Peering inside the right-wing apparatus

Operationally, you have to be impressed by the conservative movement’s message discipline and ideological control. Here’s one interesting way that’s achieved.

With a Republican takeover of the House quite likely, new conservative politicians will be coming to Washington looking to hire staff. So the House Republican Study Committee, headed by U.S. Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, recently sent out an email advising job hopefuls how to proceed. According to Roll Call, the email strongly encourages applicants for House jobs “to submit your résumé and complete the ideological questionnaires at the following two websites.”

The two sites listed are a job bank for conservatives run by the private Heritage Foundation, and a similar operation at conservativejobs.com. Both sites appear to serve as clearinghouses for conservatives seeking employment within the right-wing establishment.

At the Heritage site, applicants are asked where in the movement they seek to be placed: In academia? On congressional staff? As a lobbyist? In a faith-based group or think tank?

Then, in addition to standard questions such as job experience, education, etc., applicants are asked a series of ideological questions designed to test their unswerving loyalty.

For example, they are asked if they agree or disagree with a series of policy statements, such as:

  • “The education industry should be opened to increased competition through vouchers or tax credits for private schools.”
  • “People should be able to invest a portion of their Social Security payments in a personal account.”
  • “The U.S. needs nationalized health care.”

In addition to questions such as “name your personal hero/heroine” (the correct answer is surely “Ronald Reagan”), applicants are then asked for reactions to a list of organizations and individuals:

jobbank

At conservativejobs.com, the positions available include a job at the Koch Foundation in Arlington, Va., a development officer at the Bill of Rights Institute, and a systems administrator for “Western Senator.” And the system used to vet candidates for those jobs is similar to that at the Heritage Foundation.

On a scale of 1 to 5, applicants are asked to rate their agreement with a long list of statements, including:

  • “Homosexual activity should be incompatible with service in the U.S. military forces.”
  • “The U.S. should get approval from the United Nations before engaging in any military action abroad.”
  • “Political action committees should be further regulated so they cannot abuse our election process.”
  • “Employers should be allowed to replace striking workers permanently with new employees.”
  • “America is a land of many cultures, therefore no mandated preference for one language over another is acceptable.”

As Roll Call reports:

Mike Gonzalez, Heritage’s vice president of communications, said the service has helped place “good conservative staffers” in congressional offices for years.

“There is obviously a lot of interest by conservative groups in finding and placing good conservative staffers in potentially new positions,” he wrote in an e-mail. “ Heritage has a full time employee running our job bank and it has been finding and vetting good conservatives for years — we place around 100 people per year and have numerous congressional offices every year seek out potential employees.”

The clear intent and effect of such a system is to discourage thinking outside the box and painting outside the lines. In the long run, such enforced uniformity is probably harmful — to both conservatives and by extension the country — because new ideas and ways of thinking are effectively squashed.

But in the short term, the message discipline is highly effective.

(H/t to Steve Benen at Political Animal)

315 comments Add your comment

Normal

October 27th, 2010
9:54 am

I hate to say this, that sounds amazingly fascist. Lock step, no individualism, no freedom of thought. adhere to the “State” idealogy…Wow!

RW-(the original)

October 27th, 2010
9:55 am

Paul

October 27th, 2010
9:55 am

“Effective” does not equal “good.”

Heard a pundit the other day make an interesting point. Said the TP movement – not party – began and was derided by Democrats. Republicans forged an alliance (and lost some of their mainstream candidates in the primaries). Point was, if that alliance had not taken place, if there were more third party candidates, Republican leads, even in races that aren’t all that close, just might not be there.

The previous column – Reps may have alienated Latinos, but Dems sure alienated a whole lot of independents who were concerned only with one or two fiscal issues.

So now we get even not so extreme Republican politicians moving right – just to keep their jobs. Coups usually get done by a small, dedicated, minority.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
9:58 am

“While we’re at it”…

Would you care to quote anything from that document that even APPROACHES the ideological bent of the ones that Jay has posted?

mystified

October 27th, 2010
9:58 am

So I guess the republicans would be better people if they hired some democrats to work on their staff.

They don’t need diversity of opinion in their office. They have the national press who is guaranteed to to support whatever republicans don’t.

Paul

October 27th, 2010
9:58 am

RW-(the original)

Well, here’s hoping the Republicans’ quest for purity works out as well as the Democrats’ quest -

Jay

October 27th, 2010
9:59 am

Not sure what point that makes, RW. There’s not a hint of ideological enforcement in that Obama document, just standard background stuff. In fact, it drives home just how different the GOP approach is.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:00 am

RW – … and your point? show me one thing that is anywhere NEAR an idiological purity test in that questionnaire?

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:00 am

dammit. I owe Jay a coke.

NowReally

October 27th, 2010
10:00 am

Wow, we are clearly dealing with a group of nutcases. Whatever happened to individuality? They are clearly of the group think mentality. I’ve known for a while that this country is in serious trouble and we haven’t seen anything yet.

When Bush stated you are either with us or against us, I knew it was over.

mystified

October 27th, 2010
10:00 am

In fairness, the republicans don’t have fine upstanding organizations like ACORN to pull it’s applicants from.

Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)

October 27th, 2010
10:02 am

Well, I see the GA Board of Regents is finally doing something about the terrible discrimination against dummies in our state colledges. They say that only 60% graduating ain’t good enough. They want more degrees handed out. I say good for them. I never made it out of 5th grade myself, but I still want a colledge degree. Maybe a PhD. Dr. Convert—it’s got a nice ring to it. I pay taxes to support the colledges and I don’t see why I can’t have a degree for it. If our lower schools can have Social Promotion and give out grades that don’t mean much, I don’t see why our colledges can’t. I told you all that getting Republicans to run this state would help us all out big-time.

Anyway, Bookman oughtn’t to be writing about my apparatus. That’s a private matter for good straight folks. But if a good Conservative can’t pass that test, he’s got no business working anyplace. The right answer to most anything is No, No, No.

I got to admit I’m kind of down this a.m. The polls show my favorite right-wing politican, Rep. Jim Marshall, is down over 10 pts. to his Republican opponent. Even calling Nancy Pelosi a scum-bag hasn’t helped him. Far as I’m concerned, he’s the best Republican GA ever had, even if he does disguise it with a big D after his name. He’s voted with the Republicans 99% of the time and they still want to throw him out of office. I just don’t understand it.

Have a good day everybody.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:03 am

“dammit. I owe Jay a coke”

And you owe ME a Mountain Dew!

Jimmy62

October 27th, 2010
10:04 am

Haha, it’s hilarious when you post stuff like that. Especially when just a week ago a prominent liberal lost his job on NPR for daring to say something that didn’t meet the approval of the left. He stepped outside of your groupthink and got punished for it.

NPR is a much bigger deal then the Heritage Foundation, and uses far, far larger amounts of taxpayer dollars.

RW-(the original)

October 27th, 2010
10:04 am

The ideological bent that Jay posted is meaningless unless you can also substantiate the scoring of the application. Without that you only have his interpretation that one must answer only with the farthest right answers to be considered. That may or may not be the case.

And if you can’t see the purity test in the Obama application then you’re really beyond help.

mystified

October 27th, 2010
10:04 am

Now we know. Democrats are unfairly discriminated against because they can’t get jobs on republican staffs. It’s just a matter of time before the ACLU files a law suit and every republican congressman or senator is mandated to have at least one card carrying democrat on his or her inner staff. Oh the humanity.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:04 am

Doggone – :-) as long as it’s not a TAB … blech

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:05 am

“And if you can’t see the purity test in the Obama application then you’re really beyond help.”

point it out. tell us the questions that are beyond the purity pale.

JohnnyReb

October 27th, 2010
10:05 am

Jay, one can only guess the statement “discourage thinking outside the box” really means to learn to think Progressive! No thanks.

Politics is not Sunday School where you learn to appreciate and love everyone. For most purposes, it is war short of physically killing someone. You don’t invite the enemy into the camp unless you intend to compromise your principles.

Conservatives believe there has been too much compromise already.

mystified

October 27th, 2010
10:05 am

Great point Jimmy62. That was a great example of just how big their tent is.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:06 am

“blech”

blech indeed!

Mick

October 27th, 2010
10:07 am

I keep hearing how we are a center right country but this is an example of a party where there is no center allowed. Good for them, it is who they are now. I’m hoping that this has been a costly blip in the scheme of american politics. The republican party cannot sustain itself by tax cuts alone. I’m hoping the day of reckoning comes sooner rather than later but surely it will come as our population and cultural mix heads steadily to the center.

Jay

October 27th, 2010
10:07 am

Well, RW, enlighten us.

Quote from the document you cited — as I have done from the conservative sites — demonstrating how it is attempting to create ideological uniformity.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:07 am

“And if you can’t see the purity test in the Obama application then you’re really beyond help”

Couldn’t find any to quote, huh?

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:07 am

“lost his job on NPR for daring to say something that didn’t meet the approval of the left”

no. he lost his job because he broke his contract of employment.

nice try.

epic flail.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:08 am

ladies and gentlemen … for your consideration … the problem with America today in one simple sentence:

“For most purposes, (politics) is war short of physically killing someone”

larry

October 27th, 2010
10:09 am

I wonder what would happen if you lied on the application. I mean a congressional staffter pays pretty well dont it ?

mystified

October 27th, 2010
10:09 am

I find it humorous how many of you liberal bloggers have convinced yourself that the swing to the right in this election is a good thing for democrats. That in some way, it’s not a condemnation that you aren’t nearly as main stream as you think you are. That America saw your ideas and said “No”.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:09 am

No, JohnnyReb, politics is NOT war or anything like it. Politics is supposed to be about finding the best way to serve the American people – not the best way to defeat your enemy.

Paul

October 27th, 2010
10:10 am

USinUK

“as long as it’s not a TAB … blech”

Tab? I think I read about that in a ‘Cultural History of the US” course. Then there was that strange “Tab” reference in one of those “Back to the Future” movies.

:-)

Off topic

Jay

Just returned from southern Cal. In one affluent community I saw several major building projects – a swath of buildings continuously extending across hillsides. I asked an investment advisor what they were. He said ‘apartments. There’s a deluge of foreclosures coming and some have bet on apartment construction.

I wonder how the majority Party of Purity’s gonna handle that one -

NowReally

October 27th, 2010
10:11 am

RW-(the original)

October 27th, 2010
10:04 am

There was nothing in the document asking about gay rights, civil rights, healthcare, education, immigration, taxes, abortions or anything else you people deem liberal ideology such as, entitlements. So, what’s your point?

JohnnyReb

October 27th, 2010
10:11 am

USinUK@10:07 – Willimas was canned by NPR because he does not meet their Progressive purity test, not to mention that Soros just made his first downpayment to buy their soul. I hope Williams sues them; they will loose their a$$ big time. They broke every decent rule of employment termination, including canning the only black analyst on their payroll. My crystal ball shows the beginning of the end for their management group.

mystified

October 27th, 2010
10:12 am

USinUK. What world do you live in? Do you know nothing of history or politics?

RW-(the original)

October 27th, 2010
10:13 am

Jay B and USinUK,

I can only approximate what I think the answers to the questions on Obama’s application would do to your chances of getting a job which is exactly the same as what you’re doing with this Republican application.

I will allow that they didn’t follow it very well since the administration is crawling with tax cheats.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:13 am

JohnnyReb – if that was the case, he would have been canned long ago for his work at FOX (his appearances there weren’t exactly NEW) …

… as far as your crystal ball goes, if I were you, I wouldn’t rely on it to make any bets on horse races … the right has been predicting the demise of NPR since the 1980s … it wasn’t gone then, it isn’t gone now and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon …

JohnnyReb

October 27th, 2010
10:14 am

UsinUK@10:09 – re, politics is suppose to find the best way to serve the people. Agreed, but we don’t agree on how to do that. From my viewpoint, eliminating Progressive laws and ideology is the ticket.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:14 am

“I can only approximate what I think the answers to the questions on Obama’s application would do to your chances of getting a job”

We accept your apology

JohnnyReb

October 27th, 2010
10:16 am

USinUK, re my crystal ball. I did not state the demise of NPR, but instead their management group.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:16 am

mystified – I know that St. Ronnie used to meet and have drinks with Tip O’Neil at the WH … that there was a time when the GOP and the Dems could and did actually work together.

in JohnnyReb’s structure, the American population are bodies caught in the crossfire, so much collateral damage.

thomas

October 27th, 2010
10:16 am

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:07 am

Have others not broke their contractual agreement as well?

There have been other commentators and even host on NPR shows that have given and made controversial OPINION statements. But those employees were not fired.

In each case the opinion being given was one that would be considered a left leaning view.

Do you see why people could be of the opinion that Juan Williams was fired not for giving his opinion but because it didn’t fall into the appropriate side of opinions?

Or do you not consider this statement to be one of opinion…..

“The evaporation of 4 million who believe this crap would leave the world an instantly better place.”

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:17 am

“I can only approximate what I think the answers to the questions on Obama’s application ”

in other words, your 9:55 was a load of bollocks.

glad we cleared that up.

larry

October 27th, 2010
10:17 am

NPR had a right to fire Williams and CNN had a right to fire Sanchez. End of story .

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:18 am

thomas – wow. care to throw a few more hypotheticals in there?

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:18 am

“But those employees were not fired.”

Williams was contracted as a news analyst, not as an opinion editor. He compromised his credibility as an unbiased analyst, therefore he violated his contract…and he paid the penalty for that.

Whacks Eloquent

October 27th, 2010
10:20 am

I laughed this morning when I heard “Christian Coalition” would not issue voter guide for the Georgia gubernatorial race. Why? Because neither Deal nor Barnes opposes changing the Sunday drink sales measures! Good grief, when will this idiot irrelevant organization just go away and quit making Christians as a whole look absolutely ignorant. I do not care if someone buys alcohol on Sunday or not, talk about an absolute non-issue! You’d think the absolute shunning of Ralph Reed for Lt Gov in 06 would have sent a hint to these fools, but obviously not…

Atlas Shrugging

October 27th, 2010
10:21 am

Here you go again J, …generating hatred between the rep-ugnants and the Dem-wits….and you have the gall to say you are somehow different from other hate mongers.

Whacks Eloquent

October 27th, 2010
10:23 am

IMO, NPR is a small price to pay to avoid the return of the “Fairness Doctrine”…

I’ll let you keep your liberal taxpayer-funded talk radio, if you’ll leave my commercial-funded conservative talk radio alone!

Jay

October 27th, 2010
10:23 am

Atlas, do you believe there is a difference between discussing/debating politics and “generating hatred”?

Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 27th, 2010
10:24 am

Pretty good vetting process. The more I see their work, the more I am more impressed with the Heritage Foundation. I joined them, only costs $25. Did not know about the placement service, another great idea,

JohnnyReb

October 27th, 2010
10:24 am

larry@10:17 – no, NPR may not have the right to fire Williams. NPR is not unlike most large corporations/organizations. They must show cause and a path of increasing disciplinary action. NPR may be able to show documents proving cause and even increasing or stepped action. However, they completely dropped the ball on how the firing occurred, plus they have other employees who are on video making statements much worse than that of Williams. If he sues, he wins.

RW-(the original)

October 27th, 2010
10:25 am

your 9:55 was a load of bollocks.

9:55? Holy crap I better get out of here. Anyway I would say that section II is almost assuredly an ideological purity test and if I use the Jay B standard I can claim it as fact since I don’t know anymore than he does how these answers are being scored.

See y’all in the PM.

Paul

October 27th, 2010
10:27 am

USinUK

“he lost his job because he broke his contract of employment.”

Whenever the top brass give differing reasons for an event, it’s cause for concern. That’s the reason put out by the CEO -that he gave his opinion and that was inconsistent with NPR’s editorial policies and practices. However, Mr. Williams stated that Ellen Weiss, NPR’s senior VP for News, saying his remarks crossed the line and he had made a bigoted statement. Add to that opinions expressed by others employed by NPR (while Williams, the only Black is fired), certain Washington DC statutes on employment guarantees where opinions are expressed, CEO Schiller’s ‘therapist’ statement (American with Disabilities Act), and we have a great lawsuit to look forward to.

Del

October 27th, 2010
10:27 am

Really comical to hear the left talk about thinking outside the box. The far-left doesn’t tolerate any political thought outside of their box. They need to stay inside the box and speak the party line on each and every issue. Next topic

thomas

October 27th, 2010
10:28 am

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:18 am

Que?

what hypothetical?

the quote I used was from an actual commentator (Andrei Codrescu)

so sorry i am unaware of the hypotheticals you speak of?

Or did you not know that NPR allowed its stff to say such things?

Do you see why some would be of the opinion that NPR does not have a problem with commentators giving opinions, it has more to do with the type of opinion?

SW

October 27th, 2010
10:28 am

Normal orthodoxy stuff. Small minds unopen to ideas that make progress. Keep on living in the past.

thomas

October 27th, 2010
10:30 am

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:18 am

I agree that Williams violated his contract and NPR had just cause and rason to fire him.

My question is simply why NPR has not taken the same action for other analyst and commentators who have given their opinions as well?

The only difference I see is that the others opinions were more in line with the views and opinions of the left.

Bubba Bob

October 27th, 2010
10:32 am

So you don’t think the left does the same thing? How many conservatives are on Obama’s staff?

Jay

October 27th, 2010
10:34 am

thomas, Andrei Codrescu is an occasional commentator on NPR. He is not a staff person. Staff people on NPR are banned from doing commentary. (I’ve done a commentary on NPR as well (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11737347 ), and believe me, the money’s not much.)

NPR doesn’t have and doesn’t want opinion people on its staff. They choose to limit themselves to reporting. Williams was a news analyst — i.e, what this means, what’s likely to happen, why did things turn out his way — and was repeatedly warned against venturing into opinions. But his role on Fox was in the end impossible to reconcile with that requirement.

Peadawg

October 27th, 2010
10:34 am

“I hate to say this, that sounds amazingly fascist” – HA! the new word of the week. We’ve had racist, bigot, and now fascist! LMAO!!!

Democrats are ok with a socialist in office, but a fascist with different views, noooooooo.

Bring back "Babe Alley" to the Georgia Capitol!

October 27th, 2010
10:34 am

Jay, I don’t know if the questions are too place conservatives in new positions as much as they are for conservative organizations to try and make sure that they’re getting people who agree with their point of view and aren’t gonna make waves. The questions just seem to be a way to tell applicants what they’re getting into as far as just how decidedly conservative the organiztion is that they’re trying to join.
If someone from a liberal organization wanted to get into these organizations and sabotage them, then, one, they’d have to be really, really determined and dedicated and willing to make the effort to put together a resume and record of being a solid conservative by the time they get to that point, though take it from me, very ambitious politicians with a thirst for power would be willing to go that far if they knew that it would pay off with lots of money, power, and of course, sex! Though, getting back to my original point, a questionaire isn’t much of a vetting process as many of the questions look to designed to get easily canned responses that anybody whose looking to get a job with a conservative organization would know how to answer.

thomas

October 27th, 2010
10:37 am

being devil’s advocate here but….

has anyone condemning the republicans for this considered that when scoring the answers it is possible that preference will be given to some with differing views to add some variation of thought in meetings and such?

Or have we been given the gift of mind reading and all now?

Unless we have documents(emails, memos, letters, etc.) stating to only hire those who are in lock step with the party?

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:38 am

“NPR is a small price to pay to avoid the return of the “Fairness Doctrine”…”

Care to tell us just exactly WHO is trying to return to the that “doctrine”? I see it constantly raised as a “boo” issue…but no one seems to ACTUALLY be trying to bring it back…or haven’t you noticed?

Jay

October 27th, 2010
10:38 am

Troll, if you wish to repost that without the namecalling, feel free to do so.

larry

October 27th, 2010
10:38 am

While everyone votes , whether early voting from now until Friday, or votes on Tuesday, keep this story in mind…………….. And i wish we hadnt gotten these machines myself.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2010/10/27/feyerick.vote.hacking.cnn?hpt=T2

Mick

October 27th, 2010
10:38 am

**That America saw your ideas and said “No”.**

Not yet….however america saw repub ideas in 06 and 08 and said a resounding NO. Why anyone in their right mind would vote repub after their disasterous turn at the helm (2000-2006) is beyond me. OK, so the dems aren’t the gratest but at least they have the pretense of trying to fight for the little guy while the repubs are the arm of the millionaires and billionaires.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
10:39 am

thomas – “There have been other commentators and even host on NPR shows that have given and made controversial OPINION statements. But those employees were not fired.”

is a hypothetical unless you want to start naming names and outlining details

as far as Codrescu, he’s not a reporter nor is he an editor – he’s paid to provide an OPINION, not ANALYSIS (which was William’s job)

MyHeritage dot com

October 27th, 2010
10:41 am

Watchmaker with extensive knowledge of swiss movements sought.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:41 am

“Do you see why some would be of the opinion that NPR does not have a problem with commentators giving opinions”

Of course they don’t…that’s what COMMENTATORS DO. Williams was NOT a commentator for NPR, he was a NEW ANALYST…contractually obliged to be as unbiased as possible. Once again, with feeling, he DAMAGED HIS CREDIBILITY as an UNBIASED news analyst, and therefore violated the terms of his contract.

Paul

October 27th, 2010
10:43 am

Back on topic, will the Tea Party newbies who got voted in on fiscal issues allow themselves to be co-opted by the conservative Republican agenda? Or will they tell Republican leadership, in the words of a NH Democrat, to ’shove it’?

paleo-neoCarlinist

October 27th, 2010
10:43 am

“extremism in defense of liberty is no vice.” or “ideological profiling in defense of hiring isn’t either.” in fact, it’s good business. Republicans/neo-cons don’t strike me as the types who see value in ombudsmen. life in the GOP is about choices (purple Kool-Aid or orange?)

StJ

October 27th, 2010
10:43 am

“For most purposes, [politics] is war short of physically killing someone.”

…as evidenced by Obama’s recent comments that Republicans were “the enemy” and “threats to democracy”. If Obama’s looking for threats to democracy, he needs to look in the mirror.

“The enemy”, indeed.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:44 am

“My question is simply why NPR has not taken the same action for other analyst and commentators who have given their opinions as well?”

You have lumped together “analysts” and “commentators” – commentators are hired to give their OPINIONS. Analysts are not. Williams was an analyst for NPR…he was a COMMENTATOR for FOX. Sooner or later he was going to get dinged by NPR…and he finally stepped over the line.

thomas

October 27th, 2010
10:44 am

Jay

October 27th, 2010
10:34 am

Nina Totenberg?

Or does NPR support a statement regarding Jesse helms would get Aids through a blood transfusion or one of his grandchildren would get aids?

Or maybe Ms. Totenberg was not giving her opinion I mean she did preface that comment by saying if there was any “retributive justice”….

Apparently it is not her opinion but a statement of fact that if there was retributive justice Helms or his grandchildren would get aides.

DK

October 27th, 2010
10:45 am

“Operationally, you have to be impressed by the conservative movement’s message discipline and ideological control.”

Hitler would be proud.

Peadawg

October 27th, 2010
10:46 am

“Why anyone in their right mind would vote repub after their disasterous turn at the helm (2000-2006) is beyond me. OK, so the dems aren’t the gratest but at least they have the pretense of trying to fight for the little guy”

Ya b/c the Democrats and their entitlements are soooo great for this country!

Whacks Eloquent

October 27th, 2010
10:47 am

Doggone, you know the “Fairness Doctrine” is still part of the utopian version for some people. Granted, we are not hearing about it now, because Dems are fighting for their political lives. Eventually, when they get control of Congress again, I would not be surprised to hear those two words mentioned again…

I was just making a hypothetical point that I don’t really care what NPR does, or that they get tax money. They do play nice classical music sometimes at least! :-)

Paul

October 27th, 2010
10:47 am

USinUK

“is a hypothetical unless you want to start naming names and outlining details”

Nina Totenburg, Legal Affairs Correspondent?

Cokie Roberts, Senior News Analyst, NPR?

out for a bit -

Jay

October 27th, 2010
10:50 am

The Totenberg comment was 15 years ago, before NPR really cracked down on such things, and as far as I know it was the only time she said something troublesome like that. Williams, on the other hand, was already aware that he was on probation, so to speak, for multiple problems in the past. You fire somebody for a pattern of mistakes, not one mistake.

I’m not trying to excuse what Totenberg said, and neither is she, by the way:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/10/26/130838719/totenberg-on-helms-remark-stupidest-thing-she-s-said-on-tv

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:50 am

“Granted, we are not hearing about it now”

In other words, you’ve raised it as a straw-man argument. Another “be afraid, be very afraid” of something that doesn’t actually exist. YOU’RE apology is accepted too.

carlosgvv

October 27th, 2010
10:51 am

The Republicans could save a lot of time if they just asked the applicants if they are willing to pledge full and unquestioning allegience to Corporate America. Since the Republicans are wholly owned by Big Business, they need lackeys who will serve Business without question.

paleo-neoCarlinist

October 27th, 2010
10:52 am

the Juan Williams story is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO last week. NPR blew it on many levels, but hey, that’s life. it is not possible for a person to “analyze” (political) news without offering an opinion. ditto the ridiculous, semantic distinction between the job titles of News Analyst and Commentator. for whatever reason (editorial, moral, political, financial), it was determined that Juan Williams was no longer of value to NPR. hey folks, there are 10-20 million Americans whose previous employers came to the same conclusion. to his credit, Williams got up, dusted himself off and started pedaling (or peddling, as it were).

thomas

October 27th, 2010
10:54 am

Doggone, USinUK, Jay

Is calling Glenn Beck a statement of fact now?

Or would that be an opinion?

Or maybe the picture of honesty…

claiming to be at the Capital, when in reality its just a green Screen.

oh and for you UsinUk, to make sure there is no hypotheticals involved… go look up Cokie Roberts

Mick

October 27th, 2010
10:54 am

peadawg
**Ya b/c the Democrats and their entitlements are soooo great for this country**

What entitlements might you be referring to, medicare? social security? You might be in your thirties now but god willing you live to see old age, you will be mighty glad that there is a safety net in case of economic hardship or tragedy. You paid into it and so you are quite entitled to it. These programs are an addition to any retirement planning but for many, its all they’ve got.

thomas

October 27th, 2010
10:54 am

calling Gleen Beck a terrorist! whoopsie!

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:55 am

“it is not possible for a person to “analyze” (political) news without offering an opinion”

Think of it this way: you have a list of people, of all races, political persuasions, and religions that have applied for a job. Their qualifications are such that it’s difficult to seperate out one “best” candidate. So you hire an unbiased analyst to “vet” them and, yes, give his “opinion” – based on HIS expertise – as to which is the best candidate.

And then you find out that he is afraid whenever he is around black men. Now, will you REALLY trust his analysis to be as unbiased as POSSIBLE. Will you trust his opinion if he informs you that the best candidate is someone who is Caucuasion? Will you ever be SURE that he honestly “vetted” any black, male candidates?

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:57 am

“Is calling Glenn Beck a statement of fact now?”

Was this supposed to make any sort of sense? Because it didn’t. But if you want an answer: I have no idea if Glenn Beck is a statement of fact or not.

thomas

October 27th, 2010
10:58 am

Jay

October 27th, 2010
10:50 am

Ok, apparently apologies make everything OK. I’m sure she was not pressed to give that apology. NAH

Cokie’s comments were made within the last year. Or is it not an opinion to claim Glenn Beck is more like a terrorist? or what about calling him a traitor to American values?

Are those facts jay?

Or was NPR not cracking down on that sorta thing then?

Del

October 27th, 2010
10:58 am

Williams was a Fox News contributor. he was fired from NPR because he appeared on Bill O’Rielly’s show and indicated that he felt uncomfortable when he saw people wearing Muslim clothing in airports. NPR a left wing organization who is beholden to radical far left billion heirs like George Soros, won’t tolerate those who stray out of the left wing box. So, now Williams has moved on, so to speak and NPR is paying the P/R price for making fools out of themselves. Both a fitting and happy ending.

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
10:59 am

Or does NPR support a statement regarding Jesse helms would get Aids

Any other farm-fresh examples? Preferably ones more recent than 1995, better yet, one where you don’t have to stand on your head and squint real hard to come up with that particular interpretation of what was actually said on the air?

Also, New Black Panthers! and JournOList! Come on, guys, you’re falling down on the job.

Peadawg

October 27th, 2010
10:59 am

Mick, not the ones YOU pay into, the one that others pay for. Like food stamps, medicaid, welfare, etc. All these handouts are making people too dependent on the gov’t. Where’s the drive and to get out and do something these days with the gov’t doing everything for you?

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
10:59 am

NPR a left wing organization who is beholden to radical far left billion heirs like George Soros

So stupid on so many levels…

General Jack D. Ripper

October 27th, 2010
11:00 am

I can no longer sit back and allow Communist infiltration, Communist indoctrination, Communist subversion and the international Communist conspiracy to sap and impurify all of our precious bodily fluids.

thomas

October 27th, 2010
11:00 am

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:57 am

Haha funny girl…. too much of a hurry to be the smart @ss in class to take the time to read 2 comments down and even during the same time of day?

I will from this day forth make a much improved effort at not having any typos or accidentally leaving anything off as well.

If I do doggone I will assure you that no others posters post before i do to correct my mistake.

Left wing management

October 27th, 2010
11:01 am

“The clear intent and effect of such a system is to discourage thinking outside the box and painting outside the lines.”

And this is a movement that started out by preaching to us about their boldness and courage to yell “Stop!” to the runaway train of collectivization?

Pathetic.

Del

October 27th, 2010
11:03 am

“So stupid on so many levels…” I agree with you, they certainly were.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:04 am

It is funny to read USinUK’s msseage:

“No, JohnnyReb, politics is NOT war or anything like it. Politics is supposed to be about finding the best way to serve the American people – not the best way to defeat your enemy.”

And yet this high-minded hypocrite with the “bumper” snippets, along with Jay, support President Obama’s tactics that he clearly stated to a “Latino” special interest group this week that politics is about rewarding you friends and “PUNISHING” your ememies. Boy, that’s great for the Country!

thomas

October 27th, 2010
11:05 am

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
10:55 am

And then you find out that he is afraid whenever he is around black men.

Thats not at all what Mr. Williams said! Mr. Williams labeled an exact group of the Muslim faith, by the way they dressed themselves…. even went on to verify that he was not speaking about all muslims..

His comments were stupid and not very well thought out, but for you to associate it with someone else saying whenever they are around black men with no differnces mentioned is not a very honest comparison

BlahBlahBlah

October 27th, 2010
11:05 am

“The clear intent and effect of such a system is to discourage thinking outside the box”

Who do they think they are, a liberal arts college?

Jefferson

October 27th, 2010
11:06 am

Republicans are pretty sure they know everything.

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:07 am

Jay:

Are you whistling in the dark again?

BTW: Democrat staffers need only be socialists, marxists, friends of terrorists, etc.

“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Winston Churchill

Don't Forget

October 27th, 2010
11:08 am

Glen Beck isn’t a terrorist he’s an opportunist. It’s all about the money. Armageddon stroganoff anyone??

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:08 am

Del, two weeks ago you couldn’t have given a good crap about NPR if you’d been restricted to a diet of bran flakes and Ex-Lax.

But trot out Juan as the Victim of the Month, and all of a sudden it’s a scary and dangerous “left wing organization.”

(and please. “Billion heirs?” When I post a screwup like that, I at least acknowledge my innate capacity for stupidity. Embrace yours!)

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:09 am

USMC DAWG @ 11:04 :

You can’t get anymore hypocritical than a liberal.

India 3/4 Ooo Rah !

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:09 am

USMC – unless you can provide a direct quote from me stating that I support any such comment, how about you enjoy a nice hot cup of STFU

Jay

October 27th, 2010
11:11 am

Thomas, I don’t know how NPR would explain the Roberts thing. I can’t.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:11 am

“Republicans are pretty sure they know everything”- Jefferson @11:06

No, Jefferson, just more intellectually honest than you and Democrats that support:

Affirmative Action
Illegal Immigration
High Taxes
Welfare
Racial Politics
Weak National Defense
Unions
ETC.

@@

October 27th, 2010
11:11 am

Ideological conformity? We’ll have to wait and see who gets hired. Seein’s how conservatives hold differing opinions on a whole lot of issues, could be someone who thinking is expanded.

But the Obama Administrations!!??!!

Section VIII. Miscellaneous

(57) If applicable, please list the names, addresses and phone number of cohabitants within the last ten years. A cohabitant is a person with whom you share bonds of affection, obligation, or other commitment, as opposed to a person with whom you live for reasons of convenience (a roommate).

(58) Please provide the URL addresses of any websites that feature you in either a personal or professional capacity (e.g., Facebook, My Space, etc.)

(59) Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage.

(60) Have you had a complete physical within the past year? Please describe your overall health and any medical treatment you are currently receiving.

Awfully nosey if you ask me. Too much so.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:13 am

USinUK,

We’ve all read your naive BLATHER. And you can keep your cup of garbage.

Del

October 27th, 2010
11:13 am

“and all of a sudden it’s a scary and dangerous “left wing organization.” Scary and dangerous, no, left wing, yes. Scout bagged one…your turn. They’re really leaving themselves open this morning.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:15 am

@@ – no nosier than any background check you would get if you worked for any other high-level federal agency

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:15 am

USMC – it’s called a scroll bar … feel free to use it.

Del

October 27th, 2010
11:15 am

USMC DAWG… by my count has bagged two.

BADA BING

October 27th, 2010
11:17 am

Hey, where in that application is the part about having to step on people’s heads?

Left wing management

October 27th, 2010
11:17 am

So why all this lingering chatter about the NPR episode of last week?

Could it be because it illustrates the seismic shift in the media landscape that we’ve seen over the last decade?

The funny thing is you see people on here claiming NPR is a captive to the “Far Left”, etc., which on its face is so laughable as to not even be worth a response. But what makes this more serious is that you can clearly see, from the vociferousness of these claims, that these people genuinely believe this stuff and are not just going through the rhetorical motions. They really see what NPR represents as just as ideologically driven as they are.

The interesting part of this is NPR’s colossal naivety in thinking that by continuing to occupy a reasonable center in this environment that they can stay clear of the ideological turmoil that they find themselves in. They’re not going to make it that way.

Normal

October 27th, 2010
11:18 am

What were we saying earlier this morning? Oh yeah, Good Manners, Don’t Leave Home Without them. Oh well, some never learn or worse still, maybe never taught.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:18 am

There goes UsinUK with the “Bumper Sticker” gotchas. Real cute by the way.

Get out of the way and let the responsible men and women do the heavy lifting.

larry

October 27th, 2010
11:18 am

Bob J Perry who funds American Crossroad, who was founded by none other than ……………………..

turd blossom himself. You want to talk about scary!!!

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:19 am

USinUK:

I choose pillows at dawn !

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:19 am

USMC – “We’ve all read your naive BLATHER”

oh, and I take it that means you can’t find any quotes from me saying that I support that sentiment.

in the spirit of Doggone (and Emily Post) – I accept your apology.

Jefferson

October 27th, 2010
11:20 am

As you can see, a hit dog hollars.

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:21 am

“I do not like this Uncle Sam,
I do not like his health care scam..
I do not like these dirty crooks,
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals,
I do not like their secret deals.
I do not like this speaker Nan ,
I do not like this ‘YES, WE CAN’.
I do not like this spending spree—
I’m smart, I know that nothing’s free.
I do not like your smug replies,
when I complain about your lies.
I do not like this kind of hope.
I do not like it. nope, nope, nope!”

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:21 am

Scout – :lol: – now, that’s funny.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
11:21 am

del

Your perception is only your reality…the only thing bagged today is testosterone fueled backslapping….

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:23 am

“Get out of the way and let the responsible men and women do the heavy lifting.”

:lol: well, that leaves you out of the conversation.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:25 am

Jay 10:34 – then NPR should fire most of their “news analysts”. I think a simpler solution is to just withdraw government funding. Oh boy. How are we on this topic again?….

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
11:25 am

“labeled an exact group of the Muslim faith, by the way they dressed themselves”

and if I walk past you on the street, will you know MY religion by the way I am DRESSED?

Del

October 27th, 2010
11:26 am

Mick, It’s fun at times though! bagged two.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:27 am

USinUK: “Get out of the way and let the responsible men and women do the heavy lifting.”

well, that leaves you out of the conversation.”

That was clever. Really:-)

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:28 am

USinUK:

Don’t laugh. You ever been hit with one of those old fashioned feather pillows? It’ll knock you silly ……………… :o

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:29 am

I think a simpler solution is to just withdraw government funding.

What, the 10 percent or so? however will they function?

(funny how that didn’t happen back when all three branches were Gooperific. it’s like… I dunno, maybe actual conservatives and Republicans and such respect the work NPR does, and their constituents would be pissed off if their local affiliates were threatened? naw, crazy stuff.)

David Granger

October 27th, 2010
11:29 am

Oh, my word! Conservative politicians actually want to hire conservative staff? The very idea! Unlike liberal politicians, of course, who don’t care what their staff’s political philosophy is…right, Jay?

And operationally, you have to be impressed with the Democratic Party’s “apparatus”. When the ballot pops up on voting machines in Nevada, for example, the checkbox for Harry Reid is ALREADY SELECTED! And who has the “maintenance contract” for these machines? Why that good old, “non-partisan” union–the SEIU.

Some Republicans…especially in elections that would be real embarrassing for the Democrats to lose (Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Barney Frank, the “Obama” senate seat in Illinois)…might just win the election, only to lose the vote count.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:30 am

sfd – I know its only 10%. So what’s the big deal? End it, everyone wins.

Tommy Maddox

October 27th, 2010
11:31 am

Jay – you speak of ideological control. Are you taking note as to why so many democratic politicians are being taken to the cleaners? They complied with ideological control i.e. “vote for stimulus, Obamacare, etc. and we’ll take care of you in the election”.

Talk about lemmings leaping off the cliff w/no parachute.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:31 am

“and if I walk past you on the street, will you know MY religion by the way I am DRESSED?”- Doggone/GA

Yeah if you are wearing a burka that covers everything but your eye slit.

Doggone/GA, Am I allowed to wear a burka w/ an eye slit into a bank?

Are you going to feel comfortable with that?
Honestly?

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:32 am

USMC DAWG – “Honestly?” Those are high expectations. Don’t get your hopes up.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
11:34 am

Hi USinUK your 10:08 is spot on…funny I just posted a similar rant on Cynthia’s spot this morning.

Gator Joe

October 27th, 2010
11:35 am

Jay,
I wonder how many of the NPR bashers actually listen and voluntarily contribute to NPR? I’ll bet few if any. Loyal listeners and contributors, such as myself, view the medium as an excellent source of news and information, both local, national, and worldwide. Does NPR make mistakes? of course they do. I’ll also bet that most of the bashers learned of Mr. Williams’ firing from Fox “News” and probably never listened to him on NPR.

@@

October 27th, 2010
11:35 am

Why is it that some of my posts totally misappear into jay’s O-zone? I’ll divide it into two separate.

USinUK:

I’ve worked for government…not at the federal level, but for local bigwigs (politicians). Nowhere in my application did they require such in-depth personal info.

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:36 am

This is the kind of stuff that you liberals come up with :

Headline: “Rhode Island to vote on dropping ‘Plantations’ from its name”

“PROVIDENCE, R.I. – This state’s official name — The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations — is more than just a mouthful. To many, it evokes stinging reminders of Rhode Island’s prime role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.

Voters next Tuesday will decide whether to change the name by dropping the words “and Providence Plantations.” The issue has been debated for years, but lawmakers last year authorized a ballot question for the first time following an impassioned debate over race relations, ancestry and history.”

What’s next …………. changing Washington, D.C. to Lincolnville?

@@

October 27th, 2010
11:37 am

Not sure what point that makes, RW. There’s not a hint of ideological enforcement in that Obama document, just standard background stuff. In fact, it drives home just how different the GOP approach is.

I saw nothing in the GOP’s approach that would “call into question” one’s most intimate and personal life.

Talk about invasion of privacy…not only the applicant’s but the people with whom they have relationships!!??!!

SHEESH!!!!

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:37 am

Gator Joe 11:35 – you’d be wrong with your bets.

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:37 am

So what’s the big deal? End it, everyone wins.

Well no, not really. You’re talking about the funding they get from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which does a lot of good work, and I wouldn’t end that radio broadcasting component of the organization’s mission.

Furthermore, it seems a strangely reactive thing to suggest, given that the most valid criticism I’ve heard of NPR’s firing of Juan Williams was that it seemed to be rather… reactive in nature. If it were a long-simmering issue, NPR probably could’ve handled it better, and more quietly.

Scout

October 27th, 2010
11:38 am

Doggone/GA:

> “A young Arab asks his father,” What is this weird hat that we are wearing?”
>
> The father replied, “It’s a “chechia” because in the desert it protects our
> heads from the sun!”
>
> The son then asked, “And what is this type of clothing that we are wearing?”
>
> His father then replied, “It’s a “djbellah” because in the desert it is
> very hot and it protects your body!”
>
> The son then asked, “And what are these ugly shoes that we have on our
> feet?”
>
> His father replied, “These are “babouches”, which keep us from burning our
> feet when in the desert!”
>
> The son said, “Tell me, papa…why are we living in America and still
> wearing all this crap?”

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:39 am

I wonder how many of the NPR bashers actually listen

haha. You make a funny!

(And yeah, I am quite familiar with the right wing broadcast idiots I criticize. Heard them unfiltered, without any help from the likes of Media Matters, for years now. In Limbaugh’s case, literally decades.)

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:39 am

@ jm:

I know. It is funny to listen to my liberal friends and the pseudo-intellectuals, like the one across the pond, that pontificate about these great (Marxist) ideas of “fair” and “level playing field” and “equality” and “Hate speech”, etc. They are the most intellectually dishonest lot.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:41 am

sfd – if you don’t understand the value of an independent media, and the principle of keeping government funding out of media (how would you feel if the Government gave $200 million every year to Fox?), then I can’t help you.

See the rules regarding VOA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_America

“Under § 501 of the Smith–Mundt Act of 1948, the Voice of America is forbidden to broadcast directly to American citizens. The intent of the legislation is to protect the American public from propaganda actions by its own government.[29] Although VOA does not broadcast domestically, Americans can access the programs through shortwave and streaming audio over the Internet.”

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:42 am

@@ – “not at the federal level, but for local bigwigs (politicians). Nowhere in my application did they require such in-depth personal info.”

well, that’s not the same, now is it?

my friends who worked at previous white houses had to fill out something similar, as has another friend who applied to work with the CIA. they need to know if there is anything in your past which could be damaging to the administration or could open you up to blackmail.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
11:44 am

This npr thing has got me baffled; never once listened to it. I do however have xm/sirius satellite radio with over 300 stations, yet I only really listen to about five or six different channels. No commercials and freedom from the fcc – thats what I’m talking about.

Abrazos

October 27th, 2010
11:45 am

“Get out of the way and let the responsible men and women do the heavy lifting.”

You mean like Jim DeMint? Sharron Angle? Rand Paul? Michele Bachman? Christine O’Donnell? Tom Price? Joe Barton? Mitch McConnell? And…Newt, Sarah and company? You can’t help but wonder how these people survived in the real world before they found their true callings as the childlike narcissists with sociopathic tendencies that they are today.

If these geniuses are the “responsible men and women” whose leadership this nation has to look forward to, Lord help us. The only comfort is that their outsize egos will not permit cooperation with anyone, therefore accelerating their own demise from within.

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
11:46 am

“Yeah if you are wearing a burka that covers everything but your eye slit.”

You apparently do NOT realize that wearing a burka, for instance, is a social norm, not a religious requirement…and that IN those societies women of all religions might be wearing them just to prevent being targeted. So tell me – again – that you could decide MY religion by what *I* am wearing.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:46 am

we have a “marxist” … how long before we get a “socialist”???

MaJo

October 27th, 2010
11:46 am

Jay, is it your assertion that conservatives are somehow different from liberals in their desire to only hire people that match their views? Are you saying that if I wanted to join the staff the a liberal counterpart to the organizations you describe, that my political views will not be vetted in any way?

JDW

October 27th, 2010
11:47 am

@JM “how would you feel if the Government gave $200 million every year to Fox?”

If they turned into a non partisan nonprofit that took no or limited advertising that would be ok. My bigger problem with Fox is that they are funding the Republican Party.

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
11:47 am

if you don’t understand the value of an independent media, and the principle of keeping government funding out of media (how would you feel if the Government gave $200 million every year to Fox?), then I can’t help you.

well jm, if you haven’t come out of your own little cubby hole and seen how civilized nations typically have publicly funded broadcast outlets to provide news and information to their citizenry that isn’t subject to the status of enormous media corporations’ bottom lines, then I can’t help you.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:48 am

Abrazos – there are a lot of good Republicans that are going to be swept in office this year. They’re not on your list because they don’t get publicity. Either because they’re boring (but good) or because of media bias. I don’t care which. Our media is stupid and doesn’t add value to our country any more.

Peadawg

October 27th, 2010
11:48 am

Scout @ 11:38

HAHA!!

Mick

October 27th, 2010
11:48 am

**I know. It is funny to listen to my liberal friends and the pseudo-intellectuals**

It’s a lock that they know that they are not talking to the sharpest tool in the shed…

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:51 am

JDW – NPR: “a non partisan nonprofit that took no or limited advertising that would be ok.”

What a joke. As if non-profits are different than for profits nowadays. The lines between the 2 have become so completely blurred its absurd.

See:
Graduation rates for for-profit universities versus graduation rates for non-profit universities in the lower academic tiers
See SCAD’s operational model
Any / all of the non-profits where execs get paid huge sums (ie, take profits out through comp, not distributions).

No helping liberals. They just don’t get it.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:51 am

Well Abrazos,
I will put up those that you have mentioned against the people like Cynthia McKinney, Harry Reid, Barney Frank (& lover), Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, Rahm Emanual, Al Franken, Maxine Waters, Barbara Boxer, Charlie Shumer, Charlie Rangel, the Congressional BLACK caucus, the Congressional HISPANIC caucus, and all of the other morons, Hank Johnson, etc.

BADA BING

October 27th, 2010
11:51 am

USMC…..what is the law about wearing a burka into a bank? I can’t wear a ballcap and sunglasses into my bank. Equal rights anyone?

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:51 am

JDW – VOA by definition is non-profit. Hope you can get their broadcasts. I’m glad you believe in propaganda. Move to China please.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:52 am

Liberals are suckers.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
11:53 am

Mick – 11:48 – well, you know how it is, there’s always one in the bunch …

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:53 am

USinUK has a promising career path for a bumper sticker or T-shirt company.

“is it Marxist or Socialist…. find where I said…Blah, Blah, Blather…

Left wing management

October 27th, 2010
11:53 am

jm 11:52:

What’s a ‘liberal’ ?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
11:54 am

**No helping liberals. They just don’t get it.**

Neither do the people who use labels, sterotyping to make a point..

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:55 am

@@

October 27th, 2010
11:55 am

USinUK:

my friends who worked at previous white houses had to fill out something similar, as has another friend who applied to work with the CIA.

You can claim that statement as truth, but until you produce evidence, it’s nothing but hotair.

We’re not talking about high-profile individuals here. We’re talking about lowly staffers in whose personal life no one is interested. And what the hell does a persons health have to do with performing some mundane (no heavy lifting) required job?

I’ve got a hallway to paint. Hasn’t your employer got something for you to do? Does your fragile health preclude you from working too hard?

Schnirt.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:56 am

left wing mgmt – the folks who think government can do things effectively….

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
11:57 am

Peering inside the left-wing apparatus:

“DEMS OUTSPEND GOP IN ELECTION…”

“CHICAGOLAND: ‘Glitch’ with vote-by-mail system; Hundreds of thousands may be disenfranchised…”

“Residents cry foul over ballots in PA…”

“VEGAS: ‘I WENT TO VOTE AND HARRY REID’S NAME WAS ALREADY CHECKED’… ”

” N CAROLINA: I VOTED REPUBLICAN AND MACHINE CHECKED DEMOCRAT… ”

“REID ‘FREE FOOD’ AT TURNOUT EVENTS…”

“UNIONS ‘GIFT CARDS’ FOR VOTES…”

“Voting Machine Techs Are SEIU…”

“OBAMA TO HUNT FOR JOBS — IN INDIA… ”

“‘The View’s’ Behar: Angle ‘going to hell, this b****’… ”

“REPUBLICANS ‘GOTTA SIT IN THE BACK’… ” (is this the hope and change we were promised?)

The lib “apparatus” goes on and on. I’m serious, you cannot make this shlt up.

jm

October 27th, 2010
11:58 am

Liberals think titles and designations mean something. Liberals think government can solve problems. Liberals think businesses are bad. Liberals think people are bad.

Liberals aren’t too bright.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
11:58 am

Exactly BADA BING!

You can’t wear a hat and glasses in a bank, but if you require a muslim to not wear a full length Burka….YOU’RE A RACIST! No USinUK, I am not going to go dig up the law for you…

And the Leftwing will call you an UGLY American if you go to London and don’t drink your hot Tea with cream… because you should adapt to their culture.

jt

October 27th, 2010
11:59 am

Herein lies the single application question to become a Libertarian

True of False…………

I own myself.

You either pass or you remain a slave.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:00 pm

I do have to question the efficacy of my posts. They’re only going to get you liberals fired up to go vote.

Meanwhile, our country needs you to stay apathetic from your lost faith in the savior, so the rest of us can try to go fix it.

So I retract all my previous statements. You guys are great. Don’t worry, Obama’s still president and the Dems are going to do well….

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
12:00 pm

USMC – “USinUK has a promising career path for a bumper sticker or T-shirt company”

awwwwww, diddums! and you have a promising career path in the agricultural industry the way you sling the … ahem … “fertilizer” around …

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:00 pm

More of the left-wing apparatus

“Though Obama is off the campaign trail for three full days this week, he’s personally targeting key Democratic constituencies from the White House, holding conference calls with union activists and campaign volunteers, and doing interviews with radio stations that draw largely black audiences. He’ll also target younger voters when he tapes an appearance on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” on Wednesday.”

Key democratic constituencies, union activists, radio stations with largely black audiences. Riiiiight, just the kind of hope and change we were promised.

@@

October 27th, 2010
12:01 pm

Since Lamp has brought up disenfranchised voters, what’s the status on our military ballots. Will they be disenfranchised due to government screw-ups?

THAT, my friends, would be a crime. Not the first time it’s happened either.

Disgusting incompetence!!!!!

Now I’m off to paint…sanding and patching. Extensive wall prep makes for a perfect paint job.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:02 pm

USinUK
October 27th, 2010
12:00 pm

Speaking of “fertilizer”, Obamacare = Obamanure.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:02 pm

What’s wrong USinUK… You can dish out the rubbish, but you bloody well CAN’T TAKE IT.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:03 pm

jm@11:58

You clearly are obsessed with imaginary enemies; as an antidote I suggest you check out the movie rambo, first blood and meld with the rambo character then you will probably feel better or worse since that might be your preference..

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:04 pm

If the Republicans had done a better job actually running the country and fixing things, like actually running through their SS reform, I’d have more faith in them. Right now all I can have is Hope. It’s probably about as promising for me as for the people who hung their hope on Obama.

We’re screwed.

http://www.pimco.com/Pages/RunTurkeyRun.aspx

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:05 pm

**you bloody well CAN’T TAKE IT.**

As if you actually had something of intelligence to say so far…

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:07 pm

jm
**We’re screwed**

No, you’re screwed! My life isn’t dependent on who is in power. Try to think two moves ahead and you’ll be ok.

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
12:10 pm

USMC – :lol: – yeah. your intellectual prowess is so … scary. in fact, I have yet to see you contribute anything of substance today … all you’ve done is attack me.

THAT is the “adults talking” to which you referred earlier???

Left wing management

October 27th, 2010
12:10 pm

Thanks, jm, that’s what I wanted to know. You say:

“Liberals think titles and designations mean something.” // But, don’t they in fact?

“Liberals think government can solve problems.” // So if there’s no government, then no one and nothing is governed and you have widespread disorder, as is the case after a natural disaster for ex. Sounds to me like w/o govmnt we would have nothing but problems.

“Liberals think businesses are bad.” // Again, what’s a ‘liberal’ ? Who right now really thinks businesses are bad other than perhaps certain Marxists? FYI Marxists are not strictly speaking liberals. Market fundamentalists, on the other hand, are.

“Liberals think people are bad.” // Assuming for a moment that there’s actually an opposition betw conservative and liberal, wasn’t it conservatives who thought people were bad and the liberals were the one who believed people were inherently perfectible through social improvement? This isn’t consistent with any kind of conservativism we used to be familiar with, as for ex. what was espoused by William F. Buckley for ex. How do you explain this turnaround in conservative thought? Isn’t it now closer to the truth to say that it’s the people we used to know as ‘conservatives’ who have turned out to be the real dangerous Utopians and starry-eyed extremists?

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:10 pm

Priceless…..

“Bookie says GOP can’t lose House, pays bets early…”

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:11 pm

Oh Sorry Mick, I didn’t see much out of you either, Mr. Intelligent.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:14 pm

USinUK
October 27th, 2010
12:10 pm

Good grief! You’ve been in this game long enough to know you won’t find any substance from bloggers. That is, of course, except from me…. :cool:

stands for decibels

October 27th, 2010
12:14 pm

So is all the right wing whining we’re hearing about “voter fraud” (beautifully summarized by Leg Lamp @ 11.57–thanks!) of late:

1) a GOP get-out-the-vote/stir-up-da-base thing; or

2) some preemptive excuse-making in anticipation of a poorer-than-expected showing next Tuesday?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:14 pm

USMC DAWG

I am just responding to your chest thumping and superiority complex, get beyond that and there might be some debate..

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:15 pm

Mick 12:07 – no worries for me. I’ve already got money in Canada. But I’m sad about the state of our country. Call it national pride or whatever. We’ve lost our way apparently…. sad to see our country go down the tubes. I’ll be fine.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:16 pm

@ USinUK:

What am I supposed to say now… “I know you are but what am I?”

Your Cute “Gotchas” are not to be misunderstood, necessarily, as “intelligence”.

You do the same thing. Let’s move on.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:17 pm

stands for decibels
October 27th, 2010
12:14 pm

Nah, just catching the libs with thier hands in the cookie jar……as usual.

Oh yeah, I’m glad you thought my post about the left-wing apparatus was “beautifully summarized”. You see, USinUK, I told you I had substance to my blogs. :lol:

Paul

October 27th, 2010
12:17 pm

Still speaking of Juan Willliams? Something that seems to be lost in this is a reading of NPR’s code of ethics:

“10. In appearing on TV or other media including electronic Web-based forums, NPR journalists should not express views they would not air in their role as an NPR journalist.”

There is nothing else about how views can or cannot be expressed when operating outside NPR. It does not state ‘opinions.’

NPR officially said ““His remarks on The O’Reilly Factor this past Monday were inconsistent with our editorial standards and practices, and undermined his credibility as a news analyst with NPR.”

The VP for News said it was because his remark was bigoted and crossed the line.

NPR has a problem. It doesn’t say the ‘outrageous views.’ It doesn’t say ‘mainstream views.’ It doesn’t say ‘harmless views.’ It says ‘views they wouldn’t express as an NPR journalist.’

Given what NPR ‘journalists’ have said on other forums, and on NPR, that appear in conflict with NPR’s Statement of Principles of “”Unbiased” means that we separate our personal opinions – such as an individual’s religious beliefs or political ideology – from the subjects we are covering.” well, it appears there may be a bit of an issue of unfair treatment compared to others. Of a minority journalist.

NPR’s made quite a mess of it.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:17 pm

Mick you sound a little insecure. But let’s move on, this is getting childish don’t you think?

Normal

October 27th, 2010
12:18 pm

I don’t recall that a hat and sun glasses were a part of a religious dress code…is this a case of cultural misunderstanding or just ignorance running amok?

thomas

October 27th, 2010
12:18 pm

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
11:25 am

No, I would not however….. if you are in a burka? maybe… a male in a Kippah? maybe…….cetrtain types of Vestment? think I would have a good clue.

But you are correct they could be in costume, or actors or actresses?

USinUK

October 27th, 2010
12:19 pm

Leg Lamp – 12:14 – well, where the heck have you BEEN all week???!!!

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:20 pm

Normal
October 27th, 2010
12:18 pm

“or just ignorance running amok?”

If you’re talking about Obama’s policies, then yes, it is ignorance run amok.

RB from Gwinnett

October 27th, 2010
12:20 pm

Jay, are you blocking my posts for some reason? I’m feeling like mike/notmike here.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:21 pm

Paul – yep. Bingo.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:22 pm

USinUK
October 27th, 2010
12:19 pm

Been doin’ some biness travel, but I have popped up every now and then. How’s things “over the pond”/

danjonglee

October 27th, 2010
12:22 pm

According to Obama, any American that is not in agreement with his administration gets to sit in the “back of the bus”.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:23 pm

normal 12:18 – jimmy buffetology

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
12:23 pm

“if you are in a burka? maybe”

in other words, you can’t. there’s no “maybe” about it. Muslims are not the only religion to wear the burka…and not all Muslims wear one, period.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:24 pm

jm

Canada? You mean that liberal utopia of the great white north? I’m glad you’re secure and I love this country too but if we can make it through eight long, long, years of bush, we can probably make it through anything..

usmc
Childish? yes, now you’re talking, but you started it so I’ll finish it;
Thanks for your service to this country, it is greatly appreciated..

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:27 pm

Mick – indeed. that same country with minimum down payment requirements and income verification requirements that liberals hate. which is why their economy is just fine and they’re not printing money as if there’s a bottomless well of ink.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
12:27 pm

@ JM,

“What a joke. As if non-profits are different than for profits nowadays. The lines between the 2 have become so completely blurred its absurd.”

So tell where is NPR spending all that cash they are generating? The link should help you out.

http://www.npr.org/about/aboutnpr/publicradiofinances.html

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:28 pm

Mick
October 27th, 2010
12:24 pm

Don’t forget, Mick, that you also made it through the last four years of a lib controlled Congress. Celebrate!

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:28 pm

danjonglee- Obama is going to get fired as “bus driver in chief”

Matti

October 27th, 2010
12:29 pm

Does the right-wing apparatus handbook instruct new members that it’s okay to beat up people exercising their first-amendment rights if you don’t like the way they look or the signs they’re carrying? That it’s okay to wear a costume, pretend to be criminals, enter someone’s office with a hidden video camera, but it’s not okay to dress as a Republican and appear at a public gathering with a sign? Perhaps we should review the cirriculum.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:30 pm

JDW – I never said NPR is profitable. Neither is GM (until the government by fiat wiped out centuries of case law and put union pensions ahead of debt obligations).

So what’s your point?

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:30 pm

Matti – “dress as a Republican”; blond hair wig? :)

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:31 pm

leg

**Don’t forget, Mick, that you also made it through the last four years of a lib controlled Congress. Celebrate!**

I guess you’re right, those bums took single payer off the table before the negotiations even started – what losers..

ROBOCOP

October 27th, 2010
12:31 pm

It’s so nice to know that many of those contributing to Jay’s issue for this part of the day (ideological approval to be hired by a conservative) are quite willing to accept the kind of screening reminiscent of fascist Germany ca.1939. Given who’s promotong this purification process, none of us who oppose such matters should be at all surprised. This what America has facing it — Fascists and Brown Shirts.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:32 pm

Normal

October 27th, 2010
12:32 pm

Funny Leg, but I was talking about religious intolerance and the ignorance that spawns it. As for Obama’s ploicies, give him time…

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:33 pm

Thanks for finishing it Mick.

“but if we can make it through eight long, long, years of bush, we can probably make it through anything..”
-Mick

Mick what about the incredible debt that Pres. Obama and the Dems have amassed?

… I know Pres. Bush spent also, but NOWHERE near the amount that Obama has in less than two years.

And what about this behemoth “Obamacare” program that neither you, me, or Jay Bookman know the details?

Just curious about your thoughts… (no sarcasm intended)

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:33 pm

jm

Deficits don’t matter as long as we are the economic leader making the rules. Think about it and remember what that great communist stalin said: It’s not how many votes you get that matters, its who’s doing the counting.

thomas

October 27th, 2010
12:35 pm

Doggone/GA

October 27th, 2010
12:23 pm

so no mention of the Kippah? Vestment?

Why only specify Muslims? You didn’t in your original statement/ question.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:36 pm

Mick – ah, “deficits don’t matter”. You and Cheney and Greece are in agreement. Wait, it may just be you now…. but you can agree with yourself at least.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
12:38 pm

Normal
October 27th, 2010
12:32 pm

How ’bout we give Obama two more years, agreed?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:39 pm

usmc dawg

You are new here but that fiction about obama and deficits has a lot mythology attached. For instance, remember the iraq and afghan wars were fought off the books, all obama did was put them on the ledger – is that his deficit spending? Tarp was done under bush – why does he get blamed for that deficit spending? The only thing left is the stimulus which I support because it was for the people of THIS country, money spent in house that saved or created millions of jobs, what on god’s green earth is wrong with that?

JDW

October 27th, 2010
12:40 pm

@JM “So what’s your point?”

My point is, that in spite of your uneducated and blasé protestations to the contrary, NPR is a real live nonprofit non partisan news organization. Unlike FOX which is primarily concerned with making a buck through hyperbole and creating the news by funding political parties.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:44 pm

jm

I’m no economics giant but greece we ain’t. Deficit spending is ok during lean economic times, when the economy turns and improves then it is time to start reducing the debt. First consideration should be to get the economy growing, not debt.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:45 pm

Mick,

With all due respect…. What Millions of jobs are you referring to that were created by Obama and the Stimulus? Money went to payoff UNIONs, etc. But where are the jobs? Even Obama said he was wrong about the “shovel ready” jobs that HE so heavily advertised.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:48 pm

JDW – so “non-profits” are better than “for profits”?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:49 pm

usmc

Sorry, this will turn into an ideological debate so I’ll just agree to disagree. One point, half of the stimulus went to tax cuts and the other half went to saving jobs (police, teacher, emts) and no matter where you drive, road repair. It’s all in house, where do you think it went?

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:49 pm

Mick – I’d agree with your 12:44 but for the fact that the government has show a complete inability to pay down debt, much less ever save up a “rainy day fund.”

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:51 pm

USMC – Obama’s biggest failing so far: outsized faith in the ability of government. And he still hasn’t gotten his full dose of reality. I’m willing to bet unemployment exceeds 9% at re-election time. And he’s going to be a goner.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:52 pm

Yeah, Mick. We will just agree to disagree, you are right about that.

But “it’s all in house”? I am not going to ask you to show me, because we both know you can’t.

But you sure do a great job of toeing the Party line. Really.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
12:53 pm

@JM “so “non-profits” are better than “for profits”

Not necessarily, but in the case of FOX vs. NPR it is a relevant issue made more important by FOX’s customary regard for longstanding ethical journalistic practices. At its heart FOX is a for profit entertainment company not an unbiased news source.

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:56 pm

Mick 12:49 – to China.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
12:56 pm

Back to topic, Jay…

In regard to the subject of applications and ideologies, do you not think that the Major Media outlets have their own process of weeding out the conservative viewpoints? just curious.

Scout

October 27th, 2010
12:56 pm

BADA BING :

Muslims are already exempted from Obama’s health care plan (isn’t that convenient) and don’t forget the women in burka’s who want a driver’s license without a photo of their face.

I’ve got it ! Each Muslim woman should have an identification number in “international orange” in one inch letters on the front and back of her burka !

There ………. that solves that problem.

What’s next ?

jm

October 27th, 2010
12:57 pm

JDW – well I’m glad your leaders and government will be setting up boards and committees to determine who’s biased and whose not biased. And then they can funnel money (subsidize, provide government funding) to all the “unbiased and good people” and away from all the biased and bad people.

Thank god for conservatives.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
12:59 pm

usmc
**But you sure do a great job of toeing the Party line. Really.**

No. I know teachers whose jobs were saved, I know policemen whose jobs were saved, every state in the US got money to help with their debt and roads are being repaired everywhere. That’s not a party line and those are real american people who pay taxes that have been helped. So, I’ll ask you again, where do you think it went?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:00 pm

jm

So, then we also financed our wars through china, right?

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:01 pm

Oh Micky- China.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:01 pm

Mick 1:00 – yep. One bad vicious circle. We’re on the losing end in case you haven’t already figured that one out.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:02 pm

jm

Then what to do about debt to china? Not parts of it but all of it?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:04 pm

jm

Actually, what we need to do is get more aggressive with our tariffs with china and stop all the outsourcing. Finally, by all means necessary outsmart the basterds…

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:05 pm

Mick – wait until they declare war on us, then write it off (unless we lose the war, in which case I’m sure we’ll get to pay reparations).

Short of that, cut entitlements and military spending (and of course discretionary) until we have a balanced budget. If we don’t give them the financial “guns” to kill us, we have much less to worry about.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
1:05 pm

@JM “well I’m glad your leaders and government will be setting up boards and committees to determine who’s biased and whose not biased. And then they can funnel money (subsidize, provide government funding) to all the “unbiased and good people” and away from all the biased and bad people.”

Do you get professional help for your paranoia or do you just muddle through?

Seems to me if people had enough sense to sort news from entertainment that would go a long way.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:06 pm

Mick, the money spent in correlation to your “saved jobs” doesn’t add up.

Sure some civil servants and teachers kept jobs.
But for the amount of money spent and the whole we are in as a nation, it was a gigantic WASTE.
You can spin it anyway you want with the anecdotes, but look at the rest of the money wasted.
And I didn’t hear your reply to the Obamacare rubbish that we are about to CHOKE on.
Do you remember the process… you know all of the backroom deals cut with various states, Missouri, LA, etc. and how do you justify exemptions for muslims, amish, states etc?

Government does NOT create wealth, private industry does. Now government does take money from citizenry to make a job, but what does it create besides bureaucracy?

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:09 pm

JDW – riiiiiggghhhht. Fox never reports the news. I’m glad people like you don’t have power. Oh wait, people like you do. Like Obama. And he’s abusing his power.

Not in an impeachable manner. But enough where people realize we need someone in office that understands the respect for the rule of law. Not that Bush was exemplary at this either.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:10 pm

If Government is so good at what it does, why was the Soviet Union such a dismal failure?

Hmmm. Chew on that one folks.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
1:12 pm

USMC DAWG wrote…”Government does NOT create wealth, private industry does.”

Just whom do you think the government purchases goods and services from?

The U.S. government buys more than $500 billion worth of products and services each year from roughly 230,000 different companies, according to USAspending.gov. It is the world’s largest buyer of goods and services.

http://www.usaspending.gov/

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:13 pm

usmc
**Government does NOT create wealth**

Never said that it did but just use the military as an example. Every nut and bolt that goes into a jeep or fighter jet creates a job for someone. That’s money into our economy – in house. No one complains about that do they? Remember, almost half the stimulus had tax cuts so you tell me about that because that is what repubs live and die for. As for the healthcare bill, it hasn’t cost us anything yet, but it has gotten rid of preconditions and some other good items. I’ll concede that I don’t know what the full ramifications will be, but as always is the case, neither do you.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:16 pm

JDW,

They take your tax dollars and WASTEFULLY spend… That’s this problem. But they do not create wealth.
The private sector creates wealth.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:16 pm

**If Government is so good at what it does, why was the Soviet Union such a dismal failure**

That’s easy – because they were communist and did not have private ownership. Are you suggesting that is where we are heading? No way, no matter how much you hate obama that is absurd…….

JDW

October 27th, 2010
1:17 pm

@jm

October 27th, 2010
1:10 pm

“If Government is so good at what it does, why was the Soviet Union such a dismal failure?

Hmmm. Chew on that one folks.”

You mean you can’t tell the difference between the USSR and US governments?

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:19 pm

usmc

No disrespect, but that is a mjor rush limbaugh talking point and we all know that he is nothing but a bufoonish blowhard pontificating daily for the low information voter.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
1:20 pm

@USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:16 pm

“They take your tax dollars and WASTEFULLY spend… That’s this problem. But they do not create wealth. The private sector creates wealth.”

No doubt they could be more efficient at managing their spend but if you think all those dollars aren’t creating wealth then you must be in the market for a bridge in Alaska.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:21 pm

JDW

Ground hog day continues…..

JDW

October 27th, 2010
1:22 pm

@Mick…I know…I try to stop, I really do, but it is such good sport on a rainy day.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:23 pm

Mick, That is all I am saying. We DON’T know what was in teh Healthcare bill. Is that responsible governing?
That and the process that they used to pass the bill.
I think we disagree on SIZE and REACH of government. I am not for “NO” government/NO regulation, just a smaller government with less reach. This cradle to grave “guarantee” mentality is not what our country is founded on and is no good.
We also need to revamp the tax system to the Fair Tax, but that’s for another day.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:25 pm

JDW 1:17 – matter of degrees these days….

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:26 pm

USMC 1:23 – second that

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:26 pm

Mick, I do not listen to Rush Lim. or Glen Beck, so don’t go there.

We can disagree, but don’t let two blowhards take you off topic.

I guess I have heard a lot of your drivel from Keith Olberman, Rachel Madcow, Cynthia McKinney etc…. Does that make sense? Touche

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:29 pm

usmc dawg

I agree with you to a point, like the medicare bill they passed that cost and arm and a leg. If this healthcare bill ends up being a dog then keep the good and throw out the rest and make it better. I’m tired of every single year my healthcare going up 20,30,40 percent. Healthcare should not be for profit – period.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
1:30 pm

@jm…have you spent anytime in Russia or for that matter anywhere other than the US?

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:31 pm

Mick’s a communist. “Healthcare should not be for profit – period.”

I don’t think the government should be for profit. Take all their money away. Sounds fair to me.

Mick this kind of hyperbole is silly. Profit drives innovation which drives progress. Without profit in the system, we’d still be sitting in the dark ages.

I’m sorry. I know this sounds like hyperbole. But the kind of ignorance you exhibit is dangerous to the future of this country.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:32 pm

Russia, no. Elsewhere, yep. So go ahead and list all your countries, oh well traveled sentient being. As if this is relevant.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:33 pm

Mick, I know how you feel in regard to your healthcare bill increasing every year, so why were Dems against Insurance companies competing across state lines? just saying.

Also, as a Real Estate agent, the Dems voted against our industry grouping together for affordable healthcare. What’s with that.

We are in the same boat together on Healthcare (as far as needs and affordability).

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:33 pm

usmc

Rachel maddow has one of the most factually accurate shows on the tube. Still, I agree with you because I don’t give much of my time to the tv talking heads. I’d rather spend some tv time watching the munsters or the three stooges than any of them for that matter..

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:35 pm

@jm

You notice how JDW tries to “gotcha” with the “have you ever been to Russia, etc.” instead of addressing the subject matter?

Did you need to visit the USSR to know that it has dissolved?

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:35 pm

Maddow factually accurate. LMAO. I get to see her on “this week” often enough. She’s a riot.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:37 pm

USMC – exactly. And I’m sure everyone in Alaska is more intelligent about the USSR since they’re closer.

As if you need to actually see the place to know that their standard of living is still 1/10th of ours because of the detriments of communism for 80 years. Just silly. Liberals live in a dream world.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:39 pm

usmc

So, you are in real estate, what did you think about all the flipping and flopping of real estate in 05 and 06? I knew it was a house of cards and did not take out any equity on my house. In retrospect, I do wish that I would have sold all my real estate holdings and become a renter for awhile, I would have had a lot of cash and zero debt.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:39 pm

JDW is an empty vessel.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:39 pm

Mick,

“Rachel maddow has one of the most factually accurate shows on the tube.”

That can be said for any of the others that you detest i.e. Rush L. Glen Beck, etc.

Rachel comes across as a hate spewing, anti-American woman with a very angry homosexual agenda.

But I am with you, I’ll take the Three Stooges… Man, we agree.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:40 pm

Mick –

“I would have had a lot of cash and zero debt.”

sooo. Personal debt bad. Government debt good? Very logical.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:43 pm

MIck,

We could talk for hours about the whole mortgage meltdown and Real Estate crisis over that last several years. I have to say, I remember thinking to myself that there are a lot of people in this industry that can’t add 2+2 and come out with 4 that are making STUPID money. I also saw a lot of TAX ID loans done for Illegal Aliens that made me sick to my stomac, but there is definitely lots of blame to pass around.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:43 pm

jm

You are the fool, medicare is run quite efficiently without the profit takers. Then again, I’m not surprised you would be a shill for ceo’s taking home 500 million plus because you LIKE to pay higher premiums to support their feeble salaries – ignorance to nth degree….

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:46 pm

Go ahead Mick. Find the info on the health care CEO taking home $500 million. Not that it matters. But go ahead. I’m eagerly waiting.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:47 pm

By the way Mick, Medicare is full of fraud. Ask the doctors.
We are on the same team, I promise.
The team that wants affordable healthcare. We differ in the delivery.
You think government can provide it better and I think that private industry can provide it better.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:48 pm

And Mick – if you were in engaged in hyperbole ($500MM), that’s fine. Just let me know. I do the same thing on occasion.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:49 pm

USMC – yes, to the tune of about $150 B per year. But of course, Medicare is very efficient. What a joke.

Not to mention Medicare is part of the reason premiums go up at an absurd rate for everyone else. But Mick probably isn’t capable of understanding why.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
1:50 pm

@USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:35 pm
@jm

“You notice how JDW tries to “gotcha” with the “have you ever been to Russia, etc.” instead of addressing the subject matter?

Did you need to visit the USSR to know that it has dissolved?”

Nor does one need to visit Russia to understand that attempting to portay the US Government as analogous to the USSR is ludicrous.

However understanding if one has in fact had the opportunity to travel outside the US does help understand perspective.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:51 pm

usmc

I know all about the fraud, living in miami we are numero uno and it is disgusting. This has gone on through democrat and republican administrations, so both are at fault. We need to crackdown using thors hammer to get it done. The peogram itself is good for our seniors. By the way the VA doe a hell of a good job with its resources and should be the model for gov’t care.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
1:52 pm

@jm

October 27th, 2010
1:37 pm
“USMC – exactly. And I’m sure everyone in Alaska is more intelligent about the USSR since they’re closer.”

O’ I see you know Sarah Palin.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
1:54 pm

Beside HOW they “passed” this healthcare legislation.

I contend that ofcourse Healthcare needs to be addressed, but let’s not use the Soviet medical cure for a “cut” on the arm by Chopping the whole arm off…….”See you don’t even notice that cut that was on your arm anymore”

There are many things that could have been done, like my example of allowing Insurance companies to compete across state lines for one.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:54 pm

JDW – waiting on your list of places traveled.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:54 pm

JDW 1:52 – indeed, I think she’s a retard.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
1:55 pm

jm

Once again, why do you think you are so superior? Look up the salary for the ceo of united healthcare and tell me he’s worth over 500 million when people are dying for lack of an oxygen bottle? You don’t know it all but you think you do and your condescending attitude is a drag…

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:56 pm

USMC – tort reform, anyone? anyone?

Abrazos

October 27th, 2010
1:57 pm

USMC DAWG @ 1:39 pm

“Rachel maddow has one of the most factually accurate shows on the tube.”

That can be said for any of the others that you detest i.e. Rush L. Glen Beck, etc.

Rachel comes across as a hate spewing, anti-American woman with a very angry homosexual agenda.

************************************************************************
Hey, no fair to Rush and Glenn. Rachel graduated from Stanford, was a Rhodes scholar and got a Doctorate at Oxford. Glenn didn’t finish high school and Rush dropped out of college after two semesters. They’re both working with a handicap so it isn’t nice to compare them to Rachel.

I’ll tune in at 9 tonight to see if I can spot some of that “hate spewing, anti-American with a very angry homosexual agenda” stuff. After watching this self-effacing, smart, funny person on her show from time to time, I missed it. Maybe it’s in secret code, like that GAYDAR you hear that some people have.

jm

October 27th, 2010
1:58 pm

Mick – cause apparently I am. $8.9 million. Probably worth half that, but that’s not the point. He’s not paid $500mm. Ooops.

http://people.forbes.com/profile/stephen-j-hemsley/82872

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
2:00 pm

And Tort reform! Bravo jm. There are so many that we forget the main issues.

No one wanted to address Tort reform. Obama even went to speak to a group of doctors and prefaced his speech with..”I am not even going to address tort reform, I will tell you that right now upfront”

Now what kind of leadership is that. Sounds pretty narrow minded or was he just taking care of trial attorneys?

jm

October 27th, 2010
2:03 pm

USMC – oh you know. Obama’s bipartisan…. defensive medicine, what’s that?

JDW

October 27th, 2010
2:04 pm

@jm

October 27th, 2010
1:54 pm
“JDW – waiting on your list of places traveled.”

If you insist:

Antigua & Barbuda
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Canada
China
Czech Republic
Denmark
Egypt
England
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Korea
Kuwait
Malaysia
The Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
The Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Scotland
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Turkey
Vietnam
Zimbabwe

More importantly I have run a business that had operations in each country.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
2:05 pm

jm
@JM

October 27th, 2010
1:54 pm
“JDW 1:52 – indeed, I think she’s a retard.”

See we do agree on something.

USMC DAWG

October 27th, 2010
2:06 pm

Abrazos, I have met more OVER educated, condescending idiots (I am not talking about you) with degrees out the WAZOO that don’t compare in intelligence or COMMONSENSE to people without a “college” degree.
You are showing your arrogance and lack of common sense when measure by “so and so went to this or that schoola and have this or that degree”.
Some of the greatest leaders and thinkers in history didn’t have a college or a doctorate for that matter.

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
2:06 pm

JDW
October 27th, 2010
2:04 pm

So in other words you exported jobs from the US. :roll:

The Leg Lamp is a "major award"....

October 27th, 2010
2:07 pm

Abrazos
October 27th, 2010
1:57 pm

Since degrees seem to be the definitive proof of ones intelligence in your world, then I guess you’ll agree that W was the smartest POTUS of all time. After all, he was the only one with a masters.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
2:14 pm

@The Leg Lamp is a “major award”….

October 27th, 2010
2:06 pm
JDW
October 27th, 2010
2:04 pm

“So in other words you exported jobs from the US.”

On a small scale yes, we located some customer service and development jobs in India. By in large our employees were drawn from the country of record for each subsidary.

jm

October 27th, 2010
2:14 pm

JDW nice cut and paste. Or else you should be busy using your skymiles. Well, my list only covers Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, and South America. But I think I’m covered. I’ll make it to Asia and Africa soon enough.

Yes, Palin is a twit. We need Mitch Daniels.

jm

October 27th, 2010
2:16 pm

Uh Leg Lamp, Obama has a masters. W was the first with an MBA I think.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
2:17 pm

@JM “Or else you should be busy using your skymiles.”

LOL I will die with Skymiles and BA Executive Club miles…still have more than a million on each.

JDW

October 27th, 2010
2:18 pm

@jm…no South America for me yet…too hard to do business there.

jm

October 27th, 2010
2:18 pm

I know how to burn some skymiles. A million? Come on. You’ll use them unless you’re 85…

JDW

October 27th, 2010
2:21 pm

@JM nope not 85, but I just don’t have time to use them for pleasure and they keep mounting up to some degree. I don’t travel that much any more but I get out some. I have a young daughter so she will probably get some of them someday.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
2:27 pm

jm

You are correct, total compensation package was 124 million. Still, why do you want to carry these guys jockstraps?
http://www.forbes.com/static/pvp2005/LIRRI3M.html

jm

October 27th, 2010
2:36 pm

Mike –

A- yes, over 5 years. So that’s $25 / year.
B – do you realize how immaterial that is for a company with $87 Billion in revenue EVERY YEAR.

Congrats, you can take all his money away (and not have a CEO) and reduce premiums exactly .0287%. Big savings….

Mick

October 27th, 2010
2:44 pm

jm

Look, I’m willing to debate and if you make your point and I am wrong then I”ll concede to being wrong about it. Just try to leave the snarky attitude behind. When Helmsly left united healthcare, his total compensation was reported to be over 102 million when his stock options and bonus were included.
http://ctwatchdog.com/2010/04/29/102-million-payout-to-united-healthcare-ceo-draws-outrage

Abrazos

October 27th, 2010
2:47 pm

USMC DAWG@ 2:06

If I’m “arrogant” or lacking in “common sense”, it must be from working in restaurants during the summers to help pay for books and other expenses in college, scholarships and grants that filled the gaps when my parents were stretched thin with six other kids, graduating with honors and getting hired by a global corporation, and being sponsored by said company to earn my MBA in night and weekend classes. And I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

The great equalizer in this country is education, especially if you weren’t born with the proverbial silver spoon in your mouth. If you have the ability to work at an education and are willing to make the sacrifices to get there, you can attain it in America.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
2:54 pm

abrazos

Congrats on the hard work….I also have my masters degree and I find it funny when people dismiss it as a piece of paper. Well, I worked my arse off to get it and the people that didn’t have no idea what it takes. Therefore, they summarily dismiss something that they did not do. Some of these cons are quite proud of their ignorance and lack of higher education.

jm

October 27th, 2010
2:57 pm

Mick – fair enough. Let’s debate the issue. Do I think the guy is worth $102mm/year? No. Is that for me to decide? No. It’s for the shareholders / board members to decide. Period. The end.

However, on the issue of the $102, fine cut his pay 90%. We’re now up to a 0.1% cost savings. The whole point of what I’m saying is that the problem with insurance premiums has nothing to do with CEO pay.

People want cheaper insurance. Me too. I understand. But targeting CEO pay isn’t the solution to the problem. Changing the incentives is the solution.

Did I stick to the merits of the argument ok?

jm

October 27th, 2010
3:02 pm

Mick – to add. Health care should cost 3/4 to 1/2 as much as it does in this country. However, in order to do so requires a lot of unpleasant changes that everyone will get upset about. So blame the “system” as set up by the government, not the CEO’s.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
3:08 pm

**The whole point of what I’m saying is that the problem with insurance premiums has nothing to do with CEO pay.**

I can agree with that. I just happen to think that health insurance should not be for profit. It is widely agreed that administrative costs for medicare and the VA is about 3%. How many people that are on medicare do you know are complaining about their delivery of services? Not many. Yes, it is in the red because it is not funded properly and fraud. So, why is it that they can successfully administer the program for 3% when private insurers are at about 30%? That’s all I’m saying why should healthcare be for profit, this is about life and death not some market driven product.

jm

October 27th, 2010
3:16 pm

According to the SEC filing below, approx OH costs are 14%, not 30% for UNH.

http://yahoo.brand.edgar-online.com/displayfilinginfo.aspx?FilingID=7395199-12329-17432&type=sect&dcn=0001193125-10-179226

Could they be lower? Yes. If one didn’t worry about fraud (like Medicare), and if there was some uniformity to Insurance company paperwork. But those are the only two savings. The first one backfires big time. The second isn’t terribly big, but should be done (electronic records and paperwork, standardization, etc.)

jm

October 27th, 2010
3:18 pm

Mick – I think we’re wasting our time here. I’m not going to convince you. You’re not going to convince me. We agree there’s a problem. But we disagree over the solution. I guess we’ll have to settle for the ballot box.

Mick

October 27th, 2010
3:25 pm

jm

Thanks for the info….and most importantly, I hope you have been as lucky as me and have had great health most of your life. That’s the one way we can both beat the system, by staying healthy.

Also, I don’t consider it a waste of time because you called me on some statements and you were flat out correct on your facts, so I needed to get my house in order and I appreciate the fact that some knowledge was gained on my part.

jm

October 27th, 2010
3:30 pm

Well, I’m glad I might’ve helped some. What we need is mostly good self education, or curiosity from the electorate. People aren’t educated on the issues. And there aren’t enough people with available time to attempt to debate people to the point of getting carpal tunnel.

For one more piece of education from a guy who is definitely brilliant, and a liberal generally, take a gander at this.

http://www.pimco.com/Pages/RunTurkeyRun.aspx

My health is ok. Not great, not bad. For the last part, I’m thankful.