Monday, November 26, 2012

Giving Them The Business

hope and change, small business saturday, obama jokes, stilton jarlsberg, teleprompter

It seems like we've barely stopped producing turkey-scented burps, and already the next big holiday season is upon us! Yes, Kwanzaa is nearly here, and Barack Hussein Obama took time out from raising taxes on small businesses and forcing them to lay off employees to go shopping on "Small Business Saturday."

The president visited a small independent bookstore where he posed for photos and then quickly purchased 15 children's books - the titles of which had been previously programmed into his Blackberry (no, really). The children's books will be given out as gifts, presumably to constituents who have mastered the instructions for their Obamaphones and are ready to move on to more challenging reading material.

According to the Whitehouse website, "It’s great to find the perfect gift from a small business. Often, when you carry it to the counter, you can see the business owner’s eyes light up. They tell a story about how that gift was made. Or where it came from. Or how it’s a one-of-a-kind. And the gift immediately becomes even more meaningful and special. Moments like that are what makes the holidays magical."

Um, no. Buying things doesn't make the holidays magical, no matter how much the president confuses commerce and magic. In reality, the business owner's eyes probably aren't lighting up, they're simply brimming with tears over finally making one last miserable sale in the final days of his shop's existence in this wretched Obamaconomy.

Of course, there will be other moments making the holidays magical - like when Bob Cratchett has his work week cut down to 29-hours (with a cut in salary and coal to match) so that Ebenezer Scrooge won't be  fined by this "small business supporting" president for failure to provide expensive healthcare to the ever-sickly Tiny Tim. But for now, let's forget about that little dickens (see what we did there?) because experts predict that as many as 800,000 other Bob Cratchett types will be completely losing their jobs owing to Obamacare.

Not that the president will care. After all, "A Christmas Carol" wasn't one of the children's books on his shopping list. Although if Saul Alinsky ever published a picturebook of "Rules for Radical Kids" you can bet that Barry bought every copy on the shelf.

hope and change, small business saturday, obama jokes, bookstore, stilton jarlsberg, teleprompter

35 comments:

Steve Burri said...

A visit from the Ghost of Rome past?

Chuck said...

Why is he still campaigning? Oh, wait … silly me: it's all he's capable of.

Unknown said...

Notice the Irony of the 'Going Out Of Business' sign?

Earl said...

I "think" I just heard on tv (before the morning coffee was brewed) that Obama has been collecting constituent email addresses for years and is now urging people to create videos on "why raising taxes is a good thing." He'll post the best ones and share them with the masses. Brings a tear to the eye. Rush is right; Obama IS Santa Claus. And he has the moron vote locked into his Iphone.

Coon Tasty said...

Given the social agenda Obama and his masters are pushing, I wouldn't be surprised if this was one of the books he bought: http://www2.b3ta.com/host/creative/54247/1184803075/BiCuriousGeorge.jpg

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Steve Burri- Now that you mention it, "Nero" is pretty close to "Zero."

@Chuck- Perhaps the main reason he won reelection (and oh, how I hate to type those words) is that he never stopped campaigning during his first term. He's an eternal candidate and, unfortunately, that seems to be what the suckers will now vote for.

@SeaDog52- I didn't just notice the irony, I created it. I added the signs to the "official" photo of Barry stimulating the economy.

@Earl- Barry has collected a lot more than email addresses from his supporters: his databank now allows him to micromanage targeted emails to manipulate them and they love it. So I'm sure he'll be able to collect homemade videos about why the evil rich should be lynched. Class warfare wasn't just a campaign gimmick - it's what he desperately wants to further destabilize the nation he most hates.

@Coon Tasty- "BiCurious George and the Inappropriate Touch," huh? Sounds like something written with an NEA Grant.

Anonymous said...

Did he get his signed copy of "Das Kapital" or the newest edition of "Socialism for Dummies"?

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Anonymous- Both book choices sound likely. And hey, I'm a small businessman - would it kill him to buy 15 copies of Obama Sutra?

CenTexTim said...

Maybe on the way home he can stop off at the local bakery to buy the small business version of Twinkies.

John the Econ said...

Notice that Clinton spent most of his presidency campaigning as well. Democrats can't simply lead on most of their principles, because they are either blatantly unpopular, or non-existent.

Also, the government will never comprehend that most small business-people do not want government help, which is more often seen as interference, or worse.

A few decades ago, I had an interesting exchange with an administrator from the SBA, who not being pleased with something I had written regarding something dumb the SBA had done, had engaged me regarding my attitude towards them. He honestly could not understand why my small business, which could have qualified for "free help" from the government, declined to do so. It was a wonderful look into the mind of a government bureaucrat who honestly thought he was the savior of people like me, and ultimately would have been the destroyer given the chance.

If my business succeeds or fails, I'd prefer it be because of me, and not because of strings pulled by the government and politicians. They honestly are not capable of understanding that concept. That is why Obama honestly believes that "You did not build that". These people do not know or understand what "self esteem" really is.

Unknown said...

Seriously folks, you can't make this stuff up... Pravda: Obama re-elected by illiterate society We are getting better news coverage and op-eds from the RUSSIANS????

drjim said...

""no matter how much the president confuses commerce and magic""

Oh, boy....did that ever ring true!

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@CenTexTim- It's all about spreading the lack of wealth.

@John the Econ- I don't see how anyone from the government could have any useful insights into business owing to the fact that they live in a world without connections between responsibility, actions, consequences, profits, and (too frequently) budgets. It's like asking for fashion advice from a martian - whatever you're told may be well-intended, but of no earthly use.

@SeaDog52- I read the Pravda piece and they're right... Obama was reelected by political illiterates, and Obama's win was a win for communist principles in the United States.

@drjim- For some people, the distinction between commerce and magic is as confusing as that between ass and elbow. Obama is one of those people.

Mike aka Proof said...

So, the president is going to stimulate the economy by buying discounted, closeout merchandise from a store going out of business? How many people will that employ???

Colby said...

Typical effing liberal! When it's OUR money being spent, it is $trillions to failed green energy companies, unions that are driving jobs overseas, and lavish vacations. When the turd spends his own bucks, he buys a lousy 15 books.

@SeaDog,
Interesting article... and was BO "elected" by a majority, the same way Putin was "elected?"

An observation... Mrs. Colby and I went to our little town's (30k people) downtown area on Black Friday to do some business at our bank. I have never seen downtown so deserted. But, due to heavy traffic, you couldn't even get close to the part of town where Walmart is. If I was the unfortunate owner of a small business, I'd be frantically looking for a way out!

queso Grande, now with nuts! said...

And the poor recipients of these books.....they'll get them sometimes in July......first, the Presnidebt has to read them.....and he really can't move his lips that fast.....and then he intends to mail them via USPS.

It would have been more in character for him to have burned 15 books......

And FYI, there are a few in Gov't Service who have made payrolls, carried employees out of savings had to entice new customers, etc......
Some of them take the job out of a strong desire to give back to the State/Country that gave so much to them. And believe in the concept of 'pay me less, bennie me well and allow me semi-free reign and I will get the people's work done-and be out of the office by 3-mindset that Civil Service is supposed to be. Heck, the Goobermint wouldn't actually DO anything were it not for them.
No, really!!

Irene Peduto said...

@SJ - Obama's re-election is a testimonial to the decades the left has worked to overthrow America.
@SeaDog52 - Imagine the Russians calling Americans illiterate and being RIGHT?
I had more written but it there was some sort of snafu! And so it goes...

Grafton Cheddar said...

One wonders if "Pat The Bunny" is now considered racist. Seems like most everything else is...

John the Econ said...

It's worse than that @Stilton. They're selling debt, which is usually the most stressful and destructive aspect to many businesses.

I'd want the government as a partner as much as a bullet through my head. Actually, the bullet would be preferable. At least when it's through, the suffering is over with.

CenTexTim said...

Stilton - in your 11:43 a.m. reply to John the Econ you stated "I don't see how anyone from the government could have any useful insights into business..."

You're more insightful than you know. I hate to self-promote, but here's a link to a chart that emphasizes just how far removed from reality the obama administration is.

Necron99 said...

@SeaDog52, I find it quite telling that news agencies form the former soviet and currently socialist leaning European countries are all pretty much saying they same thing about American dimocrap voters and their beloved "emperor with new clothes" they reinstated. These are warnings and prognostications being issued by people who lived through the nightmare of collectivism and know first hand that its a destructive pipe dream only an imbecile could embrace. I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of individuals who grew up behind the iron curtain and only one ever lamented its collapse..., a former political officer that had to flee Poland lest he be dragged into the streets by his neighbors once the worm turned for him. Like Auntie Eternity said in Thunderdome, "One day cock of the walk, next day a feather duster."

What is disturbing to me is the number of these useless entitlement minded 0-drones who believe they'll be participating in the new ruling order should their beloved leaders manage to actually pull of the complete take over of our republic! More likely they'll be loaded on to cattle cars bound for concentration camps once their votes are no longer required for the dimocrap/neo-coms to remain in power. They fail to realize us dissenting workers will still have our uses as serfs/slaves in that "utopia", but professional sponges are a drain on the funds supporting the lavish lifestyle of the bosses. Ask anyone who ever spent time in a trade union how the membership dues system works.

Fools, all of them! Fools led by fools.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Proof- Actually the book store in the picture is NOT going out of business...that was just a little satirical Photoshoppery of mine. I'm betting the "independent" bookstore Barry visited is filled with expensive, liberal books for all the snobby parents who can afford to send their kids to elite private schools.

@Colby- By the way, being in the publishing industry I can tell you that a store's profit margin on books is usually pretty darn low. If the storeowner made $50 on the sale, I'd be shocked. And I highly doubt that the storeowner's eyes lit up, or that she then shared information about the unique, one of a kind, handcrafted books being put out by giant publishing houses which generally screw authors and illustrators into the ground.

Regarding WalMart, they really have destroyed a lot of small businesses in small towns...but at the same time they've brought in jobs, and made a lot of items more affordable for people who don't have a lot of dough. It's a very mixed bag, but I don't hate on WalMart. Although I almost never shop there, because it depresses me about the gene pool. (In fairness, the people who see ME in WalMart probably feel the same way).

@queso Grande- Barry didn't choose the books, he didn't choose who they're going to, and odds are that his auto-pen will do any inscriptions.

And let me be fair and say that not all government workers do a bad job - I'm sure that there must be many who work hard and well to keep things working to the extent that they do. But the civil service model and the broader government model simply can't be applied to the private sector is anyone wants to stay in business.

@Irene Peduto- I have to admit that the Dems' "long game" has been effective, slowly building the sense of entitlement and government dependency.

@Grafton Cheddar- "Harry the Dirty Dog" was declared racist, "Curious George" is right on the line, and "Nappy Hair" is considered racist in many circles even though it was written by a black woman. I'm given to understand that "Little Black Sambo" is still frowned upon, too.

@John the Econ- Debt is destructive, because it takes away your flexibility to make changes because paying the bills (and ones that are too large) becomes the first and eventually only priority.

@CenTexTim- By all means self-promote! You've got a nice blog going there! And the graph is a killer: for anyone who didn't click, it basically shows that Obama has appointed way fewer cabinet members who have any significant private sector experience. Over 9 out of 10 of his appointees have never "slummed" by earning a living in the private sector the way the rabble does.

@John Vecchio- Thank you!

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Necron99- Excellent observations.

Colby said...

As a special treat, during the entire month of December, "Hail to the Chief" will not be played during obama visits. Instead, the music will be, "Here Comes Santa Clause."

OK, I'll not quit my day job...

I heard on the news last night that the "tax on rich people" that ass-munch is proposing will fund the federal government for a whopping 8.5 days!! Why the EFF aren't Republican Senators and Representatives screaming this at the top of their lungs? GAAAA!!

Grafton Cheddar said...

@Stilton- Racism is an interesting phenomenon. My kids are African American, grew up from infanthood here in largely un-diverse NH, so we have had our fair share of exposure. ("Black Sambo" WAS a bit of a problem.) I have found the more coarse type of racism (the yahoo type I often find from those in my work, good ol' boys, etc.) to be oddly less offensive in a way, because it's largely a function of ignorance and fear of the unknown or just from someone being different. It can melt away quite easily when one deals with a "different" person face to face and sees him simply as a human being.

FAR more offensive is the liberal form of racism that we now see manifested to almost comical extremes with Nightly Tingles. And believe me, I saw plenty of that with my children in neo-lib NH. Guilt based, I suppose? A black person has to be covered for, excused repeatedly, coddled, protected, etc? Affirmative action on acid. The worse racists are the liberals who won't let the likes of Obama, Holder and Rice stand on their own merits as responsible human beings. These three simply suck at what they are doing - it would not matter if they were green, they still suck.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Colby- Actually, the idea of Barry making official entrances to "Here Comes Santa Claus" is freaking hilarious. If I get really ambitious (hint: unlikely today) I might try cobbling together a video of that.

And however you want to measure it, the "tax on rich people" won't make any significant dent in the annual deficit (it would amount to about 8% of Barry's deficit spending) but would definitely make a negative impact on the job market.

The "tax on rich people" is for one thing, and one thing only: revenge on the wealthy - no matter who else and how many get hurt along the way.

@Grafton Cheddar- Beautifully expressed, and you certainly have the qualifications to make yours an "expert opinion."

I'm appalled by racism, but as you say it's almost easier to dismiss the overtly idiotic racists who do little real damage (except by reproducing, presumably with their cousins). But it seems a core principle of the Democrat party that African-Americans can't accomplish what other ethnicities can without government help. They can't keep up in school, get or hold a job, raise their children, or even plan their own meals. I'm old enough to have seen what the Great Society programs have done to the black family. Where once we had nuclear families simply looking to assimilate and succeed, intact black families are now a statistical rarity, and children are trapped into becoming welfare queens or gangstas.

The Left celebrates this, and keeps African-Americans trapped in poverty and underachievement in order to keep them dependent. It's time to free the slaves (of every ethnicity) again.

And just to agree with your final point, I don't give a rat's ass about the race of Obama, Holder, and Rice. I care about "the content of their character" and I find it sorely lacking. And yes, I do consider Obama our first Affirmative Action president.

gwhdad/texas said...

@CenTexTim: I checked the chart! from what I could interpret, Jimma Carter had 4 times more people with "REAL WORLD" experience than Emperor Obama 1.

CenTexTim said...

@gwhdad/texas - that's about right. Even Jimma had some experience as a peanut farmer, as opposed to a 'community organizer.'

Colby said...

Our $#@^&* firewall at work blocks anything that might be fun (like YouTube), so I can't wait until I get home to see the video! Rush Radio (Raleigh, NC) was playing the song, Barack-a-Clause is Comin' to Town yesterday. FUNNY!

And, yes, like most conservatives, I also abhor racism; especially the kind so generously doled out by the NAACP! I think they are the most racist entity on the planet, no kidding.

Irene Peduto said...

@SJ - couldn't open your version - got a hometown one instead.
@Necron99 - what a wonderful quote that was about being a rooster one day and a feather duster the next. Loved it.
@ Grafton Cheddar - it is strangely unreal that racism has become more of an issue than it has ever been - but it is all a distortion of reality - racism has reared its ugly head with thanks to the current Administration with intended consequences.

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Irene Peduto, Colby & Others- Oops, I did the wrong link earlier but NOW you can see & hear Colby's idea: "Here Comes Santa Claus" (the new presidential anthem).

Necron99 said...

Yes fellow posters, isn't it interesting how in a few short decades the dimocrap mantra evolved from, "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." to, "My fellow entitlement recipients, ask not what you can do for your country, ask what you can your gubbamint give to you at someone else's expense. And if you disagree with that, you a racist!"

I agree whole heatedly with the comment about the NAACP. They are always quick to beat the drum and howl at the moon every given opportunity real, imagined, or completely fabricated. But let's face it, that's how they stay in business, that's how the justify their existence, and that's been their modus operandi since they became institutionalized. Just like any other "special interest" group be they a trade union, social awareness group, or political lobby. They have to keep inventing reasons and enemies to keep their "cause" alive and validated.

Doesn't matter if its Eurasia or Eastasia, Oceana has to be at war to explain why Big Brother is oh so necessary for the safety of the proles.

Years ago I adopted a policy of considering being called racist a compliment. It was always the first remark made by people who had no leg to stand on in an argument.

Example:

Me, "I don't agree with what 0 has to say on second amendment rights, so I won't be voting for him."

Typical libtard, "You're not voting for 0, *gasp*, RACIST!!!"

The word has lost all meaning. Its like "fag". That word started out as "a bundle of sticks", somehow morphed into "cigarette", and eventually "homosexual".

Racist no longer means "hatred for persons other than your own ethnic background", it means "I can't refute your evidence or logic so I'm going to call you the most shamefull PC epitaph I can think of."

Meh, anyone involved in American politics these days who crys racism is realy crying wolf... Or better yet, "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain."

Irene Peduto said...

@SJ Saw the clip this time - even Rush calls him Santa Claus. Keeping the African-Americans dependent upon Big Gvt. causes a reliance on being taken care of, albeit minimally,as opposed to being self-reliant. That has been a most effective political strategy for this regime. They "sensed" the time had come to appeal to the impoverished and, well, anyone who wasn't WHITE. The depths to which they sink really does scare me. They have no conscience.
@ Necron99 - loved the "pay no attention to the man behind the curtain" reference. I have actually used that expression as well.

A Nonny Mouse said...

@Colby, @Stilton; Love the new presidential entrance music. Now how do we get in touch with the Marine Band...

Incidentally, they might need to make a simple consonant change to the title "Hail to the Chief" before it can be played with a straight face again.

Sarah Rolph said...

"I don't see how anyone from the government could have any useful insights into business owing to the fact that they live in a world without connections between responsibility, actions, consequences, profits, and (too frequently) budgets."

THIS!!!! Gold stars, neon lights, loud ringing bells.

This is what we have to find a way to put an end to.

My understanding is that the original plan for this country was that we not have a professional political class. We must get back to Plan A!

I made this point to a California friend of mine last night who was in tears of rage after having made the mistake of listening to an address by the President and then watching in horror as the kool-aid drinkers obeyed his request to continue his narrative on twitter.

Today I am going to send her an email telling her that she really ought to consider running for office herself.

I encourage hopenchange readers to consider this. We have to step up to the plate ourselves, and/or find people in our circles who can and will serve, and support them.

This is one of the reasons I respect Sarah Palin so much. She didn't think her public servants were doing a very good job, so she stepped up to the plate to see if she could do better, and did.

Her book Going Rogue is really inspiring that way, she tells the story of how and why she got involved in politics. She was inspired by Reagan because of his ideas, and set about trying to follow in his footsteps.

When she encountered corruption the first time, she was astonished. A guy on the city council wanted to pass a bill that people weren't allowed to take their trash to the dump anymore, they had to sign up for trash collection from a professional service. This guy owned a garbage-collection firm.

Palin objected. The measure did not pass. I'm sure the guy was very annoyed. This is where it starts--a lot of us choose to go along to get along. If we can all have the courage to tell the truth every day, the world can become a better place.

As Mr. Jarlsberg is doing in his own wonderful way, with this delightful mix of humor, education, commentary, and community. Three cheers for Stilt!