Steele’s Uninformed New Talking Point: No Government Has Ever Created A Job
Steele’s Uninformed New Talking Point: No Government Has Ever Created A Job
Since his election as RNC Chairman last Friday, Michael Steele has been on a public relations offensive. His first order of business: urge his colleagues on Capitol Hill to reject President Obama’s economic recovery plan. “The goose egg that you laid on the president’s desk was just beautiful. Absolutely beautiful,” Steele told a group of GOPers this weekend, referring to the fact that no House Republicans voted for the plan last week.
As the bill moves to the Senate, Steele is upping his game. Trying to convince his Senate colleagues to obstruct the recovery package, Steele is arguing that the bill will not create jobs. In fact, a new talking point has emerged from Steele’s rhetoric — that no government, local, state or federal, has ever created a job. He made this bizarre claim over the weekend, and repeated it again today on CNN:
STEELE: And first off the government doesn’t create jobs. Let’s get this notion out of our heads that the government creates jobs. Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created a job. Small business owners do, small enterprises do. Not the government. When the government contract runs out, that job goes away. That’s what we’re talking about here and those 2 to 4 million jobs that are projected? Won’t happen, trust me.
Watch it:
However, Steele doesn’t seem to be on message — with himself. Just this morning on NPR, he ackowledged the recovery package “will create several hundred thousand at best.” But Steele’s “none, ever” talking point is beyond absurd. As Brian Beutler pointed out, Steele was employed by the government of Maryland when he was Lt. Governor there. “As were his staff members,” Beutler noted, adding, “As are, say, the 1.5 million or so active personnel in the Unite States armed forces. And so on and so on.”
And aside from noting the myriad government sponsored job creation programs starting from at least the New Deal era, CBO estimates that the recovery plan as passed in the House last week will create up to 3.6 million jobs by the end of next year (Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Economy.com, says 3 million). Moreover, an analysis by the Center for American Progress Action Fund found that infrastructure investment — which makes up a large part of the bill — creates more than 60,000 jobs for every $10 billion spent.
We understand Steele is new on the job, but he should try to get his talking points straight — and at least get them to make sense.
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Who built those aquaducts?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:21 pmMr. Steele, have you never heard of “career employees” at both the State and Justice Depts? Those are not private sector jobs, and as long as those employees do their jobs in good faith and behavior, they are as permanent as you can get. How many Civil Service workers did Maryland fire while you were Lt Gov?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:25 pmI think we can take “not in the history of mankind” as a firm indication of his willingness to bloviate.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:26 pmWell, if we can’t shut down the massively unbalanced access R’s are getting to opinion news channels, at least we can applaud when they make so little sense that anyone with an IQ over Bush’s approval rating can see that they’re blatantly lying to them.
*clapclapclapclapclap*…
Keep it up Steele, you’re doing a great job.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:27 pmSo far, Steele has humilated himself. From comments like these it shows you what a poor choice he was. Kind of reminds you of Palin, doesn’t it?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:29 pmTheWatcher Says:
I think we can take “not in the history of mankind” as a firm indication of his willingness to bloviate.
Perhaps, but it is not “bloviating” to say that “No civilization in the history of mankind has ever cut taxes during a time of war, until the US under George W. Bush.”
But I agree, he’s desperately grasping on this one.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:29 pmJust another f’in Republican dolt.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 pmIf this is an indication of the strength of the right wing’s arguments on this, I think it’s fair to say they got nuthin’.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:39 pmSince his election as RNC Chairman last Friday, Michael Steele has been on a public relations offensive.
How about we simply say Steele has been offensive?
I can’t think of a better person into lead the RNC to obsolescence! Add Palin to the mix for the next two national elections (AK Senate 2010, Prez 2012) and Limpballs as the rally spokesperson and it’s all good from where I sit!
PEACE
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:41 pmMan, Michael Steele sure is starting off his tenure with a mark of distinction, ain’t he?
I mean, this is the kind of statement that makes a rational person blink his eyes and shake his head with a cartoon sound effect.
It’s like… HUH?
WTF?
I can’t WAIT for a troll to try to defend this.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:44 pmMy grandfather told me of jobs he got during the depression and they were with WPA and PWA building bridges and schools. I had uncles and my father who went to work with the CCC. They spoke very highly of having jobs finally because they couldn’t find anything to do. Steele is an uncle thomas token idiot. Same talking points and lies. Their way has always failed. The problems of today are the end result of Ronnie Reagan’s lie that government is the problem. Greed and crooks are the problem.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:47 pmGreat Michael Steele quotables:
A COOKIE WAS THROWN!!!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:49 pmIf government control is so bad. What would be so so good?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:51 pmOff topic, Staten Island Chuck (New York’s weather groundhog) bit Mayer Bloomberg today and drew blood. I guess that means New York is going to get hit by an earthquake or something.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:51 pmdrive by troll Says:
sounds like a bunch of communists rants. government control is bad if you haven’t noticed.
So what do you think of the Bush Dept of Homeland security costing some 55 billion a year?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 pmI guess my IT job with LOCAL GOVERNMENT does not count?
Wait for it….
Here come the Trolls to claim Government jobs should not count because they are taxpayer funded.
3.2.1…
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 pmWho said welfare was a failed policy. Seems to me it has helped many folks in transition to get back on their feet and not spiral into a longterm cycle which really costs society. GI bill?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:54 pmAnd BTW, much as I disagree with the forming of the DHS didnt it create jobs?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:54 pmdrive by troll Says:
sounds like a bunch of communists rants. government control is bad if you haven’t noticed.
So thats why government and deficits grew by leaps and bounds under Bush and the GOP….because its bad and its communist!!
Thanks Trolly, you made me laugh.
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 pmChoosing Steele to lead the Republican Party is a sign of desperation.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 pmWhat does he do anyway?
Looks like Republicans are using him to lash out daily at Obama,which makes it easier for them.
Also Republicans are looking for the possibility of Steele being able to sway some African Americans to believe in Repblicans and trust them.
Very tough sell…
I would never rely on the government to tie my shoe let alone provide health.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 pm–
Would you rely on government to defend the homeland?
drive by troll Says:
I would never rely on the government to tie my shoe let alone provide health.
_________
Oh… gosh… what meaningful commentary.
Please, please, please come back and discuss this. PUL-LEASE!!!
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 pmNo he’s not. He’s saying “Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created a job. “
So, in order to prove him wrong, all I have to do is cite a single job created by government.
Okay… how about… Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland?
That’s a job.
It was created by government.
Case closed.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:01 pmOops, meant to say “Mayor Bloomberg.”
.
drive by troll Says:
sounds like a bunch of communists rants.
You obviously don’t know what communist rants sound like, then. Here’s one. Here’s another. I gave you some mild ones because I doubt if your fragile heart could take any of the more interesting examples.
.
drive by troll Says:
government control is bad if you haven’t noticed. The programs don’t work.
Some have, some haven’t. You can’t tell the difference because you accept that as an article of faith.
.
drive by troll Says:
…and the wait times in health clinics.
Could you wingnuts actually point to what you’re talking about when you keep talking about wait times? As far as I can tell that’s your fantasy. Anyhow, we have long wait times already.
.
drive by troll Says:
I would never rely on the government to tie my shoe let alone provide health.
You don’t think government could tie your shoe? You’re really not very lucid, are you?
Here’s the problem: government has gotten much worse at doing anything whenever Republicans get elected. Government can do certain types of things well. It’s less than ideal to have it provide services that could be provided by a free market, but since you wingnuts trashed the economy, we have no choice at present.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:02 pmdbadass Says:
Would you rely on government to defend the homeland?
______________
Catch, try, and imprison criminals?
Build highways and bridges?
Regulate medicines?
Safeguard foodstuffs?
Should I go on?
Where do these clowns come from?
Do they really think they’re still living on the frontier, circa 1845?
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:03 pmtarzan,
“Looks like Republicans are using him to lash out daily at Obama,which makes it easier for them.”
This is the ONLY reason they chose him. His being of color gives them COVER for thier attacks.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:03 pmThese people make me ill.
drive by troll Says:
I used too, but now that is whats guns are for.
___________
And delusional too, I see.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 pmA kid that works in my shop turned me on to these comments from one of his professors who blogged about this yesterday. I thought they were pretty apropos:
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
I used too, but now that is whats guns are for.
—
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:05 pmguns are for pussies. Try using your hands tough guy…
I bet if all the Republicans got imaginary paychecks they would see the light.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:06 pmI continue to be so intrigued by the negative attention seeking behaviors…
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:06 pmI’m glad Steele is taking a page out of Juan Williams’ playbook: only talk sense to people who listen to public radio, and spew incoherent bile on Fox! Make sure to avoid Terri Gross though, lest she call you on your two-faced commentary publicly.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:07 pmIt is a fascinating field of study, my friend. I look forward to reading your dissertation.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:07 pmOT
From Murray Waas:
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:07 pmKarl Rove will cooperate with a federal criminal inquiry underway into the firings of nine U.S. attorneys and has already spoken to investigators in a separate, internal DOJ investigation into the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, his attorney said in an interview.
Steele:
Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created a job.
Says the man with the government job.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:09 pmRove = Vile subhuman garbage
He’s gotta be squirming.
Popcorns ready!
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:10 pmRural electrification, interstate highways, Hoover Dam, a zillion other projects that gave people jobs and allowed them to contribute to the economy, and, yes, pay their taxes, the last time republican’ts destroyed the economy. You’re an f’ing liar, Steele.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:11 pmWindsor = Still a racist
Nice attempt at subtlty though. But we all know you are.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:12 pmThis tactic that Steele employs is a very effective one for the GOP; drive the debate further right by declaiming absurdities, thus forcing the opposition to refute them. This moves the debate out of neutral territory by making the ground rules, rather than the issue itself, the subject of contention.
This serves two purposes: it pushes the center line toward the right, as I said, and it also avoids discussion of the actual material of the debate. Since the material of the debate (facts, reality, etc.) is generally acknowledged to have a liberal bias, this keeps the contest in a favorable location for the Right.
Of course, if we had a media that and a public that paid attention, this tactic would only serve to make the Right look like idiots. But they have embraced the old adage from H L Menken — “No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.” it worked for them for fourteen years.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:15 pmwindsor Says:
He reminds me of Clarance Thomas, Dr. Rice and Colin Powell all wrapped up into one. Just another in a string of failures.
__________
Prolly the closest you’ve come to the truth since you started posting here.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:15 pmwindsor:
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:15 pmStill think Prince is the shits and that Ali was the greatest fighter of all time?
the morphing of the negative attention seeker from one identity to the next also intrigues me… That will have to be a different project though…
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:16 pmAs near as I can tell, Steele hasn’t had a private sector job since 2002.
What’s he been doing with his time?
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:19 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
What’s he been doing with his time?
_________
Clearly, nothing that matters.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pmWe understand Steele is new on the job, but he should try to get his talking points straight — and at least get them to make sense
I understand TP’s point here but, really — Steele is the RNC Chairman.
It’s not like they value “making sense”.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:22 pmSteele lies when he says government never created jobs.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:26 pmOne Example,
NASA was created by the government,which lead us later to space exploration which enabled us to have better systems involving many telephone,news and communication companies that helped ,and still helping mankind in many other fields and now employing millions of people around the world.
STEELE: And first off the government doesn’t create jobs. Let’s get this notion out of our heads that the government creates jobs. Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created a job. Small business owners do, small enterprises do. Not the government. When the government contract runs out, that job goes away.”
This is the most asinine statement ever made by a politician. I’ve been continuously employed for over thirty years as a machinist, and every contract I ever worked on was followed by another one. Didn’t matter whether it was Lockheed, Boeing, General Dynamics, Martin Marietta, defense or space work. None of those small businesses would have ever existed without the government contracts they SUB-contracted from the BIG corporations. If one small business went under, the work always went somewhere else and we hired in there.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 pmWell, it’s O/T, but it’s also too interesting to pass up.
Over at the HuffPo, they’re reporting, VIA TPM, that Rove has agreed to talk about the DoJ kerfluffle.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/
Attorney: Rove Will Cooperate With DOJ Probes
By Murray Waas – February 2, 2009, 7:08PM
Karl Rove will cooperate with a federal criminal inquiry underway into the firings of nine U.S. attorneys and has already spoken to investigators in a separate, internal DOJ investigation into the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, his attorney said in an interview.
___________
What this actually means, or will result in, is anybody’s guess.
Karl could always:
Take the 5th, over and over.
Say he doesn’t remember anything, ‘cept there were cookies.
Blame it all on Alberto.
Get immunity for spilling the beans.
Or, None of the above.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 pmMichael Steele isn’t too bad. He strikes me as a moderate, he’s heavily involved in the centrist Republican Leadership Council, and he has charisma. But when it comes to submitting the truth to the American people, he fails miserably.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:33 pmralph the wonder llama Says:
It’s not like they value “making sense”.
________
I think we all need to understand that the entire party has apparently suffered some sort of traumatic emotional snap. They’re lost contact w/ reality. What else could explain the sheer absurdity of their public utterances these days? The endless, utterly transparent lying? The insane posturing?
Perhaps they’re so afraid of being investigated and put on trial that they’re working on establishing some sort of mass, group insanity defense.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:35 pmis this the job of party chairman?
i don’t remember howard butting in the process… am i mistaken?
so where’s tim kaine, if that’s the job…?
i sure wish SOMEONE, lots of someones, would be out there rebutting all this bullshite that’s pervading the media…
what happened to that effort to “sell” this Recovery Plan?
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 pmHey windsor,
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 pmwhere’d you go? You wouldn’t be “driving by” now would you?
Mr. Steele, could you explain how a contract government job is somehow less good and stable than a contract job in the private sector? I’ve worked several well paying, stable positions that had end dates (with likelihood for annual extension, but always contingent on funding).
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 pmI’m coming in late here but, it took six tries to select this guy?
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:42 pmIf Congress was as lively as the British parliament, it would break into hoots and laugh him down. He would be left stammering and then they could get down to business. Our Congress keeps much to straight a face.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:47 pmmorlock Says:
I’m coming in late here but, it took six tries to select this guy?
____________
My hunch is a fight to the finish between Steele and “Barack the Magic Negro” guy, which is kinda bizarre when you think about it.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:51 pmWhen the contract runs out the job goes away ?
So I guess all those people maintaining the roads, bridges, parks, the quality of the air ,food, water, safety ,monetary
systems, etc., must be wondering when they’ll get the sack.
Oh, and by the way drive by, the universal health insurance we
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:52 pmhave down under works quite well, as it does most everywhere
else in the world.
Y’know, TRoS, that makes sense. the whole damn party has just suffered a psychotic break.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:53 pmYep, ralphie… that’s my take.
They’ve taken such a harsh rogerin’ the last 8 years, can you blame them?
Heh… can’t say I exactly feel sorry ‘em. Kinda like watchin’ a bunch of drunks fight over a handgun and proceed to shoot themselves in the foot, one after another.
They’re not even trying to make sense or tell the truth anymore.
They just seem to say whatever comes to mind and then forget about it immediately afterwards. The next couple of years s/b real interesting, and a Golden Age for guys like John Stewart.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:58 pmThis type of nonsense in the Republican party goes all the way to Reagan. Check out this article.
http://www.broowaha.com/article.php?id=4530
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 pmwindsor Says:
I do appreciate your concern though.
__________
Oh gosh… the perfect non-answer to the non-sense you posted.
Yer all sharp edges, just like a marble.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:00 pmWell, I don’t expect you to understand the concept, but some of us can compose our comments in a matter of seconds and still make sense.
It doesn’t really take that much time out of our day.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 pmOT – but i’m curious… i haven’t heard anywhere:
what ARE the special qualifications of judd gregg that makes him ANY kind of choice for commerce?
anyone know?
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 pmGlad you’re okay windsor. Might I ask why you feel you can imply that others here are not hard working citizens? My hunch is that many here match and or exceed you in those areas related to career and work ethic. I am also pretty confident that most are happy to work hard to contribute to a better society in which those who achieve are happy to assist those still trying
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:19 pm2 Feb 2009 … As unemployment rises, Uncle Sam has jobs.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2009/Feb/02/as_unemployment_rises__uncle_sam_has_jobs.html
LOL guess he doesn’t read his own right wing propaganda sites.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:20 pmGee, Windsor, as an in-home caregiver I am fraught with shame for not being busy evicting people from their homes.
Can I call you “Snidely?”
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:21 pmWindsore the Title Clerk! LMFAO
Get’s his jollies spittn in colored folks BigMacs is more like it.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 pmCan this man really be as stupid as his comments make him out to be? Does he realize what a laughing stock he is becoming? On the other hand, he is fitting in well with the Republican regime.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:23 pmDasm,
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:24 pmSee comments above regarding mass dementia.
Is Steele insane?
Let’s see.
The Bush administration started an unnecessary, unprovoked war in Iraq, putting 160,000 of our soldiers on the front lines, and creating well-over a hundred thousand jobs for Republican-only private contractors and individuals in Iraq.
The Coalition Provisional Authority wouldn’t have existed except for Bush starting the Iraq war, which would have meant Republicans-only wouldn’t have been able to apply on right-wing websites like the Heritage Foundation for a job in Baghdad.
So the Bush administration did create a whole lot of federally-funded jobs…for Republicans…who proceeded to do a heckuva job: Soldiers being electrocuted in showers over in Iraq. Deficient body and vehicular armor. Tainted food and water being given our troops. And these federally-funded Republicans losing track of tens of billions of dollars in Iraq.
Maybe this is what Steele is trying to spin? Only federally-funded jobs created by our government should go to Republicans only. Otherwise, the culture of corruption and cronyism Republican Party isn’t interested in any federally-funded job creation programs that might involve Democrats or Independents.
Which is strange. Because the Democrat’s and President Obama’s economic stimulus appears to be party-blind, meaning that a whole lot of Republicans (and their families) will benefit from having more money in their pockets, but it is the idea that an equal number of Democrats and Independents will also benefit is what is sticking the the craw of the culture of corruption and cronyism Republicans.
Maybe this is also why former Treasury Secretary Paulson threw $350 Billion in taxpayer dollars at the top-tier corporate executive class, with Republicans figuring that most of the people at this economic level not only are Republican but also would turn around and give some of this hard-earned taxpayer money back to the Republican Party as donations.
The only way to understand Republicans is to understand that GREED drives everything that they do, and with corrupt people like these, there is no compromise.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:29 pmPathetic. Dementia indeed. With Steele and Palin, we can all start celebrating now. What a bunch of deadheads (sorry, that is an insult to Deadheads).
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:30 pmHow would we reword Uncle Tom’s Cabin to fit Chairman Steele…
Confessions of a Not-so-Smart Collaborator?
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:33 pmRepuglycans of all persuasions never met a fact. Wouldn’t know one if it bit them on the ass. Then hurled, of course.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:39 pmEvictions, eh Windsore? Sounds about right for a repuglycan stooge. And I’ll bet you enjoy the shit out of making families homeless, don’t you?
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:39 pmThe Right’s anti-government bigotry–shared by libertarians and conspiracy types–has always struck me as inherently sick. It’s the Founding Fathers’ natural suspicion of government grown into a full-blown political psychosis.
Since government is a necessary component of the body politic, a morbid suspicion of government is like despising one of your own physical organs–it just can’t be healthy. No wonder the Pubs screwed things up so totally.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 pmYou might be on to something there… I’m pretty sure most tighty righties desoise their own bodily organs too.
At least the fun ones.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:47 pm“despise”. Dammit! Proof BEFORE posting!
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:49 pmRepublican-to-English dictionary: “job” = “employment position excluding those created by government.”
drive by troll Says:
I used too, but now that is whats guns are for.
You sir, are profoundly retarded. You’re going to defend the “homeland” by yourself? I feel safer already.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:50 pmI told y’all steele was a typical repug nutjob. You ain’t seen nothing yet.
and how are the repugs changing and again? Looks like the same old bs.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 pmIt’s not that repugs choose a dumbass African-American or a dumbass woman, it’s what their party is. These are the cream of their party’s crop.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:07 pmrepugs are just too damn stupid.
Government is creating job by outsourcing contracts. The government is not going to be giving out paychecks to workers, contractors are.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:18 pmWow. I never thought that my record for the stupidest thing ever said by a Republican (human being) would be beaten. Guess I was wrong.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:34 pmI dunno, the goverment gives me my paycheck on the 1st and 15th of every month. (USAF)
If banks don’t unthaw money for loans, all of this is for naught. Small buisness needs to get back on track in order for anything to happen.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:46 pmTP says: We understand Steele is new on the job, but he should try to get his talking points straight — and at least get them to make sense.
Why should he change his approach? As a good tokinrepug, he is simply re-spouting and regurgitating that upon which he has been feasting, along with his fellow republiscum, for decades. When has getting talking points straight and getting them to make sense EVER mattered to the repugs?
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 pmWasn’t he the Lt. Governor of Maryland?? Isn’t that a job created by government???
God, what a buffoon…..and he’s the “best” the GOP has??
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:48 pmspencers mom Says:
Since his election as RNC Chairman last Friday, Michael Steele has been on a public relations offensive.
How about we simply say Steele has been offensive?
Got it in one. Superb.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:50 pmNot surprising. Steele, along with Limbaugh, Hannity, etc. is more interesting in promoting party-line rhetoric than solving the economic crisis.
As they see it, if the stimulus package fails to pass and the nation plunges even deeper into recession, resulting in more jobs lost, more foreclosures, and more lost pensions, then it’s a win for the GOP.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 pmwindsor Says:
I think Steele is what you get when you promote an affirmative action, token candidate to any position of authority. He reminds me of Clarance Thomas, Dr. Rice and Colin Powell all wrapped up into one. Just another in a string of failures.
What nuance! What depth of understanding! Brings a tear to me eye, don’t ye know, to read what me fellow blogger pulls from the depths of his psyche, what he reveals of his delicate understanding of human interaction and individual potential, how delicately he offers his morsels of morality. . .
What a racist rectum! FLAGGED.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:59 pmWhen is someone like Wolf Blitzer going to say “Where is the slightest evidence that Republicans know how to (or want to) create jobs?”?
Annual employment-growth rates for all 11 postwar presidents:
Harry Truman (1945-53), 2.38%
D Eisenhower (1953-61), 0.87%
John Kennedy (1961-63), 2.28%
L.B. Johnson (1963-69), 3.74%
Richard Nixon (1969-74) 2.30%
Gerald Ford -(1974-77), 0.95%
Jimmy Carter (1977-81), 3.11%
Ronald Reagan (1981-89) 2.04%
G.H.W. Bush -(1989-93), 0.59%
WJ Clinton (1993-2001), 2.42%
G. W. Bush –(2001-09), 0.28%
Notice that everytime going from Democratic to Republican administrations the job growth worsens and everytime going from Republican to Democratic, it improves. Will some Democratic spokesperson PLEASE go on TV and say this?
Records were not kept before the 1920’s, so the only change missing is from Hoover to FDR. That was obviously a huge improvement.
Also important to remember that the Reagan and two Bush administrations saw a fantastic explosion of the deficit.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:15 am.
So the Highway construction project wasn’t about creating jobs?
So the development of NASA didn’t create jobs?
So Hoover dam didn’t create jobs?
Can we agree, Steele is not even in touch?
.
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:23 amdrive by troll, do you support e.coli and salmonella?
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:40 amwhinedsor says (since they censored mah doosh)
And yes the foreclosure business is very lucrative right now.
It’s a dirty job, but I get to do it.
Let’s hope one of those foreclosures leads to a sequence of events that culminates in you eating a buckshot sandwich from a former home owner. It’s a dirty job, but i’ll laugh when it happens.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:18 amAre there any organizations doing public messages, or paid ads on these issues? I don’t watch television. Perhaps some groups could put together some savvy ads to counter these ridiculous memes. This is worthy of a zinger to cut this nonsense to the quick while adding a healthy meme. Then repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:37 amA Congresswoman in Ohio has recommended that people who are facing eviction squat. It’s a great idea in this weather. I’ve heard of police in Michigan refusing to enforce evictions.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:38 amSteele is a Fraud, he pretended to be a Democrat when running for a senate seat from Maryland.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:40 amWhy should he get his facts straight? That is not part of his job. He is now head of the party that lies all the time.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:34 amWhy should he even try at honesty or facts?
Look at the new leaders: sarahplainlier and rushto lie.
mmmmmmm only question is why the media sits back and lets it roll??
BUSH ADMINISTRATION UNVEILS NEW JOB CREATION EFFORT FOR RURAL AMERICA
WASHINGTON, October 31, 2003–Bush Administration officials today expanded efforts to stimulate job growth in rural areas by announcing the creation of a new program to support the financing of new and expanding rural businesses. The signing of a collaborative agreement today between officials of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Small Business Administration will provide rural businesses with greater access to venture capital investment funds through a newly created initiative called the Rural Business Investment Program (RBIP). The new initiative fortifies President Bush’s efforts to build a strong foundation for business development and job growth to serve as the economic stimulus in rural areas.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:08 amFrom a pro-Reagan website:
Job Creation 1982-9
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:11 amOne of the strongest features of the Reagan expansion was the job creation numbers
One of the strongest features of the Reagan expansion was the job creation numbers.
Which was the same time government spending exploded through the roof. They try to act like the two were unrelated, but they weren’t Reagan also added more to the national debt than all previous presidents, combined.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:26 amRepeat often:
Republicans are partizan obstructionists.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:34 amBut, isn’t the Republican argument against Obama’s bill that it has too much ‘pork’ and not enough job creation? Isn’t that what they’ve been harping about?
And where was all this rage and concern when BUSH and PAULSON doled out the 350 billion in WELFARE to Wall Street? I did not see or hear the repugs have any concern that even approaches this. Where was the outrage then? Or is it that this is really a partisan issue to them? Bush was one of their own, so whatever he did was just fine? Tax cuts for the rich, pander completely to big business, and socialize any major business losses, and politicise EVERYTHING along strict partizan party lines, are the republican way.
Republicans are partizan obstructionists.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:34 amCorrection.
Government creates jobs that are in line with current salaries. Private companies create jobs that are on EACH side of the current salaries. Either a totally bloated slef employed person who gets a gov contract and pays themselves and exorbatant fee, or the corporation who gets a gov contract and them subcontracts it to the poorest of the poor, in any god forsaken land without regulations who will hire the weakest amongst the population to get the cheapest labor, even if that person is 8 or 98. Corpoations have no Personal responsibilities, but enjoy Personhood.
Stop the insanity. KILL THE CORPORATIONS.
Eliminate personhood status for corporations.
No Free speech for corporations
No freedom to travel (take their money to offshore havens) for corporations
Corporations are the EVIL of humanity.
KILL THE CORPORATIONS!!!
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 amAlecto Says:
Corpoations have no Personal responsibilities, but enjoy Personhood.
Stop the insanity. KILL THE CORPORATIONS.
Eliminate personhood status for corporations.
No Free speech for corporations
No freedom to travel (take their money to offshore havens) for corporations
Corporations are the EVIL of humanity.
Yep. Corporate personhood is a cancer of society, and it is un-American (based on the founding principles of this country). It crept in due to conservative efforts in the last century (40’s or 50’s, I think), and it does not belong in the system.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:40 amTime to throw Brer rabbit back into the briar patch…
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 amSay that to the Marines,Army,Navy and Air Force A$$$hole…..
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 amand don`t forget your old job as Lt.Gov.Why do you Reich Wingers even open your mouths to spew and stupidity comes out.
When you demonstrate publicly that your IQ is BELOW ZERO it may be time to re-trench. But check with Limberger first…
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:36 amwindsor Says:
Actually I own the company, and I have fired people that have tried to steal from me.
This is a lie. You are lying. You are not a business owner. Nor do you “work in foreclosures.”
.
labman57 Says:
As they see it, if the stimulus package fails to pass and the nation plunges even deeper into recession, resulting in more jobs lost, more foreclosures, and more lost pensions, then it’s a win for the GOP.
Isn’t that exactly what they were accusing Dems of during the campaign season? Just goes to show how most any time they’re saying something negative about others, they’re probably projecting.
.
PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:
From a pro-Reagan website:
Job Creation 1982-9
One of the strongest features of the Reagan expansion was the job creation numbers
Yes, according to Keith’s list in #95, Reagan did almost as well as a Democrat.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:09 amMy thought exactly, ElBruce. Sounds exactly like what a sad-sack troll would claim on a liberal blog if he wanted to a) make himself sound more important than he really is and b) try to piss off his stereotype of liberals.
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:47 amThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
Nothing new about that to me. They have been insane posturing liars for years and years. This guy has obviously sold his soul to the devil, and now thinks he’s going to ride this wave to glory. Sorry Steele, you have shown in your first week how incredibly low and idiotic you are. The RNC gets what they deserve, hope they still like you in about 2 years…
February 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
Just to point out the obvious to one who shows symptoms of tunnel vision.
Steele is in possession of a Goverment job.
He must be a socialist? IF he doesn’t like Gov’t he should perhaps stop pretending to be a public servant.
Simply ask him, why are you doing a Gov’t job?
Are you hateful of Gov’t and are trying to destroy it from within?
If so, how does he differ from Al Qaida?
February 3rd, 2009 at 1:22 pmUh…
February 3rd, 2009 at 2:51 pmHasn’t Steele worked in government most of his life? Didn’t he get paid? Did he not consider it a job? if not, let’s get him to give back the dollars he recieved.
Quick, someone rush over to Arnold Schwartzeneggar’s office and inform him the $1.8 billion in savings his proposed 2 day per month unpaid furlough for 238,000 State workers is expected to generate is a fiction.
These workers are the figment of our collective imaginations, because government creates no jobs, therefore there can be no workers, and there should be no payroll, either.
Ever wonder what happened to the mentally disabled who were tossed out on their ear to fend for themselves when Regan de-funded the “socialist” welfare programs that housed them? Looks like they went out and took control of the republican party, doesn’t it? Just face it — this guy is crazy.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:43 pmSteele was right the first time, although his comment that the government has never created a job may require a bit of an explanation.
When the government “creates jobs” either by hiring people to work in the government itself or by subsidizing a company or industry so that it can hire people, it has to devote a certain amount of resources (read: money) to compensate the new hires. Everyone knows that.
But what requires a bit more thought is the process through which the government acquires its funding and how it decides to spend it. Of course, taxes are the major revenue source for government (fees and interest also contribute, but only marginally). Taxes are mandated payments from individuals (and businesses comprised of individuals) and fundementally reduce the ability of individuals to pay for things that they would otherwise purchase with their own money, including salaries for new employees, equipment (from companies that employ individuals), and new business ventures that have the potential to employee a small or great number of people.
My argument here is tough, however, because it’s impossible to prove what hasn’t happened economically because individuals in their private spheres have not had access to their own money.
Suffice it to say that when the government creates a job by either of the means I mentioned, it also destroys the potential for other jobs elsewhere. The latter would need to be responsive to market forces that would judge whether those jobs produce value for society. Government-created jobs are not subject to the same forces since their functions are mandated and we, as individuals, have no choice but to pay for them.
The greater number the government jobs (or jobs created through government action) the higher taxes have to be. (Either that or there needs to be a decrease in spending, which is unlikely when revenues are essentially guaranteed.)
Just think about what you would do if you not only had a $600 “stimulus” check in years when such things are politically popular, but, rather, if you had an additional $600 in your pocket every year, which you can choose to either save or spend. Your utility of that money is yours alone, and you can use it for whatever purpose you desire. (Of course this would require that you pay income taxes.)
The economics of Steele’s first statement–that government cannot create jobs–are sound. The money has to come from somewhere, and, in some form or fashion, it comes from you and your family.
February 4th, 2009 at 12:43 pmCouple of things:
1. Two misspellings (or maybe it’s one misspelling and one syntax error?) in just eleven words. Clearly a razor-sharp mind at work here.
2. Please, DBT, tell me: How would that gun of yours have helped on 9/11?
February 17th, 2009 at 4:42 pm