Good job selecting a smart guy for your top post, GOP.

That's bunk. Just look at the nose pickers at TSA. Or the geniuses at DHS.

I guess that means that when he was the Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, he was unemployed. As were his staff members. As are, say, the 1.5 million or so active personnel in the Unite States armed forces.

never heard of the unite states armed forces

/unite!

That's some fine cognitive dissonance there, Mikey.

Oh, this guy's gonna be fun...

Joe Biden is a fkn amateur gaffe-maker compared to Steele.

That's some Epic FAIL there.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss. The GOP is farked.

That's the great thing about the Republican Party. They don't just fail, they fail at failing to fail.

GaryPDX: That's bunk. Just look at the nose pickers at TSA. Or the geniuses at DHS.

QFT

Uh huh. Epic level ignorance.

Glad to see the GOP is still sticking with the tried and true talking points after all these years. I'm sure he will follow it up with Reagans quote "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."

Let's see how that plays these days, goppers.

And Steele is off to a flying start.

Dinki: Glad to see the GOP is still sticking with the tried and true talking points after all these years. I'm sure he will follow it up with Reagans quote "Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."

Let's see how that plays these days, goppers.

Ever wonder if maybe that's a misquote, and Reagan meant to say "MY government is the problem"?

I'm pretty sure that what he meant was that governments do not create new revenue for jobs -- government positions are paid for by jobs from the private sector.

Our system of government cannot create new, revenue-producing jobs -- it can only assign taxes to tasks deemed necessary by the government.

Not that police, fire, and military are not important and necessary, but they are expenditures, not "new jobs" in an economic sense.

Gosling: And Steele is off to a flying start.

You made them think they could fly too? You're a mean drunk, Superman.

I miss the days when the federal government would provide the people with absolutely nothing. I definitely felt more motivated to increase my socioeconomic standing without that stupid crutch. Now, I sit at home on welfare and leech from taxpayers and otherwise be lazy. I wouldn't be surprised if there are millions like me playing their Xboxes right now instead of working.

/these Republican glasses give me a headache

as transparent as Angelina Jolie's arm when held up to a bright light

Damba: I'm pretty sure that what he meant was that governments do not create new revenue for jobs -- government positions are paid for by jobs from the private sector.

Our system of government cannot create new, revenue-producing jobs -- it can only assign taxes to tasks deemed necessary by the government.

Not that police, fire, and military are not important and necessary, but they are expenditures, not "new jobs" in an economic sense.

I would argue that the government has created jobs, but not in the way most people will misconstrue his quote.

You, however, fully understood the economic debate. Let's hope everyone reads your post before rambling on like a moron about the armed forces, police departments, FBI, IRS, etc.

This is what is called the "narrative fallacy" in The Black Swan.

It's not even worth calling false.

Perfect guy to put at the helm of this shipwreck. "HAY GUYZ WE GOTSTA GET TEH BLACK D00D IN CHARGE ZOMGZ"

Let these retards continue to flop and flounder, continuing their dumbass march to their dumbass beat. They will kill themselves off as a party sooner rather than later.

NewportBarGuy: Gosling: And Steele is off to a flying start.

You made them think they could fly too? You're a mean drunk, Superman.

I always heard it as "You're a real asshole Superman"

The Republican mantra:

"Government can't do anything right, and we will do our best to prove it if you give us a chance."

This is why you don't pick someone because of their race.

...So they nominated a dumbass then.

I've spent the last ten minutes trying to think of any kind of comment to this, but every time I bounce that statement around my skull to interpret it; to mentally digest it; to try to foster some kind of argument all I come up with is a nosebleed.

So I'm going to stop, take a walk, and just relax knowing that the spectacular shipwreck that is the RNC still hasn't finished sinking, the band is still playing, and the stubborn group of people still playing poker three decks below who elected him are insisting that they're simply seated in the "pool" section.

A Dark Evil Omen: The Republican mantra:

"Government can't do anything right, and we will do our best to prove it if you give us a chance neither can we".

Bingo. (new window)

Shoulda gone with Palin.

Wow, I know this thread will be full of liberal hate, so much so I am certain Michael Steele is the right choice.

If you want to want to look at every statement and take them at their absolute meaning, that is fine, however if you look at what someone is trying to say, things are different.

An example would be President Obama saying about Wall Street Banks, "there is a time to make a profit and then there is a time to do what is right" (I know that is paraphrasing, but close enough)

Now asshats like Hannity are trying to take his words at the absolute meaning.. Rational people who watched what Obama was saying would realize he was talking about and expressing his outrage over the $18+ Billion in bonuses given by the very banks that are taking taxpayer's money. He was right to be pissed and he was right to express this sentiment.

Chairman Steele was trying to say other than Govt. services, long term employment cannot be achieved by the Government. It is basic economics. Yes, there are services that govt. can and should provide, but there are areas govt. fails and should stay out.

Really?

My neighbor is a top level engineer for Lockheed and would like to dispute that.

I've heard this moron on the radio before, just another "Independent" who thinks that after thousands of years of social evolution we should scrap the idea of Government.

What he really means, as they all do, is that Government should be replaced by the Corporation.

Find me anything these retards argue for that DOESN'T benefit big corporations at the expense of the American People.

Wow... We build the Eisenhower highway system without employing a single person?

So the RNC notices that Hillary Clinton has a following and decides it must be because she's female - so Sarah Palin ends up as McCain's VP candidate.

And then the RNC notices that Barack Obama won by a landslide and decides that it must have nothing to do with his politics, that it must be because America wants a black leader. So they appoint Michael Steele to chair the RNC itself.

Aren't they the ones who use Affirmative Action as a boogeyman to stir up support from angry rednecks?

xsarien: I've spent the last ten minutes trying to think of any kind of comment to this, but every time I bounce that statement around my skull to interpret it; to mentally digest it; to try to foster some kind of argument all I come up with is a nosebleed.

If it were not for my horse, I would have never gone to college.

themindiswatching: I miss the days when the federal government would provide the people with absolutely nothing.

So tell me, what was life like in medieval Europe? Or ungoverned Africa? I am curious.

Damba: they are expenditures, not "new jobs" in an economic sense.

I get what you are saying, but it is still disingenuous. These expenditures (which is a fair call per se) create real (non-government) jobs as well. The government builds a new office building for itself, and a raft of private enterprises get work all along the capex supply chain - like the suppliers of concrete, steel, electrical hookups, office fitouts, plumbing supplies, etc - and along a ling-term opex chain - like the power generators, power delivery, water delivery, cleaners, lunch vans, local stores, taxis, bus lines, and more.

So I fundamentally disagree with your point, even though I think it is reasonable and well made.

jpo2269: If you want to want to look at every statement and take them at their absolute meaning, that is fine, however if you look at what someone is trying to say, things are different.


Unfortunately, this is how modern "debate" works. Even though normal speech communicates using verbal cues, context, and body language, trolls from both sides of the aisle focus on imprecise wording and tear the words apart.

As you said, most rational people understood what he was saying. But politics is now about passion and winning, not about doing what is right or what is in the best interests of the country as a whole.

jpo2269: Wow, I know this thread will be full of liberal hate, so much so I am certain Michael Steele is the right choice.

Hint: when 80% of the country is pouring "liberal hate" down on you, perhaps you're not the best person to try to persuade >50% of the country to vote for you...

GaryPDX: That's bunk. Just look at the nose pickers at TSA. Or the geniuses at DHS.

I dont need the government to pick my nose....

Damn, it's bleeding again, maybe I do.

Damba: jpo2269: If you want to want to look at every statement and take them at their absolute meaning, that is fine, however if you look at what someone is trying to say, things are different.


Unfortunately, this is how modern "debate" works. Even though normal speech communicates using verbal cues, context, and body language, trolls from both sides of the aisle focus on imprecise wording and tear the words apart.

As you said, most rational people understood what he was saying. But politics is now about passion and winning, not about doing what is right or what is in the best interests of the country as a whole.


When the body fights off an infection, it's not about two sides trying to "win". The modern Conservative movement has been an unmitigated disaster for this country. It needs to be shouted down and marginalized. Doing so does not make Democrats as bad as those lie us into war and deliberately destroy Government in the name of their great corporate-socialist experiment. It is a disease and they are worthy of about as much civil debate as a cancer cell.

Stopheles: Aren't they the ones who use Affirmative Action as a boogeyman to stir up support from angry rednecks?

That's the best part, since Steele is pro-Affirmative Action.

Do Republicans ever even listen to what they're saying?

Damba 2009-01-31 08:01:00 PM
jpo2269: If you want to want to look at every statement and take them at their absolute meaning, that is fine, however if you look at what someone is trying to say, things are different.


Unfortunately, this is how modern "debate" works. Even though normal speech communicates using verbal cues, context, and body language, trolls from both sides of the aisle focus on imprecise wording and tear the words apart.

As you said, most rational people understood what he was saying. But politics is now about passion and winning, not about doing what is right or what is in the best interests of the country as a whole.

Damba, sad, but true. I fear we are moving away from being a country as a whole, but factions unwilling to listen to what the otherside has to say.

Apik0r0s: Really?

My neighbor is a top level engineer for Lockheed and would like to dispute that.

I've heard this moron on the radio before, just another "Independent" who thinks that after thousands of years of social evolution we should scrap the idea of Government.

What he really means, as they all do, is that Government should be replaced by the Corporation.

Find me anything these retards argue for that DOESN'T benefit big corporations at the expense of the American People.

A majority of republicans in washington were against the TARP bill. For some reason the Democrats were for fleesing the US taxpayers to socialize the risk involved with corporations doing their job badly.

Sharing Artist's Boobies 2009-01-31 08:03:28 PM
jpo2269: Wow, I know this thread will be full of liberal hate, so much so I am certain Michael Steele is the right choice.

Hint: when 80% of the country is pouring "liberal hate" down on you, perhaps you're not the best person to try to persuade >50% of the country to vote for you...

SAB:

80%? That seems to be just a bit overblown; no? 52% maybe, but 80% is just a bit of an exageration. Sorry, made up stats will not keep me quiet.

All of those construction workers building and maintaining our roads must all be unemployed too. As are all of the people who make Tang and Tempur-Pedic mattresses.

Damba: Our system of government cannot create new, revenue-producing jobs -- it can only assign taxes to tasks deemed necessary by the government.

This doesn't make any sense - why not? How, when it comes to using its resources to create jobs and invest in new things, is the government any different from a large corporation? It might be less efficient, but it has the same ability to create jobs.

Steele's right. Government doesn't create new jobs. It siphons off resources from the productive sector to hire its own people. Sometimes it's a necessary thing and sometimes it's not, but don't think that the net result is the same boon to the economy as a job created by a private business.

All this RNC-hatin' is the sort of flak I expect from people who are at sea because their target of choice, George Bush, isn't available to biatch about any longer. It's understandable. Obama on his first outing has shown himself unprepared to handle the job. Instead of his administration coming up with a spending bill that would be a bipartisan triumph, he allowed Pelosi and her ilk to write a measure that was so repellent to Republicans that not a single one in the House could be sweet-talked or schmoozed into supporting it. I can't remember any occasion when a major bill like this got absolutely zero votes from one of the parties. That fiasco was a rookie mistake and it made him look either weak or inept. It won't take many flops like that to irretrievably damage him.

Damba: I'm pretty sure that what he meant was that governments do not create new revenue for jobs -- government positions are paid for by jobs from the private sector.

Our system of government cannot create new, revenue-producing jobs -- it can only assign taxes to tasks deemed necessary by the government.

But government does allocate money for research, resulting in many major technological advances. Technology is the only real way to create wealth, getting more value from the same raw materials.

jjorsett: Steele's right. Government doesn't create new jobs. It siphons off resources from the productive sector to hire its own people.

My Dad is a civil engineer for a private company who does lots of work on roads, prisons, and air force bases so he's getting a kick...

There isn't much difference between overhead and unemployed.

jpo2269: Chairman Steele was trying to say other than Govt. services, long term employment cannot be achieved by the Government. It is basic economics. Yes, there are services that govt. can and should provide, but there are areas govt. fails and should stay out.

What he was TRYING to say and what he ACTUALLY said are two very different things.