Jay Bookman

By DB, Gwinnettian

December 23, 2008 7:49 AM | Link to this

Not the most original take, but I thank you for posting it since I was unaware of the newgeography.com site that Kotkin’s affiliated with. Looks like there’s some good stuff in there.

As for Caroline, I find all the hand-wringing of folks from outside of NY state to be rather amusing. Isn’t it really down to New Yorkers, and not us, to make this call?

By AJC/DNC Management

December 23, 2008 7:55 AM | Link to this

By marrying this constituency to poor minority voters, gentry liberals have turned our core urban areas into a collection of electoral “ditto heads,” with so-called “progressives” winning as much as 70 or 80% of the vote in presidential elections.

We already have a tag for you haughty totties, you’re called limousine liberals.

You ride through the slums and mau mau yourselves about your constituency, the easily led, government dependent dhimmis, and after that formality is looked after, you ride back to the mansion where you whine and moan about rich Republicans, blah, blah, blah.

Funny thing is, your voters fought for their enslavement.

Good for them.

By TW

December 23, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this

It’s merely a form of celebrity - nothing new.

How about the Gov of Cal?

By The BlogFather of Scroll

December 23, 2008 7:58 AM | Link to this

Electoral ditto heads. Gentry. Elite liberal constituency.

What R U talking ‘bout? Those are vague terms that could apply to a handful of voters at best.

Truman in a pantsuit. What does that mean? And how does the Kennedy name constitute an issue when the Bush name is more successful?

This writer for Forbes just wanted to get in his “truman in pantsuit” bit even if it tortured the rest of us.

This country has to focus now, Bookman, and illiterate comments like yours aint helpin’

‘muff said

By AmVet

December 23, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this

The Democratic Party is, by and large, full of worthless, incompetent people who have helped create these clusterf&cks we now endure.

The ONLY thing saving them these days is that the GOP is by and large full of worthless, incompetent and utterly disgraceful people who have masterminded these clusterf&cks we now endure.

That, and the sheep in the American electorate don’t even care that they work for these two parties rather than vice versa.

They own you and they know it, even if you don’t.

Welcome to the American politburo, comrades…

By AJC/DNC Management

December 23, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

I forgot to mention that you limousine liberals are not very bright-

The Associated Press reports that “2008 is on a pace to be a slightly cooler year” than last year. On December 11, the palm trees were snow-covered in New Orleans in the earliest snowfall ever recorded in the city’s history. Enjoying a rare blizzard on the Outer Banks, kids were building snowmen on the beach a week before Thanksgiving. “Alaskan glaciers grew this year instead of retreating,” reported Investor’s Business Daily on December 15, while “Fairbanks had its fourth coldest October in 104 years of records,” and “the temperature at Denver International Airport dropped to 18-below-zero on December 14, breaking the previous record of 14-below set in 1901.” -Amspec

Duh.

By Copyleft

December 23, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this

Sadly, that’s how American politics work. Only the rich can run for office, and they succeed by convincing the poor to vote for them.

By Jim Jr.

December 23, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

Presenting, 8 years in the making, a true masterpiece of design and craftsmanship. From the innovative, creative, and unparalleled thinker who brought you The Iraq War, Katrina response, (drum roll), record budget deficits, unheard of trade balance deficits, (DRUM ROLL) Ladies and gentlemen Welcome to the Bush Recession / Depression.(

By Taxpayer

December 23, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

Georgians actually elected and then re-elected Saxby Chambliss — no appointment needed. So, it would appear that both parties have their electoral dittoheads to complement their gentrified dittoheads, et al. As for that “growing role…”, you don’t expect us less wealthy folks to pay for these expensive elections, do you. It’s bad enough that we have to suffer through the years of campaign rhetoric prior to casting a vote. Politicians and their wealthy supporters could save us all a lot of grief if they’d just initiate a bidding process for votes one month before each election and then leave us to our reality TV and tabloids the rest of the time.

By Bud Wiser

December 23, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

The character of those who want to lead is more demonstrated by their acts and deeds, rather than by what they say. Liberals have always been the ‘do as I say, not as I do” group, riding to charitable events, fund raisers, etc., in their limos, helicopters, or privately owned or chartered jets. Let the low lifers charter their own buses to an event such as the inauguration, then throw a handful of leaflets inside just before they leave with the words to We Shall Overcome so that they may practice before arriving at the Messiahs coronation.

Conservatives just go out and do things for the poor and/or disadvantaged, never seeking acclamation, or a spot in the local or national society pages.

Even the rapidly failing NY Times, perhaps in an effort of self redemption, have recognized this fact. Libs are great at spending other people’s money, but holding fast to their own.

Disgusting, yet sad and pitiable at the same time.

By Mr Snarky

December 23, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

Bud, Yeah. No conservatives in limos or private jets…they’re all just out working on service projects.

That’s funny!

By Taxpayer

December 23, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this

Can you imagine Dubya driving himself. He tried that once with a bicycle and wrecked it without ever moving.

By AJC/DNC Management

December 23, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

I look at the people that scorn the current president and then compare them to those who respect him, and I must say that I am proud to be among the latter-

“Mr. President,” she says, “Brian was proud to be a Marine. And he carried within him the same light that you do — a faith in God, in America, and in the dignity and worth of every man, woman, and child on this earth.”

“A blessed Christmas for you and your family, Mr. President.”

Even if the guy is a half pinko, he’s still more of a man than any liberal I know.

By ByteMe

December 23, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

Bud says: Liberals have always been the “do as I say, not as I do” group…

To which I say four words:

Larry Craig Mark Foley

Both loud anti-gay voices while in office….

Oh, and let me add:

Newt Gingrich

Who — while going after Clinton for Monica — was cheating on his second wife.

Do as they say, not as they do.

By Bud Wiser

December 23, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this

What’s funny is how idiots like you Mr S can only focus on one side issue like the limos and private jets, yet completely and utterly ignore the core issue of giving and true charitable works.

Your tiny mind is incapable of even admitting to a central truth about your left wing kind. You make the perfect (if there is such a thing) liberal, obfuscating a real issue and trying to replace it with one of your own. Is that how you left wingnuts operate when you attempt to rewrite history, or say such as the Associated Press last week that essentially global cooling like such as we are experiencing right now is being actually caused by global warming?

If you people weren’t such idiots pursuing those types of logical threads, it would be hilarious on its own just to watch and listen to. But it becomes dangerous when you try to pass of this stupidity as a basis for political action.

And I, the articulate one, the inimitable Bud Wiser, will be here to point out the error, folly, and just plain stupid crap you say.

There is a lonely rock somewhere near you.

Go crawl back under it.

By ByteMe

December 23, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

Bud needs a vacation and it looks like AJC/DNC is looking for a good man…..

By GOP is gone

December 23, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

What a ridicules statement by Bud, while “we the people” continue handing out BILLIONS to failed Wall Street Companies and soon to be failed Big 3.

Yes, I read the editorial piece in the NYT too, you left out the part that the GOP gives more money to THEIR own churches, which in turn comes back to them.

Was it not the CEO’s in their corporate jets begging for taxpayer money just recently, they look like your constitutes to me Bud. I think the Wall Street beggars appear to be on your team too. GOPers all, looking for a handout and tocontinue to give out bonuses for lousy performances. And the Grand Pooh-Bah of all the GOPers, Bushie, just doling out the cash to his free-market buddies.

Did you happen to check out PBS’s documentary on Jimmy Carter last night? I am sure you enraptured by something intellectually challenging like “Wife Swap” or “Deal or no Deal” but this piece should be seen. All about Carter’s support of Habitat and how he has walked the walk for the last 35years. That is what we as a Party are about; you get the Shrub and “Torture Boy” Cheney.

By Taxpayer

December 23, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

I remember that Star Trek episode that dealt with the last two survivors of a warring planet. Every time they saw each other, they would go for the other’s throat. Each viewed the other as the most disgusting and vile creature in existence. One was black on the left side and white on the right side while the other was white on the let side and black on the right side. Each insisted to the end that their view was the correct view and that the opposite view had to be eliminated — or else. How either could ever stand to look in a mirror was beyond me. I was always intrigued by the messages contained in those shows while some others viewed them quite differently.

By ByteMe

December 23, 2008 9:23 AM | Link to this

Taxpayer: to bring it into my child’s bedtime world The Butter Battle Book

By Taxpayer

December 23, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this

ByteMe:

There were other episodes that dealt with the arm’s race, and other aspects of war. This particular episode had a message hidden in the imagery. If you take these two persons and have them face each other, its as though they were each looking in a mirror. So, each was his own worst enemy.

By @@

December 23, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

And how does the democratic party maintain a “dittohead” constituency?

They educate them in government schools. I would argue that’s the reason, democrats are so opposed to private education/school vouchers for the masses, but not themselves. Must maintain a position of superiority.

The only way to become a liberal elite WITHOUT an education, is to make it as a hollywood actor/actress. When it comes to elections, democratic voters are led to believe that hollywooders opinions have value.

Some would call it education in the liberal arts.

I call it education in the ART of liberalization.

By ByteMe

December 23, 2008 9:39 AM | Link to this

Taxpayer: the Yooks and Zooks fought over whether bread should be buttered on top of on the bottom and disdained those who did it “wrong” and refused to interact with them except by fighting.

Anyway, it’s a better discussion than whether AJC/DNC wants a good man or Bud wanting to paint everyone else as “you people”.

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

JAY

This thread is boring. How about this one ……

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) thinks that President-elect Obama picked same-sex marriage opponent Rick Warren to give the inauguration invocation because Obama overestimates his ability to unify people.

or this one ……

LAKE FOREST – Just one day before giving the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, a local pastor, Rick Warren, will be the keynote speaker at the Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Commemorative Service, officials at Saddleback Church said.

By Mrs. Godzilla

December 23, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Here’a a thought for a new thread….

NEW TV-19 Coverage: Connell Cancelled 2 Flights on Sabotage Suspicion

By ByteMe

December 23, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

So, @@, if a liberal person were to come out of a private school, that would be… what?… an aberation? If a conservative were to come out of “guvmint” schools, that would be “lucky”? Or just a fluke?

Get your facts straight. Republicans like the idea of vouchers, because they believe that the “free market” system will produce better schools for all. The problem is that — like the lack of oversight on Wall Street — the failure of “free market” solutions tend to have widespread systemic risks.

Let’s take a fer-instance: you know about the disaster that is Clayton County Schools. What if Clayton had gone vouchers, outsourced to a few companies, but over time those companies merged or bought out each other until there was one large company running most of the schools in Clayton County. Great test scores, lots of student successes. Then that company overbuilds and has to declare bankruptcy and gets liquidated because it has liabilities in excess of assets. What happens to all those kids in those private schools?

You want the free market, but you would also need a working safety net that you didn’t want funded, namely the public school system. You can’t have both without doubling your school taxes. Pick your poison.

By Taxpayer

December 23, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

ByteMe: I agree. How’s the weather where you’re at — warming or cooling?

By getalife

December 23, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Ah, red meat for the wingnuts.

Them libs.

Our President is trying to move on from this fight and his first task is to save capitalism from socialism.

Yes, there are bigger problems than the ole wingnut vs lib bs.

Here is Obama talking about his tasks and w’s legacy:

“I think there are a couple of benchmarks we’ve set for ourselves during the course of this campaign. On [domestic] policy, have we helped this economy recover from what is the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression? Have we instituted financial regulations and rules of the road that assure this kind of crisis doesn’t occur again? Have we created jobs that pay well and allow families to support themselves? Have we made significant progress on reducing the cost of health care and expanding coverage? Have we begun what will probably be a decade-long project to shift America to a new energy economy? Have we begun what may be an even longer project of revitalizing our public-school systems so we can compete in the 21st century? That’s on the domestic front. On foreign policy, have we closed down Guantánamo in a responsible way, put a clear end to torture and restored a balance between the demands of our security and our Constitution? Have we rebuilt alliances around the world effectively? Have I drawn down U.S. troops out of Iraq, and have we strengthened our approach in Afghanistan — not just militarily but also diplomatically and in terms of development? And have we been able to reinvigorate international institutions to deal with transnational threats, like climate change, that we can’t solve on our own?”

I wish him luck.

By ByteMe

December 23, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

Taxpayer: warming here. The sun came up. Must prove global warming!

You?

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

DOES ANYONE UNDERSTAND THIS?

Obama to Be Sworn in With Lincoln Bible

The similarities between President-elect Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln will be on full display on Inauguration Day when Obama takes the oath of office using the same Bible used to swear in Lincoln.

Obama has gone to great lengths to note his admiration for Lincoln, who, like Obama, was an Illinois lawmaker before becoming president of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln:

“I will say, then, that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not, nor ever have been, in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people ; and I will say, in addition to this, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which, I believe, will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and polit- ical equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together, there must be the position of superior and inferior; and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.

By Joey

December 23, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

The real meat of this commentary by Kotkin begins near the end, at the 7th paragraph from the bottom. Yes the truth is not comfortable to the Democrat Party.

Summary of the 7th and 8th paragraphs from the end:

If P-E Obama raises taxes the likely target will be the “less-well-heeled small business people”. These people “earn about $250,000 a year and may now be demonized as ‘rich.’ These people have remained closer to the Republican Party.

“Indeed, Obama’s most liberal position may come on environmental issues, a favorite concern of many gentry liberals.” They like this because it is no threat to them. “Instead the losers will be blue-collar polluting industries—such as traditional energy production, trucking or manufacturing—which have largely remained close to the GOP.”

But can the Democrat Party face these truths? Not likely.

By Cindy

December 23, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

@@, Excellent commentary at 9:39 on Arnold and Ronald. Who could have said it better?

Jay, The sad truth is it does take money to be in politics. This is nothing new. The point is who supports families, who supports conservation, who supports education and health care for those in need. Regardless of personal wealth, the point in politics is who can best support and defend constitutional freedoms and the American citizens. Caroline Kennedy grew up in politics. She was educated her entire life in politics. Who knows better than she of the sacrifice politicians make? I would much rather have a “celebrity” politician take office than a “celebrity” actor.

By Taxpayer

December 23, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this

ByteMe: I noticed that it’s getting warmer with each passing hour. I wonder how long the trend will continue.

By gttim

December 23, 2008 10:17 AM | Link to this

No liberals I know are that keen on Caroline Kennedy. Most feel she should run for election rather than get appointed. I think Robert Kennedy would make a great addition to Obama’s administration, but Caroline has not distinguished herself in any way I know and just is being pushed because of her family. The GOP is surely up in arms about this, but with the nepotism that exists in the Bush Whitehouse, they should not be throwing stones.

We do not need an aristocracy. We need elected leaders who distinguish themselves for what they do to help society. Being born into a famous family is distinguishing ones self.

Horrible post, Jay. I usually like your writing. By liberl media figures, do you mean Limbaugh, Hannity, O’Reilly, Scarborough and all those liberal media figures? You seem to be pushing some GOP talking points today.

By Taxpayer

December 23, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this

I noticed that Caterpillar is cutting compensation across the board. Apparently, their take is that everyone shares in the good as well as the bad. Too bad Wall Street wasn’t built on such sound footing.

By Truthman

December 23, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Except for the Black-Americans voting for Obama instead of Clinton, that’s really not a new concept.

The reason we wonder about it now is because, for the last eight years, we’ve had a boob in Oval Office who has made being stupid chic. His education department is in shambles because he a dunce who hated school. He only married a teacher because he HAD TO!!

It’s about time our country was led by SMART PEOPLE!!!

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

What to you Catholics out there think about this ?

Headline:

*Pope Benedict was accused of stoking homophobia today after a speech in which he declared that saving humanity from homosexuality was just as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.

The Pontiff made the remarks yesterday in an end-of-year address to the Curia, the Vatican’s central administration. He said that humanity needed to listen to the language of creation to understand the intended roles of man and woman and behavior beyond traditional heterosexual relations was a destruction of God’s work.*

By The BlogFather of Scroll

December 23, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

Okay Right: If you give Bush credit for what happened in the last eight years, like calling Iraq a victory, or calling the Bush economy a good economy, then you cant blame the democrats for the status quo when Obama takes his oath.

At least make your transition blogs believable.

If only one of you had any talent. You have to Howard Stern a little to get noticed, I get that, but then you have to wade into the enemy’s camp to draw off the guards, and more importantly, you have to break some eggs to make mayo, omelets, or to enjoy a typical halloween night.

Capiche?

word up. Peace out.

‘muff said.

By sunshine and thunder

December 23, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this

JAY

You wrote:

Caroline Kennedy, now seeking appointment to the Senate based almost exclusively on her family name rather than hard work and accomplishment in the political arena.

I still fail to see how Obama’s any different. Would someone please enlighten me?

I know that Obama isn’t a marquis name. But what did he ever accomplish before running for president?

By Truthman

December 23, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

S&T, WHAT did Bush achieve before the Supreme Court selected him prez?…failed in college…failed oil business…failed babeball team owner…failed governor (unless you count leading the nation in executions!!)…and, w/o a doubt, the WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA!!

You can obfuscate and prevaricate and throw all manner of histronics, but Bush is what he is…A LOSER OF THE FIRST ORDER!!

By AJC/DNC Management

December 23, 2008 11:10 AM | Link to this

aahhh, yes, the little wingnut speaks to the dull masses-

By getalife December 23, 2008 9:55 AM On foreign policy, have we closed down Guantánamo in a responsible way, put a clear end to torture and restored a balance between the demands of our security and our Constitution?

Bushie the Third with man boobies.

ew

By Curious Observer

December 23, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this

I thought the mantra of the Republicans was “Let the church take care of the poor.” Heaven knows I’ve never seen a wealthy Republican out serving food to the homeless or collecting clothing for the poor. It would dirty their hands, dontcha know.

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 11:24 AM | Link to this

To Curious Observer

Recent studies have found:

*In 2004 George Bush won 24 of the 25 states with above average per-capita charitable giving.

Conservative households give on average 30% more to charities than their liberal counterparts - despite the fact that liberal households make 6% more.

Conservatives are 18% more likely to give blood.

In the 10 reddest states, in which Bush got more than 60 percent majorities, the average percentage of personal income donated to charity was 3.5. Residents of the bluest states, which gave Bush less than 40 percent, donated just 1.9 percent.*

and

*Liberals show tremendous compassion in pushing for generous government spending to help the neediest people at home and abroad. Yet when it comes to individual contributions to charitable causes, liberals are cheapskates.

Arthur Brooks, the author of a book on donors to charity, “Who Really Cares,” cites data that households headed by conservatives give 30 percent more to charity than households headed by liberals. A study by Google found an even greater disproportion: average annual contributions reported by conservatives were almost double those of liberals.

Other research has reached similar conclusions. The “generosity index” from the Catalogue for Philanthropy typically finds that red states are the most likely to give to nonprofits, while Northeastern states are least likely to do so.*

By gttim

December 23, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

“I know that Obama isn’t a marquis name. But what did he ever accomplish before running for president?”

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.

Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.

His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator from Illinois.

Most of his legislative effort has been in the areas of:

He was just as active in Illinois. See link below for a rather extensive listing of both his Senate and Illinois accomplishments.

http://tinyurl.com/35lcyh

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Commander in Briefs

Aytch vs. Putin

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1100584/Commander-briefs-Obama-shows-war-chest-holiday-Hawaii.html

P.S. Remember the Bill/Hillary secret (but so the press would see it) hidden kiss/embrace at the beach ?

By WillieTyler

December 23, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

I’m sure if you look up his resume you’ll find that he’s accomplished a whole helluvalotmorethanyou sunshine and thunder. I guess you just buy into the idea the he was just some dumb community organizer huh?

Well tack onto that President Harvard Law Review, Constitutional Law Professor and Attorney, State Senator and U.S. Senator…oh let’s not forget Best Selling Author..I’d say that’s a pretty d@nm impressive list of “accomplishments”!

I guess you wouldn’t see how Obama’s any “different”. Forget the fact that he wiped the floor with every political contender in this country to claim the presidency! (LOL)

Boy I wish Hannity was here to pull the string in the back of your head so you could respond…

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

To gttim

You left this one out …….

*The Federal Born Alive Infants Protection Act was signed into law in 2002 after receiving unanimous support from the U.S. Senate. The measure that forces hospitals to give medical care to abortion survivors — if warranted — even received the backing of liberal senators Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts ), Barbara Boxer (D-California), and Hillary Clinton (D-New York).

Obama now says he did not support the Illinois measure because it “lacked the Federal language clarifying the act would not be used to undermine Roe vs. Wade.*

By Midori

December 23, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Did you happen to check out PBS’s documentary on Jimmy Carter last night? I am sure you enraptured by something intellectually challenging like “Wife Swap” or “Deal or no Deal” but this piece should be seen.

actually, he’s more into reruns of “Good Times” and “The Jeffersons”.

He knows a great deal about those shows.

By WillieTyler

December 23, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this

I see The Corporal Has been listening to (Dennis) Prager (I believe it was JUST YESTERDAY), this was a short topic on his show (or Medved’s.. forget which one). You guys really have no minds of your own WHAT-SO-E-VER!

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

To Willie Tyler

No, didn’t have the chance to listen to the radio yesterday. Got all this off the internet news this morning.

Now, that said: Since I don’t even know you, do you want to debate something or do you just want to engage in personal attacks?

I prefer debate.

Your choice !!

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this

P.S. To Willie

….. and may I ask what you were doing listening to Prager or Medved?

By sunshine and thunder

December 23, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

TRUTHMAN

You wrote:

S&T, WHAT did Bush achieve before the Supreme Court selected him prez?…failed in college…failed oil business…failed babeball team owner…failed governor (unless you count leading the nation in executions!!)…and, w/o a doubt, the WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICA!!

How about little truth to go with that moniker, pal.

George Bush graduated from Yale and then earned an MBA from Harvard.

George Bush was one of the most popular presidents in Texas history. He was the first Texas governor to be elected to two consectutive 4 year terms.

He pushed through one of the largest tax cuts in Texas history. Reformed education and made educators responsible for performance standards. He successfully pushed for concealed carry in Texas,.

He started his own energy company and then sold it to Harken Energy. Using the Harken stock as collateral he bought a minority interest in the Texas Rangers baseball franchise and became a managing partner.

He won the presidential election twice. The second time by a wide margin.

He successfully created one of the largest tax cuts in American history and, despite the lies from the left, he made the tax code more progressive than it had been under Bill Clinton.

He created the No Child Left Behind Act and it has had a strong effect on raising test scores nationally.

I could go on and on but you can look this stuff up just as easily as I can.

So “failed” is the wrong word to use to describe George Bush. You lefties are still so PeeYo’ed that Bush beat your butts at every turn that you have to try to make up lies about his biography.

Sorry, nobody’s buying.

By Truthman

December 23, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

Failed programs in a failed state and a country he failed…stop trying to put lipstick on the Bush pig!!

By Midori

December 23, 2008 12:08 PM | Link to this

Sorry, nobody’s buying.

I read the first line of your post, and the last line pretty much summed it all up.

Everyone knows it was Daddy who got Chimpolini into Harvard (well, actually Granddaddy, as it was a legacy appt.), and he even found a way to screw that up. Much like his stint in the TANG.

I suppose you are to be commended, Sunshine. It takes a lot of loyalty, googling and imagination to try to polish that turd, AKA George W. Bush.

By Wyld Byll

December 23, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Jay, I hate to say it, Caroline, who was in the same house as my brother at hahvad, has done a lot more and is a lot more qualified than Al Franken.

By The BlogFather of Scroll

December 23, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this

Homosexuality must really be hot for participants to risk eternal damnation and ridicule.

Curt Cobain said that everyone is gay. But then he apologized.

I think that all in all is all we are….

I’m not sure if gay sex is right or wrong. I do know that hetero’s abuse the body as much as gays do. Some women like it up the wazoo. And sodomy itself is a two way street, so, the pope should condemn sodomy, not homosexuality.

Some folks’re born, with two sets of genetalia.

‘muff said.

Cancer Diary Update. Today my beautiful sexy wife took a half hour to take her seven pills. She took twenty seconds to do the same yesterday. It’s happening fast, by inches, but progressively faster and faster. Her brain and spinal column are being overwhelmed by the malignancy and just a week is like twenty years in old age complications. She rallies, but only for an hour or so.

I lost it in the doctor’s office last week and was so embarrassed because I couldn’t stop blubbering through a half hour visit. my wife was describing her symptoms and her hands were trembling uncontrollably, it was just too much for me, and the doctor’s description of upcoming surgery, involving drilling holes in the skull and everything simply knocked me over and done with.

It could be days now. I dont know. The doctors refuse to predict. I look at her records and see mistake after mistake in the early presentation of this cancer. THey thought it was one kind, then another, and then yet another, so their prescription therapy was flawed from the start.

THe regret I have is not firing the original doctor when I had misgivings. The misgivings arose early on in the first meeting when the doctor described “bone marrow” and used other terms that simply made me fight off tears so that I was catatonic and embarrassed during the meeting. So, instead of understanding my distress, she remarked about how I was “awfully quiet” and “what is wrong with him” to my wife. I thought, “she has to be kidding.”

She wasn’t. She’s just oblivious. Cancer diagnosis is an art, not a science. But there are certain proceedures that you must take to make sure you have the original site of the cancer accurately diagnosed. It matters WHERE the cancer starts.

I think the Doctors blew this one early on and the Hospital has all these disclaimers about how the doctors are not employees , but independent contractors.

Something aint right with our healthcare system. The RX companies also refused certain therapies that may have saved my wife, like they know anything or are in any position to prescribe.

Suits and ties instead of smocks? Calculators and logarithmic tables instead of stethescopes? Please.

By GOP is gone

December 23, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this

This Ex-Catholic thinks the Pope is an archaic and mainly symbolic old man with a stupid looking hat and rather large ring. When the Catholic Church can bring itself into the 21st century, they may have some relevance again. But since they insist on clinging to man-made dogma that continues to hold them back, they will not ever be my church again. Celibacy and Male only Priests for instance. It is funny how the Pope can be against Gays when half his Priests are just that. By requiring celibacy they are basically getting the rejects of society. I know there must be some truly dedicated Priests in the world, I just have not met any yet.

By centrist2

December 23, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Sunshine and thunder, you made your point at end of your post. The lowest approval rating of any 20th century POTUS proves it, and Zaidi’s shoe throwing incident was just the event to confirm your statement that, “Sorry nobody’s buying it.”

By sunshine and thunder

December 23, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

TRUTHMAN

You wrote:

Failed programs in a failed state and a country he failed…stop trying to put lipstick on the Bush pig!!

Sorry, truthman. The only failure around here is your trying desperately to show us how Bush failed at school, politics and business.

He graduated from Yale and Harvard. He led one of the largest states in the country and was elected POTUS twice. He started his own business, sold it and then managed a major leaque baseball team.

Obama, OTOH. Was elected Senator from a populous (and corrupt) state. Before that he was elected a state senator under very shady circumstances. He used technicalities to remove all of his opponents from the ballot.

He was president of the Harvard Law Review. OK sheep. Find us an article he wrote.

Midori I’m sure you can “google” one up.

Of course you can’t because none of it is public. Wonder why?

LOL. This is too easy.

By GOP is gone

December 23, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this

Blog Father,

I am truly sorry for you and your wife. I work with Cancer patients on a daily basis and have no idea how you cope. All I try to do is listen to their needs and give some human kindness. I also have the benefit of being very good with a needle so it will only take one stick.

I had a 6 year old with Leukemia die in my arms on Christmas day in 1984. I still think of her and it still makes me cry. Some things you just never get over.

By gttim

December 23, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

*”To gttim

You left this one out …….”*

No, that was included in the summary counts. I fail to see your point for bringing it up on it own? But I fail to see your point frequently.

By Truthman

December 23, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

OK, S&T, do you believe Bush is smarter than you?

Corporal?

Andi?

RW?

@@?

Dusty?

Is your precious Bush smarter than you?

By Ed

December 23, 2008 12:53 PM | Link to this

I see that Caroline Kennedy helps collect money to send poor children to school while her 3 children attend private schools. She apparently doesn’t mind making our children go to school with these kids. I guess she doesn’t want her children’s education to be disrupted by what are sure to be well disciplined students. She’s a liberal, right? Do what I say, not what I do.

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

To Gttim

Because that one more than any other reveals the true soul of Aytch.

By For States rights

December 23, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this

I have NEVER seen a newspaper columnist cut and paste their colums and just comment on someone’s else’s work. Jay have you ever had an origional thought???????…Guess not.

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

To States rights

Thank you sir/ma’am.

By GOP is gone

December 23, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Dear Ed,

You sound as if “poor” children should be kept in quarantine from “your” kids.

I chose the public school route BECUASE I wanted my children to go to school with poor and wealthy kids. Trust me, I would take the poor kids over the wealthy brats any day of the week. Maybe Caroline is trying to improve the school system, although NYC schools are some of the best public schools.

By sunshine and thunder

December 23, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

TRUTHMAN

You wrote:

OK, S&T, do you believe Bush is smarter than you?

LOL. Did you just read “Debating for Dummies”?

By For States rights

December 23, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Anything the pious Kennedy’s do is for their self gratification. Remember Uncle Teddy and his fight for wind power to generate electricy until it was suggested that the windmills be place offshore in the shallow waters off Mass. Then all of a sudden it wasn’t a great idea at all because it would spoil his view while he was getting plastered at 9:00 in the morning. Their money came from running booze during prohibition and now Teddy is drinking up the profits. He should be in prison for murder…but no…he is a Kennedy. NO….he is trash.

By WillieTyler

December 23, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Well Corporal, one thing you Conservative hacks don’t realize is that a lot of those you refer to as “Libs” actually tune in to the hacks that you do. You see.. there is actually a difference between your and my kind. You hard core Conservatives think in a vaccum and only like to surround yourselves with ideas that are like your own, because you think you are above any thoughts or ideals that are contrary to yours.

Do I share the beliefs of these clowns or walk in lockstep agreement with even half of what they say? No. But in order to be fully informed on the total issue and engage in the debate it helps to know where the other side is coming from and what they are kicking around. So yes, I subject myself to all of that garbage on a regular basis, and you know what? I’m much better for it.

Not only that, but this IS supposedly a “free” country last time I checked..I don’t live in a box, there is nothing that says that because I’m not a Conservative I can’t listen to Conservative talk radio. I know you guys are BIG on boxes though.

By Truthman

December 23, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

S&T…no answer is acceptance and acquiescence.

I’ve found a neo-con who believes Bush is smarter than he!

Fellow liberals, isn’t amazing what the wingers say! They keep bleating like sheep that “the country doesn’t support Obama” and “He has no mandate” and “what has he ever done.”

I have an analogy to sum up the neo-con movement in America.

Neo-conism is to politics what the Detroit Lions are to the NFL!!! Inept, poorly managed, poorly coached with a playbook that is 10 years out of date.

Y’all took a arse-whipping in November and you still BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR LITTLE SHRIVELED HEARTS THAT AMERICA STILL PREFERS THE CHENEY/BUSH DOCTRINE.

0-16 by Sunday night!!

By sunshine and thunder

December 23, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

You guys kill me. How soon you forget that each and every left nut in America was calling Ronald Reagan dumb all throughout his administration.

We look back at the onset of his administration and remember double digit inflation, high unemployment, a depressed stock market, interest rates at 22% and the Cold War going strong.

His tax cuts and deregulation unleashed a period of economic growth unprecedented in the Western World. He faced down the Soviet Union while the chattering classes were busy patting the sweat from their brows and insisting that the best thing for both sides was to keep thousands of nuclear tipped missiles pointed at each other.

Now the only way you can place yourselves above a country boy from Texas who beat the pants off of your heroes for 8 straight years is to call him dumb.

Gee. Would that we all could be so dumb.

How come you left nuts aren’t still calling Reagan dumb? Maybe it is YOU who have wised up.

By Truthman

December 23, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

I never called the actor-president dumb - corrupt, in over his head, prone to listen to Jean Dixon, to much hair color, a great damager of race relations in America and the MC of the “Me Generation;” those things I called him.

Oh yes, and a poor actor to boot!

By Class of '98

December 23, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this

Wow, Jay. Is your next blog going to be “uncovering” the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor?

Tell us something we don’t already know.

By Bullseye

December 23, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

http://alaric3rh.home.sprynet.com/science/bceo.html

By The BlogFather of Scroll

December 23, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

y-y-yeah, bookman, t-t-tell us something we d-d-dont already know!

By sunshine and thunder

December 23, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this

TRUTHMAN

We’re still waiting for Obama’s accomplishment(s). Outside of running for office, what is there?

BTW, both George Bush and Barack Obama are smarter than the average Joe (you-me).

But as a wise old Chinese philosopher once said:

He who knows and knows not that he knows is asleep. Wake him.

He who know not and knows that he knows not is a child. Teach him.

He who knows not and knows not that he knows not is a fool. Shun him.

He who knows and knows that he knows is wise. Follow him.

So I’m going to heed that little piece of advice and shun you.

By Tamika

December 23, 2008 2:16 PM | Link to this

Merry Christmas to you all

Great NEW YEAR — ONLY 30 days to President Obama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* I lov eyou Barack*

By Truthman

December 23, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

GTTIM listed President-elect Barack Hussein Obama’s accomplishments earlier today as a direct answer to one of your posings.

And, no, The Chimp in Chief is not smarter than I…or my dog!!

He didn’t know there were Shia and Sunni in Iraq…he thinks Iranians are Arabs (they’re Persian)…He can’t even ride a Segway!

Bwahahahahahaha!!!

By Copyleft

December 23, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this

A special thank-you to Andy/AJC Mgmt:

I DIDN’T hate ‘08… but I know you did!

And I’m REALLY gonna love the next eight years!

(snicker)

By rcs

December 23, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this

Corporal, You’re dead on with the Lincoln quote (10:00 am). Too bad people in this country don’t study their history a little more in-depth. If they did perhaps we wouldn’t be celebrating the communist, adulterer, plagiarist Holiday on Jan 19th.

By rcs

December 23, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this

Corporal, You’re dead on with the Lincoln quote (10:00 am). Too bad people in this country don’t study their history a little more in-depth. If they did perhaps we wouldn’t be celebrating the communist, adulterer, plagiarist Holiday on Jan 19th.

By NotDitto

December 23, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

What’s the difference between Gov Blago trying to sell a Senate seat in Illinois and Gov Paterson having sold out to the Kennedy clan in NY? Just a matter of liberal linguistics, I imagine.

By sunshine and thunder

December 23, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this

TRUTHMAN

Willie Tyler

GTTIM

OK, let’s see. So far we have been told that:

Obama got a law degree.

Where are his grades? How did he rank in his class? Is anything written about his years in college?

Obama was President of the Harvard Law Review.

Does anyone have anything he wrote and published in the HLR?

No.

Obama co sponsored a lot of bills in the Senate and got 2.6% of them enacted.

So?

Obama wrote a book. Everybody else did too. Or at least said they did.

So?

I don’t see anything about executive experience, law practice, leadership or military service.

Are we supposed to be impressed?

By Copyleft

December 23, 2008 2:57 PM | Link to this

Ahh, so executive experience, legal practice, leadership, and military service are important, are they?

So you obviously voted for Gore and Kerry, right?

(snicker)

By Jake

December 23, 2008 3:12 PM | Link to this

The overwhelming majority of the electorate have been ‘ditto-heads’ for some time as evidenced by the 97%+ of posters on this blog that scream party lines at each other all day long. Democracy is in ruins, capitalism is in jeopardy, and yet the two-party system lives on. Morons to the left, idiots to the right!

By sunshine and thunder

December 23, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

COPYLEFT

So tell us copyleft, what executive experience did Al Gore and John Kerry have?

Until Obama all of our elected Presidents since John Kennedy have been former governors or former VP’s.

It seems like the electorate agrees with me.

No, I didn’t vote for any of your heroes. I left that up to the ignorant sheep.

By reasonable

December 23, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

To you folks touting the Lincoln quote, you need to get your historical context straight. The quote is from Lincoln in the 1858 Lincoln-Douglas debates in response to a charge levelled by Douglas that Lincoln was for social and political equality of the races. Lincoln, as was the case with most political figures at the time, believed in white supremacy and well knew that he could not let Douglas’s charge stick. But before, you jump to conclusions, Lincoln evolved over time. Presiding over a nation engaged in a bloody civil war will do that to you. As the war wore on and the North started to place greater and greater reliance on African-American manpower in its armies and as the bloodletting continued, Lincoln came to recognize that his earlier views were wrong. By 1865, he moved to a position that included not just freedom for the slaves but even guaranteeing them the right to vote through a constitutional amendment. It was, after all, his comments to this effect in a speech to the public at the White House in April 1865 that convinced John Wilkes Booth that he meant African-American citizenship and steeled his determination to assassinate Lincoln. Does this mean that Lincoln was as advanced on race relations as most Americans are today - no. But it does mean that he was well ahead of most of his contemporaries by 1863-1865. Fredrick Douglass noted that Lincoln was the only white man he met who did not look down on him and seemed to genuinely regard him as an equal. Please don’t wrench quotations out of context and the totality of a life to suit your views. The man deserves far better that that. Any historian will tell you that you can use isolated quotes from anyone to suit your needs. Historians, however, have to see the world and the man in the context of his times. I ask you to do the same.

As to the issue of Jay’s post, I merely offer the observation that any analysis of the election returns show that 53% of the voters backed the President-elect and that he not only carried areas he was expected to carry but did far better than expected in other areas (i.e suburban and exburban voters). That means he appealed to far more than merely the elite and the poor. He did rather well with the middle class, the college educated and the working class. Carrying states such as Ohio, North Carolina, and Indiana would appear to reject the sort of analysis implied in the Forbes article.

By gttim

December 23, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this

“I don’t see anything about executive experience, law practice, leadership or military service.”

You know if you really cared you could Google it, and find a ton of stuff he has done. He has had quite a career- better than most if not all Republicans of his age. However, be serious. You do not care. You just want to play little games and try and downplay anything he has done.

He has chaired foundations, been an associate and counsel to a civil rights law firm for 6 years. He served for twelve years as a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, teaching constitutional law. He graduated with his JD magna cum laude. That is executive experience, law practice, leadership, No military, but do tell me how crashing 4 planes or avoiding service in Alabama makes you a better president? (And be serious, as a legacy Bush could only get “C’s?” Most idiot legacies would at least get “A’s” and “B’s.” Bush must have really been a horrible- read drunk and drugged out- student.)

Again, if you really want to know Obama’s accomplishments, Google them. It is readily available information to anybody who knows how to Google.

BTW- Name any other Senator or congressperson who was President of the Harvard Law Review. That is an incredible feat.

By The Corporal

December 23, 2008 4:06 PM | Link to this

To Reasonable

There is some truth in what you say but sadly I have discovered it is a one-sided coin.

Liberals well seldom apply the same standards to a conservative of either another era or who has changed his/her views over time.

Thus, my expose’ on the real Lincoln.

Thank you for your well articulated response.

By Jake

December 23, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this

sun and thun - Reagan gave huge tax cuts to the wealthy, started amnesty for illegals encouraging the 12 million+ that are here now, set records for deficit spending, turned the department of energy into ‘Star Wars’ research and development (a big reason we don’t have alternative energy and fuel efficient cars now), and contributed to the 87 market crash and the S&L crisis. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention he was a TRAITOR!!!!

By Wyld Byll

December 23, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Sunshine & The Corporal - I must chastize you for being cruel to dumb animals. Truthman and Midori are both severely addled by BDS. It was funny the first few times you pulled the chain, but perhaps it is know time to let sleping dogs. as Midori would say, “lie.”

By Bud Wiser

December 23, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

Ignore Truthman.

He would be better recognized as IdiotMan, or StupidMan or IgnorantMan.

What a tool.

hahahahahaha

By Pogo

December 23, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this

Anyone that is foolish enough to think that the Democratic party represents the “poor and downtrodden” in this country is in for a rude awakening. The Democratic Representatives, Senators and the newly elected President are all big money people and they want to be, above everything else, career polticians. They fear entering the private sector, in which they would either have to produce or fail, more than anything else. They couldn’t give a flip about the wellfare of the “average” people of the US. They are however, very savy in that they got a majority of the in this country to vote for them. They did this by collecting a lot of campaign money from dubious sources and they did it by playing on the emotions of people looking for something “better” (whatever that means). Their modus-operdani is simple; play to the emotions of the politically ignorant to keep the votes coming in, which they did perfectly in this election, make the deals that make the big money people and union leaders happy, which they are currently doing with taxpayers money and will continue to do in the coming years and, by all means, keep the media and the news outlets on their side. Keeping the media people on their side isn’t difficult because most of the people in the “news” business were already indoctrinated to the liberal way of thinking by the spoiled and protected university professors which they were exposed to in their education. College professors are probably the last people anyone should listen to form their political leanings. They are far removed from us out here who make the nuts and botls of this country work. Wake up America, you are being duped by the same people you want to love. Nothing in this life is free and no-one can do anything for you except yourselves. It is easy to rule an un-informed electorate. The present Federal Government is proof of that.

By Rockerbabe

December 23, 2008 7:32 PM | Link to this

The Kennedys have always thought they deserved political influence and have managed over the years to get enough people in MA and NY to vote for them on the basis of the familyy name.
Hillary Clinton did in fact, go out and vigorously campaign for the Senate seat she eventually won in an election; not once, but twice. I would have preferred to vote for Hillary for President, but she asked us to vote for BHO instead. I did, but my enthusiasm is well tempered after seeing so many of his cabinet picks and the very disheartening pick of Warren for the Invocation. So much for change; courting a man who disrespects women and their desire for equal treatment and right of self determination. Then there is the almost Nazi attitude he has towards members of the GLB people. Courting hate isn’t change…its the boys clubs all over again. Gentry, big deal…your definition of gentry at least includes accomplishment, hardwork, innovation and a bit of luck; that’s American.

By Danjonglee

December 23, 2008 8:11 PM | Link to this

The worst economy since the great depression” and the “worst is yet to come” but Obama is playing golf and vacationing in his $$ million $$ home…… wonder what the carbon footprint is?