Scobleizer - Latest Comments in My fellow Democrats

Re: My fellow Democrats

Jerry — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:21:11 -0000

@Jonathan. Reagan..."Spend tons on defense and then use the deficit as an excuse to cut social programs."

You say that as if it were a bad thing. Spending tons on defense? Well, excuse Reagan for actually spending tax dollars as The Constitution outlines. For shame!!!!.

Cut social programs? Again, excuse Mr. Reagan for trying to get rid of programs that, Constitutionally, should never have been set up by the Federal Government in the first place. Boy, it really sucks when you have a President that takes seriously his oath to "PRESERVE, PROTECT, and DEFEND the Constitution of the United States". Unfortunately, few Presidents in recent memory have even understood what that oath means. Not to mention the majority of the left.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Nick Savides — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:01:20 -0000

Hello Robert,
You raise some interesting points. I don't agree with you about everything, but I appreciate your call to a renewed civility in political discourse.

I should mention that I'm an independent who tends to lean right, but I am interested in what both sides have to say. You are right to imply that the more time that the Democrats spend attacking Palin, with mean-spirited and snobbish attacks in my opinion, the less likely I will be to consider their ideas. But then, as a person of faith, I am also less inclined to consider someone's ideas when I sense that I'm being pandered to or talked down to because of my beliefs.

That being said, I remain unconvinced that simply throwing more tax dollars at big problems is the way to encourage the innovation and risk-taking needed to solve those problems. I have dealt with a wide range of companies in my life, some of them awful but many of them great, useful, and magnificent. On the other hand, I have had very few barely- acceptable experiences with government, many bad experiences, but never great and magnificent ones.

Typically, my frustrating experiences at the DMV come to mind when I think of government services: long lines, poor service, and unnecessarily bureaucratic policies. The DMV can get away with that because they know that I have no alternatives. I can't take my business elsewhere.

But, the tech companies that you cover know that they have to be consistently excellent to keep me coming back. Are there still bad tech companies? Of course. But the status quo doesn't encourage their complacency in the way that it does for too many government services. So why does it make sense to give government even more responsibilities, when it has failed, for the most part, to be exceptional in what it already does?

If the Democrats positioned themselves as the party that embraces entrepreneurs and encourages people to take risks and if they didn't campaign so heavily on taxing (punishing) the rich for their success, then I would be more inclined to vote for them.

In other words, your fellow Democrats should spend less time talking down to people of faith and mocking likable, unpretentious people like Palin, and you should spend more time convincing people like me that you have good ideas to spark innovation and growth. Maybe then I would listen. Otherwise, I might just cling to my guns and my religion and vote for the other guys.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Charlie Daniels — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:00:42 -0000

Netposer: In response to part of your blog, the fact is that George W. Bush never, let me repeat, never lowered taxes for the rich. He lowered marginal tax rates for everyone and as a result, the rich are now paying a higher percentage of income tax than at any time under President Clinton.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Charlie Daniels — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 10:47:55 -0000

Robert:
An excellent post, and one that I think a true believing Republican could post as well. I would offer a couple of other things to think about:

First of all, when we have elections, we generally accept the outcomes, settle down, and go about our business. We do not man the barricades and storm the White House. This type of nasty discourse is a part of our political and societal nature. Please remember the vicious stories and attacks against a president that many consider to be out best -- Abe Lincoln! He was often portrayed in the press as an Ape!

Secondly, when someone run on the issues, they get about 5% of the vote. Witness the lack of success of issued minded candidates such as Ron Paul and Ralph Nadar.

Finally, Pogo said it best " I have seen the enemy and he is us!" If enough people are disgusted by this type of campaign, they will vote for something different. However, the prurient pleasure must outweigh the disgust because campaigns are getting worse.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Jeff Berlin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:29:59 -0000

I wasn't going to post again but today I am truly embarrassed for my country. I really am. Our candidates for the highest office in the land have proved themselves to be, well, downright awful. On the one hand you have McCain's assinine fundamentals quote. Maybe you could stretch it and say "well he's just trying to be reassuring in this troubled time" but he backed it up with such lame-ass reason. Then you have Obama with his "get in their face" street rhetoric. This is really pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. On top of that he wants his followers (it sounded like to me) to be antagonistic to their neighbors and maybe out and out lie - you see he says to argue that he's not going raise taxes (didn't he say he'd role back the bush tax cuts... that would raise taxes since you'd be paying more but I don't have the patience to look it up right now, I am so fuming), meanwhile his VP is out talking about how it is patriotic to give more to government! To a bunch of people that have shown almost zero ability to or willingness to peek around corners and solve problems. Pelosi and Reid are absolutely pathetic. I don't how anyone can ask me to vote for a guy that asks me to get in my neighbors face.

Like the old legend, we are all Nero, and Rome is burning.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Maurice — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:59:31 -0000

good post Robert

Mike Obama is a radical socialist lol more a very wet one nation tory or a rightwing Limb dem or a nu labour type.

This is my take on the us political scene.

I think part of the problem the USA has is its political structure is set up for a bunch of landowning enlightenment types who wanted to keep power in their hands. The other problem is that the religious right captured the republican party like the trots tried and failed to do in the 80’s to the labour party.

There is a good theory that the reason why the USA doesn’t play cricket is that the gentlemen (posh types think Boris Johnson) didn’t want to play with the players (lower class labourers and servants)

Also the scary part for the rest of the world is the way such inexperienced people can get to such a powerful position with out pervious experience why did McCain not get Condi as his VP.

It would almost be like if an old flame of mine suddenly got picked be David Cameron’s deputy (she’s a local conservative councillor at the moment)

Re: My fellow Democrats

Andy Freeman — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:42:19 -0000

Through various programs, govt already provides health care to about half of Americans. If you believe that govt health care will be cheaper for all Americans, shouldn't you first explain why govt health care for half of americans costs about the same as private health care for a comparable number of people?

Better yet, make govt health care cheaper than private and make it available as a choice.

If you can't make govt health care cheaper for half of Americans, why should anyone believe that you can make it cheaper for all?

Re: My fellow Democrats

Jonathan — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 06:10:22 -0000

Robert, great post, it's about taking the high road, which seems to be out of vogue these days.

Two things, you should take a look at this video of Barack Obama that David Weinberger posted -- I wish more of these ads would be shown on TV.

http://link.brightcove.com/...

Second, I have to respond to this obsession people had with Reagan. People think he was great and he WAS charismatic. He also drove the country's budget into the gutter like W has done. Spend tons on defense and then use the deficit as an excuse to cut social programs.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Some Guy — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:07:26 -0000

"it is NOT the insurance companies, but rather it is the extremely liberal judicial system that we have had now for decades in our country. "

Vander,

Liability costs are a major factor, but they pale in comparison to the procedural costs imposed by the FDA and other regulatory agencies. Look up what it costs to get a drug, device, or treatment through the FDA approval process. It will turn your hair white.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Chris — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:33:44 -0000

"I had business expenses that exceed the business revenue." Exceed should be exceeded. Typo

Re: My fellow Democrats

Chris — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 23:32:42 -0000

"My issue is that I’m seeing high tech jobs leaving America for a variety of reasons."

Scoble, this is Chris, banned from Channel 9 Chris. When I left Canada, I had business expenses that exceed the business revenue. The situation with programmers was absolutely aweful. I had fired over 10 employees. The Canadian dollar was worth more than the US dollar and yet gas was $7-8 a gallon while it was $3-4 here.

Now that I'm in LA, I make almost as much as you do, and I have a great job.

Just take a look at Craigslist. There is plenty of opportunity in California and the USA.

"But in today’s America we’re angry about immigrants who come to America to take our jobs. "

The programmers I was with in Canada would literally kill somebody almost to have jobs like the jobs that are available in SF and LA. If we simply let them all in, it will drive our salaries down..

If their government let them down, let them wrestle with their own politics over where they are.

California is so much better than Canada and every other country it's not even funny. It's like California is a plateau, and you look down on the rest of the world.

At any rate, the USA is the best country in the world, and frankly it should be the best country in the world for us.

Throw your bottles and cans now. I'm voting McCain. Not that it matters who you vote for. The day after the election, it will be the same sh1t on a different day no matter who's coming into office.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Some Guy — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:43:03 -0000

"The concentration of financial power is stunning. There are now only two investment banks left on Wall Street. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs"

Yep. The effect of government interference in markets is always to drive consolidation into larger organizations. The bigger a company is, the better it's able to cope with the absurd regulations imposed upon it.

That's why most of us are one of millions of customers of a behemoth like Kaiser, instead of one of a couple hundred customers of a family medical practice. Regulation forces consolidation, and never forget that government is the ultimate monopoly.

I've been involved with a couple of startups in my career, and even before we made our first dollar in revenues, we easily spent a third of our capital and half of our senior management's time on complying with regulation and taxation.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Some Guy — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 22:38:06 -0000

Let me toss out a wild idea here.. Our problem isn't that our government doesn't do enough, it's that the government does far too much.

We have this document called the Constitution of the United States. It's not perfect, but it's a damn sight better than what we have now. Nearly every problem we have today can be traced directly to government expanding its power beyond those granted by the constitution, from the war, to our failing schools, to our ridiculously expensive health care system.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Jerry — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:42:37 -0000

@Tim. Well, then I'll go back to my point they we really don't care what the rest of the world thinks. Because at the end of the day we know who they will come to for help. I mean, good luck trying to get the French to help you. The British, maybe. So, go on thinking we are an embarrassment, and we'll keep running the world as we please, because...well, we can.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Champ Summers — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:14:34 -0000

When John Kennedy asked us to go to the moon, we did. When Martin Luther King said he has a dream we’ve made his dream happen. When Ronald Reagan told the Germans to “tear down this wall” they did.

* John Kennedy would have been thrown out of the MoveOn-controlled Democratic Party for his pro-war, pro-freedom agenda. Look at Joe Lieberman for an example.

* MLK was, of course, a Republican

* Reagan was, of course, a Republican who was _pilloried_ in the press and by Democrats for that particular statement, SDI (which turns out to be a blessing for Israel and our European allies), and pro-growth strategies.

Please don't equate Barack Obama with any of those three great figures. Obama has affiliated solely with communists, terrorists and Islamists his entire career... during which I can't find a single noteworthy accomplishment (other than his wonderful speech-making).

Though his brownshirts have been good at intimidating WGN in Chicago for daring to discuss his Annenberg Challenge failures and links to Bill Ayers.

But, if Obama wins, perhaps he could name Democrat Jamie Gorelick his AG. There's a reason she's called the "Mistress of Disaster": she played key roles in both 9/11 and the raping and pillaging of Fannie Mae.

Re: My fellow Democrats

T Vander Kooi — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:47:17 -0000

The problem with the Democrats answer to issue #3 is that they don't look at what caused the problem in the first place. If you look at what has caused the sky rocketing cost of health care in the United States, it is NOT the insurance companies, but rather it is the extremely liberal judicial system that we have had now for decades in our country. The answer to lowering health care costs (thereby making it available to more people at lower income levels) is to shut down all of the frivolous lawsuits that occur and cost both the medical system and the insurance company billions in legal fees every year. This solution would not only lower costs, but would result in a much more open selection ability when it comes to picking medical options for the average American.

Re: My fellow Democrats

J.D. Meier — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:06:34 -0000

Are high tech jobs really leaving or is it a maturity cycle and the jobs are moving up the stack? The ebb and flow of a connected world.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Borlock — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:35:13 -0000

Dawn, can you share some links to your scientific study on global cooling? (Statements from Marc Morano or any other politicial (including Al Gore) doesn't count). Is this global cooling man made? Should I be turning off my fridge?

I would ask for a study on your countless observable miracles as well, but I realize that's a pointless question.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Michael — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 18:55:05 -0000

I have never seen anything like this. The smoke is not clearing yet, but one thing is unmistakable. The concentration of financial power is stunning. There are now only two investment banks left on Wall Street. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. Also two major banks. B of A and Citicorp. Giants have certainly fallen, but even bigger giants remain.

Both are not in good shape though.

Abroad, the war is spreading towards Pakistan. A dangerous, but understandable escalation. But Pakistan has nukes.

I'm not really sure now it matters who becomes president.

This current situation is bigger than any single person.

But Obama will probably handle it better.

He had my vote long ago.

As far as global warming goes the issues I just mentioned will be top priority for any incoming administration. Green issues will take a back seat even though they are critical.

Somehow, I was disappointed when attending the Web.2 EXPO in SF this year that a serious disconnect seemed to exist between the geeks obsessed with high tech and people understanding these other issues I have just mentioned.

The digital third wave is still embedded in the second industrial wave from which it sprung.

A bigger intergrated picture is needed.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Jeff Berlin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:21:01 -0000

Well I am done here. Hopefully Scoble looks at these comments and researches some of things mentioned here.. Hopefully he will no longer allow Winers rabid partisin diatribe cut off his own thought process. Just look at the news today, Pelosi says her party is not to blame at all for the current financial woes.. yet they've been the majority party for a long time...and I can't recall Bush vetoing a dem-backed bill for finance industry regulation. At least give us the 'everyone in goverment shares some responsibility' line Nancy!.

Before you label anyone as anti-anything Robert, take a look in the mirror.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Tim — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:14:36 -0000

@Sam: Germany

Re: My fellow Democrats

Sam — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:36:21 -0000

Because you appear to be a Barry supporter, I can certainly see why you want people to vote on Nov 2 and not the 4th. Follow Richard Daly's urging to "vote early and vote often". I'm not sure how you post can be taken as credible and well thought out when you don't even know when election day is.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Jeff Berlin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:00:36 -0000

Just to be clear for myself - I don't believe McCain/Palin will fix anything either.. Like Bush they will talk small goverment etc.. but not do a damn thing. But there is a better chance then the other guys. It's the lesser of 2 evils. As far as protecting america, the choice is not even close. Obama has already promised deep cuts in defense spending (its on youtube - search for obama defense cuts)... he doesn't even know that the missile defense tests have been succesful. This is the true reason the rest of the world wants him. Like someone here said.. pinch your nose and vote.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Jeff Berlin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:49:52 -0000

@KookyLiberals

Also all those stickers on his cameras and macs wasted a lot of trees. How about all those pictures on flickr of food? He mentions health care cost but he has a ton of pics of lots of glutonous unhealthy meals he has consumed.

Suddenly Scoble cares about jobs going overseas.. as if this is new... isn't thomas friedman one his idols? I mean thomas friedman can tell someone has scored perfectly on their SAT's just by looking at them!!! (all u have to be is a well dressed person of Indian descent with glasses to pass his visual litmus test). Isn't that protectionism/isolationism? Pat Buchanan anybody? Scoble talks about california's tax system, meanwhile california is the most liberal state in the union, that's why its so screwed up... meanwhile he thinks a liberal is going to fix it.

Woefully misinformed.. Can someone tell him that prayers are being outlawed everywhere..(except in the case of islam).. where does he get religion is winning? Merry Xmas anyone? Honestly I never thought he was this easy to manipulate.. it seems to me someone has pumped him full of nonsense.

Re: My fellow Democrats

Karl Mueller — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:40:06 -0000

Lest we all forget: When Bill Clinton left office, the economy was BOOMING, and not only was there no national debt, there was a SURPLUS! In fact, if you examine the history of our national debt, you will notice that it always SOARS during the tenure of Republican Presidents. To me the choice is simple this November: Those in favor of a second Great Depression, VOTE REPUBLICAN! Those in favor of having a pot to piss in, VOTE DEMOCRATIC! Personally, I'm not independently wealthy, so I'm certainly not voting for McCain/Palin, whose slogan should be: I beLIEve!!!!