And legless people are legless because they want to be and people with AIDS have AIDS because they want to be and Tom DeLay is an idiot because he wants to be.

Yup, I’ve been unemployed for just over a year now because I want to be. I want to be living paycheck to paycheck relying on my wifes income. I want to be under the constant threat of having utitilities shut off on me because we have to juggle bills to make ends meet (we only live in a tiny apartment, can’t really get smaller around here). I want to be stuck at home bored out of my mind day in and day out because I have no job and no money and no life.

I’m so glad we have Republicans like Tom DeLay around to remind people like me how much I love my unemployed lifestyle.

Tom Delay: “It’s True” That People Are Unemployed Because They Want To Be

Drew, your headline is absolutely appallingly backwards in more ways than one.

Candy Crowley said: “That People Are Unemployed Because They Want To Be” right after another attempt to restate what Delay said.

Her quote came right after Delay said “it’s true” to her first restatement and then repeated it after her second and obvious MISSTATEMENT of what Delay had actually argued.

His entire argument was that extended unemployment benefits increase long term unemployment b/c many people do not get serious about it until nearing the end of their benefits.

Surely a professional writer can compose a more honest headline than that above. Your headline starts Tom Delay followed by his words “it’s true” followed by a direct quote by Crowley, whose remark is not even in quotes.

If you are going to play games with the actual quotations and who said it perhaps you should provide us with a transcript.

BTW, I challenge anyone here to say truthfully that either they or any member of their families or friends never played the Vacation via Unemployment scam.

“either they” in the last sentence above S/B “neither they”.

I’m pretty sure you misunderstood his point. But whatever, just be mad and cry about it.

I’m sure that there are people out there who are perfectly content with receiving their unemployment and don’t want to work until their benefits run out. And I’m sure there are other people who’s benefits don’t pay well enough and want to find a job as soon as possible. I’m just not going to assume that everyone fits into one category.

Everyone knows that what he says is true of SOME people, but definately not all. I’ve known several people who have done that. What I think is funny is the outrage over something like this from libs but death threats towards Beck, Bush, Cheney, just about every conservatve out there are more than OK.

Bring on the accusations of cold-heartedness, selfishness, and whatever you got. That’s the lefts typcal way of not having to actually discuess the merits of what is being said, through debate. Call then selfish and racist and they’ll shut up.

And Bill, your comment is ridiculous and needs no discussion.

Grammie says:
March 7, 2010 at 4:24 pm

“BTW, I challenge anyone here to say truthfully that either they or any member of their families or friends never played the Vacation via Unemployment scam.”
——————————————————

I think you should stop painting with such a wide brush. Before I retired from the Ironworkers. I was taking home about $1000 a week. When work was slow and I had to draw unemployment I made $325 a week minus Fed taxes. You start going through savings and everything else. You should step down off your self righteous high horse and try to see the real world. I doubt you ever worked a day in your life.

What does textbook economics have to say about this question? Here is a passage from a textbook called “Macroeconomics” by Paul Krugman (yes, that Paul Krugman):

Public policy designed to help workers who lose their jobs can lead to structural unemployment as an unintended side effect. . . . In other countries, particularly in Europe, benefits are more generous and last longer. The drawback to this generosity is that it reduces a worker’s incentive to quickly find a new job. Generous unemployment benefits in some European countries are widely believed to be one of the main causes of “Eurosclerosis,” the persistent high unemployment that affects a number of European countries.

BTW, Ms. Grant, the vast majority of people who have lost their jobs in this recession are white people.

President Barack Obama on Saturday congratulated Congress for restoring a requirement that the federal government spend only what it can afford — a day after authorizing $1.9 trillion more federal debt.

Obama used his weekly radio address to report that he signed into law on Friday night the legislation commonly known on Capitol Hill as “Pay-Go,” which has been used sporadically over the past 20 years by congressional budget-writers. Obama also repeated his call for $20 billion in budget cuts, a freeze in certain government spending, and the creation of a fiscal commission.
(The Hill, 2/13/2010)

Turns out Sen Bunning is the truthful one and Pres Obama and his fellow Democrats are just a liars. But then, intelligent people already knew that.

@ Azarkhan
————————-

What does Europe have to do with the umemployed in America?

umemployed >unemployed

If you have to ask the question, I can’t explain it to you.

Please reinsert your head up your ass. Thank you.

Unemployment in Europe has little to do with unemployment in the US. By the way, the black unemployment rate is about double that of the white population.

PS – Don’t personal attacks on other posters get you banned these days? If not, please advise.

Because I am white, I take this a personal attack:

“If Jim Bunning didn’t help some of the public’s opinion of the RNC as a bunch of white folks who hate poor people…”

But maybe many of the whites who post here have no self respect or self-esteem.

You’re right Ted. Western Europe and the USA are totally unrelated. In fact, I understand that Western Europe still has an agrarian economy.

BTW, the black employment rate is always much higher. It seems that the 50 year war on poverty begun by the liberals of the Great Society in the 1960′s, and the trillions of dollars spent, just hasn’t worked for some reason. How do you explain it? Don’t bother, I already know your answer: white racism.

“Ted says:
March 7, 2010 at 5:41 pm

…..PS – Don’t personal attacks on other posters get you banned these days? If not, please advise.”

It has? If that’s true I say great!

Where did you learn this? I obviously missed the announcement or comment that publicized it but plus I see many here who have a real propensity for it.

If you have a link I would love to see it.

Thanks.

PS Did they mention anything about descriptions of the public figures discussed?

Grammie,

I also missed the memo. But apparently you can still attack whites in general on Mediaite. Here is an example from the article about the HBO special on the financial crisis by a certain Mr. Grant, who is white:

“The excreting-elderly-white-guy-demographic…”

Someone please explain white self-loathing to me, because I don’t understand it.

Playing the race card over and over, Azarkhan – you’re either playing it for yourself in some sort of white victim status or you’re playing it for Michael Steele in some sort of minstrel show status …. but could you at least do it in some sort of context instead of plucking it out of mid-air? You remind me of that huckster Al Sharpton but with less principles.

Bill Adkins says:
March 7, 2010 at 4:05 pm

Yeah… you’re right Bill. Everybody who doesn’t have a job spends all their time looking for one. No lazy, greedy, selfish people out there… nope!

Joshua Stears says:
March 7, 2010 at 4:11 pm

Joshua… do you really believe that? That everyone is trying to find a job as hard as you are? There are some people who are hard workers and spend a lot of time searching for a job… and there are knuckleheads who got fired from McDonalds for not showing up to work, and will wait until the government stops sending them checks before they find another “job.”

Not EVERYONE is the same… some people are lazy and are happy with a handout. Wouldn’t you agree?

Grammie says:
March 7, 2010 at 4:24 pm

But… Grammie! Drew once wrote that Keith Olbermann made a boo-boo in a report he gave. Doesn’t that prove that Drew’s an honest fellow, with no intention of spinning to fit a political agenda?

No? Yeah… I didn’t think so either.

the real john t says:
March 7, 2010 at 4:47 pm

And I work with a guy who was laid off from work a few weeks ago (who made about the same as you), and when asked if he was worried… he said, “Nah… I’ll collect for a while, then start looking.”

I think it comes down to what you’ve got when you’ve lost your job. For example, if I live in a small apartment, pay minimal rent, and have few possessions… but this is the lifestyle I’m accustomed to, getting money from the government for a few months sounds pretty sweet. I’m not losing anything I had before. However, if you start with a big house, a nice car, and that’s how you’ve lived life for a long while… being without steady income can be very scary! It’s all about the “life with which you’ve become accustomed.”

But as you said, you can’t paint with such a broad brush. Not everyone wants to be without a job… but not everyone is hoping to find one, either.

Azarkhan says:
March 7, 2010 at 5:12 pm

BTW, Ms. Grant, the vast majority of people who have lost their jobs in this recession are white people.

Is it proven that Drew is a “she?” I’d really like to start using pronouns again, and I don’t want to mis-gender someone.

the real john t says:
March 7, 2010 at 5:21 pm

Global economic theory.

(I love when you play the “not on topic” game… especially because it’s so easy to catch you in the same game, and then you run away because you have no response. Some might call it hypocrisy… and they’d be right.)

Ted,
Accusing a Con of using the race card is the funniest thing I’ve heard yet today. That is the left’s sole defense, most days.

And if it’s my comment you called a personal attack, that’s hilarious compared to what I’ve been accused of on this board. For instance, wanting all people in the county illegally to be murdered. But I can see how calling your comment ridiculous is pretty much the same thing.

I’m so shocked! Republicans displaying contempt for victims of their economic policies! Knock me over with a feather.

Never fear, though, in 1987 Republicans figured these slackers should pay income tax on their “booty”, maybe to make up for the lost tax revenue from crashing the market and Savings & Loan industry.

No wonder these Neanderthals want to roll back regulations to the Gilded Age; things were so much simpler then for the Republican base.

Jim R says:
March 7, 2010 at 8:29 pm

I’m so shocked! Republicans displaying contempt for victims of their economic policies

Wait, are you saying Barney Frank is a Republican?

Why is race brought into it?? Bunning supported extending unemployment. HE WANTED IT PAID FOR!!! Wow. What a friggin pig. No one’s unemployment was even interrupted, that was another media lie. Dirty plebes? Grow up. Delay should go away if he can’t even handle a Candy Crowley interview w/o allowing her to twist what he was saying. He’s an ex-politician for many reasons. One of which is he should go away b/c he no longer represents anyone.

We have 10% of the working population utterly dependent on Uncle Obama to put food on their table- not good. Most people who are collecting govt unemployment handouts could be working doing something- maybe not what they prefer to do or what they are trained for- but they could be doing something, if for nothing else, to salvage their self-respect.

After hearing Toxic Tom on the video I wisely stepped away from my computer. Had I not I would have laid a string of explatives on my comment so long it would have made Joe the Plumber blush. Delay is so out of touch with the former middle class that is out of work it isn’t funny. Has he been to a grocery store; does he pay his own electric or water bills? I have been unemployed for 11 months now and it is a living hell. I go to two support groups for unemployed people and everyone in attendence are going through the same living hell. I’ve sent out, emailed, FAXed and personally handed out well over 200 resumes, taken classes to upgrade my skills and even enlisted the services of a career coach. I’d like for Delay to tell me to my face that I’m unemploted because I want to be. Come to think of it that may not be such a good idea because I may not be able to control my anger. I may not be very impressed with 111th Congress but it does have one thing thay can hang their hat on, namely it doesn’t have Tom Delay as a member.

Jophis,
Race was brought into it because that is the only argument Libs have. You don’t agree, you are a racist, period!

ImNotBlue says:
March 7, 2010 at 8:12 pm
——————————————–

the real john t says:
March 7, 2010 at 5:21 pm

Global economic theory.

(I love when you play the “not on topic” game… especially because it’s so easy to catch you in the same game, and then you run away because you have no response. Some might call it hypocrisy… and they’d be right.)
——————————————————–

What the hell are you even blabbering about. I just ask what the unemployment in Europe had to do with the unemployment in America. Can you answer it? What does what they pay in unemployment in Europe have anything to do with what they pay in America?

Booradly, I see you are sincere about wanting to find work and I believe you, but do you agree not everyone is like you and some are milking the system and have been for years?

booradley says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:05 pm

I’m really sorry for your situation… I know it sucks. But honestly, can you tell me that your hard work at finding a new job is reflective of the majority of the unemployed population? Do you think everyone else is also sending out all those resumes?

Perhaps Delay wasn’t talking about you… but you can’t honest tell me there aren’t people who fit that description?

ImNotBlue says:
March 7, 2010 at 8:12 pm

” then you run away because you have no response”
——————————————————

BTW, I do have a life. I don’t sit here at the computer for hours on end to respond to someone. You might want to try it sometime. I mean getting a life.

“Is it proven that Drew is a “she?””

It is only a rumor about Drew Carey, but if the price is right he might go either way, I suppose.

Tom Delay is RIGHT, regardless of what some people in this thread say about their own current state of unemployment. I know several people who are on unemployment, and every single one of them either considers it to be a sort of “vacation” for them, or they plan on STAYING on unemployment until a job that pays at least $12 bucks an hour somehow magically “appears” before them.

MOST people on unemployment won’t admit that they don’t mind getting paid for doing NOTHING, because they realize that makes them look like LAZY PUNKS. But they also don’t work very damn hard at finding new unemployment because they don’t WANT to look for another job.

They want the job to come to THEM, because the Democrat party has convinced them that’s the way it “should be”.

the real john t says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:16 pm

I believe I answered you, didn’t I?

“Global economic theory.” Human nature is pretty similar over there… and if PAUL KRUGMAN says their policy provides citizens with less incentive to look for new work, do you not feel it has any application over here?

(PS- I was remembering that conversation we had the other night, where you started talking about O’Reilly and Hannity, and then got “offended” when I asked why you were talking about them, and weren’t you “off topic.” It’s funny! Hypocritical, but funny.)

booradley says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:05 pm

I know exactly how you feel b/c I’ve been there a few times in my life.

Hard times with no relief in sight no matter how hard you try or changes you are willing to make is terrifying and sits inside you like death ready to overtake you.

I can remember going to interviews and the interviewer having a stack of resumes a foot and a half high and being told that they had called ten people in for interviews. The country was booming but our particular area had 12 1/2% unemployment and there was not even a possibility of any extra help.

I wish the best for you and yours but that does not mean that I think the entire government should be geared to anecdotal, real though it is, suffering to set national policy for the best way to recover. This is not personal with you and those in your situation. It is personal only to the degree that I want my kids and grand kids to have a US that is still the top dog that the rest of the world wants to be.

Good luck!

Delay, as Bush and Cheney are, is gone. Paying people who aren’t working is not productive. When we have exhausted unemployment funds available as entitled to the unemployed we should borrow to pay entitlements, BUT, it is irrational to borrow to extend unemployment payments.

Ideas, inherent increase in demand (increase in population, pro abortion anyone?), and increased efficiency create jobs, not the government.

Blue, back when Drew Grant first entered our life I read a comment to a commenter on one of her blogs under video I think that she is a she and is very accustomed to being mistakenly referred to as “he”.

From her lips thru my lips to your ears.

Grammie says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:29 pm

Thanks Grammie!

I decided to do a little search to see if Drew popped up… and you’ll be “surprised” to know what I found!

First, yes, Drew is a woman… so “she” as a pronoun works (I wanted to make sure, I didn’t want anyone to think that I’d be so crass as to use as “she” when it was a “he,” for insulting. That’s dumb… although, not unheard of on Mediaite.)

But secondly, according to a quick Google search, “Drew Grant” shows up as a former blogger from HuffPo!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drew-grant

SHOCKING, I tell you! Yet another former HuffPo writer comes to Mediate, and pretends that they’re “unbiased,” despite having worked for a left-wing website.

I sometimes wonder why left-wing journalists are so ashamed of their beliefs. Perhaps Drew can enlighten us.

ImNotBlue says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:25 pm

“Global economic theory.” Human nature is pretty similar over there… and if PAUL KRUGMAN says their policy provides citizens with less incentive to look for new work, do you not feel it has any application over here?
———————————————-

So let me get something straight here. So if Paul Krugman wrote that about Europe then you suggest it’s the same in America. Now if Krugman would write an article about people being more happy about their universal health care in Europe, would you agree people in America would be happier with uneversal health care?

Thanks for the info about Drew everyone, it explains alot. Drew, Glynnis, and Tommy, now there is the definition of fair and balanced, NOT!

MichelleF and ImNotBlue, thanks for the concern but don’t worry. I do see the light at the end of the tunnel and fully believe I will be working before much longer. Just a gut feeling.

There indeed are people out there that will milk the system. It happens with unemployment and with many other things as well. But I know the unemployed people I network with are a bunch that includes MBAs, a couple of PhDs and people that have two year degrees or less. But they have one thing in common. They are all full of gumption and are anxious to be employed again. I would hate to have their unemployment benefits suspended or denied because they are lumped in with the chronically unemployed that can’t hold a job.

Maybe Delay wasn’t necessarily talking about me but I think his comments (as an ex-congressmen) were unneccssary even though he might have been baited by the interviewer. Had he said he supported Bunning and left it at that I would have probably rolled my eyes and moved on.

the real john t says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:46 pm

Well… the two aren’t really the same, are they? “Happier” does not translate into “better for the country,” or “better for the population.” For example, the vast majority of people in America today are “happy” with their current insurance… so does that mean the government shouldn’t do anything? Is that you’re opinion?

Furthermore, we could turn the Krugman thing around to you as well… if Krugman says that UHC is great in Europe, and you agree… does that mean you agree that certain government plans create dependency amongst part of the population?

I get what you’re trying to do, really… I do. You’re avoiding the actual content, and just trying to get into a semantic debate, or a minor issue debate, because it’s a good distraction. I’m afraid, though, we all know the game already.

But since I answered your question, perhaps you can answer mine, “Do you feel that Krugman’s statement has any application over here? Is it not indicative of similar government sponsored entitlements in the United States?”

MichelleF says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:51 pm

Don’t forget Rachel. She “left” HuffPo because she wrote and article slightly critical of Olbermann… and “had to go.”

Why hasn’t Tom Delay been hauled into court to fight charges on whatever he has been accused of? I am so tired of all the self-righteous people saying unemployed or underemployed people are in that position because of their actions. This is the second Rethuglican I have heard make comments of this nature and it shows that they don’t care one iota about Main Street.

http://blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com

I challenge anyone here to say truthfully that either they or any member of their families or friends never played the Vacation via Unemployment scam.

Me nor any member of my family ever played the “vacation via unemployment” scam.

But using Mr. Delay’s own logic, I guess he was indicted because he wanted to be.

Unfortunately for Tom, all he did was tell it like it is for a portion of the people to a biased, uberleft person. There are studies done by the those left leaning universities and their scientists that say the exact same thing, but, they won’t get any play…too bad, the truth is the truth and we all need to quit acting like it isn’t. All this does is hurt this country. Let’s get real.

Tom Delay is right. The Obama administration just keeps on extending unemployment benefits, mostly to his “constituency” instead of working hard to create jobs. Not create a “constituency” Pretty soon the majority of Americans will depend on the government. It’s called communism!

booradley says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:55 pm

I’m glad things appear (or at least, feel) like they might turn around for you. I have a few friends in similar situations, and have seen my father go through this a few times. It sucks… a lot.

That said, just two things… Bunning’s “filibuster” wasn’t about extending benefits really, it was about paying for the extension (the government had previously said they’d pay for anything they created or spent, not just pass the cost onto the future debt… which they abandoned for some reason in this case). It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help people, rather he didn’t want to further injure the finances of the country in doing so. This is a point that gets overlooked by a lot of people talking about the Bunning event.

Secondly, I think it’s foolish to say that those who are out of work, don’t want to work. But remember, even in times of economic prosperity, we still tend to have around 6% of the population unemployed. Using that as a base, that means that 6% seemed to always be unemployed no matter the economic situation (perhaps less, if you figure part of the average goes to regular turnover… I’d guess 1% of the average… so 5% perpetually unemployed). So perhaps Delay was simply talking about half of the current unemployed… the ones for whom entitlements have become a way of life. It’s tough for the government to help the truly deserving, and not the greedy… which brings us to other issues best left for another time!

Here’s hoping you able to get back on your feet soon!

Janet Shan says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:58 pm

Why hasn’t Tom Delay been hauled into court to fight charges on whatever he has been accused of?

Because they’re too busy finding ways to ignore Charlie Rangel’s dirty dealings. Whoops, too late.

I am so tired of all the self-righteous people saying unemployed or underemployed people are in that position because of their actions.

Ummmm… then who’s “fault” (if you want to go with “fault”) is it? Do people bear no personal responsibility?

This is the second Rethuglican I have heard make comments of this nature and it shows that they don’t care one iota about Main Street.

Name calling is always a good way for people to take you seriously.

ImNotBlue says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:57 pm
————————————————

First of all you never answered my question. You just danced around it.

And secondly you just contradicted yourelf with this statement:

“Do you feel that Krugman’s statement has any application over here? Is it not indicative of similar government sponsored entitlements in the United States?”

To the poo-flinging right wing baboons (this is called a non-directed ,generalized insult. You do understand the difference between this and personal attacks directed at individual posters?),

The issue is not whether unemployment benefits slows down some people’s efforts to find new jobs, but rather whether the benefits keep some people and their families from going hungry or paying the utility bills. I wouldn’t expect a conservative from seeing the other side it of it because they are too busy condemning the poor.

How sad it is to see that a thread gets hijacked by the same old “people who hate people” throwing out discredited, rejected ideas always aimed at showing that anyone with the utter temerity to disagree with them is lazy, useless and morally bankrupt. Unemployment is high because Reagan began giving our manufacturing base to the Chinese and to others. Poppy didn’t do anything to stop the process, not did President Clinton. W and the Big Dick did all they could to complete the deal. Now, what do we have? Our brothers and sisters not only unemployed, but unemployable. Trained for jobs which did not exist and will not exist in our nation yet again? Did they have anything to do with systematic disassembling of the manufacturing section in America? No. And, yet, by the Oma Hawkins’ segment of American Post-Industrial Reactionary Thought not only is it the dispossesseds’ fault, and theirs alone, but there is great glee that they suffering. Truly sick and sickening.

Bunning’s “filibuster” wasn’t about extending benefits really, it was about paying for the extension (the government had previously said they’d pay for anything they created or spent, not just pass the cost onto the future debt.

—

No, it wasn’t. It was an petty intraparty squabble among the same people who shut down America has part of the Contract on America, and the personal efforts of a tired, pathetic, insane old man to fatally injure his nemesis, the Demented Turtle, Mitch McConnell. Unemployed, hungry Americans and their families may eat cake.

the real john t says:
March 7, 2010 at 10:22 pm

First of all you never answered my question. You just danced around it.

Well… if the question isn’t answered sufficiently for you, perhaps you’re not wording it in a way that extracts what you really want to know.

Oh… and you’ve ignored MY question for a second time.

And secondly you just contradicted yourelf [sic] with this statement:

Well, I’m not sure how one contradicts themselves when asking a question of someone else. That wasn’t a statement… hence the question marks… it was the question I was hoping YOU’D answer.

“Do you feel that Krugman’s statement has any application over here?”

The second part (which I’ll re-word for you) is really just a restatement of the first question… but more to the point.

“Does Krugman’s assertion mean that similar government sponsored entitlement programs here in the United States could be met with similar results, ie: government dependency? Why/Why not?

What’s the problem?

The Real Royal King says:
March 7, 2010 at 10:24 pm

How sad it is to see that a thread gets hijacked by the same old “people who hate people” throwing out discredited, rejected ideas always aimed at showing that anyone with the utter temerity to disagree with them is lazy, useless and morally bankrupt.

Does anybody know what Royal is talking about?

But to one of your more clear points, a follow-up question: Does it worry you that Obama has continued the China-fication of the country, and now not only do they do much of our manufacturing, but they also hold most of our debt?

The Real Royal King says:
March 7, 2010 at 10:28 pm

I’m not sure how else to say it, but you’re wrong. My clarification on Bunning’s position was correct… and you’re simply making things up, based upon nothing more than your own imagination, and an inherent need to deflect any potential criticism from “your guys,” or “your party.” Is there any evidence (is there ever) to back up your theory?

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man’s oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.”
– John Kenneth Galbraith

“He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.”
-Proverbs 17:5

JamesA1102 says:
March 7, 2010 at 10:47 pm

Really? You quoted Galbraith? An early, but hardcore, liberal/progressive? And that’s supposed to mean what? Should I quote Limbaugh now? Imagine that… a liberal thinking his political opponents are “bad people.” I guess disrespect for people of a different opinion is an old concept.

And do me a favor… remind us all of that Proverbs quote the next time someone on the left starts attacking Southerners, NASCAR fans, those in the military, and/or right-wing talkers who fall ill… or are simply wished ill or worse. Perhaps you can scold them too.

He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.”
-Proverbs 17:5

—

Thank you, James. A wonderful reminder to all of us.

booradley says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:55 pm

Except the quote attributed to Delay was actually Candy Crowley’s.

Delay should never had let that get by without challenging her and pointing out that he had said no such thing, but it’s too late now for him. It’s out there now even though it is not true.

Good luck to you!

JamesA1102~

Every study on the subject shows Conservatives are much more charitable than Libs. Charity is voluntary. Taxation is not. There is nothing “selfish” about being GD tired of the government picking your wallet to waste even more of your hard-earned money.

The personal insults and stupidity on here are too much. Flinging misinformation and rewriting history. People are insanely dramatic. No one stays on subject. It’s annoying to read this crap.

JamesA1102 says:
March 7, 2010 at 9:58 pm

Congratulations to you and yours. If Diogenes were still here with his lantern he would finally be able to end his quest.

I see you said nothing of any of your friends.neighbors.

Christine is Latin2.

Why do these TVNewser trolls insist on posting here?

Booradley, Thank you for being able to respectfully debate the issue without calling names. It’s refreshing. Good luck with the job hunt!

same2u says:
March 7, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Greycoat says:
“We are entitled to not continually have crap shoved down are throats.”

Does that include biblical scripture and mandatory social values as promulgated by faith-based organizations?

I do assume same, that you’ll now complain to James and Royal for including “biblical scripture.” Right?

Christine says:
March 7, 2010 at 11:12 pm
JamesA1102~

Every study on the subject shows Conservatives are much more charitable than Libs.
—————————————————————-

I wonder where those “study on the subjects” are?

Christine says:
March 7, 2010 at 11:12 pm

It is, for whatever reason, very important to them that they not only are the sole purveyors of truth and justice but that those that disagree therefore must be selfish, greedy, uncaring, cruel, sadistic, stupid plus ignorant to boot.

The only sense that I can make of it is that they can only be confident in their own worth and righteousness by declaring everyone else to be beneath them. That makes for a very insecure person who devotes his life to finding the motes in others’ eyes while being oblivious to the boards in their own.

John,
The study that shows Cons are WAY more charitable with THEIR OWN MONEY was on 20/20, You know the natoriously right wing show. Government taking your money and giving it to someone else isn’t charity, since you don’t have a say. Taking your own money and giving it to those in need is charity and I’m happy to say I do it as much as I can, which isn’t much, but hopefully one day I’ll be able to do more.

ImNotBlue,

If you are going to quote something I said in the past half-hour and ask a question about it, I expect it to done in the thread in which it originated in.

I am tired of teaching you about blogging etiquette.

real john t~

If you follow the news at all, the studies are all over the place. Google it. I’m not here to facilitate your laziness. If you don’t want to remain uninformed, you’ll have to put in some actual effort.

same2u~

I don’t know what the hell Latin2 is but it makes me feel good that instead of responding to the substance, b/c you can’t, you make up yet another wild conspiracy theory. Lame.

same2u~

And who exactly is thrilled that you post here?? Get over yourself. Your posts are not impressive. Ever.

Every study on the subject shows Conservatives are much more charitable than Libs.

http://www.scientificblogging.com/adaptive_complexity/blog/whos_more_charitable_liberals_or_conservatives

There’s an etiquette to blogging? Really? Because it seems like those who whine about etiquette are the biggest assholes.

Thank the gods Mediaite doesn’t use Disqus as their commenting system or this board would be over-run in two weeks!

the real john t says:
March 7, 2010 at 11:27 pm

I wonder where those “study on the subjects” are?

Link One.

Link Two.

same2u says:
March 7, 2010 at 11:35 pm

I am tired of teaching you about blogging etiquette.

Well, it’s relevant to something posted in THIS thread.

Furthermore, I’m not sure your “be as nasty as you want to be, until you get caught” theory really qualifies as “etiquette.” Remember… you told me that was your theory… yesterday?

“There’s an etiquette to blogging?”

What, Daddy Dollar didn’t teach you that?

So it is “nasty” when somebody pays you the same lack of respect you pay the contributors and other posters on this board? I think not.

I see you said nothing of any of your friends.neighbors.

Neither did your original comment: I challenge anyone here to say truthfully that either they or any member of their families or friends never played the Vacation via Unemployment scam.

And the while the personal business of by friends and neighbors is none of my business, there is no one I know who ever played the “vacation via unemployment” game.

JamesA1102 says:
March 7, 2010 at 11:43 pm

To answer the questions posted in the article:

1) Does it matter if the money goes to the church or elsewhere? Churches (and other religious organizations) spend a lot of their resources on helping the needy. How is this question relevant?

2) Some studies (see my links) suggest that wealth has nothing to do with it… and that poorer people (particularly poorer religious folks) spend a larger percent of their finances on charity.

3) Is this author really suggesting that there are fewer charitable places, or volunteerism opportunities in urban environments? Soup kitchens, shelters, rehabilitation areas, etc. all tend to be more “city” resources. That whole question is nonsensical!

In conclusion… the article proves nothing, only asks a bunch of hypotheticals… most of which are nonsense. If you want to refute the studies, go ahead… but that article was just baloney.

JamesA1102 ~

Thanks anyway for the link to a random blog (opinion).

Here’s a review of one study or the book containing the study. I think you have to buy the book to see all the research. It was done out of Syracuse University by professor Arthur Brooks “Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism” http://tiny.cc/0Fvte

JamesA1102 says:
March 7, 2010 at 11:51 pm

And the while the personal business of by friends and neighbors is none of my business, there is no one I know who ever played the “vacation via unemployment” game.

With all due respect, perhaps that says something about your living situation… area, class, etc.

Have you ever known anyone who exploited welfare? Folks who allowed other people to live in their home so their kids could go to different schools? Seen students lying to administrators and attending schools outside their district? And so on?

YOU may not have seen it… but it doesn’t mean it isn’t prevalent in other areas.

JamesA1102 ~

And red states give more to charity than blue states even though blue states are wealthier. So that answers that. Who is that guy that wrote that blog? Not even good questions.

Again, charity/generosity is voluntary. It cannot be forced.

Thanks, Christine. Informative.

@JamesA1102

“. A study by Google found an even greater disproportion: average annual contributions reported by conservatives were almost double those of liberals.”
—————————————————-

I really like that statement from the author in your link. “reported by conservatives”? Yes anyone can “report” things they did or didn’t do. I don’t think that’s anything to swear by.

Christine says:
March 8, 2010 at 12:06 am
JamesA1102 ~

And red states give more to charity than blue states even though blue states are wealthier.
—————————————————–

Yeah, and the red states get more federal money of our tax dollars than the blue states.

real john t ~

What do you care? Don’t you support income redistribution? The South has always been poorer than the liberal NE and West coast. It’s only “fair”, right?

Here’s an editorial reviewing that study, appropriately entitled “Conservatives are not a selfish lot”. It answers the questions about wealth, etc. http://tiny.cc/0SmMU

I can’t find an answer to whether Conservatives are even particularly wealthier than Libs. NY, CA, New England etc are the bluest and wealthiest areas of the country, yet they give the least. By contrast, the south has always been the poorest but gives the most. Rural red states give more than urban blue states that have more access, more services, and more ways to be charitable.

This subject has gotten way off track thanks to JamesA1102. People will believe what they want, facts don’t matter. Goodnight.

Have you ever known anyone who exploited welfare? Folks who allowed other people to live in their home so their kids could go to different schools? Seen students lying to administrators and attending schools outside their district? And so on?

No.
No.
And No.

Have you?

Yeah, and the red states get more federal money of our tax dollars than the blue states.

http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2004/09/red_states_feed.html

And red states give more to charity than blue states even though blue states are wealthier.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-11/bc-nro111405.php

James~

Now you’re just talking to yourself and posting even older studies. You already lost. You were wrong. Be a man and admit it. Nite now.

JamesA1102

I don’t think the RWers will like your links. I guess Christine already doesn’t and can’t face the facts. At least you gave links James.

Wealthiest ranked states do not match w/ their charitable giving http://tiny.cc/9D2rX

I gave other links earlier John, to recent studies. It’s not my fault you’re ignorant.

wtf http://www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org/ma/2007/66_on_charitable_giving.html

Christine

Did I call you any names? What’s with your hostility? And if you’d read your last link, half the states on there are blue states. I’m sorry but I won’t click on to tiny curls, I’ve been burnt before with them.

John~

Yes you have called me names before. You also said I can’t face facts and insinuated that I don’t give links when I did.

My last tiny url didn’t work anyway so I reposted. I only counted 3 red states on that list. TX, LA, and AZ. I guess you can throw in VA even though Obama won. CO and NV have been trending blue. I think that’s it.

Here are 2 reviews of a study or the book containing the study. I think you have to buy the book to see all the research. It was done out of Syracuse University by professor Arthur Brooks “Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism” These reviews have to be good enough if James can link to blogs and press releases as evidence to back his point.

http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/298992_givemoney10.html http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/opinion/21kristof.html

There are other studies and a Gallup poll from 2008 with similar results. But I finally finished my work on the computer and need to sleep. You get the point. You’ll believe what you want anyway. People can do their own research. You can have the last word.

The second commenter here who justifies that he is receiving unemployment benefits, says it all when he states that he doesn’t “want to be stuck at home bored out of my mind day in and day out because I have no job and no money and no life.” To him and any other that agree with him I would suggest that is exactly what Tom Delay is talking about. What is this man doing being stuck out of his mind day in and day out? Why isn’t he out looking for a job, maybe knocking on doors to ask if some potential employer could use him for something, even if it’s only menial work. I’ve been unemployed and Delay is 100% correct. Many, possibly most, people who collect unemployment benefits don’t go all out searching for work until the benefits are just about gone. Don’t kill the messenger. Why can’t we ever face the truth? A lot more of our problems would be solved by us rather than giving that control to the government.

Kevin the old dumbass

You do have a social security number, right?

You do pay FEDERAL income taxes, right?

You do RELY on PUBLIC SERVICES like the police and fire department, right?

It is stupid shits like you and the shit flinging Baboon Beck who advocate for the overthrow of the GOVERNMENT. Now. Not under the Chimperfurher Bush. But NOW.

Just come out clean, teabagger. Suddenly you have a problem.

” kevintheelder says:
March 8, 2010 at 5:54 am
The second commenter here who justifies that he is receiving unemployment benefits, says it all when he states that he doesn’t “want to be stuck at home bored out of my mind day in and day out because I have no job and no money and no life.” To him and any other that agree with him I would suggest that is exactly what Tom Delay is talking about. What is this man doing being stuck out of his mind day in and day out? Why isn’t he out looking for a job, maybe knocking on doors to …:

Your reading comprehension issues are on display. The commenter isn’t saying he’s staying home and not looking for a job, he’s recognizing that one’s occupation is a large part of one’s identity and self purpose. And your premise is a slim thread because it’s a long stretch.

I think it’s time for Tom Delay to stay out of the news.

Are you frustrated with politcians and the media like I am?

Sound off on http://www.frustratedabout.com.

Scott Lara

You now what? Reading all these post concerning how people react to unemployment made me realize something important about it.

They are all correct.

Some people do search for a new job asap while others wait til their benifits run out. It isn’t ‘evil’ or ‘wrong’
though. The mentality is sometimes ‘we paid into it, why not get something out of it’.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA — wait a minute. I’m an Independent and a true “right of center person”, which the Republicans always love to label the country as being. That said, I have to say the Republicans are now coming off as total butt wipes here.

In fact, I’ve noticed this hypocrisy A LOT with the Fox News business people in particular (such as Cavuto, Varney, etc) to the point that it makes me gnash my teeth together. Every time a new unemployment figure is released these clowns will bitch on air, “Unemployment is 10%! And if we count the under-employed too, the number would be 18%! That means nearly 1 out of 5 Americans can’t find work or enough work to really get by! That’s how crappy a job Obama is doing!”

But you can’t have this BOTH ways. You CAN’T point to high unemployment figures and say “This proves Obama sucks and the economy is a mess! This proves American companies are in trouble! Look how many people can’t find a job!”…but THEN turn around and poo-poo those very same numbers (like moron Delay here) and say “Oh, there are PLENTY of jobs. You people on unemployment are just too lazy to work.”

If that’s what you think, then feel free to pound that idea up your butt. I lost my job nearly a year ago, and from the way I was dismissed — where the company held my final pay check hostage till I agreed to sign a form saying it was my fault I was being dismissed and not theirs (which in turn meant I had to schedule a frickin’ court hearing with a judge to finally collect unemployment benefits) — I can assure you there are now millions of people like me…yes, MILLIONS at this point…who are desperately seeking ANYTHING, but can’t find it at all.

As I said, I’m traditionally a right of center person. But this is one of those instances where the Republicans are going to go one step too far and shoot themselves in the foot, all because they just don’t get it. I swear, those who have jobs these days often don’t get it either because they’re blinded by the fact they HAVE a job. Trust me, it’s HORRIBLE to be looking for a job right now. As I said, I’ve spent the better part of a year burning up what final savings I had just to maintain living in an apartment. Hell, I’d be happy if even the local McDonalds was hiring or Best Buy needed another blue shirt cashier or the supermarket wanted someone to sweep at night. But even those jobs don’t exist anymore — or if there ever is an opening, you can count on like 30 people applying.

Seriously, those of you who still have your jobs, take a day of skimming WANTED ADS to see what you’d be facing if you suddenly lost your job, too. The ads are LAUGHABLE these days since companies want to pay only pennies for highly educated or trained workers, just to pocket even more profits. And to that end, they’ll be looking for one person to do 4 different jobs — so that in turn they can let even MORE people go and downsize — which makes it even harder to find a listing you can even qualify for. That’s why you’ll find laughable listings like: “Wanted: Receptionist to answer phones. Must also possess an PhD in Astro Physics to interface with our Tech Dept as well, and likewise possess a minimum of 7 years culinary experience as a Chef in a TOP restaurant, in order to help prepare executive meals when asked. No specified hours, must be available 24/7/365 with no time off. Minimum wage with no benefits at all. Send resume to Mr. X — and do NOT expect even a courtesy reply that we received your application because, frankly, we can’t be bothered even sending you a spam form letter back. If you don’t hear from us, it means we felt you were a LOSER, so shut up and move on!”

I know PLENTY of people who lost their jobs this past year, and I cannot think of a SINGLE one — that I personally know — who wouldn’t want a full time job…even if it was making coffee at Starbucks or busing tables at an IHOP…yet they can’t find ANYTHING right now. For Heaven’s sake, THAT is why the new unemployment claims keeps going UP. We’re still shedding jobs and each week, on average, yet another 30-40,000 more people are pushed out of work. So when morons like Delay seem to think there are plenty of jobs out there, I just have to laugh. This guy has NO clue what it’s like right now — and apparently neither do some of the people posting here.

Big Dumb Ape says:

Umm yes you can. It’s called a ‘Different point of view’.

Thank you very much from Wall Street, corporate America, and the landed gentry, for so ably squabbling amongst yourselves over peanuts while we steal the country blind.

We can’t believe our good fortune when we steal trillions and the reaction is for those we’re screwing to tear each other apart for the crumbs we left behind.

Carry on, we love it!

As always, all Jim and John have to say is that those who don’t agree with are too stupid to understand the issues. Keep it up, BO’s doing the same thing and americans are getting tired of being called stupid if they don’t agree with the lib mindset of Gov’t knows better than us what is good for us. You’re digging a hole that will very hard to get out of.

Before I’m called stupid again, I do realize I left out the “them”, in my above statement.

So, did you see Bill Henrickson come out with his wives last night, after he won his position as the newest Utah Republican senator?

Sorry I don’t watch the show. The first time you mentioned him, I have to admit I felt a little out of touch because I had know idea who you were talking about!

MichelleF says:
March 8, 2010 at 11:40 am

“As always, all Jim and John have to say is that those who don’t agree with are too stupid to understand the issues.”

Since I’ve never said any such thing I’ll chalk up your nonsensical comment to the usual right wing fantastical attack the messenger smear politics your ilk has learned so well from Delay, Rove, Fox News, et al.

Just the response I’ve come to expect from you. At least you are predictable.

Fidooki, I think you totally missed Big Ape’s point up above. Yes, people can have a “different point of view” (as you put it), but that usually applies to people on OPPOSITE sides of a debate. However, the point that Ape was making is that here you have two distinct and opposite claims coming from the SAME people. He’s 100% right. Republicans can’t cite high unemployment figures and say the millions of unemployed people who can’t find a job are proof positive of Obama being a failed President — but then turn around and blame the unemployed people, by instantly reversing themselves and say there ARE plenty of jobs out there.

It’s such a contradiction in logic that it is laughable. There’s either jobs out there or there’s not — pick one. I realize people are torn over Obama and his policies (hey, don’t look at me, I didn’t vote for him) and I know people are concerned about deficits these days. But at at time when unemployment is so incredibly high, cutting off benefits to those who are really hurting and just need a little help or time getting back on their feet is a bad, bad idea. As Americans — whichever side of the aisle you hail from — we’ve always been better than that.