preferably those below them! I just don’t get how Obama, etc can look at themselves in the mirror…they KNOW this shite has to be paid for and they KNOW it will destroy the Dem Party if SS is killed, yet they press on. Maybe they think they’ll do ok in the Republic of Gilead?
This has got to be the stupidest fucking deal EVAR. I’m no policy genius or wonky wonking wonker who easily handles 11 and 12 digit numbers in financial analyses – but FUCK is it dumb. How dumb?
I am looking forward to Beer Summit II when Obama invites Joe the Plumber to the White House in order to apologize.
Not only that, they’re shitty politicians who don’t understand a goddamn motherfucking thing about messaging.
I disagree. They sent a very clear message: “If you let my face out of the toilet, I’ll give you tomorrow’s lunch money, too.”
Obama doesn’t have the votes in the Senate.
He didn’t need 50, or 51, or 60. He needed 40. Filibuster, do nothing, and the Democrats win the issue (whether they win the messaging is another story).
Now, in two years, the Republicans will run on Obama’s deficit, all while most Americans think Obama raised their taxes already.
Obama doesn’t have the votes in the Senate.
Bingo. The R’s, for whatever reason, have an enormous advantage in messaging and party discipline so they can get all 42 of their senators to agree to a single course of action (stonewall anything until the soak-the-poor tax cuts are passed) and the Dems run around like the Upper Class Twits at the track and field competition.
Meanwhile, the R’s have figured out how to paint the Dems as elitist and anti-middle class. How the fuck?
they KNOW this shite has to be paid for and they KNOW it will destroy the Dem Party if SS is killed, yet they press on.
That’s what I don’t get. It’s not only that it doesn’t represent the interests of the American people, but it’s also that it’s politically STUPID STUPID STUPID. Ugh.
He didn’t need 50, or 51, or 60. He needed 40. Filibuster, do nothing, and the Democrats win the issue (whether they win the messaging is another story).
Bingfuckinggo.
He didn’t need 50, or 51, or 60. He needed 40. Filibuster, do nothing, and the Democrats win the issue (whether they win the messaging is another story).
I KNOW! THEY DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO *DO* ANYTHING AND THEY COULDN’T EVEN DO THAT!
Jesus H. Christ on a STICK.
Now that G W Bush is out of the way, the Republicans should be able to get whatever they want.
Shrug.
Moving on.
See: POLITICAL. DUMBASSERY.
Isn’t this place is suppused to be a comedic type bloggything? STOP FUCKING DEPRESSING ME! I need levity, humor, whimsical cleverness. Shit, even a bad pun would be better than this crap.
STOP FUCKING DEPRESSING ME!
Tongue depressors are for oral use only.
When my tongue is depressed, my whole being is depressed.
That’s Paul Krugman.
So in other words, the phone-em-and-tell-em-to-scrap-it plan will work as well as the one worked for healthcare. As in not at all. Whether or not I’m cool with that, it is what it is.
The comments from T&U’s link deserve their own Shorter: Suck it, libs!
It’s difficult to suck around a tongue depressor. You end up making a baby-seal squeaking noise.
Filibustering doesn’t extend unemployment benefits. It doesn’t pass a COLA bonus to Social Security recipients. It doesn’t get DADT or the DREAM Act or the START Treaty or anything else to a vote.
Obama’s bartering 2 years of millionaire tax cuts for the poor, gay, and latino votes and for a smaller mushroom cloud in our planetary future. And I – personally – think he’s losing on the deal.
That said, he can’t do that with 40 votes in the Senate.
The Democrats are always going to be at a disadvantage under current Senate rules, because Democrats want the government to do things and Republicans just want to complain about failure. The filibuster is the perfect weapon for that kind of bullshit.
According to the Twitter machine, Pelosi’s not really having it.
This shit must frustrate the living hell out of her.
Somebody at Roy’s reminded us that the Bush tax cuts were sold as a refund of Clinton’s now long gone surplus. Also, Bigby’s “Two Santa Claus Theory” link was great.
the Bush tax cuts were sold as a refund of Clinton’s now long gone surplus.
“It’s your money!”
Assholes.
We just got an extension on unemployment benefits
Don’t
fuckcount those chickens before they hatch.What astonishes me is that the Republicans are compromising with Obama. Wingnuts may be crowing over the tax-cut, but politically it’s a fail. Why offer him anything in a weak economy? Why shouldn’t the GOP burn down this deal, demanding tax-cuts for poor helpless millionaires & billionaires & offering sweet fuck-all in return? It’s already obvious that voters won’t punish them for acting like schizophrenic emos on acid – just look at the horrible price they paid in November for being the Party Of HELL NO for two years.
I just can’t believe it (well actually, pathetically enough, I can): all the Obama administration had to do is make sure everyone stayed on message with “we want to maintain the Bush-era tax cuts that benefit everyone while the GOP is willing to hold those tax cuts hostage unless we maintain tax cuts to the rich that we cannot afford”. I know it would have been hard considering the media decided to construct the debate as “Democrats want to maintain tax cuts only helping the middle class while the GOP wants tax cuts for everyone”, but instead of talking about “compromise”, if only Obama would have used the bully pulpit to tell “his” side of the story (and then indicate briefly a willingness to compromise) …
Meanwhile, they are also cutting payroll taxes which is gonna be labeled as “fiscally irresponsible” because of terms of debate set by a commission appointed by Obama himself.
So let’s see: the Democrats are now seen as effete liberals who have no beliefs and who are always willing to compromise in ways that benefit only the wealthy (and are thus hypocritical when they claim to support the working person) and also are fiscally irresponsible, even according to a commission they set up! And that Democrat-initiated commission wants to cut social security and have gramma subsist on catfood.
Yep. That’s a way to win elections — make sure the debate is defined by the GOP while displaying every stereotype about how “liberals” behave in power. So how’s that 11-dimensional chess working out again?
What astonishes me is that the Republicans are compromising with Obama. Wingnuts may be crowing over the tax-cut, but politically it’s a fail. – jim
The media is painting this as a compromise on Obama’s part. Which is true. The Dems wanted to maintain tax cuts that benefitted everyone. Contra how the media described it, the GOP wanted specific tax cuts only benefiting the rich (in addition to what the Democrats wanted). If both sides want X while one side wants Y as well, allowing X to go through by letting a little bit of Y go through is a huge victory for the side wanting both X and Y.
At the very least, this is politically good for the GOP as the Obama admin basically shut out the Congressional Dems (and thus defanged them as an opposition force to the GOP), and the fall-out makes the Dems look weak.
These tax cuts for the “job creators” have been going on for the past 8 years so where’s my job? How come there’s millions of Americans who have no jobs? These are the only questions I have for the politicians that claim tax cuts should only go to the “job creators” aka rich people. Guess the only jobs that were created are the ones overseas. And more bankers to “invest” the rich people’s tax cuts and figure out ways to defraud the working class.
What gets me is that we have a good excuse for raise taxes. War.
Republicans loooooove them some Middle East conflicts, because their business partners rack in case hand over hand while we fight. Meanwhile, these same business partners hate, hate, hate being taxed to fund said war effort. So we’ve got a clear conflict of interests and a message every American understands. Wars cost money. Congress refuses to end said wars (see: Gitmo still open, war funding still flowing, sanctions still up, Iran still needs a bombing).
It should be easy as all hell to pick one end against the other. Get the wars back in the headlines. Tie tax hikes to military costs. Put the Tea Party on the spot.
But Obama just can’t let go of Afghanistan, so that’s never going to happen. Can’t upset our precious precious wars by injecting all that nasty politics.
In China.
These tax cuts for the “job creators” have been going on for the past
830 years so where’s my job?Fixed for accuracy
In my mind I keep seeing a scene from 1900, the movie, the Berlosconi movie. The long one, with DeNiro, Sutherland….do you remember that scene where the Patron walks out onto the field and explains to the peasant workers that he’s going to have to cut their pay because his wife won’t stop going to Paris and spending all the money on fur coats? Do you remember that? Powerful stuff.
These tax cuts for the “job creators” have been going on for the past 8 years so where’s my job? How come there’s millions of Americans who have no jobs? These are the only questions I have for the politicians that claim tax cuts should only go to the “job creators” aka rich people.
As you point out, most rich people aren’t job creators, but it’s also true that most job creators aren’t rich people: according to the SBA, small businesses have “generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years,” and according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 98% of those small business owners don’t make enough to be in the top two tax brackets and therefore wouldn’t be affected by limiting the cuts.
I keep forgetting that Ezra is published by the WP any more. I don’t suppose you could remember to note that in future, so they don’t get any more hits than they deserve? (May Hiatt rot in Hell)
Sexy!
98% of those small business owners don’t make enough to be in the top two tax brackets and therefore wouldn’t be affected by limiting the cuts.
But they might (odds: 1:10000) which is almost as good as they do so take yer dirty paws out of my pockets you hippie!
: according to the SBA, small businesses have “generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years,” and according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 98% of those small business owners don’t make enough to be in the top two tax brackets and therefore wouldn’t be affected by limiting the cuts.
But they would have been affected very positively by socialized medicine or even a robust single payer (or even robust public option) health care reform package — they could create more jobs without having to worry about having to provide health care to their employees.
OTOH, what do we have? A health reform bill that will force them to provide health insurance to their employees (and to themselves) that they cannot afford.
Sexy!
Well, the big climactic trial scene ends with SPOILER no repercussions whatsoever. Other than ominous threats of communism.
As you point out, most rich people aren’t job creators, but it’s also true that most job creators aren’t rich people: according to the SBA, small businesses have “generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years,” and according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 98% of those small business owners don’t make enough to be in the top two tax brackets and therefore wouldn’t be affected by limiting the cuts.
This message needs to be hammered home as often as possible.
No, the uber-rich are not the primary job-creators of this country; people like you and me are. And even if they were, the current level of unemployment would mean that they are not fulfilling their part of the social contract. So either they take that fucking money out of the Cayman Islands and start hiring people, or we tax it away and do it for them. Simple enough.
In preparation for 2012, when the Democrat leadership will get out their rattles and fright masks and scream “BOOGAH BOOGAH BOOGAH SARAH PALIN’S GONNA OVERTURN ROE V. WADE!!!!!”, I would like some guidance on a philosophical question: At what point does the lesser of two evils become too evil? Must there be exact parity of evil before one refuses to play?
TruculentandUnreliable said,
“…. THEY DIDN’T EVEN HAVE TO *DO* ANYTHING AND THEY COULDN’T EVEN DO THAT!”
Jesus H. Christ on a STICK.
Blazing stupid ain’t it friend. It’s like they didn’t have to walk behind the goddamn horse, they could’ve gone the other way, but it looked as if they was embarrassed they had nothing for the oat-sack, so they went behind, even though the horse had his whole hindquarter tense and trembling, and they got their head stove in. Now they can go look for a light, broke neck job, tending the automatic turnstile in case someone don’t know the shiny round bars go forwards and backwards.
WTF, did I just SPOILER warning a 1976 movie?
SPOILER – Rocky loses to Apollo Creed in the first movie.
Well, the big climactic trial scene ends with SPOILER no repercussions whatsoever. Other than ominous threats of communism.
Nice to know that other countries have their share of Bircher wingnuts as well.
Awright awright. Serious hat on.
It’s not that the dems don’t do messaging well, the dems don’t _do_ messaging. McConnell and Boehner and the rest of the rethuglican kleptocrats have been saying, every fucking chance they get, that cutting taxes creates jobs and shit. Then some fucking so-called “analyst” (at least there’s _some_ reason to call them that) says “Republicans say…” Those “analysts” haven’t once followed up with “99% of credible economists disagree.” And the tax cut mantra becomes conventional wisdom.
For the last couple years Obama and the Dems should have been saying “The Rs are holding the REAL AMERICANS hostage.” They should have been saying “No, businesses don’t hire people due to tax breaks – they hire people WHEN THEY HAVE MORE FUCKING CUSTOMERS.”
The dems 11th hour efforts can’t do shit against years of bullshit. The entire party has been asleep at the fucking wheel.
SPOILER – Rocky loses to Apollo Creed in the first movie.
Luke, I am your father.
Sorry it’s the WaPoop but this graphic says it all.
WTF, did I just SPOILER warning a 1976 movie?
SPOILER – Jesus is a zombie!
Then some fucking so-called “analyst” (at least there’s _some_ reason to call them that) says “Republicans say…” Those “analysts” haven’t once followed up with “99% of credible economists disagree.”
OH DEAR GOD I heard this very crap not one hour ago. Some numbnuts on NPR said that according to some the revenue loss due tax cuts might be made up by increased revenue. SPOILER – it won’t!
Then some fucking so-called “analyst” (at least there’s _some_ reason to call them that) says “Republicans say…” Those “analysts” haven’t once followed up with “99% of credible economists disagree.” And the tax cut mantra becomes conventional wisdom.
Cuz if they did, they’d find out that the tax cut saved the average taxpayer earning more than $250K just $700 a year, and no one is fucking going to create a job for $700.
I don’t even want my tax cut extended. Fuck it, if my tax cut is being held hostage to ensure tax cuts for millionaires, I’m willing to go all Kaiser Soze and ***SPOILER WARNING*** shoot it in the head myself.
Ah do declayah: the North wiyuns.
Sorry it’s the WaPoop but this graphic says it all.
If I get *lucky*, I’ll be working ****SPOILER WARNING**** until the day I die.
I’m with B^4.
I’m willing to go all Kaiser Wilhelm and destroy the entire political structure of the world just to be petulant.
BIBLE SPOILER – Jesus dies but comes back to life but then dies again and then the End Times are upon us probably tomorrow or maybe next week
N__B, Julian Assange is ahead of you
I’m willing to go with a kaiser instead of rye for my reuben. SPOILER WARNING, it’s got sauerkraut innit.
N__B, Julian Assange is ahead of you
I’m not taking his sloppy seconds.
Too soon?
I’m willing to go all Kaiser Wilhelm and destroy the entire political structure of the world just to be petulant.
Ooh, with the mustachios? Because they are FABulous.
Too soon?
Yes. Damn you, I wanted that joke.
I’m not taking his sloppy seconds.
Too soon?
*heads over to Shakespeare’s Sister for feminist penance for laughing aloud*
I’m willing to go all Kaiser Permanente and deny health care to someone with a pre-existing condition.
no one is fucking going to create a job for $700.
Nobody implied these would be good jobs.
Ooh, with the mustachios?
No, with the Pickelhaube*.
*Veiled dickhead reference.
*heads over to Shakespeare’s Sister for feminist penance for laughing aloud*
Sat a few Hail Lissas for me as well.
no one is fucking going to create a job for $700.
Au contraire! But it’s just for one night.
In the year two thousaaaaand
Say, too.
WP, you go and fuck yourself.
Jimbo,
I fail to see how it’s a fail. Are you saying their base will be angry at them for compromising?
Because the front page of The Examiner this morning was “Obama, GOP Agree To Extend Tax Cuts.” The PJM article on the subject is titled “Mr. Lonely,” and the subtitle explains that Obama’s getting hit from both sides in this argument. I didn’t read either article but the contents aren’t hard to guess at; the magnificent Republicans forced Obama to give them their tax cuts, which is another milestone on the road to his destruction, ergo YAAAYYYYYYY!!!
As long as most conservative outlets stick to this narrative, they can keep their voters from seeing it as a fail. Heck, a not inconsiderable fraction of them will probably never even hear about the unemployment benefits extension.
no one is fucking going to create a job for $700.
Au contraire! But it’s just for one night.
If it’s in tips and she’s DKW’s mom, that’s $700 “jobs” right there…
So, the question now is, who’s gonna primary BHO’s ass? I’m hoping Dean, scream and all.
If it’s in tips and she’s DKW’s mom, that’s $700 “jobs” right there…
Because…*SPOILER ALERT*…she’s a cheap ho.
Hil.
I’m hoping Dean, scream and all.
He’s already said no.
I’m willing to go all Kaiser, Missouri and be all unincorporated and shit.
What I don’t understand is that the Republicans seem scared shitless of their base, no matter dumb and stupid and mean and self-sabotaging they are. The Dems, however, seem downright anxious to shit on their base. What’s up with that?
I’m willing to…be all unincorporated and shit.
I don’t think ghosts can defecate.
parity of evil
Is this a death metal band?
I’ll just leave this here.
I find listening to Sam Seder helps me feel less crappy. Janeane was on today.
That depends on how you feel about “The Sixth Sense.”*
*I liked it myself, but I couldn’t resist making the joke.
What I don’t understand is that the Republicans seem scared shitless of their base, no matter dumb and stupid and mean and self-sabotaging they are. The Dems, however, seem downright anxious to shit on their base. What’s up with that?
Because being accused of being a hippie is a fate worse than death.
That depends on how you feel about “The Sixth Sense.”
I hate it, for the reason that it was watchable (when drunk) and therefore lulled me into a false sense of M. Night being something other than a talentless douchebag. Had it sucked worse, I would never have seen any other of his movies.
small businesses have “generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years,” and according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities 98% of those small business owners don’t make enough to be in the top two tax brackets and therefore wouldn’t be affected by limiting the cuts.
THIS A THOUSAND TIMES. Every time some jackass utters the phrase “No poor man ever gave me a job”, somebody else should have to jump up and cry “BULLSHIT!” at the top of his lungs. Go ask your average hairdresser, tax accountant, plumber, electrician or bricklayer when he or she hired his or her first employee. I guarantee you the answer will have nothing to do with being “rich”. It will be that they started hiring the minute demand for their services exceeded what they could do themselves. All of them are “poor” by Wall Street standards. All of them give people jobs every goddamned day.
On the immediate question…I’m not sure this isn’t the right thing to do. People are suffering without UI benefits and winter is coming. The payroll tax cut should work as a demand side stimulus at least as well as Uncle Miltie’s proverbial cash dropped from a helicopter. (The supply side bullshit used to justify the upper bracket tax cuts, is of course vacuous nonsense.) No other stimulus and no UI extension were possible as long as the Republicans were going to filibuster everything and the media was going to let them get away with it. I do think the White House should be better at messaging. (Actually, I think they never should have stopped campaigning. They were good at campaigning.) But this might have been their only option.
On the long term question…Seriously, how do you run a country, especially a country addicted to foreign wars, when the only way you are allowed to adjust the tax code is downward? Do the Serious People not get where that road leads?
That depends on how you feel about “The Sixth Sense.”*
I prefer the work of M. Night Shabba Doo (twist ending- he’s not a real doctor).
Goddamn Warner Music group pulled the audio track, so FYWMG.
I think Repubs are laughing all the way to the bank, is more like it. After all, all their base ever gets angry about is the stuff the Republicans have spoon-fed them.
As for the Dems, ah – I hate to sound stupid, but what exactly is our base?
Too soon?
That’s what Ardin said when Assange slept with a younger, hotter chick a few days later. And then found out that she made him breakfast.
I remember several months ago hearing from a big CEO that the big companies weren’t hiring because of the uncertainty of the tax situation. Then about three weeks later I read about how that same CEO was not going to get as big a bonus as he had hoped for because of the slow economy. The poor bastard was going to have to make due with a mere 14 million dollars in bonuses this year instead of the 16 million he got last year. So I guess that’s wht he so urgently needs a tax cut, but all I could think of was if he could somehow scrape by on say 7 million in bonuses the company could afford to hire 200 people at an average salary of $30,000.
I never saw a need to see “The Sixth Sense”. A co-worker told me that it had a great twist ending, which I proceed to reveal to her after having read a review. Sheesh, hadn’t anyone who watched the movie read An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge?
Considering Nym change cause I’m obviously way too fast for WP to keep up!
SPOILER WARNING, the little kid in The Sixth Sense is really an android!
FUCK YOU, WP!!!
The bigger question is how do you run a government when half the people in it (at least) have a personal stake in the idea that “Government Doesn’t Work.”
You can’t, of course. Any more than you can run a corporation with a communist at the helm, or an army with a pacifist at the helm, or a Yankees team if half its members were Red Sox fans. But for whatever reason, people still seem to think you can, and until they snap out of it, Shit Sandwich Central it is.
As for the Serious People, I think they figure in the long run, they’re all dead.
I saw a bumper sticker on the back of the car of some airy-fairy hippie* family that said “What would Scooby Doo?” I wanted to give them a thumbs up.
*meant with genuine affection
Heh, I just got an e-mail from a wingnut former co-worker who is urging everyone to call congress to tell them to vote no on the food safety bill.
Freedom is just another word for munching on pink slime.
That’s a mean thing to say about Hayley Joel.
I would hardly call him talentless, though I’ll grant you he peaked early.
SPOILER WARNING, the little kid in The Sixth Sense is really an android!
SPOILER WARNING, Darth Vader is the father of the little kid in The Sixth Sense.
Isn’t it people like us? Only maybe not as charming and witty?
SPOILER WARNING: Snape kills Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense!
That made me laugh out loud.
Freedom is just another word for munching on pink slime.
*blush*
You really promised you’d never speak of that again.
I bet you didn’t destroy the tape, either…
SPOILER WARNING: The real name of the android kid in The Sixth Sense is “Rosebud”.
I would hardly call him talentless
Your pass on the douchebag question is, shall we say, noticeable.
Heh, I just got an e-mail from a wingnut former co-worker who is urging everyone to call congress to tell them to vote no on the food safety bill.
Show me in the Constitution where it says the government has the right to stop businesses from selling rat shit in their rice! WE MUST HAVE ORIGINAL INTENT! MOSES WROTE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!
I would hardly call him talentless, though I’ll grant you he peaked early.
I would,
The Sixth Sense was the single most predictable film I’d seen in the past twenty years, and why people didn’t get the plot from the get-go was completely baffling to me.
Wanna see a really good film with the same thesis? Rent “Passengers”.
The Democratic base is made up of acedemic elites, who are too educated to automatically accept everything the Dem politicians tell them, the DFHs who are too stoned to stay focused on anything the Dem politicians tell them and the Hoolywood elites who are too busy pushing the gay agenda/Shria law to pay any attention to what the Dem politicians are saying. And that’s why the Dems have such a hard time controlling the message.
Lulz.
SPOILER ALERT: In The Sixth Sense, Bruce Willis saves Ving Rhames from the gimp
I read this blog at least once a week. I think it’s great,funny as hell. But if I have to hear one more word about how Obama is some kind of punk for doing something instead of nothing I’m gonna throw this computer across the room. Do any of you realize that people are actually unsure about how to feed and clothe their families, let alone what to do about Christmas? I have been unemployed for six months. My boss ran off with his business to somewhere he can pay people in pixie dust. I have one kid left at home and it’s his senior year , I am now on food stamps , I may have to find a sugar daddy and start selling pussy to pay my bills but if Obama had done nothing I wouldn’t even get a tax credit for my son ,which by the way will be the biggest check I get this year. Everybody claims they can do a better job when it’s not their job to do. Hell, if I was Obama I’d make it law that the Kardashians couldn’t ever be on t.v. But whoring yourself out so that you constituents don’t have to is the mark of a true leader to me.
MOSES WROTE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!
And that, my good people, is a twist ending worthy of M. Night Shabba Doo.
It’s true they are forever herding cats, while Repukes are in lockstep like…well…you know…
read An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge?
I confess that I have not read it. But I did see the short.
But if I have to hear one more word about how Obama is some kind of punk for doing something instead of nothing I’m gonna throw this computer across the room.
Couple of things:
First, thanks for posting. It’s nice to see a fresh face every so often.
Second, part of what makes this blog so funny is passion. We hold differing opinions about things, and we hold them dearly. We couldn’t possibly be funny without that passion.
Third, this place is a great place to vent steam.
So I’m glad you did it, too, but I’m sure you can appreciate that other people are just doing what you just did.
My boss ran off with his business to somewhere he can pay people in pixie dust.
And here is Obama, letting him keep his tax cut, when the fate of your unemployment benefits is far from certain. I say throw your computer across the room and use the tax credit to buy a new one to stimulate the economy.
Fuck, none of us is doing as well as we were in the good old days of high tax rates for the upper 2%.
Meanwhile the Republican base is made up of the obscenely wealthy, who make the message, the Dittoheads, InHannitys, Factoroids, Youse Beckistanis and evryone else that dreams that they just might be obscenely wealthy one day.
MOSES WROTE THE CONSTITUTION!!!!
HELLO, did you not see the exhortation to alert people of your spoilers?!! Asshole.
Fuck it, I’m going to go out for a delicious spleen sandwich and drink copious amounts of beer. Good night, good people!
As The Condom Breaks:
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/sex-by-surprise-at-heart-of-assange-criminal-probe/19741444
HELLO, did you not see the exhortation to alert people of your spoilers?!! SPOILER ALERT! Asshole.
FTFY
If they weren’t so selfish and hateful, their naivete would almost make me feel bad for them.
HELLO, did you not see the exhortation to alert people of your spoilers?!! Asshole.
Oh, crap, is that how Spengler’s new book ends? I totally didn’t see that coming.
talula badula – As I mentioned earlier, I’m on unemployment right now too, with two kids. I feel you. I think you are mistaken, though, in assuming this compromise was a zero sum game, e.g. tax breaks for the rich and extension of benefits together or not at all. Fuck, could there not have at least been a compromise on the floor for the tax break ending? Could have been $500K or even $1 million.
Meanwhile the Republican base is made up of the obscenely wealthy, who make the message, the Dittoheads, InHannitys, Factoroids, Youse Beckistanis and evryone else that dreams that they just might be obscenely wealthy one day.
By “base,” I meant (for the GOP) Angry White Conservatives – e.g. one big demographic of zombie voters who’ll faithfully support The Movement no matter what’s happening. We don’t really have that kind of base.
We hold differing opinions about things except religion which is where we are all totally in agreement.
As The Condom Breaks:
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/sex-by-surprise-at-heart-of-assange-criminal-probe/19741444
This gets weirder and weirder. Consensual sex is not consensual if the condom breaks? Or if he seems like he’s not all that into you after you paid his way to your place? How can the UK refuse bail when a) he turned himself in and b) there’s not even a Swedish arrest warrant, he’s just wanted for questioning?
Religion needs moar hot gay sex. (We all agree on this, no?) And, yes, my answer to everything from now is going to be that everything needs more hot gay sex. Get used to it.
“We hold differing opinions about things except religion which is where we are all totally in agreement.”
Damn right! You diss Santa Claus at your own peril.
We hold differing opinions about things except religion which is where we are all totally in agreement.
* takes down the mirror over the bar and ducks.
“How can the UK refuse bail when a) he turned himself in and b) there’s not even a Swedish arrest warrant, he’s just wanted for questioning?”
Please direct this question to Langley.
Don’t make me start the War on Christmas right here right now. I’ll do it. I’ll fucking do it.
Consensual sex is not consensual if the condom breaks?
If the condom breaks, and she asks him to stop because it broke, and he does not stop, then yes, consent has been withdrawn. This should not be a difficult concept.
Religion needs moar hot gay sex.
It’s really spelled “altEr boys” you know…
We hold differing opinions about things except religion which is where we are all totally in agreement.
Yes, we’ve already seen this.
And, yes, my answer to everything from now is going to be that everything needs more hot
gay</strike Thread Bear sex. Get used to it.Fixed to reflect my own point of view.
We hold differing opinions about things except religion which is where we are all totally in agreement.
I believe there us also unanimity regarding the virtue and availability of DKW’s mom.
Just one effin’ > short of winning the intertubes. Aaaaaaaarrrrrgh!
“Just one effin’ > short of winning the intertubes. Aaaaaaaarrrrrgh!”
I gave you a 9.5.
I believe there us also unanimity regarding the virtue and availability of DKW’s mom.
The jury is still out on the desirabilty issue though.
Is that what happened? It didn’t sound like it from the reports I’ve read, it sounded like the first was unhappy after the fact to discover the condom had broken and thought for some reason that he might have done it on purpose. She has said specifically it was not rape. The second said she insisted the night before that he use a condom, but the next morning they had sex without one, which she didn’t say was non-consensual.
Just one effin’ > short of winning the intertubes. Aaaaaaaarrrrrgh!
Ya gotta stick the landing.
that’s what he said!
Oh, I do see where the article quotes the second in the NYT, but the quote is not in the linked article. If it’s true that of course would be a different matter.
I just got Thread Bear’s name. Is it too late for coffee?
I don’t think “rape” is the correct term. If it was, how could the maximum penalty be $750 in a “pro-feminist” government? My Swedish is limited to “smorgasbord.”
My Swedish is limited to “smorgasbord.”
That requires more than two naked people.
I just got Thread Bear’s name. Is it too late for coffee?
Just to be clear… absolutely no relation to Momma Grizzly!
“Just one effin’ > short of winning the intertubes. Aaaaaaaarrrrrgh!”
I gave you a 9.5.
Aaaaaand a 2.6 from the gay judge.
Are you doubting the Democrats recent maneuver of pretending to dither for a few months before giving the Republicans everything they want? I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were another crazy far-leftist purist racist who wants Sarah Palin to become President in 2012 because THAT’S WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU DO NOT SUPPORT YOUR PRESIDENT UNCONDITIONALLY!
And can you believe those crazy teabaggers who don’t even realize they’re being duped with promises that their newly-elected representatives will jettison once they’re in office? Whatta buncha suckers.
My Swedish is limited to “smorgasbord.”
Hah, I took the advanced Swedish course. I can say Thor, Odin, Loki, Doppelganger, Berserker, Stochholm, Saab and Meatball!
Aaaaaand a 2.6 from the gay judge.
Dammit, and I took the trouble to squeeze into these tights specifically to impress the gay judge.
Hah, I took the advanced Swedish course. I can say Thor, Odin, Loki, Doppelganger, Berserker, Stochholm, Saab and Meatball!
What about børk, børk, børk?
I think with the popularity of Wallender and Salender and the like, it’s high time (if Sesame Street has not already done so) for a Swedish Chef detective sketch.
Hah, I took the advanced Swedish course. I can say Thor, Odin, Loki, Doppelganger, Berserker, Stochholm, Saab and Meatball!
Needs more Ytterbium.
If the condom breaks, and she asks him to stop because it broke, and he does not stop, then yes, consent has been withdrawn. This should not be a difficult concept.
What if it’s the opposite? He tries to withdraw and she is rather keen on him continuing on … um … not that I was ever in such a situation …
Needs more Swedish hot gay Ytterbium-laden sex.
Yøu førgøt “Møøse.”
With meatballs! Or is that redundant?
I think Doppelgänger ist Cherman.
What if it’s the opposite? He tries to withdraw and she is rather keen on him continuing on
How does she prevent withdrawal? Vice grips?
A møøse bit by sister ønce
“Dammit, and I took the trouble to squeeze into these tights specifically to impress the gay judge.”
If you’re a Thread BEAR, do you really need the tights?
How does she prevent withdrawal? Vice grips?
Well trained Rottwieller.
How does she prevent withdrawal? Vice grips? – Malaclypse
One of my rules is never to be involved with a woman unless she has really strong hands and hence a good grip: a good grip is necessary for a good hug and the strong hands are required for a good back rub.
Nasti!!!
It leaked.. What can I say?
So which should I do: revise a course outline, grade lab reports, write final exams or just waste more time until it’s time to teach my general chem students at 4:00 PM?
Lemme know if the new people will be staying for dinner.
The on-call Dial – a – judge said ‘doesn’t consitute a rape charge. No Warrant for you.’
They’re trying to get him for ‘sex by surprise’, which holds a fine of $750, which no-one has been able to properly define yet. Hence Scotland Yard’s ‘Now wait here a minute, Sven’ attitude.
Needs more Swedish hot gay Ytterbium-laden sex.
PROTIP: Only gay sex should be Ytterbium-laden. Ytterbium is teratogenic.
I have not decided whether or not they please me yet.
DAS: Let us help you with writing those final exams
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen Ytterbium?
Clarification and doctor’s note for vs: Ytterbium-laden lesbian sex whilst pregnant is right out. You’ll just have to have plain old Ytterbium-free hot lesbo couplings. Don’t forget the webcam.
As my doctor, you should probably be there in person.
As my doctor, you should probably be there in person.
Is it getting warm in here or do I have an erection?
Let us help you with writing those final exams – exford legs
That would be a problem: how many questions about Ytterbium can I ask before the students just revolt?
Maybe the solution would be to ask questions about Yttrium as well?
Meanwhile I have figured out something to do — ponder whether I should bother rewriting some MATLAB code in C to speed it up …
Actually doesn’t the hottest Swedish themed lesbian sex involve thulium?
Some corporatist sellout who’s been unemployed for a year now just showed up on my Facebook page to disagree with me that everyone should lobby their Reps and Senators to kill this compromise. Said that the rich getting to keep their tax rates as they are, while distatsteful, wasn’t nearly as important to her as being able to keep some kind of income for at least another 13 months and that she’s happy to have a little breathing room so could I maybe take a deep breath and rethink my position. Fuck no, I said right before de-friending her worthless ass. If I have to explain to you what the Overton Window is, you still think there’s a difference between the two parties and you’ve obviously never read a word of Lakoff then I don’t need you in my life. I did also give her a lecture on messaging and optics before I made her fuck off into oblivion so at least there’s some consolation for her. Hopefully she’ll share what I taught her about liberal politics with her daughter.
Earlier, this other guy showed up and said that the expanded EITC, child tax credit and other elements of the stimulus package that this compromise extends were pretty important to a guy like him who went from making $85K to $9 per hour and that I probably hadn’t considered the plight of people like him before I urged taking a chance and seeing what will happen when the GOP takes over the House. Could I possibly take the needs of the likes of him and his family into consideration here, he asked. “No. This has been another edition of SATSQ” I typed back before de-friending him too. I do not need defeatist centrist sheep who don’t give a fuck about framing like him coming along and spoiling my day.
Oddly, the only people who are coming to my support and hitting the “like” button are my wingnut friends. They must be misreading me which makes sense because they’re stupid.
“ponder whether I should bother rewriting some MATLAB code in C to speed it up …”
I prefer Grieg’s piano concerto in A. And don’t play it too damn fast!
Actually doesn’t the hottest Swedish themed lesbian sex involve thulium?
Um… what was the topic for this thread? And uh, wasn’t there something about how Democrats can’t stay on message or somesuch?
Also-
POOP!
Uh – I mean “as a medical professional, my interests are solely in your personal well-being – or at least your being well <sotto voce>rogered over, heh heh</sotto voce>.”
Q1: How many question about Ytterbium can I set before the students revolt?
A: Three
Q2: If Ytterbium is introduced to a vacuum-sealed environment and DragonWangChuckium is added in an excited state , will enough energy be released in order for them to switch on a webcam for us to see?
A: Sadly, No!
Back to the original topic – I used to think Ytterbium was pronounced eat-her-bum.
Q2: If Ytterbium is introduced to a vacuum-sealed environment and DragonWangChuckium is added in an excited state , will enough energy be released in order for them to switch on a webcam for us to see?
It’s a couple teaspoons, but I’m pretty sure I can get a metre of air.
TMI?
I WANT to trust you, DKW, but I don’t understand why I need a breast exam every time I come to see you.
Also on topic – about the Obama tax deal thing. Top post at Josh Marshall’s is titled Seminal Moment.
vs,
Surely you’ve noticed how much your breasts are changing at this time. I certainly have. Repeatedly.
metre of air
You sound like a skateboarder.
Also, Napoleon Dynamite: ‘You got like four feet of air that time.’
Ends with “going forward” so it’s just like I’m in a meeting at work.
Discharge moment.
How many question about Ytterbium can I set before the students revolt?
The students are already revolting.
Some corporatist sellout who’s been unemployed for a year now just showed up on my Facebook page to disagree with me that everyone should lobby their Reps and Senators to kill this compromise.
I know you’re joking, but dang why the hell aren’t we telling people to call their REPUBLICAN reps and senators to tell THEM to decouple unemployment benefits from non-existent-surplus-refund-to-moneybags? Why aren’t Republicans having to justify holding unemployed people hostage for big handouts of money we don’t have to people who don’t need it? Why aren’t Republicans being forced to eat their words on deficits?
Dammit, and I took the trouble to squeeze into these tights specifically to impress the gay judge.
Try a push-up bro. (NOTE: Not “try a push up, bro”)
You might not get a higher score but he may buy you a drink after.
And can you believe those crazy teabaggers who don’t even realize they’re being duped with promises that their newly-elected representatives will jettison once they’re in office? Whatta buncha suckers.
Oh, they realize it. Go on over to RedState. The Trike Force is flipping out over this. They say that the GOP are a bunch of faggots that are always caving and this latest compromise with the Democrat party is another example of that uselessness. With any luck they’ll put enough pressure on the House Republicans that this deal won’t ever get passed. Actually, why leave it to chance? Let’s form an alliance with them.
Anyways, from that Seminal Moment:
Because if a voice can change a room, then it can bring apathy to the world. Fired Up? Don’t Be. Ready to go? GTFO.
“Noticing” is what the kids are calling it these days?
OR a mansiere.
Best option: support Sarah Palin’s candidacy AND a primary opponent for Obama.
Ends with “going forward” so it’s just like I’m in a meeting at work.
Aren’t you?
If we support primarying Obama, all the Sensible Liberals are gonna whack our pee-pees and call us crazy and unreasonable. Aren’t you askeert?
“Seminal Moment”
So the two dominant themes of the thread converge at last….
Supposedly we get 13 months of unemployment out of the deal instead of 3 or 4 that we’ve been given.
And then it has to pass the House again.
Ugh.
Supposedly we get 13 months of unemployment out of the deal instead of 3 or 4 that we’ve been given.
And that is only for people who have not run out their benefits before now. If your benefits expired yesterday, well, obviously you are the undeserving poor.
I would have preferred to see the cuts for the wealthy expire, but at least SOMETHING got done. I kind of agree with Obama in that, if all we ever demand is purity of position, nothing ever happens.
On the other hand, the whole reason these tax cuts exist at all is because the Democrats in the Senate weren’t able to do anything about them, even though their minority was much bigger. Their position then was, “we can’t fight Bush after the recount, America doesn’t want us to.” Their position now is, “America doesn’t want us to fight after the Tea Party victory, America doesn’t want us to.”
I understand Obama’s desire not to simply be a progressive version of Dubya. Allow the most activist types to dictate to the Oval Office is what gave us Iraq, Katrina, and so on. But there has to be some issue at which a line is drawn in the sand, right?
The problem is, though, that the slaves they’re still employing are so productive now, doing the work that used to take 5 people to do, just so they don’t lose their precarious job in this shitty situation. If you can pay one terrified moron $30,000 to do the job of 5 people, why* would you pay 4 extra losers just because?** At least that’s their thinking.
*because it would mean more people who can buy groceries and pay rent and go to the movies once in a while and basically spend money and create a bigger demand for your goods and/or services, thereby increasing your own profit.
**Plus, when terrified moron X drops dead from stress thirty years early, that means you can hire a recent college grad to do the same job for $20 and a bucket of cold human excrement.
**Plus, when terrified moron X drops dead from stress thirty years early, that means you can hire a recent college grad to do the same job for $20 and a bucket of cold human excrement.
Not debating your point, but I graduated college five years ago and I’d be stoked to make that much. Even without the cold human excrement bonus!
bucket of cold human excrement
Ding a ding a ding.
Dinner!!!
meme lulz 1
Really, if the Democrats allow a bill to expire as scheduled Republicans will vote against any tax cuts at all? And they will continue to vote against giving anyone any tax cuts, no matter what? And that would be blamed on the Democrats?
Why didn’t the Democrats think of this before?! They can just filibuster funding for the military until they get universal single-payer healthcare! Why do those Republicans hate the military so?
meme lulz 2
Why didn’t the Democrats think of this before?!
Um, because stop hitting yourself?
And that is only for people who have not run out their benefits before now.
I believe this is part of the Rpublican plan. They will fight any attempt to extend unemployment benefits, delaying them as long as possible and allow as many people as possible to fall through the cracks. Once enough people have been eliminated that way there will be far less resistance to just letting them expire for everybody. Then they will just spin it as “look,we got everybody off unemployment so there must be enough jobs. See, the tax cuts worked.”
I know you’re joking, but dang why the hell aren’t we telling people to call their REPUBLICAN reps and senators to tell THEM to decouple unemployment benefits from non-existent-surplus-refund-to-moneybags? Why aren’t Republicans having to justify holding unemployed people hostage for big handouts of money we don’t have to people who don’t need it? Why aren’t Republicans being forced to eat their words on deficits?
It’s a good question which hardly ever gets asked. You could ask the same question about DADT, DREAM, EFCA, and on and on. In each case the culprits are in order, almost all the Republicans, some number of congressional Democrats, Obama. Maybe we think if we blame Democrats for the things Republicans do, the Republicans will stop taking our lunch money. Or maybe we’re too busy whacking off over the idea of drafting some failed politician to primary Obama. That’s when we’re not bitching to each other about getting hippie punched. Except for when we’re doing both. We do have two hands after all. But we don’t have three hands so there’s no possibility of picking up the phone and lobbying the people primarily responsible for the compromise or outright failure of the legislation we want. Plus we think Obama is the Messiah and could give us everything we want so he must not really want to give these things to us.
Plus we think Obama is the Messiah
Spoiler – zombie.
And that is only for people who have not run out their benefits before now. If your benefits expired yesterday, well, obviously you are the undeserving poor.
Only the people who have already run up 99 weeks of unemployment benefits are left out of the extension. Everyone else gets extended even if your benefits just ran out. That’s bad enough though so hopefully Pelosi will insist on taking care of the 99ers too.
POOP?
D. Aristophanes I totally agree with you ….. most of the time…. even now but I had an interview with a republican yesterday. He didn’t tell me he was a republican, wasn’t wearing a badge. But the disdain for me was there. I was offended from the first handshake. It said “what are you doing here?” I need a fucking job and these fucks are picking people like it’s Dancing with the Stars. Maybe I’m being a little selfish thinking about my tax cut and not society as a whole. I just can’t get past it. I need a place to live.
Now I sound like a fucking punk.
We do have two hands after all. But we don’t have three hands
You don’t need hands to wish for sparkleponies!
I know you’re joking, but dang why the hell aren’t we telling people to call their REPUBLICAN reps and senators to tell THEM to decouple unemployment benefits from non-existent-surplus-refund-to-moneybags?
Because I currently live in an area that is deep blue? Because when I lived in an area with Republican people I was lucky if I got a response from them, especially if they had recently gone on record as wanting the poor to kindly eat shit and die and stop wasting our nation’s precious oxygen before saying God Bless America without their heads exploding from the irony?
We already know where the majority of Republicans stand, they have said it loudly in public and in private. If you can somehow change their mind and convince them to vote for unemployment benefits and against giving millionaires a tax cut I’ll give you what’s left of my savings after my last temp job ended.
Really, if the Democrats allow a bill to expire as scheduled Republicans will vote against any tax cuts at all? And they will continue to vote against giving anyone any tax cuts, no matter what? And that would be blamed on the Democrats?
Are you being sarcastic, dude? (I don’t even know anymore.)
BRAVO!
Well, I wrote Scott Brown(Kerry, too), but I ain’t holding my breath. I was probably too easy on him, as I didn’t say “come personally tell unemployed people in Mass why you think they and their kids should starve for Christmas while you continue to refund Clinton surplus money we don’t have to people so rich they’re getting their taints gilded, you motherfucker.” Dammit, opportunity WASTED.
My “BRAVO” was meant for A Lurker but you do have a point.
It’s not that the dems don’t do messaging well, the dems don’t _do_ messaging. McConnell and Boehner and the rest of the rethuglican kleptocrats have been saying, every fucking chance they get, that cutting taxes creates jobs and shit. Then some fucking so-called “analyst” (at least there’s _some_ reason to call them that) says “Republicans say…” Those “analysts” haven’t once followed up with “99% of credible economists disagree.” And the tax cut mantra becomes conventional wisdom.
Public opinion has been solidly behind the majority of the Democrats’ position on the expiration and against McConnell and Boehner and the rest of the assholes but the Republicans still filibustered. Whatever you want to say about the Democrats’ “messaging,” it got through and was not the issue.
“I would hardly call him talentless, though I’ll grant you he peaked early.”
…because he waited till he was creatively tapped-out writing-wise before adapting other people’s work. Just a look at Hitchcock’s career should have shown him the wisdom of not trying to be a one-man-band.
Comedy relief w/ VS in mind.
“people so rich they’re getting their taints gilded, you motherfucker.”
Interest. Website? Newsletter?
Central to my point, I think we’re seeing a convergence of convenience: the plutocrats (and Mickey, Goofy, and Donald) including teh mainstreme mediar, have started to conflate actual liberals with people who have been out of work for more than a fortnight. So when the Great Capitulator snarls at the ‘sanctimonious’ folk to his left, he’s warning the jobless they’d better watch out or they’ll get punched like hippies. Not sure that approach is going to work, seeing as they’re already getting applications of a fist of a different sort.
But I do think this is a vague sort of trend beginning to occur. The great danger of people who have been so thoroughly screwed is they tend to go all socialest unless reminded whose hand they eat from. Unfortunately Obammy seems to have internalized the danger of this (pity he sees it as a danger, not an asset). So instead of mobilizing an army of the broke, the hard-pressed, and the outcast, he’s trying to recruit the army of the not-in-trouble — who, because they’re not in trouble, trend independent/ Republican/ cornholio.
There, you see? Long-range political analysis. Even a laboratory-bred protoplasm can concoct it. I should know — only three weeks ago, I was just an algal bloom in a dish of agar. Now I possess rudimentary eye structures and a kind of creeping locomotion I accomplish by contracting the muscular fringe of tissue around my base.
contracting the muscular fringe of tissue around my base
HAWT PROTOPLASM
Well, it could be worse. McCain might have won. You would all be in the army now or making bullets, somewhere.
Shorter A. Lurker: I wish McCain and Palin were running things, because things would be better, or at least no worse, than they are now. Well, whiter at least. That’s the most important thing.
The magical McCain in my little chickenshit head is way more liberal than the actual world Obama. Who could possibly debate that “fact”?
COUNTERFACTUALS FOR ALL!!!!!!
The only thing better than counterfactual pie is a car that runs on liquid counterfactuals. I also like putting a couple splashes of counterfactual on my neck before going out. Girls love counterfactuals (well, except for logicians, but they’re shitty lays in my experience anyway).
MAGICAL PUPPIES THAT SHIT RAINBOWS. That’s who we could’ve had as Secretary of Awesomeness or whatever if only O-bummer hadn’t been elected and McCain/Palin had won instead.
How did we manage to elect the only guy in the history of politics who has ever compromised his ideals for the sake of political expediency?
I know, you were being snarktastical, but cries of “President McCain!!!!” fall on deaf ears. This isn’t Star Trek. McCain is not, and never was, the chief executive of the United States. Some other peckerwood is.
Comedy relief
“Besides, the cold pole feels good on my ‘rhoids.”
Boy, don’t I know what she meanshilarious!Also,
only three weeks ago, I was just an algal bloom in a dish of agar. Now I possess rudimentary eye structures and a kind of creeping locomotion I accomplish by contracting the muscular fringe of tissue around my base.
I know you’re lying because eyes are too complex to be anything but THE LORD’s creation and I can prove it!
Part of me used to wonder if it might’ve been better politically for Democrats in the long run had McCain won – the economy would be doing even worse than it is now, and he would’ve gotten all the blame for it. And by 2012, with Republicans presiding over an economic crisis for four years (rather than passing it on to the Dems after just a few months), their party and their message might’ve been irrevocably sunk in a way that even the 2008 crisis couldn’t accomplish.
But of course, I was dreaming. The message wouldn’t have gone away; there’d have been a teabagger movement by 2012 saying “that’s not our message! The problem is that he’s a RINO selling the party out to liberals! VOTE FOR A REAL CONSERVATIVE!” Actually, that part would’ve gone pretty much the same no matter what.
“Um… what was the topic for this thread? And uh, wasn’t there something about how Democrats can’t stay on message or somesuch? ”
How is getting fucked without a condom in any way off topic?!
“How did we manage to elect the only guy in the history of politics who has ever compromised his ideals for the sake of political expediency?”
Now, every time I think about how I voted for Obama (with reservations because I kept asking, at the time, what his achievements were as a politician and didn’t come up with very good answers), I remember this:
http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/archives/012670.html
I laughed when I read it but should have gone with my intuition and listened to them.
DAMN YOU, TRIANGULATING CENTRIST DEMOCRATS! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELLLL!!!
Are you sure that’s something Charlton Heston would say?
Part of me used to wonder if it might’ve been better politically for Democrats in the long run had McCain won – the economy would be doing even worse than it is now, and he would’ve gotten all the blame for it.
Well, McCain and the Democratic Congress. Mostly the latter.
Leaking docs was good enough for me,
good enough for me and my Rapey McGee.
Yes, a Clinton would never triangulate. Wait . . . What?
This Modern World: Middle Man Strikes Back!
http://www.salon.com/entertainment/comics/this_modern_world/2010/12/07/this_modern_world
This cheered me up tonight: Young Groucho & the gang!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4zRe_wvJw8
Old Groucho ain’t bad, either:
Maybe we should have gone with Edwards. Wait . . . What?
Maybe we should have gone with Edwards. Wait . . . What?
TOO SOON!
So, wait…the two options are:
1) Support all Obama’s political moves, no matter how dunderheaded and shitty, or
2) PRESIDENT MCCAIN!!!!11111!!!!!111!!!!
Please. Motherfucker may be better than the alternative, but it doesn’t mean that I have to like what he’s doing. Fuck, he TOLD us to hold his feet to the fire. There’s nothing wrong with saying we’re Not Happy about this outcome.
I will say that primarying Obama is among the worst ideas I’ve ever heard, though.
It would only have been Presnit McCain until a tragic 2009 weedwacker accident gave us Presnit Snowbilly.
Just imagine the Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn and the subsequent trials.
It would only have been Presnit McCain until a tragic 2009 weedwacker accident gave us Presnit Snowbilly.
Just imagine the Easter egg hunt on the White House lawn and the subsequent trials.
Just image the
PraetorianMarine guards executing Meghan.Today is the 69th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Which John McCain remembers. We still have two more years of McCain Death/Incapacitation watch. Only then will we know how much the % of our motivation that included voting to make sure Moose-o-lini was kept out of the White House was correct.
We still have two more years of McCain Death/Incapacitation watch.
You don’t think we’d already be in 25th Amendment mental-incapacitation territory?
Quitty McGee lasting as VP for two years? Unpossible.
I always thought the real problem with John Sidney McCain the Third had something to do with his being a huge fucking douchebag. That and Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran.
Why anyone would fuck a douchebag when fleshlights are readily available is beyond me.
heh heh heh.
Why anyone would fuck a douchebag when fleshlights are readily available is beyond me.
Hullo, we’re talking about JiSM3 here. Fleshlights are too new fangled to be playing on his lawn.
D-K W: you’ve reversed my proposed fucker and fuckee.
D-K W: you’ve reversed my proposed fucker and fuckee.
Uh, I blame your mom’s love of pegging.
That wasn’t actor’s mom
Ah, Ezra. Pandagon was such a very, very long time ago.
Taibbi could very well have been talking about you and not Matt Bai this week:
Bai is one of those guys — there are hundreds of them in this business — who poses as a wonky, Democrat-leaning “centrist” pundit and then makes a career out of drubbing “unrealistic” liberals and progressives with cartoonish Jane Fonda and Hugo Chavez caricatures. This career path is so well-worn in our business, it’s like a Great Silk Road of pseudoleft punditry. First step: graduate Harvard or Columbia, buy some clothes at Urban Outfitters, shore up your socially liberal cred by marching in a gay rights rally or something, then get a job at some place like the American Prospect. Then once you’re in, spend a few years writing wonky editorials gently chiding Jane Fonda liberals for failing to grasp the obvious wisdom of the WTC or whatever Bob Rubin/Pete Peterson Foundation deficit-reduction horseshit the Democratic Party chiefs happen to be pimping at the time. Once you’ve got that down, you just sit tight and wait for the New York Times or the Washington Post to call. It won’t be long.”
The last two years can be summed up as what is the down side of a Democratic 50 State plan. We may have taken enough seats to control both houses, but we lost the soul of the party to do it.
They’re Sensible Liberals…and don’t you forget it.
That was to Andy.
The jury is still out on the desirabilty issue though.
C’mon, we’re male. Desirability is strictly a function of number of drinks, time of day and ease of seduction!
Which in her case is any, all, and very.
This should result in entertainment.
Ha ha John, we get it, all of leftist Hollywood is NON-XIANS anyway.
Time of day?
What, no humping before five?
Feingold 2012
It’s always after 5 somewhere in the world.
~
Letter of the day.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/interpol-the-worlds-datin_b_793033.html
Dear Interpol:
As a longtime feminist activist, I have been overjoyed to discover your new commitment to engaging in global manhunts to arrest and prosecute men who behave like narcissistic jerks to women they are dating.
I see that Julian Assange is accused of having consensual sex with two women, in one case using a condom that broke. I understand, from the alleged victims’ complaints to the media, that Assange is also accused of texting and tweeting in the taxi on the way to one of the women’s apartments while on a date, and, disgustingly enough, ‘reading stories about himself online’ in the cab.
Both alleged victims are also upset that he began dating a second woman while still being in a relationship with the first. (Of course, as a feminist, I am also pleased that the alleged victims are using feminist-inspired rhetoric and law to assuage what appears to be personal injured feelings. That’s what our brave suffragette foremothers intended!).
Thank you again, Interpol. I know you will now prioritize the global manhunt for 1.3 million guys I have heard similar complaints about personally in the US alone — there is an entire fraternity at the University of Texas you need to arrest immediately. I also have firsthand information that John Smith in Providence, Rhode Island, went to a stag party — with strippers! — that his girlfriend wanted him to skip, and that Mark Levinson in Corvallis, Oregon, did not notice that his girlfriend got a really cute new haircut — even though it was THREE INCHES SHORTER.
Terrorists. Go get ’em, Interpol!
Yours gratefully,
Naomi Wolf
Feingold 2012
You want to nominate a guy who couldn’t even keep his own seat last month? Sounds like a crazy idea to me but if he can get to work over the next few days and get enough of his colleagues who didn’t vote for the stand alone middle class tax cut extension to change their votes then I’ll reconsider. He needs 2 Republicans plus the Democrats who helped shoot it down Nelson, Landrieu, Manchin, Webb, Feingold,,,oh, wait.
Dear Interpol:
I never thought I’d be writing a letter like this, but last week I was involved in a multiple. It was me, the New York Times, The Guardian, Le Figaro, and 260,000 little guys named fact. A good time was had by all.
This should result in entertainment.
It’s no Goatse.
Been otherwise occupied.
Pork carnitas tacos – cilantro, lime, sliced radish, tomato concasse- and my riff on “Spanish rice” which is an awesome pilaf that likely has nothing “Spanish” about it, frijoles refrito (of COURSE it’s homefuckingmade) and guacamole with freshly made tortilla chips. Hey it’s Tuesday fycking nght fer chrissake, nobody’s perfect.
Coffee, bacon slices, spoonsful of peanut butter (creamy) straight outta the jar.
Salad with grilled chicken. Beer. Chunky Monkey. STOP JUDGING ME!
It seems I am obsessed with this Wiki story. This is interesting.
http://rixstep.com/1/20101001,01.shtml
I forgot to say penis
Poop also
I HAVE AN OPINION!
I say Obama is determined to be a one-term president! His main goal is to prove he is Not A Liberal. He’d rather do that than demand Keynesian spending. He’d rather be a one-term president than give up on his dream of dragging the Democratic party beyond those stale old battle lines of the past.
(Even if those battle lines were, you know, there for a good fucking reason.)
The death of Reaganism was called very prematurely, by some excited network news pundit on election night in 2008. (Matthews?) Indeed.
SS funding:
The camel’s nose is now under the edge of the tent, goddammit. 2%? Shit, that’s almost as much of a firehose of cash (%-wise) as is directed at NPR! And that’s enough to get wingnuts railing about that, so, you know.
Say, weren’t those gummint checks W mailed us to spend, spend, spend! mighty Keynesian? “It’s your money!” Fuck you! I’m not stupid! I know that, and that’s not the point! It’s also my goddamned country, my government, my debt, and my future!
Chris wrote:
“Heck, a not inconsiderable fraction of them will probably never even hear about the unemployment benefits extension.”
And a bunch of them will get this very benefit, and still vote Republican, never knowing how many times the GOP has drooled at the chance to hack at it, has yearned to hack at it. Some people aren’t just low-information voters. They’re low information PEOPLE. Also, too, 28% of our nation is Dale Gribble.
In a sense, that W. couldn’t get a third term means that he doesn’t have to pay the price (in the minds of the stupid) for all the mess he left. Similarly, the Great Depression (in actual history books) had been raging for quite some time before FDR took office. (According to the Newspeak put out by the Mighty Wurlitzer in recent years, FDR caused the Great Depression.) People had no doubts which party stood for doing nothing about it and hoping for the Gods of the Market to someday come back and fix things. And which party really didn’t give a fuck about their problems. Since the 70’s, the GOP has done a great job of convincing people they care, baby, they really care (kinder, gentler… compassionate conservatism), they’re not like the other boy, etc etc. We almost got to the point where the mask has fallen away, for those with weak vision, but nope, we’re really not there yet. Some folks can only learn the hard, hard way.
Oh, and N_B, as for the 25th Amendment, first the people who know the prez is sick or going jellied in the head would have to tell somebody outside the inner circle. Or, as King Ronnie read from his teleprompter in the late 80’s, even though he’d delivered the line a zillion times in his political career, “go out there and win just one more for the Gippet.” Oh, and Woodrow Wilson, too.
Then again, I’d rather have a McCain hidden away like Woodrow Wilson and smoke blown up all our asses, as long as one of those asses is VP Palin’s.
Yes, yes. Sometimes I like to rub wax on my skin until it gleams. That’s because my name is Chester Drawers, and I’m half Cherokee, half Armoire.
What?
A friend of mine suggested a mass mailing of pairs of tennis balls in paper bags to 1600 Pennsylvania avenue. I laughed, but we decided they would surely put us on TSA watchlists.
“…we decided they would surely put us on TSA watchlists.”
Too late. You commented here.
“I would like some guidance on a philosophical question: At what point does the lesser of two evils become too evil? Must there be exact parity of evil before one refuses to play?”
I quit playing in 1994 when the DLC and Clintonian triangulation seized control. i always vote, in every election for every office and ballot question, but I refuse to vote R or D. I consider other choices on the ballot. If there are none–or none that I could support–I write in the name of someone I like and admire.
This actually requires a bit of research, to make sure that all of my write-ins are eligible, living in the correct locale, or–if required for legal offices–having admission to the state bar. (I generally go with ACLU lawyers for court or legal positions.) It’s also a nice way to honor friends and relatives.
In 2008, I wrote in Bernie Sanders for President. I felt great walking out of the polling place, and I feel great today.
Plague and Leprosy are both fatal diseases, but they are NOT the same. Plague brings about a quick, excruciating death. Leprosy is lingering and disfiguring, but just a fatal in the end.
I’m taking a short break for chow. Before coming back: I’ve enjoyed this thread so far! (Major props to Bx4. He was really cooking before he left.)
I’m going with baked potatoes slathered in sour cream tonight…and an egg-nog chaser.
Lawnguylander: yeah, hell. Why the fuck not. At this point I think the person who makes sandwiches at my deli would do a better job than this guy.
Please let me come over and have dinner at your place. My god.
“Well, at least he (Obama) isn’t Bush.” – Democrats
True… Bush is a venal, incompetent shit, Obama is simply mediocre.