Ellen, I can't speak for tbh, but as a general principal, taxpayer money is the cash with which citizens part each year that the government than treats as its personal compensation, with which they do as they please.

Taxpayer money is the cash derived from the US tax code from folks who have zero influence over its expenditure.

Posted at July 23, 2008 2:23 PM in response to Wanted: Legitimate Reasons to Bail Out Fannie and Freddie Stockholders

In response to tbhull, a caveat: The government that continues to rig the market (so as to "privatize profit and socialize loss") is neither of, by nor for "the people."

Until the apex predators of the current economy are made to truly suffer (and I don't mean this in a retributive way) the general policy of "patch amd plug" will continue unto genuine calamity a la 1929.

Posted at July 23, 2008 2:15 PM in response to Wanted: Legitimate Reasons to Bail Out Fannie and Freddie Stockholders

How helpful! You admit not knowing what you're talking about, yet you are kind enough to dismiss thoughtful and informed analysis (flawed as it may well be) as "bullshit." Thanks of the illuminating contribution.

Posted at July 22, 2008 11:35 AM in response to Intellectual Usury Feels Good, at First

If the Muslims lived in Scandinavia or somewhere else that wasn't oozing oil, nobody would be bothering them, and they wouldn't be bothering us.

We're the bad guys in this beef. Intrusive, double-dealing, belligerent, xenophobic and provocative Zionists with no respect for anybody who interferes with American gluttony.

Posted at July 19, 2008 2:56 PM in response to Will McCain Campaign Disavow Surrogate's Claim That "The Muslims" Are "Going To Kill Us"?

Agreed. Obama needn't muddy his hands with this chuckle-head. Day is just another example of sketchy judgment by McCain. There's your meme. Imagine what sort of cabinet might present in the Errant Aviator's Administration.

Posted at July 19, 2008 2:49 PM in response to Will McCain Campaign Disavow Surrogate's Claim That "The Muslims" Are "Going To Kill Us"?

"It remains unclear whether the library will disclose its donors..."

I'll take the under on that bet.

Posted at July 17, 2008 10:56 AM in response to White House Says Bush Library Won't Inform Bush About Its Donors

dofus [doo-fis]- n

a provider or validator of insipid commentary

see: McMia; Perino, D; Kristol, B;

Posted at July 14, 2008 10:40 PM in response to White House Distances President From Homeland Security Adviser Who Tried To Trade Access For Cash

Not a chance. There's no upside for Jesse in clowning himself on FoxNews.

As for the ready mea culpa, two points: Jesse is many things, most of which blend virtuoso grandiloquence with minimal ethical constraint. He's always been extraordinarily nifty on his pins. Also, Fox gave him a heads up before airing the clip (a sort of collegial professional courtesy, if you will.)

Posted at July 14, 2008 5:39 PM in response to The tragedy of Jesse Jackson

Brother Ta-Nehisi says, “Jesse—quite literally—made Barack Obama possible.”

This is, of course, unmitigated bullshit. For over forty years now, Jesse Jackson has revealed himself to be little more than a serial agitator, devoid of scruple and utterly reliant on the teat of grievance and entitlement for his very sustenance. The thought of his being credited with the emergence of Barack Obama is akin to the notion that Mussolini begat Eisenhower, or Bull Connor made Dr. King.

Since the photo op on that Memphis balcony back in ’68, to this very day, any pavement laid or doors knocked down by Jesse, have been acts of specious vandalism done in the service of Jesse, save none. Even the Rainbow Coalition, the most persuasive contrivance of his nefarious career, was little more than a shell corporation and façade designed to endow the Reverend with the false veneer of legitimacy and a vehicle with which to raise funds. With Jesse, as with Al, job one has always been first-class self-promotion achieved through controversy—legitimate or otherwise.

If his kvetching after the campaigns of ’84 & ’88 can be connected to any current event, it is not the Obama movement. The closest contemporary parallels to those circuses are to be found in the hubristic, ruthless Hillary ’08 debacle—right down to the parasitic presence of Mr. Kvetch himself, Harold Ickes, and the iconic black apparatchik of the Clinton machine, Ron Brown.

Nevertheless, Brother Ta-Nehisi finds it both tragic and somewhat mystifying that Jesse has not been asked to campaign with or be a surrogate for Obama. He still seems to hold out hope that the Reverend might be given a formal role at the DNC and in the fall campaign, and he gives voice to the notion that some might be tempted “to go after Barack as an ingrate and say he's ducking Jesse out of fear of what white voters might think.”

Brother, please.

When Jesse says that he’s, “available to serve in any capacity that will help him,” his disingenuousness is more risible than anything he’s done since on SNL. Jesse and Al and Tavis and the rest of those who would occupy the, ahem, Head "African-American" Chair in 21st Century culture need to understand that their time has passed, and that it has been time poorly spent.

To borrow from Eddie Murphy, there’s a new sheriff in town—and his name is Barack Obama: an African-American, who isn’t interested in recycling shame and rekindling animus.

Mr. Coates left unanswered the question: If white voters hate Jesse and black voters are mixed about him, and [Obama] already [has] black voters locked down, what's to be gained by having him campaign?

The answer? Not a damn thing—and thank God for that.

Posted at July 14, 2008 4:40 PM in response to The tragedy of Jesse Jackson

Hagel is independent and principled. Leibenschmootz is Independent and nakedly self-serving.

Posted at July 13, 2008 7:41 PM in response to Hagel's Office Officially Announces Iraq/Afghanistan Trip With Obama