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Leskonomics

Submitted by Jon Henke on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 19:15

Oh my.  I think Google has figured out the stimulus bill. (image via a sharp-eyed friend)

The ad reads: "Change is on its way with Obama.  Start applying for free money"

I think the Democrats learned economic policy from infomercials. 

Matthew Lesko, (apparently) Democratic Economic Advisor

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heh

Submitted by chemjeff on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 19:37.

In 2004 I was not alone in suggesting to our Democratic colleagues that they should seriously consider nominating Lesko for prez.  They have apparently now found themselves one better with Obama.

Consistency

Submitted by lgm on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 21:56.

This is not the time to discover you don't like government handouts or sweetheart deals.  You tolertated them under Bush for 8 years.  Did you complain about Haliburton? 

English philosopher Bertrand Russell was chatting with a nice woman at a dinner party.  He learned she had married an old Duke for money and position.  Russell asked her whether she would sleep with him for ten pounds.  She answered: "What kind of woman do you take me for?"  He gave the famous answer: "That already has been established.  We're only talking about the price."

You put up with government handouts as long as they are to deserving captains of enterprise, but not then they are to ordinary people.  You put up with budget deficits if they fund wars or tax breaks for the rich, but not when they build infrastructure.

Quite the comedian...

Submitted by GWMustGo on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 23:09.

So after W and his criminal bunch gave billions to Haliburton and anybody else that sucked at the teet (or dick) of their "Permanent Conservative Majority", NOW you make fun of government give-aways?

Those cocksuckingsonofabitches gave oil companies $20BILLION in tax breaks while Exxon was making $10+billion PER QUARTER, and NOW you ask for fiscal responsibility?

Doubling of the national debt while giving daddy's rich buddies tax breaks while pushing the tax burden down on to the middle class and spending a TRILLION$$$ or so chasing Saddam so that W could prove that his pecker was bigger'n daddy's, and NOW you want to bitch?

New Rule:  Unless you constantly complained about the fiscal irresponsibility of the Bush years, AND VOTED AGAINST THEIR CONTINUATION IN OFFICE and continuous malfeasance, shutthefuckup and give Obama and gang a chance to pull our economic asses out of the fire W and his slimesuckingbastards got us in to.

After further reading...

Submitted by GWMustGo on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 15:16.

Mr. Henke - That New Rule fits you to a "T" then... You DID complain about the GOP's fiscal irresponsibility, and you DID vote for somebody else.  Please keep talking.  (that's not a statement of "you have my permission", nor intended to be sarcastic in any manner)

I have much respect for True Conservatives (just as I do True Liberals).  What I detest are those who get into power and then abuse their power to stay in power.  W and his gang of thieves was a perfect example, especially given their claim of building "a permanent majority" coupled with their posting of political hacks into places of responsibility that they were incapable of handling ("Good job, Brownie!") and their horrid bastardization of the Justice Dept.

If Obama pulls that stuff, I will complain, and do what I can to vote he and his out of office.  I do not thing that will be necessary, though.  I have NEVER had ANY respect for W (not really true - I respected his response in the 2-4 weeks after 9/11, but after he pushed Iraq on us, phooey), whereas I have gained respect for the man Obama is.  I do not believe he is capable of the bullshit Bush pulled.

For the record...

Submitted by Jon Henke on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 15:49.

....I'm actually a libertarian.  Not a conservative.

I'm sure that was very

Submitted by Jon Henke on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 23:21.

I'm sure that was very cathartic to write. It probably would have been better if you'd addressed it to somebody who actually didn't argue against Bush's spending. Or, for that matter, with somebody who even voted for Bush.

Meanwhile, I recall the Left feigning a lot of anger over deficits and the end of PAYGO. Guess that's inoperative now, right?

Very much so

Submitted by GWMustGo on Thu, 01/22/2009 - 23:49.

Very very much.

He has the right connections...

Submitted by Jonathan Klingler on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 00:26.

Matthew Lesko's wife, Wendy Schaetzel Lesko, was heavily involved in Students for a Democratic Society and helped organize with Cesar Chavez before founding a left-wing student organizing group called the Youth Activism Project.

Mary Matalin and James Carville demonstrate that your spouse's political views don't necessarily reflect your own, but given his livelihood and the activities of his better half I'd wager to say Matthew Lesko would be quite enthusiastic about being named President Obama's new Free Money Czar.

LOL

Submitted by LnGrrrR on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 09:51.

Free Money Czar! Nice.

*chuckle*

Submitted by quiet on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 10:25.

Ah, the GOP: sticking to its principles any time it's out of power.

No

Submitted by Jon Henke on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 11:24.

This post was not written by "the GOP".  It was written by me.  I did argue against spending and similarly reckless policies during the Bush administration, and I did not vote for Bush.   So, you were saying?

who did you vote for, if you do't mind me askin?

Submitted by RisingTide on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 11:33.

ore are you one of those lily livered cowards too blind to bother to vote?

Harry Browne in 2000, "None

Submitted by Jon Henke on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 11:58.

Harry Browne in 2000, "None of the Above" in 2004.  I explained my reasoning on my blog at the time.

I'm not convinced

Submitted by lgm on Fri, 01/23/2009 - 21:40.

This web site operates to discuss ways to elect Republicans.  Your post was a step in that direction.  The past 30 years have shown that the modern Republican part (post Goldwater) is not the party of fiscal responsibility, small government, efficience, etc. 

Ah, then we should just...

Submitted by Bryan Pick on Sat, 01/24/2009 - 20:43.

... give up trying to elect politicians who believe in fiscal responsibility, small government, "efficience", etc.?

Brilliant!  We'll just elect Democrats instead!

Democrats who are somehow even more irresponsible, more opposed to small government, and less efficient than even the Bush administration and their allies in Congress were.  Yeah, let's not call them on that, because then we might help elect Republicans.

from where I'm standing

Submitted by RisingTide on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 09:48.

the Democrats are doing a better job advocating Republican positions (sans abortion) than the republicans are! (yes, I'm a Keynesian.)

I devoutly hope that the opposition party will continue to call out waste/stupidity in the ruling party. that's the way our system works!

HEY JON!!

Submitted by MacGregor on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 07:57.

You dont have to defend your political affiliation nor do you have to be on the defensive against such "enlightened folks" as GWMustGo or lgm.  Really, GWMustGo?  Lets move forward shall we...  

It's clear they are ideologs void of ideas or the ability to understand that even though folks like you and i may vote republican or conservative, we dont toe the party line 100% of the time, or even 75% of the time for that matter.

Their overreaching irrational defensive reactions let you know what they believe.  You cant justify bad behavior with bad behavior.  The Google image should alarm everyone, not invoke an anti Bush rant...