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The Economy Is So "Strong" It Just Cost Obama The Senate

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Based on the ridiculous, seasonally-adjusted data released day after day by the various US "Departments of Truth", also known as the BLS, the Census, the Dept of Commerce, UMichigan, ADP, the Conference Board and so on, the US economy is so strong and consumer confidence is so resurgent, America is on the verge of a second golden age. Sadly, for Obama, and last night's epic rout for Democrats, it was all a lie - a lie perpetuated by a manipulated S&P500 which now hits daily record highs on unprecedented central bank liquidity injections which have now terminally disconnected the "markets" from the economy, and the welfare of the vast majority of the common "folk" - and said "folk" saw right through it.

Bloomberg's take is just one of many observations on the historic cognitive dissonance that is plaguing the mainstream media this morning, which has been furiously pumping up US confidence by pitching the endless array of "fake data" (to use Paul Singer's words), only to see it all blow up in its face today.

The economy was voters’ most pressing concern as they cast their ballots in the midterm election, with seven of 10 rating conditions poor, preliminary exit polls showed.

 

More than five years after the recession ended, ordinary Americans still feel pinched. Wages and incomes haven’t recovered even as corporate profits hit records, stocks have almost tripled and the nation’s output of goods and services grew more than $1 trillion from its pre-recession peak.

 

Obama’s Democratic allies took the hit, with Republicans gaining a majority in the Senate for the first time during his presidency and adding seats in the House, which they have controlled for four years. Yet Republicans could hardly claim a mandate from yesterday’s results, and they’ll be judged on their ability to govern.

Irony #1: Bloomberg, which has been one of the many outlets spinning the "great recovery" is confused:

The discontent simmered even as the economy showed signs of strengthening in the run-up to the election, posting its strongest six months of growth in more than a decade. Gross domestic product expanded at a 3.5 percent annualized rate in the three months that ended in September after a 4.6 percent gain in the second quarter, the best back-to-back showing since 2003.

Maybe, just maybe, the economy never really strengthened, and it was all even more of the same propaganda that has ordinary Americans finally seeing through the lies. Bloomberg at least admits that much: "Most Americans haven’t shared in the gains. Adjusted for inflation, the July median household income of $54,045 was $2,600 lower than in December 2007.... Voters by 65-31 percent said the country is on the wrong track. That’s 12 points more negative than two years ago and was the second-gloomiest exit-poll reading since 1990, trailing only the 2008 election, the preliminary numbers showed. Half of voters expect life to be worse for the next generation."

Irony #2: even as America is increasingly seeing through the left-right lies, and realizes that the GOP has no magic bullet to fix the economy, the vote last night was not for Republicans as much as against a broken status quo.

Senator Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, attributed his party’s gains to “disappointment and disillusionment with the administration.” He added, “I don’t think on the other end it’s a major endorsement of the Republican Party, either.”

 

Fifty-eight percent of voters said they were dissatisfied or angry at the White House, according to the preliminary exit polls; 59 percent said the same about Republican congressional leaders.

Irony #3: nothing will change:

Senator Ted Cruz, a Tea Party-backed Texas Republican, said this week that his colleagues must fight Obama at every turn. His priority, he told the Washington Post, is “looking at the abuse of power, the executive abuse, the regulatory abuse, the lawlessness that sadly has pervaded this administration.”

 

Cruz also wants to line up votes to dismantle Obama’s health-care law, a mission that would require improbable two-thirds majorities in both chambers to overcome presidential vetoes.

 

Some Republican leaders also say an all-out confrontation with Democrats is a one-way ticket back to the minority. Already, there are a few issues, most notably the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, where both sides say there is opportunity for Obama to come together with Republicans.

The problem is that Obama, increasingly focused only on the golf course, will have none of it.

Frustrated with gridlock in Congress, Obama declared earlier this year that he would use his executive power to circumvent lawmakers on climate change and the minimum wage paid to federal contractors, as well as on immigration. That didn’t help his party yesterday and some, including Vice President Joe Biden, have signaled a willingness to compromise with Republicans.

The irony does not stop there, because the biggest beneficiary of the Obama administration and the split Congress so far has been the 1%, by way of the S&P 500 rising relentlessly in the fact of bad or good news. That rise continued overnight.

U.S. equity-index futures rose, the dollar strengthened and precious metals fell. Standard & Poor’s 500 Index futures advanced 0.4 percent at 10:03 a.m. in London, signaling the gauge will approach a record. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index climbed to its highest level since April 2009. The Stoxx Europe 600 Index jumped 1 percent.

Well, the economy may not get better but at least the rich will get a little richer as the charade continues.

But even a world full of ironies needs some humor, and it got it with this WSJ story, "GOP Senate Takeover Puts Fed on Hot Seat":

Republicans’ takeover of the U.S. Senate promises increased political turbulence for the Federal Reserve, which has already been under pressure from a GOP-controlled House.

 

Financial executives say a GOP-led Senate would ratchet up congressional scrutiny of the central bank’s interest-rate policies, as well as its regulatory duties as overseer of the nation’s largest financial firms. Republicans haven’t controlled the Senate since before the 2008 financial crisis and recession, which put a spotlight on the Fed and its powers.

 

“If the Republicans take control of the Senate and thus have control of both the House and the Senate—two words for the Federal Reserve: Watch out,” Camden Fine, president of the Independent Community Bankers of America, said before the Election Day results were final. His group represents the community-banking industry.

While we enjoy the humor that someone will dare to touch the goose that lays the golden market, we wish to make a small correction: it's not two words. It's three: "get to work." Because after a few days, when the excitement and the drama wears off, the people will once again realize they have been fooled, the only winners are Wall Street, the wealthy and their political marionettes in D.C. As for everyone else, well there is 2016, and then 2018, and so on... because the lie must go on.

 

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Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:03 | 5414547 Cathartes Aura
Cathartes Aura's picture

hooooooo oh oh, YES, you gots to

FIGHT for your RIGHT to PARTY !!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:26 | 5414119 Wahooo
Wahooo's picture

Harry Reid killed his own and ate them. Yeah, no republican senator could get an amendment to the floor under Reid's rules, but neither could Dems. He made them go all in for the Kenyan.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:03 | 5414151 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

Harry Reid won.

The heat is off old Harry and his boy.

Now they can focus on that Bundy situation.

And help China.

You think the R's are going to stop the Chinese?

R's are trying to negotiate a better deal.

That's what all criminal syndicates do.

LOL!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:15 | 5414590 gatorengineer
gatorengineer's picture

Schumer is the new minority leader, count it and score it....  wouldnt be surprised if Nutzy was replaced as well.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:29 | 5414123 The Magus
The Magus's picture

They didn't see through it. They are too stupid.....

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:31 | 5414146 apberusdisvet
apberusdisvet's picture

Nothing has changed since JFK; nor will it change.  The Rothschild Zionists will still be in control, and the depopulation agenda will continue with more fluoride, chemtrails, false flags, etc.  The incidence of cancer will greatly accelerate and will kill off half the population before age 50 by 2030, certainly solving the entitlements problem.  Thanks Fukushima.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:32 | 5414150 AdvancingTime
AdvancingTime's picture

The Republicans have gained a bit more control but the fact is they should by all logic now want to slam the brakes on the destructive policies that have distorted the economy and driven stocks to record highs. What a tangled web we weave, fact is the economy is a manipulated mess propped up by government spending and artificially low interest rates that hurt savers. 

We have created a "Government Centered Economy", who deserves credit for this very descriptive phrase? The first person I heard using this phrase was Mitt Romney. The phrase may of been around for years or conjured up by one of his speech writers, but it describes what America has become. More on this subject in the article below.

http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2012/06/government-centered-economy.html

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 19:34 | 5417229 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

Mitt actually meant "Corporatist Centered Economy" but such truths may destroy 'confidence' in the markets that are manipulated by the PRIVATE fed reserve and wall street while govt looks the other way.  The epitamy of corporatism

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:34 | 5414156 AdvancingTime
AdvancingTime's picture

For Washington to fix all that is wrong with our economy would be like turning a battleship in a bathtub. Today I make no predictions and have few expectations because when  I awoke it was to a market where stock futures were soaring ever higher even as important economic numbers being released continue to come in below expectations. As the stock market continues to remain at historic highs please tell me what is so good? What is so much better?

As I see it the weight of carrying a large number of unemployed and people who have dropped out of the work force is wearing society down through attrition. The article below points out some of the glaring flaws in the argument that blue sky lies ahead as the stock market seems to indicate. As I look at a landscape of empty and under-leased buildings that once housed thriving businesses that provided Americans with good paying jobs I'm forced to ask, How are things getting better?

 http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2014/10/tell-me-again-how-things-are-getting.html

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:36 | 5414165 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

George Prescott Bush won in Texas last night.

Jeb's brown kid can start selling land to China now.

You're about to find out how little has changed.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:28 | 5414390 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Oh, so that's what "Land Commissioners" do? What about oil?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:08 | 5414560 Cathartes Aura
Cathartes Aura's picture

"brown folks" are abut to get a white-wash upgrade of inclusiveness. . .

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:36 | 5414167 LULZBank
LULZBank's picture

If you thought he didn't play enough golf over the past 6 years...

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:37 | 5414172 Racer
Racer's picture

Obomber has nearly played as much golf as Tiger Woods... a person whose job it is to play golf!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:45 | 5414205 LULZBank
LULZBank's picture

Tiger Woods only stopped after developing Trypophobia.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:13 | 5414579 Cathartes Aura
Cathartes Aura's picture

who's keepin' score?

Calls to several Presidential libraries reveal that President Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, was on vacation more — 1,020 days — than any U.S. President since Herbert Hoover and possibly more than any other President in history.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:37 | 5414168 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

I suspect the jive turkey is about to order the Fed to dump the markets in retribution.  Then he can point to the mess and and blame the Republican win.  He has no reason to fake it anymore and someone to blame.  

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:36 | 5414169 Racer
Racer's picture

The economy was voters’ most pressing concern as they cast their ballots in the midterm election, with seven of 10 rating conditions poor

 

But but but.. .consumer confidence figures....

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:37 | 5414175 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

It wasn't the economy.

The people want war with Syria and Iran silly!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:10 | 5414303 toady
toady's picture

The economy? Someone was running on the economy? All I saw was ISIS and Ebola ads!

Classic red team fear election.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 19:43 | 5417263 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

What economy?  Didn't mean to TTIP you up ...

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:39 | 5414177 Hockey Goon
Hockey Goon's picture

Now that the midterms are finished, I wonder how many minutes it will be before the msm breaks the news of the multiple cases of ebola that are languishing on America's shores?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:54 | 5414232 d edwards
d edwards's picture

According to the 'experts" there will be 130 cases by the end of the year in the US-how many others will be infected by them?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:03 | 5414542 Calmyourself
Calmyourself's picture

GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT worst case scenario is 130.  The number is right, but you are fearmongering..

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:33 | 5414668 1Inthebeginning
1Inthebeginning's picture

.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:39 | 5414180 Perimetr
Perimetr's picture

The system is working, the system is working!!!

hahahahahahahaha

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:41 | 5414188 blown income
blown income's picture

We're fucked no matter what....life will only get harder for me the middle class ...it's not what you know or what you can do it's who you know or who blow..

 

I really want to get a memory reset...and just set me to today cause every fucking day it runs through my head that when the shit hit the fan the TBTF should have failed and the chips would have fallen into place ...

 

We would be 6 years into a real recovery...

 

To the self made people good for them, inventors, the same..

Always told you that I could be whatever I wanted to be..

 

I just wanted to be a good employee ,make a decent living, and enjoy life..guess that was to much to ask....

My 9 year-old daughter asked why I didn't vote , I told her why and I told her that when she grows up don't bother...it's already decided.

 

Last time voted Ron Paul...that I believe was the only chance America had to recover....but hope and change ...well those fuckers are not any better all these years later...

 

Time for a revolution..

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:20 | 5414219 LULZBank
LULZBank's picture

Tell your kids to only vote for themselves and support good people, always.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:48 | 5414216 NoWayJose
NoWayJose's picture

What will be interesting going forward is that Harry Reid played all sorts of dirty cards in the Senate in order to bypass the need to work with Republicans, and that included the 60 vote super majority that has been assumed as part of the Senate since day 1. Now that the cards have turned, we will see if Reid's shenanigans get picked up by Republican leadership to make the Democrat minority powerless.

Long Veto Pens!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:49 | 5414222 orangegeek
orangegeek's picture

social mood and market indexes - the communists in the white house had the country convinced that everything was fine

 

good to see you going down the toilet barry - you belong in jail you fuck!!!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:51 | 5414224 insanelysane
insanelysane's picture

I've never felt like a winner after an election, sometimes I feel like less of a loser.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:58 | 5414256 Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch's picture

People don't vote for anyone anymore.

You vote against the greater evil.

Then you grab your testicles and pray.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:52 | 5414228 mtndds
mtndds's picture

stick it to the phucker and his wookie bitch!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 09:56 | 5414248 Pumpkin
Pumpkin's picture

And there are actually people out there that thinks it matters.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:03 | 5414273 Hamm Jamm
Hamm Jamm's picture

LAME DUCK  !

 

 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:46 | 5414477 cherry picker
cherry picker's picture

You mean lame voters.

In the old days, Washington and the boys said enough was enough and decided to change things.  They are 'heroes'.  Anyone trying it today is a 'terrorist'

You get what you vote for today,

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:30 | 5414660 headhunt
headhunt's picture

LAME DICK

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:13 | 5414318 Duude
Duude's picture

I fully expect Senate Democrats will continue to block legislation with the filibuster power. Its only a question of how the media reports or doesnt' report on this.  I also expect the media will continue to report things as the administration directs. No reason to change course now.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:33 | 5414416 silverer
silverer's picture

What irony. Anti-filibuster Reid will now filibuster!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:54 | 5414504 RabbitOne
RabbitOne's picture

Where have you been. Harry Reid eliminated the "filibuster Power' from the senate. The Republicans would be fools to reinstate the filibuster rule for minority parties...

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:19 | 5414332 Duc888
Duc888's picture

 

 

I was on the city data web forums , good place to interact with "locals".  There are some seriously delusional people out there.  Two sides...one side wants to freeze the growth og gov, roll back taxes ect (nothing at all wrong with that) ..... and then there were some seriously fucking stupid people who WANT higher taxes.  So I chimed in and told these fuck wits "hey, so just cut a check to FEDGOV once a week or however often you need too, to get your fix".

I swear to God someone on the forums was trolling heavy last night, saying her fave democrats were Pelosi and Feinstein.

Reeeaaallllyyyy?

disclaimer: if you don't realise the Red team / Blue team is the good cop bad cop routine, then there's no hope for you.

I can prove this easily.  Just watch what happens in the next two years.  You will NOT see any rollback of the Patriot Act, NDAA, or any other measure that would restore a slight degree of Constitutionality of this Republic.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:17 | 5414336 q99x2
q99x2's picture

Now can we impeach him and prosecute him for treason?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:31 | 5414406 silverer
silverer's picture

Everyone is still afraid the repercussions of that. What we need are about another 15 to 20 minority presidents, and after this country is brought so low you have to look up to look down, citizens who vote (meaning anyone within our borders) might start to judge the Commander in Chief based on performance, rather than smoke and mirror popularity, but I doubt it.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:14 | 5414902 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

Sure thing.  And Obamacare will be repealed and Keystone will be approved and the deficit will fall and Russia will pay for freezing Europe in 2 months and Unicorn stores are opening at the big malls….

Get ready.  Republican panacea is upon us like it or not.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:20 | 5414346 MATA HAIRY
MATA HAIRY's picture

growth growth growth growth growth growth

more more MORE MOAR MOAR

more more MORE MOAR MOAR

more more MORE MOAR MOAR

GDP mass immigation jobs jobs JOBS

diversity rich vibrant growth more MOAR

cram more more MOAR human livestock into America!

growth growth growth growth growth growth

more more MORE MOAR MOAR

GDP mass immigation jobs jobs JOBS

diversity rich vibrant growth more MOAR

more more MORE MOAR MOAR

You figger it out yet?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:25 | 5414374 Duude
Duude's picture

I figure the new minority leadership of the house and senate will see a long-coming shakeup.   Harry Reid knew it was coming. I think he will likely be replaced by Chuckie Schumer.  But Nancy was holding tight onto her leadership role before the elections.  But Democrats really got trounced in the house. Republicans now have 250 seats.  She's gone.   They might choose someone younger like Chris Van Hollen.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:53 | 5414507 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

What about Dickless Durbin? He has been there for 30+ years and is getting sent back by the people of the Peoples Republic of Illinois.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:29 | 5414389 richiebaby
richiebaby's picture

Dems lost because me and the boys at the park got too drunk and forgot to vote

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:28 | 5414392 silverer
silverer's picture

So all along, the "Hope and Change" has been for the one percent. Imagine that.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:43 | 5414457 Notsobadwlad
Notsobadwlad's picture

Obomber is a test tube politician created in a lab by the money manufacturers.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 19:56 | 5417305 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

Shit... I thought he was a bacterium grown in a petri dish on a diet of money based gruel  ... my bad

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:29 | 5414401 quikwit
quikwit's picture

"Already, there are a few issues, most notably the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, where both sides say there is opportunity for Obama to come together with Republicans."

 

Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 20:00 | 5417330 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

The only thing saving us from the TTIP abomination are foreign countries ... all the sockpuppets in DC are on the same page regarding it.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:34 | 5414410 nah
nah's picture

need Mormons to get the job done

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:17 | 5414600 Cathartes Aura
Cathartes Aura's picture

Mormons, the other white Zionist meat. . .

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:20 | 5415462 Farqued Up
Farqued Up's picture

Yeah, the ones I know won't touch alcohol or caffeine but will fuck a snake if they can find someone to hold her head.

The Founders were largely Deists. This crowd is made up of pagan psychopaths.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:41 | 5414441 Notsobadwlad
Notsobadwlad's picture

Black Capsule ...

I now worry about Obomber hitting the self destruct button before handing over the presidency. It is such an Obomber thing to do... not exactly whatcha call a team player.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:24 | 5414631 headhunt
headhunt's picture

That would be a good thing.

Usually they wait until they loose their positions of power and then break the works on the way out the door, blaming the newly elected.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 20:05 | 5417349 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

"then break the works on the way"  no, they try to hold the festering cesspool together till they get out of office but they fail at that too.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:42 | 5414455 Otto Zitte
Otto Zitte's picture

Its all going according to the script

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:44 | 5414471 Eagle Keeper
Eagle Keeper's picture

But we have a ROARING stock market!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:47 | 5414480 RabbitOne
RabbitOne's picture
The headline on Yahoo this morning was “How Hillary Clinton won the 2014 midterms” and that the GOP had a good night but it favors Hillary in 2016. Their reasoning is that none of these wins really reflect the black, Hispanic and single mother vote that will sweep Hillary in office. They claim that Hillary will reverse most of these Republican wins as she switches senate seats back to Democratic on her coat tails.

The long term strategy of the Democrats appears simple and effective. Flood America with welfare loving voters from Mexico, South America, Asia and Africa and let them tip the balance of future presidential elections for the Democrats by their numbers. Once in office the Democrats will then proceed to tax to death the working voter and print money to pay for the welfare state that gives them power. So this election is just a minor setback for Democrats as they wait to resume full power in 2016.

 As we all are fully aware of on ZH the only thing that may stop the full emergence of the totalitarian state in America in 2016 are the missteps of the world’s central bankers. It is a race to see if the world’s fiat monetary system can stay intact as the world’s socialistic politicians grab more power…    

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:58 | 5414531 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

A lot of that is likely democrat wishful thinking, but she will win if the Repubs keep being the stoopid party and running up unelectable candidates, and then when they do actually win something, not using that power to change things. Thats assuming they want to change things.....

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:44 | 5414743 Oldwood
Oldwood's picture

But the unelectable ones are the ones we need.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:53 | 5414805 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

If by that you mean truly conservative/libertarian ones, I'd agree. I meant ones with magic underpants and 'crazy' ex military type guys

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:01 | 5415373 Abaco
Abaco's picture

Someone is eating mushrooms.  Look at the Maryland governor's race. They had the chance to elect the first black governor in a state that has 1 out of 8 congressional districts GOP and where the Dems have controlled both houses of the legislature forever and where the only Republican Governor since the 1960's was elected by a razor thin margin. The Republican won this race by 10 points - considered a damn landslide. Hitlery won't get the nomination and may ultimately decide not to run.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:51 | 5414495 rwe2late
rwe2late's picture

The Democrats lost?

According to Yahoo News,

Hillary Clinton won the election!

http://news.yahoo.com/how-hillary-clinton-won-the-2014-midterms-07594343...

(apparently the votes for her are already counted!?)

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:57 | 5414519 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

Things are progressing accourding to plan......

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:54 | 5414509 Panic Mode
Panic Mode's picture

Here is my conversation with so called the educated people (we all have PhDs)....

<Adam>: republicans did well last night, didn't they?

<Bob>: yeah will obama be able to get anything through now

<Me>: He won't care. He will issue executive orders like ordering pizzas

<Adam>: Obama is one huge dissapointment

<Me>: He plays most golf among all the presidents

<Bob>: is that a bad thing

<Me>: u think he should deserve more holidays?

<Adam>: everyone deserves holidays surely 

<Bob>: so what if he spends alot of time playing golf

I stopped the conversation at this point and good luck to our education system .....

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:01 | 5414539 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

Phd aren't given for common-sense I take it.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:14 | 5414584 madcows
madcows's picture

well, it's a doctorate of philosophy.  they sit around and think about stuff.  after two years of thinking (after pot and beer), they write a paper, and get a slap on the back and an attaboy.  it's sorta like a hollywood awards ceremony.

just take a look at all the PhD's running this country and then consider how "intelligent" they are.

hell, krugman is a PhD, AND a Nobel prize winner.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:21 | 5414623 headhunt
headhunt's picture

...and collect their huge pensions and healthcare all paid for directly and indirectly by you the taxpayer.

They are leftists all and have a circle jerk politics and mentality.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:55 | 5414816 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

to quote a wise ZH'er

History provides perspective. "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" -- and become Progressives

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 20:29 | 5417443 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

wisdom isn't taught and 'intelligence' has only marginal value relative to wisdom

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:55 | 5414513 RaceToTheBottom
RaceToTheBottom's picture

Glad we will be exiting the middle east now that the elections are over....

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:31 | 5414664 clade7
clade7's picture

 

 

I read your post and in advertantly read "exiting the middle class" instead of middle east...I'd sure like to exit from the middle class myself, one way or the other, no worries.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:54 | 5414514 LawsofPhysics
LawsofPhysics's picture

For those confused about the "election" results, please refer to the infographic ZH recently put up on "the march of tyranny".

same as it ever was.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:55 | 5414515 LawsofPhysics
LawsofPhysics's picture

.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:12 | 5415148 Kirk2NCC1701
Kirk2NCC1701's picture

Technically, in a FUNCTIONAL system, the GOP-owned Congress can pass and amend laws; but this won't happen either.  They will continue to blame Obama, because they are part of the same charade.  Like one guy here said:  The NFL will win the Superbowl, not matter what teams show up.

Nothing will change until the EBTs stop.  In the meantime... Bread & Circus for the Masses, while the Oligarchs keep plundering and solidifying their positions for the "Time After the Reset".  Your plan to go long on Share-cropping seems eminently sensible. 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:57 | 5414517 swass
swass's picture

Seriously.  Nothing is going to change.  These aren't libertarians that got elected.  

The somewhat worrisome poll that I saw was that Hillary was a front-runner for President.  God help us is that succubus gets put in the office.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:52 | 5414785 Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch's picture

I wonder if it matters. It seems to me that the only thing that matters is whether the US commits a first strike nuclear attack on Russia. If the US does that, anything else will very rapidly not matter.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:26 | 5415496 swass
swass's picture

My apologies.  Apparently a succubus is supposed to be an attractive female demon.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 10:58 | 5414530 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

Has Boehner cried? 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:34 | 5414680 clade7
clade7's picture

 

 

...last night Chris Matthews was crying, slobbering, drooling all over his piss complected face...then he got mad and attacked poor Cory Booker!  Cory said, "hey, I'm the new guy, dont lay this trip on me, I gonna have some goddamn snow to shovel this Winter just to keep my job!"

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:00 | 5414532 rejected
rejected's picture

Left leg to the rear,,, Right leg to the front as the fake 2 party system takes another step. And the beat goes on.

Today the skys are blue and the birds singing. Pax Americana is fixed.Long live the empire!

Yea,,, right...

 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:43 | 5414737 Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch's picture

Tacitus wrote that corruption became so embedded in the Roman Empire and the expectations for rewards attendant to the corruption so endemic that even if an emporer wanted to restore the republic to righteousness, that he would be assassinated.

I think this is the point where the US is.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:22 | 5415468 rejected
rejected's picture

Yes, and a modern Diocletian will be coming soon to save us. Get ready to practice the low crawl.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:05 | 5414554 xavi1951
xavi1951's picture

I see that a Libertarian gave the Democrats a Senate seat in Virginia and several third-party wannabes gave a Senate seat to a Democrat in Louisiana.  What a waste of a votes.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:16 | 5414597 headhunt
headhunt's picture

Republicans suck - Democrats swallow

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:21 | 5414617 Bunghole
Bunghole's picture

Newsflash Speaker Boehner,

LA is having a runoff in December.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:07 | 5414563 hedgelessWhoresMan
hedgelessWhoresMan's picture

The Divided States of America

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:17 | 5414606 Smiddywesson
Smiddywesson's picture

When you change the senate procedures so you can get your way, you can expect the Republicans to nuclear option you right back.  Harry Reid should have thought of that before he changed the rules about how this war is fought. 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:12 | 5414577 Comte d'herblay
Comte d&#039;herblay's picture

Litmus test:

If republicans work in earnest to prosecute the Jewish Mafia in New York, and their consiglieres and wind up indicting and imprisoning the perpetraitors of the Mortgage Fraud that packaged loans filled with no-doc loans, unqualified immigrants earning $10.00  an hour and buying $400,000 houses, Maiden Lanes I and II, and derivatives.....er...derived therefrom, clawing back trillions of FRNs paid to a select few, then and only then will they have proven elections matter.

Since the likelihood of that happening is less than my chances of recovering my shorts from 2008, I'm betting nothing changes but the monograms on the towels in the Senate washroom. 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:13 | 5414578 headhunt
headhunt's picture

"For the first time in my life I am proud to be an American" or some such BS

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:16 | 5414587 headhunt
headhunt's picture

dup

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:15 | 5414594 Smiddywesson
Smiddywesson's picture

"Cruz also wants to line up votes to dismantle Obama’s health-care law, a mission that would require improbable two-thirds majorities in both chambers to overcome presidential vetoes."

 

Harry Reid, Mr. Nuclear Option, says the election means the people want us to work together.  Screw you Harry, your two-thirds just went out the window.  What goes around, comes around.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:37 | 5414688 Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch's picture

Hary Reid's interest in turtles and cattle at Bundy ranch disappeared when the Chinese backed out of a sweetheart deal with Ried to build a $364 miilion solar plant on the Bundy ranch property.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:17 | 5414596 Oquities
Oquities's picture

lame duck, can't fly.  can still peck though.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:31 | 5414619 besnook
besnook's picture

the dimocrats, since they abandoned their humphrey roots in 1968, have always been the kinder, gentler fascists. if jeb wins in 2016 with the repugnants in charge of congress brown shirts will become the most popular fashion in the usa by the end of 2017.

a dimocrat .gov would put it off until 2020, at least.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:24 | 5414628 gwar5
gwar5's picture

Love the headline of this article for some reason, cracked me up.

Obama's economic plan for the last 3 years has been mandating $10 hour for the jobs at McDonalds. That's it. The whole plan. Instead of trying to create real jobs for millions of people. 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:22 | 5414929 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

Your post implies a Republican government could 'create real jobs for millions of people'.

By extension, you’ve accepted Government is the job creator. 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 20:40 | 5417482 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

trade policy and de-regulation is what has destroyed things... besides just the fiat money madness.  Capitalism and Banking is a fine workhorse but without a bit in its mouth its just a wild animal.  China knows this, European nations knows this.... thus have VAT .. US... is an empty suit.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:25 | 5414629 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

Now people will have something to bitch about when the Retardlicans don't do anything different than the usual bullshit.  I didn't see any "Should we audit the Fed" referenDUMBs last night.  All this does is set up Hillary for 2016 which is horrifying to even contemplate. 

The only reason I went to vote last night was to try to shut down this fucking ridicuous "Use tax" in the referenDUMB section of the ballot.  The referendum question was about 12 paragraphs long and looks like it was written by a team of attorneys.  I am probably the only one who read the whole thing.

The way the question should have read is this way:  If you vote yes to this use tax it will make everything that you buy in this city cost you MOAR and cause you to buy your most durable goods elsewhere thereby fucking the local economy.  Do you really want to continue to pay for some fucking trail in the woods that you have never used much less know it's location?  Do you want to continue to pay for an "airport" that no one uses? 

Apparently they do and not just by a few votes.        

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:30 | 5414643 Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch's picture

Hillary vs Jeb, which has been obviously coming since 2008.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:03 | 5414855 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

It's Hillary vs somebody and you could be correct about Jeb.  Then we could get some hanging chads again.  I lost on my sales tax thing but at least I managed to fuck up the Diebold voting machine for a while there with my spoiled ballot.  You can't write-in "fuck off" on the ballot or the Diebold machine will have a conniption fit.

The best was that I wore my 1950's garb complete with a fedora that I bought at the thrift store.  I got a lot of looks for that.  My poor wife was in hiding but my daughter loved it.  Especially the part where I said out loud that we aren't going to vote for that asshole.;-)

Now I have to find out about whatever this "Aquatics community center" is.  For fuck sakes the god damned Mississippi river runs right through the middle of town and this is the land of 10000 lakes and swamps.  Fuck, if you can't figure out what water is here then you are an asshole and should be beaten about the head with an axe handle.  Aquatics and community center, what is that going to be?  Is it going to be one of those sea-monkey things that you used to see on the back page of a comic book?

 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:10 | 5414881 Falconsixone
Falconsixone's picture

Yeah what would the country do without proven leadership. I think the guy down the block is looking for work. He's a snake wrangler.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:33 | 5414978 blindman
blindman's picture

wall street is desperate for anything that involves
moar debt. if that means a bond issue to build
monkey fish aquariums or AstroTurf for the surface
of the moon, that will do. the money system demands
it.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:23 | 5414943 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

You are pretty much spot on.

We all know the recession starts next year.  Republicanism will be blamed in 2016. 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:25 | 5414636 Atticus Finch
Atticus Finch's picture

If you think that Republicans and Democrats are elementally different refer to the following article "The Trouble with Mass Delusions."

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:27 | 5414642 world_debt_slave
world_debt_slave's picture

does it not seem odd that central banks are in every relevant nation/state

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:27 | 5414647 One of We
One of We's picture

The deck chairs on the Titanic have been properly rearranged.  Full speed ahead!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:31 | 5414661 foodstampbarry
foodstampbarry's picture

Suk it Libtards!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:53 | 5414809 besnook
besnook's picture

d'you have draft age daughters?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:32 | 5414663 atthelake
atthelake's picture

Hawks like John (War with Russia is a good thing) McCain now have more power.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:34 | 5414671 cdskiller
cdskiller's picture

Only Wall Street, the 1%, oil companies, torturers, spies and private health insurance companies have benefited while Obama has been President. That doesn't sound like a problem Republicans are going to fix. Sounds like we need someone who will tax the rich, break up the banks, bomb the derivatives markets, put inhuman pigs in jail, defund the NSA and demolish the spy center in Utah and fight for single payer health care.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:42 | 5414722 BullyBearish
BullyBearish's picture

This election was like a wet dream for Satanyahoo...impossible, but it will be worse to be a Palestinian going forward

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:54 | 5414789 Falconsixone
Falconsixone's picture

Now the dirty piece of $hit can lay all his fVckups on the douchebag republitards. Even though they'll say there are just to many pos that need obola care and keep it going. Ahh...repperz do have a heart...lol

Change the pictures on the wall of famous traitors in youass hiztory.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:53 | 5414803 p00k1e
p00k1e's picture

I’m troubled.

My polling location is located in a middle school.

This middle school had many posters of light skinned children hanging on the walls illustrating unacceptable dress-code.  These posters of light skinned children only, is a clear illustration of racism and exploitation.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:00 | 5414841 Falconsixone
Falconsixone's picture

By middle school all the black and brown skinned kids have caught on and dropped out to collect their welfare checks as a minor under oppression because all the kids on the dress code posters where white skinned.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:03 | 5414848 besnook
besnook's picture

you are lucky the school hasn't installed hardon detectors to catch you rubbing your buddy while looking at pictures of too young children wearing inappropriate dress.\

besides, everyone knows the white girls give head....and so do the white boys.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 11:59 | 5414833 besnook
besnook's picture

now watch, the bottom half of the class will elect jeb in 2016 to lead the usa to hell with hilarity waiting in the wings as a failsafe if the sprig can't do it.

i may become religious if this plays out.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:00 | 5414837 dexter_morgan
dexter_morgan's picture

Has Pat Quinn conceded yet? Or are the magical 150+k ballots all going his way out there 'yet to be counted'?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:01 | 5414842 Dkizzle49855
Dkizzle49855's picture

I took the red pill and long time ago and always enjoyed my past conversations with my rabid Red Team neighbor who stated I was wasting my vote for RP last election when I wrote his name in instead of voting for Mittens and it would be my fault for installing Ogolfer into the WH.  I said I would rather vote my conscience and I wouldn’t vote for either of the two idiots hoisted upon us as candidates for the two corrupt parties that “lead” America.  Although the Red Team might be marginally better the sad reality is it doesn’t really matter whether you are for the Red or Blue team, since it’s just another bite of the same shit sandwich.  Bon appétit.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:14 | 5414908 Yen Cross
Yen Cross's picture

  The Bureau of Lies and Subterfuge (BLS) is hard at work.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:34 | 5414988 _SILENCER
_SILENCER's picture

The GOP will not remove Obamacare.

They will not close the borders.

They will not stop the Fed.

They will not stop the wars.

They will not stop the NSA.

 

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:10 | 5415422 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

They will have too slim a majority to overturn the ACA, close the borders, stop any wars or to stop the NSA. I'm not saying they "would" do all of those things if they could but you are assigning an impossible task.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:59 | 5415692 _SILENCER
_SILENCER's picture

I agree. All I'm illustrating is that they won't do a goddamn thing for the welfare of the nation.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 20:51 | 5417522 Vendetta
Vendetta's picture

"they won't do a goddamn thing for the welfare of the nation."   I don't remember when either party has and I am starting to get old damn them all to hell!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:58 | 5415084 don in maine
don in maine's picture

Can we go back to Ebola now?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 12:57 | 5415086 Vooter
Vooter's picture

Oh, was there an election yesterday?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:00 | 5415092 Son of Captain Nemo
Son of Captain Nemo's picture

Who love and owns ya baby!

The only thing that will fix this is a nuclear warhead pointed at Tel Aviv and Washington D.C. by our own military!

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:08 | 5415409 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

You can send a heavy dose of thank you to your idol Pukin for the pubbies gains as well Ivan.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:09 | 5415127 livefreediefree
livefreediefree's picture

Forgive my ignorance about ZH, so, please, somebody help.

This article is unsigned, not being attributed to anyone. Therefore, I presume it was written by one of the Tylers, correct?

Not being a paranoid (eg, it appears the forensic evidence is pretty conclusive that only Oswald killed Kennedy), I nevertheless have begun to suspect that the anti-Republican articles on ZH (eg, this one), while not overtly pro-Progressive, are in fact strongly pro-Progressive, and in a sinister way.

Now, some foundation. Please note, however, that the thesis I am positing still has afterbirth clinging to it.

It is clear to me that Progressivism and conservatism are starkly at odds: Conservatives believe in individual rights and small gov't, while Progressives believe in collective rights and all-powerful gov't. For proof, see all of recorded history.

During the first 6 years of the Prime Progressive's Presidency, the virulent infestation that is Progressivism was well on its way to achieving the prime Progressive goal: Create a gov't run by experts entirely unaccountable to We the People, and populate it with Progressives. For proof, see the IRS scandal. The IRS became Obama's Gestapo, waging secret war on Obama's enemies.

Yesterday, the country rejected Progressivism. Progressives know this. They also know that conservatism can undo the radical change Progressives strive for and reverse the Progressive revolution. After all, back in the day the US did work pretty much OK with small gov't, a humble fed, and a market that was lightly and appropriately regulated. There were even more than a few Democrats, it's kinda stunning to recall, who believed in capitalism and free markets.

Progressives also realize that, if the electorate catches on to what Progressives are doing, they'll reject Progressivism big time; eg, yesterday. Therefore, in the interstices between Progressive expansions, what Progressives do is no-quarter attack the opposition. "We can't advance right now", Progressives say, "so let's weaken the opposition until we reacquire power."

This strategy is actualized by Tyler #whatever in this article.

But, ZH is libertarian, isn't it? That's another part of my thesis: ZH masquerades as a libertarian site. More to follow.

Lastly, Progressives realize that, for them to win, they must deflect attention away from Progressivism. After all, Progressivism is Authoritarianism. Hence, sites like ZH which deflect attention away from the Progressivism agenda.

So, is the author of this article just a useful idiot, or one of the prime propagandists for/in the Progressive autocracy?

Now, there is some cogency to the POV that voting doesn't matter, and that throwing out the bums, and electing new bums, won't change anything. But when that POV becomes so extreme and ideological, it loses its cogency.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:08 | 5415404 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

Many here are progressive/socialist/communist Putin loving idiots of the same ilk as Ward Churchill. I stay for the fencing...

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:11 | 5415425 rejected
rejected's picture

Yep. It's all fixed now.

I do like the word play.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:08 | 5415130 madcows
madcows's picture

so it's not bush's fault anymore?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:08 | 5415406 rejected
rejected's picture

It was never Bush's fault. He didn't have the intelligence to dream up any of what happened in his term. Neither does Obomba.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:08 | 5415133 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

"Bloomberg is confused".  No shit.

This is the reason for the Republican wins, not just the fact of the weak economy, but the refusal of democratic candidates to talk about it - nor did the Republicans much either, I suppose, but it is still a reflex to "throw the bums out" in times of trouble.  I have just about zero faith in the Republicans to *do* anything about it.

But here's a thing.  With that moron Harry Reid gone as majority leader, bills WILL be passed and sent to Obama's desk.  Will he sign them, or veto everything, and govern by edict?  If so, he should be impeached and removed.  Even some democrats will need to go for that, and I think enough will.  Does Obama know that?  Probably.  Does he care?  That's the question.  Or, there's a fair chance Obama will get himself in a snit and walk away, quit, resign, maybe negotiate himself a golden parachute.

Gonna be an interesting 2015 folks.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:35 | 5415242 Farqued Up
Farqued Up's picture

Maybe the reason the Right Wing Socialists won was there was no other alternative, people were tired of Left Wing Socialists. Deep shit shall get even deeper. Hide and watch if the Repubs pass bills for reversal of Obamacare or the anti-Constitution Patriot Act conjured up by the wonderful W.

Hell no, they won't.

Get ready for Jeb vs. Hillary and the NWO marches onward. I no longer vote, starting yesterday. Y'all have at it. Fuck 'em and feed 'em grits.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:14 | 5415158 livefreediefree
livefreediefree's picture

Here's a comment you won't see in this Progressive-dominated culture:

8. Scott Walker has now won three elections (including one recall election) in four years. The Democratic thugocracy has thrown everything they have in their arsenal at him. He has compiled a record of substantial achievement. He has also kept his cool and stood in there like a man.

"Like a man" is an aspersion in this culture.

Note: Scott Johnson of Powerline made the comment.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:26 | 5415209 EBT excepted
EBT excepted's picture

This is not over, the worst sin possible is to keep union fingers out of the paychecks...

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:18 | 5415173 BeerMe
BeerMe's picture

All anyone should take from this election is...the media is full bore ahead Hillary.  Shows last night.  Articles today.

Maybe they will get the audit the Fed bill passed but I doubt it.  Healthcare insurance won't be fixed.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:23 | 5415198 EBT excepted
EBT excepted's picture

I lied to folks, I am lying to folks, I will lie to folks again...

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:31 | 5415226 livefreediefree
livefreediefree's picture

Obama is not the Prime Progressive? Well, one of the prime house organs, Politico, said this:

At the same time, Obama won’t back down from using his administrative powers, including plans to issue an executive order on immigration that could be the most aggressive unilateral action of his presidency. He’ll adhere to a progressive agenda that, officials said, will keep the base excited, position his party to win back the Senate and hold the White House in 2016, and seal his legacy.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:41 | 5415267 roadhazard
roadhazard's picture

The repubicans will save us.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 13:51 | 5415315 G. Marx
G. Marx's picture

Thanks to Michelle Obama KFC cooked and threw out tons of fried chicken yesterday.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:00 | 5415371 rejected
rejected's picture

John McLame won again in Arizona. That should tell you all you need to know about Americas fu*ked up election system.

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:01 | 5415378 Winston of Oceania
Winston of Oceania's picture

He wasn't even running you wanker. I hate the man but at least try and keep up won't you?

Wed, 11/05/2014 - 14:35 | 5415523 Tachyon5321
Tachyon5321's picture

 

 

The President's economic and foreign policies are so bright that Obama had to wear shades. The down side was that bright light was a nuclear missle attack that just melted the democratic party.

 

 

 

 

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