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Guest Post: A Christmas Message From America's Rich

Tyler Durden's picture




 

From Matt Taibbi

A Christmas Message From America's Rich

It seems America’s bankers are tired of all the abuse. They’ve decided to speak out.

True, they’re doing it from behind the ropeline, in front of friendly crowds at industry conferences and country clubs, meaning they don’t have to look the rest of America in the eye when they call us all imbeciles and complain that they shouldn’t have to apologize for being so successful.

But while they haven’t yet deigned to talk to protesting America face to face, they are willing to scribble out some complaints on notes and send them downstairs on silver trays. Courtesy of a remarkable story by Max Abelson at Bloomberg, we now get to hear some of those choice comments.

Home Depot co-founder Bernard Marcus, for instance, is not worried about OWS:

“Who gives a crap about some imbecile?” Marcus said. “Are you kidding me?”

Former New York gurbernatorial candidate Tom Golisano, the billionaire owner of the billing firm Paychex, offered his wisdom while his half-his-age tennis champion girlfriend hung on his arm:

“If I hear a politician use the term ‘paying your fair share’ one more time, I’m going to vomit,” said Golisano, who turned 70 last month, celebrating the birthday with girlfriend Monica Seles, the former tennis star who won nine Grand Slam singles titles.

Then there’s Leon Cooperman, the former chief of Goldman Sachs’s money-management unit, who said he was urged to speak out by his fellow golfers. His message was a version of Wall Street’s increasingly popular If-you-people-want-a-job, then-you’ll-shut-the-fuck-up rhetorical line:

Cooperman, 68, said in an interview that he can’t walk through the dining room of St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida, without being thanked for speaking up. At least four people expressed their gratitude on Dec. 5 while he was eating an egg-white omelet, he said.

“You’ll get more out of me,” the billionaire said, “if you treat me with respect.”

Finally, there is this from Blackstone CEO Steven Schwartzman:

Asked if he were willing to pay more taxes in a Nov. 30 interview with Bloomberg Television, Blackstone Group LP CEO Stephen Schwarzman spoke about lower-income U.S. families who pay no income tax.

“You have to have skin in the game,” said Schwarzman, 64. “I’m not saying how much people should do. But we should all be part of the system.”

There are obviously a great many things that one could say about this remarkable collection of quotes. One could even, if one wanted, simply savor them alone, without commentary, like lumps of fresh caviar, or raw oysters.

But out of Abelson’s collection of doleful woe-is-us complaints from the offended rich, the one that deserves the most attention is Schwarzman’s line about lower-income folks lacking “skin in the game.” This incredible statement gets right to the heart of why these people suck.

Why? It's not because Schwarzman is factually wrong about lower-income people having no “skin in the game,” ignoring the fact that everyone pays sales taxes, and most everyone pays payroll taxes, and of course there are property taxes for even the lowliest subprime mortgage holders, and so on.

It’s not even because Schwarzman probably himself pays close to zero in income tax – as a private equity chief, he doesn’t pay income tax but tax on carried interest, which carries a maximum 15% tax rate, half the rate of a New York City firefighter.

The real issue has to do with the context of Schwarzman’s quote. The Blackstone billionaire, remember, is one of the more uniquely abhorrent, self-congratulating jerks in the entire world – a man who famously symbolized the excesses of the crisis era when, just as the rest of America was heading into a recession, he threw himself a $5 million birthday party, featuring private performances by Rod Stewart and Patti Labelle, to celebrate an IPO that made him $677 million in a matter of days (within a year, incidentally, the investors who bought that stock would lose three-fourths of their investments).

So that IPO birthday boy is now standing up and insisting, with a straight face, that America’s problem is that compared to taxpaying billionaires like himself, poor people are not invested enough in our society’s future. Apparently, we’d all be in much better shape if the poor were as motivated as Steven Schwarzman is to make America a better place.  

But it seems to me that if you’re broke enough that you’re not paying any income tax, you’ve got nothing but skin in the game. You've got it all riding on how well America works.

You can’t afford private security: you need to depend on the police. You can’t afford private health care: Medicare is all you have. You get arrested, you’re not hiring Davis, Polk to get you out of jail: you rely on a public defender to negotiate a court system you'd better pray deals with everyone from the same deck. And you can’t hire landscapers to manicure your lawn and trim your trees: you need the garbage man to come on time and you need the city to patch the potholes in your street.

And in the bigger picture, of course, you need the state and the private sector both to be functioning well enough to provide you with regular work, and a safe place to raise your children, and clean water and clean air.

The entire ethos of modern Wall Street, on the other hand, is complete indifference to all of these matters. The very rich on today’s Wall Street are now so rich that they buy their own social infrastructure. They hire private security, they live on gated mansions on islands and other tax havens, and most notably, they buy their own justice and their own government.

An ordinary person who has a problem that needs fixing puts a letter in the mail to his congressman and sends it to stand in a line in some DC mailroom with thousands of others, waiting for a response.

But citizens of the stateless archipelago where people like Schwarzman live spend millions a year lobbying and donating to political campaigns so that they can jump the line. They don’t need to make sure the government is fulfilling its customer-service obligations, because they buy special access to the government, and get the special service and the metaphorical comped bottle of VIP-room Cristal afforded to select customers.

Want to lower the capital reserve requirements for investment banks? Then-Goldman CEO Hank Paulson takes a meeting with SEC chief Bill Donaldson, and gets it done. Want to kill an attempt to erase the carried interest tax break? Guys like Schwarzman, and Apollo’s Leon Black, and Carlyle’s David Rubenstein, they just show up in Washington at Max Baucus’s doorstep, and they get it killed.

Some of these people take that VIP-room idea a step further. J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon – the man the New York Times once called “Obama’s favorite banker” – had an excellent method of guaranteeing that the Federal Reserve system’s doors would always be open to him. What he did was, he served as the Chairman of the Board of the New York Fed.

And in 2008, in that moonlighting capacity, he orchestrated a deal in which the Fed provided $29 billion in assistance to help his own bank, Chase, buy up the teetering investment firm Bear Stearns. You read that right: Jamie Dimon helped give himself a bailout. Who needs to worry about good government, when you are the government?

 

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Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:04 | 2005462 hognutz
hognutz's picture

Hug the root Rich Bitchez!!!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:45 | 2005624 doggings
doggings's picture

they already did this on video a while back

http://occupymoney.org/wall-streets-one-percent-responds-to-occupy/

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:54 | 2005654 wanklord
wanklord's picture

Blame the Baby-Boomers for all the ongoing disgraces of this country, that's why they are considered America's failed generation. These good-for-nothing invested their deprived intellect in experimenting with all types of drugs and having very promiscuous (and many times deviant/unnatural) sexual lives.

In fact, the following video taken at Woodstock in 1969 clearly depicts what Baby-Boomers were all about:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLDalZ4-53g

Consequently, their offspring are the best evidence that defect genes have been transmitted from one generation to the next; worst of all, the chances that their descendants' DNA carrying a more complex sequence of these defective genes are 100% guarantee -these new generation of Americans can fairly be described as subhumans.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:22 | 2005731 CIABS
CIABS's picture

wankbot !

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:24 | 2005735 CIABS
CIABS's picture

by the way, i think marcus said "imbeciles", since OWS is not one person.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:55 | 2005969 Xkwisetly Paneful
Xkwisetly Paneful's picture

It is really, really hilarious hearing those who exist in the top 1% of the world and the top 1/100000th of historical humanity complain because they can't get to that extra 1% who are the obviously greedy ones.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:35 | 2006313 eureka
eureka's picture

The very rich should enjoy themselves as much as they can - right now - for it will not be long before their skulls will be crushed with every single available instrument in the land.

If you do not believe so, you have zero clue about anything you have ever read on zerohedge.

Any man, who seriously believes he is millions and billions worth more than another human being - and - that he actually earned his millions of fiat $$, is not just a non-intellectual and a moron, but amoral, and deserves every single harsh word and physical suffering and eternity in hell - and this time around, he will get it all that.

I know every ego-loving, arrogant and supremacy seeking reader will vehemently disagree, because he too wants to be rich, to make up for his small penis, small heart and small brain. Make my day. Get worked up. The more worked up you get he more satisfying it will be to kill you when total chaos and civil war comes to town. And it will. And every money-and-ego-loving shell cocksucker will be put to the test: how much of a man are you really... - when you can't hide behind the FED, your bankster buddies, CIA, your local police, the National Guard and US Military...?

To imagine than one "creates" any value, by credit leverage &, lies, out-sourcing and off-shoring, tax evasion and operating every single major US corporation as a bank - and that the thereby established expectations is the only effective motivational device to get the poor masses to get up in the morning, go to work, keep the speed limits, pay taxes and buy consumer junk pushed by Madison Ave & Hollywood - and that these contributions are the gift of the rich to the masses... one has to be morally and intellectually depraved.

The rich - can give it all back if they wish - and since they mostly don't - they can rot in hell.Mankind does not need them at all. They delude themselves with self-flatter. They are financial terrorists. That's all.

Anyone who cements hierachy has mmore than harsh words coming. Bullets, Bitchez - Will Fly!

 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:42 | 2006324 Xkwisetly Paneful
Xkwisetly Paneful's picture

Yes for sure.

The obese will put down their krispy kremes,

the academics will put down their lattes all to revolt.

When they are done dividing the $12trillion in wealth the top 1% control,

they will give out $4000 to each and every citizen and all will be well again.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 05:58 | 2006646 The Big Ching-aso
The Big Ching-aso's picture

 

 

 

The very rich are afterall Darwinists.   That's their self-given pat on the back.   They've survived better than you, than most.    They've crushed you.   They've won.   You've lost.   They know you're pissed.   But again, Darwinists could give a shit.     What's important to them is that you understand you can't win the game.   You're way out of your league.      Because in fact you're not even part of the game.   You're just onlookers.     Watch them play.   Envy them because that's all you got.    And that's what they feed on.

Same as it ever was when you really think about it.    Human-fucked-up-nature hasn't changed.   Doesn't look like it will on its own either.   Where all this goes is anyone's guess.   But I do know that there's more pissed-off people on this planet than ever before.        The masses, the hoardes, against the noblemen.    Billions this time, though.     It's gonna be a show and one-shit load of tell.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 08:55 | 2006726 game theory
game theory's picture

Missing a zero: the amount is ~$40k.  

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:25 | 2005737 Loose-Tools
Loose-Tools's picture

You must be a Professional "Stereotyper".

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:40 | 2005774 richard in norway
richard in norway's picture

cool vid, shame i was born 20 years too late

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:42 | 2005780 Imminent Collapse
Imminent Collapse's picture

Blaming Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" at Woodstock for the problems we face?  That was an awesome performance.  By the way, if you simplistically blame the Woodstock generation of Babyboomers, then you are obviously a superficial asshole.  Fuck off.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:42 | 2005781 GiantVampireSqu...
GiantVampireSquid vs OWS UFC 2012's picture

Where the fuck did you come from? 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:02 | 2005847 CIABS
CIABS's picture

wanklord is either a psy-op or someone with big problems.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:07 | 2005856 Gold N Glocks
Gold N Glocks's picture

You are an absolute POS and the best possible proof the retroactive abortions should be legal.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:23 | 2005868 chyros
chyros's picture

Heeeyyy .. wanklord's spot on. We were the coolest of cool generations. Everything happened on our watch. There's nothing we didn't seriously CF. We rock! Not like our short haired, well behaved serious kids. Dunno what's got into 'em. [anyway, that's not Woodstock. It's phonecam from 2008 GS chrissy party]

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:18 | 2005881 Teamtc321
Teamtc321's picture

Wank off you are a complete fucking idiot as usual. 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:31 | 2006304 IQ 101
Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:23 | 2005893 thewhitelion
thewhitelion's picture

Bingo!  It was blow jobs and mary jane that fucked up this country.  What a moron!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:57 | 2005975 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

Bloody Wanker! Spend any time in Vietnam with hundreds of thousands of useless baby boomers did you?  Work in America's factories in the 60-70s did you, know all about the steel mills, car factories, paper mills, texrtile mills, mines and logging operations? Sure, you know all about Woodstock, and not a friggen thing about the real world that generation fought and worked in. Wanker? Yep, Lord of the Wankers! Know what a wanker is?

"A jack off"! fits your thoughts perfectly!   Go piss up a rope and take your thoughts iwth you wanklord.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:57 | 2005982 GeorgeHayduke
GeorgeHayduke's picture

Blame the Republicans. This video shows the highest levels of Republican leadership has been involved in pedophilia which they tried to cover up: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=866739408240639313

Here's non-video evidence: http://www.republicanoffenders.com/Pedophiles.html

Gee, it's always fun casting a wide net against people you don't like and blaming them for everything. You should try it sometime Wanklord...oh wait...you already did. Are you in the video by chance?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:13 | 2006011 cranky-old-geezer
cranky-old-geezer's picture

 

 

Consequently, their offspring are the best evidence that defect genes have been transmitted from one generation to the next ... these new generation of Americans can fairly be described as subhumans.

Speaking of yourself I suppose?

But I agree, Woodstock hippies run America now.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 00:04 | 2006373 weinerdog43
weinerdog43's picture

Grandpa Simpson, shouldn't you be shouting at clouds or something?  Better go check your Depends and go back to sleep.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 00:47 | 2006455 cranky-old-geezer
cranky-old-geezer's picture

 

 

Is that the best you can do you little gen-x dipshit?

How's life there in the basement? 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 22:48 | 2006205 chindit13
chindit13's picture

Frankly, I blame you.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:14 | 2006254 Dingleberry
Dingleberry's picture

My thoughts EXACTLY!  The Boomers pretty much shove any semblance of morals out the window, and we succesive generations have to clean up their piles of shit that they left strewn behind.  The Boomers gave us so much, like disco, divorce(s), step-this-and-that, mainstream drug use, whoring, single-mothering......I could go on and on and on. And they did this after being given more than any generation in history.  FUCK OFF BOOMERS.....and PLEASE DIE SOON.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 05:10 | 2006624 chindit13
chindit13's picture

I'm not young enough to know everything.  J.M. Barrie (often attributed to Oscar Wilde)

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:23 | 2006284 deepsouthdoug
deepsouthdoug's picture

That 'Greatest Generation' sent my generation off to Vietnam.  'Dick' Nixon was in the 'Greatest Generation'. 

That 'Greatest Generation' did a good job of screwing over the boomers. 

 

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 04:54 | 2006611 Seer
Seer's picture

The "Greatest Generation" (highest level of programming) gave us the CIA and the massive military machine (large-scale States are ALWAYS about LARGE militaries).

So, just which group best represents freedom?

FYI (all) - when the ONLY GAME is based on a fucking Ponzi scheme (perpetual growth on a finite planet) it's a bit silly to be talking about any group of players being responsible for the inevitable outcome.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:31 | 2006305 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

Anyone responding to wanklord is wasting their time. He doesn't even read the articles that he "comments" on, so you can be sure he doesn't read responses to his "comments".

Wanklord is a copy-and-paste butthole. He posted the exact same word-for-word "comment" on yesterday's article about US debt breaking the 100% GDP level.

The best way to observe wanklord's patterns is a simple google search. Just for fun, try a search for the following (include the quotes so your search is for the exact phrase):

"deprived intellect in experimenting"

If wanklord is a paid shill, someone is getting ripped off.

 

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 00:14 | 2006394 longonSpam
longonSpam's picture

<--- Kill the fuckers and this troll

<--- It's the hippies fault

And btw I fucking dare to say this fucking bullshit to my face you fucking coward. You fucking neocon objectivist needledick game theory spewing waste of fucking space. I fucking dare you..

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 10:27 | 2006924 VyseLegendaire
VyseLegendaire's picture

None dare call it conspiracy!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:34 | 2005761 NotApplicable
NotApplicable's picture

Greenbackers! These are the people who think government itself should just print, because if it is fully centralized, outside of the private banking industry, then it will work!

In other words, imbeciles. Imbeciles who don't even know what the Bank of England is, yet they're sure it's the solution.

http://occupymoney.org/about/

Luckily, just today, Gary North posted an article that destroys their arguments.

http://lewrockwell.com/north/north1075.html

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:02 | 2005846 mkkby
mkkby's picture

Comments from behind the rope line...  I wonder if bullets can travel past rope lines.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:41 | 2006323 TheFourthStooge-ing
TheFourthStooge-ing's picture

The rope line for these bastards will take on a new meaning.

 

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 00:54 | 2006465 cranky-old-geezer
cranky-old-geezer's picture

 

 

Bullets from where?  You little OWS types?

Dream on.

There won't be any bullets ...except maybe cops gunning you little farts down.

...and they'd be doing the rest of us a favor.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 04:58 | 2006613 StychoKiller
StychoKiller's picture

So, guess you're in favor of whatever the OWS is protesting against -- check yer premises, your logic is flawed.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:10 | 2005480 PicassoInActions
PicassoInActions's picture

well, when we will reach the treshold they all will be sorry.

We are getting there.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:10 | 2005481 fuu
fuu's picture

Someday this war is going to end.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:48 | 2005635 sessinpo
sessinpo's picture

...meanwhile the napalm smell is wonderful. The horror, the horror..

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:12 | 2005487 Sutton
Sutton's picture

Dimon's minions are trying to screw me through MF Global.

back off jamie!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:31 | 2005577 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

Cut off the pecker, quick...

Hang in there.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:05 | 2005695 youLilQuantFuker
youLilQuantFuker's picture

What do you think about these upskirts of Monica Seles?
http://www.wtnphotos.com/data/509/Monica_Seles.jpg

Is she a pig or do I need new glasses?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:18 | 2006020 Jay Gould Esq.
Jay Gould Esq.'s picture

Those granny pants are hot. Alas, like most European girls, she probably waxes Brazilian, but doesn't shave her pits.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:23 | 2006285 americanspirit
americanspirit's picture

The guy has billions and this is the best he can do? All I can say is that the ass matches the face. Just pathetic.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:45 | 2006334 vxpatel
vxpatel's picture

she's 'hotter' than Monica Lewinsky

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:13 | 2005491 Irish66
Irish66's picture

what comes around goes around, time is the only variable

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:32 | 2005581 Steaming_Wookie_Doo
Steaming_Wookie_Doo's picture

So, who'll be taking this weekend's shift for sniping billionaire jerkoffs at the country club? 

I love it, the we'll-do-more-when-you-respect-us line. Forget the guillotine, let's go for the drawing and quartering, or perhaps more like the Cossack 4 horses tied to each appendage kind of a thing.

After the plunge in 2008 we saw a number of billionaires die under some interesting circumstances. Perhaps 2012 will have some of those televised.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:41 | 2005604 Clampit
Clampit's picture

Actually a fund to generously compensate the family of any would be snipers would be a thoughtfull gesture. Rewarding the sniper isn't right, in fact it's illegal, and doesn't get you the most motivated individuals anyway.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:01 | 2005685 blunderdog
blunderdog's picture

The threat of "Revolutionary Politics" is very real, and has a lot to do with why all the governments are so dead-set against a free Internet and functional digital cash.

There's an interesting essay with that title if you can find it.  Well worth the read.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:44 | 2005749 Clampit
Clampit's picture

Even here in the suburban sprawl of Colorado I see a half dozen wifi nodes ready to mesh up ... I have a hunch said government thinks we're not far from internet 2.0 going live.

Zillions of hits on "Revolutionary Politics" including .com and .tv, if you have a link I'd be grateful.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:35 | 2005934 blunderdog
blunderdog's picture

Sorry about that, I got the title wrong, it's been quite awhile.

Keep in mind, this is the sort of stuff terrorists read.  I think Jim Bell did some time.

http://www.outpost-of-freedom.com/jimbellap.htm

 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:13 | 2005496 vipmoneymachine
vipmoneymachine's picture

FU Bernard Marcus, me and my family are boycotting Home Depot effective today. FU.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:22 | 2005536 Note to self
Note to self's picture

I think I'll join you on that.  I heard that dickhead yucking it up with Slow Joe and the Skwalk Box crew a few weeks back.  I had no idea that Home Depot was run by such a repulsive dickhead.  I'm through with that store.  And I'm gonna tell everyone I know.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:08 | 2005857 prodigious_idea
prodigious_idea's picture

I caught that whine/brag fest too.  Arrogant pricks.  Sent feedback to CNBC (as if it matters).  I'm glad there are lots of alternatives to HD.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:44 | 2006070 Katow-jo
Katow-jo's picture

Home Depot ISN'T run by Bernard Marcus OR co-founder Arthur Blank.  They both retired in 2002 and 2001 respectively.  Boycotting Home Depot wouldn't hurt their wallets.  As a former retail worker, I'd like to point out that when store sales drop THE FIRST people to feel the effect are the lowest workers, who GET THEIR HOURS CUT IMMEDIATELY.  It's hard enough to make it on a retail wage, please don't make it harder.  Picket country clubs instead!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:47 | 2006339 vxpatel
vxpatel's picture

you're a retarded sheeple...keep feeding at the trough of the largest coporations in the world???

Do you have brain, probably not which is why  you 'worked' in retail...were you a geatful greeter at walmart? 

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 01:06 | 2006480 Katow-jo
Katow-jo's picture

Hey man, you can believe that your purchases make some kind of difference in the business world all you want.  I think its pretty well proved on ZeroHedge that the rich make their money by trading stocks and other bullshit like taking their company public and selling shares to suckers at the right times.  If you boycott any store today, all your doing is taking away a very underpaid person's money.  If they get hurt hard enough by boycotting they just shut down the store and focus elsewhere.  If the workers try to unionize, they just shut down the store and focus elsewhere.  Theres no winning against big business at a local level.  Just think of it this way.  You're not supporting Chinese factory workers, you're supporting American retail workers.  I'm sorry everyone in retail can't work whatever important job you do, but to be clear WHEN I worked at a retail store (not Walmart), I busted my ass unloading semi trucks by hand overnight.  Not easy work.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:46 | 2006338 IQ 101
IQ 101's picture

In construction for many years, i find the quiet of my home depots in a 4 state area both spooky and surreal, how they have managed to remain afloat with ghost traffic is baffling, perhaps large city depots are keeping the town depots alive?

Dont believe me, go and check out a depot on a monday morning,

5 retired teachers shopping for towel rods and a door hinge, 4 local handy andy's, ghost towns!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:25 | 2005546 Ned Zeppelin
Ned Zeppelin's picture

That's a very good idea. Fuck him.  No more Home Cheapo for me.  Everyone should get on baord that one.  What a collossal asshole.  Outrageous the shit these villainous thugs are spouting.

 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:33 | 2005583 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

I am building a house right now. No Home Depot for me.

Who is the imbecile?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:45 | 2005623 blu
blu's picture

Right on. Me too and I'm a carpenter.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:41 | 2005778 alchemystic
alchemystic's picture

I've always hated home depot, in the day we'd call the lumber yard place an order and stay with the job working. The lumber yard would deliver, home depot ruined good businesses, businesses rooted within a community. I am a carpenter, god I hate that place, all the wood they sell is crap

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:26 | 2006293 americanspirit
americanspirit's picture

With you 100%. Just sent a check to pay off the HD credit card and called them to cancel my account. And, maybe it's time that people understand what products keep the Koch brothers alive. Start by not buying Bounty paper towels. Then do a little more research and - just say no way.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:57 | 2006353 IQ 101
IQ 101's picture

Boycotts are a powertool, I quit watching CNN and the MSM years ago, your cable company knows what you are Clicking on methinks, let them know the insult is grevious, vote with your dollar too.No newspaper lefty crap in my house or Chinese shit either, necessity purchases only, enough gas and oil to get where i'm going and lots of friends thinking the way I do,

Create delays for the enemy, and expences, at every possible opportunity.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:33 | 2005497 Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

“Who gives a crap about some imbecile?” Marcus said. “Are you kidding me?”

When taxpayers stop paying their taxes and paying the wages of your State Police protection racket and Judiciary come back with that same line then

 

Blackstone CEO Steven Schwartzman: “I’m not saying how much people should do. But we should all be part of the system.”

That'll be the monopoly money system which Blackstone does so well out of ingratiating itself with The Fed. Schwartzman will of course be the first to call for a free competitive market and break-up of the century old corrupt monopoly system and the fraud money ...where competitive ability and brains shines through rather than ingratiated corruption (the 'system' where Schwartzman has shined)

 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:37 | 2005594 blu
blu's picture

When taxpayers stop paying their taxes and paying the wages of your State Police protection racket and Judiciary come back with that same line then

Do you get the feeling that these dudes are not the sharpest tools in the shed? Cuz I certainly do.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:59 | 2006364 IQ 101
IQ 101's picture

But you are one dull chisel! or chisler.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 04:42 | 2006604 Seer
Seer's picture

And this right here pretty much paints the hypocrisy of it all!

It's funny how they can "inspire" others to work their assess off so that they can be just like Them!  Sick and twisted...  But, as they say, that which cannot last forever won't!

Sociopaths, the lot of them...

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:15 | 2005498 Long-John-Silver
Long-John-Silver's picture

The fall from the top takes longer than when you're already at the bottom, and it hurts a lot more.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:15 | 2005500 Animal Cracker
Animal Cracker's picture

This time we don't even get cake. :(

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:16 | 2005508 Long-John-Silver
Long-John-Silver's picture

Which is the reason you store beans, bullets, and bullion.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:36 | 2005592 Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

Let Benny Eat FRN's

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:23 | 2006030 itstippy
itstippy's picture

Eat yer damned peas!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:15 | 2005501 wandstrasse
wandstrasse's picture

...
My dead lords
I confess an uneasiness in my love for you,
Confusion in my passion.
...

When your rotten skin grew hard
It fed your minion crows,
My black shining brothers
My dead lords
Oh my dead lords
I confess...
My anger gives me strength my lords.
I kissed your hard crusted rotten skin.
My uneasiness it grows
But you my Morton lords
Live on in my anger
Like the sun

...

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:16 | 2005505 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida? 

Check. 

I would not eat the cream of mushroom soup.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:18 | 2005519 Long-John-Silver
Long-John-Silver's picture

The only place I eat out is Waffle House. I can watch them as they cook my food.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:22 | 2005532 ucsbcanuck
ucsbcanuck's picture

Or the lobster bisque. Somebody just needs to translate this article into Spanish for the following to happen: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzknhw82WKs

"Can't go when you're watching."

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:56 | 2005548 hedgeless_horseman
hedgeless_horseman's picture

 

 

 

“You’ll get more out of me,” the billionaire said, “if you treat me with respect.”

Something tells me he and his friends will be getting much, much more than respect.

Isn't there a Fight Club in Florida? 

The Clubhouse provides unequalled culinary delights and a year-round social calendar.

 

Come join our team!

 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:29 | 2006038 Jay Gould Esq.
Jay Gould Esq.'s picture

HH -- best post of the evening.

Satisfying indeed, picturing this piece of odious plutocratic excrescence savoring his "potage a la creme."

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:25 | 2005740 LeonardoFibonacci
LeonardoFibonacci's picture

"St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida? 

Check. 

I would not eat the cream of mushroom soup."

 

It is not a cream of mushroom soup but instead a "Cream of sum yung guy"

And Leon Cooperman loves his cream of sum yung guy real thick and moist!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:45 | 2005790 Imminent Collapse
Imminent Collapse's picture

LMFAO

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:00 | 2006231 chindit13
chindit13's picture

Perhaps this is an apocryphal tale, but I read somewhere that one of the tactics of OWS was to get hired by the outlets that do lunch delivery to Goldman, JPM, et al and add that "special something" to the order.  I just post this in the public interest, and for those at 85 Broad, 200 West, etc. who may be reading Zerohedge as they eat their lunches.

The actor Christopher Walken has always refused to eat in restaurants because of this sort of fear.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:30 | 2006302 americanspirit
americanspirit's picture

Hadn't heard this one but it's brilliant! Now instead of adding something just nasty how about something more - uh - effective. Oops - that would be terrorism. Never mind.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:47 | 2006341 DollarMenu
DollarMenu's picture

And, from the St. Andrews site, these elaborate security provisions:

"St. Andrews has taken home and community security to the "Best of the Best" levels. From the magnificent manned and gated entryway, to the on-site Medical Response Team, we provide security St. Andrews Style. 24-hour armed foot patrols are accompanied by guard dogs and a state-of-the-art 24-hour infrared perimeter system alerts the security force of any intrusion onto the grounds. Every home is monitored around the clock offering unparalleled safety, security and peace-of-mind."

Peace-of-mind, indeed.

They've built themselves a private FEMA camp.

 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:51 | 2006347 vxpatel
vxpatel's picture

they make nice fat targets when they venture forth into the real world...patience is a virtue.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:17 | 2005511 johny2
johny2's picture

Poor Monica Seles, she never got over that stabbing, obviously. Well, she obviously isn't poor in the terms of the cash, but as she has enough of her own, whta the hell is she doing with a 70 years old fargin icehole?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:18 | 2005516 Animal Cracker
Animal Cracker's picture

Keeping her serving skills sharp.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:18 | 2005517 ucsbcanuck
ucsbcanuck's picture

Damn, that Viagra shit must work gooood!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:18 | 2005520 Steaming_Wookie_Doo
Steaming_Wookie_Doo's picture

So, how far has Monica Seles fallen that she needs to be allowing some 70 yr old vampire to crawl all over her?Damn, gotta keep a straight face to keep that paycheck coming. Now *that's* a tough gig!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:29 | 2005568 ucsbcanuck
ucsbcanuck's picture

Hey man, millions of people take it in the ass metaphorically to pay off their mortgages and take care of their families. She's just taking it to a. Whole. Nutha. Level.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:50 | 2005763 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

Monica Seles? are you kidding me?  Uughhh!

Unless she comes with a brown paper bag (double-ply). and some industrial-strength duct-tape wrapped around her mouth, then fuhgeddaboudit!

Then again, the same could be said for a lot of.... oh never mind!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:12 | 2005862 mkkby
mkkby's picture

Me thinks she would be a screamer.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:23 | 2005539 Dr Bob
Dr Bob's picture

Why? It's not because Schwarzman is factually wrong about lower-income people having no “skin in the game,” ignoring the fact that everyone pays sales taxes, and most everyone pays payroll taxes, and of course there are property taxes for even the lowliest subprime mortgage holders, and so on.

It’s not even because Schwarzman probably himself pays close to zero in income tax – as a private equity chief, he doesn’t pay income tax but tax on carried interest, which carries a maximum 15% tax rate, half the rate of a New York City firefighter.

So who exactly set up this tax structure in the first place? IMO the politician is to blame. they set the tax structure and those who can take advantage of it, both the rich and the poor. the only people that should be complaining are the middle class. you have to start in Washington if you want things to get better or change. all the bickering accomplishes nothing but division betweent the masses. sounds like a good way to defeat a growing angry populace does it not?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:53 | 2005657 midtowng
midtowng's picture

Doesn't it make more sense to start with the masters instead of the servants?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:39 | 2005771 centerline
centerline's picture

Yes. But the real question is "who are the masters?" What you see is not the masters. They are in the background. Only a thorough investigation of the flow of riches, proclaimed ownership of land and resources, etc will lead to the real PTB. The rest is class warfare - smoke and mirrors.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:56 | 2006358 Milestones
Milestones's picture

Naw, just do as the current laws are written, " If you have done or exceeded the limits of--" you are presumed to be in violation of -----".

Consider the CEO's, Board of Directors and all underwriters and large stock holders now get to fight the presumption of guilt as do we.

Actually very simple.         Milestones 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:18 | 2005880 el Gallinazo
el Gallinazo's picture

Naw, I been watching real careful and can see for sure that the tail wags the dog.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:23 | 2005540 Dr Bob
Dr Bob's picture

Why? It's not because Schwarzman is factually wrong about lower-income people having no “skin in the game,” ignoring the fact that everyone pays sales taxes, and most everyone pays payroll taxes, and of course there are property taxes for even the lowliest subprime mortgage holders, and so on.

It’s not even because Schwarzman probably himself pays close to zero in income tax – as a private equity chief, he doesn’t pay income tax but tax on carried interest, which carries a maximum 15% tax rate, half the rate of a New York City firefighter.

So who exactly set up this tax structure in the first place? IMO the politician is to blame. they set the tax structure and those who can take advantage of it, both the rich and the poor. the only people that should be complaining are the middle class. you have to start in Washington if you want things to get better or change. all the bickering accomplishes nothing but division betweent the masses. sounds like a good way to defeat a growing angry populace does it not?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:50 | 2005642 blunderdog
blunderdog's picture

There's no "middle class."  If you're not rich, you're working class at best.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:24 | 2005545 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

Shoot and hang the scumbag bankers, the only people that really matter are the FARMERS!  Three times every day, I thank them!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:51 | 2005605 youLilQuantFuker
youLilQuantFuker's picture

What about us in the military? You can't have a farm without freedom!

I never leave home without Zerohedge:
http://oi44.tinypic.com/13zdgte.jpg

And fuck you Home Depot. I'm going to my local hardware store. The few that are surviving from your slaughter will get my business primero from now on.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:55 | 2005662 midtowng
midtowng's picture

You can't have a farm without freedom!

Of course you can. Ever heard of serfs?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:17 | 2005871 mkkby
mkkby's picture

Right now you guys are the enablers.  We'll thank you when you start defending the constitution instead of the banksters.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:23 | 2005888 el Gallinazo
el Gallinazo's picture

Do I tip you when you escort me to a FEMA camp or just say thank you?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:43 | 2006063 WonderDawg
WonderDawg's picture

Kind of jumping to conclusions, aren't you? There are some good people in the military, and not all will sign up to be a FEMA guard. Maybe give the guy the benefit of the doubt here, until he gives you a reason not to.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 05:19 | 2006630 Seer
Seer's picture

Ahem... it's an "all volunteer" military.  And, "just following orders" isn't sufficent.

Shay's Rebellion...

Farmers have a history of protecting themselves.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:34 | 2006047 cranky-old-geezer
cranky-old-geezer's picture

 

 

What about us in the military?

When are you going to stop protecting elite interests overseas and start protecting freedom here in America?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:26 | 2005554 Miss Expectations
Miss Expectations's picture

Matt has been a light in the wilderness.  My very best to him...and my thanks.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:26 | 2005558 MsCreant
MsCreant's picture

"But citizens of the stateless archipelago where people like Schwarzman live spend millions a year lobbying and donating to political campaigns so that they can jump the line. They don’t need to make sure the government is fulfilling its customer-service obligations, because they buy special access to the government"

/\/\THIS/\/\

You are not supposed to be able to jump ahead of everyone just because you have more money. And these fucking welfare queens bought the ability to jump the line using our money (bailouts). And no one is enforcing the rules.


Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:43 | 2005614 Westcoastliberal
Westcoastliberal's picture

You said it correctly Ms and that's our biggest problem.  No one is enforcing the rules.

If you agree with me that collapse is becoming unavoidable, don't despair, prepare! http://www.collapsenet.com/262.html

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:43 | 2005616 blu
blu's picture

Say it sister!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:12 | 2006255 chindit13
chindit13's picture

They even try to jump their own lines.  Recall a few years ago, at a "Charity Gala" (it's for a good cause!) in the Hamptons, the wife of Lloyd Blankfein sauntered past the Registration Desk trying to make a grand entrance.  She was stopped and informed that everyone had to register before entry.  Her indignant response"  "Don't you know who I am?"

"That wouldn't impress Mr. Rick.  The Number One banker in Amsterdam is now the Pastry Chef in our kitchen.  And his father is the bellboy".

Will life imitate art anytime soon?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:27 | 2005559 johny2
johny2's picture

Human race has such a potential, but is also deeply flawed. We are collectively something like Darth Vader from the movie.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:59 | 2005834 riphowardkatz
riphowardkatz's picture

Very profound. One question since you are so flawed could you actually be wrong about us being collectively like darth vader from the movie?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:18 | 2006018 johny2
johny2's picture

We are pretty much like that to me, in a way. It is a personal opinion, and you and other 7 billion of us do not need to agree or understand.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:28 | 2005564 blu
blu's picture

Let them eat cake worked out reeeeely well the last time, rich fuckers.

Like my avatar was once overheard to remark, "There's not enough fire in the whole of Hell to clean this mess up. So it's a good thing I brought extra."

Boom. And it's gone.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:55 | 2005825 riphowardkatz
riphowardkatz's picture

Hopefully the explosion takes you out as well.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:29 | 2005567 Bastiat009
Bastiat009's picture

I agree with them all. I too oppose bailouts of the financial world. I too wish work was rewarded more than connection and cronyism. And I too wish that the people who did nothing but destroyed the global financial system were sentenced to hard time.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:31 | 2005576 Hobbleknee
Hobbleknee's picture

If I hear a politician use the term ‘paying your fair share’ one more time, I’m going to vomit.

 

You don't have to be rich to stand behind that statement.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:40 | 2005775 KK Tipton
KK Tipton's picture

"If I hear a politician use the term ‘paying your fair share’ one more time, I’m going to vomit."
You don't have to be rich to stand behind that statement.

"Used to be, the rich supported the arts and a few services for the poor, and public planning."

 

Now, I don't know Golisano personally...but his company does actually provide a service.
He employs quite a few people right here in the US.
And he kicked in a lot of money for children's hospital wings in NY. Multiple cities.
My friend's daughter got a ton of help there when her kidneys failed.
Patients come there from all over the US for the quality care.

That's how it should be done. He might be a tacky individual but what can ya say.

Now that Homo Depot guy....he sells shit quality china items daily. For real.
Bad founder...bad business.

Support anybody but Home Depot.

 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 22:28 | 2006161 Silenus
Silenus's picture

That phrase is no longer a genuine expression of values. It's code for "give me your money, fuckers, so I can enjoy it."

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:35 | 2005588 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

I'm sorry but I don't understnd why you should hate the rich. We need rich people. The best thing in the world would be if I saw 100 porches every day. That would mean there's a lot of money going around and that business is going well.

The day you don't see porches anymore, that means we're in trouble.

HATE THE POLITICIANS WHO SOLD OF THE FUTURE!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:40 | 2005599 Zero Govt
Zero Govt's picture

their are productive rich and unproductive (parasite) rich

when you understand the difference all history falls into place, and all planets align (right up to the present day ...and decay)

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:42 | 2005609 Eally Ucked
Eally Ucked's picture

Thats idiotic really!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:46 | 2005611 blu
blu's picture

I dunno. Maybe they don't make rich people the way they used to.

Nothing wrong with being rich. I know some nice rich folk. Used to be, the rich supported the arts and a few services for the poor, and public planning.

The problem seems to be these modern rich people. Someone pee'd in the gene pool and they all turned into slimy blood-sucking losers. And having the nation's wealth in the hands of slimy blood-sucking losers just is not a good recipe for the long term. If you follow me.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:01 | 2005680 Waterfallsparkles
Waterfallsparkles's picture

Yes, but you have to remember that the money that they give to Charity they took from someones Brokerage or Retirement account.

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 05:26 | 2006634 Seer
Seer's picture

Are we deluding ourselves here, were the "old" rich really that different?  The Rockefellers?  The Morgans?

I'm not thinking so.  As a matter of fact, I'm thinking that this is just more covering up of people's deep desire to be just like these folks (only, they'd be benevolent, or course).

Power is power. And anyone with MORE power than someone else could ONLY have that position by reducing someone else's power.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:08 | 2005699 johny2
johny2's picture

Politicians do what they are told by the money rulers. Is that so hard to grasp? Hating does not help, but it does get me down sometimes the stupidity and lies that are pushed around as wisdom and truth

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 19:49 | 2005799 riphowardkatz
riphowardkatz's picture

Its the people MORON. They want something for nothing. Social security, medicare, medicaid, foreign aid, free university, free this free that. 

Give me a break that the poor politicians didnt know any better and they were just doing what they were told. What a JOKE

To paraphrase the late GREAT Ayn Rand  "Get in your group and fight" that is what the collective mentality of for the good of society creates a finite pie that must be split amongst competing groups. A bunch of F'ing tribes duking it out. The bankers are just the smartest group. A Change of philosophy is the only cure. It is never ever moral to take one mans earnings through force and redistribute it to someone else. Follow that simple rule and this whole thing will be fixed in months.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:09 | 2006003 johny2
johny2's picture

I did not say that ordinary people are not just as greedy as the ruling castes in the modern democracy. But I stand behind the claim that in todays world, the real decisions are made by the owners of the most of the assets. 

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 00:29 | 2006419 Milestones
Milestones's picture

Your problem: One mans EARNINGS. Note, not WAGES but EARNINGS, all taxes at the same rates and deductions also.     Milestones

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:35 | 2005590 topcallingtroll
topcallingtroll's picture

They had the same outrage and same quote at daily kos.

However they are more squeamish about guns.

They will piss or shit in your coffee or lobster bisque.

Personally I would rather take my chances against a newbie psycho with a gun.

If you do decide to live out the american dream and take out a banker be sure to practice a lot with your chosen instrument of death and destruction. There is nothing more embarrassing than a good rampage gone bad.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:53 | 2005649 linrom
linrom's picture

They haven't put you in a straight jacket yet?

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 23:34 | 2006310 americanspirit
americanspirit's picture

And please keep in mind that the ones you want are in the big glass offices at the top of the building, not in the lobby.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:37 | 2005595 flattrader
flattrader's picture

Bye-bye Home Depot.

 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:46 | 2005626 linrom
linrom's picture

They already loaded up their submarines with "loot" like the Nazis, ready to flee at moments notice to some safe-haven, that's paraphrasing Martin Armstrong.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:46 | 2005628 Caviar Emptor
Caviar Emptor's picture

US is a corporate welfare state. Mr Pot, meet Mr Kettle. 

In support of failed business models that would have collapsed the country has just entered the demon shadowland of 100% debt/GDP. The cronies are running the show. 

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:46 | 2005629 bob_dabolina
bob_dabolina's picture

1%er confronts 99% face-to-face

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGL-Ex1CD1c

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 21:52 | 2006094 Snake Plissken
Snake Plissken's picture

The attitude displayed by Shiff there neatly sums up why America is inevitably sliding towards a revolution.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 22:59 | 2006229 Xkwisetly Paneful
Xkwisetly Paneful's picture

Super sharp post!

Because it is the corporations who have run up $130trillion in debt and unfunded social obligations.

Revolution for sure! They can take the $12trillion from the wealthy and divide it equally or $4000/person and everything will be fine.

Actually getting the krispy kreme crowd off the couch or the latte crowd away from their speed could be a toughie though.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:47 | 2005633 Piranhanoia
Piranhanoia's picture

"He's making a list, checking it twice,

gotta find out who's naughty or nice

Robespierre is coming, to town.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:48 | 2005634 for shizzle my ...
for shizzle my nizzle's picture

and should those that are trashed by the "chosen people" say "Jew" - Bernard, Steven, Leon and all of the others - then, then, they cry anti-Semitism - they have destroyed every land mass they have ever inhabiited............

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 05:32 | 2006636 Seer
Seer's picture

You know what I most dislike about this?  No, not that one could confuse it with antisemitism, but that it's more shit to cloud us from understanding the REAL issue, that we're humans looking to continue to multiply on a finite planet.

I tend to appreciate the native American Indians over most cultures, but I have no illusion that they too did what ALL groups of humans have EVER done- tear up the environment and move on.  Some just do it more "efficiently" than others...

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:54 | 2005645 slewie the pi-rat
slewie the pi-rat's picture

here is a christmas message from the world's poor, and my li'l fren':  "God bless us, everyone!"

seriousness aside, banksters lead us to founts of everlasting wonder

my fave bankster in literature is balzac's nucingen Honore de Balzac's Novel: The Firm of Nucingen [Read online]  (1838)  

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 20:48 | 2005956 WonderDawg
WonderDawg's picture

I see you found your bong, Slewie. Load 'er up!

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:51 | 2005646 Waterfallsparkles
Waterfallsparkles's picture

I do not think it has anything to do with them being successful. 

It has to do with them impoverishing us to create their success.

Thu, 12/22/2011 - 18:55 | 2005664 Fix It Again Timmy
Fix It Again Timmy's picture

The military is important also, only if they stay on our shores and await the invading hordes which will never show up since it is IMPOSSIBLE to maintain a supply line across two oceans or Canada or Mexico and to put a sufficient amount of men who could actually threathen a country 3,000 miles wide.  If you want to win our freedom back, attack CONgress and the Supreme Corporate Court for they have, indeed, have taken away many freedoms and not the Afghan tribesmen nor the Iraqis.  The military is a toy for the rich, Ivy league, white-shoe boys to play with - I know, I was there, years ago, of course...

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