1 Taxes. Taxes. Taxes. Taxes.

2 Alzheimer's.

3 What the hell is Beck up to? He's scaring me.

His own network? His own planet? His own psychiatric ward?

4 He was raving about the necessity of raising taxes on the wealthy.

He has been doing that for a long time, and he has NEVER been a conservative.

5 I blame Alzheimer's. 

No, I don't think he actually has it, but it lets me fondly remember the man of just a couple years ago who was one of the best defenders of Conservatism in America.

6 Beck's big move is to be a guest blogger at AoS.

7 If he could afford to let Jimmy Kimmel give away all that money of his in that big, black safe, he's must be rich.

8 Stein has a lot of money.  I think that he must have done something wrong to get some of it because he comes off sounding guilty as hell.  He is a smart guy and he surely knows that you can't even come close to cutting any substantial amount out of either the deficit or the debt by taxing the rich.  Some estimates are as low as $80 billion.  Yesterday wasn't the first time he has made this argument.
Also, he looked like he was going to cry when Laura asked him about cutting government spending.  He really didn't want to go there.  It was certainly an odd encounter.

9 Miller? .... Miller? ..... Miller?

10 The DC cocktail party circuit is like the Pet Sematary - you don't get back what you put in. 

/Ben, you're but a shadow of your former self.  How sad.

11 .01% annual wealth tax.  For the Justice!

12 5 I blame Alzheimer's. 
Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at June 30, 2011 05:55 PM

How come I get blamed for every wacko statement?

13 RD,

The Iowahawk link is broken.  I think this is the one you're looking for:

http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2011/03/index.html

14 Statism is a disease.

The idea that the Federal government deserves more money is in itself a repulsive idea. That the Fed should be involved in redistributing wealth is sickening.

I never really liked Stein. I hope he chokes on his class warfare.

15 Beck's online program is only $5./month and he's excited to explore different stuff now. He's pretty creative and I think it's going to be good.

16 Ben Stein is a hack and always has been.  For years he argued vehemently that there was no housing bubble and real estate prices would never ever drop. The few people that ever took him seriously stopped a long time ago.

17 Hell he was a speech writer for the most liberal Republican President since the original progressive, Teddy Roosevelt and the second one wasn't much better.

18 I tend to agree with Vic, he's never struck me as particularly Conservative, just a reasonably reliable Republican who has vaguely conservative stances most of the time, but probably doesn't actually care so long as he's being fed and paid enough attention to.

19
Win Tax Ben Stein's Money

20 Leave me alone while I enjoy my beautiful wife and doggie at my Beverly Hills home and the one in Malibu and the one in Palm Springs.

21 Not to sound like Charles Johnson, but Stein has been a crank ever since he made an entire movie extolling the merits of teaching creationism in science classes.

22 I've been a Ben Stein fan for years, but he seems to have gone off the reservation, and increasingly goes just batshit when interviewed. 

He's lost his goddam mind.

23

I recall that he had a  creationism advocacy movie a couple of years back. Neither here nor there, I suppose.

A few other possible processes. (1) Early-stage dementia. (2) He's never had the supposed business/economic chops anyway; instead he's always acted to occupy some niche franchise of public perception. (3) Drugs.

24 Ben Stein has always been an annoying buffoon.  When he's been right, it's by accident.

25 I think you mean Kahn, not Khan.... He's no relation of mine.

26 (3) Drugs.

He ODed on Clear Eyes? 

27 A "smart" guy who thinks that giving more money to a bloated, inefficient, wasteful government is a good idea is ridiculous. He really must be going through something. Antidepressants? Booze? Don't know.

28 When that pussy Stein has trouble buying diapers and milk for his children because the checking account is overdrawn to pay the light bill, then the little no-callouses thimble-fucker can start lecturing me about how harmless taxes are.

These elite eggheads are too busy sniffing each others' asses in a circle in some Manhattan apartment to realize that the common man isn't looking to them for anything. Not advice, not help, not a damn thing.
Shut the fuck up and go read your fuckin New Yorker magazine on the balcony you candy-ass.

29 He is angling for an MFM gig.

30 Oh, the Iowahawk link is correct but it's been pasted twice into the href.

http://bit.ly/kGnyJe

But the video of Whittle is just as apropos.

31 Oh. and your link is fucked.  Cleveland Clinic "we grow bone?" 

seriously.  I tried that line on the wife this morning and it didn't work.

Police yer webs and such.

32

He is always making this same ridiculous assertion, and he makes it because he is an Academic and a (Republican) Progressive.

33 I once liked Ben as he seemed to have a feel for a lot of conservative concepts.  Unfortunately, I think he must have severe personal problems that have clouded his judgment to such an extent that he is completely irrational and not worth listening to for any reason.
"Everybody in my neighborhood is rich except poor me" is a cry for help in my book.

34 It is a  good question. 

I use to love Stein's columns in American Spectator, now he is fucking crazy.

I am sort of worried that something is going on with his personal life that is screwing up his logic.

Like he lost a lot of shit with Bernie?  He is a Joo and might have be an investor.

It is sad.  It is almost like he is on crack.

He still loves the troops.  I'll pray he gets right.

35 Or maybe he thinks that "the rich" can recover what they lose from that hypothetical 10 or 15% surcharge by going on Win Ben Stein's Money.

36 What about that little inconvenient truth that no matter how high marginal rates have been in the past up to 90%, there has never been taxes collected more than 20% of GDP (Hauser's Law) so how are we actually going to get more money? Do we just keep forgetting that when we decide to raise taxes? That somehow we will be able to remove more money from the economy than we ever have in the history of income tax? Ben is a smart guy. This is just becoming a punish the rich for being successful screed.

Let me start the meme.

Some say Tax here. Tax now.

WE CAN'T... TAX OUR WAY OUT OF THIS.

37

I used to really respect Ben Stein.  When he got involved with that film that advocated teaching creationism in science classes, a red flag went up.  I wasn't aware of his defense of Strauss-Khan, but if its true it sounds like he's gone overe the edge now.

Too bad for him.

38 OT...

Schumer: "Now is the time to ask. Are Republicans slowing down the economy on purpose for political gains in 2012"

MSNBC: "I think Schumer is right"

39 15:

Ace's program is free and doesn't come with a heaping dose of

Teh Crezy.

40 He used to be such a dependable conservative voice. I can't believe Stein is a crank now.

Actually, he's always been this way. I remember him raving like a lunatic on Phil Donahue's show 25 years ago. I remember it because even though I was just a kid not interested in politics, it was in complete opposition to his mild-mannered, monotonic TV and movie persona.

He's also always been back-and-forth about his positions. He's part of the ruling class, which isn't really conservative or liberal. His main thing is having power over others, which is why he defended DSK. The fact that a mere maid could bring down someone as powerful as DSK is abhorrent to Stein.

He fears losing his own power over the unwashed masses.

41

Beck's online program is only $5./month and he's excited to explore different stuff now. He's pretty creative and I think it's going to be good.

 

This reads like a bleg.

42 His columns in  American Spectator (dead tree version, anyway) always mention his health problems of one type or another.

43 Uh Ben, we need to have a little talk.

44 The one thing Stein has done which I've tried my best to copy, is stocking up on incandescent bulbs. 

They'll have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands.

45

Posted by: Ben Stein at June 30, 2011 06:03 PM (Xm1aB)

Don't forget my little Watergate "apartment" I use only when I am dealing with my friends inside the Beltway

46 He's also always been back-and-forth about his positions. He's part of the ruling class, which isn't really conservative or liberal. His main thing is having power over others, which is why he defended DSK. The fact that a mere maid could bring down someone as powerful as DSK is abhorrent to Stein.

True, if you can't rape the help, what good are they for?

47 Thanks for the heads-up, Rex Harrison's Hat.

48 hmmm... I love CFL bulbs myself.  When they finally burn out after 5-6 years, I throw them in yards of liberals.

49 34 It is a  good question. 

I use to love Stein's columns in American Spectator, now he is fucking crazy.

I am sort of worried that something is going on with his personal life that is screwing up his logic.

Like he lost a lot of shit with Bernie?  He is a Joo and might have be an investor.

It is sad.  It is almost like he is on crack.

He still loves the troops.  I'll pray he gets right.

Posted by: Sweede at June 30, 2011 06:05 PM (AfrXc)

I'm with you.  I'm asking myself where this guy lost his mind?  He's not stupid, so at what point, and why, did he decide to go bananas?  It's actually quite disconcerting.  and yes, I used "disconcerting" in a sentence without sarcasm.  The world has come to that.

50 40 15:

Ace's program is free and doesn't come with a heaping dose of

Teh Crezy.

Posted by: sifty at June 30, 2011 06:06 PM (gYuf3)

_{speaking of which....where's c------?}

51

he worked on nixon's economic team.

enough said

52 Jane:  Not to sound too much like Insty, but I got a whole bunch from Amazon - a couple hundred.  Nobody else seems to have them in bulk packs - Home Depot, Costco, nobody.

53 Ben is solid pro-life and solid pro-troops. Everything else is wifey, dogs, houses in Beverly Hills, Malibu, Palm Springs, health problems, bad airline service, etc. He's irrelevant.

54 Have Newt and Ben Stein been sharing a spoon?

55 Ben Stein is a hack and always has been.  For years he argued vehemently that there was no housing bubble and real estate prices would never ever drop. The few people that ever took him seriously stopped a long time ago.

Fox has some talent from the financial community, and I would not count Stein amongst the top 10. I really enjoy their Saturday morning shows. Wayne Rogers is great as is Jonathan Hoenig (I love that he named his company Capitalist Pig). There are a couple of loonies on there for balance but these guys tend to keep them in check. Of course, my favorite is Cavuto. I'm a serious fangoil.

56 He also endorsed that asshat Al Franken.  Hard to figure.  Maybe he wants a better table at Morton's (I had dinner with him there years ago).

57 When Zsa Zsa Stein signs a big fat multi-million dollar chunk of his cash over to TurboTim Git-ner, maybe the Give-a-Shitometer will tremble.

58 Yeah, it's a shame. Ben Stein likes his life, such as it is: gooing to parties and having fun with rich liberals in Hollywood. By this time next year he will be a full-on liberal Obama supporter. Mark my words.  I guess it was just too good to be true. Ben, it was good knowing you.

59 54 Jane:  Not to sound too much like Insty, but I got a whole bunch from Amazon - a couple hundred.  Nobody else seems to have them in bulk packs - Home Depot, Costco, nobody.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at June 30, 2011 06:09 PM (btzPD)

I'm literally out of storage space for them now.  Can you imagine putting those ugly CFLs in a dining room chandelier?

60

In life, events tend to follow patterns. People who commit crimes tend to be criminals, for example. Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?

 

How bout a doctor who raped babies? Doctor Earl Bradly of De.

Asshat.

61

Stein's lunacy comes from his insular existence. 

He's the embodiement of what is wrong with Academia.

62 "Expelled" was when I realised that Stein was not honest. As to why he lies, that doesn't matter much to me. I just know that he does. And now so do you.

63 50:

CFL's will go through a Prius window if thrown hard enough.

64 19
Win Tax Ben Stein's Money
Posted by: Dr. Varno at June 30, 2011 06:03 PM (QMtmy)

... aaaaannnnnnnddddd we're done here1 Next thread!

65 What the fuck happened to him?  I don't remember him being this brain damaged. 

66 Well his dad helped Nixon run the country into debt and he never got into Bethesda Country Club, these facts we know.

Stein has whined about it for years. Hope his stupid dog and son are OK and the next trip he gets driven to works out and he gets good room service.

He a spoiled rotten dickhead, but he loves the troops. 

67 Posted by: sifty at June 30, 2011 06:11 PM (gYuf3)
But even in his league, he plays teh class warfare card because HE isn't rich enough to be taxed at the  rate the truly rich deserve.

68 So? Mark Levin ad-hominem-ly attacked just about every conservative talking head on the face of the planet. Yet nobody got wee-weed up on his erratic behavior.

69 I recall that he had a  creationism advocacy movie a couple of years back. Neither here nor there, I suppose.

I don't think he'd make the creationism argument so strongly now.

70 55 Ben is solid pro-life and solid pro-troops.

Everything else is wifey, dogs, houses in Beverly Hills, Malibu, Palm Springs, health problems, bad airline service, etc.

He's irrelevant.

Posted by: Dave at June 30, 2011 06:10 PM (Xm1aB)

Unfortunately, I think you're right.

What's sad is he could have been a solid voice for the Republic, for capitalism, for individual freedom.  But, nope.  Dude went batshit crazy.

Guess it's just us now lol

71 Tax Ben Stein's Money Ha ha!

72 We will not clean Ben Stein's room.

73

Heh. Mark Levin has clearly been spending too much time hanging out with World of Warcraft types. He was read a news item as "...for the same reason women put rogue on their faces."

 

74 This happens to alot of republicans/conservatives in the DC crowd. We need new blood to say the least! OMG violent rhetoric!

75 Jane:  No way.  And my wife hates them even more than I do.  I've got more coming, too...  but the three way bulbs are impossible to buy in any quantity.

76 he worked on nixon's economic team.

enough said

Indeed.  I'll just leave this here.

"Probably more new regulation was imposed on the economy during the Nixon administration than in any other presidency since the New Deal." -Herbert Stein.

77 The guy always struck me as a bit odd, and I took his so-called conservatism more as a little-boy "fuck you look at me" contrarian position to his more wealthy friends out of envy

78 I used to like Peggy Noonan, and back in the day she was quite easy on the eyes, but when she drank the Obama Kool-aid, she lost me.  Her attempt to upchuck the drink last year or so didn't work.  It's like a pot brownie -- if you wait too long, barfing won't work.  I cannot give any credence to anyone who supported Obama (from the right) and now apologizes.  I appreciate the apology, but you sold your soul to the devil and you are not getting it back.

79 I never understood the appeal of Stein. I just never cared what he said one way or another. But, yeah, his tone has always been a bit knowitall-ish. Clearly, he doesn't, so I can ignore him with more vigor.

80 I count Ben and Peggy among my closest friends.

81 Ben will always be welcome at my hacienda.

82 58 He also endorsed that asshat Al Franken.  Hard to figure.  Maybe he wants a better table at Morton's (I had dinner with him there years ago).

Posted by: observer at June 30, 2011 06:11 PM (Beb1i)

That fact, in and of itself, moves him into the permanent category of "Douchebag"

You can never recover from that.  Fucked.  Forever.

Hell, I've been stupid in my lifetime, but i was never that stupid.

83

How does this get him into liberal parties?

He said he also believed the theory of evolution leads to racism and ultimately genocide, an idea common among creationist thinkers. If it were up to him, he said, the film would be called “From Darwin to Hitler.”

I guess there's another explanation, but I don't really care what it is.

84 Stein has been on this kick for a few years. I think his line was, "The rich are rich, that's why they're called 'the rich'" or some such nonsense.
I suspect the Hollywood guiltarhosis, where if you make a bazillion dollars for saying something simple like, for example, "Bueller. Bueller. Bueller," you start feeling like you're somehow cheating.
He should be reminded that charity is always open for gifts, both from himself, and from all his rich friends, and is often a more efficient way of distributing one's wealth than taxes.
Oh, and I also find it amusing that he separates himself from his "rich" friends.

85 What does the left have on Stein?

86

He really took a beating for that movie he did in 2008 defending intelligent design.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1091617/

87 Not suprising coming from someone who could make a movie as stupid as Expelled.

88 sifty, sweet. A twofer.

89 I think rdbrewer got it right. DC Cocktail disease. A real shame.

90 Remember reading his living in Hollywood pieces in the old American Spectator ( the huge size- good times). To say he was eccentric was being kind. #16. I remember that- very bullish on the housing bubble to the very end. Lot of people buy into this soak the rich, they'll still do business, garbage- the late Mark Haines was the same way.

91 EVERYONE should pay taxes because everyone benefits and should have a stake in the country.

92 ".......collect some attaboys.."

Sorry, I stopped giving them out, some time back.

93 Someone got a problem with Creationism?

94

We interrupt this thread for a public service announcement...

 

I FOUND A JOB!   YAY ME!   FINALLY!

 

And it pays almost twice as much as the job I was laid off from.

 

*happy dance*  *happy dance*  *happy dance*

95 I heard him described as an actor/economist. He is just more comfortable in the actor made these days, I guess.

96 It's amazing to me how many people quit maturing after high school. Just going by this article Mr. Stein still wants to hang with the cool kids and will do and say anything, whether he contradicts himself or not, just to hang with them. Keep in mind I have, did, like Mr Stein and his arguments. Hell, I even went to see his movie about evolution; BTW good movie and anybody who wants to here the intelligent design stance should go see. All I can say now is WTF and who can we(conservatives) trust.

97 Ben's father was Chairman of the Council  of Economic Advisers under Nixon.  Ben only got taken on as a speechwriter during the last days of the Nixon admin because of Daddy

Herbert Stein was one of those sorta neo-con 'govt spending is okay, but not too much' middle-road dudes who could tailor their message for either Rs or Dems

Ben has always had some serious personal and health problems, and I think the strain and age have worn him down a lot

98 Funny, all those rich corporations with money out the wazoo just keep moving offshore to save on taxes...

99 Stein argued in this clip that the massively high tax rates of the 1950's had no impact on our economic growth.

This is a deeply dishonest statement that leftists use all the time. Investment guru Charles Payne has proven time and again that the highest tax rates of the 1950s applied to only a tiny handful of people.

The economic model of today bears almost no resemblance to the 1950s. The vast majority of jobs--over 70 percent--are created by small business owners who technically make over $250,000 a year but who will be massacred if we adopt the tax rates the Democrats want.

Stein is either a liar or an idiot.

100 Someone got a problem with Creationism?

Just a few of us.

101 Does anyone remember his column about how he loved to sit in his pool in CA and who cool he was?  Or the column about how cool it was to be in Idaho on the lake with his cool boat?  Or how nice "insert speaking group here" the little people he met in bum fuck "insert state here" were? Or his fucking dog?

He is an elitist  asshole.  Shit he grew up the son of one of the most powerful economist in the world, did he mention they had a condo at the Watergate?

Yes he does every fucking month.

We put up with him for years because he loves the troops.

Hope he gets off the crack or Kool Aid.

102 Is he really trying to say he lives in the equivalent of a double-wide among a bunch of mansions?  Are we really supposed to believe all his neighbors are rich...but he's not?  And yet, he lives in their neighborhood? 

Also, I vote for syphilis, rather than Alzheimer's.

103 I think about Ben Stein the same way I think about Andrew Sullivan: Thank God he's their embarrassment now, not ours.

104 Congrats, Steph! Strippers and blow for the house! Steph's buyin'!

105

Oh, the link for my quote. At Reason.com.

Shut up and sing, indeed.

106 95

We interrupt this thread for a public service announcement...

 

I FOUND A JOB!   YAY ME!   FINALLY!

 

And it pays almost twice as much as the job I was laid off from.

 

*happy dance*  *happy dance*  *happy dance*

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:20 PM (VfTQp)

congratulations, Steph!  Get out there and make that $$!  Happy for you

107 Did someone say blow and strippers?

108 .....and he apparently got frakked big time in the L.A. real estate bubble of the early 80s.  Bought at the peak, listened to fools, lost all his $$$$, etc

that can frak you up, man

109 Since when is the amount one can afford the guideline for how much tax is due?

It is as if one says "how much are my taxes?" and the government replies "how much do you have?".

NO.  WRONG ANSWER.

110 He's a Nixonian Republican (the people who brought you the DEA, war on drugs, and the EPA). Do I need to say more?

111 102 Someone got a problem with Creationism?

Just a few of us.

Posted by: The Dinosaurs at June 30, 2011 06:21 PM (HwE/1)

shut up. you're dead.

112 95

We interrupt this thread for a public service announcement...

 

I FOUND A JOB!   YAY ME!   FINALLY!

 

And it pays almost twice as much as the job I was laid off from.

 

*happy dance*  *happy dance*  *happy dance*

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:20 PM (VfTQp)

Yay!

113 Congratulations, Steph. 

114 I FOUND A JOB!   YAY ME!   FINALLY!

And it pays almost twice as much as the job I was laid off from.

Couldn't you have waited until 2013?

115 95
I FOUND A JOB!   YAY ME!   FINALLY!
And it pays almost twice as much as the job I was laid off from.
*happy dance*  *happy dance*  *happy dance*
Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:20 PM (VfTQp)

So, let's see ... that's 2 jobs created ...

Congratulations and good luck!

116

I really was beginning to get worried, but this job is perfect.   It's in the same industry and I got it because people knew of my reputation.   Plus, they are direct competition to my old company, and my old company were asshats.

So, that makes it all the more sweet.

I think I'll get drunk!

117 He was using that same tone of condescending certainty in the Spring of '08 when he was talking about how ridiculously cheap Merrill and Lehman and BofA and assorted other financial stocks were.

The only thing he has ever done as an economist to distinguish himself is to appear on TV. If you get on TV and say stupid shit in an entertaining way, you can keep appearing on TV and stupid people will think you're smart.

118 What do dinosaurs have to do with creationism?  Did I miss a verse? On the 8th day...

119

When do you start?

The job, not the getting drunk. Cuz by the time I hit post...

120 Good job, Steph.

121 I've observed this about Obama as well: Stein has always been around people who are significantly richer than he is.  If you go through Obama's history, it's abundantly true and Obama developed a pretty strong level of resentment because of it. I think this is true of Stein also. He has a bit of a cocktail-party circuit of his own, a little bit of Hollywood and a little bit of Wall Street and I don't think I'm going out on a limb guessing that they all out-earn Stein with his credit report commercials and Fox Business gig.

I think it's more than a little bit of resentment on his part.  He clearly doesn't see himself as super-rich.  I think he also has developed this argument style over the years on any issue.

122 118

I really was beginning to get worried, but this job is perfect.   It's in the same industry and I got it because people knew of my reputation.   Plus, they are direct competition to my old company, and my old company were asshats.

So, that makes it all the more sweet.

I think I'll get drunk!

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:26 PM (VfTQp)

brb, sendin' IRS note to audit this chick next year

123

And it pays almost twice as much as the job I was laid off from.

 *happy dance*  *happy dance*  *happy dance*

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:20 PM (VfTQp)

Well done, Steph...well done!!!

124 Strippers and blow for the house! Steph's buyin'!

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at June 30, 2011 06:22 PM (lbo6/)

Maybe we should check to make sure it isn't a stripper job first.

125 112 He's a Nixonian Republican (the people who brought you the DEA, war on drugs, and the EPA). Do I need to say more?
///
Yes, like Nixon instituted wage & price controls and wanted to create national health insurance.  Oh, and Nixon crapped out on Linebacker II.

126

When do you start?

The job, not the getting drunk. Cuz by the time I hit post...

Posted by: Mama AJ at June 30, 2011 06:26 PM (XdlcF)

Not until the 11th, but they're sending me the employment contract in the mail, and I'll be getting the ole piss test next week.   Gotta study up for that, you know.

127 118

I really was beginning to get worried, but this job is perfect.   It's in the same industry and I got it because people knew of my reputation.   Plus, they are direct competition to my old company, and my old company were asshats.

So, that makes it all the more sweet.

I think I'll get drunk!

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:26 PM (VfTQp)

I'm happy for you, and I understand your enthusiasm, but every time I've said those words it ended with a chick with a tattoo or a fight, or both.

Good luck!

128 Well done, Steph.

129 It's probably been asserted, but I'm guessing Mr. Stein sent a twitter pic of little ben to someone he shouldn't have. and this is the ramification of being easily blackmailed. Or, not.

130 I FOUND A JOB!   YAY ME!   FINALLY!

You're welcome.

131

Congratulations Steph! Very good news.

132

 Gotta study up for that, you know.

I really need to turn off the mental image feature of my brain before reading this blog.

133 3.) The prosecutors say that Mr. Strauss-Kahn "forced" the complainant to have oral and other sex with him. How? Did he have a gun? Did he have a knife? He's a short fat old man.


Umm....Stein's statement here is kinda disturbing and weird. 

134 Way to go, Steph!

135 brb, updating the "jobs created or saved" figures

136

Thanks everybody.    Wow, what a relief.    I feel so fortunate considering how this economy looks like it may be taking another dump.

Oh, and it's not a stripper job.   Tits ain't big enough. 

137 I wasn't aware of his defense of Strauss-Khan, but if its true it sounds like he's gone overe the edge now.

Too bad for him.

Posted by: Cicero at June 30, 2011 06:06 PM

Have you been listening, your excellency?

138 Remember when Stein ridiculed Peter Schiff over Merrill Lynch? I do.

139

You are hereby warned that any effort to solicit customers of the Asshat Co. or otherwise exploit confidential information to which you were exposed during your tenure as an Asshat employee will be treated as a violation of state law and of the terms of your employment here at Asshat.

140 Barky: "How did we let a conservative get a job?"

141 Why doesn't he just ask his super-rich buddies to pay more voluntarily?

142 Short, fat old men can no longer be accused of rape?

Hasn't Ben Stein seen Last Tango in Paris?

143 137 3.) The prosecutors say that Mr. Strauss-Kahn "forced" the complainant to have oral and other sex with him. How? Did he have a gun? Did he have a knife? He's a short fat old man.


Umm....Stein's statement here is kinda disturbing and weird.
///
Yeah, well, one day I'll be a short fat old man and I damn well intend to be able to force a lass to have oral and other sex with me, esp. the other kind.

How's that for disturbing and weird?  (note, not that I will, but I'll be able to)

144 Tits ain't big enough

will. not. get. banned....

145

I'll be getting the ole piss test next week.   Gotta study up for that, you know.

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:29 PM (VfTQp)

Lotta water before hand, mix in a spoon of salt if you can handle it, a b-complex vitamin to color up the urine, and maybe some creatine pills a few days beforehand. The amount of effort depends on how much you need to clean out.

And congrats.

146 BTW, I've always thought Ben Stein was a great guy, but he's burning-up the goodwill at an astounding rate right now.

147 Fox just said Jay "Opie" Carney called MSNBC to complain about Halperin's dick comment.

I'll bet Dicky "Thin-Skinned" O'Barky was fit to be tied.

148 I think Stein's ultra-wealthy liberal friend's cocktail parties have Orion slave girls.

149 I'm still trying to figure out how "progressive" income taxation doesn't violate equal protection.

150 113 - Oh, God, I'm dying laughing here.  That is the funny.

151

You are hereby warned that any effort to solicit customers of the Asshat Co. or otherwise exploit confidential information to which you were exposed during your tenure as an Asshat employee will be treated as a violation of state law and of the terms of your employment here at Asshat.

Posted by: The Asshat Group at June 30, 2011 06:32 PM (QKKT0)

Too bad for you Asshat Group.   The terms of my non-compete are null and void.    Suck it.

152 That advert of him sittin' on a park bench surrounded by squirrels is perfect.No wonder AmSpec is tits up. Sorry Stacy.

153 152:

Naw.

Fleur de Lis.

154 2Alzheimer's.

Posted by: Alice's Clone Army at June 30, 2011 05:55 PM (wDzxx)

Sorry to say this, but Alice nailed it.  We just buried my father in-law after a 3 year bout with altzheimer's.  He was as sharp as ever, but it turned him into a raging asshole.  He burned through a lifetime of good karma in 3 years.  Toward the end, when he wasn't sleeping, he was trying to beat up anything he could see.  If Ben has started any aggressive incidents in the past few months, he needs to get checked out.

155 151 Fox just said Jay "Opie" Carney called MSNBC to complain about Halperin's dick comment.

I'll bet Dicky "Thin-Skinned" O'Barky was fit to be tied.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 30, 2011 06:34 PM

He's a fuckin' stutterin' prick if ya ask me!

156 The disturbing part about Ben Stein is you KNOW he's a smart guy... so when he says stupid shit you just furrow your brow and shake your head, wondering what in the crap is he thinking?

But he's been so wrong so much so recently that I just dismiss him now.  It's sad.  I'd have thought better of the guy.  But you can't be that stupid and get away with it..

Sorry, Ben.  You're expelled.

157 I think it's more than a little bit of resentment on his part.  He clearly doesn't see himself as super-rich.

I used to be a music journalist in L.A. I went to tons of parties and got to know some extremely wealthy people. Some of the houses I went to were beyond belief.

Never once was I jealous. Their wealth had nothing to do with my choice to pursue a writing career. I was extremely lucky in that my brother let me live rent free in one of his houses, so I was able to interview musicians until there weren't any more worth talking to or about.

Still a struggling writer all these years later, and I still can't bring myself to resent the rich. Sure, it's a little gross to see $10 million spent to wed Kim Kardashian's giant ass to a basketball player, since we all know that they'll split up in three years, but think of all the people who can feed their kids because of Kim's giant ass.

The rich do far more good than harm, even when they're not trying. 

158 Oh, I've socked myself.

159 In "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" Ben Stein's boring lecture was all about the Laffer curve.

160 tangonine should check his socks.

161 Ben Stein has a bad case of wealthy liberal elite cocktail party disease, Potomac fever for rich people. It's worse even than Peggy Noonan's.
Birdbrain flu.

162
Hasn't Ben Stein seen Last Tango in Paris?

Get the butta.

163 165 tangonine should check his socks.

Posted by: Rod Rescueman at June 30, 2011 06:39 PM (HwE/1)

yeah.  I'm not the sharpest tool in the bowling alley.

164

think of all the people who can feed their kids because of Kim's giant ass

Ya know, I really wasn't planning on drinking tonight, but it's starting to sound better and better.

165 NBC news, right now, China's new high speed rail. Why is America on the slow track? 2 reports. On now!

166 I'm still trying to figure out how "progressive" income taxation doesn't violate equal protection.

Because of the 16th amendment wording and liberal courts.

I have often wondered why "sin taxes" don't violate equal protection.

167 156, C.Daniels of the Torque Wrench:  Is AmSpec really TU?

168 Rocky Mountain potted fever?

169 NBC news, right now, China's new high speed rail. Why is America on the slow track? 2 reports. On now!

When you can just fly to any city in China from any city in China for less than $500, then I'll be impressed.

170 Ya know, I really wasn't planning on drinking tonight, but it's starting to sound better and better.

Let's raise our glasses to Kim Kardashian's giant, 100-percent real, super-wealthy, involuntarily altruistic ass.

Prosit!

171 Sounds to me like Stein is just being a contrarian.

172 Should have been a heads-up to everyone that he's a long-time PETA member.

173 Dear sweet Lord.  Michelle at a fundraiser in Boston today:

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

First lady Michelle Obama today spoke in very frank and personal terms to a Massachusetts audience as she described her conversion to a political wife, as well as the toll President ObamaÂ’s job takes on him each day.

“I see the worry creasing his face. I hear the passion and determination in his voice. ‘You won’t believe what these folks are going through;’ he told me that last night. ‘Michelle, it is not right. We’ve got to fix this. We have to do more,’” she said during a visit to Boston for a fund-raiser on behalf of the Democratic National Committee.

“Barack always reminds me that we are playing a long game,” she added, replicating her husband’s call for patience amid the country’s slow emergence from a recession. “He reminds me, as I said to you, too, that change is slow. He reminds me that change doesn’t happen all at once, but that if we keep showing up, if we keep fighting the good fight, doing what we know is right, then eventually we will get there, because the truth is we always have in this country. We always have.”

Like her husband did a day earlier during a White House news conference, the first lady evoked the image of their two daughters, Malia and Sasha, as she tried to stir Democratic supporters.

“The truth is that no matter what happens, my girls will be OK. My girls will have plenty of advantages and opportunities in their lives. And that’s probably true for many of your kids as well,” she told a largely female audience of about 125 people gathered at the Chestnut Hill home of philanthropists and Democratic activists Elaine and Gerald Schuster.

174 NBC news, right now, China's new high speed rail. Why is America on the slow track? 2 reports. On now!

Let me know if they tell of how almost nobody can afford to take the damned thing. That's what the last report I saw had to say about it.

175

“I see the worry creasing his face. I hear the passion and determination in his voice."

In spite of all that passion, he'll never break 90.

176

“I see the worry creasing his face. I hear the passion and determination in his voice. ‘You won’t believe what these folks are going through;’ he told me that last night. ‘Michelle, it is not right. We’ve got to fix this. We have to do more,’” she said during a visit to Boston for a fund-raiser on behalf of the Democratic National Committee.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 30, 2011 06:44 PM (UOM4

The only thing that man is worried about is getting re-elected, and I plan to do everything I possibly can to worry his ass right out of a job.

177 ‘You won’t believe what these folks are going through;’ he told me that last night. ‘Michelle, it is not right. We’ve got to fix this. We have to do more,’”

No Dick, really, please.  You've done enough.  Just.Stop.

178

Posted by: Clueless at June 30, 2011 06:44 PM (piMMO)

Nah, of course they didn't.

But it did say high-speed rail, while costing billions of dollars could create hundreds of thousands of jobs!!!

Too bad about that squandered $5 Trillion over the last few years. Hey, I wonder how many jobs 10 nuclear power plants would have created? Bad idea, all that cheap energy...

179 Stein didn't even try to support his argument. He just said that taxes had been higher at this time or that time or under president whosis. A decent argument would take into account GDP growth, inflation, debt, dollar strength etc.; not just "taxes were higher once upon a time." It is obvious rdbrewer is right on here. I've seen Stein play the same music on the Sunday financial shows for quite a while now. He doesn't have much of a career anymore so his only celebrity rush is to hang out at parties.

180 Supposedly only two high speed rail lines make money:  Shinkansen Tokyo-Osaka and TGV Paris-Lyon.  But who knows how they calculate "making money?"  Maybe operating costs only?

181 Cleveland Clinic "we grow bone?" 

You mean the The Des Moines Institute? We're familiar with it.

182 New name is "Ben Johnson."

183 Ben Stein : More vocal talent than Yoko, funnier than Bill Maher.

184 OT but so sweet:

A second boat destined to take part in the Gaza blockade-running effort has had its propeller cut off as it sat at a dock in Turkey.

The "activists" who were going to sail to Gaza will now have to sit it out. They're calling the sabotage of their stupid little boats "Israeli underwater terrorist attacks." Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

The Israelis also managed to either bug the room where the "activist" leaders met in secret, or--even more impressive--infiltrate the group, because the IDF has released the "activist" plans to throw bags of sulfur on any commando who storms the boats.

The IDF commandos need to be armed with machine guns and grenades this time. If sulfur is thrown, the boats need to be sunk.

185 I've always like Stein but I don't think he was the same after the Times canned him for that trumped up ethics charge for appearing in commercials for that credit report place.  The New York Times waving an ethics flag, now that's crap.

186 Cocaine is a Hell of a drug.

187 Maybe I'll just skip the rest of the school year.

188 95

We interrupt this thread for a public service announcement...

I FOUND A JOB!   YAY ME!   FINALLY!

And it pays almost twice as much as the job I was laid off from.

*happy dance*  *happy dance*  *happy dance*

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:20 PM (VfTQp)

Congratulations, and good for you!

189 Wow, thanks for the positive comments about Joe Miller!  They are much appreciated by his supporters....

190 New name is "Ben Johnson."

Ben Sullivan is funnier.  They try to impress the same people.  Charles only cares about his sycophantic worshipers.

191 Brian Williams on NBC news just called Canadians 'well-behaved'. I don't think I've ever heard that adjective used to desribe a country's citizens before. "Oh, those Palestinians, they're so well-behaved!"

192 I'm actually watching the Beck thing now. Kinda fascinating business model. Adam Corolla is doing the same thing with his web radio show.

I'm skeptical and I think he'll be much less influential with many fewer viewers, but who knows. Dude is a force of personality.

Great thing about cable tv is you get a piece of every person's monthly bill, even if they don't watch. Tens of millions of liberals pay a monthly fee to FNC as part of their cable bill. MSNBC gets a slice of every right-wingers cable bill.

With GBTV, Beck will only get money from people who subscribe to his site.

193 Save us from the Casey Anthony trial!  Please!  Fry the bitch and be done, and hopefully no more Anthony's will breed.

Now Mr. Anthony's whore is spilling her guts.  No words.

194

We interrupt this thread for a public service announcement...

 I FOUND A JOB!   YAY ME!   FINALLY!

 nd it pays almost twice as much as the job I was laid off from.

 *happy dance*  *happy dance*  *happy dance*

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:20 PM (VfTQp

Oh, fuck yeah! That's a beautiful thing. Congrats!!!

195 Anthony's will breed.

Jeebus, I'm getting sloppy with the punctuation.  Sorry.  Heroin is a hell of a drug.

196 Now Mr. Anthony's whore is spilling her guts.  No words.

She didn't make for the most credible witness.

197 Save us from the Casey Anthony trial!  Please!  Fry the bitch and be done, and hopefully no more Anthony's will breed.

Now Mr. Anthony's whore is spilling her guts.  No words.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 30, 2011 07:03 PM (UOM4

I am so sick of that shit.   Everyone knows she did it, and that crap claim her lawyers came up with about being sexually abused by her father as if it would be some kind of justification for murdering that baby girl is pure horseshit.

I hope she fries.

198

 "Israeli underwater terrorist attacks."

Obama will soon switch from blaming Bush to blaming those.

Or claim he's been busy with bin Laden, Greece and fighting off the IUTAs.

Uh huh.

199 Congrats Steph!

Time to celebrate. At the stroke of 9:00 eastern, we'll all raise our glasses to you.

200 New name is "Ben Johnson."
Ben Sullivan is funnier.  They try to impress the same people.  Charles only cares about his sycophantic worshipers.
Stupid on steroids.

201

They'll have to pry them out of my cold, dead hands. - Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 30, 2011 06:07 PM (UOM4

That'll be next winter when we can no longer afford heating.

202 Thanks everyone for the congrats on the job.   I don't know what I would have done without this place while I've been out of work.   You have kept me sane, or at least kept be from going bugshit nuts.

203 Mmm. Fries.

204 @210  be...me, yeah I've already started drinking.

205

Oh, and it's not a stripper job.   Tits ain't big enough. 

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:32 PM (VfTQp)

Not a damn thing wrong with little ones...as long as they're real. I always though the tall, thin, dark-haired one on Baywatch was the hot one.

Pam Anderson.......meh

206 It's readily apparent that Stein's 'conservative' days were his moonbat days. Now he's returned to what serves as normal for him.

207

I am so sick of that shit.   Everyone knows she did it, and that crap claim her lawyers came up with about being sexually abused by her father as if it would be some kind of justification for murdering that baby girl is pure horseshit.

I hope she fries.

She did it. No doubt. I've been home sick the last few days and hate to admit it, but I've watched a bit of it. Today, it was pieced together that she disposed of that baby in the exact same manner that her family had disposed of dead pets. As the pieces were coming together I wanted to vomit.

The fact that the defense tried to have her declared incompetent to stand trial, just Saturday, was a hint at desperation. I do not think she'll get the death penalty, but she may get life in prison without the possibility of parole. Frankly, I wish they'd offer her a plea of something like life with the possibility of parole in 25 years. In exchange, that bitch would have to stand up there and admit exactly what the fuck she did to that child. In 25 years, they can tell her to shove the "possibility" of parole up her ass.

208 Oh, and it's not a stripper job.   Tits ain't big enough.

Fluffer??

209 Posted by: beedubya at June 30, 2011 07:10 PM (AnTyA)

Agreed. It is the shape that is important, not size. In fact there might be some natural ratio that describes the perfect breast. Think of the two curves; the first from top to nipple and the second from bottom to nipple.

Or is this too much analysis?

Maybe CAC can help?

210 why do those ......s keep showing up?

211 Rampant speculation, but I'd bet Stein, while reasonably wealthy, may have gotten dinged by the IRS for unpaid taxes. Money has a funny way of disappearing suddenly, more so when you aren't truly rich, and I wouldn't be surprised if his personal finance management wasn't half as clever as we all assume. Envy or jealousy might explain his reversal, especially if he's still rubbing elbows with establishment politicos or celebrities.

212 In exchange, that bitch would have to stand up there and admit exactly what the fuck she did to that child. In 25 years, they can tell her to shove the "possibility" of parole up her ass.

Posted by: Clueless at June 30, 2011 07:12 PM (piMMO)

She has no soul.   You can see that in her eyes.    There's nothing there, but cold darkness.   It's written all over her face what hateful creature she is.   I hope she gets her ass kicked every day she's in prison.    Wipe that smirk ass look off her face.

213 #199, Well when I called my boss "clean and articulate" I meant to include "well behaved", too. You know, for a black man.

214 192OT but so sweet:

A second boat destined to take part in the Gaza blockade-running effort has had its propeller cut off as it sat at a dock in Turkey.

The "activists" who were going to sail to Gaza will now have to sit it out. They're calling the sabotage of their stupid little boats "Israeli underwater terrorist attacks." Waaaaaaaaaaaaaa! 

Posted by: Llarry at June 30, 2011 06:56 PM (SI/pw)

You didn't think we had only one Mossad shark, did you?

215 She has no soul.   You can see that in her eyes.    There's nothing there, but cold darkness.   It's written all over her face what hateful creature she is.   I hope she gets her ass kicked every day she's in prison.    Wipe that smirk ass look off her face.

There is one thing. One little thing that convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that she did it. Nothing would change my mind now.

After her daughter went missing, she got a tattoo.

The words "beautiful life".

216 I hope she fries too.

Fries right into the erectric chair.

217 Agreed. It is the shape that is important, not size. In fact there might be some natural ratio that describes the perfect breast. Think of the two curves; the first from top to nipple and the second from bottom to nipple.

fap...fap...fap

Or is this too much analysis?

Huh? You were saying something?

218 Good on you Steph.  Your joy is contagious.  Bottoms up!

219 225I hope she fries too.

Fries right into the erectric chair.

Posted by: stock oriental character at June 30, 2011 07:19 PM (g1Q6b)

OK, but I'm gonna have to charge you extra for those fries.

 

220

178 Dear sweet Lord.  Michelle at a fundraiser in Boston today:

“I see the worry creasing his face. I hear the passion and determination in his voice. ‘You won’t believe what these folks are going through;’ he told me that last night. ‘Michelle, it is not right. We’ve got to fix this. We have to do more,’” she said during a visit to Boston for a fund-raiser on behalf of the Democratic National Committee."

Echoes of Nixon's "Checkers" speech.

These guys are truly shameless. ?This also reminds me of Obama's little talk with his daughter about plugging up the big Gulf oil spill. Then you find out he didn't even so much as talk to BP for a month and a half, stood in the way of efforts to protect the coast, did absolutely nothing as far as the actual plugging, and then strongarmed BP into paying up - even though they were not legally obliged to do so, but were already doing anyway - which resulted in payments to the effected being delayed. Stands to reason, his little story was mostly fiction, and that Michelle's is complete fiction.

221 Hey! What about that Nigerian fellow traveling all over the country without being tagged by TSA.

If only he had been wearing a diaper.

222 This seems to be the fate of 99% of conservatives, once they're on the cocktail circuit with the in-crowd for a while.

223 Congrats Steph.  Good to know your hard won skills will still be useful and put to work in a better environment.

224 Hey! What about that Nigerian fellow traveling all over the country without being tagged by TSA.

If only he had been wearing a diaper. a 95 year old woman with terminal leukemia

Posted by: Clueless at June 30, 2011 07:23 PM (piMMO)

FIFY

225 Ben's a smart guy, but I've never understood this type of logic. For every economic action, there is a reaction. If I were a small business owner and taxes reach the level where I (who assumes all the risk of being in business) has to give more to the govenment than I take home for myself; it's over. If I have enough to retire, I'm done. What's the incentive? Result..A few more jobless claims......And I go through life with my hands behind my head.

226 I'm one of those Republicans who is not rich, may never be rich, but love the rich so much I don't want them to pay a penny more. But it's mostly because I'm clinging to God and guns. /sarcasm In actuality, I agree with the point you make that taking money out of the private sector reduces money-making activity and that it is particularly pronounced when taken from those in positions of creating jobs - ie the well-to-do. That said, there are plenty of wealthy people who do not create jobs (eg actors and sports stars). I don't have sympathy or animus for any wealthy person whether or not they create jobs. Keeping a low tax rate is a basic matter of economics. I am of the opinion that we need to pay for what we spend. Right now Republicans are trying their hardest to enact budget cuts but there will still be a deficit. That will necessitate tax increases to bridge the gap. Coming from a humble background, I know that people of lower incomes will be substantially hurt by higher taxes. The wealthy absolutely can 'afford' higher taxes. For some wealthy, it means fewer mansions, jets, and cars. For others it does mean hiring fewer employees. And plenty will forgo hiring fewer employees so that they can maintain their luxurious lifestyle. If push comes to shove (ie we're spending more than we receive in taxes), tax the wealthy, as the best able to afford it. Not out of animus or social justice, but as a basic matter of economics. Of course, if we insist upon our current level of spending we better accept less economic growth.

227

If push comes to shove (ie we're spending more than we receive in taxes), tax the wealthy, as the best able to afford it. Not out of animus or social justice, but as a basic matter of economics. Of course, if we insist upon our current level of spending we better accept less economic growth.

Are you lost?

228 Stupid on steroids.
Posted by: andycanuck at June 30, 2011 07:08 PM (vtqbC)

Me or CJ?  And if me, why?

229 Posted by: Crispian at June 30, 2011 07:26 PM (ULTcD)

Looks like you must have spent quite a bit of time and effort typing that.

You could have instead just wrote "I'm a fucking idiot".

...you're welcome

230 This all kind of follows my argument on strong form anti-credentialism. That the process of acquiring traditional credentials for office is a corrupting experience  due to the people you must continually interact with. Over time, the time needed to become a pedigreed Presidential candidate, you can be assumed to have adopted the opinion of the opposition, unless their is compelling evidence to the contrary.

231 "Voodoo economics"

232

The rich already pay most of all taxes in the nation. Waht's a little more and a little more and a little more? Why not just remove all wealth and give all wealth to the state?

233

That said, there are plenty of wealthy people who do not create jobs (eg actors and sports stars).

This is stupid beyond words. Unless a rich person lives like a pauper, he buys homes, cars, planes, boats, restaurant meals, expensive vacations, theatre ticket subscriptions, and costly electronics and appliances. He hires gardeners, maids, chefs, mechanics, accountants, and lawyers. A rich person's money spreads into the economy and creates jobs whether or not he's an industrialist.

234 Why is Ben Stein even considered an important person? I never really understood that.

235
Dear sweet Lord. Michelle at a fundraiser in Boston today:


I didn't think she could play that shit twice, but sure enough -- I might have to restart the suicide watch.

236 @236 Cicero,

No.

@238 beedubya,

No, not much time or effort (pretend you're shocked). It may appear that way because of the big ugly block of text. Sorry for that, I had javascript disabled and thus it didn't format as seen when I typed it. So basically, just read up to before "sarcasm" and then you don't need to sound so stupid with your name calling. Thanks.

237 This is stupid beyond words.

Do they keep all there money in a coffee can? Someone's investing it. Someone is making jobs with it.

238 Posted by: Optimizer at June 30, 2011 07:22 PM (F56VB)

Oh, I think that was a dumb thing to say.  She's feeding the meme that he simply isn't ready to be president, that it's effected him physically.  I know they want him to be seen as "caring" but I think that he's gone beyond that.  I think that the American people are willing to believe that he cares, but still think he's incompetent.

239 This is stupid beyond words. Unless a rich person lives like a pauper, he buys homes, cars, planes, boats, restaurant meals, expensive vacations, theatre ticket subscriptions, and costly electronics and appliances. He hires gardeners, maids, chefs, mechanics, accountants, and lawyers. A rich person's money spreads into the economy and creates jobs whether or not he's an industrialist.

That's why, when folks were pissing and moaning about the money that was spent on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, I wanted to tell them to shut the f*** up. Same with the royal wedding. How many caterers and florists and hat-makers and hoteliers made money off the deal? How much money did they pump into the economy?

They provided jobs to an awful lot of people with those events.

240 Stein was lecturing everyone in 2008 about how the sub prime mortgage issue was not going to be a crisis.  His judgment sucks.  He is all over the map anymore, I think he has mental problems.  Government will only spend any new revenues it gets and then some.  It is a dead end.

241
  So why is it that in this land of opportunity when one  succeeds beyond their wildest dream they suddenly become vilified, and face the threat of losing their hard earned wealth?

 How did this happen?

242 244
Dear sweet Lord. Michelle at a fundraiser in Boston today:

My husband just called me on his way to Atlanta for the night.  He always asks me wth is going on in the wild, wild world of Obama.  I told him about Michelle's latest fundraiser in Boston, and how she dragged out the same old "Barry's tired" shit.

He said, "Can you remember a time, ever, of Laura Bush saying that kind of bullshit?"

And the bit about Jay Carney calling MSNBC to complain about Halperin....good grief, the WH would have had to have a "czar" just to deal with the unbelievable crap thrown W's way on a daily basis.

243 on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, I wanted to tell them to shut the f*** up. Same with the royal wedding

Clinton wedding = private cash = OK you made you spend it.

Royal Wedding = public cash = taxes = We spend it, sometimes years before you have the possibility to make it so we can take it. = Bad

244

Posted by: irongrampa at June 30, 2011 07:41 PM (ud5dN)

It started with Roosevelt.

Teddy that is

245 I stopped paying attention to Stein when he endorsed Intelligent Design in American Spectator.

246 Cicero,

"This is stupid beyond words."

Yay for civility.

"Unless a rich person lives like a pauper, he buys homes, cars, planes, boats, restaurant meals, expensive vacations, theatre ticket subscriptions, and costly electronics and appliances."

Yeah, I considered saying "doesn't directly create jobs" since EVERYONE spends money and has this effect. But as noted in my own comment, taking money out of the private sector does hurt economic growth.

"He hires gardeners, maids, chefs, mechanics, accountants, and lawyers. A rich person's money spreads into the economy and creates jobs whether or not he's an industrialist."

And personal assistants, agents, etc. But if one is not an industrialist, an increase in the marginal tax rate will most likely not notably effect that kind of employment.

As I said, I agree with rdbrewer. But if we can't eliminate the deficit...oh nevermind, just tell me I'm stupid and hurl epithets. Wait...is this Ben Stein I'm talking to? The certainty is overwhelming.

247 That's why, when folks were pissing and moaning about the money that was spent on Chelsea Clinton's wedding, I wanted to tell them to shut the f*** up. Same with the royal wedding. How many caterers and florists and hat-makers and hoteliers made money off the deal? How much money did they pump into the economy?

They provided jobs to an awful lot of people with those events.

Posted by: Clueless at June 30, 2011 07:39 PM (piMMO)

This...

...but...I think some were just being provocative and throwing it back in the faces of the fucking hypocrite

248 Ben Stein -- the genius economist -- kept insisting there was no housing bubble until housing completely crashed. He's a dunce.

249 I'm not going to say anything bad about Ben Stein. He's been fighting the good fight for too long. But he's always been rather contrarian regarding economic matters, and that's only gotten worse over time.

Moreover, if you read his monthly columns, they have over the past decade gone from being a must-read delight to a journey into depression. Not his depression, but mine, after I read them. His parents' passing changed him. Since then, he seems to be struggling, unsuccessfully, to stay happy.

I don't think it is fair to accuse him of the usual Beltway syndrome of wanting to be invited to the right parties. Rather, he's just gotten to the point where he puts personal relationships ahead of personal principles.

All I'm saying is that rather than wishing him into the cornfield, we should say, "Ain't that a shame," and look upon him as an honored former colleague who simply succumbed to the riptides of life in L. A.

250 I used to read Ben when the old American Spectator was a broadsheet, and I liked him well enough, but there was something kind of weird about his columns even then-- what was his son's name? Tommy? That he kept just sticking in at odd moments.

I suspect being liked by The Kool Kids is behind this.

251 Oh, and I should add that it's not okay that he's put relationships ahead of principles, but it's understandable for a person fighting serious depression to cling to the things in his life that bring him joy and a respite from feelings of alienation.

252 Ben Stein's opinion is prominent for the same reason Kim Kardashian's butt is.
They're both vaguely connected to someone and after time the fame takes on a life of its own for no other reason than regular exposure.

He's a pouty faced whine bag.

>>I think I'll get drunk!

Posted by: Steph at June 30, 2011 06:26 PM (VfTQp) 

The importance of a good plan can't be overstated. Congrats.

Good news is rare and uplifting these days.

253 256 Yeah, I considered saying "doesn't directly create jobs" since EVERYONE spends money and has this effect. But as noted in my own comment, taking money out of the private sector does hurt economic growth.
________

Unless he sticks it under his pillow, his money has an effect even if he doesn't spend it. If it's sitting in the bank, the banker's loaning it out because he wants to make money off it, too.

254 And if you read his columns, he constantly claims that he is not rich, that he is simply middle class. I think he believes this because he has to work constantly to maintain a lifestyle that certainly sounds rich to me: three residences in CA plus a suite at the Watergate, for goodness' sake.

I suspect that some time down the road it will come out that he has Alzheimer's. Recall that Charlton Heston started doing some pretty stupid things, becoming a tool of the hard Left, during his last years in the public eye.

255 @264

Yes.

I was making a point that we should eliminate the deficit. IF not by cutting spending, then by raising taxes.

256 I was making a point that we should eliminate the deficit. IF not by cutting spending, then by raising taxes.

Posted by: Crispian at June 30, 2011 07:53 PM (ULTcD)

The only way to cut the deficit is to cut spending.   Raises taxes never does anything but increase spending by the leeches in DC.

257 For anyone who wants to read Stein when he was great, read "The New War Between Men And Women," if it's available on the Net. It was in TAS in 1985 or so.

258 I will not rest until Steph is employed. Whaat?

259 Whittling away at MSNBC. Pretty soon the only people left will be the undercover right-wing cameraman. Then things should get interesting!

260 I will not rest until Steph is employed.

Whaat?

Posted by: Your President at June 30, 2011 07:55 PM (j84s0)

Uh, yeah, thanks for nothing buttfuck.    All that you give a shit about is that you can take part of my earnings to give to some shithead sitting on the sofa not looking for work.

261 I was making a point that we should eliminate the deficit. IF not by cutting spending, then by raising taxes.

BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM

..still moving?...no?...just in case

BLAM BLAM BLAM BLAM

262 The only way to cut the deficit is to cut spending.   Raises taxes never does anything but increase spending by the leeches in DC.

Well, yes and no.  Raising taxes can raise revenue to a point.  Beyond that point, the higher taxes do more harm than good.

In one sense, Stein and the Dems are correct.  Some tax rates are too low right now.  It's just not the same tax brackets they're talking about.

263 The only way to cut the deficit is to cut spending.   Raises taxes never does anything but increase spending by the leeches in DC.

You're almost there. Raising taxes in a macro mature economy actually decreases tax revenue

264 In one sense, Stein and the Dems are correct.  Some tax rates are too low right now.  It's just not the same tax brackets they're talking about.

Posted by: Rod Rescueman at June 30, 2011 08:01 PM (HwE/1)

Everyone should pay taxes, but thinking that raising taxes on anyone will reduce the deficit is laughable.   The more those asswipes take in the more they will spend.   Not one dime will go to reducing the deficit.   Now, they may say they are cutting something, but always look at what the other hand is doing.

265 beedubya,

You're not too bright.

266
Ben Stein has a bad case of wealthy liberal elite cocktail party disease

I'm with comment #2: early onset Alzheimer's, with nice dash of dementia for good measure.

267 I used to have a partner who said "I'm used to handling the big money" What he meant was, he was used to spending the big money. They want more money to spend. they will NEVER use a tax increase to pay down the deficit. They will always find some POS purpose to throw money at and then complain about the rich, and why they need more money.

268
 Steph, don't know you except through your postings, but congrats on getting your job. Not an easy task lately.

  Early nite for me, there's bass to be annoyed tomorrow. Good night, good people, stay safe.

269 Everyone should pay taxes, but thinking that raising taxes on anyone will reduce the deficit is laughable.

You're correct that no amount of tax increases will wipe out the deficit so long as spending continues to grow at current rates (actually, as long as it continues to grow, period).  But deep cuts in spending, plus modest increases in revenues (especially from the half currently getting a free ride) is not an irresponsible thing for which to advocate.

270 Right now Republicans are trying their hardest to enact budget cuts but there will still be a deficit. That will necessitate tax increases to bridge the gap.

Tax increases never actually bridge the gap, though. They always result in lower revenues for the government.

The only way we're going to get out of this is by massively reforming the business climate of the U.S. Did you know, for example, that the major American oil companies pay more in taxes in the U.S. than they make in profits here? They make all their money overseas.

That's insane, and we need to change it. We need to make the U.S. the best place on the planet to start businesses and make money. Raising taxes will do exactly the opposite. 

271 Tax increases never actually bridge the gap, though. They always result in lower revenues for the government.

This is one of those times when absolute terms like "always" and "never" aren't terribly useful.  Revenues did increase during Clinton's Presidency, though this had much more to do with economic growth than the increases themselves.  Point still stands, revenues did increase.

272 Ben Steins acting career - “ If something can’t last forever, it will eventually stop.”

HeÂ’s just trying to keep it going. Just sucking up.

Sorry, I could not read all the comments.

Mike T.

273 Ben Stein has never been a Conservative.  He's NeoCon, at best--albeit a great mensch, and a righteous one.

Remember that his father was a Gummint guy; Ben's returning to his roots, and Gummint must be preserved in his mind.

274 The Statue of Liberty ist kaput.

275

Stien is a douche on this topic, NOTHING absolutley prevents him from cutting a check made payable to the US TREASURY for any amount he wants. Does he do it now or does he want others to be compelled to do so ? WHAT A LOAD OF CACA.

276 "He had that dogmatic tone then too, but when I like the point he's making, it's a-okay"

Nice.  Me too been noticing Stein going a little wacky ...http://spectator.org/archives/2011/06/24/moving-about-the-country/1 ... and he's no stranger to being wrong, eh?

8-18-2007 (assuming wiki accuracy)

Ben Stein: ...subprime is tiny. Subprime is a tiny, tiny blip.

Peter Schiff: It's not tiny. And again, it's not just subprime. It's the entire mortgage market.

Ben Stein: You're simply wrong about that... Defaults for the whole mortgage market are tiny.

"You're simply wrong about that."  Priceless.

277 Cliff notes version:

Laura Ingraham: Even if we confiscated all the wealth from the wealthy it wouldn't make a difference.

Ben Stein: WE MUST RAISE TAXES ON THE WEALTHY OR WE WILL ALL DIE

Laura Ingraham: But--

Ben Stein: LALALALACAN'THEARYOULALALALALA


There, saved you some time.

278

Ben Stein has something in common with another conservative who went nuts - Douglas Kmiec.  Both were former professors at Pepperdine Law School....guess that turns them into closet Marxists or something.

279 I think he has a brain tumor.

280 Anti Spam Suggestion: Place a reasonable max, like two or three, on links in any one comment, and automatically (temp) ban any IP violating the restriction. Also combine with a white list of regular morons who'd like privs to link more when needed.

281

Stien is a douche on this topic, NOTHING absolutley prevents him from cutting a check made payable to the US TREASURY for any amount he wants. Does he do it now or does he want others to be compelled to do so ? WHAT A LOAD OF CACA.

Posted by: Coldwarrior57 at June 30, 2011 08:28 PM (nYTrG)

He doesn't want to pay more himself. He wants his neighbors who sneer at him because he has to work to pay more taxes.

282 Don't overlook that Ben Stein could have had a minor stroke.  I know lots of folks have personality changes after that. Or massive amounts of drinking.  Speaking of which... [sip]

283 Perhaps Mr. Stein has an severe case of Little Green Footballs?

284 Dang, quite a chorus of "Creationism, Creationism, Creationism." I saw Expelled in the theatre and don't remember Creationism being a part of it. I'd think I would have noticed it because I'm not a Creationist myself, but then again, that was many bottles of Val-U-Rite ago.

285

I saw that Laura ingraham thing on reruns this morning, and I thought i was still asleep and dreaming.

Something is up with him, I notice he does'nt write in American Spectator anymore and has'nt for quite awhile now.

is he hanging with Krauthammer too much? Krauthammer can still be relied upon to be conservative sounding at least 75% of the time at least

286 This is one of those times when absolute terms like "always" and "never" aren't terribly useful.  Revenues did increase during Clinton's Presidency, though this had much more to do with economic growth than the increases themselves.  Point still stands, revenues did increase.

Posted by: Rod Rescueman at June 30, 2011 08:16 PM (HwE/1)

Clinton's tax rate increases did marginally increase revenues, but that was due to the tech bubble.Revenues did not really take off until the GOP takeover and the capital gains reductions

287 In life, events tend to follow patterns. People who commit crimes tend to be criminals, for example. Can anyone tell me any economists who have been convicted of violent sex crimes?

How about a vegetarian painter who killed millions? A chicken farmer who killed millions? A high school teacher who killed millions? An assistant librarian who killed millions? Oh wait...all of those happened?

288 @162: "The rich do far more good than harm, even when they're not trying."

Hear, hear, my good man! 

289 Revenues did increase during Clinton's Presidency, though this had much more to do with economic growth than the increases themselves.  Point still stands, revenues did increase.

What I should've said is that tax increases in and of themselves, absent an economic boom, don't result in long-term government surpluses.

290 Ben, I can pay more taxes.  They should tax us more

291 I wonder who he's been hanging around with.

292 Sorry, Ben Stein is a lunatic. has issues. and has had for some time.

293 Stein isn't rich?  This is either a) bullshit, or b) an indicator that he's pissed away his wealth, or c) that his books about investing and making money are good for kindling.

294 Stupid on steroids.
Posted by: andycanuck at June 30, 2011 07:08 PM (vtqbC)
Me or CJ?  And if me, why?

No. It was a "Ben Johnson" Jamaican-Canadian stripped-Olympic champion steroid-user joke, Rod, not aimed at you but at Ben Stein. Sorry for the confusion. (Carl Lewis was the American he beat if that rings a bell with you more.)

295 Ben Stein feels guilty for doing those Free Credit Report ads. Only a complete asshole would do those ads. Also, I am okay with some tax increases on the rich....after all of the spending cuts have been done. Then we can talk about rich people helping out some more, and it better be in a very civil, asking for help, kind of tone. (Dennis Miller suggested that.) "We know you already give a lot, but we're in tough times and hope you can give some more." as opposed to "You are fat cat scum and should pay up."

296 andycanuck,

Gotcha, and thanks for replying.  When someone called him "Ben Johnson", I assumed it was a Charles Johnson reference, given Stein's leftward drift.

297 IIRC Ben lost a half a million or more when Lehman Bros went "tits up".  

If so, he's probably bitter and wants to take down those who didn't get stung.

(For years he's been my least favorte columnist at American Spectator, always bragging about the people who recognize him, always bitching about airline service, always behaving like an abominably weak parent to his spoiled kid (who is grown and probably  cooking in a meth lad as I write).

298 I have to agree with a number of other commenters, he looked like he was on crack or coke.

299 As a rich person. I know that nobody likes me. I have no friends.  I accept that I will need to pay more taxes.

300 However according to late breaking news, he may have been correct about Strauss-Kahn. Otherwise his stances lately are just infuriating. Accuser a flake, it seems.

301 Genital mutilation, ripped pantyhose, Strauss-Kahn semen, the victim's unwavering testimony, time for investigators to track her every move, her unsavory boyfriend, "consensual" sex?

She wasn't motivated by a sexual drive. But the sex happened.

No, the sex didn't play out for the victim's benefit, so whatever consent happened, the terms of agreement were broken.

302 I don't think that Stein's political views have altered. He is proud of his elitism. If a study were made of every Stein position on politics, we'd likely find that he is what he is, has been and will be. There are selective social conservative points that he'll assume as his own celebrity cause along the way, being the "compassionate" sort of elitist, meaning "relevant moral authority" in whatever dogmatic matter..."Expelled" Creationism, for instance. Geez, he made a decent profit on the venture and a following, to boot. So long as its dinner conversation, he'll play a conservative advocate. But when it comes down to brass tacks, he's Yale Keynesian all the way. Anything else, "stupid"?  pff

303 Apparently the hosts of these beltway cocktail parties aren't aware that using lead crystal is a bad idea.

304 Congratulations Steph.

305 I stopped reading Stein years ago. Whenever he mentioned his son it gave depressed me becuase he clearly didn't seem to realize what a lousy job he was doing with the kid.

306 Stein's creep factor is off the charts.  Creepy charlatan.

307 NEW version Meizitang botanical slimming product is made from selected naturalslimming botanical formula for beauty-making and the active extracts from jobstears and Lotus Leaf. It is produced in SFDA approved GMP factory.