1: Barack Obama

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  • Posted By: fidel33134 @ 12/23/2008 7:29:38 AM

    The real issue is "Can capitalism save Obama from himself?" His economic policies are the exact same discredited Keynesian crap that led to Japan's 15 year recession and our Great Depression, which in the rest of the world was a brief and relatively mild depression/recession. His "stimululous" is just another word for pork. It creates no permanent jobs or improvement in the economy. It merely rewards political allies, in the proud tradition of Illinois politics.

    He'd be better off going to the gym more and attempting to work on those man boobs of his, And what's with that chest waxing?

    • Posted By: jnakhoul @ 12/23/2008 10:55:46 AM

      whats caused the banking crisis in japan has nothing to do with keynesian economics and the only tool left is massive spending from the gov. i'd rather have roads repaired and power lines built than bailout a bunch incompetent dolts. by the way your comments reek of this homoerotic jealousy thats not very complimentary. give the guy a shot before you judge what hes capable of

      • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/24/2008 4:58:00 PM

        Actually Keynesian economics had everything to do with prolonging Japan's slump. Go to mises.org and type Keynes and Japan in the site search engine. They have several articles that deal with the subject in detail. You might learn a thing or two..or maybe not.

    • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/23/2008 9:23:55 AM

      " and our Great Depression, which in the rest of the world was a brief and relatively mild depression/recession. "

      What? LOL.

      • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/23/2008 6:31:20 PM

        HB,
        Sorry to burst your bubble but the Great Depression was much worse in some countries than others. For example, Great Britain's industrial output fell by only 5-10% compared to our 25-30%.

  • Posted By: TruthForward @ 12/24/2008 4:55:05 PM

    Happy holidays Everyone!

  • Posted By: Getitout @ 12/22/2008 8:41:17 PM

    Obama going to save capitalism! Mr. Obama couldn't save the city of chicago from crooked politicians, unless he was one of them. Right now Mr. Obama find himself president with no fault of his own, he need to save himself out of it.

    • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/22/2008 9:33:00 PM

      Duh, we lost, yuk, what are we gonna do? duh, I dunno! yuk, I know! I'll insult the new president. yuk! yuk! He's so dumb ain't he duh,yuk,duh,yuk,duh,yuk yep, yuk.yuk. he's a stupid1 duh, youk, duh, yuk.

      • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/24/2008 4:33:25 PM

        Wait R, isn't making fun of and mocking posters a sign of bad thread etiquette? Oh wait, I forgot. Good manners only come into play when I'm busting chumps like YOU for being spelling deficient. Ok...I got it now. Thanks for setting me straight!

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/22/2008 9:52:44 PM

      Sure won't be any help from Bush, will there?

      • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/24/2008 3:58:04 PM

        That's right Bush has been totally uncooperative with him. He hasn't consulted with him and all that praise from O is just phony window dressing... right? Dude, did you actually stop and think before you posted this nonsense?

    • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/23/2008 11:39:45 AM

      "Mr Obama"?

      Isn't that supposed to be "President-Elect Obama"?

  • Posted By: Nara @ 12/23/2008 10:52:46 AM

    The picture you have attached for the great leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a wrong picture.

    • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/24/2008 4:27:02 PM

      This was a stupid comment the first time...why subject us to it twice? Remember people- HIT F5 ON YOUR KEYBOARD TO REFRESH YOUR SCREEN AND SEE YOUR INANE COMMENTS!!! DDDDUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/23/2008 7:25:09 PM

    the world is better off without Sadaam. I don't feel the same about the thousand of American Dead and Dismembered.. This didn't have to happen. The GOP will pay for this until they are dust in the wind.

    • Posted By: Skypoint @ 12/23/2008 9:15:19 PM

      Rather than speaking for the military, why don' t you ask them how they feel?

      • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/23/2008 9:38:51 PM

        Our military are patriotic and loyal. We appreciate and grieve for them. R may get polemic sometimes, but his heart bleeds over the regret for unnecessary loss of life. I was for the Iraq invasion as a geopolitical move to place boots in a volatile region and to protect oil supplys. I never bought any of the propaganda, but that is beside the point that I supported what I thought was a good idea. I expected Bush to do a good job, though. Instead of listening to his experienced military and diplomats, who predicted what would follow and advised for an approach that proved to have been necessary, he abdicated to the neocons who deluded themselves into believing that it would be easy and pay for itself. Had Bush listened to the right people, Iraq could have had a good result with fewer lost lives. I, and I know R, lay the unnecessary losses at Bush's feet and of those who counseled him so mistakenly.

        • Posted By: Skypoint @ 12/23/2008 10:16:21 PM

          Rumsfeld's bungling of the Iraq war is largely to blame for where we are there. The result was "The Surge" came four years too late. Bush governed by way of letting others do their jobs and not micro managing them. In hind sight, Rumsfeld was one that needed to be closely managed. Unfortunately, Bush will pay for that for the rest of his life.

          • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/23/2008 10:34:07 PM

            There were others but Rummy is right up there, maybe with Cheney; he seems to have had his fingers in everything. Bush should grieve, but I think he may be too shallow and good at rationalizing away what he should feel. Unfortunately, too many lost their lives or had them ruined, and those of their families.

            • Posted By: Skypoint @ 12/23/2008 10:44:10 PM

              If Bush grieves, it's unseen to any others. He is bull headed and stubborn to a high degree. I wish Iraq had never happened, however, I ultimately blame the useless UN. They should have tossed their pathetic, unenforceable resolutions in the trash and walked away during the Clinton administration. The UN either has laws or it doesn't. Why bother if they don't. Unfortunately, we're in for a repeat of history (less the invasion) with Iran.

              • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/24/2008 4:14:17 PM

                Bush is stubborn and a disaster as president. I also admire the way you can use your 'spidey powers' to get inside his head and read his thoughts. Have you tried to sell your services?

              • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/24/2008 1:38:04 AM

                Sorry, I missed this one. Maybe Bush does grieve. He certainly has aged but the presidency ages everyone. I just have seen too many people who messed up badly, and then find external distractions.

                I am no fan of the U.N. by any means. I'm not sure how strong a supergovernment I want, but they should have been effective in this case. I think the latter ones were just window dressing, probably necessary political cover. We were going there in every event. They could have and should have done it right. Not just rifles but also, for example, should have been sure that we could help restore the infrastructure and such, help them rebuild what Saddam and we blew up. Everyone other than the neocons said society would disintigrate. We needed to stand them up if we were going to blow it up. Reminds me of the Viet Nam war saying that we had to destroy that village to save it. Had we done it right, our real costs would have been a fraction of they are now costing, and they might have been able to repay us.

                Unfortunately, I do not see an alternative to what you say about Iran. We don't have enough might or treasure to invade. Where else to go but to the U.N.? I am not happy to say this, but they probably see a need for deterence against their unstable neighbors. Iran has not waged a war of aggression in, what, 1000 years? But they did not have Wahabbis and nuclear weapons. My guess is that they are too rational to bring about their own destruction.

          • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 10:27:38 PM

            I wouldn't worry about Pres. Bush....., he will get over it...he's tough..nothing gets to him, not even having shoes thrown at him. People can say whatever they want about him, but at least, we know he's no wimp.

            • Posted By: Skypoint @ 12/23/2008 10:48:18 PM

              Hi Pia,

              Tough, and arrogant, and a number of other things. While I think the war will dog him, I agree, I don't think he will let it get to him.

              I got a look at his new diggs the other day. Nice, but nothing like people think.

              • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 10:56:25 PM

                Hello S-

                The President reminds me of my father..very tough.. nothing phases him..Fortunately, I inherited that good trait.

                I know all about the pres. new home. A friend who lives in Forth Worth has seen it. It's not a palace, but it is tasteful. I'm sure Laura Bush chose the house.

                • Posted By: Skypoint @ 12/23/2008 11:04:18 PM

                  Obviously, your father is a good man. ; )

        • Posted By: Forty4 @ 12/23/2008 9:56:41 PM

          I agree with you regarding a few of your points, including the fact that our military are patriotic and loyal, and that R grieves for them. I disagree with your propaganda statement. World wide Intelligence said otherwise. A few facts about Hussein and his WMD's:

          Saddam admitted having them.

          He used them on his own people.

          He always deemed them necessary to his survival.

          He used them on Iran.

          He threatened us with them up until the invasion.

          He held daily televised drills with his men in full chemical dress gear up until the invasion.

          He taunted the UN with threats of chemical warfare if anyone tried to invade Iraq.

          He fired shots over the heads of UN (not US) inspectors) while proclaiming he had no weapons.

          This is all aside from the fact that Hussein had 17 resolutions and 12 years to comply with the UN. How many more years would you have given him?

          • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/23/2008 10:05:17 PM

            At least we may agree on the most important points. I am fully aware of Sadaam's history, but I would prefer if we would just agree to grant each other to our respctive views on the 'reasons' we went in. Disagreement over that pretty much leads to folks restating their own views, at least I do that. I'm in more of a festive spirit for that now. Marry Christmas to you.

            Oh, yeah, I'm also contending with incredibly slow 'highspeed' sat link.

            • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 10:23:52 PM

              Okay. I won't argue over this, I'm feeling good because of the holidays and I'm too tired tonight.

              • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/24/2008 1:40:47 AM

                Rarely see you argue anyway. Would be interested in your views at another time that is not so festive.

                • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/24/2008 3:33:04 PM

                  Hi 40! How are you? All well I hope.

                  Thank you for posting these kind words. You don't argue either!

                  Take care, and a very Merry Christmas to you and your family!

            • Posted By: Forty4 @ 12/23/2008 10:25:57 PM

              Thanks 40. A Merry Christmas to you also. Thanks again for your views at the holocaust site.

              Best wishes!

              • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/23/2008 10:40:25 PM

                We will enjoy more, I'm sure.

          • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 10:05:26 PM

            All facts of course. Hello Forty, and a very Merry Christmas to you!

            • Posted By: Forty4 @ 12/23/2008 10:23:59 PM

              Hey there P! Nice to see you here... It's been awhile!

              Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year to you!

              • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 10:30:15 PM

                HelloForty- Thank you and nice to see you too!

                Has it been a while? Just last week I read that post you left me, yes I did see it..thank you very much for being so understanding.

                • Posted By: Forty4 @ 12/23/2008 10:35:46 PM

                  Seems longer than that for some reason.... anyway, I'm glad you got the message.

                  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 10:44:49 PM

                    I know what you mean..it does feel longer than that. Btw, I left you another comment to that post..if you remember the article and are interested, read it. Thanks.

        • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 10:06:23 PM

          Good post 40YR. I too supported the Iraq invasion at first..., yes, it was an invasion.

    • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/24/2008 4:12:20 PM

      And the Dems that voted for it (can you say next Sec'y of State?) are in the clear? Damn I love how karma works! If your side does something wrong then you can ignore it. If it's the other side?-- Katy bar the freakin' door. A truly sublime comment.

  • Posted By: aelemay @ 12/22/2008 11:48:36 AM

    Is it any wonder that the markets are paralyzed? Is it any wonder that that everyone has justifiable fears that an arbitrary government decision will shut down a company and its employment, or that a judge will rule against a legitimate plaintiff or defendant for arbitrary reasons? How can anyone believe in the capitalist principles of free trade, under this kind of regime?

    It seems that Obama wants to do things like Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, or Fidel Castro of Cuba has done to their countries. It looks very much like Obama expects to become a dictator,

    This does not sound like saving Capitalism to me. This is destroying Capitalism, and it seems this is precisely what Obama seems to want to do. He has single-handedly depressed the markets and discouraged the business community and it is a measure of his lack of qualifications to be President that he fails to understand that his election promises are profoundly unpopular with business.

    I seems we have elected an anti-Capitalist dunce to the highest office in the land, and he has caused great disruptions ??? and he is not even yet inaugurated, and he has no idea what to do, and seemingly, he does not listen to his advisers either.

    • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/24/2008 4:05:11 PM

      Bush has made this much politically easier for Obama. Who was it that nationalized banks and lending institutions- not to mention Detroit. Answer?: It ain't Obama.

    • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/22/2008 9:45:38 PM

      "Is it any wonder that the markets are paralyzed?"

      There are numerous of your statements that could be addressed, but let's start with this one: Have you paid any attention to the last eight years?

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/24/2008 3:38:35 PM

    Merry Christmas everyone! Have a great time!

    • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 12/24/2008 3:58:36 PM

      You too sweetie:)

  • Posted By: burbank @ 12/23/2008 2:38:04 AM

    I don't believe that capitalism is the cause of the economic problems in the US and abroad. I do believe that capitalism has been misused by those who use thier position of power to enrich themselves at the expense of others, and then decry the fact that regulation will doom free market enterprise. Excessive regulation of any business is often counter productive, but some regulation is required so that business may thrive and flourish in a compeitive market. Limited oversight and greed are the two prime factors that have caused the US economy to tank. The trick is to balance oversight and trust to promote economic recovery. A difficult task when you realize that it is the taxpayer that has to shoulder the burden of capitalism's excesses to the tune of billions of dollars, while those who were blinded by their own avarice continue to fiddle like modern day Neros, while the American economy burns.

    • Posted By: jnakhoul @ 12/23/2008 11:00:36 AM

      if not capitalism and the incentive for greed it creates, than what did? sure wasn't socialism that caused it

      • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/24/2008 3:54:40 PM

        Brilliant analysis..let me check my glasses ..is that you Paul Krugman? or maybe JK Galbraith? Let's not be silly. Capitalism works we just need more oversight and regulation. Please don't think you can solve the world's problems after taking one economics course from your local community college by some old, unrepentant, bearded, Marxist hippie. Please come back and post only after you've got some real world experience. Btw, you're welcome for the unsolicited advice.

      • Posted By: FredianoB @ 12/23/2008 1:19:04 PM

        1] SEC exempt, AGENCY RATED FNMA/GNMA was used to brush aside 50 sets of more stringent state banking regulations.

        2] SEC exempt, AGENCY RATED FNMA/GNMA GSEs, aka, monopolists with guns, with the imprimateur of their 'NOT BACKED BY THE US GOV'T BUTWINK-WINK OF COURSE THEY ARE AND JUST WERE' nonsense enabled the financially engineered nonsense 'securitized mortgage bundles'

        Concentrated , monopolistic, OneSizeFitsAll, AllOurEgsInOneBasket, SInglePointOFfailure centralized power is what just tubed our economies. Fat fingered federalism, run amok, going beyond its legitimate role of traffic cop to become Drivers of The Economies, coercively treated as if they were 'The Economy,' which they are not.

        50 state experiments running parallel, learning from each other's mistakes and successes, would never have spontaneously aligned to give us this Perfect Storm of Getting It All Wrong At Once. Only out of control rampant federalism can do that, our love affair with Monopolists with guns.

        The original FHA mission was deemed 'too hard' -- enforcement based on actual per instance violations of fiar housing and lending laws. So instead, the tribe permitted the FHA/FNMA/GNMA/HUD mission to colelctively creep to a balnket, statist solution, focusing instead on bottom line demographic numbers scorecards of laons made by banks, including, across wide income levels. The federal experiment decreed 'income is not an impediment to credit', and banks were forced to loan or else, and worse, FNMA/HFA/GNMA/HUD federal strongarming was used in court case after court case and even SCOTUS case to brush aside stricter state banking and lending regulations, because they were seen as impediments to the nationwide social experiment.

        Intentions be damned, puddingheadedness is what tubed our economies, and here comes more of the same.

  • Posted By: freemon50 @ 12/24/2008 9:51:07 AM

    May God help Obama, no one is perfect, Ajani Adams, Lagos Nigeria

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/24/2008 3:39:17 PM

      I agree, no one is perfect. Obama is only human.

  • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/23/2008 8:29:28 PM

    I'm going to leave you now, Bill. You're boring. That will give you some time to think something up.

    • Posted By: Bill Smith @ 12/23/2008 10:30:32 PM

      Bury your head in the sand. Why won't statists like you justify your support for theft and murder?

      • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/23/2008 10:38:56 PM

        Do people like you understand how far... off you are, or do you just tell yourselves that everone else is just wrong?

        • Posted By: Bill Smith @ 12/24/2008 9:58:53 AM

          If I???m so far off, provide facts that support your claim.

          • Posted By: 40YearR @ 12/24/2008 12:03:17 PM

            You have not stated any facts, just...obscure...points of view. The facts I offer are your own posts.

  • Posted By: freemon50 @ 12/24/2008 10:01:48 AM

    May God help ObAMA

  • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 11:09:37 PM

    Forty4- that comment you posted to me and I replied..do read it..thanks.

    • Posted By: Forty4 @ 12/23/2008 11:14:08 PM

      I read that soon after you posted it. Thanks!

      • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 11:17:31 PM

        Forty- there is another I posted after you!

        • Posted By: Forty4 @ 12/23/2008 11:19:42 PM

          Not sure if I saw that one. When was the last one you left?

          • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 11:27:43 PM

            The same day. Trust me, you did not see it otherwise you would have replied. Btw, not feeling too good all of a sudden...

            • Posted By: Forty4 @ 12/23/2008 11:48:21 PM

              Was that the post where you said you were conservative? Hope you're feeling a little better...

              • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/24/2008 12:05:27 AM

                Yes, thank you, Forty. I'm better now thanks. I'm such a lightweight at times. Hey, it's past midnight so it's Christmas Eve! Thank you for wishing me a Merry Christmas..it means a lot to me. You and 40YearR did and some who I thought had class, didn't.

  • Posted By: whatisreal? @ 12/23/2008 5:04:08 PM

    Wow, just stopped by, and well, Yukk...

    • Posted By: Pia1981 @ 12/23/2008 9:47:34 PM

      Whatisreal-I'm sorry you had a "yuck" visit here today...not to worry, it will be better next time.

      Whatis- I want to wish you a joyful and blessed Christmas. Have a great time!

  • Posted By: TruthForward @ 12/23/2008 6:26:00 PM

    On the one hand, Capitalism is very safe.

    On the other hand, look at Detriot... It seems like only a socialistic type approach could help them.

    • Posted By: TruthForward @ 12/23/2008 6:28:33 PM

      Perhaps, some states will have some kind of "hybrid" economic system.

  • Posted By: Chris1514 @ 12/22/2008 8:16:57 AM

    Does capitalism need saving? After 25 years of spectacular growth interrupted only by two mild recessions (prior to the current crisis, of course), probably not. The dreamscape of liberals is a Roosevelt and Keynesian restoration with Obama come to claim the throne of his (or their) spiritual father. Keynesian pump priming didn't work during the Great Depression, during the 1990s in Japan, and it won't work now. True, it is possible that Obama's people skills will be reassuring to the country while the problems with the economy work themselves out, as Roosevelt's were. But is there anyone who still believes that Roosevelt, and not World War II, "saved capitalism?"

    • Posted By: Horrible Bastard @ 12/22/2008 4:43:56 PM

      "But is there anyone who still believes that Roosevelt, and not World War II, "saved capitalism?""

      Yes. Every reputable historian.

      • Posted By: pbpace @ 12/23/2008 6:28:04 PM

        Sorry HB. The 'reputable historians' you allude to agree we were still in a depression in the late 30's. Even Paul Krugman, FDR's bb said so. What got us out of the Depression?..ding... ding you are correct: WWII. Read it and weep sucka.

      • Posted By: jnakhoul @ 12/23/2008 11:20:08 AM

        and this represents drum roll please a massive directed influx of capital from no other than..... the us government. yet nobody calls that socialism, because (here's the real shocker) its not

  • Posted By: TruthForward @ 12/23/2008 6:18:13 PM

    I think being honest with the people will be very important. However, what if the news is worst that imagined. Well, I guess hearing huge bad news will make small bad news seem small later. I don't know.

  • Posted By: BIGBROMACK @ 12/23/2008 8:32:36 AM

    OF COUSE BARACK OBAMA CAN PULL US OUT OF THIS ALL HE HAS TO DO IS TAKE THE ATM CARDS AWAY FOR ONE YEAR SOUNDS CRAZY LET HIM PULL THOSE CARD AND WATCH US START SAVING AGAIN SIMPLE AS THAT
    THE ASIAN INDIANS HAS A SAYING THAT GOES GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT AND WATCH THEM DESTROY THEMSELVES.

    • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/23/2008 6:00:36 PM

      He'll have to pry my dying fingers from my ATM card!

  • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/23/2008 3:32:30 PM

    Take a 10 seconds and put yourself in Bill Smith's place. Ok, return your brain to your skull before there's any damage.

    • Posted By: Bill Smith @ 12/23/2008 4:14:20 PM

      You lead a very closed life if all you can offer is ad hominem attacks. But then again those who don't have the brain capacity always do because their IQ is below room temperature. Do you do anything else but come on line and write you little twelve year old insults? I really feel sorry for you , like a man feels sorry for a wounded animal and has to put it out of its misery.

      I would love to meet you for a cup of coffee and discuss these issues face to face. But then again I doubt it. Most Amerikan sheep lack the intestinal fortitude for such things.

      • Posted By: Repubssuck @ 12/23/2008 4:47:07 PM

        It takes fortitude to have a cup of coffee?

  • Posted By: bito @ 12/23/2008 8:38:09 AM

    "Yes, I'm from Italy, in Pisa and I'm lookin' at the new' USA's President and at his next political work... I hope He'll be a greatest man just like the Kennedys, J.F.(the president) and Robert, just like M.L.King, Malcom X, An-gela Davies...." And many others... Bye for new Paolo Falcucci.

    • Posted By: Combat Goldfish @ 12/23/2008 2:45:21 PM

      Great in the event, they're murdered?

  • Posted By: tucanofulano @ 12/23/2008 1:12:40 PM

    Are you kidding? Capitalism will never be "saved" by Socialism.

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