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RedditFor eighteen years Fred Thompson was a lobbyist in Washington, a part of his biography his jump-start presidential campaign is not likely to highlight.
So despite Thompson's "folksy" appeal, perhaps it's not surprising that his campaign team is a who's who of Washington insiders and corporate execs. Until recently his campaign manager-to-be, Tom Collamore, was a top tobacco industry exec at Altria (formerly Philip Morris). His division, according to the Center for Media and Democracy, has "been responsible for implementing countermeasures to combat public health efforts to control tobacco...and PM programs to enact tort reform, head off increased cigarette taxes and thwart legislated smoking restrictions."
Another rumored top Thompson staffer is Tim Griffin, the RNC operative who Karl Rove recently installed as US Attorney for Eastern Arkansas as part of Attorneygate.
His spokesman is Mark Corallo, the former press flack for Karl Rove during the Scooter Libby trial.
The man who organized a Thompson conference call this week, Ken Rietz, is a top exec at the PR firm Burson-Marsteller (which is ironically run by Hillary Clinton's chief strategist, Mark Penn). Rietz, as Rick Perlstein notes, once spied on Ed Muskie's presidential campaign on behalf of Richard Nixon in 1972 as part of "Operation Sedan Chair."
And though it's unrelated to his corporate past and present, it's worth mentioning (since we're talking about the GOP primary) that Thompson's second wife and key political counselor, Jeri, is 25 years his junior and younger than the kids from his first marriage.
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Interesting post, Ari. The MSM and Right Wing Pundits fawning over Senator Thompson are in for a big surprise. Once Senator Thompson enters the race for real, he will be "sliced and diced" with equal zeal. He will not survive the media glarre.
Posted by trabaris at 05/31/2007 @ 10:47am
Well, THompson hints at running....so obviously he has to be knocked down a peg or two...and fast.
As for Mr Berman's points....first....is that the best you can come up with? He was a lobbyist? Guess that means that Harold Ford Sr. (the father of Rep. Harold Ford Jr.) MUST be guilty of something and ineligible for public office, no?
Second..."And though it's unrelated to his corporate past and present, it's worth mentioning (since we're talking about the GOP primary) that Thompson's second wife and key political counselor, Jeri, is 25 years his junior and younger than the kids from his first marriage.".....
Really? WHY is that "worth mentioning"? Has Fred Thompson hypocritically come out against "second marriages" and "marrying somebody younger than yourself"?!?!!
If so, perhaps we ought to contact Professor Stephen Cohen about marrying a woman younger than himself....named Katrina vanden Heuvel and let him know that is some bad reflection on him too!
Posted by Mask at 05/31/2007 @ 10:49am
MASK:
Really lame post. It seems you are trying so hard to be a contrarian that you fail to see the greater -- albeit rather implicit -- point Ari makes, which is Senator Thompson soon will be subject to the same media attention as the other candidates.
Posted by trabaris at 05/31/2007 @ 10:58am
It sure seems The Nation's choice of topics have really dwindled....
Why not something on HRC's economic/tax plan to wreck the BUSH economy that just yesterday, led the S&P 500 to, FINALLY, reach an ALL-TIME HIGH; along with the Russell 2000 and the DOW! BTW, the last highs were all around March, 2000....remember it well, we were staying at Squaw Valley on the day NASDAQ hit its peak!
Without a large investor class willingly paying capital gains taxes, willingly forgo shady tax-avoidance schemes, and continuing to invest and take risks, Gross Tax Receipts will go ?up/down? The economy will ?grow/tank? Social welfare spending will have room to ?expand/shrink? Citizens will be ?HAPPY/sad?
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2007 @ 11:22am
Bad Ari! Bad!
Posted by ZERO 05/31/2007 @ 11:03am
I'm proud of you ZERO!
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2007 @ 11:23am
Happy, you mean the S&P 500 that finally got to were it was in 2000? Chimpies policies took 6 years to get us back where we were under Clinton?
If Thompson needs a trophy wife, who are we to judge? That is the purview of the people controlling the republican party, the American Taliban. They wil judge him, maybe. The silence on the lesbian in the VP's office is quite stunning. Perhaps the neo-cons can overlook Thompsons marriage problems because he is an actor.
Tobacco lobbyist. Is that like a hired killer? Altria's market share has plummeted in the US, so they go offshore to entice Asian youth to smoke death sticks, cuz its cool, man! More morality from the republican Moral Majority types.
Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2007 @ 11:57am
how much Altira stock you packin' HAPYP?
How many cancer deaths per share is a good ratio?
Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2007 @ 11:58am
point Ari makes, which is Senator Thompson soon will be subject to the same media attention as the other candidates.
Posted by TRABARIS 05/31/2007 @ 10:58am
Will he? Phred could be the next Chimpy, given a free ride from the MSM. Who is going to ask him questions about the state of the repubs and their dependence on sexual morality as the big vote getter? Will Rush or Hannity have him on to ask him about how the foundation of society is crumbling due to divorce? Or the effects of lobbyists on our system? Or the harmful effects of addictive tobacco (still a major source of income for many southerner)?
Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2007 @ 12:05pm
Posted by ZERO 05/31/2007 @ 12:05pm
I sit corrected. The stock mkts have returned to their previous highs. Which is the only measure used by the inCestor class to measure progress. Wage stagnation, higher energy costs, out of control medical administrative costs are tertiary, at best. CEO's deserve to make 900 times what the rest of us do, it is their god given right. Turns out they want to make 260 times what their own VP's do too.
According to a just-reported study by Carola Frydman of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Raven E. Saks at the Federal Reserve, thirty to forty years ago, the CEOs of major companies earned 80 percent more, on average, than the third-highest-paid executives. By the early part of the twenty-first century, however, the gap between the CEO and the third in command had ballooned up to 260 percent.
Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2007 @ 12:12pm
Capital gains taxes have been cut hugely by George Bush...
Posted by ZERO 05/31/2007 @ 12:02pm
Uhhh..., it was the "rate" that was cut and unless you are playing ignorance, I'll point out capital gains TAX receipt is at a high, maybe even all-time high....I'm not sure if they exceed the 1999-2000 years when (bubble) stock option gains played a huge role....but it's probably roughly on par. I'm not going to spend time on `confirming'!
On a much smaller scale, me, I know for a fact I'm paying a whole lot more capital gains taxes than 2000 & prior! Not exactly bragging (well, maybe a little), cutting back before others in 1999, esp. tech stock, I totally avoided the bubble's burst....meant I underperformed the bubbly market in 1999....but, what a blessing....I couldn't be HAPPIER to be a laggard for that year!
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2007 @ 12:14pm
Shockingly, five gasoline refineries are scheduled to come back online this week. It i mere coincidence that they were down for the largest commuting holiday of the young year. Oil dropped $3/barrel.
But, gasoline is still at record highs today. Same with profits.
Free market my lilly white butt.
Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2007 @ 12:15pm
"a rising tide doesn't float all boats."
Posted by ZERO 05/31/2007 @ 12:02pm
Some of those boats chose to have overly short anchor ropes compounded by too many such short-roped anchors.
Tell me, just how many Motorola RAZR's, iPods, Plasma TVs', Ford Explorer/Expeditions, Dish TV, Cable TV w/200 channels, Caribbean cruises, exploding economy class travels, foreign vacations, stainless steel appliances, granite marble kitchen counters, Car navigation systems, designer cloth everywhere, exploding quantity of meals out.....are the top 1% responsible for?
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2007 @ 12:20pm
Posted by HAPPY 05/31/2007 @ 12:20pm
As someone that works for the upper crust, I can tell you even they are cutting back. It appears trickle down isn't in the cards at the moment. At least for American workers. Maybe it is better over in the communist labor states, the production centers for IPODS, plasma TV's etc.
although I have noticed that my clients have little problem with a $5000 tv's, they are unwilling to pay for quality, lasting goods.
TTFN
Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2007 @ 12:29pm
Posted by ZERO 05/31/2007 @ 12:22pm
I don't actually expect answers (at least backed by indepth understanding of our economy) most of the time and unlike some here, Th Nation is NOT my fulltime `hobby'! Raising questions are easy...I have more fun things to do.
Interest in Politics is mostly a hobby, win or lose, don't meant much! Knowing the economy and following the pulses of the financial market, are my livelihood...and as a bonus, it's FUN!
I own two small 1-man real estate businesses and some years ago, owned a small retail service business grossing ~$600k per year. I just flat out know both how Big and Small buz operate and what it takes to grow! Nothing personal, most Libs just flat out don't get it!
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2007 @ 12:33pm
....little problem with a $5000 tv's, they are unwilling to pay for quality, lasting goods.
Posted by CRABWALK 05/31/2007 @ 12:29pm
Not ignoring you, CRAB! ZERO is breathing down my neck harder!
On your retort on the stock high of March 2000 while Bill was the POTUS, let me remind you he was the POTUS for another 9 months after the big fall. Bush's fault, right?
BTW, I don't have even your basic old, clunky big screen TVs nor cable TV. Just a couple of tube-TVs (<30 inc.) receiving over-the-air stuff! Do I want one of them $5,000 TVs'? You bet! Is it worth it for the amount of time I actually really, really like to have it....fall football games mostly, No! Do I want my kids to be even more addicted to video games with the fancy HD tvs', SHIT No! The only iPods I bought were for my kids! We do vacation travel more than average, including overseas!
Most of American's financial problem is the success of the consumer-oriented advertising and Americans' nature of "want it now!" Me, often fighting against against my wife's similar impulses, esp. earlier in our marriage, have always been more attuned to "Less now, much, much more later"...including retire at 60 (in her case), or earlier if the economy `stays the course'! The attempt to `keep up with the Jones' is the root of a huge part of the problem!
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2007 @ 12:43pm
I don't care if Fred Thompson's second wife is Mary Cheney. Once in the race, Fred will (rightly) have to endure intense media scrutiny, some of which will be silly bullshit just like Ari's last paragraph.
Having said that, I think it's instructive to note who Fred is bringing on board, and the calculus being made between how much baggage they have and how much they can further his ambitions.
Posted by drhammer at 05/31/2007 @ 12:51pm
soon will be subject to the same media attention as the other candidates.
Posted by TRABARIS 05/31/2007 @ 10:58am
TRAB, I think Ari Berman wasn't commenting on Fred Thompson being subject to the same media attention as other candidates....
I think he was ENGAGING in that "media attention" and I asked "is that all you've got (about Thompson being a lobbyist)" and the ODD "must be mentioned" that Thompson is married to a younger woman.
I've heard RIGHT-wingers (like LVLIB) say they'll vote for Giuliani! if he gets the nomination....and he's been married THREE times and is pro-choice and pro-gay rights.
This (by Mr Berman) is about getting in a few shots FROM THE LEFT on Thompson...not a "friendly warning" to him on how "the other guys in the Media" will go after him!
Posted by Mask at 05/31/2007 @ 12:59pm
Posted by ZERO 05/31/2007 @ 12:54pm
HAPPY, you've reached your threshold. You disagreed with ZERO too many times....now, like 90% of us (even some on the Left), he'll put you on his massive Ignore List!
hehe
Posted by Mask at 05/31/2007 @ 1:00pm
The Bush economy is doing great on all accounts...it will completely collapse if we are stupid enough to let Hillary fuck with it... anyone who has really listened to her speeches in the last few weeks should be very scared...communistic village horseshit that will stall us out economicly faster than the Edwards campaign collapse..maybe even faster than Bidens...
Everyone who doesn't participate in the economy claims everything is bad.. and brings up all kinds of statistics as to how it is failing...and is all for more tinkering by govt hacks who never work....or create wealth...just clowns who are gonna...."help" make it fair. Gas prices rising? what a shocker, as all economies in the world are growing and demand for energy rises along with the increases in the rest of the world and along with it the price...funny how that happens..
Those who find the economy great are those who are driving it and not riding in it complaining the seats are not soft...
I am amazed how so many seem to have missed the economic explosion in this country for the last 20 years...except of course the 8 years when Clinton was president, then it was a good economy for only those 8 years according to the resident economic brain trusts here..and will be again when Hillary arrives, I guess....but if you were happy in the Clinton years you should be wealthy now. If not, then I am afraid your lot will not improve much..for if the Big H wins..your lot will be worth muchless...and quickly..sell short ..and fast
Posted by john maasch at 05/31/2007 @ 1:04pm
Mask,
I'm glad you're here today (what a suprise)! I'd like to go back to your fallacy about the Democrat Party being a different party from the Republican Party rather than one party with two wings.
Do you think that the Iraq war funding bill (which pisses off most of the country but mostly the so called Democratic "base") was done at the same time as the Immigration Bill (Which was promoted by the Republican Party leadership and has pissed off their base), were these bills shoved out there at the same time by coincidence????
Got a lovely bridge I can sell you (honest guv I've got all the paperwork an' everthin').
So what, who cares if we don't have any choice, right? Who cares if Democracy is just a fallacy kept alive by our leadership so we'll stay amused while our brains rot watching American Idol and consuming coca cola! Not Mask that's for sure. No Siree, he's got to protect us all from the wrong Supreme court justice nominee!
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 1:13pm
The prospect of a Thompson presidency scares me to death. Having said that, I find it interesting how political folks, of all stripes, write about each other. In this telling, a person who works for the GOP is termed an "operative"--a code word among political types for "clandestine evildoer" and a term typically reserved for the opposition. Another is "a press flack." Of course, like everything posted by a left-winger, the piece is peppered with the terms "corporate" and "industry" and "executive," words the use of which apparently removes all need for argument. He's "corporate," enough said.
And, omigosh, one was responsible for implementing countermeasures to combat public health efforts to control tobacco...and PM programs to enact tort reform, head off increased cigarette taxes and thwart legislated smoking restrictions.
(Note the use of militaristic terms to describe his actions.) Gee, the guy works for a company that sells a legal product and worked to reduce the expansion of already ridiculously high taxes on that product and attempted to reduce federal control of that product. Given the very real debate about the notion of whether or not the government should be profiting from the sale of tobacco and about the extent to which government regulation of tobacco amounts to overstepping, these actions hardly seem like crimes.
Posted by BlueSpark at 05/31/2007 @ 1:15pm
Maasch,
I'm constantly amazed why the right wing is so shit scared of Hillary. Is it that we really do have a Christian Taliban here that hates women (OK, we all know that O'Really, Shit Hannity (Vanity), and Rust Lintball are all misogynistic women haters, but surely some of you righties are not so retarded).
Hillary is by far the most pro - corporate, pro status quo, pro lets keep the illusion that there's a difference bullshit candidate on the Democrat field. I can understand how you'd hate someone that would speak truth to power....but Hillary???? PUHLEASE!
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 1:21pm
Note the use of militaristic terms to describe his actions.) Gee, the guy works for a company that sells a legal product and worked to reduce the expansion of already ridiculously high taxes on that product and attempted to reduce federal control of that product. Given the very real debate about the notion of whether or not the government should be profiting from the sale of tobacco and about the extent to which government regulation of tobacco amounts to overstepping, these actions hardly seem like crimes.
Posted by BLUESPARK 05/31/2007 @ 1:15pm
This is a valid point that has not gone un noticed by many of us...especially on the right, since we are so "pro war and militaristic"..hence the terms used to describe us...consistantly...but your point is well made.
Posted by john maasch at 05/31/2007 @ 1:27pm
Free,
"I'm constantly amazed why the right wing is so shit scared of Hillary."
Purly from her own words in her own speeches....she actually believes she is here to save the US economy....she is a pure socialist to communist economicaly..not for herself, mind you, for the rest of us...
your comment..
"Hillary is by far the most pro - corporate, pro status quo, pro lets keep the illusion that there's a difference bullshit candidate on the Democrat field. "
...can only be made from someone NOT familiar with the corporate world...if you have a business or earn a high income, trying to build wealth, then you are in the cross hairs...if you already have "yours", then you have already hidden and protected it from the likes of her...the growth in our economy doesn't come from govt or big corporations, rather from small businessmen...something she doesn't comprehend...the rest of her ideas are just pap for the masses, but the economy and her tinkering with it is the danger for all of us...she has no experience in the economy..her money was earned from someone elses check book....how can she possibly understand how an airplane flies without seeing one fly? Same for her economic nonsense.
She is going to hurt us all and very badly.
Posted by john maasch at 05/31/2007 @ 1:36pm
The Bush economy is doing great on all accounts..
what are you talking about? growth rate is down significantly.
Posted by johannesrolf at 05/31/2007 @ 1:41pm
Chicken Little,
Did the sky fall today?
(After all I've read from you about your trust level of what politicians say....and now you're going to beleive one, yeah right!)
Care to pull out a specific exceprt that you're specifically concerned with or should we just keep going on with the "you should be afraid of the boogeyman horseshit?"
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 1:43pm
it was the "rate" that was cut and unless you are playing ignorance, I'll point out capital gains TAX receipt is at a high, maybe even all-time high...
had the rate not been cut, receipts would be far higher.
Posted by johannesrolf at 05/31/2007 @ 1:44pm
Posted by FREEDOMPLEASE 05/31/2007 @ 1:13pm
FREE, the two parties are supported by a LOT of Americans. The "third parties" have a minority of support (divided from Hard Right to Right to Libertarian to Liberal to even Socialist).
Neither party embraces a radical leftist ideology, or even some "new Great Society" agenda.....and the reason for that isn't they are "both owned by the corporations"....but because the local Democratic Party members (to use that side) nation-wide don't tell the state Democratic Party members, to tell the national Democratic Party members and Howard Dean....to run as "populists who want to heavily control the corporations".
Some do...for sure. But when the Democrats win their elections and caucus, they democratically decide on their agenda.
In the case of the Iraq war...they chickened-out. In the case of a minimum wage hike...they didn't.
When they get elected President, they appoint judges (fairly unopposed...Clinton got most of his under the GOP) and they set foreign policy, bu they STILL must come to an accord with Congress. And unless the majority of it are made up of populists (nominated by the State Parties, influenced by the local party members)....it's not going to enact a populist agenda.
The Democratic Congress felt that they were in more danger of losing their jobs by voting AGAINST the funding for the war....but they felt NO danger in not pushing some hard-line economic populism, and actually think they'll win on SMALL incremental changes (like the minimum wage hike) instead.
SO there IS a difference between the two parties....just not as much a one as YOU want, maybe (on Iraq) not as much as I want.
But except for trying to alter the entire caucus of Democrats (including ousting conservative/moderate ones and HOPING that their constituents "really do" want liberal represenatives)...there's nothing positive you can do.
You CAN abandon the Dems and "go Green"....and as in 2000, you'll get a Republican elected over a "lesser evil" Democrat...and instead of LITTLE CHANCE that that Democrat would invade Iraq, cost us 3500+ lives, and half a TRILLION dollars....you'll assure it.
Posted by Mask at 05/31/2007 @ 2:00pm
Mask,
It's all just an illusion of a difference I'm afraid.
http://www.opensecrets.org/parties/index.asp
On the left check out the source of the funding for both parties and come back and tell me it's not one party with two wings!
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 2:17pm
Wow, how politically brave to raise a minimum wage to a height that still almost nobody works for....I'm sure they really raised the hackles of their corporate donors with that radical agenda!!!!
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 2:23pm
You want to bet me that due to the Democrat's thumbing their nose at corporate interests that Goldman Sach's contribution will go down from 2006 to 2007? NOT A CAHNCE IN HELL, MASK. Both Parties are owned by almost exactltly the same interests and their policies don't count on election day but their policies do count as to who will get funding to still be around by election day.
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 2:26pm
As to the Iraq debacle....you've got to be fucking kidding me! Yes, we have an insane madman in the Whitehouse that championed the war, but do you think he'd have been so easily green lighted if we actually had TWO POLITICAL PARTIES. Look at the voting on the AUMF resolution, AND TRY AND TELL YOURSELF THAT WE HAVE ACTUAL, REAL, HONEST DEBATE in this country.
Nothing but window dressing mask.
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 2:59pm
"....I'm sure they really raised the hackles of their corporate donors with that radical agenda!!!!
Posted by FREEDOMPLEASE 05/31/2007 @ 2:23pm | ignore this person '
As I have pointed out...corporations could care less about min wages...they all pay more than that...it is the small businessman that is hurt by these types of mandates..if you had experience running a small business you would have a better understanding of how hard it is to make something happen when you have a silent, biggest partner "helping you" constantly, and walking away with the biggest single share of anything gained.
JR,
Your premise of raising the capital gains tax has the opposite effect over a very short time, as you will see if Hillary wins...she will raise it...had Bush not cut the rate, the amount of taxes raised would have fallen over a short time span..raise the rates even higher and you would gain more money ..once,... and then drop like a rock..incentive would be away from risking and into shelters...
..this is kindergarden math, my friend...even libs understand the connection betweeen confiscation and incentive via the tax code...look to JFK as a starting point.
Posted by john maasch at 05/31/2007 @ 3:03pm
Your premise of raising the capital gains tax
who said anything about raising it? I said if it had not been reduced. and dat ain't the same thing is it?
Posted by johannesrolf at 05/31/2007 @ 3:05pm
look to JFK as a starting point.
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 05/31/2007 @ 3:03pm | ignore this person
at that time the top rate was over 90%
Posted by johannesrolf at 05/31/2007 @ 3:06pm
"at that time the top rate was over 90%
Posted by JOHANNESROLF 05/31/2007 @ 3:06pm
exactly....and where do you think we would be if we had left it there?...That rate is out right stealing...the economy has exploded after each cut of taxes....and YOU are a better judge of how to spend your money than some hack in Washington....
Posted by john maasch at 05/31/2007 @ 3:11pm
Off to the pool at the hotel...
Posted by john maasch at 05/31/2007 @ 3:12pm
.the economy has exploded after each cut of taxes..
this just not true. what is true that each one of those tax cutters found themselves RAISING taxes sunsequently.
Posted by johannesrolf at 05/31/2007 @ 3:14pm
can only be made from someone NOT familiar with the corporate world...if you have a business or earn a high income, trying to build wealth, then you are in the cross hairs
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 05/31/2007 @ 1:36pm | ignore this person
if you had experience running a small business you would have a better understanding of how hard it is to make something happen
Posted by JOHN MAASCH 05/31/2007 @ 3:03pm | ignore this person
Your paternalistic, patronizing is really tiresome. For the record, I know about big biz & small biz. I'm fairly sure I make more money than you (not that it matters to me, but seems to matter to you).
For the record:
Walmart (one of the largest US corporations) does pay the minimum wage to vast numbers of their employees, and to the extent that the on-the-surfacce-"populist" minimum wage hike pissed the corporate lobby off it pissed Walmart off the most. However, Walmart had been rewarded for years of bribes (contributions) with no inflation indexed minimum wage hike.
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 3:21pm
Freedom,
"Your paternalistic, patronizing is really tiresome. For the record, I know about big biz & small biz. I'm fairly sure I make more money than you (not that it matters to me, but seems to matter to you).
I don't mean to be paternalistic or patronizing and apologise for coming off that way. I have had experience in both small and large corporation(I prefer small) and stand by my posts..
As far as our respective incomes...it5 really doesn't matter...creation of wealth does matter...I have many friends who earn over $ 700,000 and are broke.
And, no, it doesn't matter to me how much you make or if it is more than I..I celebrate economic success for anyone who can manage to well at something they like and be well paid on top of it...
As a curiosity, what is your profession?
Posted by john maasch at 05/31/2007 @ 4:37pm
Posted by FREEDOMPLEASE 05/31/2007 @ 2:17pm
Actually looking at "Top Industries" contributers, it appears as if the Democrats (after "Candidate Committees" and "Retired")...
are supported by Lawyers/Law Firms.
SO...wouldnt that include....John Edwards?!?!??!
Posted by Mask at 05/31/2007 @ 4:42pm
And the lawyers / law firms are also massive contributers to the Republican's. Both wings of the same party bark to the same masters and neither give a rats ass about the electorate.
Nothing will change while money is the sole determinant of who gets elected.
Posted by freedomplease at 05/31/2007 @ 5:07pm
I just flat out know both how Big and Small buz operate and what it takes to grow! Nothing personal, most Libs just flat out don't get it!
Posted by HAPPY 05/31/2007 @ 12:33pm
I just know flat out what a fucking moron you are. Nothing personal, most conservacunts just don't get it.
Posted by Dr Decibels at 05/31/2007 @ 6:19pm
Lectures from folks that earn much of their income from stocks are a laugh riot for someone that runs his own business and actually produces product! I have to say i am growing sick of being told that "i don't get it". Pure BS. I get it. I know how economic systems work just as well as you Happy and MAASCH. I fully understand that taxes have a happy medium. I know all about paying taxes, and health insurance, and liability insurance, and theft insurance, and building insurance and making capital improvements to facilities and equipment. I am telling you, regulation and taxes are some of the the least of my worries.
competition from overseas, shoddy material from overseas and piss poor customer service from vendors and services (read: giganiti-corp )eat up far more of my worry time.
what you two don't seem to get is that wealth is collecting at the top again. The chasm between those that make obscene wealth and those that don't make enough to live comfortably is widening at a rate not seen since the gilded age. You can quote numbers till your blue, the only one that really matters is "Are as many as possible participating in the growth". It is moral, it is Christian, it is Buddhist. It is supposed to be the underlying cause of capitalism.
the last time this happened, the socialist revolution took place. Careful how far you want to push.
Posted by crabwalk at 05/31/2007 @ 7:31pm
I get it. I know how economic systems work just as well as you Happy and MAASCH.
Posted by CRABWALK 05/31/2007 @ 7:31pm
Sorry, what you "got", don't shine through much! However, like many Libs, you "get it" but only "your way" on far too many things that works only in your head! If you want, take a stab at what you think Michigan ought to do? Ban all imported autos?
Busy today and again later tonight.....
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2007 @ 9:40pm
I'mmmmmmmmmm... back! The Nation is running Thompson everywhere, NICHOLS & BERMAN here and also David Corn at his blog! Groupthink at its best! The Left, at least those here, seems infatuated w/Fred, The Man! I don't watch L&O, he must be awesome!
Hey, end of May, what a Gloriou$ 2 months-run!
Posted by Happy at 05/31/2007 @ 10:01pm
And the lawyers / law firms are also massive contributers to the Republican's. ---Posted by FREEDOMPLEASE 05/31/2007 @ 5:07pm
They are?
Posted by Mask at 05/31/2007 @ 10:07pm
Hey, end of May, what a Gloriou$ 2 months-run!
Posted by HAPPY 05/31/2007 @ 10:01pm | ignore this person
Old Slap Happy at it again, or should I say still.
Two things you should know.
1) end of May, what a deadly 2 month-run!
It wasn't such a good 2 month-run for 19 year old Pfc. Katie and her family and 233 other Americans and their families now was it. I hope you can enjoy your gains.
Pfc. Katie M. Soenksen 19
Pfc. Zachary R. Gullett 20
Lance Cpl. Johnathan E. Kirk 25
1st Lt. Ryan P. Jones 23
Spc. Astor A. Sunsin-Pineda 20
Sgt. Felix G. Gonzalez-Iraheta 25
Pfc. John D. Flores 21
1st Lt. Colby J. Umbrell 26
Spc. Andrew R. Weiss 28
Spc. Matthew T. Bolar 28
2) Stock market gains are only paper until you try to spend them. I've seen hundreds of thousands disappear faster than you can imagine.
"A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, grandfather?" asks the young boy. "Whichever one I feed," is the reply." - Native American proverb
itmfa
Posted by COProgressive at 05/31/2007 @ 11:50pm
By the way, don't look on her Website for info on this. Not a single mention. Like it didn't even happen.
Posted by FREIHEIT 05/31/2007 @ 10:52pm | ignore this person
c'mon now, why would she post this on her site? I'm sure there are a few things you left off your resume.
Posted by johannesrolf at 06/01/2007 @ 08:25am
Mask,
"Lawyers and lobbyists" contributed $10,910,064 to the GOP in 2006.
Maasch,
I'll tell you what industry I work in when you give me a specific of what it is that scares you about Hillary.
Posted by freedomplease at 06/01/2007 @ 08:47am
FREEDOM,
You said they were "massive" contributor. well..
Republican Top Industries (2006 election cycle)
Candidate Committees-- $33,878,270
Retired-- $32,352,727
Real Estate-- $16,147,075
Securities & Investment-- $12,663,267
Health Professionals-- $9,142,471
Misc Business-- $8,651,530
Lawyers/Law Firms-- $8,577,303
Misc Finance-- $7,838,588
Oil & Gas-- $5,178,725
Business Services-- $4,833,000
Insurance-- $4,543,335
General Contractors-- $4,160,867
Misc Manufacturing & Distributing-- $3,823,796
Leadership PACs-- $3,621,020
Commercial Banks-- $3,588,330
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products-- $2,910,092
Automotive-- $2,777,248
TV/Movies/Music--- $2,434,205
Computers/Internet-- $2,337,849
Lobbyists-- $2,332,761
(Seems Lawyers/Law Firms are BELOW "Misc. Business"....BTW, how did you get $10.9 Million...this says 8.5 Million?)
Meanwhile for Dems, it's almost THREE times lawyers and law firms.
Candidate Committees--- $46,771,789
Retired--- $25,452,627
Lawyers/Law Firms--- $23,627,370
Securities & Investment--- $16,261,444
Real Estate--- $10,859,652
Misc Finance--- $6,439,211
TV/Movies/Music--- $6,045,582
Business Services--- $4,823,839
Education--- $4,806,168
Health Professionals--- $4,075,584
Misc Business--- $3,830,829
Computers/Internet--- $3,387,521
Printing & Publishing--- $3,196,009
Non-Profit Institutions--- $2,875,638
Leadership PACs--- $2,584,422
Commercial Banks--- $2,315,725
Civil Servants/Public Officials--- $2,005,473
Public Sector Unions--- $1,944,660
Lobbyists--- $1,940,049
Insurance--- $1,714,245
Posted by Mask at 06/01/2007 @ 09:18am
Posted by FREEDOMPLEASE 06/01/2007 @ 08:47am
FREE, I just re-checked the list on open secrets. First, it seems as if "Lawyers/Law Firms" are down the list a bit for Republicans, while like THIRD (after "Candidate Committees" and "Retired" for Democrats), so it's not as "massive" as their other contributers.
Second, it says 8.5 Million to the GOP from Lawyers, not 10.9 Million. So not sure where you're getting that figure.
Given tort reform is opposed by trial lawyers, opposed by Democrats, and opposed by consumer protection groups...I'd say THAT influence is fairly "progressive" in nature and obviously quite different from Republicans.
Plus I noted that the Dems a nice hunk of change from "Public Sector Unions" and other less "corporate" interests.
Posted by Mask at 06/01/2007 @ 09:26am
what it is that scares you about Hillary.
unresolved mother issues, one suspects.
Posted by johannesrolf at 06/01/2007 @ 09:27am
Posted by JOHANNESROLF 06/01/2007 @ 09:27am
Who are you talking to, JR?
Posted by Mask at 06/01/2007 @ 09:38am
I left out the toal lack of concern over where the money comes from in holding stocks. Look at Happy's ignorance of his Exxon dealings with saddam. Then there is Altria, maker of cancer sticks.
As long as the bucks roll in, nobody seems to care how it's made.
I ask again, how many cancer deaths per share is appropriate return?
Posted by crabwalk at 06/01/2007 @ 09:41am
As far as Michigan goes, it is hard to do much with NAfta and Cafta in place. But, the one thing that is killing us now is the fact that the republicans canceled our main business tax, the Single Business Tax, without a replacement funding source. Many business that are thinking of moving here, or starting here, have come out publicly and stated that they have no idea what their tax liability is going to be, so they are not coming.
the best thing Michigan can do is to call for a complete revamping of NAFTA and CAFTA to include more wage and environmental issues. Make it a true level playing field, and protect the air and water of our neighboring countries.
what is an import auto? My Nissan truck was put together in TN, it had more American made components than the similar Ford, Chevy or Dodge. My Ford Ranger has over 30% imported parts. The brake parts I picked up this week came from China and Argentina, but they are considered OEM parts. Honda, Toyota and Nissan have multiple factories in the US. Ford, GM and Chevy have moved into Mexico, as have the Japanese and Germans. My Jetta was assembled in Mexico.
But, I think Happy's real reason for showing up is to brag about his stocks, and how much he makes. That's fine, but to have zero concern about what the companies do to jack up a stock price is morally bankrupt, just like the attitude of "fight behind the Iraqi women and children so we won't have to fight over here". Not only is it morally repugnant, it is fallacious.
So, Happy, wallow in your wealth, but remember to return what you made from Exxon in the 90's. It is blood money. Same if you have any stocks of companies that do business in Iraq, Nigeria, Sudan, Iran, Burma, etc.
easy to be happy with full blinders on.
Posted by crabwalk at 06/01/2007 @ 09:57am
Electrolux moved a factory from Benton harbor to Mexico. The state of MI offered almost a complete tax rollback, they would pay no property or corporate tax for years. Electro lux said no thanks, cheap labor trumps it all, See ya!!
Pfizer closed it's main research facility in Ann Arbor due to flagging sales and an upcoming patent expiration. the CEO, who had a 72% pay raise to bring him up to $16 million (http://www.forbes.com/2005/03/10/0310autofacescan06.html), said it had NOTHNG to do with taxes or regulation by the state. He said Michigan is a fine place to do business.
Posted by crabwalk at 06/01/2007 @ 10:05am
With seemingly bathetic timing, the New York-based pharmaceutical manufacturer will hold an analysts meeting next month to discuss how to reduce costs by $2 billion, as many of the company's major drugs are losing patent protection over the next few years.- FORBES
And I learn a new word,bathos. That is going to come in handy for the rest of Chimpies reign of error.
Posted by crabwalk at 06/01/2007 @ 10:09am
bathos: an effect of anticlimax created by an unintentional lapse in mood from the sublime to the trivial or ridiculous.
Posted by johannesrolf at 06/01/2007 @ 10:27am
too bad the Nation does not give us boomers an opportunity to respond to the article on Sgt Pepper, a certifiable milestone in popular music. what a wasted chance.
Posted by johannesrolf at 06/01/2007 @ 10:34am
on Sgt Pepper, a certifiable milestone in popular music. what a wasted chance.
Posted by JOHANNESROLF 06/01/2007 @ 10:34am
More so than "Weasels Ripped My Flesh"?!?!?!?
Posted by Mask at 06/01/2007 @ 10:50am
Posted by CRABWALK 06/01/2007 @ 09:41am
Posted by CRABWALK 06/01/2007 @ 09:57am
Posted by CRABWALK 06/01/2007 @ 10:05am
Posted by CRABWALK 06/01/2007 @ 10:09am
4-for-1 Deal of the Day!
I made very good money w/Altria, bought when Phillips Morris was hammered by tobacco lawsuits and sold when it won some big cases, reversals or reductions in judgements. People can smoke, sky dive, bungee jump, snorkle, climb mts. all they want, their choice....Altria will jack the prices to reflect its `costs' to defend & payoff on some of the deaths.....as do makers of Extreme Sport equipments. Oh, if my making money off of cancer stick makers goads you, well, I have lots more where that came from....in due time!
Your lengthy Michigan comments were pretty good. Total US auto employment hasn't declined nearly as much as MSM headlines would have folks believing. TX, TN, AL, MS, KT have certainly gained a huge amount from (near) ZERO base!
MI by itself, can't do much w/cross-border trade agreements....esp. w/waning political clout while states gaining auto jobs are becoming ever more powerful. I hate Tax abatements to get companies to move from state to state.....it's a ZERO sum game w/net loss of local taxes when both old and new locales are added up. I could support the Feds banning this (easily corruptible & escalatable) practice.
My thought is MI must go through some severe short pain by slashing business & personal income taxes and go on a starvation state budget. That's all I'll say!
Electrolux is a Swedish co.....thought it bought out some domestic co. which was what you were likely referencing. IF a foreign co. wants to bring truly new jobs in, states have my blessing to compete at will....subject to voter sentiments.
On Pfizer, a core stock of mine but buy/sell regularly, I know far more than what you read in the headlines. My wife also has a very good college friend who WAS a research Ph.D. back in Philli. It is undergoing severe challenges w/generics (India & Israel) and inability to get its prices on foreign sales. Personally, I see huge reductions in new drugs' esp. drugs targeted at very, very rare diseases. As a stockholder, I won't back them on a 1000 wild goose chases, sorry! Congress, of course, is another huge risk factor! I'll probably be leaving Pfizer behind after its next runup, for good!
Posted by Happy at 06/01/2007 @ 12:36pm
Timely update on Pfizer on my comments, bold mine:
The Generic Cracks Open for Pfizer
By Brian Lawler June 1, 2007
Earlier in the week, Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) received word that a Norwegian appeals court had given the go-ahead for generic drugmaker Ranbaxy to market a generic version of Pfizer's top-selling cholesterol-lowering drug, Lipitor.
Nowadays, the drug business is not just about R&D. Yes, drugmakers need to have a strong drug development pipeline -- but they also must have a good legal team to defend against the challenges by generic manufacturers to their product's patents. Pfizer had partially won an earlier challenge by Ranbaxy in the Norwegian courts, but the appeals court decision this week invalidated Pfizer's patents in the country.
Lipitor is hugely important to Pfizer....
Pfizer does plan on appealing the decision, but Norway is not the only country in which it is facing Lipitor patent challenges. Ranbaxy had previously lost patent challenges over Lipitor in the U.K. and is still duking it out in the courts with Pfizer in large markets like Canada and the United States.
The bad news on Lipitor from small-market Norway won't affect the drug's patents in the U.S., which are in force until 2010 (barring an improbable U.S. Supreme Court decision against Pfizer). One problem, though, is that whenever a generic compound gets approved in one country, there is almost always some degree of cross-border leakage of the generic product into other markets. --------------------------------------------------
Libs that rely on protection of intellectual properties, how do you square w/Pfizer's right to charge what it deems necessary to both profit and underwrite 1000 other wild goose chases?
Posted by Happy at 06/01/2007 @ 1:07pm
F***** time! I just posted this and it ended way up thread!
Timely update on Pfizer on my comments, bold mine:
The Generic Cracks Open for Pfizer
By Brian Lawler June 1, 2007
Earlier in the week, Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) received word that a Norwegian appeals court had given the go-ahead for generic drugmaker Ranbaxy to market a generic version of Pfizer's top-selling cholesterol-lowering drug, Lipitor.
Nowadays, the drug business is not just about R&D. Yes, drugmakers need to have a strong drug development pipeline -- but they also must have a good legal team to defend against the challenges by generic manufacturers to their product's patents. Pfizer had partially won an earlier challenge by Ranbaxy in the Norwegian courts, but the appeals court decision this week invalidated Pfizer's patents in the country.
Lipitor is hugely important to Pfizer....
Pfizer does plan on appealing the decision, but Norway is not the only country in which it is facing Lipitor patent challenges. Ranbaxy had previously lost patent challenges over Lipitor in the U.K. and is still duking it out in the courts with Pfizer in large markets like Canada and the United States.
The bad news on Lipitor from small-market Norway won't affect the drug's patents in the U.S., which are in force until 2010 (barring an improbable U.S. Supreme Court decision against Pfizer). One problem, though, is that whenever a generic compound gets approved in one country, there is almost always some degree of cross-border leakage of the generic product into other markets. --------------------------------------------------
Libs that rely on protection of intellectual properties, how do you square w/Pfizer's right to charge what it deems necessary to both profit and underwrite 1000 other wild goose chases?
Posted by Happy at 06/01/2007 @ 1:10pm