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Thursday, July 2, 2009

 

 

"Now here's your host...Conan Ohhhh Briiiiannnn!"

(Cue overcaffeinated applause. Conan parts the curtain, strides forward, clenches his fists, leaps...then suddenly hops sideways, all the way into his desk chair.)

"Thank you Andy, thank you Max, OWWW! We have a fantastic show for you tonight, so fantastic that we wanted to bring out our featured guest right away. We'll have a special Hollywood celebrity with us in a little while, but first, we got somebody who actually called us and pleaded to come on the show, and we thought, 'hey why not, we've had some fun here lately at his expense, so let's give him a chance to show he's a serious guy who's anxious to get back to the tough business serving the people.' So hey, would you please welcome that besotted son of South Carolina, America's own l-l-l-l-love gov...Mark Sanford!"

(Cue applause and wolf calls. Sanford enters stage right, as the band does a riff from Paul McCartney's "Silly Love Songs.")

"Take a seat, governor, glad you called us. And you do look terrific. But hey, I gotta ask, what's that thingy on your head? With the fancy fabric and the jewel?"

"Conan, I'll have you know that this is an exact replica of the crown that King David wore. God Himself crowned King David in Psalm 21, you know. I ordered this online and originally shipped it to my home, but my dear wife refused to sign for it, so here it is with me."

"Anybody tell you that you look like Johnny Carson when he was Carnac the Magnificent? (Cue laughter.) I'm just kidding, seriously now, you're wearing this because - "

"Well, you see, my predicament is so like King David's. He too fell for a woman not his own, he fell mightily and in so many significant ways. He too taxed the patience of God, and sought to regain God's grace by refocusing himself on doing the important work at hand."

"And I see you have brought your work with you. That's a good start, governor. I gotta say, we've never had anybody come on the air carrying file folders. Whatcha got there, statistical stuff about the South Carolina economy? I hear joblessness is high, and the school kids - "

"No, no, nothing like that, Conan. These are photos and dossiers on all the women whom I have crossed the line with. For instance, this girl Betty Lou - "

(Wolf calls, general pandemonium, the band plays a few bars from The Carpenters' "We've Only Just Begun.")

"Governor, please - "

"God wants me to come clean on all these girls. See this photo of Betty Lou, wasn't she a honey? She sent it to me after we...well...it's called petting, right? We met in Washington at a link sausages convention, or perhaps it was that beef jerky reception. I'll check my calendar and get back to you on that. She was a lobbyist or somesuch, with oval green eyes that sparkled in the moonlight every time we reached second base. Or maybe it was first base. I suppose that, in a blue state, it would be called first base - "

(Cut to Conan, head in hands. One eye peeks between his fingers.)

" - but in my book, as a husband and father and in consultation with my spiritual adviser, I believe that my hand resting atop a clothed breast constitutes second base. Although the same can't be said for what happened to me with another girl, named Becky Sue. We danced, ever so closely. I had been blowing off steam with some of the fellows, and there was Becky Sue. She had a certain something that inflamed me. I recall that the band was playing 'Feelings,' and our bodies seemed to fuse. The mere cloth that separated us started to seem superfluous. We were in a place where we should not have gone, metaphorically speaking. We returned to that dance club three times - here are all the receipts, as you can see - and by that third magical night, I contemplated sliding into third base - "

"It's gotta be time for a commercial break. Are my kids watching this show? Kids, if you can hear me, go eat some processed cheese."

" - But, you see, I finally ended it with Becky Sue. She was so darn wasteful. It was an offense to my fiscally conservative principles. She had a bit of a cold - which did make me tentative with my French-kissing - and she used a new tissue every time she wiped her nose. Can you imagine? I told her that if she worked on my staff, I'd never tolerate such a spendthrift habit. One tissue, using both sides of course, should suffice for an entire day. Anyway, she called me a 'cheapskate,' and pushed me back clear to first base."

"Governor, you know what you need, besides a muzzle? A hot cup of coffee. That mug's been sitting there getting cold. We'll bring out a fresh one, and while we do that, we'll bring out our special celebrity guest, who will try to do a little intervention. Would you please welcome...Jennifer Aniston!"

(Cue audience howls, as Sanford yields the guest chair. He moves to the sofa, sips his new coffee, and watches as she scissors her legs. Conan grabs her elbow, oozing desperation.)

"Jennifer, you look terrific. We can talk about that, but first you gotta talk some sense to the governor here. Tell him to stop with the girl stuff. Tell him that it's nuts for him to keep putting his personal business out there."

"Yeesh, governor, what's with the hat? But, OK, you know, wow, here's the deal: You gotta shut up. Take it from me, I used to talk about my dating issues all the time, and now I have no privacy. People make stuff up, they - "

"Jennifer, could you sit by me on the couch? I need to show you something."

"Sit over there? Hey, OK, yeah, I guess so. (She moves over, and re-scissors.) Anyway, as I was saying - "

"Jennifer, this is my high school yearbook, senior year. See these pages right here? I circled the photos of all the girls I fantasized about in dirty ways. These girls are close to 50 years old now, and I plan to visit each and every one, and confess my fantasies to them. Would you like to hear some of these fantasies?"

"Me? Now? Yecch, sorry governor, but...hey, what's wrong? Governor, wake up! Hey Conan, I think the governor just fell asleep on me!"

"Well, it's about time. We put three tabs of Ambien in that coffee. Although, hang on a sec...I can't help but notice that his hand seems to be resting - "

"Yep, ecchh, gross. Looks like the governor is back on second base."
 

 

Posted by Dick Polman @ 7:57 AM  Permalink | 77 comments
Comments   
Posted 08:09 AM, 07/02/2009
Phrossty
Very funny (if it weren't so tragic). What, no mention of Meat Loaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Light?" How about a citation of "All God's Children" for the truly obscure?
Posted 08:09 AM, 07/02/2009
FrankMcCloud_in_48
LMAO. Nice Job DP!
Posted 08:14 AM, 07/02/2009
CD75
People still talking about Sanford? Oh I forgot, commies and other liberals don't want to talk about the skyrocketing unemployment caused by Obama.
Posted 08:20 AM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
The June unemployment figures will be coming out today. Obama told us the stimulus needed to be implimented to keep unemployment below 8%. Now we are hoping we do not exceed 10%. His " awesomoness " isn't so awesome now that we are six months into this experiment.
Posted 08:23 AM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
Liberals will talk about anything but Obama's record
Posted 08:28 AM, 07/02/2009
sleepy
love gov? You mean John Edwards? Oh, never mind.
Posted 08:39 AM, 07/02/2009
LJL
At least John Edwards bothered to stay around and show up for work....
Posted 09:02 AM, 07/02/2009
FrankMcCloud_in_48
swedesboromike: from yesterday's post - see this link, won't ya? http://www.forbes.com/2009/07/01/unemployment-labor-economy-business-beltway-jobs.html
Posted 09:02 AM, 07/02/2009
Palestra Jon
Will you wingnuts go back in the closet. EVERYONE knew that the stimulus would not reverse unemployment in the short run. Our economic mess is 100% caused by the ridiculous policies of Bush, who flatlined the economy by fighting a war of aggression while cutting taxes. The hypocricy of you guys is amazing---thank goodness that you're likely to be a long term minority. Just stop killing doctors and museum guards with your hatred.
Posted 09:09 AM, 07/02/2009
FrankMcCloud_in_48
Swedesboromike – you are so wrong on this it is shocking, what with all of the info out there for you to search. You want people to talk about Obama’s less-than 6 months policy effects – but refuse to acknowledge that the numbers you point to do not even reflect those policies in any way – they are a result of the Bush-era economic policies – none of which were created or implemented by the Majority Dems. The refusal of people like you and your Republican representatives in Congress who think they can get away with saying this all is happening on Obama’s watch – his 6-month old watch – are incredible (and by that I mean without credibility). The numbers of UE that we’re seeing today were long predicted by the highest regarded economists in this country – see Krugman (and spare me any “partisan” whines – he’s been exactly right on all things of the economy for at least 8 ½ years – please prove me wrong) – who has also been critical of the Obama Admin’s handling of much of the economic crisis (and of that I agree more so than not). What is a fact here is that you are pointing your finger and hollering “Obama - All Your fault” with an empty weapon, and you’re tossing me the ammunition to shoot you down by posting links to stats that you are either too stubborn and unable to comprehend or intentionally misinterpreting. Obama’s policies may not be perfect, but surely what has been in place has yet to have their full intended effect, and I will address Obama’s failing policies, whatever they may be, after year one. While I may have voted for him, I’ll still hold him accountable to what I invested in with that vote. But to hold him accountable for Bush era policy messes? No way.
Comment removed.
Posted 09:15 AM, 07/02/2009
jwad (D)
Palestra Jon - Economic mess caused by Bush? In part yes. Economic mess getting worse under Obama? Definitely. Everyone did not know unemployment wouldn't be reversed. Obama didn't, Biden didn't and they both stated as much. That is the point. Either their plan is a failure or they are liars or BOTH. So why don't you and the moonbats go back in your closet and pretend this president is doing a good job.
Posted 09:16 AM, 07/02/2009
jwad (D)
All moonbats please take your head out of the sand and realize obama is a FAILURE.
Comment removed.
Posted 09:32 AM, 07/02/2009
Phrossty
"...realize [O]bama is a FAILURE." What's that based on, exactly? The 4,000+ lives lost in Iraq or the TARP bailout orchestrated by Bush's man Paulsen or the inability of US public to wait for a stimulus package designed to make hay in 12-18 months. Yeah, the President is a total failure. He failed to restore the economy that the Wall Street gamblers raided. He failed to rescue GM from it's own short-sightedness over the last 3 decades within a few months. He failed to convince right-wing partisans that cooperation is superior to competition or obstruction. He failed to take the Tea Party seriously. Obama has made some mistakes, particularly about secrecy versus transparency, but is he a failure? Only if you're pinning your hopes on same (a la Rush).
Comment removed.
Posted 09:48 AM, 07/02/2009
jwad (D)
Stimulus History Lesson II: the beloved Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 was a tax cut not a political payoff funded by borrowing from China.
Posted 09:56 AM, 07/02/2009
CD75
9.5% Great Job Obama! Can you destroy any more jobs?
Posted 10:06 AM, 07/02/2009
Tony_From_PA
CD: why not give Bush and Reagen credit for lowering taxes in good times to increase the deficit, putting an unncesseary wars on the national credit card, and a whole host of other ills. The baiout and healthcare reform would easily have been covered by these costs.
Posted 10:10 AM, 07/02/2009
jwad (D)
As we speak obama is looking for more campaign promises to break.
Posted 10:15 AM, 07/02/2009
Tony_From_PA
What campaign promises did Bush keep?
Posted 10:25 AM, 07/02/2009
Palestra Jon
The Reagan "prosperity" was fueled by cheap money and cheap oil. What we got for the next generation was massive deficits and no energy policy. Clinton reversed the deficits, only to have Bush spend the surplus on his adventures. We still don't have an energy policy that will work in the future---thanks Ronnie. Great idea to zap Carter's insistance that we cut the use of foreign oil and raise gas mileage requirements in cars. Gee, I wonder if GM and Chrysler might still exist if they had to make 30 mpg cars 30 years ago? The Wingnuts cannot think more than a week in advance. That's why they throw out anyone like a Florio who says the state has to pay its way for "Raising Taxes" (to his credit, GHW Bush did the same thing and got the same treatment)---so you get a Christie Whitman who cuts taxes stupidly. New Jersey now has the highest local property taxes in the nation and an insolvent state government. Reagan and GW Bush did the same thing on the federal level. There is no more foolish political dogmas than Supply Side economics and Neocon foreign policy. Bush had BOTH---thus it was the worst presidency in American history. It will take a while to correct those errors....it is happening, thankfully.
Posted 10:30 AM, 07/02/2009
Yersinia Pestis
Tony_From_PA - I believe Bush's main campaign promise, though it was seldom stated explicitly, was to make rich people much, much richer and grind everyone else's face into the mud. I think you would have to agree that he did deliver on that one!
Posted 10:41 AM, 07/02/2009
Frito1
Joe Biden on the stimulus..(and I quote) "We guessed wrong". Now THAT makes me feel better as they tackle healthcare!
Posted 10:50 AM, 07/02/2009
FrankMcCloud_in_48
Actually Frito1, the true quote is "Everyone guessed wrong" http://thepage.time.com/key-quotes-from-biden-on-the-stimulus/ But you've displayed enough ignorance that the rest of knew you were full of it.
Posted 10:57 AM, 07/02/2009
jwad (D)
Everyone didn't guess wrong. Biden and obama guessed wrong. Failure.
Posted 11:00 AM, 07/02/2009
Frito1
FrankMcCloud - Who is everyone? Those who supported the bill. Gee and name calling too...boy you must be a real pleasure to spend time with.
Posted 11:14 AM, 07/02/2009
NigeltheMastiff
Actually, I believe there were a number of economists consulted when the policy/bill/direction was being formulated. How I wish everyone would not automatically think that everything a Dem does is wrong/evil/destructive (if you're a Rep. or conservative) or everything a Rep does is wrong/evil/destructive (if you're a Dem). Doing so demonstrates a serious lack of rational thought.
Posted 11:28 AM, 07/02/2009
FrankMcCloud_in_48
Frito1 - 1st - you didn't read the quote, obviously, and didn't do your homework. 2nd - Which makes my saying that you are ignorant true, and not name calling. But please continue to dazzle us with your brilliance - it's a hilarious end to the work week.
Comment removed.
Posted 11:38 AM, 07/02/2009
Frito1
Frank McCloud - I did read the quote. It made my point thank you very much. Also, continue to dazzle us with your brilliance. I mean...you've figured out how to use a computer to copy and paste an article! Rock on dude!
Posted 11:57 AM, 07/02/2009
jwad (D)
Stimulus History Lesson III: obama's crony payoff stimulus is a Failure.
Posted 11:57 AM, 07/02/2009
tr88
Let's hook up Sanford's wife with John Edwards. Sanfords new girl is a hottie, and a latina - better experience than a white woman- who can blame him?
Posted 12:02 PM, 07/02/2009
jwad (D)
MadMojo you just can't accept the truth that you were duped by a flashy presidential candidate that has no idea what he is doing. Did you vote for the guy that campaigned or for the guy that is breaking all his campaign promises? Talk about moron. Look in the mirror.
Posted 12:07 PM, 07/02/2009
Freerojo
Unemployment rate was a high of 9.7 under Reagan, I guess we got a ways to go.
Comment removed.
Posted 01:10 PM, 07/02/2009
Eric_in_CA
Why is it people are so happy to label Obama a failure, and call other users stupid? It seems a little early into the President's term to label him a complete failure. Maybe every problem we had in this country pre-2009 hasn't been magically fixed, but if you seriously think the McCain/Palin ticket would have us in a MUCH better position right now, I think you seriously overestimate the power of the President. Blame Congress, blame poor oversight, blame corporate executives that didn't think further ahead than the next fiscal quarter, and most important, blame the people in the country who have handed over so much power to the federal government. We all deserve the blame.
Posted 01:12 PM, 07/02/2009
hejira33312
God made the world in 7 days so I guess Obama had that long according to the republicans to clean up Bushes mess. Get over the loss of your feudalistic reign , Democracy is built around the well being of all its citizens not just the rich, the connected and the mega thieves like Cheney.
Posted 01:16 PM, 07/02/2009
Master Dreamz
yogaqueen, you really need to learn when to step into the fray and when to stay on the sidelines. Bring something to the table and know what is going on when you talk, otherwise you come off as ignorant when you try the Kool-Aid and dont know the flavor. Frank is making good points; and going back to Reagan is as irrelevant as repubs going back to Carter -- which they always try to do when comparing Obama (and not back to the successful presidency of Clinton). You have to go back to Reagan because we cant compare anything to Bush until we feel the full effects of all his failed policies after they come to full fruition.
Posted 01:23 PM, 07/02/2009
NEPhilly
You can't blame Pres. Obama for most of this mess, although I would love to:) I agree w/eric about who to blame, but the question is what's the best way out! I said before presidents get one crack at a big idea before the goodwill runs out and this President chose to waste his on a $787 Bil non-stimulus, stimulus democratic giveaway that will take 12 to 18 months to work, but had to be passed in the middle of the night unread because we didn't have the time to waste! The President could have had healthcare reform almost paid for with that money. To stimulate the economy the fastest he should have suspended the payroll tax for 6 months on both business' and people, but that is spilled milk! So while it is right to say we have to wait and see how to judge this president, I am not optimistic about the path we are on of the govt. owning companies, firing CEO's, setting their pay, naming board members, competing against non-govt sponsored companies! That is how we got in trouble w/ govt sponsored Fannie and Freddie competing against the free market, IMHO. and now we propose to give the same congress (Chris Dodd, etc) that gave us the financial mess, control of healthcare too! Say it ain't so Joe:)
Posted 01:56 PM, 07/02/2009
CD75
Oh course Obama did not "start" this economic mess. But, his "therapy" to cure it is like using bleeding to rid a patient of a illness. Obama has turned a severe cold into an endless pandemic. Obama is adding nearly $2 trillion of debt to the country a year. Bush was "only" adding about $500 million a year. Somehow Obama found a way to outspend Bush 4 to 1. Amazing. So much for the audicity of hope, it is now the change of despair.
Posted 02:03 PM, 07/02/2009
tom - wilmington, de
I just love reading liberals like Madmojo (of the higher intellect) et al complain about Bush deficits, spending on the Iraq war, and the tax cuts. Meanwhile, Obama's first budget of $3.7 Trillion has a deficit of at least $1 trillion. He forecasts deficits of at least $1 Trillion for several years. His total deficit projections going out 10 years total more than $9 trillion. YET, liberals complain about Bush and his spending on the Iraq war (I believe that totalled a mere $600 Billion) as causing our current economic problems. I guess they forgot Congress was ruled by Democrats for 2006, 2007 and 2008...so those deficits belong to Dems as well as Bush, right? Didn't a Democrat Congress pass those budgets, the TARP bill, and all current spending bills? Democrats also voted to pass Medicare prescriptions drugs and NCLB, as well as all war funding for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Wasn't the stimulus supposed to spur economic growth? Now Obama is saying the reason for the stimulus was so states did not layoff teachers, police or firefighters...and it is successful in that. I guess they are the saved jobs. Where are all those "shovel ready" projects? Where is the economic activity from that "make work pay" tax cut of $13 per week? As for the states, if they think they are in financial distress now, just wait until the stimulus money runs out for the increased medicaid and unemployment benefits....oh boy. Here in DE they just raised taxes on all those making from $60 to $150K. Good times.
Posted 02:12 PM, 07/02/2009
tom - wilmington, de
From today's WSJ....Congressional travel expenses totaled $13 million last year....a 50% increase since Democrats took over Congress two years ago. Yeah, those darn Republicans and the way they waste money.
Posted 02:28 PM, 07/02/2009
tom - wilmington, de
It is becoming odder and odder that DP continues to focus on minor issues and parodies than on what is currently happening. I realize this is a political blog, and is prone to the authors slant. However, we are leaving Iraqi cities in conformance with the SOFA signed by Bush after a successful surge. Realizing the war was not planned and enacted properly, isn't it at least politically important that we are now "leaving" after success? Does that not have political consequence for the likes of Harry "This War Is Lost' Reid and all the Democrats who basically accused Petraeus of lying? Does the current rising unemployment rate have political consequences for Democrats? Were Obama and his admin lying when they said the stimulus was necessary to keep unemployment from going past 8% and it is now at 9.5%? Does this benefit those Republicans who voted against the Stimulus? When (no longer if) the rate goes past 10%, interest rates continue to rise, and inflation starts, what does that do the health care reform effort and the tax increases being discussed, causing Obama to break a campaign pledge of no tax increases to those earning less than $250K? These are all political issues one would expect to see discussed on a political blog, not a parody of Sanford (isn't he passe now that he is out in 2012). I am sure if ANY Republican were in the oval office today, the subject matter would change. However, while Obama is not responsible for all of this mess (although his party does share responsibility), he is responsible for fixing it. Like Emmanuel said...you cannot let a good crisis go to waste. Seems to me priorities are askew.
Posted 02:36 PM, 07/02/2009
tom - wilmington, de
And oh yeah, after the Pentagon said yesterday that there was no evidence North Korea was planning to launch any missiles, they launched four. So now how many missiles is that they've launched since January 20, 2009?
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Posted 04:13 PM, 07/02/2009
CD75
Someone please tell Obama that to put out an economic fire you do not throw gasoline on it.
Posted 04:46 PM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
Seems like the economy is ingesting itself. Another 460,000 jobless claims in june means that many less people spending money, meaning even more job losses in the future. Obama's plan to destroy the healthcare of 260,000 million Americans to provide healthcare for the 40 million who need it will further erode the economy. With nothing to stop the far left from themselves we will get Cap and Trade and Employee Free Choice. Energy costs will rise and more companies will be forced out of business due to higher labor costs of unions. It seems to be a never ending downward spiral. The shelf life for Obama blaming others is about over.
Posted 04:58 PM, 07/02/2009
tom - wilmington, de
Mojo....Oh right, the current recession is the fault of Dodd & Frank and other Democrats in congress, who happened to be in the minority from 1994-2006 - although we can't really articulate how they happened to pull that one off." Easy for them to pull it off...they were in the majority for over a year before the recession...depending on whom you believe as to when this recession started. I am also wondering why people wish to hold Obama blameless for our current state of affairs since he has only been in office for 5 1/2 months, but they want to blame Bush for the 2001 recession when it officially began in March of that year, when he was in office less than 2 months. So how can Bush be responsible but not Obama? And I am not talking about what happened prior to Jan 20, 2009....just what has happened since Jan 20, 2009.
Posted 05:06 PM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
The Dow did not react kindly to the latest jobless report. Another 460,000 Americans are out of work. Dow down another 233 points. I am hearing crickets here libs, what is the answer? His awesomness is not so awesome now. 3.5 million Americans out of work since innauguration and millions more to hit the unemployment line as Obama destroys the insurance industry. sheesh! What incentive does business have to hire now? And how does Obama calculate a " saved " job. Over 3 million Americans lose their job with Obama at the healm and his awesomeness wants to tell us about saved jobs? Are you kidding me?
Posted 05:13 PM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
Eric in Calif- I'll agree that we probably would not be better off with McCain. What we had the last election was two big government liberals who really were not that far apart on policy issues. The only real difference being that Employee Free Choice( coherced unionization) would have been DOA with McCain as President.
Posted 05:15 PM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
Tom from Wilmington- It is difficult to keep the libs focused on our current economic reality and the Obama policies. I am noticing they would prefer to talk about anything else and they seem to be resorting to name calling more often without addressing the content of a post they do not agree with.
Posted 05:32 PM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
Only 37% think America is headed in the right direction. Obama's approval index is now at a negative 2 for the last 3 days. 53% at least somewhat approve of Obama- his lowest presidential approval rating. The policy numbers deteriorate from there. source is rasmussenreports.com What about all those jobs saved and created? 3.5 million Americans lost their job since innauguration. Still hearing crickets here libs.
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Posted 05:37 PM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
Where are the jobs from the stimulus? Obama said these were " shovel ready".
Posted 05:43 PM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
Madmojo- No true conservative agreed with Bush liberal policies like prescription drug and billions in foreign aid or the deficts. But to be fair, Bush's deficts were 1/4th of what Obama's deficits are in his first year. Clinton did get close to balancing the budget but never ran a surplus in any year. Clinton ran up the federal debt by 1.2 trillion in 8 years and the closest he got to balancing the budget was 20 billion in 2000. But it is a myth that we have had a surplus.
Posted 05:53 PM, 07/02/2009
JimR
A lot of the mess may be due to policies of the Bush or Obama administrations but money get moved by Congress and any kind of responsible action by either party would have helped keep us out of the soup. Dems were busy giving it away and the Repubs were deregulating everything and turning it over the the free market (Enron, anyone!) They were/are all bringing the bacon back home and we dutifully keep re-electing them. The problem is in Congress. You'd feel better if the entire outlook in D.C. wasn't, "well, now it's our turn to feed at the trough". It's time to clean House -and Senate.
Posted 06:09 PM, 07/02/2009
swedesboromike
JimR- You brought up Enron.. At some point is there any personal responsibility? Why would anyone tie up their money in a single stock? We tend to look at government to blame when things go wrong but where is the personal responsibity? Seems as though it is a lost concept. I said this two years ago to my wife when we were watching " flip this house" on TV. They buy falling down houses in Southern Calif. for $ 600,000 then fix them up and sell a 1500 square for house for a million dollars. I knew then that the we were on the cusp of a real estate bubble. Everyone is all to happy to make a profit without leveling with the risks they take.
Posted 07:20 PM, 07/02/2009
JimR
Smike, I'm there for personal responsibility but the issue with Enron is twofold. A lot of employees put all the eggs in one basket, a very dangerous thing to do indeed but they were being lied to on a grand scale by management. The boss was a cheat and he cooked the books. Many investors were duped but the regulators missed it. And Enron essentially got away with it. A bigger issue (for me and energy thinking types) is that the free market allowed Enron to manipulate the energy markets. The folks out West especially, got fleeced by a company that controlled too much, and again, cooked the books. That's not the way the markets are supposed to operate but I heard much too much of "well, let the buyer beware". The free market shouldn't allow it and requires some sort of watchdog - one with big sharp teeth!
Posted 08:56 PM, 07/02/2009
tom - wilmington, de
Madmojo derisively said at 9:02 "How dare you liberals bash Bush!!! After all, it's not like the Republicans blamed Clinton for the March-November 2001 recession,...". Then Madmojo said at 5:36 "Tom - Who ever blamed Bush for the 2001 recession? No one did!". So, according to Mojo, conservatives, I am guessing, incorrectly blame Clinton for the 2001 recession...but liberals do not blame Bush. So in other words, nobody gets credit for the 2001 recession...right? Okay.
Posted 09:07 PM, 07/02/2009
tom - wilmington, de
Madmojo...full of anger over Obama's irresponsible spending, said at 5:36.."I'll try to paraphrase the train-wreck that you call logic: you blame Obama now, but you don't blame Bush for the 2001 recession; and we liberals should be blaming Obama now, but we shouldn't be blaming Bush for the 2001 recession. So like I've said previously....you are either a total moron or a total hypocrite - not because I said so, but because of the moronic/hypocritical things you write." So, mojo must not have been around during those times I blasted Bush for his spening priorities. I did not agree with Medicare drugs or NCLB. I also loathed all the earmarks, a policy Obama and the Dems promised to do away with, have allowed to continue, and even put in the Climate change bill. See, a true conservative has been consistent....voted for Bush to avoid idiots like Kerry and Gore, but loathed the spending. Liberals, however, loathed the spending under Bush, and even called it reckless. Obama's spending, however, is perfectly okay for reasons like "oh yeah, well what about Bush and the trillions spent on Iraq" or "oh yeah, well what about Bush and his deficits" or "oh yeah, well Obama needs to spend to fix Bush's messed up economy". So okay, how is that "hope and change" working or you? I guess the hope is "I hope I can find a job in this Obama economy" and the change is "'Cause all I got left is some small change left in my pocket". Really, it is hypocritical to chastise Bush and Republicans on spending but support a $4 trillion budget and a $10 Trillion increase in national debt (twice what Bush increased it by). No, Mojo, it is not me or even Swedesboro Mike who hated the Bush spending who are the hypocrites. It is liberals who chastised spending under Bush but are okay with even more spending by Obama. Also, insults are the last bastion of defense for the ignorant. Fire away.
Posted 01:11 AM, 07/03/2009
yobill626
Most economists claim that unemployment figures are lag indicators of strong or weak economic health. The usual range is 6 to 9 months. So rising unemployment can't be hung on him (yet). But certainly, the mixed results of construction & investments (the lead indicators) aren't overwhelming & is on him.
Posted 01:25 AM, 07/03/2009
yobill626
Having not been able to post in the last week or two, it was heartening to see most of the posters ignore Dick's column on Sanford. I typically get endless joy from the troubles encountered by hypocritical politicians (especially the Social Conservatives like Craig & Vitter or "Husband of the Year" blowhards like Edwards), but this guy Sanford has entered the sad, pathetic stage. Wasn't his name thrown about by a few Cons here as a good candidate for President? Bush was a dope, but at least he was stable. Sanford just seems to have lost it.
Posted 03:55 AM, 07/03/2009
Delaware Jim
Sanford would make a good VP running mate for Sarah Palin. They'd sew up the religiosity (not the same as religious) vote and lose everybody else. Hopefully they' drag the Republicans down to minor party status--below the Greens, perhaps. Then we could teach the uber-rich what taxation really is. There's plenty of wealth in America today. Unfortunately, however, too much of it is in the hands of the richest 300,000 individuals. A federal property tax on those with more than $10 million in assets would be a good start.
Posted 06:54 AM, 07/03/2009
clarktacular
GOP 2012 ticket: Sanford/Ensign "We treat you like Family."
Posted 06:54 AM, 07/03/2009
clarktacular
GOP 2012 ticket: Sanford/Ensign "We treat you like Family."
Posted 08:45 AM, 07/03/2009
NigeltheMastiff
Tom, unlike your depiction of all liberals, I was very anxious about Bush's spending, but I am also anxious about Obama's. The difference, for me, is that Bush didn't have to start a war with Iraq. Who knows what dark demons drove him? My ambivalence with the Obama spending is the thought that, if he hadn't done anything, then GM, many banks and insurance companies, etc. would have failed, and we would now be in a depression. So many jobs are directly and indirectly tied to those corporate giants. And I don't think doing nothing would have been a good choice, either. So my question to you is ... what would you have done given the same set of circumstances? Please leave out the health care issue. But if you came into office facing the kind of economic meltdown he did, how would you have handled it?
Posted 09:02 AM, 07/03/2009
swedesboromike
yobill626- Where in the world does this cliche that unemployment is a lagging indicator come from? In my opinion I don't think we've seen anything yet. The economy is ingesting istself and the unemployment numbers will continue to grow. If Obama gets Cap and Trade and Employee Free Choice( coherced unionization) passed the job losses will be staggering. Business cannot survive unionization and will go out of business causing more job losess. Cap and Trade will sap an already struggling middle class and poor people of even more money that they could have used to purchase goods. I don't think that 20% unemployment is out of the question. Once Obama destroys all the jobs in the private insurance industry we will all be wards of the state. So spare me the lagging indicator nonsense if you don't mind.
Posted 09:06 AM, 07/03/2009
swedesboromike
Nigelthemastiff- the stimulus bill had nothing to do with GM or the Banks. It was about stimulating the Democratic Party. Like Paving the unused runway at the John Murtha Airport in Johnstown Pa. Or Polar Bear enclosures at some obscure Rhode Island zoo. You were told by this clown of a president that these projects were shovel ready. Well, they must be short on shovels because unemployment is going up not down. Another 460,000 Americans lost their jobs thanks to the idiotic policies of this fool that got voted into office.
Posted 09:26 AM, 07/03/2009
swedesboromike
Delaware Jim- You will be the one will is going to find out what taxation is all about thanks to Obama's policies. You were lied to by this man. Where has that tax cut for 95% of Americans gone? What happened to that campaign pledge, huh? You think the rich are going to get soaked with taxes, but they are going to conviscate your money Jim. If you own a home you can kiss goodbye your interest deduction. Take that pesky electric bill and gas bill and double it thanks to Cap and Trade. Do you wanna sell your home. Well thanks to Obama you'll have do to thousands of " green " improvements before you can sell your house. You'll be the one learning what taxation is all about.
Posted 09:40 AM, 07/03/2009
swedesboromike
The June unemployment numbers are really grim. Not only were 467,000 jobs lost but for those who still have jobs the number of hours worked declined 7%. Wages are stagnant. Obama needed his stimulus packaged signed immediatatly even without lawmakers having read it. I think he has a lot answer for in these job numbers since it is getting worse not better. But this is what you get when an uninformed populace elects a man who is only a few years removed from carrying a clipboard on a South Chicago street.
Posted 10:49 AM, 07/03/2009
JimR
Smike, the unemployment as a lagging indicator cliche comes from Economics 101. While your fears may come about, some of these things are unlikely to occur-forced unionization has pretty much fallen as a threat. Many of the middle class manufacturing jobs left for places that no one could compete with and the Free Choice deal is dead to all but some union management.You're right, the jobless numbers will go up as the jobs lost now won't show up on the chart for months. If Cap and Trade doesn't pass, your energy bill will still skyrock et due to deregulation - who is looking at that?
Posted 10:49 AM, 07/03/2009
JimR
Smike, the unemployment as a lagging indicator cliche comes from Economics 101. While your fears may come about, some of these things are unlikely to occur-forced unionization has pretty much fallen as a threat. Many of the middle class manufacturing jobs left for places that no one could compete with and the Free Choice deal is dead to all but some union management.You're right, the jobless numbers will go up as the jobs lost now won't show up on the chart for months. If Cap and Trade doesn't pass, your energy bill will still skyrock et due to deregulation - who is looking at that?
Posted 10:57 AM, 07/03/2009
JimR
OOPS! As far as Obama being "only a few years removed from carrying a clipboard on a South Chicago street.", The last guy was a recognized business failure whose last real job was as the promo chief for a ball club. Before him we had a skirt chasing liar with a runaway zipper. We have survived a lot of nonsense and we will survive the problems now.
Posted 11:16 AM, 07/03/2009
NigeltheMastiff
SMike, you seriously seem to have sky-is-falling syndrome. And on another point, GM, the banks and AIG did get bailout funds. And I'll ask you the same thing I asked Tom. What would you have done? Let everyone fail and through us into a depression? I don't know that I agree with all these bailouts, but I understand why they were done.
Comment removed.
About Dick Polman

Cited by the Columbia Journalism Review as one of the nation's top political reporters, and lauded by the ABC News political website as "one of the finest political journalists of his generation," Dick Polman is a national political columnist at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is on the full-time faculty at the University of Pennsylvania, as "writer in residence." Dick has been a frequent guest on C-Span, MSNBC, CNN, NPR and the BBC. He covered the 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 presidential campaigns.

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