(Jake Turcotte)
Joe the Plumber now advising the GOP on the economy
By Jimmy Orr | 02.03.09
Well, Republicans have been able to stave off Obama’s stimulus package so far. But navigating what’s next is going to take some real finesse. Outnumbered on Capitol Hill and facing defections by GOP governors, they need a real pro to help them with a game plan.
What to do?
New strategy
Maybe Republicans are following the strategy put forth by the authors of the best-selling book, “Made to Stick.”
The premise of the book is that you have to get creative to have a successful message. The more creative it is, the more “sticky” it is. And people remember “sticky.”
The authors say that people are much more apt to remember an urban legend (like the one about awakening in a bathtub full of ice only to discover one of your kidneys was stolen by organ thieves) than something more important like, as they cite, a new nonprofit financial strategy.
Household name
That’s why, perhaps, congressional aides in the U.S. House didn’t ask credentialed economists to attend a strategy meeting today. Or even well-known guys who talk about money like a Jim Cramer or Lou Dobbs.
They’re bringing out the big guns. Someone much more well-known. Someone the Republican nominee for president pinned his election on during the final month.
Yep. The former kind of plumber, kind of author, kind of war correspondent is now kind of an economist. Joe the Plumber.
Standing room only?
Politico got a hold of an email announcing the addition of Wurzelbacher (his real last name) to the agenda today. And the congressional aide sounded really excited!
“In case you weren’t planning to attend CWG tomorrow morning, you might want to reconsider because Joe the Plumber will be joining us!” Kimberly Wallner, an aide to South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, wrote in a message to her e-mail list yesterday.
A lot of chatter
No word on how successful the meeting was. But plenty of people in the blogosphere are commenting on it. And there seems to be some real bipartisanship going on. Both those on the left and right applaud the move.
From the right, AC W, says, “Before laughing him off as unqualified, I would argue that he could present the point of view of the average working guy. It’s a perspective many in Washington often forget.”
And from the left, Jay McDonough writes, “Seriously, I think Joe will be a great asset to the GOP. He’s a common sense guy, unencumbered by facts and data and ready and willing to speak his mind regardless of his level of expertise.”
Joe the Reporter
By the way, he’s still a “reporter” too. Here’s his latest video.
<< Second-graders brighten Obama’s Daschle-dashed day | MainComments
2. fred fep | 02.03.09
Our Body Politic is absurd. No one in Washington “remembers” to pay taxes, Obama thinks bi-partisan means catering to and cowering to the Republicans, and the Republican want to return the country to 1870. Now Joe the Plumber? Isn’t Rush Limbaugh embarrassing enough as the face of GOP to show the world?
Next, if Republicaans threaten to filibuster, I am sure Obama will try and figure out how to get them another Republican Senator.
4. b decker | 02.03.09
It’s sad to see this guy get so much press since his views are so right wing.
5. wellwellwell | 02.04.09
What happened to America? Joe the Plumber advising GOP? Became a “reporter”? Can’t this country be not that stupid? Hey people, go back the school to learn read, write, science to be a little more intellectual, which is the #1 strategy the United States of America needs!! What bull! Does he know where what countries are before commenting on Obama and Isreal… Oh Well - I am speechless.
6. well | 02.04.09
Does Joe have a brain? How did he know all the economists say that was not a stimulus package?
7. Sharkey | 02.04.09
Peggy, Peggy, Peggy - are you really THAT stupid you can’t see past this ridiculous facade? You have more respect for a guy that flat out lied in front of cameras, then got exposed as a fraud and now is exposed as a tax-dodging, welfare collecting hypocrite. This is a guy who is okay with military control of the media and the abolishing of free journalism. Furthermore, his protectionist attitude of the wealthy business owners, all justified by his whacko religious beliefs only adds up to one thing: a Fascist ideology. Wake up and smell the coffee. The guy’s a complete IDIOT and so are you if you take him seriously. Forget plumbers - I know homeless people more articulate than this lying clown.
8. Connie | 02.04.09
Am I supposed to believe that J the P has actually read the bill and understood it? Please!
But it’s cute that somebody bought him a tie.
9. anon | 02.04.09
i just still think its funny that this guy is neither a plumber nor is his name joe
10. jason | 02.04.09
I’m dreaming right? Could the Republican party craft something more ridiculous than this? To think this is just one slice of the agenda that they offer… All the more reason to keep far, far away from the GOP; They’re laughable, disconnected, and moronic. But hey, they’re building a consensus of everyday American politics. They got their black poster child for the RNC, now they have their faux blue collar sensibility.
Sorry, no matter how you dress it,a pigs a pig, and this one smells rotten.
11. rk singh | 02.04.09
Joe the plumber in GOP house? Right at the place where he can clean up some. It has loads on it lyin around.
12. Richard Prince | 02.04.09
Politics and the Republicans couldn’t get more weird. How many times does this idiot and moron have to expose his lack of experience, knowledge, and wisdom before e don’t have to hear his utterly stupid statements as news.
13. Xander | 02.04.09
So Joe the Plumber, who had a lien on his house for not paying back taxes, who didn’t pay for the license required to practice plumbing in his county, is going to be advising the GOP? Is the GOP out of touch? Let’s add “with reality?” to the end of that question. Why do the GOP always go for the lowest common denominator?
14. Doug | 02.04.09
I have read nothing but criticism of Joe, yet not of you can offer any solutions. What makes you think that your so smart? Try offering some solutions and we’ll see how smart you are and might listen to you.
15. RHarrisonScott | 02.04.09
Interesting Jimmy put Jim Cramer on his short list of economic gurus. He may be flamboyant but his track record as a market prognosticator is abominable. Anyone, including Joe the Plumber, could have done as well with a dozen darts, a copy of the Wall Street Journal, and an online trading account provided, of course, they too had control of enough money to manipulate the market in their favor.
16. Biff | 02.04.09
“Seriously, I think Joe will be a great asset to the GOP. He’s a common sense guy, unencumbered by facts and data and ready and willing to speak his mind regardless of his level of expertise.”
Yup, sounds like he’s perfect for the GOP…
18. Landers | 02.04.09
What a bunch of crass!
The people are getting more stupid everyday.
Joe the plumber as an adviser?
I think the intelligence of the citizens of the US has deteriorated so much that we are ready to accept anything.
19. Barry | 02.04.09
Joe is a sad reflection on the state of the GOP. Like Sarah Palin, his ignorance is considered to be “authenticity”, and he substitutes “attitude” for knowledge and experience. I cannot fathom the appeal of people like this to guide thought at the highest level. You can find someone who *thinks* he is great in any corner bar - doesn’t mean you should hire that person to lead.
20. Craig | 02.04.09
Hey, this guy is the average small minded conservative. The left has ‘em too. That he is advising real politicians is no surprise really. His ideas are as nutty and useless as theirs right now.
21. Jake | 02.04.09
That’s the problem Peggy. You’d rather listen to a hack plumber who speaks “your language” than try to read about something and investigate it for yourself. Two weeks of supposed disgrace does not make up for the last 8 years.
22. Doug2 | 02.04.09
My plan. Pull out of nafta and wto. Revise our trade policy to reflect the interest of American instead of mutinational corporations.
second, no Ameican tax dollars may be spent on anything not made in American.
Third, no Govenment or subcontract may outsource any jobs requiring government money.
24. Mike | 02.04.09
The GOP has been actively trying to expel intellectuals from their party for a long time now. Joe The Plumber and The Hockey Mom are the culmination of that movement. Or maybe not - maybe they’re still not done, and they’ll find someone even dumber.
25. michael the conservative | 02.04.09
Lying hypocrites like Joe and Rush helped lose Republicans the last election. Is it really possible that they learned nothing from the bloodbaths of the last 2 elections?
I’m so happy to have long left the Republican Party behind. They have zero ideas, zero values, and apparently zero intelligence.
26. RABO | 02.04.09
“Regular” folks?
Regular folks don’t practice trades that they are not licensed to practice.
Regular folks take care of their wives and children.
Regular folks think before they go spouting off nonsense.
Regular folks don’t dodge their taxes, then blame the “system”.
Joe is a media darling wannabe.
Joe isn’t even close to “regular” folks.
27. RABO | 02.04.09
“He’s a common sense guy, unencumbered by facts and data and ready and willing to speak his mind regardless of his level of expertise”
Are we proud to embrace anti-intellectualism?
You Betcha!
29. Marc | 02.04.09
First Rush Limbaugh and now Joe the Plumber are now apparently the face of the “new” Republican Party. Whats next? Esurance style cartoons? Talking animals? Pathetic!
30. Tking | 02.04.09
isnt this what we had from the Republican Party for the last 8 years, a Party …unencumbered by facts and data and ready and willing to speak his mind regardless of his level of expertise.
31. JS | 02.04.09
Ha ha, this about sums it up: “Jay McDonough writes, ‘Seriously, I think Joe will be a great asset to the GOP. He’s a common sense guy, unencumbered by facts and data and ready and willing to speak his mind regardless of his level of expertise.’” Love it. And let’s face it, Joe and the former “President” have some things in common when it comes to knowledge and expertise — “Joe the Advisor” should be just up the GOP’s alley.
32. Tyler | 02.04.09
missing link????? how did that credit card and bank crisis but that the moral majority and rep gov refused to have oversight and restrictions–and damm think what would happen if all the banks failed.
33. sigh | 02.04.09
Yes, they should seek input from “everyday” citizens, and consider how their policies will impact the working poor, but Joe the Plumber is a fraud, a part of republican “populism” which seeks to turn the poor against their own interests. Is Joe even a plumber?
34. Michele in Maine | 02.04.09
He needs to be renamed to “Joe the Joke.”
His 15 minutes were over months ago.
35. Ali Nuru | 02.04.09
This is like asking an person, uneducated in medical sciences, to give serious advice or a considered opinion on medical options available to a seriously ill patient. Reminds me of the, “but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express” commercial.
These are serious times, with serious problems. When are my fellow Americans going to get serious about the problems we face. We need to marshall the knowledge and ideas of serious people, to solve serious problems.
The whole world is watching. Yes the whole world.
The world still, DOES catch a cold, when America sneezes.
There are billions of poor people, everywhere, depending on us, and we, this late in the day, are still messing around with the likes of JTP? For our economic recovery?
People, please.
36. FUBAR | 02.04.09
“He’s a common sense guy, unencumbered by facts and data and ready and willing to speak his mind regardless of his level of expertise” !!……
So were going to lead with our gut now? Are our laws going to be based on popular blood thirst for protectionism and ineffective, large tax breaks? (Or in the opposite direction lavish, non-infrastructural spending?)
We must return science to its rightful place and have accountability (no earmarks).
37. Michael | 02.04.09
Joe the Idiot plumber is a good spokesperson for the GOP. Face it, the Republican Party is just a bad joke these days.
38. Hymeh | 02.04.09
Joe The Plumber, Rush Linbaugh, Hockeymom for Vice Pres. Creationism. Pat O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, White Rabbit…..oh wait, white rabbit wasn’t associated with the Republicans….that’s from a story about OTHER wierdos.
Why would anyone that ISN’T a rich white male, or the member of a hate organization like the *** ever vote Republican??? Women, nonwhites, non-rich, you are just minnions for the republican party. Next time question why you defend a party that attracts the ***. If someone despicable starts agreeing with what I am saying and believing, I am going to stop and question those same beliefs. The very fisrt question the republican party so be asking itself is, “why do we attract the *** so much? They are despicable, are we? Something about our beliefs and dogma seems to go hand in hand with their beliefs and dogma…Just what do we REALLY mean by REAL Americans? Isn’t that the same thing that the *** also says? REAL Americans”
39. mrsjparker | 02.04.09
Where is the other $677,400,000,000? Can’t PJ-TV or Joe the Plumber do simple math??
40. america needs joe | 02.04.09
to # 18 landers and all you others
Hey, here’s a news flash for all you little “bama groupies”. I see your “hero” is running out of the white house after only 10 days on the job. Seems he can’t stand the heat and had to run away. Um, gee kids what does that say about the “character” of yo’ man? “We were just tired of being in the White House,” the president candidly told the gleeful second-graders at Capital City Public Charter School.
41. Bo Lasquis | 02.04.09
It’s an insult to real plumbers that people continue to refer to this poser as “the Plumber.” “Joe the Unlicensed Plumber’s Assistant” would be more appropriate.
Then again, Rebublicans have always loved their posers. John Wayne posed as a war hero while dodging the draft. Ronald Reagan posed as president while his wife and friends ran the country. G.W. Bush posed as an aviator and a mission accomplisher. Sarah Palin posed as a serious politician. And Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity pose as human beings.
And now we have Joe posing as a plumber.
Some things never change.
42. Maggy M’Gill | 02.04.09
It’s quite remarkable that the general consensus of the GOP seems to be that it doesn’t really matter what the substance of the matter is, just as long as they have a great ‘messenger’. The whole notion of the Republican “Brand” as being tarnished speaks to the complete misunderstanding of the fact that no matter the success of the Bush administration reliance on, and political success in masquerading a pathetic lack of substance with successful Madison Ave. salesmanship, the electorate is now both wary and conspicuously attentive to the reliance on both ’spin’ and ’show’.
The ONLY way that the GOP will once again gain credibility with the majority of voters is to adopt and promote both substantive and constructive policy alternatives that are driven by and defined by the service of the greater public good. The GOP must also demonstrate the ability to carry out those policies in a manner consistent with building and maintaining consensus.
And in case someone is actually paying attention to this; Joe the ‘bleeping’ Plumber and Sarah ‘I’ll check on it andget back with ya later’ Palin couldn’t get a job in any Fortune 500 company selling ANYTHING…
43. Matt | 02.04.09
Our founders would be ashamed with what we’re putting up with. The fight isn’t between Repubs. & Dems. Its between Big government/Big spending -and- Shrinking government/spending.
Vote Ron Paul
44. Timothy | 02.04.09
You know, what’s completely insulting from everyone here that condemned and berated the posters and Joe’s opinion, is that none of you have made any suggestion as to how to fix the problem. You don’t like this plan, fine. Let’s come up with another one, but don’t boo and hiss people for their opinions. No one is perfect and everyone has flaws. Instead of pointing out everyone else’s shotcomings, why not provide positive input and help make the economy better?
45. Ken | 02.04.09
Hey Doug, we who criticize Joe have offered a solution. His name is President Obama and his solution is the stimulus plan.
People who are out of work can’t wait for Joe to be satisfied with the stimulus. People who can’t pay their bills can’t wait for Joe to be satisfied. Joe will never be satified because the folks who are paying him don’t want him to be satified. The Heritage Foundation is a right-wing conservative think tank. They told him what to say in the video and you, Doug are apparently dumb enough to listen to him and even defend him.
Doug, denile is not just a river in Egypt.
46. don diehl | 02.04.09
Rent the movie ‘Idiocracy’. This is where our country is headed. The more out of touch the better and the less educated the better.
yikes!
47. Catherine | 02.04.09
Oh Please!!! Can’t someone shut this dude up? He has NO clue what he is talking about. Our children ARE paying for previous mistakes - 8 years of it. Easy to now roll it over to the new (2-week old) administration. This could be laughable, if it weren’t so sad….
48. DJGaskin | 02.04.09
Joe the plumber is not really a plumber nor was he licensed to be one. Okay sure I’ll play along, and agree that the GOP needs a new face….But Joe the Unlicensed Plumber’s Assistant who pretended to be a plumber….He’s not even worthy to be called the nickname he has been toting around all this time….
Maybe the GOP should start by looking for a real plumber if they wanted a “Joe the Plumber” so bad?!?! I thought the GOP were supposed to be smarter than that!
49. Bo Lasquis | 02.04.09
“…is that none of you have made any suggestion as to how to fix the problem. You don’t like this plan, fine. Let’s come up with another one…”
I’ve been preaching the same basic plan for fixing the American government for decades. Stop voting for Republicans and Democrats.
Democrats and Republicans created our economic mess and for some strange reason, everybody seems to think they are the only ones who can solve the very problems they created.
Every negative economic behavior on the part of the American people over the past 20 years has been a direct reflection of the leadership in Washington D.C. “Borrow Money and Buy Things” has been the primary political strategy of both parties for most of my life. Not surprisingly, it is the same economic strategy employed by most Americans.
Until we elect politicians who have something else to offer economically than “Borrow Money and Buy Things,” we will continue to be run through these ridiculous cycles of unsustainable growth followed by crashes.
The Republicans and Democrats both believe firmly they can find a way to have unsustainable growth without ever having the crashes. And that’s why we keep having crashes.
The big secret to a sustainable economy free from the sort of crashes we have is to show self-discipline and self-restraint when the economy is growing and expanding. Republicans and Democrats, though, never show any restraint or self-discipline when the economy is booming. They instead borrow money and buy things based on their own self-serving economic projections that show how in the future, there will be a magical economy that always expands and grows and it will be easy to pay back the borrowed money.
I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you, America. But if you want something different, you’re going to have to vote for some different parties. As long as you continue to vote for Democrats and Republicans, we will continue to have the best politicians money can buy and we’ll continue to have “Borrow Money and Buy Things” economic policies.
50. Richard McDonough | 02.04.09
Perfect match for the GOP. A guy who stole jobs from real plumbers with licenses and plumbing credentials, a tax dodger who lied about his job and title, a general dimwit, a disgrace. In short, a perfect advisor for the Greedy Old Party.
51. WhoaNellie! | 02.04.09
The strangest thing is that you can’t argue these things with the Republican “base”. A normal person would never want to be associated with someone as ridiculous as Joe the Plumber but you can’t point that out to a member of the Base because they’re just like Joe the Plumber. It always makes me laugh when blue-collar people adamantly support policies that protect and benefit the wealthy, as if by voting with them it will somehow rub off on them. They see themselves in Joe the Plumber, they see the success that should have been theirs, they identify with this fool and so therefore in their minds someone JUST LIKE THEM should be in office. And yes, I understand about populist politics, but there is a difference between populist and rigid and stupid. You can’t point out idiocy to another idiot.
52. BobC | 02.04.09
So in 2012 we’ll have Sarah Palin as prez, Rush Limbaugh as V.P., Joe the Plumber as Sec. of Treasury, Ann Coulter as Sec of State?
I can’t wait.
53. wintersmith | 02.04.09
“These past two weeks of the Obama administration have been disgraceful.” 2 WEEKS! After the past 8 YEARS!
“Obama thinks bi-partisan means catering to and cowering to the Republicans.” It’s called democracy. Every single person in Congress WAS elected, and my disagreeing with what they stand for doesn’t change that fact. We now have an actual grown-up for a President, and he’s going to work with every legislator, regardless of Party line.
“I have read nothing but criticism of Joe, yet not of you can offer any solutions.” And what exactly are you doing? A lot less than the folks you snipe at, who’ve offered the GOP a piece of the solution: Don’t hire fake non-experts like that not-so-Joe, not-so-plumber guy.
May I suggest that regardless of our political affiliations, we agree to take up the challenge made by our (yes, OUR) President: to embrace the responsibilities of citizenship. Do you know who your Congressperson is? Do you know who their major contributors are, how they’ve voted on issues you care about according to independent auditors? How about city councillors and the state legislators? Have you ever called them? Or your Senators? Try picking one issue you care about and really learning about it, for this year. It’s especially important that you really listen to what the opposition has to say. To solve any major problem, you have to make hard choices, and understand that there can be no solution without compromise. Save a dollar, $5, whatever you spend on a single drink, coffee or TV snack break, every week. At the end of the year, choose an organization that you believe is working towards a real-life solution, as opposed to ideological advancement. Donate that $52+ dollars, and make sure you’re on the mailing list for their Annual Report next year. Educate yourself in other ways, whether it’s taking a course or becoming better at some chore you don’t like. Don’t complain about the neighborhood/young people/schools/traffic; do ONE thing to help instead. Try talking about something other than TV shows at the dinner table.
And yes, I walk the walk.
54. hyderboy | 02.04.09
Dear those who will read,
After careful analysis I have come to find the reason that the U.S. Government is attempting hastily to ratify this so called “Stimulus Package”. The government officials are afraid that the American people will wake up and realize that this is a grasp for more power! The ones that are influencing this sudden power grab have long since been in control. At the end of President Bush’s administration he rushed in the 700 billion “bailout” that has had little or no effect on the economy. This “bailout” was mostly given to the U.S. banks and auto companies, allowing the government to take control. Now as President Obama commences his regime he seals the deal. With the approval of this extreme “Stimulus Package” he will harness control over health care, the rest of the American corporations, and pay them back for his costly election campaign. Thus tying the last few strings to his corporate puppets.
Think it through. Why is it so imperative that they obtain this power? It is possibly to make us receive a micro-chip implantation*. The idea will sound so attractive. A micro-chip organizer that holds all of your vital information; medical records, social security, job, money, ect. Then if you don’t receive it, you won’t receive anything from the government. That means, due to the “stimulus” action, no health care, no job, no bank access and no money.
Though it sounds so enticing, could there be something bad about it? Once the micro-chip is in place they with control all aspect of our lives on a whole new level. No one does anything or goes anywhere without the governments approval. That is why they must pass the new bill 645 to create “emergency” holding facilities which Jerome R. Corsi says, “could be used as concentration camps for political dissidents.”
Just let us remember, all the money the government spends comes from our taxes, thus we will pay to turn our freedom to slavery.
*see “the mark” or “mark of the beast” Revelations 13:16-18, 14:9-11, and 20:4
55. Joe for Pres | 02.04.09
Now Joe the plumber is Joe the reporter…. he is brainy, isn’t it? The RNC will be a new renamed party, the Pajama Party; and Joe will the pres in 4 yrs time. Super Cool Joe, Joe for Pres (wohoooo).
ps: Now jus’ in case any R wing nutcases think that I am really for him, WAKE UP!!
56. rosetea | 02.04.09
Hey Ken, Did you guys know that Obama’s stimulus pkg is meant to stimulate people and not the economy. Another excuse for spending tax dollars.
57. rosetea | 02.04.09
Bush threw away 350 Billions and now obama is going to throw away 1.5 trillion. Now we know where our tax dollars are going
58. Educate | 02.04.09
So much for the benefits of higher education. We all should go to trade school and not finish, if we want to advance in our lives. Why spend the money to get a college education or higher, when all you have to do to make the BIG bucks is wait until some Presidential candidate walks through your neighborhood and then ask that candidate a hypothetical question.
Of course, that “Question Asker” needs to be smart enough to hire greedy PR or Talent agents. Oh, maybe that “Asker” wasn’t smart enough to do that. I denigrate the greedy calculating selfish narcissistic intelligence of PR and Talent agents. Ooopps! Sorry!
Isn’t there a law against what he’s doing? There should be! There probably isn’t because it would be a law against profiting from people without any intelligence. Who can fault anyone for taking money from a fool. Go Joe. I just wish I could sleep at night, doing what you’re doing.
59. BLOGGER | 02.04.09
I am beginning to feel sorry for and embarrassed by the Republican Party.
What is next Joe the Plumber for president.
60. Jill Again | 02.04.09
It’s so comforting to know that the Republicans have fallen to such depths as to think a totally unqualified fraud is the best they can dredge up. That pretty well puts the last nail in the coffin of the party. Any remaining people with a brain have already left.
62. ksmit | 02.05.09
Wow, what a great guy; he worked for a plumbing business, then he wanted to
buy it from his “friend”,and now he is an expert who is associating with
people from “think tanks”. This is like Leonardo’s “Universal Man”, but
living in our own century. We finally get to see the real surprise, that
our wonderful GOP has a sense of humor. Cheech and Chong couldn’t have served
them better.Stay the Course, Mavericks, shakers, and losers..
63. Zach | 02.05.09
@ Doug, #14
I guess one thing that makes me think I’m so smart is knowing the difference between “your” and “you’re”. That’s just me though.
64. Dwight Collins | 02.05.09
This individual is an absolute parody. He definitely belongs on Pajama TV. A fiddler as Rome burns!
66. Lord Astral | 02.05.09
22. Doug2 | 02.04.09
My plan. Pull out of nafta and wto. Revise our trade policy to reflect the interest of American instead of mutinational corporations.
second, no Ameican tax dollars may be spent on anything not made in American.
Third, no Government or subcontract may outsource any jobs requiring government money.
———–
Sorry Doug2. This will not work at all. We live in a global economy. What does this mean? It means that our imports fund a large portion of the Chinese economy. And we have been depending on China to fund our government for the last 8 years. You want a war on terror? You want to get Bin Laden? We can’t do it without the Chinese. And were we to pull out of the global economy, we would cause an economic meltdown of nightmarish proportions.
——-
No government job can outsource anything paid for by tax dollars? Are you freaking serious? Do you realize how inefficient that is? You would double the cost of most projects funded by our tax dollars! You want to be responsible, at least businesses compete for government money and have some incentive to run themselves efficiently. The government has no incentive to do so.
You would destroy our economy, bog down anything productive involving tax money, and ruin relations with every other country in the world.
Great plan.
—-
And to answer Joe The Plumber. The Obama administration has not considered any of the big business friendly supply side economic bull you are espousing because it was those policies that got us where we are today. We have had 8 years of what Pres. George Bush Sr. called Voodoo economics. At least he called it that until he sold out his position when he was offered the position of Vice President.
67. martin0641 | 02.05.09
I find it amazing that this many years after the scientific revolution, which has extended our lifespan, increase our quality of life, and taught us so much about the world we all live in, that I still see people quoting the “bible” as if that were source of truth and fact.
I guess the previous poster nailed it when he said you can’t explain stupidity to a stupid person. It’s just sad to see how low humanity can go.
68. Randy Todd | 02.05.09
I voted for an completely trust President Obama. The rest is just noise. He will likely go down in history as our greatest President, even though he is having to fix a mess created by his incompitent predecessor and his greedy, snarling, mean and obnoxious veep…
I love hearing everyones crazy talk. In the end, President Obama will take care of business and I bet these complainers today will still find something to complain about - but they will also be enjoying the turnaround that President Obama will bring to America, and the World!
May God Bless President Obama.
Randy
70. Do Be Reflect | 02.05.09
Has any of the above comments improved the situation? Whether you believe in God or not, You can’t deny Principle or intelligence is the dominant power. It will always exist and prove itself when we put aside self ego What’s wrong with a bit of humility to listen within for that intelligence to come to mind? The Principle answers are available.
71. Effie | 02.08.09
Jill Again wrote:
“It’s so comforting to know that the Republicans have fallen to such depths as to think a totally unqualified fraud is the best they can dredge up. That pretty well puts the last nail in the coffin of the party. Any remaining people with a brain have already left.”
You’re absolutely right. The scary thing is that there are a LOT of people out there without any brains.
72. say what? | 02.11.09
Joe the Plumber is the Tidy Bowl Man: He will flush your troubles away! Come on America! Flush Joe too!
73. James Green-Armytage | 02.11.09
It’s dangerous to claim that anyone can represent the average working guy. The only person that Joe Wurzelbacher represents is himself.
Of course, the Republicans would absolutely love it if people accepted Joe as a representative of working people, because his views are already so close to their own ideology. This is hardly an accident; Joe was hand-picked by McCain because of his strident espousal of far-right economic views.
Should the Democrats find a member of the working class who holds leftist views, and then throw them into the media as a representative of the average person? Perhaps this would be a good propaganda tool, but it strikes me as a pretty dishonest (and slightly demeaning) way to conduct politics.
76. Sam | 05.10.09
This RNC/republican media created individual “Joe the ‘Plumber’” has more in common with Homer Simpson than he does with any part of a college educated, literate, or scholastic form of America.
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Jimmy Orr has worked in politics for the majority of his professional career working for two U.S. Senators, two Governors and one President. Most recently, Orr served as White House Spokesman and Internet Director for President George W. Bush and Special Advisor to Governor Schwarzenegger for Internet Communications.
David Cook is Washington bureau chief of The Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor's newsmaker breakfasts. He was the Monitor's editor from 1994 to 2001. Cook is a graduate of Principia College, served in the U.S. Army, was a Bagehot Fellow at Columbia University, and is a member of the Gridiron Club, Washington's oldest journalistic organization.
1. Peggy Pickering | 02.03.09
I have more respect for Joe the Plumber than I do for any of our Washington Politicians. These past two weeks of the Obama administration have been disgraceful.