The party of no-

[Conan71]

There's no doubt it's an employers' market, and they have all the leverage when hiring.  I've come to understand, however, that what makes you employable right now in history is chiefly that you've been recently or are currently employed.  Everything else flows from there.

You can usually tell when we are nearing full employment: the idiots who were previously unemployable have replaced those who were fairly smart at the drive through windows as those people catted up to a better job 

[nathanm]

There's no doubt it's an employers' market, and they have all the leverage when hiring.  I've come to understand, however, that what makes you employable right now in history is chiefly that you've been recently or are currently employed.  Everything else flows from there.

Yet another reason why we should make people work part time mowing parks or whatever else we need to have done but lack the budget for after their initial benefits are up. If a person is presently completely jobless, you can't really be sure that they show up on time or shower regularly or whatever. Short-sighted and sad but that's reality. Apparently it worked pretty well in Argentina some years back.

I suppose that was part of the motivation behind the tax credit for new employees..enticing the employer into taking the risk by temporarily subsidizing the position.

[Conan71]

Yet another reason why we should make people work part time mowing parks or whatever else we need to have done but lack the budget for after their initial benefits are up. If a person is presently completely jobless, you can't really be sure that they show up on time or shower regularly or whatever. Short-sighted and sad but that's reality. Apparently it worked pretty well in Argentina some years back.

I suppose that was part of the motivation behind the tax credit for new employees..enticing the employer into taking the risk by temporarily subsidizing the position.

Have you gotten a prescription for Republicontin or begun drinking the Murdochian Kool-Aid?

I definitely think the gov't could be getting some benefit out of the unemployed as long as they are on extended U/E.  If it weren't for the cost and hassle involved, I'd advocate for regular piss screening too.

[nathanm]

Have you gotten a prescription for Republicontin or begun drinking the Murdochian Kool-Aid?

I definitely think the gov't could be getting some benefit out of the unemployed as long as they are on extended U/E.  If it weren't for the cost and hassle involved, I'd advocate for regular piss screening too.

I've been saying that for months now.

Piss testing goes too far says Mr. Hyde, my libertarian alter-ego.

[Gaspar]

Have you gotten a prescription for Republicontin or begun drinking the Murdochian Kool-Aid?

I definitely think the gov't could be getting some benefit out of the unemployed as long as they are on extended U/E.  If it weren't for the cost and hassle involved, I'd advocate for regular piss screening too.

How about, if you spend the whole 99+ weeks on unemployment you get the choice of additional weeks becoming loans against your future pay, or a kidney.

Think of all of the people awaiting transplants that we could help.

Joking.

[guido911]

Looks like Obama and the repubs reached a deal extending all the Bush tax cuts.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/12/6/926200/-President-Obama-announces-deal-to-continue-Bush-tax-policy

Read the comments...heads appear to be exploding on the left.

Edited:  Here's HuffPo's coverage. The comments there are even funnier than at Kos.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/06/obama-tax-cut-compromise_n_792776.html

Is it wrong for me to laugh at the unhinged left? 

[nathanm]

Is it wrong for me to laugh at the unhinged left? 

No. I sometimes have the urge. Usually, though, I just shake my head in disbelief.

[Conan71]

That's some seriously rabid, uninformed smile right there

[guido911]

Something to laugh about:

[Gaspar]

My rabid ObamaMamma (that's what one of her bumper stickers said) client told me today that she wants President Obama IMPEACHED!

You keep using that word. . .I do not think it means what you think it means. ..... Inigo Montoya

[Conan71]

My rabid ObamaMamma (that's what one of her bumper stickers said) client told me today that she wants President Obama IMPEACHED!

You keep using that word. . .I do not think it means what you think it means. ..... Inigo Montoya

Separated at birth from Sam Shepard?

I've seen the "impeached" word floating lately.  That's another signal for me to quit listening when someone starts up with the "I" word with an elected official.

[nathanm]

That's another signal for me to quit listening when someone starts up with the "I" word with an elected official.

Funny, my ears perk right up when I hear someone wish Dewey could be impeached.

[Hoss]

Funny, my ears perk right up when I hear someone wish Dewey could be impeached.

Dewey's so smart he probably thinks that means having a fuzzy orange pitted fruit shoved...wait, never mind.

[Conan71]

Dewey's so smart he probably thinks that means having a fuzzy orange pitted fruit shoved...wait, never mind.

Oh love, find me a defibrilator!

[Gaspar]

I just got the chance to watch yesterday's press conference.  Wow!
It's sad but that was historical, and this will certainly be his most remembered moment.

"It's tempting not to negotiate with hostage takers unless the hostage gets harmed. Then people will question the wisdom of that strategy. In this case, the hostage was the American people, and I was not willing to see them get harmed." 

Weak, angry, frail, lost, and nervous.  Everything but presidential.  If he actually felt this was a moment to throw himself on the sword he should have done it WITH his party and in a bipartisan manner rather than throwing all fellow Democrats under the bus. 

I don't agree with what the Democrats were, and still are, prepared to do, but I don't think I've ever seen a president provide such a provocative explanation for his actions, regarding the other party as "hostage-takers", and thereby showing his party as incompetent, and incapable of reasonable compromise.

It may have been an unfortunate un-teleprompted moment, but I believe it is the very moment he lost any chance of re-election in 2012.