From the Record:
New York region adds 200,500 jobs in year
The New York-New Jersey area added 200,500 jobs in the 12 months to November 2013, a 2.3 percent increase that was the largest 12-month jump since December 2000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday.
The surge in the region, officially known as the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, included a gain of 110,200 jobs in New York City – a 2.8 percent jump, according to a bureau report.
The region includes Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Morris counties, and eight others in New Jersey, as well as one county in Pennsylvania and the remaining counties in New York state. The report does not provide job figures solely for the New Jersey counties.
A sub-sector of the metropolitan statistical area that includes Bergen, Passaic and Hudson counties as well as parts of New York City and state, increased by 2.4 percent, adding 128,500 jobs over the 12 months.
The biggest proportional increases in that sub-sector came in the leisure and hospitality sectors, which climbed 6.9 percent; education and health services, which grew by 5.1 percent; and trade transportation and utilities, which rose by 2.8 percent. A category called “other services” increased by 3.7 percent.
The biggest proportional increases in that sub-sector came in the leisure and hospitality sectors, which climbed 6.9 percent;
Part time food server at the Seville Motel on Tonnelle Avenue? Does this mean house prices go up even more?
it’s time for the fat man to go. fcku him.
Daily Show:
“As a guy who grew up in New Jersey, I’m disappointed, ashamed of the state I grew up in. Political payback through traffic congestion? To see New Jersey sink to such a piss-poor, third-rate quality of corruption….This is New Jersey! A state renowned for its piss-rich, first-rate corruption.” He then recounted, with the help of his audience chanting “New Jersey,” a litany of real and fictional (but mostly real) tales of the Garden State’s best worst cases: Abscam, David Friedland, The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire. The finale – the political-bribery-to-organ-dealing odyssey of the Solomon Dwek scandal.
Whatever happened to shitting in someone’s sunroof as retribution? Frankly, I’ve got to agree, this is very unimaginative. Did I ever share the story about the 20 pound carp we hid under the seat of our annoying neighbor’s pickup truck … in the height of the summer? Pretty sure he ended up lighting it on fire on Rt 21 in Belleville, the truck not the carp.
[4] grim,
Well, if he is elected president, he can simply sic the IRS on his opponents. Not like it hasn’t been done before.
For Gary:
Underwater homes in New Jersey outnumber ‘equity-rich’ homes
Homes that are worth less than the mortgages on them make up about 20 percent of the properties in New Jersey. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Underwater homes in New Jersey outnumber ‘equity-rich’ homes
New Jersey home prices up, but a slowdown is expected
Moving vans taking people out of state in droves, survey finds
Queen Latifah’s Colts Neck home is on the market for $2.4 million
New home construction reaches 5-year high, but not in Northeast
A greater number of homes in New Jersey are “underwater” than are considered “equity rich.”
A quarterly update by RealtyTrac found about 20 percent of residential properties in New Jersey were deeply underwater — worth at least 25 percent less than the combined loans against the property. Equity-rich properties, with at least 50 percent equity, made up about 18 percent of New Jersey homes with mortgages in December.
The numbers reflected national data, which showed 19 percent of homes were deeply underwater, while 18 percent were equity rich.
“During the housing downturn we saw a downward spiral of falling home prices resulting in rising negative equity,” Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac, said in the report. He said the downturn put homeowners at higher risk for foreclosure when they encountered a trigger event such as job loss.
Now we are seeing the reverse trend.” Blomquist
Home prices in New Jersey rose 5.6 percent last year, according to a report from CoreLogic.
“Now we are seeing the reverse trend,” Blomquist said, noting that rising home prices help underwater home owners float toward the surface, giving their properties greater equity.
“On the other end of the spectrum, the percentage of equity-rich homeowners is nearing a tipping point that should result in a larger inventory of homes listed for sale and give the overall economy a nice shot in the arm in 2014.
According to RealtyTrac, states with the highest percentage of residential properties deeply underwater in December were Nevada (38 percent), Florida (34 percent), Illinois (32 percent), Michigan (31 percent), Missouri (28 percent), and Ohio (28 percent).
https://njrereport.com/index.php/2014/01/09/ny-metro-best-jobs-growth-since-2000/#comments
3 – Bring back James ManGravey
Tony Mack for Governor!
or invade another country in the Middle East, spending trillions of dollars and costing hundreds of thousands of innocent lives, in support of big oil corporate supporters. Not like it hasn’t been done before.
[4] grim,
“Well, if he is elected president, he can simply sic the IRS on his opponents. Not like it hasn’t been done before.”
LOL. I agree this whole thing, like the carp, stinks of some unimaginative 20-something staffer. Christie, I would think, is much smarter than to use tens of thousands of voters on their way to work as worthless pawns in a minor league pissing match.
Whatever happened to shitting in someone’s sunroof as retribution? Frankly, I’ve got to agree, this is very unimaginative. Did I ever share the story about the 20 pound carp we hid under the seat of our annoying neighbor’s pickup truck … in the height of the summer? Pretty sure he ended up lighting it on fire on Rt 21 in Belleville, the truck not the carp.
[9] anon
I want my cheap gasoline.
[10] expat,
I have to agree. Typically, political retribution is much more focused, with much less collateral damage. There are 1000 ways that Christie could have screwed over the mayor without ever involving other people. Further, when you do political retribution, you want it understood. Coming up with something that obtuse, and later denying it, doesn’t sound like very effective retribution at all.
I’m not even sure that some staffer would be that imaginative. My guess is that they saw the coincidence and smugly said “well, sucks for you, doesn’t it?”
Of course progressive groups were also targeted by the IRS, but that’s simply left out of the conversation. Nevermind the whole reason for this “targeting” was because of the massive influx of political groups claiming to be nonprofits after citizens united, for which we can all thank the right wing federalists on the Supreme Court. Comrade must have taken Darryl Issa’s advice and watched more Fox News.
As for Christie, at least the rest of the country is finally seeing what a little b!tch he is. The best part is he almost got away with it as the new legislative session next week would have wiped away the ability to continue sending out subpoenas. Usually you can’t shut that fat fvck up yet he was eerily silent yesterday except for one comment which was hilarious–no of course this doesn’t represent your administration governor, it was just perpetrated by at least 2 people in your inner circle and everyone you sent to the port authority.
While they’re at it, they should look into Guadagno’s alleged lying which enabled one of her friends to double dip the pension system. Know any good prosecutors, guvnah?
#12..am I missing something? The emails clearly indicate a premeditated event that they continued on as complaints came in….
This is why you go to see NBA basketball….
http://pagesix.com/2014/01/07/drunken-actress-michelle-rodriguez-model-cara-delevingne-get-sloppy-courtside/?_ga=1.27807225.492646518.1370402366#1
[13] ottoman,
It doesn’t matter that applications, progressive or patriot, were pulled or put on a list, it matters what action was taken.
Show me where a prog app was held up for over a year, or that a prog group got a Request For Additional Information, asking them to name donors.
When you show me that, I’ll concede.
Just wanted to comment on yesterday’s discussion on U.S. bases. I think everyone missed an important point. The U.S. is an empire. How? We have bases in almost every strategic location in the world. How many “official” foreign bases on our soil? None. The world did not want us to invade Iraq. Did that stop us. Nope, went in and took out that govt in 2 weeks. The snowden leak showed that we spy on the entire world. We analyze every electronic message sent in the world. I could go on and on. The writing is on the wall. We are an empire.
Ever since wwII, it has not been cool to talk of empires. Hence, why the U.S. stays far away from describing itself as an empire and more as a vehicle for spreading democracy. It’s a nice choice of words to describe the same goal.
It’s amazing how out of touch American citizens are with what their country really is. Also, I’m not being anti-american. There is nothing wrong with empires. It just became a dirty word due to Hitler. Empires bring stability to the world. Guess you can say that the U.S ‘s superpower status has prevented the world from heading down the path of another world war.
On the topic of the U.S as a democracy, it seems that some of you don’t understand what a democracy is. There has only been one true democracy in history, in Athens Greece. The U.S. is a republic, or at least supposed to be a republic. It’s looking more and more like an oligarchy these days.
Btw, a government based on a true democracy is more dangerous than any other type of govt. Most of the population is in no position to be left to making decisions that affect the country as a whole. You need a 100% educated and intelligent population in order for a true democracy to be effective. Unfortunately, that is impossible. Hence, why there have been almost no democracies in history.
Hell, all of this damn shlt could have been avoided had that stinking liberal in Fort Lee jumped aboard the damn train before it left the damn station. All the hell he had to do was open his damn stinking mouth and endorsed Christie. How hard was that to do? No, this jerk wants to be an ass instead. This is all a damn setup by the damn liberals. They deliberately tried to start some shlt by provoking poor Christie and it just another damn example of how the damn liberals attack ANY conservative who remotely looks like a damn threat.
“The snowden leak showed that we spy on the entire world. We analyze every electronic message sent in the world. I could go on and on. The writing is on the wall. We are an empire.”
HOW DARE YOU BRING UP THIS DAMN TRAITOR’S DAMN NAME?? That makes me see red, That punk probably got inspired by these damn 8 people who broke into the damn FBI office in 1971. There has to be someway to suspend the damn statute of limitations and the damn NSA should be watching them like a damn hawk. THEY HAVE TO BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG EVEN NOW. I’d like to see them in the damn jail with that punk Snowden.
I don’t give a crap if the government is looking at me. I DON’T HAVE A DAMN THING TO HIDE. All these wusses bitching and moaning about the damn NSA do and that’s why they need to be watched.
Finally, the damn world needs us to bring them democracy and you damn well betcha we’re going to bring democracy even if WE HAVE TO SHOVE IT DOWN THEIR DAMN THROATS. We’re a force for good in this damn world and you damn liberals want to see communism–as a matter of fact, you need to be put on a damn watch list your damn self.
Damn subversive.
Just an FYI on Bridget Kelly is the one I was speaking of in my post yesterday. She is Christie’s fixer. Having people tossed from Diner events (by the muscle his security detail that we pay for) because they might disagree? That is petty stuff. Who is to say she wasn’t orchestrating political retribution as well on his behalf at his direction? I fully expect at his press conference today he will come out with Both Guns Blazing, and deny deny deny.
It goes to show you as much as things change they don’t. Christie gets too much press, it has gone to his head and he turned all Nixon.
Re: [9];
>or invade another country in the Middle East, spending trillions of dollars and costing hundreds of thousands of innocent lives, in support of big oil corporate supporters. Not like it hasn’t been done before.<
I'm always amused when smug, self-righteous lefties talk as if they don't live in a world lubricated by free-flowing oil. (http://youtu.be/5j2F4VcBmeo?t=1m10s)
Otto [13];
>Of course progressive groups were also targeted by the IRS,<
Argument by repeated assertion. Maybe it you say it enough time, it will be kinda, sorta true.
The actual tally between conservative and progressive groups targeted was 104-7. All 7 progressive groups were approved.
IRS scoreboard: 100 percent of “targeted” liberal groups were approved, conservatives languished
[14] 1987
For what it’s worth, I find the evidence of premeditation to be thin, if not circumstantial. However, after reading the documents, I can easily see where the conclusion could be drawn. And certainly, the response was quite vindictive and lends credibility to the premeditation argument. Not saying it wasn’t premeditated, just that it would be hard to prove.
One thing to note however, is that at no point were Christie’s fingerprints ever on this. Say what you want about the staffers, who are both gone, but the argument that blame should be brought to bear against Christie for this is wanting. The best the left has argued is that Christie should have known because it was his staff and/or that he went to high school with one of these people. In the past, those same leftists dismissed similar arguments brought against their politicians so they shouldn’t raise it here.
As for reinvestors comments, was it any surprise that a democratic mayor would endorse the Democratic candidate? To me, that’s where the premeditated argument falls flat. A more plausible argument would be that you punish those sections of the state that voted heavily Democratic But you do so in a way that punishes in the long-term, and rewards your friends. It should also send a message. This form of retribution accomplishes neither. I just get the sense that the staffers didn’t like this mayor and looked for an opportunity to get in a dig.
Ottoman, I don’t doubt what you say is true but, can you cite a source for this informaton? I’ve not heard anyone allege this until today.
13.Ottoman says:
January 9, 2014 at 8:39 am
Of course progressive groups were also targeted by the IRS, but that’s simply left out of the conversation
Damn, everyone sure seems punchy lately … what is going on.
Past few weeks it’s like everybody is at everyone’s throat.
Foreshadowing angry riots and roving mobs? Maybe Clot’s right and we’re our own indicator, I’m going to go clean my gun.
19- I don’t have a problem with it. I was just pointing to the fact that it shows how powerful the U.S. is. Do you think other countries have that kind of capability. It just highlights what the U.S. really is, an empire.
As they say sometimes the coverup is worse than the crime.
O opened his yap a little too much on the IRS scandal.
“You’ve got an office in Cincinnati in the IRS office that, I think, for bureaucratic reasons is trying to streamline what is a difficult law to interpret about whether [a] nonprofit is actually a political organization,” Obama said. “And they’ve got a list. And suddenly, everybody’s outraged.”
Let’s see if Christie does the same today. He loves to get angry and bloviate then place blame lets see if he deviates from the script today. I have my doubts he can maintain his cool especially if the wrong reporter get him riled up.
[22, 24]
For a brief period, the left and it’s media had been pointing to a denial, actually a revocation, for a progressive group called Emerge America. There are reasons why that particular revocation never got very much traction in the MSM and blogosphere.
I’m waiting for some of the board leftists, like ottoman, to raise that as an example of equal treatment. If he’s smart, he will read the private letter ruling before raising it.
27 – Aside from feeling like an idiot for getting sucked into the trafficgate media nonsense, I would not be surprised if he pulls something outta his big ass that spins this thing in his favor.
re # 25 – Vitamin D3 deficiency. Typical winter behavior, we just don’t want it to turn into a Vitamin D pandemic. If anyone is getting really punchy do to the absence of adequate sun exposure go out and take some D3 supplements see if it makes you happier.
1987 Condo [6],
A quarterly update by RealtyTrac found about 20 percent of residential properties in New Jersey were deeply underwater — worth at least 25 percent less than the combined loans against the property. Equity-rich properties, with at least 50 percent equity, made up about 18 percent of New Jersey homes with mortgages in December.
Of course! Of course! They now admit it reluctantly which means it’s twice as bad. And if we could ever get an accurate figure as to how many are hanging by fingernails, it would be startling. There is a sea of f.ucked bag holders right here in Upper Haughtyville.
[25] grim,
Be sure to stock upon ammo. Better prices and easier time on our side of the Delaware.
Equity-rich properties, with at least 50 percent equity, made up about 18 percent of New Jersey homes with mortgages in December.
Statement is confusing, as approximately 1/3 of residential units in NJ are owned outright, no mortgage.
So adding the 33% equity rich no mortgage to the 18% equity rich with mortgage – wouldn’t this mean 51% homes in NJ are equity rich – 20% are equity poor, and 29% are somewhere in the middle.
This main article is bunk. There are very few decent paying finance jobs available. I updated my resume on three job sites last week. Working in change for large global banks, I figured that would get a few hits. Total contacts since last week? 2..and they were for jobs in CA and MA. Nothing in NYC yet. Good thing I already have a job.
re: # 29 – Might as well have some more fun with the Gov and do a little more armchair psychoanalysis on him.
The way I see it the media has already spun it as his Presidential Aspirations have evaporated. I would think as a Politician who has been busy polishing his act he gets up every morning and looks in the mirror and says good morning Mr. President to himself. I bet his wife might even call him that. If he gets a wiff that his chances are over and the press is allowed to question him he may lose his cool. He won’t go all Rob Ford but without Bridget Kelly around giving him that reassuring smile (and she was always around) he may lose it a bit. There are more than a few reporters on his enemies list, news conference at 11 AM…
34 – I work for a large financial firm. They have a large global presence. They have two large offices in the US. One in Florida, and the other in California. They have a smaller office in NJ where I work. We are constantly bringing in new people and even looking at leasing more space in NJ. However, the new people seem to be transfers from other offices… Not that many hires from the outside.
[5] “Well, if he is elected president, he can simply sic the IRS on his opponents. Not like it hasn’t been done before.”
Racist! Racist! Racist!
http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/350279/msnbcs-martin-bashir-irs-new-nr-charles-c-w-cooke
grim – 33
Yes, that is correct. 50% are above water and 50% are at or below water. If they’re at break-even, they can’t bear the thought of selling and those underwater vomit at the thought of losing everything.
t-minus 2 minutes….the fatman will speak….
Grim i had hand surgery so don’t have time to be at anyones throat. of course the roving hoardswould begin when i don’t have use of my trigger finger
I lived in LA during the riots. Got to see plenty of it, since the Nat’l Guard didn’t bother to set a line until they got a block from my house. Believe me, it takes virtually nothing to spark massive regional riots. Just seeing or hearing of a riot a few blocks away can incite a whole neighborhood to go nuts.
Don’t think the police will step in, either. They know the only force that can outgun most armed mobs is the military.
It took three tanks and two APCs full of Nat’l Guard to stop the riot near my house on Melrose Av.
Politics is a dirty business. No doubt about it. Let’s see how “Presidential” our Guv appears today. He’s got the nation’s eyes and ears right now. Soooooo
Wife and I bailed to Vegas, where the mobs actually overran the police hq and set it on fire.
Only question is which of Christie’s uncles buggered him when he was little.
41. scary f’ing sh*t. No doubt about that.
re: # 41- Ok Governor now stick to the script and if that a-hole from CNN says Bridget-ghazi don’t go off on him just stick to the script!
Anne Kelly fired this morning
re: # 48 – You can bet the Governor did not want to fire his sunshine.
Let’s see if Gov breaks out in song. “Ain’t no sunshine when she’s gone”
[47] juice,
Benghazi is a non-word at CNN. So you won’t hear anything like that.
Oy. Grim’s right. Maybe I should go buy that Bushmaster after all.
RutRoh – A state judge denied a request from David Wildstein, a former Port Authority official who shut down lanes on the George Washington Bridge in September, who was asking the court to excuse him from testifying before the state Assembly today.
Here come the knives
NEWARK – U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman’s office today announced they would be reviewing the lane closure scandal embroiling Gov. Chris Christie’s administration for a possible criminal violation. “The Port Authority of Inspector General has referred the matter to us, and our office is reviewing the matter to determine whether a federal law was implicated.”
http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2014/01/us_attorney_open_to_federal_criminal_probe_of_lane_closure_scandal.html#incart_river
Michael says:
January 9, 2014 at 9:48 am
Just wanted to comment on yesterday’s discussion on U.S. bases. I think everyone missed an important point. The U.S. is an empire.
I hate to break it to you but the U.S. is not an empire by traditional definitions. It is something, but not an empire. Perhaps you should dig a little deeper for the correct word or if you are really feeling froggy, jump at the chance to create a new word.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire
I also want you to know that my rational mind forces me to stop reading right after the first logic error as I already assume that everything else you typed is predicated on those facts. The logic is that if the U.S. is not an empire then anything else you have to say must also be incorrect.
Fortunately, I know not to fall prey to my own rational mind so I keep reading.
How many “official” foreign bases on our soil? None. The world did not want us to invade Iraq. Did that stop us. Nope, went in and took out that govt in 2 weeks.
Looks like my first assumption was correct that you would follow up one logic error with other ones. There have been foreign military bases on U.S. soil and there is a good chance that there are ones now.
Many members of the world DID want to invade Iraq (and they did). They just wanted us to wait until everyone was lined up and ready. I would hope that you would agree that an important rule of warfare should be not to tell your enemy that you are going to attack him until you are already attacking. I have not read the “Art of War” by Sun Tzu but if I’m allowed to quote him I think the appropriate one would be, “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”
Note that I am not making the common mistake of conflating the “rationale for going to war” with “how the war was executed” which you have clearly done, the two are very disparate endeavors. Would the war have been any more “just” or “righteous” if we had given them more time to prepare defenses or taken longer to topple their government? Your statements seem to imply that they would and rationally I cannot accept that argument.
At this point I no longer read anything else in your post.
Is it not unbelievably obvious to you that when something negative happens to a person you like, the evidence is always “thin” in your opinion… maybe there is something to it but it’s “hard to prove” – Yet, when it’s someone you don’t like, the conclusions draw themselves?
Comrade Nom Deplume, a.k.a Captain Justice says:
January 9, 2014 at 10:17 am
[55] Joyce
Yep. Why should I be the only one without a bias? ;)
The question is asking in the present tense. You respond confidently about the past, and not certain about the present.
Wow, what a strong argument.
Nicholas says:
January 9, 2014 at 11:51 am
Michael says:
January 9, 2014 at 9:48 am
How many “official” foreign bases on our soil? None.
There have been foreign military bases on U.S. soil and there is a good chance that there are ones now.
Are you conservative or liberal?
http://science.time.com/2014/01/09/can-time-predict-your-politics/
I’m a moderate…here are some of my “liberal” traits…
You have a messy desk
You like fusion cuisine
You think it’s okay for your partner to look at p*rn alone
You use a modern browser
You prefer the Met to Times Square
And my “conservative” ones…
You like dogs more than cats
You think kids should respect authority
You think self-control trumps self-expression
looks like he is about to puke
I’m with Lib. They’re all a$$hats. Prepare accordingly.
Think he’s clean, he knows there will be a deep investigation, no way he’d pull a stunt like this if he was dirty.
Can’t imagine the backlash when he comes out smelling like a rose.
Hey Rags, this one is for you.
https://www.facebook.com/AtlasShruggedMovie/posts/10153054551657588?stream_ref=1
Grim [61];
>Can’t imagine the backlash when he comes out smelling like a rose.<
Expect nothing but crickets from the Daily News, contra their present spittle-flecked editorial on the matter.
Moose,
Want great entertainment? You should tune to MSNBC and listen to the conversation between Andrea Bitchell and Barbara Buono regarding the Christie press conference. It’s f.ucking classic. LOL!
54- http://hnn.us/article/1237
In response to this article.
Martin – 2/6/2003
What is remarkable and so typical about this article and the responses to it is the total absence of the point of view of the peoples and nations who’ve been on the other end of US “hegemony” and raw imperial ambition, their fate, their wishes, and so on. They never seem to figure in these discussions among American pundits and conventional academics like Schroeder whose focus is entirely on the US side of the equation.
Of COURSE the US is an empire and has been almost since its very inception.
In his pathetic response, James Wilson seems to believe that empire is built and fostered only by elites and government, not by ordinary people. That’s probably the most laughable and most bizarre characterization of empire I’ve yet seen. He exempts colonizing settlers who stole native lands, violently expelled them from their lands, and often embarked on campaigns of mass murder against them to “free” the land for their habitation. To the native inhabitants whose entire existence was being destroyed, these were invading imperialists, plain and simple.
The conquest of Hawaii was a shameful, racist episode in which the wishes of the natives and the Hawaiian monarchy were thoroughly disregarded, and in which the US government backed the white commercial interests on the island for outright takeover. Hawaii was thus totally under direct US political authority. The natives lost their independence and their freedom to develop their culture in the way they saw fit. THAT is empire.
As to Schroeder’s definition of empire: “empire means political control exercised by one organized political unit over another unit separate from and alien to it. Many factors enter into empire–economics, technology, ideology, religion, above all military strategy and weaponry–but the essential core is political: the possession of final authority by one entity over the vital political decisions of another. This need not mean direct rule exercised by formal occupation and administration; most empires involve informal, indirect rule. But real empire requires that effective final authority, and states can enjoy various forms of superiority or even domination over others without being empires.”
Schroeder’s article fails entirely in offering a convincing, clear distinction between empire and hegemony. When the Philippines rebelled against the Spanish for their independence, they were fighting against an old empire. When they then found themselves fighting a savage, racist war against the US, they were fighting against a state embarking on old-fashioned empire—the violent acquisition of nations or states that do not want to be associated with it. The US held total political authority over the Philippines for several decades.
In Latin America for decades, the US has exerted EXACTLY the kind of overbearing, indirect political authority (and direct in the early part of the 20th century) that Schroeder describes. He fails totally to understand that no government in Latin America can afford to conduct not only its foreign affairs but its DOMESTIC affairs as well without considering the will, authority, desires, selfish interests and power of the US. Every single new government that comes into power in Latin America automatically receives a letter “of welcome” from the US instructing them how to vote in the UN, for example.
In the 80s, archaic fascist Central American dictatorships long due for radical change were not allowed to evolve into a long-needed and natural revolutionary phase because of the absolute will and authority of US imperial power. The same is true for Chile in the 70s.
If tomorrow Mexico were to have a presidential coup and, say, the Zapatistas were to ride into victory in Mexico City by popular will, it is absolutely GUARANTEED that the US would immediately swing into action and stop such a development with the use of force.
I find Schroeder’s definition of empire entirely oblivious to the changing nature of power politics in the modern world. The US is not an empire in the sense of sending colonists to outposts. Certainly in that sense, the nature of empire-building has changed over time but its essential character remains the same.
The US is an empire by the mere fact that it has military bases in almost every country on the planet, that its military basically rules the sky and seas of the globe (not to mention outer space). If tomorrow the South Korean government were to formally demand the immediate removal of all US military presence on their soil (with a deadline of, say, a week) do you really believe the US would comply? The people of Okinawa and the people of South Korea have for years wanted exactly that — majority after majority in both places show this. Yet the US is still there. The majority of the people of the Philippines want no US military presence on their soil, but their will matters little to the US, because true democracy and freedom are are completely antithetical to US power.
Furthermore, Schroeder argues that empire means the negation of democracy and freedom whereas “hegemony” does not. The fact that US “hegemony” (or whatever weasel word you want to use) has in fact overwhelmingly stood on the side of dictatorship, its constant and absolute refusal to respect the will of the many populations who want its military out of their countries proves that this is a ludicrous distinction that does not bear out in reality.
In fact, US empire or hegemony or “influence” has always stood for, promoted and protected tyranny and its own selfish, blind interests. I have to laugh when I hear so-called experts call the US “an empire by invitation” as if the PEOPLE of those governments did the inviting and not their weak, often corrupt governments who were bribed and bullied into accepting the presence of an overbearing US military full of delusions of its laughably “benevolent” role.
– See more at: http://hnn.us/article/1237#sthash.HnpQS07o.dpuf
OT Alert.
Going to do a factory reset on an HTC thunderbolt. Anyone have any prior experience with doing Factory resets? Also anyone ever have problems with the ICS OS on an Android device?
54- Nick before you attack me as throwing around false information….don’t be a hypocrite. Throwing out ideas like “the rest of the world wanted to invade Iraq too” is just wrong.
Next you are going to tell me we do live in democracy because we can vote.
I pledge allegiance to the flag, of the United States of America.
And to the republic, for which it stands, one nation under God.
Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
“And to the republic, for which it stands” This says it all. Our fore fathers had no intention of setting up a democracy. They knew the dangers of a democracy and instead insisted on the best form of government…..a republic.
[58] gator,
That test is clearly bogus. It pegged me as a square in the middle of the road moderate, even though I had more conservative than liberal traits.
Nobody here is going to buy that.
nom use back up assistant and hook up to computer and save your phone memry in a folder.
could always put on a memory stick and have onee of the desk jockeys at verizon reload it for you
Anon E. Moose,
I wish those movies had never been made. I only watched the first, I would have been disappointed if my expectations hadn’t already been so low. The producers are neither good philosophers nor artists.
These days there are a lot of high-budget miniseries’ being made, and that’s what would suit Atlas Shrugged best.
Do you think it makes any difference if Iraq knew when we would attack? They never had a chance. You really have no idea how powerful our military is. .
“Many members of the world DID want to invade Iraq (and they did). They just wanted us to wait until everyone was lined up and ready. I would hope that you would agree that an important rule of warfare should be not to tell your enemy that you are going to attack him until you are already attacking. I have not read the “Art of War” by Sun Tzu but if I’m allowed to quote him I think the appropriate one would be, “Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.””
The definition of words (such as conservative, liberal, etc) change over time.
Comrade Nom Deplume, a.k.a Captain Justice says:
January 9, 2014 at 1:54 pm
[58] gator,
That test is clearly bogus. It pegged me as a square in the middle of the road moderate, even though I had more conservative than liberal traits.
Nobody here is going to buy that.
64. Nice to know Christie knows how to through people under the bus.
He did himself no favors. Credibility? lost.
This isn’t the same Michael who bows to the church of the multi?
Ultimately, CC is responsible for the actions of the people in his office who he hired (owed favors too). Though, I actually doubt that he was behind it. It’s just to sloppy and obvious. One can hate CC’s politics and personality, but he is extremely bright and this comes through when he speaks, especially off the teleprompter.
With that said, anyone who cheers or jeers for him is as stupid as his recently fired aid.
Rag [71];
Of course, it was made on kickstart money and a shoestring. A serious budget would do it good. As would the extended time a miniseries would afford. I’m just happy that the movies are being made at all. They can always be remade.
I remember the scene when Wyatt, Rearden and Dagny are having dinner to celebrate the John Galt line, and Rearden and Dagny look like they’re going to go at it on the banquet table, then Wyatt excuses himself to ‘check on the markets opening in Hong Kong’ or something like that.
76. He aint that bright.
Essex: We know your position. Weren’t you married to a public worker?
“With that said, anyone who cheers or jeers for him is as stupid as his recently fired aid.”
>>Do you think it makes any difference if Iraq knew when we would attack? They never had a chance. You really have no idea how powerful our military is. <<
DO NOT TRY TO TRY TO CONFUSE ME. The world is simpler if you deal with it in black and white and right and damn wrong. You're either for freedom or a damn terrorist/commie/liberal. You either for us or against us. THERE'S NO DAMN IN BETWEEN AND NO DAMN CONFUSION. People like you is why we need to have the damn NSA watching in the first damn place. What the hell are you raising all of these damn questions in the first damn place and this damn hate America first crap. You don't want to be free do you? Maybe a damn extended stay at Guantanamo with a little frolicking on the beach with a damn water board is just what the damn doctor ordered for you. You badly need a damn attitude adjustment.
http://www.dailydot.com/politics/bank-of-america-monitoring-activists-online/
Bank joining forces with State Police and multiple federal agencies.
Nice
80. You don’t know shit. What I can tell you is that this state is lagging in just about every major recovery measure like say Job creation…..K?
wow, touched a nerve I guess
84. You can touch my nerve anytime Joyce.
If you can find it. :P
What would your public worker wife have to say about that?
87. It wouldn’t go over too well. Fact is folks. My wife is not a public worker.
Oh…there’s plenty of job creation too. Of course, if you work in the public sector, it doesn’t really matter. You have a job for life. Even if you manage to submerge a 1/3rd of NJ Transit’s rail stock. Don’t worry, your job’s secure. I’m not even sure why you are worried about it Essex?
http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/pub/emppress/pressrelease_index.html
Wasn’t she a teacher or something. Though if I’m wrong, my apologies. Maybe you are not married to the same person? Which might be the case if what I said about your weewee was true.
Bednar is the only one who knows the real deal.
Bednar is the only one who knows the real deal.
About your weewee? Grim, say it ain’t so.
What does it say about the pathetic left trying to make this into something? Yet, Obamacare lies, IRS gate, Benghazi, AP reporter investigations, Fast n’ Furious, Solyndra and more gets conveniently swept away and forgotten. What are you leftie m0rons gonna do when you beat this to death and realize he wasn’t involved?
You don’t know shit. What I can tell you is that this state is lagging in just about every major recovery measure like say Job creation…..K?
Really? I’ve been getting interviews like crazy… all private sector. I start the new gig this Monday. 25% increase from the last gig, sign-on bonus and top bennies.
re: #90 – We can still have some fun guessing.
Here is my guess. Since your handle is Essex and you show up here sporadically one can only guess you are blogging from Northern State Prison by stealing wifi from Double Tree Hotel next door. Your “wife” is not a public worker and would be very angry at you for creepin with another enough that you are afraid. I guess your wife is the cell block bully who once slashed the face of your last Jody when he found out you were two timing.
Sop how did I do?
Michael,
The article that you chose to cite for your argument that the “U.S. is an empire” is actually an op-ed piece that indicates that the “U.S. is not an empire…yet”.
Interestingly, I agree with this op-ed piece. The U.S. was very much a hegemony that in 2003 was bordering on “empire” status. By 2013, thankfully, we are back to just being just a hegemony as we have already withdrawn our troops from Iraq and now Afghanistan and could care less what those governments do as long as they stop sending terrorist to our shores. Great way to pull up a hotly contested presentation, turned op-ed piece, that is over 10 years old. For contextual purposes this op-ed was written 1-2 years after a few planes were flown into buildings in NYC and Wash D.C. I don’t know about you but I was ready to bring the fight to those who would harbor or seek to harm the U.S.
Yeah, I think the word that I wanted you to find was “hegemony”. That is a much, much more accurate description of the U.S. than “empire”. The U.S. is not an empire that much I am sure or else the definition of empire has changed from when I first learned it.
I apologize for the statement “the rest of the world wanted to invade Iraq too” as that is categorically false. Iraq was part of the world and they did not want us to invade so therefore the “rest of the world wanted to invade Iraq” couldn’t not possibly be true. I would like to amend that statement to the following, “The United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, Poland, Denmark, and Italy wanted to invade Iraq”. The point was to indicate that the U.S. was not the sole mover in the war and I did that poorly.
Excerpted from http://hnn.us/article/1237
These are not academic propositions. They illuminate the choice for America today. It is not an empire–not yet. But it is at this moment a wannabe empire, poised on the brink. The Bush Doctrine proclaims unquestionably imperialist ambitions and goals, and its armed forces are poised for war for empire–formal empire in Iraq through conquest, occupation, and indefinite political control, and informal empire over the whole Middle East through exclusive paramountcy. The administration pursues this path even in the face of a far graver challenge by North Korea to both its imperial pretensions and its own and the world’s security,/i>
Will we no longer see any posts from about there only being McJobs and flat/falling wages?
Fast Eddie says:
January 9, 2014 at 4:39 pm
You don’t know shit. What I can tell you is that this state is lagging in just about every major recovery measure like say Job creation…..K?
Really? I’ve been getting interviews like crazy… all private sector. I start the new gig this Monday. 25% increase from the last gig, sign-on bonus and top bennies.
I wonder if Bridget Kelly and Octomom will make a p0rno together.
Top bennies ain’t what they used to be.
I think reinvestor101 is being facetious…lighten up folks. No way he is serious with those comments.
Hard to have a conversation with most on here about politics b/c most are so entrenched they are not even open to the possibility of being wrong (i.e., not willing to listen, just want to argue). I suggest we stick to housing…
On that note, I finally moved into that beachhouse on the shore and have been spending way too much furnishing/decorating etc. At first I thought my wife was going to have to be the one that needed to be reigned in but it turns out it’s me…outdoor shower, outdoor bar, outdoor tv….doesn’t stop. Is there an alcoholics anonymous equivalent club I can join to stop myself? Just kidding of course.
Wanted to share this great online site my wife found through which we furnished most of our house, fantastic: https://www.jossandmain.com/?refid=GX29990908618.Joss%2Band%2Bmain~e&position=1t1&network=g&placement=&device=c&gclid=CIaptbOK8rsCFWRk7AodAVUAiA
They send an email every day with different themes and you scroll through and order what you like, new stuff every day and shipping is usually free. Quality and not expensive.
A question for the board, didn’t realize the tolls from Manhattan to NJ were so brutal until I started going back and forth to the beach house. The house is down by LBI (Beach Haven West to be exact). Does anybody have any thoughts on circumventing the tolls? I am up to like $200 a month in damn tolls.
The End Is Nigh (The End Is Nigh Edition):
It’s a doggone shame, Gray’s Papaya of Greenwich Village is closed.
The discount hot dog joint dished its last weiner on Tuesday before customers were greeted by locked doors and paper-covered windows on Wednesday.
Gray’s had been at 402 Sixth Ave., at Eighth Street, for 28 years before its lease ended and the hot dog kings couldn’t come up with enough bread to cover a proposed rent hike.
The store had been paying $30,000 a month in rent but couldn’t afford the $40,000 landlords demanded, according Gray’s GM Romy Villanueva.
“They were saying someone wants to give them $50,000 [a month] so there was no way we could beat that,” Villanueva told The Post on Thursday.
Hot dog lovers who showed up Thursday looking for their favorite low-budget meal were shocked to see closed doors.
“I can’t believe it. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid. This is a New York City classic,” said Harry Schwartzman, a 37-year-old bike salesman who lives in the neighborhood.
“I’m sorry to see it go. There are fewer and fewer cheap food places in Manhattan.”
The other Gray’s location, on Broadway and 72nd Street, is safe with five more years left on its lease there, according to Villanueva.
A rep for landlords Solil Management could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday.
Villanueva said Gray’s relished the chance to open a new store, somewhere in the lower half of Manhattan, to replace the now-dead Sixth Avenue spot.
“We are really sorry to our customers that it worked out like this,” Villanueva said. “We tried to negotiate a new lease, but we couldn’t [agree to a new rent].”
Gray’s is best known for its “Recession Special,” two dogs and a medium drink for $4.95.
My wife had a strict 2k budget to fully furnish house including pots, pans, bedding, linens, pictures you name it. She came in under budget do to my iron fist!!!!
ccb223 says:
January 9, 2014 at 4:57 pm
Wait? Were you quoting the comments to the article as proof that your position was right? There are numerous counter examples in the comments that indicate that the U.S. is not an imperialist, empire. I’m not sure that the guy you chose to quote is all together honestly and he is making very loose connections between events. He uses the following example as proof positive that the U.S. is an empire:
If tomorrow the South Korean government were to formally demand the immediate removal of all US military presence on their soil (with a deadline of, say, a week) do you really believe the US would comply?
No, the U.S. military physically couldn’t remove the troops stationed in S.K. in one week. Yes, the U.S. military has MOPs (Methods of Procedure) written for closing bases in S.K. Yes, if asked, the U.S. military would withdraw from S.K. S.K. has not asked us to withdraw because of the persistent threat from N.K.
My source comes from personal interaction with a S.K. army officer in which I asked him what he thought about having U.S. troops still stationed in S.K. My gut feeling tells me that the guy you quoted hasn’t spoken to a single soul from S.K. in his life.
I reiterate my point one last time the U.S. isn’t an empire.
Joyce,
Will we no longer see any posts from about there only being McJobs and flat/falling wages?
Not yet. But I’ll let you know when we turn the corner. :)
I willing to wait to let everything play out. That said, I am in the camp that even if there is no CC DNA on this issue, it is clearly the “culture” of the administration that such behavior is either encouraged, or at minimum condoned……..I don’t like it at all. Big black mark in my book…….recognizing that they are all sh!tbags……
Libturd in the City says:
January 9, 2014 at 3:05 pm
Ultimately, CC is responsible for the actions of the people in his office who he hired (owed favors too). Though, I actually doubt that he was behind it. It’s just to sloppy and obvious. One can hate CC’s politics and personality, but he is extremely bright and this comes through when he speaks, especially off the teleprompter.
With that said, anyone who cheers or jeers for him is as stupid as his recently fired aid.
Don’t know much about history. UN Security Council Resolution 687 passed with 12 votes for and one vote against (Cuba).
“Throwing out ideas like ‘the rest of the world wanted to invade Iraq too’ is just wrong.”
How do people like Wildstein get these positions? The guy if a f*cking dope.
Smirk on the face of the lawyer is maddening too.
@johnjoboyle: Photos: Police divert traffic on Main Street in Fort Lee so Gov. Chris Christie can apologize for diverting traffic.
http://t.co/tCJ2zix55W
“Does anybody have any thoughts on circumventing the tolls? I am up to like $200 a month in damn tolls.”
Swim.
I doubt this works anymore, but my roommate and I used to use Mexican Pesos at roadway tolls and those slide-in washing machines and dryers. We used to order them by the sack-full from a classified add in a coin magazine, they literally came in cloth sacks(packed in a shipping box, of course). They cost us less than 5 cents apiece for something that could substitute for a quarter. They didn’t work in standard vending machines, but they worked like a charm on exact change toll baskets and washers and dryers. When the GSP jumped from 25 cents to 35 cents in the mid-80’s the most expensive part of our toll was the dime.
Does anybody have any thoughts on circumventing the tolls? I am up to like $200 a month in damn tolls.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-8-2014/email-chains–lanes-and-automobiles—chris-christie-bridge-scandal
I wonder if Bridget has news vans in front of her house.
Lib, you’re on fire today…
This one is for Spine Snapper.
This was the first comment to a CNN story about UNC athletes who were unable to read or write.
“DrChannard •
Let’s give UNC the benefit of the doubt here. They obviously haven’t been able to find anyone yet to read them the report let alone write a response to it.”
Surprised MSM is reporting this. It can’t help the agenda. Perhaps cuz it was so obvious?
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/01/09/u-s-attorney-probing-christie-has-opened-wallet-to-democrats/comment-page-2/#comment-5076680
But the truly damning fact is this–Fishman resides in the People’s Republic of Montklair!
What a clown show this state is. The fools in Trenton only look good in comparison to that fat crackhead who’s mayor of Toronto.
plume (114)-
Not to be disrespectful of the dead (the guy passed a few years ago), but I will have to tell you sometime about my “tutoring” experience with Geoff Crompton.
I have to give CC some credit here. If you are faced with a sh1tstorm like this, that press conference was the way to go. A huge Mea Culpa and the blood of the perpetrators still on the knife in his hand.
Has this harmed his 2016 chances? For me it is no as he had no chance in 2016 anyway. If this does blow over, come 2016 this will be a non-issue. The press conference was what he had to do, but the words used will come up in attack ads, but honestly he will shake it off. “It was a mistake I cleaned house and moved on”.
His big problem is NY and the Feds. Wildstein pleading the 5th in a NJ hearing as a nonevent. When he is looking at a Federal prosecutor across the table that will change. It’s the same with Kelly. Is she willing to do time for CC, because that is what they will be looking at. Are they willing to roll the dice that the Feds could not make something stick?
At some point Cuomo has to step up and say where NY stands. I think he has to hit back hard and push for accountably within the Port Authority even if it is to show the NY side shut this outrage down.
#119 Redux
One curiosity for me is where did the emails come from. They were personal gmail and I think Yahoo accounts. Was it the access from a gvmt PC, or more likely the state issued Blackberry?
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