Rants 'n Raves

Fox agrees with the GOP - "Let them eat cake."

Officially, almost 15 million people in America are jobless - Unofficially, about 27 million people.

Unemployed people should NOT be used as an example of Democratic spending and their hypocrisy regarding PAYGO. Why stop at the unemployed? Why not go after old people too - cut off Social Security and Medicare as well. Pay-as-you-go! Cut off the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Pay-as-you-go! There's plenty to cut.

On Fox News' web site, according to CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER, FOX NEWS SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: This is a $15 trillion economy. The bill you mentioned, the jobs bill, is $15 billion. That's one tenth of one percent of the gross domestic product. It's not going to have any serious effect on the economy."

But Neil Cavuto and most others at Fox are still praising Senator Bunning.

I have a post on Extended Unemployment Benefits, and I get more hits on that post than any other (5 to 1). People are genuinely scared, and seeing their only source of income being held to a candle-standard for government spending is plain wrong.

All the talking heads on Fox don't seem to realize this, and continue praising Bunning as some kind of a martyr / hero...that's plain ridiculous!

If any of Senator's Bunning's 40 grand-children were not from privileged families and needed unemployment benefits, how would THEY feel about grandpa's "bold" and "brave" stand?

Does the owner of Fox News, Rupert Murdoch, personally push this agenda? Does he really feel that unemployment benefits is a waste of money, and a drag on the economy and this country? Is this the ideology the permeates the Fox newsrooms these days? Might Fox News have taken the issue with "fiscal responsibility" just a tad too far by insulting the jobless?

Where's Bill O'Reilly? Who's looking out for us?

Are not the two out of ten people in America who are unemployed not worthy of fair representation? Are the unemployed (and the homeless families) the new enemy of Fox News? Couldn't they have picked a fairer fight?

Especially now, when the jobless rate (and failed mortgages) is nearly as bad as is was during the Great Depression when millions of people were living in shantytowns called "Hoovervilles".

I find it ironic that Fox News has been saying that Obama dropped the ball when he focused on Healthcare reform for the past year instead of concentrating on JOBS (which I agreed). Yet, at the same time, FOX News is waging a war against the unemployed! What is Fox thinking?

The liberals LOVE IT! Here's what the Huffington Post was thinking...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/02/bunning-blocks-jobless-be_n_482291.html

Was FOX News anchor Martha MacCallum trying to convince the public that it is the unemployed who are the ones responsible for the government budget woes?

Does FOX News want the unemployed to be homeless?

Why is Fox News taking the position that it's just lazy people that don't want to work and who are collecting unemployment benefits - - - why does Fox News praise Senator Bunning as a HERO for taking a stand by voting against extended unemployment benefits?

Yesterday Martha MacCallum deliberately misconstrued a letter from one of Senator Bunning's constituents. In the letter he did not say, "I will give up my extended unemployment benefits to lower the deficit."

What he said was is that he hasn't worked a full 40-hour week in several months and that the sheet metal shop he works for laid off most of his co-workers. He himself is still working and only probably qualifies for partial benefits because he's still employed.

FOX News anchor Martha MacCallum outright lied. Martha's slant is going to make a lot of unemployed people VERY ANGRY.

"Cut off their benefits, maybe they'll find a job."

And this morning on Fox and Friends, Fox News commentator Stuart Varney said (paraphrased) "cut off their unemployment benefits and maybe they'll go find a job." That's ridiculous! I'm sure many of the people he insulted were also elitist professors with PHDs and worked hard all their lives! They all weren't just lazy laid-off good-for-nothing factory workers that were beneath Stuart Varney's status in society!

FOX is waging a war against the unemployed!

It's a shame about Stuart Varney - I really liked him and his view points until now. Especially since he's from England and claims to know all about "class warfare".

If 10 friends went on a hike into the mountains, and 2 succumbed to injuries, would the remaining 8 leave them behind? Fox News would. Stuart Varney would say,"They're too lazy to walk, leave them behind and maybe they'll find a way out."

See my post "What Bozo will Fox News hire next?"
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog3.php/2010/03/05/fox-news-commentator-stuart-varney-briti

I watch Fox News every day, as I'm sure many of the unemployed people do too; but many of those same people probably feel totally betrayed by Fox's war on the unemployed.

Does Fox News also think the unemployed is responsible for Moody's lowering of the USA's credit rating - which is getting continuely worse every year.?

Senator Bunning's actions was not to DENY unemployed people extended benefits, but to make a point in the way Democrats have been expanding government spending. But Fox News is waging a campaign against the unemployed, making them look as though they are just lazy, and it is THEY who are to blame for the budget woes.

Senator Bunning wants the Democrats to be fiscally more responsible (using PAYGO), but he has been making his point on the backs of desperate Americans, who today are struggling just to survive.

Most Republicans (and unemployed Republicans and Tea Party members) want the Democrats to be fiscally more responsible as well, and they want to stop the Democrat's insane spending too. But why punish the down-trodden to achieve this?

The majority of the Republicans ought not to circle their wagons around him - unemployed people can still vote in November.

Who's really to blame?

Both the Republicans and the Democrats voted to bail out AIG to the tune of $185 billion, who was hemorrhaging because of huge wagers in the form of credit default swaps (leveraged 35 to 1) made by banks like Goldman Sachs, who got paid 100% on the dollar, as did many foreign banks...but the taxpayers got stuck like a pig with the bill. And now, AIG wants another $10 billion!

But let the unemployed go homeless?

And the banks, through TARP, with influence through the Federal Reserve (many of who are ex-Goldman Sachs executives) got $780 billion in loans to make their banks "more stable". Yet the banks foreclosed on homes and raised interest rates.

And what about the billions of dollars of taxpayer money going down that Black Hole called Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who need billions more (think Barney Frank, Chris Dodd, and Rahm Emanuel)? The banks get THEIR government guaranteed money!

But let the unemployed go homeless?

Meanwhile, these fat-cats on Wall Street have continued to get million-dollar bonuses and "golden parachutes"...and members of congress are being paid $174,000 a year with AAA healthcare.

But let the unemployed go homeless?

And let's not forget the United Auto Workers Union, who were put ahead of bondholders and shareholders to gain control of GM and Chrysler by using billions of dollars more of taxpayer funds. And then the government decided which dealerships should remain open for business.

But let the unemployed go homeless?

But all this did was cause massive layoffs for all the other working people who only want to pay their rent these days. Yet, we see the politicians in Washington bicker over a lousy $15 billion for a jobs bill that can save American families from soon becoming homeless.

Especially at this time when billions of dollars of taxpayer Stimulus Funds (money that was meant to create real, legitimate, and sustainable jobs) is being fraudulently spent and wasted. This fund is now allocated up to $821 billion on the national debt!

But let the unemployed go homeless?

Americans send billions of dollars to foreign entities like the IMF and give billions more in foreign relief aide all over the world. Shouldn't the taxpayers (American citizens who foot the bill) be helping their own neighbors instead, in the form of a little relief with unemployment benefits while this country has been going through the biggest financial meltdown since the Great Depression?

Yet Charlie Rangel and Tim Geithner won't pay their income taxes, as do thousands of other of Federal employees who can't be fired...including many more in Congress...but let the unemployed go homeless?

And what about all the earmarks, of which there were nearly 10,000 in the FY2010 spending bills, that will not be uprooted by this Congress.

The Republicans and the Democrats need to stop grand-standing and start helping the people they represent...us.

Healthcare reform, "green jobs", and cap-and-trade are political agendas for an ideology that America can't afford right now; but passing simple legislation for unemployed Americans should be as critical as creating jobs at this time in our depressed economy.

Hey Fox News!

Instead of attacking the people who were victimized by bad government policy, poor regulation of the banks, brokerage houses and the SEC (and all Democratic spending) - here's something to consider...

As of today the DOW stocks are at the 2005 level but, the unemployment rate has DOUBLED the 2005 level.

(Click chart to enlarge)

March 13 Update: Fox News Continues to Insult Unemployed
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog3.php/2010/03/13/fox-news-continues-bashing-the-jobless

In closing...

To the politicians >>> Help American citizens survive first, then worry about everything else.

Do NOT think like FOX News and let the unemployed go homeless.

I'm against "big" government, but if you're going to have laws, have proper regulations to protect us against the greedy and irresponsible behavior of financial institutions, and the major multi-national corporations that out-source jobs...corporations that give political donations equally to both the Republicans AND the Democrats. (Don't buy anything made in China, only MADE IN THE USA)

The federal government has awarded more than $107 billion in contract payments, grants and other benefits over the past decade to foreign and multinational American companies while they were doing business in Iran, despite Washington’s efforts to discourage investment there.

But let the unemployed go homeless?

Government regulation, multi-national corporations, and big banks have been at the root of the problem that has put the unemployed people in America where they are today. Why not help the unemployed?

Tell the politicians (and FOX News) to help American citizens first, then they can go play in the sand box later.

To Martha MacCallum and Stuart Varney > > > Thank God you have your jobs at Fox News. The U.S. taxpayers are very thankful that they don't have to pay you unemployment benefits as well (which is barely enough to sustain a meager exisitance below the poverty level.)

Meanwhile, those unemployed people will watch the world pass them by while the more fortunate go shopping, go on vacations, and eat steak and lobster at the better restaurants...the very things that the unemployed were once able to do. Now many of them eat mayonnaise sandwiches and canned tuna. And bite their nails, lose sleep, and worry every night about how they will pay for a roof over their head next month.

Contact FOX News

I e-mailed FOX several times but I never got a response - and I also called Fox, but as usual, all I got was an answering machine. I left my message and number, but as usual, they never returned my call again either. Fox News expects my congressman to return my call but they think themselves exempt? Maybe FOX should hire more people to help the jobless...I will work for them FOR FREE to help answer their incoming e-mails.

(By the way, Senator Harry Reid anwsered my e-mails...3 times! And I didn't even vote for him!)

Of the 25 e-mail addresses I attempted to write at FOX News (10 am EST this morning), the following 5 messages were undeliverable and could not be sent:

glennbeck@foxnews.com
happeningnow@foxnews.com
foxhannity@FOXNEWS.COM
bullsandbears@foxbusiness.com
americasnewsroom@foxnews.com

The recipient's mailbox is full and can't accept messages now.

FOX News phone number is 1-888-369-4762

CONTACT: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.html

Related Posts:

Goldman Sachs Fueled AIG Gambles
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog3.php/2009/12/13/goldman-sachs-started-the-2nd-great-depr

More on Timothy Geithner, Joe Cassano, AIG, Henry Paulson, Goldman Sachs, and Ben Bernanke
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/01/11/timothy-geithner-and-aig-why

Related posts on the current unemployment situation:

Unemployment - Foreclosures, Might See Rise in Suicides
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/03/10/unemployment-foreclosures-might-see-rise

The Great Depression: Then and Now - Is There a Difference?
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/03/08/the-great-depression-then-and-now-is-the

The New Poor - Millions of Unemployed Face Years Without Jobs
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/02/21/the-new-poor-millions-of-unemployed-face

The Jobless and Suicides in 2010
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog3.php/2010/03/07/out-of-work-buy-a-shotgun

Government Jobs (Bigger Government) Drive Employment Numbers
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/03/01/government-jobs-bigger-government-drive

Actual Unemployment in 2010 - Recession Worse than Reported
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/02/04/actual-unemployment-in-january-2010-rece

Deep Recession Shows No Sign of Letting Up - Maybe Getting Worse
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/02/24/deep-recession-shows-no-sign-of-letting

Largest U.S. Labor Union: AFL-CIO says Jobs Won't Return
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/01/07/largest-u-s-labor-union-afl-cio-says-job

More Bad News for the Unemployed in 2010 - and Beyond
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/02/23/more-bad-news-for-the-unemployed-in-2010

Almost 1 out of 5 People are Out of Work in the U.S.A.
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2009/12/31/unemployment-december-2009-new-release

FOX News Wages War on Unemployed - Thinks They're Lazy
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog1.php/2010/03/02/real-reason-why-extended-unemployment-be

Extended Unemployment Benefits in 2010 - Fully Explained
http://tobuds.com/blogs/blog3.php/2010/02/16/extended-unemployment-benefits-in-2010

Once again, Obama is pushing his "Cash for Caulkers" program, advancing his true agenda.

This morning at a oddly receptive crowd at Georgia Technical College in Savannah Georgia, Obama promised on-the-spot rebates of up to $3,000 for homeowners (and landlords?) who installed energy efficient windows and insulation on their houses...and with no paperwork or forms to fill out. (Couldn't this invite more waste and fraud?)

The program is expected to cost taxpayers $6 billion dollars more in debt (further burdening most people who don't even own their own homes).

Like healthcare and cap-and-trade, Obama remains stubborn on promoting a "green economy" by producing "green jobs". I suppose if you are a glass manufacturer, this is good news.

(I wonder what kind of carbon foot print the glass manufacturers leave. Or for the foam and caulk for that matter.)

And it is GREAT news if you are a personal friend of Obama, who just happens to own a company that installs windows. (What was that woman's name again, the one in the White House who's married to that guy that owns that window business?)

Didn't Obama say, "He makes the best windows in the country!"

How many homeowners can afford a capital investment like that now when many still fear losing their job, and/or are behind in their mortgage, or (like 25% of all homeowners) are upside-down on their mortgage already (owing more on a house than it's worth)?

This program will mostly just benefit one particular industry, and people who are still secure in their jobs and can already afford to make these improvements on their property without taxpayer help.

Building windmills, sand castles, and shoving foam into a few walls is not going to bring jobs back for most of the unemployed in this country, it will take MUCH more than a silly Home Star program like the one Obama proposed today (at taxpayer expense).

Let the free market naturally bring more efficient and cost-saving ways to reduce energy consumption.

Like everything else Obama, this is just another Obama scam...and another back-door way of pushing his agenda...and favoring his choice friends and political backers.