Roger’s Rules

By Roger Kimball

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Or how about: “Welcome to Obamaville: Our business is no business, like no business you know.”

Intermixed with the song and dance, I suggest tea partiers call on Howdy Doody, a.k.a., Robert Gibbs, to explain why one signal effect of the President’s intervention into the economy has been to drastically increase the government payroll. Why is it that Washington, D.C., is boomtown while Main Street is bust?

This is a question that should be repeated early and often.

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The President talks about stimulating the economy. But why does he not employ the one elixir that time and experience have shown really does stimulate the economy: i.e., tax cuts? Why is he planning to  raise taxes, and drastically, on nearly every productive citizen and every successful business? Why?

Of course, given Washington’s mind-boggling spending, the country is facing a terrifying deficit: that certianly needs to be dealt with. So  why doesn’t the President embark on some serious cost cutting measures?  He might try consulting with the governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, to learn how it is done.

I don’t really expect the President to hearken to the message behind these questions, which is why I think the printer who gets the concession for making signs announcing your entry into Obamaville is going to do very well indeed.

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29 Comments, 29 Threads, 1 Trackbacks

  1. Roger:

    Looks as though some folks are anticipating you on this (this is from December 2009):

    http://www.krdo.com/global/Story.asp?s=11660020

    Heh. ..bruce..

  2. 2. Tom

    How about, “Where seldom is heard an intelligent word…”?

    or,

    “Wastin’ away again, here in Obamaville…
    Searchin’ for my last vestige of Hope…
    Some people claim he’s the Messiah of Change,
    But I know,
    He’s Won Hopeless Dope.”

  3. 3. Susie

    One sign up.
    Colorado Obamaville:
    http://obamavilleblogger.blogspot.com/

  4. 4. Liberty Lover

    Hate to say it but some parts of the economy are slowing improving. You are right the public sector is booming. This will come to haunt us because it transfers control of resources from individuals in the private sector to the public sector, who are more likely to squander those resources. Still, there is some improvement. As well, the stock market has recovered but is probably in a bear market.

  5. 5. jgreene

    President Obama will not respond to the American People’s cry of STOP until after the November 2010 elections and the American People STOP THE MADNESS of a Socialist Democratic Party and Marxist Administration.

    I do like the idea of representative OBAMAVILLES showing the RESULTS of Marxist Obamism.

  6. 6. algie

    Oh I’ve got a home
    It’s no pleasure dome
    But it’s mine and I now want to say
    That times are now tough
    And it’s getting quite rough
    To keep foreclosure away

    Home home it’s quite strange
    I really wish things they would change
    But seldom is heard an encouraging word
    And the taxes get higher each day

    Each day I quail
    as I open the mail
    To see what bad news it does bring
    It only gets worse
    and it makes me curse
    And to fix it I can’t do a thing

    Home home it’s quite strange
    I really wish things they would change
    But seldom is heard an encouraging word
    And the taxes get higher each day

    It doesn’t seem real
    As our future they steal
    Enslaving our grand-children too
    This mad spending binge
    Makes all of us cringe
    Of the time when these bills will come due

    Home home it’s quite strange
    I really wish things they would change
    But seldom is heard an encouraging word
    And the taxes get higher each day

    But now there’s a chance
    To end this mad dance
    And end this long slide with a roar
    Tea parties abound
    And they’re making a sound
    That progressives just fear and abhor

    Home home it’s quite strange
    I really wish things they would change
    But seldom is heard an encouraging word
    And the taxes get higher each day

    ….uuuu..’o^o’..nn!n….algie
    Illegitimi nOn carborundum

  7. 7. Bill S.

    While Obama’s policies on growing the economy are not “impeachable offenses” it is clear that he has done the economy great harm. Yes, he inherited a bad economy but his threats of cap & trade, tax hikes and health care mandates have scared would-be jobs providers (small businesses) half to death. This is why the jobs situation is so bad. Obama and his closest advisors are largely policy wonks with little or no practical business experience. It shows. Among other things, he needs to freexe federal spending and lower tax rates for everyone. You will then see optimism grow and jobs will be created.

  8. 8. David Thomson

    “Hate to say it but some parts of the economy are slowing improving.”

    Any improvement in the American economy is comparable to the unemployed guy already in bankruptcy proceedings who finds a decent paying job. The judge allows him to relax a little and buy a few extra groceries. However, he still is bankrupt—and cannot either sell his home or invest in a new business without permission from the court. Our fellow may now be eating three square meals a day, but the future remains very bleak, and especially that of his children and grandchildren.

  9. 9. Harris Tweed

    If you count the underemployed the rate is 13.9%.

    The number is around 18% if you count people who are
    1. under-employed (i.e. you have a profession, but cannot find work and take a lower paying job)
    2. self-employed, not making a profit because you can’t find work
    3. unemployment benefits have run out
    4. not actively looking for ajob

  10. 10. ExDem in Mich

    Yes, you could definitely call ALL of Michigan “Obamaville” and be pretty close to the truth. Recently, a Meijer (big box store chain in Mich) advertised for 200 openings for a new store in Petoskey (lower peninsula, nw corner) and over 1500 people showed up for these largely minimum-wage jobs. Pretty sad.

  11. 11. M@

    I often read articles here. It annoys me to no end that you have only one paragraph or so and then a link to PAGE 2. The second page is often no more than one or two additional sentences. That’s stupid and annoying and half of the time I see the first page and close the tab in silent protest.

  12. 12. ic

    C’mon, it’s Bush’s fault.

    Btw, Obama achieves one of his greatest achievements in Iraq.

  13. 13. newton

    Tom Feb 16, 2010 – 9:04 am

    The Margaritaville parodies simply write themselves, don’t it?

    “Wasting again, my friends here in Obamaville,
    waiting for those lost high-pointed polls.
    Some people claim the economy is to blame,
    but I know – it’s Bush’s fault!” [You can add "Republicans" or "Wall Street", for better effect.]

    Well, that’s what Obama says, right? He never blames himself for it!

  14. It’s difficult for the teaparty types to complain about “Obamavilles” when they’re part of the problem through action or inaction. There’s little or none opposition to massive or illegal imm. among the teapartiers, when opposing that in a smart way could make them look better and help free up jobs for Americans. Instead of doing that, they buy into false libertarian arguments that have resulted in millions more low-wage workers than low-wage jobs.

    Eleven months ago I sent a letter to CAP trying to coerce them into helping U.S. workers and I got zero help with it:

    http://24ahead.com/n/8902

    Maybe Roger Kimball could either make a realistic argument for massive/illegal imm. or, instead of cutesy posts like this, he could decide to do something that would solve problems.

  15. 15. Joseph

    Keep plugging the Tea Partyers, Rog, they’re your natural constituency. This, from the Times, is about an Idaho chapter:
    “Worried about hyperinflation, social unrest or even martial law, she and her Tea Party members joined a coalition, Friends for Liberty, that includes representatives from Glenn Beck’s 9/12 Project, the John Birch Society, and Oath Keepers, a new player in a resurgent militia movement.”
    Rog, you’ve found your ilk. Congrats!

  16. 16. Ben

    Liberty Lover says: “Hate to say it but some parts of the economy are slowing improving.”

    Speechless.

  17. 17. AST

    Those Hoovervilles helped elect FDR, who basically threw away the Constitution and began the most successful era of “progressive” government and set the stage for all growth of government that came later.

    If we couldn’t see this coming before the election, we shouldn’t be permitted to vote. Both our major parties let us down. Before we start building Obamavilles, we need to know what comes next and more of a track record from our leaders than “Hope” and “Change.”

  18. 18. arhooley

    LOL, Roger! Dang, if I weren’t unemployed and broke, I’d buy some billboard space. Maybe I could paint something on the back of my jalopy, like “Model O.”

  19. 19. myth buster

    7. How about abuse of power and numerous usurpations including the various czars he appointed not subject to congressional oversight?

  20. Oh Roger;

    Thank you ever so much for explaining to us who Howdy doody really was! I knew it was some lame Hollyweird actor, I just didn’t have the name quite pegged. Been wondering about that a ton of years, show started just a bit before I was born…

    But now I want to know who did the Buffalo Bob Howdy Doody part… Was it Babs Streisand in drag??? :-) She seems like the good Socialist type who could be pulling Gibbs strings quite well.

  21. 21. Dan

    Obamaville! Brilliant. But Gibbs is more like Buffalo Bob on lithium, and the marionette in the White House is the one who resembles Howdy Doody.

  22. 22. Ancona

    If you want to see the the real obamaville just go the Altgeld Gardens(chicago) and the surrounding area this is where obama started as a community Org.,It’s where he had his most significant accomplishments to date,(asbestos removal and a new employment center),but he ran away from these poor people and never looked back when he realized they wouldn’t help him fill his power hungry ego so he hooked himself up with the Chicago machine and the rest is history

  23. 23. Fantom

    “There ain’t no sunhine when you’re here.
    Only sorrow every day.
    There ain’t no sunshine when you’re here
    Obama, just go away.”

  24. 24. pelaut

    TWO words need to be seen and heard seriously:
    Impeach, and
    Secede.

  25. 25. Phineas

    Roger:

    “A friend presented this brilliant strategy, right from the Left-wing Democratic playbook.”

    Is there such a thing as a “Right-wing Democratic playbook,” or even Right-wing Democrats?

    Or would we just call those “Mensheviks?”

  26. 26. ehunter

    The reason unemployment is 30% in El Centro, Merced, Tucson, Yuma..etc etc..is that there are 30 million illegal aliens.
    People with no skills, a 4th grade education and now they are
    literally on the verge of starvation. And quess what?..desperate
    people turn to crime to survive. Steal purses, smuggle drugs, break into houses.

    Corporate America got $6 an hour laborers. The American taxpayer got charged $600 an hour per illegal in the form of crime,incarceration, hospital bills, white flight from cities,
    etc etc

    And next up comes the Demographic destruction of the USA.
    Where whites will be the minority in 25 more years. Dont forget
    the “anchor babies” are all US citizens..and they are turning 18 And guess what type of politician they will vote for.

  27. 27. skeeziks

    26. Phineas:

    is there such a thing as a right wing Republican playbook?

  28. 28. Billy Carter

    Obama is a great man and he is doing a wonderful job. We love him. Go Obama!!

  29. 29. deguello

    Sorry Mr.Kimball,but libtards have beaten you to the punch,albeit using different names. Obamavilles,that is benighted areas riddled with corrupt,hypertrophied government,appalling schools, crime, poverty,welfare dependency,overregulation,crumbling infrastructure,high taxes, and a quality of life second only to Liberia, already have signs advertising themselves. Why just recently,I saw such a sign;it said:”Welcome to New York City”.

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