Poligaf episode 2010: The Empire Strikes Back

Status
Not open for further replies.
Jason's Ultimatum said:
If Republicans hate the idea of such a big government and its services, then that would mean states would have to increase taxes to pay for their government programs.
Click to expand...
And we know that they don't want to raise taxes, so wouldn't that mean that they'd be ok with the current situation? The current situation being the private sector adding 50 to 100 thousand jobs per month, while the state and local governments fire teachers and policeman? It's crazy because that's the only thing bringing down the employment numbers at the moment.
 
Jason's Ultimatum said:
If Republicans hate the idea of such a big government and its services, then that would mean states would have to increase taxes to pay for their government programs.
Click to expand...

Hard to find a Republican that would be against increased State power/wealth.
 
mckmas8808 said:
And we know that they don't want to raise taxes, so wouldn't that mean that they'd be ok with the current situation? The current situation being the private sector adding 50 to 100 thousand jobs per month, while the state and local governments fire teachers and policeman? It's crazy because that's the only thing bringing down the employment numbers at the moment.
Click to expand...
Well . . . look at this way. The GOP may get control of the house, there will be no further stimulus, lots of those people will lose their jobs, and then you can blame the GOP for shooting unemployment even higher.

Of course they'll just blame it on Obama. But I see arguments from GOPers all the time saying that things only went bad when the Dems got control of Congress in 2006. Never mind that there is no legislation that the Dems pass over Bush's veto which did anything economic. And they pretty much rubber-stamped everything Bush wanted.
 
ToxicAdam said:
Hard to find a Republican that would be against increased State power/wealth.
Click to expand...
Meh. They are only for 'states rights' when they are for 'states rights'. If a state passes pot decriminalization, doctor assisted suicide, local food labeling laws, or anything that contradicts their policies then they are no longer for states rights.
 
mckmas8808 said:
Yeah it looks like we already missed the boat this year for state and local government jobs. :(

I'm hoping this means jobs next year will start to pick up on the government side along with the private sector. Maybe sometime next year we can see the unemployment rate go below 9%.
Click to expand...
Considering that tax increases are unlikely, that will only occur if private-sector hiring robustly increases and tax receipts similarly increase. If the private sector improves, the public sector will improve. Otherwise, from where would the money for increased public employment come? Presently, barring an exceedingly unlikely desire for further fiscal stimulus, the private sector will constitute the overwhelming majority of hiring.

mckmas8808 said:
And we know that they don't want to raise taxes, so wouldn't that mean that they'd be ok with the current situation? The current situation being the private sector adding 50 to 100 thousand jobs per month, while the state and local governments fire teachers and policeman? It's crazy because that's the only thing bringing down the employment numbers at the moment.
Click to expand...
Tacitly, yes. Of course, they would not admit that. But I think the consensus is that their prescriptions will not lead to explosive private sector growth. If the private-sector growth is lame and there is no additional fiscal stimulus, then...yes, the current situation is satisfactory.
 
ToxicAdam said:
Hard to find a Republican that would be against increased State power/wealth.
Click to expand...
It is also equally, if not more, difficult to find a Republican that would affirm tax and spending increases.
 
mckmas8808 said:
Yeah it looks like we already missed the boat this year for state and local government jobs. :(

I'm hoping this means jobs next year will start to pick up on the government side along with the private sector. Maybe sometime next year we can see the unemployment rate go below 9%.
Click to expand...

According to this LA Times article: "The National League of Cities estimated that even with the September job losses, local governments were not halfway through the 480,000 layoffs projected to occur from last year through next year.

So I don't know when you'll be seeing that much growth. I think it's more likely we see the "official" (read: too low) unemployment number pass 10% before you see it below 9%.


mckmas8808 said:
And we know that they don't want to raise taxes, so wouldn't that mean that they'd be ok with the current situation? The current situation being the private sector adding 50 to 100 thousand jobs per month, while the state and local governments fire teachers and policeman? It's crazy because that's the only thing bringing down the employment numbers at the moment.
Click to expand...

IIRC we still wouldn't be keeping up... the amount the private sector is adding isn't enough to keep up with the new young workers entering the workforce.
 
Can someone explain to me what this whole foreclosure fraud bru-ha-ha is exactly?
 
Oblivion said:
Can someone explain to me what this whole foreclosure fraud bru-ha-ha is exactly?
Click to expand...

Banks were not following correct foreclosure rules, just rushing through foreclosure and even admitting that they were not reading their own paperwork so the legality of it it all is dubious.

BTW they were rushing through these foreclosures so they could add them quick like to their foreclosed properties lists and be able to sell them off quickly to a new batch of suckers and makes lots oh $$$$$.

You can imagine the mess that this will create, the banks now are going to have a huge amount of properties that were foreclosed on possibly illegally that they cannot sell and buyers are going to be turned off and wait it out till this whole mess is figured out.

Greed at its finest again.
 
thefit said:
Banks were not following correct foreclosure rules, just rushing through foreclosure and even admitting that they were not reading their own paperwork so the legality of it it all is dubious.

BTW they were rushing through these foreclosures so they could add them quick like to their foreclosed properties lists and be able to sell them off quickly to a new batch of suckers and makes lots oh $$$$$.

You can imagine the mess that this will create, the banks now are going to have a huge amount of properties that were foreclosed on possibly illegally that they cannot sell and buyers are going to be turned off and wait it out till this whole mess is figured out.

Greed at its finest again.
Click to expand...

Wow...that's kind of a dick move. Sigh, hopefully global warming will change Canada's weather pattern enoough that I can move there within the next 6 months. :/
 
I get busy too busy at work to check the thread, and all of a sudden I'm politely agreeing with stuff.

Sure, polite agreement sounds like me, but I'm a bit more likely to politely agree with naysayers than the optimists. Even if I think democrats are going to retain slight control of both houses.

Shut up.
 
Oblivion said:
Wow...that's kind of a dick move. Sigh, hopefully global warming will change Canada's weather pattern enoough that I can move there within the next 6 months. :/
Click to expand...

Not to mention they were filing homes as foreclosure even though the owner wasn't behind in payments. They were also going up to homes that weren't behind in payments WHILE THE FAMILIES WERE INSIDE MIND YOU, and placing a lock on the door from the outside. Yea.
 
Oblivion said:
Wow...that's kind of a dick move. Sigh, hopefully global warming will change Canada's weather pattern enoough that I can move there within the next 6 months. :/
Click to expand...
I live in Minnesota. If I ever move to Canada I should adapt quite nicely :D
 
Chichikov said:
You know, even if you let the Nazi angle slide (and really, why should you?), a fucking LARPer for congress?
For fuck's sake, these are the people who are going to govern this country.
Click to expand...

If he was genuinely, determinedly reenacting 3rd Reich activities, there was probably some dildo-sucking going on as well.

The kicker is when he compares it to Confederate role-playing. Don't take drugs before responding to reporters.
 
Salazar said:
If he was genuinely, determinedly reenacting 3rd Reich activities, there was probably some dildo-sucking going on as well.

The kicker is when he compares it to Confederate role-playing. Don't take drugs before responding to reporters.
Click to expand...


Rich Iott is the reich guy for Ohio.

Rich Iott puts the SS in Social Security.

....

Sorry
 
I was born in Kaptur's district (voted for her three times, until I moved to Cleveland). She is such a lock in that district, that they will still elect her when she is dead. So it's no surprise she has some goofball running against her. That's all she has ever had run against her because no one of merit would ever waste their time.
 
Anticitizen One said:
2010 political ads remind me of the fake ads that used to appear in the Robocop movies
Click to expand...
We're basically at the point of Transmetropolitan's politics. It's really fucking depressing.
 
Chichikov said:
You know, even if you let the Nazi angle slide (and really, why should you?), a fucking LARPer for congress?
For fuck's sake, these are the people who are going to govern this country.
Click to expand...

This election gets more ridiculous everyday...
 
Senate Snapshot has gotten worse over the last week, House has not got better either.

I think the only thing that can help Dems is undecideds going in their favor as we get closer to decision time, a complete breakdown in the screening of Likely Voters or a big fucking October Surprise against the Republicans.
 
cartoon_soldier said:
Senate Snapshot has gotten worse over the last week, House has not got better either.

I think the only thing that can help Dems is undecideds going in their favor as we get closer to decision time, a complete breakdown in the screening of Likely Voters or a big fucking October Surprise against the Republicans.
Click to expand...

Or a terror 'threat'. That always seems to work.
 
Dan said:
We're basically at the point of Transmetropolitan's politics. It's really fucking depressing.
Click to expand...

And yet no one has invented a hand portable bowel-disruptor yet. How are we supposed to cope?

Edit:To any mods who might be reading, is PoliGAF staying around, or will it be split up under the reasoning given in the People With Skin |OT|?
 
besada said:
And yet no one has invented a hand portable bowel-disruptor yet. How are we supposed to cope?

Edit:To any mods who might be reading, is PoliGAF staying around, or will it be split up under the reasoning given in the People With Skin |OT|?
Click to expand...
:lol :lol :lol
 
thekad said:
Possibility of a second "stimulus" or whatever they're going to call it in the lame-duck session?
Click to expand...
Definitely not happening with the word stimulus in it and even more doubtful with Republican increases in Congress. Unless of course we're talking about tax cuts and military spending, yeehaw!
 
giga said:
Definitely not happening with the word stimulus in it and even more doubtful with Republican increases in Congress. Unless of course we're talking about tax cuts and military spending, yeehaw!
Click to expand...
It's not like we're seeing anything but tax cuts and military spending without Republican increases in congress.
But I guess if the GOP has a majority it will not be socialism.
 
platypotamus said:
I get busy too busy at work to check the thread, and all of a sudden I'm politely agreeing with stuff.

Sure, polite agreement sounds like me, but I'm a bit more likely to politely agree with naysayers than the optimists. Even if I think democrats are going to retain slight control of both houses.

Shut up.
Click to expand...

At least you were mentioned.
 
NYTIMES: The End of the Tunnel
by, Paul Krugman

I never read Op-Ed's but of late Krugman has just been straight up killing it. This time he covers NJ Governor Chris Christie's decision to kill the construction on the Jersey side of a new rail tunnel between NY and NJ. He ends it on a sad, bitter note similar to last week's "Sacrifices are for little people" and this time, it very much capture's the feeling around PoliGAF, particularly since this new thread has started.

Krugman's article ending said:
I wish I could say something optimistic at this point. But at least for now, I don’t see any light at the end of this tunnel.
Click to expand...
 
Milabrega said:
NYTIMES: The End of the Tunnel
by, Paul Krugman

I never read Op-Ed's but of late Krugman has just been straight up killing it. This time he covers NJ Governor Chris Christie's decision to kill the construction on the Jersey side of a new rail tunnel between NY and NJ. He ends it on a sad, bitter note similar to last week's "Sacrifices are for little people" and this time, it very much capture's the feeling around PoliGAF, particularly since this new thread has started.
Click to expand...
Great piece.
But as I keep telling all my friends - this too shall pass.
These are the dying spasms of the white ruling class in this country.
In 20 years we'll view the tea party the same way we look at pro segregation people now*.
We just need to manage to not nuke ourselves in the process.

* and just so we're clear, I'm not comparing the two nor am I even making the case that this future being a good one. I'm just making predictions based on the demography of this nation.
 
Chichikov said:
Great piece.
But as I keep telling all my friends - this too shall pass.
These are the dying spasms of the white ruling class in this country.
In 20 years we'll view the tea party the same way we look at pro segregation people now*.
We just need to manage to not nuke ourselves in the process.

* and just so we're clear, I'm not comparing the two nor am I even making the case that this future being a good one. I'm just making predictions based on the demography of this nation.
Click to expand...

No, its more like we need to make sure we don't keep going after countries in and around the middle east, because we know that the first thing Republicans are going to do if they win in 2012 is invade Iran, which will mean increased government spending and

And even if the Tea Party dies down, there won't be any way to get the politicians to ignore the persuasion of virtually unlimited campaign finances that the corporations will offer, meaning the people will basically have no say because no matter who gets elected the only stuff that will pass congress is the shit that doesn't hinder the lobbying parties.
 
News reports suggest that his immediate goal was to shift funds to local road projects and existing rail repairs. There were, however, much better ways to raise those funds, such as an increase in the state’s relatively low gasoline taxes — and bear in mind that whatever motorists gain from low gas taxes will be at least partly undone by pain from the canceled project in the form of growing congestion and traffic delays. But, no, in modern America, no tax increase can ever be justified, for any reason.

This frustrates me to no end. I never understood why we have such an aversion to taxes, even in the most worthwhile cases like infrastructure or education. It's absurd.
 
state-of-the-art said:
This frustrates me to no end. I never understood why we have such an aversion to taxes, even in the most worthwhile cases like infrastructure or education. It's absurd.
Click to expand...

1. Nobody likes taxes, so it's easy to hammer on.
2. The rich don't want to lose their money.
3. COMMUNISM!!!
4. A lot of conservatives don't think poor people (aka minorities) should get "hand outs" like being helped with education/health care/anything because they need to bootstrap themselves our of poverty.
 
TestOfTide said:
No, its more like we need to make sure we don't keep going after countries in and around the middle east, because we know that the first thing Republicans are going to do if they win in 2012 is invade Iran, which will mean increased government spending and

And even if the Tea Party dies down, there won't be any way to get the politicians to ignore the persuasion of virtually unlimited campaign finances that the corporations will offer, meaning the people will basically have no say because no matter who gets elected the only stuff that will pass congress is the shit that doesn't hinder the lobbying parties.
Click to expand...
I do not think an invasion of Iran is assured, but the GOP would dismantle the few FP achievements made by the Administration and would further inhibit the nauseatingly slow rehabilitation of America's image. I have said it multiple times, but the current crop of Republicans, aside from a minute group (Lugar...), would be unprecedentedly disastrous at FP. If their domestic agenda frightening, then the FP agenda would be overwhelmingly so.
 
cartoon_soldier said:
Senate Snapshot has gotten worse over the last week, House has not got better either.

I think the only thing that can help Dems is undecideds going in their favor as we get closer to decision time, a complete breakdown in the screening of Likely Voters or a big fucking October Surprise against the Republicans.
Click to expand...
The TP has thankfully aided the Democrats this election. The situation would be substantially direr had the GOP elected quality candidates. For example, electing O'Donnell instead of Castle was a gift. Thank you, TP.
 
Earlier someone asked for a good explanation of the foreclosure fraud issue that has cropped up. I believe Mike Konzcal has a fairly straightforward post on it. View here, and follow him if you ever want mini econ lessons. Granted he often finds one particular subject and harps on it for a while; so your interest my wane depending on the subject matter, but good resource regardless.

Mike Konzcal's Rortybomb
 
Christie is quite the darling on the right, not just with tea party types but regular conservatives as well. Last time I checked his approval ratings in the state were pretty low, and will only get lower considering it's a deep blue state. He's fucked.

Good article though. With a republican congress, I can't even imagine how the government will address infrastructure or job creating measures. Obama is more than capable of compromising with people - he's been doing it for 19 months. But compromise requires reasonable adults working together for a common good. I'm not sure this incoming crop of hyper conservatives are reasonable by any stretch of the imagination, and I'm sure there will be plenty of cowardly democrats willing to side with them.
 
Chichikov said:
Great piece.
But as I keep telling all my friends - this too shall pass.
These are the dying spasms of the white ruling class in this country.
In 20 years we'll view the tea party the same way we look at pro segregation people now*.
We just need to manage to not nuke ourselves in the process.

* and just so we're clear, I'm not comparing the two nor am I even making the case that this future being a good one. I'm just making predictions based on the demography of this nation.
Click to expand...

Perhaps, but I've never been that impressed at how the demographics between age 18-45 swing in terms of liberal versus conservative. The only place I see strong movement is in social issues like gay rights, get into fiscal issues and you just have a crop of kids claiming to be libertarians/independents still voting for republicans.
 
I doubt we'll invade Iran. The US simply can't afford it.

Either way, the GOP run congress will be a disaster. I expect lots of foot dragging or outright denial of anything Obama and the Democrats want to get done. I expect the GOP to pass many wildly unrealistic bills for the sole purpose of Obama vetoing them, which will make them look good to the tea partiers and radio talk show hosts. I also expect a lot of general nuttery like what we experienced with the Republican Revolution of 1994. All of it is geared for ammunition for the 2012 race. Republicans have shown time and time again that they care more about their viability vs. actually doing anything.

Chichikov said:
Great piece.
But as I keep telling all my friends - this too shall pass.
These are the dying spasms of the white ruling class in this country.
In 20 years we'll view the tea party the same way we look at pro segregation people now*.
We just need to manage to not nuke ourselves in the process.

* and just so we're clear, I'm not comparing the two nor am I even making the case that this future being a good one. I'm just making predictions based on the demography of this nation.
Click to expand...

I have my doubts. The GOP is a major party and it will survive. It will probably focus on economic conservatism to take advantage of the women and minorities who are making more income as time goes on. The same thing happened with the unions and the creation of the large middle class 50 years ago.

I don't think any radical shift is happening in terms of what you describe. The true problem is that we're broke and we need to come in terms with that. Reaganomics (low domestic spending, high corporate welfare and defense spending) is a failure and should be dead and buried but we seem intent on a Weekend At Bernie's type thing where we keep pretending it is alive and well.
 
Byakuya769 said:
Earlier someone asked for a good explanation of the foreclosure fraud issue that has cropped up. I believe Mike Konzcal has a fairly straightforward post on it. View here, and follow him if you ever want mini econ lessons. Granted he often finds one particular subject on harps on it for a while; so your interest my wane depending on the subject matter, but good resource regardless.

Mike Konzcal's Rortybomb
Click to expand...
A germane anecdote: My father, who is a fairly far-right conservative, applauded Obama for pocket vetoing this bill. I was surprised as he usually spews vitriol about Obama; granted, it is usually to playfully irritate me. So, smooth move, Obama. If you elicit praise from my father, it was probably a good decision.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Which do you consider to be the worst episode of The Simpsons?
2
50
583
Dr Cowley replied
The search for MH370 is back
18
1K
Hookshot replied
20 injured after Mexican Navy training ship strikes Brooklyn Bridge
News  2
56
841
Major Insano replied
First episode of Saturday Night Live!
18
2K
ManaByte replied
Sit back and enjoy the view - Aurora from space station
1
355
Connificent replied
Top Bottom