MSNBC’s Morning Joe: We Don’t Know Much About Economic Recovery
MSNBC’s Morning Joe: We Don’t Know Much About Economic Recovery
Over the last two weeks on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, co-hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski and their regular guests have repeated a number of significant falsehoods about the economic recovery package. The cumulative result has been to turn MSNBC’s morning talk block into an echo chamber for false and misleading right-wing talking points about the stimulus bill currently before the Senate.
This morning, for example, Brzezinski said that she spent last weekend doing “research” trying to find a good reason to support the recovery bill. “There isn’t one,” she concluded. “There’s a lot of welfare in there. There’s a lot of spending. It’s not stimulus,” she said. When asked about his and Mika’s critiques of the bill, Scarborough said simply, “We’re on the side of good Americans. … We want a stimulus bill.”
Scarborough, Brzezinski, and other regular Morning Joe contributors have made similarly flawed arguments in recent days:
Brzezinski: “I’m confused as to why we’re being tricked into thinking this is a stimulus bill, when it’s packed with welfare programs.”
Pat Buchanan: “This is just a big Democratic bill with all this pork and slop.”
Jim Cramer: “I have it maybe that there’s 142 people who really will get a job.”
Dylan Ratigan: “[T]he Democrats would do themselves a tremendous favor to not put spending programs in when we’re dealing with a stimulus bill.”
Scarborough: “This is a streaming pile of garbage.”
In place of “welfare” and “spending,” Morning Joe’s cast of commentators propose what they falsely argue is a more effective form of economic stimulus: tax cuts. Watch a compilation of the Morning Joe’s economic stimulus coverage:
Brzezinski’s “research” notwithstanding, Morning Joe’s cast of commentators couldn’t be more mistaken when it comes to what constitutes “stimulus.” Government spending is not “welfare;” it’s good stimulative policy — in fact, it’s the best stimulative policy. As Nobel laureate Paul Krugman quipped, “[W]rite off anyone who asserts that it’s always better to cut taxes than to increase government spending.”
Further, in arguing that tax cuts for businesses and high-earners are a more effective means of economic stimulus than government spending, Scarborough and company are exactly wrong. Indeed, as the Wonk Room’s Pat Garofalo explains, “For each dollar spent on a capital gains tax cut, there is only a 37 cent boost to GDP, while for each dollar spent on a corporate tax cut, the return is an even more paltry 30 cents. Compared to the $1.64 return on a dollar invested in extending unemployment benefits or the $1.73 return from a temporary increase in food stamps, this is chump change.”
Finally, the bill and a detailed summary of its contents is available for anyone to read online. If Mika Brzezinski feels she’s being “tricked” about its contents, perhaps she just needs to pay closer attention.
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Did a single one of these bozos ever take Macro 101?
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:48 pmYeah, and perhaps Meeka also needs to get up off her knees and stop letting the good ol’ boys, led by Steaming Pile of Joe, have their way with her…
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:50 pmCorrection: Morning Joe & crew don’t know much about ANYTHING.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:53 pmThe republicans held the White House for the last 8 years, and congress for 12. Their economic policies are what brought us to the current situation. This last November, Americans were given the option of 4 more years of the same economic policies. They decided it was time for a change.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:53 pmPat Buchanan and Joe are the least of the least when it comes to objectivity or economics. Joe is a talking head because he failed in congress. Pat should be put out to pasture and told that Nixon resigned and was a crook. The guy from CNBC is a Wall Streeter and could care less about the people. He only cares about the Stock Market. All of these fools are for failed policies. They support the same failed policies that got us where we are today.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:53 pmIt’s true – Joe&Bros know absolutely nothing about recovering an economy – they only know how to pillage and ruin an economy.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:54 pmBut… but… but… it’s the LIBRUL media!!!!!!
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:56 pmJK,
I’m sure you’ve already moved on to type in bold print somewhere else, but I’ll address your idiocy anyway. Learn how to use capitalization properly, please. Also, the word “stimulus” is used several times throughout the above article. So, there is no reason for you to spell it as “stimulous”. Considering that grammar and spelling are not your cup of tea, I’ll bet reading comprehension and history got thrown out with that last bong hit too.
And yes, I have read it.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:57 pmThe right wingers are just a bunch of snake-oil salesmen: tax cuts are the cure-all for everything. Have a surplus: tax cuts. Have a recession: tax cuts. Have a war: tax cuts. Have peace: tax cuts.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:57 pmYou think Mika should pay attention?
Next thing you’ll be asking her to read the bill for herself and stop relying on someone else to give her an accurate accounting of what it does say.
Jeesh, you know she’s the token blond.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pmAre not these cable news “Republican Central” programs going out on quite a limb here? Are they that confident they will be back in power in four years that they would expose their naked greed and agression on TV for us all to see like this?
Maybe they think they can bully their way out of anything.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pmCompletely agree with you Chris. Where have all these stimulus tax cuts taken the economy the last decade? Exactly into the position we are in now. Since people aren’t spending money anymore, it is the governments responsibility to spearhead the effort to get people willing to spend again. What good are the tax cuts if people aren’t going to spend the money.
Americans answered very clearly on election day what kind of policies they want to see. The GOP would score some points if they would listen to the people they represent in their districts/states.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pmJerk Kooky Says:
Did any of you bozos every understand economics? HAve any of you lib bozos ever read this ridiculous bill? If so you’d be able to comprehend what it’s really all about and it’s NOT about any kind of STIMULOUS. Dem Brezinski is right for a change!
What is your proposal you nitwit?
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pmJohn Kerry Says:
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:52 pm
I know for sure you haven’t read it.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pmFinally, the bill and a detailed summary of its contents is available for anyone to read online. If Mika Brzezinski feels she’s being “tricked” about its contents, perhaps she just needs to pay closer attention.
What?!!! Read it?!!! Are you joking? These individuals don’t have time to read anything more than their daily talking points.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:58 pmIf Mika Brzezinski feels she’s being “tricked” about its contents, perhaps she just needs to pay closer attention.
– - Mika is as vapid as her dad is sharp. And don’t get me started on the intern-killing Joe. Ugh.
February 3rd, 2009 at 4:59 pmJoe again PROVES he is absolutely CLUE FREE… he is a hack and Rush’s butt boy….
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:05 pmThey admit they don’t know what they’re talking about, but that doesn’t prevent their pronouncements.
The public wants this package to pass – and they want it now.
Senate Republicans blocked Democrats from adding $25 billion for highways, mass transit, and water projects to President Barack Obama’s economic recovery program.
So improving highways is not an economic stimulus, and it does not improve the infrastructure?
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:05 pmMaybe they should dump their private jets, fire their private drivers, and see how they do in getting to work on time in rush hour. Better yet, let them take the metro.
As I recall the Bush stimulus bill was tax rebates…which didnt really help the economy.
Also tax cuts for business will not create jobs because people still arent consuming.
IE the people arent spending because they are in debt and their wages havent kept up with inflation and the cost of living.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:06 pmThe Borgen Project has some good info on the cost of addressing global poverty.
$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:07 pm$550 billion: U.S. Defense budget
I think Dr. Hussein Matt has the right idea — they are vying for the morning viewership of Fox and Friends where idiots and morons prevail.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:08 pmAll they gotta do is lie, and the American people lap it up. Very pathetic.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:08 pmBusiness got 8 years of tax cuts and are dropping employees and closing factories and shops.
(But I bet they still have their off-shore banking post offices.)
Repugs insist that, after 8 years of failure, tax cuts are cure…Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:12 pmjohn kerry troll,
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:13 pmpersonally, I think giving wall street bankers 8oo billion oversight free was a great way to stimulate the economy. it worked out great the first time, with them giving them 18 billion in bonuses of my money and hosting 10 million dollar superbowl parties on my nickel
Where was Mika’s research on the $700B bailout to the banks and AIG?
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:13 pmTalk about welfare!?!
Just out of curiosity, what does it mean, to “spend” a dollar on tax cuts?
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:14 pmThey need to tell the truth. The want more tax cuts because they’re the ones who will benefit from it. To he!! with the rest of America.
Of course, they can never tell the truth, and who can blame them. If a whisper of truth ever passed their lips, their heads would explode.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:14 pmBrzezinski said that she spent last weekend doing “research” trying to find a good reason to support the recovery bill. “There isn’t one,” she concluded. “There’s a lot of welfare in there. There’s a lot of spending. It’s not stimulus,” she said.
Shut up, Mika, and hike up your skirt a little more. We all know why you’re on the teevee machine — and it ain’t your “research” skillz.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:14 pmIndeed, how many jobs has the banking spending bill create?
All I have seen is layoffs
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:15 pmI have a question. How can anyone stand watching these two? I tried when I was home for a week around Christmas and I couldn’t take them for more than 10 minutes. I’ve seen people who are obviously progressives who are reporting on what happened on Joe’s show that day. How can they stand it?
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:20 pmSeems to me they are parsing words.
Spending is investing. You have to spend money to pay people for work. Stimulus IS spending. The bank bailout was spending. We are spending billions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:20 pmI cut back on holiday gifts this year. We don’t go out to eat any more. No movie nights. No clothing purchases, no household goods (only repairs). Cancelled a three day vacation. Cut back at the grocery store (more soups, stews and economy meals).
My hours at work are cut back – as are my husband’s. We are helping our unemployed son keep his family’s heads above water. If I get a tax cut, I will pay a bill. We need to work full hours, my son needs to find a job.
The economic stimulus must pass ASAP and the effects realized soon.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:20 pmThe income of each of those monkeys that make up Morning Joe is waaaaay above 6 figures, and they’re sitting there earning that paycheck each and every day. How can they understand anything about hard times, much less about what makes up a good stimulus package. After all, they supported GWB for the most part! Best thing to be done about them is to stop watching them…but that isn’t going to happen any more than non-thinking people will stop watching Faux Noise…same poop, different a-hole.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 pmThis kind of rhetoric is amazingly thoughtless! I’ve read the proposed stimulus pkg….money going to rebuild schools, hospitals, roads, tax credits for the poor, and after the 8 years of Bush tax cuts, that number has increased. And let’s not forget about the amount of money that will go to spending on Green energy, newer technologies. Who the hell do they think is going to build this stuff. All people that have been successful thru years of tax cuts!? That ship sailed along time ago, it sank miserably. The republicans pay lip service to their desire not to be dependent on foreign oil, yet do nothing to make this happen. America needs to grow the f**k up. I love my country but when I see these neanderthals who want to keep us in the 19th century it’s easy to lose it. This is not healthy debate. It’s petty name calling. It’s Scarborough’s little frat boy club with Mika as their cheerleader, and her “come to mommy” bullshit! What is up that!? I’m almost embarrassed for her. I’ve sent letters and emails to these clowns. It’s obvious nothing makes a difference. Watch Sesame St. Read a book, turn on The BBC, Current TV or your stereo, but don’t give these clowns your valuable time. Tax Cuts my ass, they just want their power back!
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:22 pmObama wants to change the country and give the republicans a place to sit at the table.
The republicans, on the other hand, just want to take their table and go home and leave everyone else to starve in the dark.
The actual democrats who are just ordinary Citizens, not the “centrist” politicians who claim to be democrats, want to rub the faces of republicans, who simply want to obstruct any attempt to actually do something to stop America from bleeding to death, in the big pile of $hit they’ve left behind.
We’re where we’re at today because liberal (not progressive) democrats set the stage for the Regan revolution. The goal of that revolution was to do away with the middle class and turn the country into an armed military camp where a few wealthy elites at the top lorded over the wage-poor working class at the bottom, with no middle ground. Well, it too 30 years, but here we are. Only trouble is, it looks like the wealthy elites at the top are going to fall with the rest of us.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:24 pmzxbe Says:
The right wingers are just a bunch of snake-oil salesmen: tax cuts are the cure-all for everything. Have a surplus: tax cuts. Have a recession: tax cuts. Have a war: tax cuts. Have peace: tax cuts.
It’s called being a “one trick pony” and unfortunately for us their trick has run this country into a ditch. So, instead of trying something different, they want to keep going into that ditch. They don’t get the concept of “when you are in a hole, stop digging!”.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:26 pmXisithrus Says:
Seems to me they are parsing words.
Spending is investing. You have to spend money to pay people for work. Stimulus IS spending. The bank bailout was spending. We are spending billions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Very well put. No one is willing to spend right now, so I do not understand why the GOP continues pushing for these tax cuts. Given, it’s tradition, but no economic crisis is ever the same. I will admit that depending on other factors, tax cuts may be best. But people need to look at this particular situation and the details of it. This stimulus is very well thought out. Tax cuts are not the long term solution here. Someone needs to spend and in this case it needs to be the government.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:27 pm“Brzezinski said that she spent last weekend doing “research” trying to find a good reason to support the recovery bill.”
in faux speak she read the daily talking points memo that told her not to support it.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:27 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I have a question. How can anyone stand watching these two? I tried when I was home for a week around Christmas and I couldn’t take them for more than 10 minutes. I’ve seen people who are obviously progressives who are reporting on what happened on Joe’s show that day. How can they stand it?
I can’t waste my time even watching the clips. Transcripts I can skim through and I don’t have to watch their smug facial expressions or listen to their lies spewing out their mouths.
The people at News Hounds and other progressives who monitor this propaganda have much stronger stomachs than I do.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:28 pmliberalinaredstate Says:
This kind of rhetoric is amazingly thoughtless! I’ve read the proposed stimulus pkg….money going to rebuild schools, hospitals, roads, tax credits for the poor, and after the 8 years of Bush tax cuts, that number has increased.
The trick is to stop calling it the “stimulus” bill and start calling it by it’s real name, the AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT PLAN. That is a horse of a different color and covers much more than stimulating the economy.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:28 pmDylan Ratigan: “[T]he Democrats would do themselves a tremendous favor to not put spending programs in when we’re dealing with a stimulus bill.”
Yeah, because stimulus is free! What?
.
Laszlo Panaflex Says:
Did a single one of these bozos ever take Macro 101?
As an article of faith, “economic conservatives” deny the existence of macroeconomics. They believe that only micro is valid. In their mind, every actor within the economy functions in pure isolation, without any economic environment whatsoever. Therefore as they see it, the only possible effect of government on the economy is to hinder it. They would see a stimulus plan as not actually stimulating anything, since it doesn’t exist solely to pay off corporations.
.
John Kerry Says:
Did any of you bozos every understand economics? HAve any of you lib bozos ever read this ridiculous bill? If so you’d be able to comprehend what it’s really all about and it’s NOT about any kind of STIMULOUS
Case in point.
.
zxbe Says:
The right wingers are just a bunch of snake-oil salesmen: tax cuts are the cure-all for everything. Have a surplus: tax cuts. Have a recession: tax cuts. Have a war: tax cuts. Have peace: tax cuts.
Did the tax cuts make you sick? We got some tax cuts to cure that…
.
Tweedster Says:
What is your proposal you nitwit?
Probably tax cuts.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:29 pmAll that the Right Wing wants is the death of America. They must be ground into the dirt and never allowed to return.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 pmI have been thinking that the pretend John Kerry is a really big pussy because they just come and say one thing and disappear. I have asked JK if he is really a pussy but he won’t answer. I think I may soon have to open my question to others. Come on JK is that really how we want to handle this?
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:31 pmWhere any of these people on Morning Joe AWAKE during the past 8 years of tax cuts & deficits … and now the horrible RECESSION??
The Obama team needs some serious help with carrying their message because they are having it handed to them BIG time by the MSM on this one.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:32 pmI’m sure the Morning Joe people gave Rush Limbaugh a High Five when he said he wanted Obama to fail. Mika probably did a cartwheel on the table and tossed her pom-poms. They’re just echoing Limbaugh’s stupidity and it is indeed thoughtless rhetoric, as liberalinaredstate said.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:32 pmSo programs that actually help people, by hiring them to work in numerous industries is welfare?
We have already seen that business parks its money in offshore accounts, hires workers from across the ocean, farms its factories to the far east, and lobbies to keep his friendly republican representative looking for more ways to cater to his bottom line.
I think the $350 billion to wall street was welfare.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 pmDont’ expect the dunderheads on morning Joe to see that. They don’t work for a living. They get paid 7 figures to blather.
Very well put -=HHH=-
Thx.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:37 pmFollowing Republican logic, if we stopped paying taxes entirely, our economy would be booming, there would be full employment and everybody would be happy.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:45 pmProud Says:
If anyone wants proof, latest Gallup poll shows only 38% support the stimulus bill in its current form. Sorry the honeymoon is over for Obama the clown and his traveling circus.
#####
I’ll just bet that during the elections you were one of the guys screaming “don’t believe the polls!” And yes, most people I’ve talked to don’t support the stimulus package in its current form. They want the tax cuts for big business removed.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 pmThe same people seem to always be advocating for more tax cuts even though it is very clear that all those tax cuts have only harmed our economy. I guess they want more tax cuts because it benefits them personally, screw the rest of us.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:46 pmProud,
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:48 pmPolls consistently show that two-thirds of Americans want single-payer government-run healthcare; and the majority favor cuts in military spending and increase in education spending.
Eleven Trillion dollars in debt? Time for tax cuts! [snark]
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:49 pmJoe and Mika and “entertainers”, not journalists. The premise of their programs is Republican propaganda exactly like Rush, Hannity, and other conservative entertainment personalities. It’s what is leveling the final, killing blow to the Republican Party; i.e. a reliance on propaganda in place in ideas and policy discussions. Mika’s dad must be more than disappointed in his offspring.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:49 pmThis is GE-owned MSNBC + Right-winger Joe and “friends.” If it’s NOT all about Tax Cuts for Businesses = More Corporate Welfare – than they purposely do not understand.
It was like GE-owned Meet the Press where Erin Burnett explained that the Banks Deserved Bonuses. And on GE-owned CNBC (the worst) where Gasparino guy admitted he was apologizing and supporting the Banks – no matter what.
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:54 pmHey Joe, we don’t know much about that dead young woman in your office who you are rumoured to be having an affair with, either. Official version does not fit the autopsy report.
Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand
Hey Joe, I said where you goin’ with that gun in your hand
I’m going down to shoot my old lady
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:55 pmYou know, I’ve caught her messin’ around with another man
from usnews.com:
“By reporting that 75 percent of Americans support the package in some form, however, the poll finds a higher level of support for a stimulus than past surveys. A Rasmussen poll released on January 21 found that only 45 percent of voters supported the stimulus plan, with 34 percent siding against it. And an earlier poll by Gallup, taken January 6-7, found that only a slight majority of Americans—or 53 percent—favored a stimulus plan. That poll came before Obama released the specifics of his proposal and before either the House or Senate had released drafts of the bill.”
————————————–
I would be in the 37% who want major changes because I am left of center. Do you comprehend, Proud?
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:03 pmCorporate media. Corporate welfare. They know who they’re working for.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:09 pmVery well
Thx.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:16 pmWhy do networks allow these liars to spew such garbage with no facts or research whatsoever included? Please– take them all off the air & give us some real journalism, real facts. These losers are a big reason why the economy is is such horrific shape. They lie & feed the public Repub talking points.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:36 pmdbadass Says:
I have been thinking that the pretend John Kerry is a really big pussy because they just come and say one thing and disappear.
Fine either way. He can leave us to explain in detail and at length why he’s wrong. The only function of trolls is to put their crap on the table for grownups to dissect.
.
Proud Says:
If anyone wants proof, latest Gallup poll shows only 38% support the stimulus bill in its current form.
Yep, too many tax cuts in there.
By the way, here’s the link.
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Joe is “stunningly superficial.” Mika is a hood ornament for Joe’s show.
Joe was born stupid. I know know if it should be considered an excuse but Mika was clearly raised with the dramatic psychological deterrent of a cheerleader complex.
I’d love to have a good news alternative in the morning. Faux News is, well, faux. CNN, ABC, NCB, etc. are, at that hour, too silly for me to tolerate at the start of a day.
I usually just get up and read Think Progress,
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:40 pm*
can i assume that TP has faxed and emailed this info to all pertinent msnbc offices?
wouldn’t hurt to send it ALL OVER THE PLACE.
*
pat buchanan told ed schultz this morning that he thought the bill will not pass…
February 3rd, 2009 at 6:45 pm.
Morning Joe is more worried about AG Eric Holder then he is the Bailout Package. Joe’s attention is really about the woman who was murdered in his office name Lori Klausutis. Yes Morning Joe was once a Rep. and his aide was killed while he was there but the case was quickly covered up and Joe resign as House Rep. really quickly so fast he left the office and never came back. Even the cornor was fired because he wanted to release the information for the cause of death. Economic is lease of Morning Joe’s problems or concerns. Even his first wife quickly divorced him and never looked back.
Now has anyone noticed not one of these guys said a word about the Bush Stimulus with 70 per cent Pork. Yes the Bridge to No Where was proudly approved by the Same Republicans. If Americans would go on line and read the Obama Stimulus one point would stick out quickly. The money can only be used for what it’s assigned for, thereby none of the money can go to anything else like a raise in personal friends salaries. We’re broke out here in California but the good news is Govenor Arnie will still get his full paycheck and yes he will get his State tax refund. Republicans know how to deal themselves the Aces.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:09 pmSo 20% is controlling the media,,,,,,
So easy to get together, plan 1 week bans of buying from the companies with money behind Rush, Bill O. & Fox and Morning Joe.
This could be done without any politicians just the network that was built to get Obama elected. Very easy. We just start emailing each other to cooridinate it.
They think they have the money to trump us but we can pull it anytime we want.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:33 pmWhat’s new, Joe does not know anything, anyway.
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:55 pmJoe is just your average smug, smarmy, loud-mouthed repug; but come-on give Mika a break. She would do fine with her own show, like a political themed “View”???
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 pmI can’t take that program–who wants someone who is ranting like a maniac at 6 a.m. like Scarborough ?? I don’t need that aggravation nor the stupidity.
His show is just awful and his ratings show it. They were rising but have been falling lately. Joe never complained when the republican’s were driving the country off a cliff—he should just shut his mouth.
I watch the BBC in the morning now.
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:44 pmTwo times in a century, republicans have destroyed the economy. Now they’re terrified that, again, dems are going to fix it. Can’t run a country, can’t fight a war, can’t protect the Constitution, Can’t catch bin Laden when they have him surrounded. Hand over a trillion-dollar deficit to the incoming president and then start sniveling about pork-barrel spending…F-you, Joe
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:24 pmMorning Joe also boasted that “nobody saw this coming”, apparently taking a lesson from Condi Rice and 9/11.
None other than Warren Buffett warned at least a couple of years ago that diriviatives were “financial weapons of mass destruction”. Paul Krugman also wrote about the consequences we are now facing. Joe’s problem is that he would only invite guests that would agree with his point of view.
Dylan Ratigan is a complete idiot so I can understand Ratigan not seeing it coming.
What the numbers show regarding the return on a dollar spent reflect velocity of money (or how often money turns over) and nobody is talking about this directly. It is the key number to look at going forward.
Here is an article that explains things fairly well.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1876535,00.html?xid=rss-politics-cnn
The one major exception I have with the article concerns a payroll tax cut. Apparently the author has never heard of tax credits. The kind that is doled out to business routinely. Robbing revenue from the Social Security trust fund simply undermines Social Security. This is a rob Peter to pay Paul proposal that plays into Republican plans to privatize Social Security.
February 3rd, 2009 at 11:36 pmThank you Pat Garofalo, I have been saying this all along since the obstructoinist A$$HATS on the right started complaining about to much WELFARE, where were these A$$HATS when Georgie Boy was handing the banks their $$$$.These Bozo`s on msnbc don`t deserve to callthemselves MSM.What we need is a real MSM that will ask the hard questions and do the hard reaserch from non-partisan news papers,web sights and think tanks.We need more outlets like TP and Air America .
February 4th, 2009 at 12:20 amHow many bosses do they have at MSNBC? I mean, they OK right-wing nonsense in the morning, but have Keith and Rachel in the evening? Are they schizophrenic are just trying to cover all bases?
February 4th, 2009 at 12:26 am.
From a friend of mine, an open letter to Congress…
(because it is too long to reprint, I give you the link instead)
http://www.johnconyers.com/node/295#comment-9052
.
February 4th, 2009 at 2:49 amPart of the problem is the mythical fairness doctrine. OK we have Oberman and Maddow on at night so we need right-wingnuts on in the morning to balance them out. The day time MSNBC anchors are not much better than the Joe and Meeka show.
roscoe Says:
Joe is just your average smug, smarmy, loud-mouthed repug; but come-on give Mika a break. She would do fine with her own show, like a political themed “View”???
David Gregoey was handing off 1600 Pensylvania Avenue to Mika, and she still sucked. She is a third rate intellect and a Republican wolf in Democrat’s clothing. the only reason she got a job there was her father’s name, and she keeps it by virtue od her use of kneepads for Joe and the Boys in the Bund.
They need to give the morning slot another enema, going from Immus to Joe was not a step up, it was more of the same.
February 4th, 2009 at 7:12 amBob Corker ain’t too pooped to pop;
February 4th, 2009 at 7:38 amHis fizz is his biz he don’t stop;
Like Double Dutch dike;
But plug in his mic;
Bob Corker don’t poop out and stop.
Both Morning Joe hosts are a joke, and Joe in particular is a freaking weazle. I am constantly amazed at their ignorance, and Mika’s compliance with Joe’s constant bullshit rants. They both make me sick. My husband and I are of the opinion that this show should be removed from television and replaced with people that are worthy of such an important time slot.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:24 amMarie Says:
——————————————————————————–
They admit they don’t know what they’re talking about, but that doesn’t prevent their pronouncements.
The public wants this package to pass – and they want it now.
Senate Republicans blocked Democrats from adding $25 billion for highways, mass transit, and water projects to President Barack Obama’s economic recovery program.
So improving highways is not an economic stimulus, and it does not improve the infrastructure?
Maybe they should dump their private jets, fire their private drivers, and see how they do in getting to work on time in rush hour. Better yet, let them take the metro.
Marie your so wrong on this. I’ve been watching the debate on CSPAN. The Republicans voted down this provision in favor of an expanded amount of 80 Billion dollars. They thought this amount was too low to stimulate the economy. You should know what your talking about before you spout off with your anit GOP rehtoric and anti Republican hate.
But that’s what you Liberals do isn’t it? Spout off without knowing what is going on.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:08 pmMarie your so wrong on this. I’ve been watching the debate on CSPAN. The Republicans voted down this provision in favor of an expanded amount of 80 Billion dollars that will be presented in the GOP version of a Stimulus package. They thought this amount was too low to stimulate the economy. You should know what your talking about before you spout off with your anti GOP rehtoric and anti Republican hate.
But that’s what you Liberals do isn’t it? Spout off without knowing what is going on. Obama is no God Marie.
corrected
February 4th, 2009 at 1:18 pmmarlow Says:
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Two times in a century, republicans have destroyed the economy. Now they’re terrified that, again, dems are going to fix it. Can’t run a country, can’t fight a war, can’t protect the Constitution, Can’t catch bin Laden when they have him surrounded. Hand over a trillion-dollar deficit to the incoming president and then start sniveling about pork-barrel spending…F-you, Joe
Marlow your such a twit. The Economy was doing fine until the Democrats gained power in 2006. The collapse of the Economy was due to Democrats like Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. They began the collaps when their policies in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (House of Cards) fell apart. If you think that 900 billion dollars of expanded social programs are going to save the economy then you go down to the un employment office and save yourself a place in line.
President Bush tried to reign in those two in 2001 and again in 2005 but the Liberal Democrats squashed all efforts to change what was happening in the housing industry. You need to read what really happened not what the Liberals tell you happened.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:28 pmLondongal Says:
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Both Morning Joe hosts are a joke, and Joe in particular is a freaking weazle. I am constantly amazed at their ignorance, and Mika’s compliance with Joe’s constant bullshit rants. They both make me sick. My husband and I are of the opinion that this show should be removed from television and replaced with people that are worthy of such an important time slot.
Lets see. This is what your saying. This program should be removed because you disagree with what they say and do.
I think that this trumps your shallowness and anti Republican bigotry.
How does it go, oh ya it goes like this: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The important part for you Londongal is the “freedom of speech” part. The same fredom you have here is also afforded to others in this country. I’m not sure how it goes in the Socialist countries such as England.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:40 pmliberalinaredstate Says:
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This kind of rhetoric is amazingly thoughtless! I’ve read the proposed stimulus pkg….money going to rebuild schools, hospitals, roads, tax credits for the poor, and after the 8 years of Bush tax cuts, that number has increased. And let’s not forget about the amount of money that will go to spending on Green energy, newer technologies. Who the hell do they think is going to build this stuff. All people that have been successful thru years of tax cuts!? That ship sailed along time ago, it sank miserably. The republicans pay lip service to their desire not to be dependent on foreign oil, yet do nothing to make this happen. America needs to grow the f**k up. I love my country but when I see these neanderthals who want to keep us in the 19th century it’s easy to lose it. This is not healthy debate. It’s petty name calling. It’s Scarborough’s little frat boy club with Mika as their cheerleader, and her “come to mommy” bullshit! What is up that!? I’m almost embarrassed for her. I’ve sent letters and emails to these clowns. It’s obvious nothing makes a difference. Watch Sesame St. Read a book, turn on The BBC, Current TV or your stereo, but don’t give these clowns your valuable time. Tax Cuts my ass, they just want their power back!
And your about to get what you deserve. I hope you enjoy the next 10 years. Japan tried to spend their way out of economic trouble and ten years later they are still trying to spend their way out of economic trouble.
Why are those Liberal States that can’t control their Social Programs all bankrupt? I’ll leave that question for you to research. Or you can just mouth off. Liberalism doesn’t work in a free society. We should never become like the Socialist European Countries in the world. While you reading, read up on some of those. Then if you like what you read move there.
February 4th, 2009 at 1:50 pmDid Joe Scarborough Murder Lori Klausutis?
Many think so.
February 4th, 2009 at 3:01 pmJust what are the credentials of Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski other than flapping their gums in front of a TV camera? Thank God for the remote!
February 4th, 2009 at 6:42 pmprofessorj Says:
Professor halfwit, save your tripe for the special needs classes. You’ve got about five percent of the problem with Fannie and Freddie and since you can put a democrat’s face on it , that’s enough for you, right? Fannie and Freddie didn’t drop interest rates and stand back as a massive housing bubble developed, Greenspan did. Fannie and Freddie didn’t advance the legislation tearing down the banking regulations that kept the country safe for decades, Phil Gramm did. Fannie and Freddie didn’t securitize mortgages and didn’t steer people who qualified for prime mortgages into subprime mortgages. Fannie and Freddie didn’t invent derivatives so arcane that no one understood how they worked or where their ultimate value might lie. And Greenspan didn’t testify to Congress that Fannnie and Freddie were at fault. He stated he had been wrong in his belief that financial institutions would regulate themselves when freed of government oversight.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:40 pmBush tried to stop all this? You’re a liar. Here ya go, putz:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html When states attorneys general tried to intervene against the predatory lending that thirty years of republican deregulation made possible, Bush stepped in and stopped it, ensuring that millions more Americans got screwed. But go ahead and blame poor people. Aint nothing new about repugs crapping on the carpet and blaming the dog.
just on tv news- 42% tax cuts and 58% spending.
February 7th, 2009 at 1:18 amNEWS FLASH FOR LIBERALINAREDSTATE-
The state I live in is an extremely conservative
state politically, but it is in the top 10 if not
the top 5 of states with the worst financial mess.
It blew a lot of minds when my state, Nevada, voted
February 7th, 2009 at 1:24 amfor Obama. We are trying to tell some bozos something.
Londongal, here, we just change the channel.
I just did, as a matter of fact, because what FOX News
February 7th, 2009 at 1:30 amwas showing was a dog running around an airport tarmac
and they call that “news”.
Oops, it was professorj, NOT liberalinaredstate.
Mea culpa. Bet liberalinaredstate will understand
February 7th, 2009 at 1:32 amthat Latin. I have a doubt professorj will, though.
marlow is only 100% correct, professorj (professor, my
lily red one, you can’t spell or type or something).
Maybe you are too young or too old and forgetful to
remember the Bush I recession, circa 1991 and the
Clinton surpluses when W stole the
election in 2001. Now look at what he left us – just
what he and the other Repugs meant to leave us. They
wanted to “starve the beast”, they said. “The beast”,
they said, “is the federal government.”
Get REAL, professorj.
February 7th, 2009 at 1:39 amprofessorj, you talk about spouting off as if these
women are doing it, but YOU’RE the one spouting off.
And methinks you have a wee touch of the “hatewomen”
February 7th, 2009 at 1:47 amsyndrome. REAL men have a name for you, but I can’t
say it here.
Groupthink….
Morning Joe is notorious for having the journalistic spine of an earthworm…perfect coming from card-carrying members of the Flat Earth Society.
What’s next for Joe…ditching the mail-order zipper sweater for a hood and sheet?
February 15th, 2009 at 12:20 pmAnyone who takes Morning Joke and his vacuous girlfriend Mika seriously is already in big trouble. Mika had better be careful because we know what Morning Joke does to girlfriends who threaten to spill the beans.
February 15th, 2009 at 2:23 pmThroughout the presidential campaign, the Morning Joe crew ran with a non-stop narrative that every story was somehow a serious problem for Barack Obama and his campaign. That same tired narrative has continued at Morning Joe since Obama won the election, and it’s all so predictable that it will continue throughout Obama’s presidency.
February 15th, 2009 at 8:19 pm