Looking for that patch of blue….
When dark, angry clouds fill the sky, you search the heavens for a patch of blue — just a patch will be enough — to feed hope that better times may be coming.
For example, one month does not make a trend, but retail sales did rise an unexpected 1 percent in January over December. Analysts had been expecting a seventh straight month of declining sales. So that’s good, right?
And according to the Wall Street Journal today:
“Even as job losses mount and profits plunge, some glimmers of stabilization are emerging in global markets.
In the U.S., Europe and China, separate surveys of manufacturers’ purchasing managers all inched upward in January, suggesting that the contraction in manufacturing activity could be slowing. The interest rates at which banks lend to one another are easing. And some credit markets are thawing.
Analysts say rock-bottom official interest rates, promises of massive fiscal-stimulus packages and central banks’ other efforts to revive markets have helped ease some tensions in financial markets and may help put a floor under falling business confidence.”
So we’ve got that going for us too. Which is nice…. especially on a Friday the 13th.
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94 comments Add your comment
Rascal
February 13th, 2009
6:59 am
Funny how quickly you point out good news now. Seems in previous 8 years, all good news was not enough and all bad news was shouted from the rooftop by you and the rest of the cheering section for big government.
gttim
February 13th, 2009
6:59 am
Some friends and I have been talking about this 1% increase. I know I have spent more money in January than any month in the previous year, but only because almost everything I am buying is 75% off. Most of my friends have been doing the same thing. My GF was turning up her nose at 60% off items, deciding to wait. So while it did increase, I doubt it is helping the retailers much.
Road Scholar
February 13th, 2009
7:03 am
One month does not define a trend. wait until the next few month’s reports are available.What is the average of the past 3 or 6 months?
Bud Wiser
February 13th, 2009
7:06 am
The key to surviving this economic downturn is to become a CEO or top executive at your company.
AJC has a nice link: http://projects.ajc.com/executive-pay/?cxntlid=nav_biz_ftrs_exec_pay
My former employer, Delta Air Lines, has no less than 6 of th top 25 executive compensation packages in the state, according to the article. This is from a company that has lost BILLIONS of dollars the last 10 years or more; just think how much money they could have made had the company been run worth a crap and actually made money!
I also see an approach from the other side of the coin; this fraudulent ’stimulus’ package is going to give, yes GIVE, money to all sorts of people who have never paid income taxes, and call it a “tax credit/rebate”, sort of like kicking sand in the faces of those who actually work for a living and help support these bums.
Tattoo parlors and liquor stores may see the biggest boon once those checks start flowing out.
Congress disgusts me. The president disgusts me. Each and every one of them should be investigated by DOJ and IRS and SEC, and any other acronym you can come up with, because they have taken this awesome responsibility we have given them and turned it into a money throw-away of biblical proportions. As a group they are Bernie Madoff on steroids.
Bud Wiser
February 13th, 2009
7:08 am
I still haven’t figured out how to do the link thing, and it has me in a pi$$y mood.
Joey
February 13th, 2009
7:12 am
Jay;
Wow! Suddenly you have developed the ability to actually look for something good. And clearly there is no shame in you that for the last eight years you have been totally and purposely focused on finding only dark skys.
What a sad but enlightening commentary this post is about Jay Bookman.
Mike
February 13th, 2009
7:19 am
I have to agree with Joey. I have thought for a while that one of the benefits of an Obama administration would be a return of the media’s ability to report good news. I am glad to see that I will not be disappointed.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
7:29 am
Could the wingers be a little more predictable with their nitpicking? sheesh.
For me, the news of retail sales was more along the lines of “yeah, that’s what you get when virtually every outlet has what amounts to a ‘going out of business/lost our lease’ extravaganza–you almost have to go into a store or go online and check out what’s out there and pick up some bargains.”
And wingers, keep in mind that most of January was still during the Bush administration. So you can get whatever warm and fuzzies you wish by spinning this as a “Bush recovery.” Feel better now?
Mort Merkel
February 13th, 2009
7:29 am
Also, no recession has ever lasted more than 18 months. That’s not that far away.
Mike
February 13th, 2009
7:29 am
BTW, if anyone is interested in what economists (not pundits) have to say about the efficacy of the stimulus, take a peek here:
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/62082.html
“WASHINGTON — The compromise economic stimulus plan agreed to by negotiators from the House of Representatives and the Senate is short on incentives to get consumers spending again and long on social goals that won’t stimulate economic activity, according to a range of respected economists.”
Jay
February 13th, 2009
7:40 am
So Mike, Joey, let me see if I’ve got this straight:
It’s partisan of me to hope that the economy improves and we avoid another Great Depression?
Do I have that right, gentlemen?
Yeah.
Somebody around here is sure enough partisan. Somebody….
Mrs. Godzilla
February 13th, 2009
7:47 am
DB,
I gotta agree with you. Predictable.
It would be fun one day if we 200 ton libs posted for the cons.
Ya’ know give them the day off.
Create a right wing “mad libs” template.
ie:
Jay Bookman again you show yourself to be a ___________________.
Your ________________is all _________________________.
The _______________, __________________ and ______________
libs are changing this country into ______________________.
They are all ____________________ and they will go to ______________.
They don’t believe in ____________________and ___________________
and want to ___________________ and ___________________.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
7:50 am
Believe me, Mrs. G, I have thought about making an appearance as a parody troll, just to see how far I could push it. But that would be wrong.
Full disclosure–I did post here once under a joke-name “Wingnut commander” just to deliver an admittedly stupid one-liner. Which bit me in the butt, because I used the same desktop a day or two later to post something earnest and heartfelt–which went out on the Intertubes under the same name! d’oh!
Lesson learned: Dishonesty is very Rong with a capital R.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
7:51 am
Wow, is “butt” a banned word?
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
7:51 am
Guess not.
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
7:53 am
Jay,
We have certainly been enjoying the uncrowded malls and marked down merchandise although I’m sure the retailers are none to happy. Could it have something to do with the huge loss of jobs, for openers. I wonder if job creation would help matters. Now, wouldn’t that be a good thing for an unlucky day.
Mrs. Godzilla
February 13th, 2009
7:55 am
I had similar bite marks prior to 01/01/08.
I do think that there are those among the posters here who are still
doing it though.
I’ve come to think of it as color commentary!
Joke Name
February 13th, 2009
7:57 am
Mrs. G, who you callin’ “Colored”?
Redneck Convert
February 13th, 2009
8:02 am
Well, like me and Sister Dusty always say, it was all Clinton’s fault for doing You Know What with that intern. Now maybe God will stop punishing us for the Sin and let the economy grow. Anyhow, all this stimulation bill will do is slow the economy down some more. It would of growed on its own. That’s our Talking Point and I for one am sticking to it. If we start sending checks to the old coots and the lazy welfare bums we are going against His Will. People made Bad Choices and that’s why they are out of work. They need to take some Personal Responsibility.
Anyhow, it’s Friday. Seems to happen every week. After I finish hauling the beer I’m headed to Billy Bob’s for a cold PBR or two or five. We’ll talk about what a flaming librul this Obama is and how we need to get back to keeping Those People in their place and letting Trickle Down work.
Have a good day everybody. I’m praying for these guys that run the Peanut Corporation of America. All they wanted to do was keep some good old boys in a job and a bunch of crazies come along with so-called tests that claimed the peanut butter had poison. If the libruls get their way we’ll have nosy inspecters all over the places that make stuff.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
8:04 am
Taxpayer @ 7.53, won’t job growth be a real lagging stat? in other words, isn’t it very likely we’ll continue hemorrhaging jobs for at least another quarter or two even under the rosiest scenarios?
(Mind you I’d love for the Job-Unicorn to make a cameo, but I’m just facing the horrid reality here.)
Joey
February 13th, 2009
8:05 am
Jay; Your 7:40 defense of yourself is not a defense. It is more of an admission that our assessment is correct. Being called a Gentleman by you, especially with that inflection, is a high compliment.
Clearly you recognized yourself, and perhaps, just perhaps felt a litte shame that you abandoned you journalist ethics.
But let me be more clear. Hope is not partisanship. I am full of hope. However, what you did for the last 8 years was to try your best to destroy hope. Your post shows that you know that.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
8:07 am
I am full of hope.
Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
8:10 am
DB,
Job growth is a lagging indicator. I was just thinking ahead to getting legislation passed and some more government jobs created to help fill in the gaping hole in the job market until businesses get back on their feet.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
8:10 am
Before I forget–Hillbilly Deluxe, if you’re lurking I did see your reply to me yesterday, thanks. We’ll get into the carbon-offset thingie some more, some other time perhaps.
Much as I’d love to stay and chat and really get into the weeds of the macro-economicals… later, all.
Roadblock
February 13th, 2009
8:17 am
I gave everyone I know gift certificates for Christmas. They are just now getting around to using them. Nothing to get excited about.
williebkind
February 13th, 2009
8:30 am
These posts are sure getting boring! I guess I am immuned to the same old partisan comments by both sides. The liberal shumer does not believe that I mind that 350 billion dollars worth of pork and earmarks are in the stimulus package. I guess I should call him and ask him how I feel today or what kind of weekend I am heading for. Midori, you should join Redneck Convert and have a couple of PBR too.
AJC/DNC Management
February 13th, 2009
8:32 am
I for one am going to miss the old GloomandDoom.Urinal, I used to look forward to reading Michael E Kanell’s depression era hysteria for the last 8 years.
For instance, a 1% rise in retail sales during the Bush years used to bring great wails of grief about our savings rate and the national debt, not to mention the dreaded American over consumption of world resources, blah, blah, blah.
But alas, in this new era of “bipartisanship,” the whining and moaning about every tiny little thing must come to an end, AND COME TO AN END RIGHT NOW OR ELSE, and from now on we MUST BE HAPPY or the thought police will be angry with us for not participating in the hopeandchange.duh, like good little toadies.
Mrs. Godzilla
February 13th, 2009
8:34 am
From Time: 25 People to Blame for the Financial Crisis
Me, you and Bill Clinton mad the list.
Mrs. Godzilla
February 13th, 2009
8:35 am
mad, maybe….but made would have been the correct spelling
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
8:36 am
Jay,
I see you got the picture and text thing working. Are you going to be able to get the traveling music thing working as well?
getalife
February 13th, 2009
8:43 am
Sad, tragic day in Buffalo today.
The economists that predicted this mess say it is looking like a lost decade like Japan and banks are still insolvent until they can stick us with the losses.
Shawny
February 13th, 2009
8:51 am
And it happened without a stimulus.
AJC/DNC Management
February 13th, 2009
8:52 am
Naturally McLaren was horrified at the prospect of a resurgent America gunning gas gulping RV’s across the nation’s interstates, accelerating glacier melt, panicking the polar bears, and doubtless drowning many South Pacific islanders. That’s not the kind of recovery we want! “For many people, economic recovery means ‘getting back to where we were a few months or years ago,’” McLaren sermonized. “That means recovering our consumptive, greedy, unrestrained, undisciplined, irresponsible, and ecologically and socially unsustainable way of life.”-AmSpec
So, uh, Jay, did you check with headquarters before you unleashed your happiness this morning?
I suspect they might be calling.
Mike
February 13th, 2009
8:55 am
Jay -
What a silly response. Your reading comprehension is really poor for a journalist.
Our criticims is that you and the rest of the media ignored or downplayed good news during the Bush admin because you wanted to get your candidates in office. Now that your candidate is in office, the media has deigned to actually feature good news.
That commentary has no relation at all to your silly straw man argument about your “hope that the economy improves and we avoid another Great Depression.”
If you are going to respond to what someone says, at least address their actual comments, not transparent straw men arguments. I doubt that will ever happen, but it would a be a refreshing change.
Wyld Byll Hyltnyr
February 13th, 2009
8:56 am
The emerging good news is the highly patisan poor execution from the Obama administration looks to set up 2010 well for a conservative comeback
Mike
February 13th, 2009
8:57 am
Mrs. Godzilla –
And how is your “mad lib” any different than your own quotes? Your hypocrisy is expected, but laughable.
AJC/DNC Management
February 13th, 2009
9:06 am
Geez, Peggy Noonan hasn’t hopped aboard the happy train-
Any great nation would worry at closed-up shops and a professional governing class that doesn’t have a clue what to do. But a great nation that fears, deep down, that it may be becoming more Suley than Sully—that nation will enter a true depression.
Bark, bark.
Grrrrrrrrrr.
TnGelding
February 13th, 2009
9:10 am
Mort Merkel
February 13th, 2009
7:29 am
And what if the recession becomes a depression, as in Great Depression? How long did that last? And if the government isn’t able to get the banking system working again, it could happen. Think about that as you try to destroy Obama and the faint glint of hope from the poor and down-trodden.
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
9:14 am
Mrs. G. at 8:34,
I liked the picture. The swelled heads on the little people was so appropriate. I can’t argue with the name at the top of the list however I would move Greenspan up and the American consumer down on the list. American consumers need to be better educated so I would also add educators to the list. We are not teaching folks some of the basics that they really need.
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
9:22 am
I had a thought this week that I’ve been working out in my head, but maybe some of you can help me.
Why is it the government, more particularly, the President’s or Congress’ responsibility to create jobs?
I know we need them for the tax base, but isn’t creating jobs for the small businesses and corporations of the world?
And since corporations have been getting huge subsidies over the past few years, and shipping jobs overseas – how in the world could anyone think for one second that we should continue with this?
When Commie checks in later, I’m going to ask him if he learned this in his Duke MBA classes:
Is it common business practice to now lobby for tax cuts, pay your top executives all your profits, ship jobs overseas, and buy all your stuff from China?
mm
February 13th, 2009
9:25 am
Mrs. G,
The 25 people article was interesting reading.
Wyld Byll,
Don’t count your chickens…
TnGelding
February 13th, 2009
9:26 am
There’s supposed to be provisons in the stimulus to encourage business to keep jobs here. We’ll see.
You might find this interesting:
http://www.cnbc.com//id/15840232?video=1031784249&play=1
I’ve been saying it for months.
Jay
February 13th, 2009
9:27 am
Taxpayer, Mike, please stop the tedious woofing. No more.
Midori
February 13th, 2009
9:30 am
Mike,
stop whining about Taxpayer not whining.
Willieb – sorry, but what is “PBR”?
Shawny — we can only go up from here. You have a problem with that?
Joey – you live for this blog, don’t you?
Bud Wiser – you made me smile. I’m still reeling from that.
Mrs. G – you are and always will be “da bomb”
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
9:30 am
Jay,
Have you figured out how to put in song links for this evening?
If so, I’d like to suggest this tune in honor of Valentine’s Day – it’s a good love song – don’t go by the title, listen to the lyrics – it’s an imaginary conversation between Jesus and Judas after they both get to heaven – true love.
Until the End of the World by U2
RW-(the original)
February 13th, 2009
9:32 am
I guess CNN didn’t get the memo that after eight long years of declaring every crack in the sidewalk to be Bush’s fault and the end of our country that it’s now time to grab any straw and portray it as Obama’s rebirth of our nation.
Jump in retail sales fuels skepticism
Total sales rose 1% in January versus expectations for a decline, but economists question whether there’s really a rebound.
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
9:32 am
Wow, Midori! How’d ya’ do that smiley face? I’m impressed.
EJ
February 13th, 2009
9:33 am
Job losses mount and we keep raising the min. wage. Before the first increase, unemployment was 4.6%. What will raising it yet again in July do to the economy?
http://www.nolanchart.com/authors/articles/article.php?ArticleID=5985
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
9:34 am
Oh, all right Jay. I’ll ignore him from now on — just like I agreed to quit using that “w” word. After all, I am a man of my word.
RW-(the original)
February 13th, 2009
9:37 am
Taxpayer and Bosch,
YouTube videos have an embed code that Jay only has to copy and paste into a new post. Bosch, I dare say you could do it with your new found technoskillz and I’m sure Jay has that copy and paste maneuver mastered. It’s 90% of the content here.
Midori
February 13th, 2009
9:40 am
Bosch,
use this symbols, without the space and the word “and” in between: : and )
Mrs. Godzilla
February 13th, 2009
9:41 am
Midori….if you can do the smiley face can we post photos?
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
9:57 am
RW,
I was just inquiring about the videos after recalling that Jay was experiencing technical difficulties getting the text and picture thing working yesterday.
AJC/DNC Management
February 13th, 2009
9:58 am
Bosch February 13th, 2009 9:22 am Why is it the government, more particularly, the President’s or Congress’ responsibility to create jobs?
Ok, so we got a glimmer of hope here, a little spark of careful considerate thought.
But then we shoot all that out with the moonbat talking points-
And since corporations have been getting huge subsidies over the past few years, and shipping jobs overseas – how in the world could anyone think for one second that we should continue with this?
Bosch- The United States of America has one of the highest tax rates on business in the world and this can be shown by companies “shipping jobs overseas,” to places where the tax burden is less.
Basic lesson in economics- Businesses are formed to make profits, there is absolutely no reason for any person to run a company that costs them money, surely we can all agree on that.
And if they have an opportunity to make more profit, money that most likely will be used to expand their company in some form or fashion, would they not be negligent if they did not take advantage of this opportunity?
57% of Heinz is located overseas, does that name ring a bell?
So what if the US lowered taxes on corporations so that we were more in line with the places these companies like Heinz are “shipping” their jobs to?
Why, that would create jobs here in the US, wouldn’t it?
And the money made from those jobs would go to American workers who would in turn, reinvest it into the US economy, thereby creating more demand, raising wages and the GDP.
It would be like a vicious cycle, wouldn’t it?
Know what I mean?
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
10:08 am
Jobs, in general, end up going to wherever they can get done for the least cost. Taxes are a part of that cost and in most case taxes are a small part. Labor costs have been driving most jobs out of the US in past years and policies between our government and other governments can either enhance or impede that. Clearly, taxes are not the sole factor affecting job losses in the US. Otherwise, companies such as Honda, Toyota, Kia, Nissan, etc., would not be here.
Andy the Welcher
February 13th, 2009
10:08 am
None too happy an I. I’m starting to wonder if Obama is a Welcher…
Dissent is normal and healthy, but this stimulus thing appears to be out of control. What W started (rightly so) has become a bit of a Frankenstein monster that Obama and the extreme left have built from the dead parts of previous failed liberal ideas… Much like I decried the extreme righties, the extreme lefties must be marginalized.
The solutions to the issues that vex us lie somewhere in the middle. Cheney should’ve conducted his energy policy meetings in the sunshine, and so should Obama and Pelosi conduct thier deliberations in the light of day.
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
10:12 am
Andy,
I do know what you mean, and unfortunately, that model doesn’t work because that’s what’s got us in this mess. In theory, yes, it is one way of doing things, but unfortunately, it hasn’t happened like your nice little bed time story version.
Do you think that if you say it over and over that it will somehow make it true or that if you try it over and over again, it will somehow work out differently than it already has?
Do you think people are that dumb?
Andy the Welcher
February 13th, 2009
10:13 am
Lower taxes here still can’t compete with the labor rates in say malaysia. So maybe Obama lowers the FICA contribution made by employers to 4% (it’s currently at 7.5%) how does that compare to using a laborer in Malaysia for $1.00/hr?
Taxes being too high is only part of the problem.
RW-(the original)
February 13th, 2009
10:17 am
Mrs G and anyone interested,
Generally speaking these are the symbols you should be able to make here.
Mrs. Godzilla
February 13th, 2009
10:18 am
AGAIN…we have high corporate tax rates but low corporate tax revenue….ever heard of loopholes?
Google it dides….what is corporate tax rate? how many corporations do not pay taxes? all the information is there if you care.
AJC/DNC Management
February 13th, 2009
10:23 am
Bosch February 13th, 2009 10:12 am In theory, yes, it is one way of doing things, but unfortunately, it hasn’t happened like your nice little bed time story version.
And here I thought it was the banking/ mortgage crisis that “got us into so much trouble.”
Sam Slom (Rep.), the Hawaii state senator who helms Small Business Hawaii, a Honolulu-based advocacy group, attributes the city’s high cost of doing business to a combination of taxes (”there’s a myriad”), employer mandates (the most burdensome in the U.S., he says) and regulations. Add that to property values that are “extremely high,” and it’s no wonder, he says, that Hawaiians have been “watching capital over-fly the state” while also enduring a recent surge in business defections and closures.
Ditto for Kalifornia, New York, Michigan and Taxachussets.
You know, reality and all that.
TnGelding
February 13th, 2009
10:27 am
AJC/DNC Management
February 13th, 2009
9:58 am
And how many of those businesses pay the top tax rate? How many pay anything at all?
getalife
February 13th, 2009
10:32 am
“We will tell the Senate Democratic leadership to let the GOP filibuster,” a House leadership aide said. “The House is not going to move on what the Senate passes and give in during conference like we have been doing.”
Bring in the cots.
TnGelding
February 13th, 2009
10:35 am
The GOP would be wise to step aside and let the Dems have their way. Or are they afraid they might accomplish something meaningful?
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
10:35 am
Mrs. G,
Fortunately, more and more people are getting educated and more and more people are turning away from the pandering about tax cuts — amongst other “talk”. An educated and informed voter is the best defense against people that would propagate lies and misinformation and deceit…
TnGelding
February 13th, 2009
10:40 am
Even with irresponsible tax rates and fairy tale interest rates Mr. Duhbya drove the economy into a ditch. Big business runs wild with Republicans in control. Fraud, greed, neglect and incompetence reign with predictable results. After all, how many times have they done it starting with Hoover? You’d think we would have learned by now.
Mike
February 13th, 2009
10:41 am
Jay –
OK. I will stop my childish behavior. It was taking to much effort, anyway
getalife
February 13th, 2009
10:49 am
Glenn Thrush at Politico reports that:
“A devilishly clever last-minute insert to the House version of the stimulus bill has made it through the conference report — a requirement that governors spend their stimulus allocations within 45 days.
The provision isn’t likely to have a real-world impact, but it forces Republican governors who opposed the stimulus (e.g. South Carolina’s Mark Sanford) and many other GOP governors who sat on the fence for fear of bucking their party — to publicly accept or decline the aid. And when they do accept it — and it’s hard to see a scenario where they wouldn’t given their deficits — Democrats get to call them craven or hypocritical or both.
In the unlikely event they do reject the money, authority for spending the cash would revert to State legislatures, who would likely be under even more political pressure to spend it than chief executives.
“Our governor has repeatedly expressed political and philosophical aversion to using federal assistance as we work our way out of the economic conditions that are visiting significant difficulties upon businesses and families throughout our beloved state,” Clyburn said after the House vote.”
Hardball.
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
10:53 am
Off-topic, but I hope Hank gets his home run record re-instated.
AJC/DNC Management
February 13th, 2009
11:04 am
Would Abraham Lincoln have voted for Barack Obama or any of the Dems honoring him on Thursday at the Capitol? It is highly unlikely. He would have found their politics unfathomable, not just for its crassness and feeble corner-cutting but for its aphilosophical stupidity.
Statesmen now take down the cell numbers of the homeless, provided that the petitioner is good for ratings. Obama casts his cheap, showboating pragmatism as Lincolnian — as if fighting for pork is akin to holding the union together. This is all about as soulfully Lincolnian as his calculated “I screwed up” apologies last week.
Throwing cheap unsustainable mortgages backed by the federal government out the window didn’t create this financial crisis, nope, the same people that have brought us over two hundred years of prosperity, the evil corporations, did.
Create another in a long line of delusions, democrats, ride your fake “stimulus” right into a depression.
At least the media will report it as a “happy” little depression.
hopeandchange.duh
tcoach
February 13th, 2009
11:15 am
Hank should be looked at with as much skepticism for the possibility of using “greenies” or amphetamines as current baseball players are about steroids.
Steroids were LEGAL in baseball at the time of the failed test by Bonds and A-Rod.
Amphetamines are a performance enhancing drug too.
But it was in a time when congress felt they had more important issues than having huge productions of hearings about the use of “greenies” in baseball. Guess our Congress just does not have as much to worry about as they did in say the 1940’s- 1970’s.
Earl
February 13th, 2009
11:20 am
Although this so called stimulas package is a joke and it will not come into effect for another two years and even then with poor if any positive results, let the democrats have it. Even as dimwitted and short-sighted as the democrats are, they know they eventually have to crap or get off the pot. In a corporate setting we all know if we take over a job from even the worst of the worst before us, in four years if you haven’t turned it around, you’re outta here. Grow government jobs as an answer? Look to California for the results of that experience. The only job growth California has had in the past four years are government jobs and look how the great state of California’s doing today. They’ll be a bankrupt state come midnight on February 28th, 2009. State workers there are already being furloughed a week a month to maintain the paultry paying jobs they have now. Yeah….let’s look toward California as a model. What will be next, a national model of the Clayton County school board to be the prototype of things to come in Obama’s No Child to go Forward program. Sweet. We’re doomed. We had a chance with Mitt Romney but nooooooooooooooo, the Mesiah had to be crowed God of the World. Ask the pigeons.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
11:26 am
meh… tcoach @ 11.15, while it’s true that MLB hadn’t specifically banned hormonal help in that timeframe (and while I tend to scoff at all the pearl-clutching going on about ‘roids in sports), keep in mind that there were other legal issues at play, if A-Rod were using a controlled substance without a valid prescription.
I agree that too much is made of the good old days being pristine and wonderful. I mean, without that short porch in the Bronx, the Babe only would’ve been good for 600, 650 at most…
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
11:26 am
Wow tcoach,
You’re a bummer. Just kidding.
Or MAYBE Hank hit all those home runs because he’s awesome.
Hillbilly Deluxe
February 13th, 2009
11:27 am
To Bosch @9:22
Is it common business practice to now lobby for tax cuts, pay your top executives all your profits, ship jobs overseas, and buy all your stuff from China?
Sadly, I think it is.
To Taxpayer @10:08
Clearly, taxes are not the sole factor affecting job losses in the US. Otherwise, companies such as Honda, Toyota, Kia, Nissan, etc., would not be here.
While this statement is true don’t forget that these company’s plants are receiving millions in state and local tax breaks.
Sam
February 13th, 2009
11:27 am
So, let me get this straight, the Senate and House are going to spend $800 billion of taxpayer money and they won’t even have a chance to read the bill. It’s like the Soviet Politburo ramrodding a legislation with a rubber stamp general assembly
Midori
February 13th, 2009
11:29 am
So Earl, tell me. What was/is your solution? More tax cuts? They sure worked out marveously in the past, didnt they?
I coulda had a V-8!!
Hillbilly Deluxe
February 13th, 2009
11:29 am
To RW
A technical question. Why did my previous post put everything in italics instead of just parts that I wanted? Thanks for helping us puter challenged people.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
11:29 am
Grow government jobs as an answer? Look to California for the results of that experience.
One state is not equal to the United States of America.
And Mittens? As President? Which version are you talking about, the liberal Republican governor he actually governed as, or the “I’m really born-again and have conservative bona fides, honest!” persona he campaigned as?
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
11:32 am
Bosch, speed won’t help you hit home runs per se. It helps you play in more games so you have a shot at hitting more home runs. Hammerin’ Hank will always be awesome.
But to be fair, so will Barry Bonds, although it will take some time for the dust to settle and for folks to realize what a frighteningly talented, hard working man he really was.
RW-(the original)
February 13th, 2009
11:35 am
Hillbilly Deluxe,
If you want to put something in italics and then return to normal font you’ll have to close the html using the /i part at the end of the first portion you want in italics. If further down the post you want something else in italics you have to start the sequence over.
RW-(the original)
February 13th, 2009
11:38 am
DB,
I read an interesting article about the brace Bonds wore being much more of a factor in his artificially high home run total than the steroids themselves.
I’m off to the forest now, but I’ll try to dig it out for happy hour.
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
11:38 am
DB,
Um, weird question here, but when you say “speed,” do you mean the drug, or — actually speed, like quickness.
I took it that you meant the drug, but sometimes reading things — they just come out weird.
Hammerin’ Hank will always be awesome – that’s true.
I don’t know that much about Bonds to be honest – I stopped following baseball back in the mid-90s when they were striking and then all this steroid stuff – it turned me off. But, in the game’s defense, all professional sports have their issues – soccer included.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
11:44 am
RW @ 11.38 I look forward to seeing that.
Bosch, I meant the drug. Speedy guys have their purpose (and boy wouldn’t the game be a snooze without them on the basepaths?) but they don’t generally hit so many dingers.
RW-(the original)
February 13th, 2009
11:44 am
Hillbilly Deluxe,
An update to your question. I just went and looked at the coding on your comment and it looks like you turned off italics at the end of each segment, but turned it back on right after you turned it off. Once you use the /i don’t use i again until you’re ready to start something else in italics.
tcoach
February 13th, 2009
11:44 am
DB, you are wrong as it has been proven that amphetamines to increase reaction time. Therefor allowing one to make a much faster decision on swinging or not and were.
Also it has been proven and stated by many veteran players of the day that “greenies” allowed them to have the energy to play.
Even Chipper Jones, a modern athlete, said that when baseball banned steroids and amphetamines that the ban of amphetamines would have more of an impact on the game.
Also you talked about the legal issues, I do believe most amphetamines are illegal as well.
And Bosch,
I am not a bummer I was pumped to see you went off topic, because it gets old seeing the same people say the same things. With the lead topic of this current blog that is guaranteed to be the case. Same old same old. So thanks for injecting some sports into an otherwise very dull and predictable topic.
Plus I am biased against Aaron, 1st game my dad ever took me too Hank refused to sign an autograph for me. And he knew my dad they played against each other for 6 seasons, when Hank was still in Mil. and my dad was in St. Louis. I was 4 or 5 he could have signed my new baby blue braves hat.
Whatever happened to the old baby blues they should wear them more often.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
11:54 am
Chipper Jones? No offense, but the guy couldn’t figure out how to liason with a Hooter’s chick without impregnating her; you’re going to trust him for sports medicine advice?
I’m calling BS on the performance enhancing qualities of speed. And to a certain extent ‘roids, actually. I’ve no doubt that some players think it helps them hit more/better; I just doubt it really does.
Remember too (not you tcoach, you know this already) that pitchers have access to the same pharmacological weaponry as hitters.
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
11:57 am
tcoach,
That sucks. I remember once we were at the Braves game, and one of the players (I can’t remember which one, but that’s probably a good thing – he’s probably broke and on drugs somewhere now) yelled at my son because he asked him if he would hand him a ball that had fallen over the fence – my son was about that age, and he started crying. This particular son (I have two and a daughter) is extremely shy and it took alot for him to get that courage to even ask the player. I got so pissed, man, I was on my way over that fence, but Pedro Borbon saw what happened, came over and apologized to my son, and talked to him for a long time and gave him the ball and signed it. I haven’t been to Turner Field since.
Bosch
February 13th, 2009
12:02 pm
I don’t understand why some players think that amphetamines make you faster – they only make you faster in your mind. They make your heart race and you may think you are running faster, but you’re not. And your freaking heart will explode if you do that too much.
DB, Gwinnettian
February 13th, 2009
12:05 pm
the term “Performance enhancement” gets thrown around a lot, but it can mean a lot of things. Not to go overboard, but by “performance enhancing” @ 11.54 I mean what task you’re actually able to do perform at a specific time in the game of baseball, rather than the amount of time you’re able to play while healthy.
No question speed and steroids improve the latter. In the case of steroids, of course, it’s not that you are able to magically “get bigger” or stronger, but that the recovery time is seriously diminished, rendering very hard training more effective.
Ok, I’ll stop with the pedantic nonsense in a dead thread, just wanted to protect myself from a hard line drive from tcoach!
tcoach
February 13th, 2009
12:24 pm
I don’t ever give hard line drives unless I have been brushed back off the plate.
In regards to your chipper comment.
As we have learned from our president and Mr. Geithner, factors that do not involve your job should not be considered.
Geithner is supposed to be a great guy with taxes, tax coeds and finance, even-though he did not do so well the for like 4 years on his own taxes, honest mistake though.
Chipper Jones is a multi-time all-star and former MVP. He has way more credentials in his field than Geithner.
HAHAHa,
Just playing please do not take offense to anything I said.
Taxpayer
February 13th, 2009
12:44 pm
Hillbilly Deluxe at 11:27,
While this statement is true don’t forget that these company’s plants are receiving millions in state and local tax breaks.
Yes, but these same breaks may be offered to any company willing to set up shop whether it be Honda or Ford or whomever.
Hillbilly Deluxe
February 13th, 2009
1:19 pm
On a baseball note, I think steroids help players stay stronger and not wear down as much late in the season. And I think Barry Bonds was a great ballplayer but he was definitely aided by the arm brace. He could stand right on top of the plate and dare you to pitch him inside. He also was given a very small strike zone by most umpires.
I did see him hit against Randy Johnson once. Johnson threw up and in to back him off the plate. He dug right back in, standing right on the plate again. Johnson put the next pitch right in the middle of his back. No glaring, no charging the mound, Bonds went to his knees and stayed there. I’m old school I guess, I believe the plate belongs to the pitcher.
I’m also not one for the slugging games. I prefer pitching, speed and defense. Oh how I miss those Whitey Herzog, Cardinal teams.
HavingMySay
February 13th, 2009
2:07 pm
In 2004, in the midst of the housing boom, President George Bush had a chance to do a little bragging in his State of the Union Address.
“This economy is strong and growing stronger,” he said, to applause in the House chamber. “New home construction (is at) the highest in almost 20 years. Homeownership rates (are at) the highest ever.”
Just one month later, then-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan encouraged the mortgage industry to come up with new kinds of loans — so even more people could buy homes. *******
What happened between this 2004 statement and our housing market and financial decline?
Just Having My Say!