Fox News's Stuart Varney had a heated debate Wednesday with Air America's Mike Papantonio about the state of the economy and the effectiveness of the $787 billion stimulus package.
Subbing for Neil Cavuto on Wednesday's "Your World," Varney tried repeatedly to get his liberal guest to admit that porkulus hasn't worked and that the economy is getting worse.
Papantonio wasn't having any of that hypocritically and amnesiacly claiming, "We have to get behind this President and be more positive" adding "You cannot be ankle-biting every day this man says something, you can't be attacking" (video embedded below the fold, h/t NBer Dan Scott):
Interesting coming from a man who represents a radio network that attacked former President Bush every time one of its hosts was on the air.




















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I just returned from a three
July 2, 2009 - 09:37 ET by MassConservativeI just returned from a three day trip to New Hampshire. In three different places on our journey I saw a large green road sign claiming the work ahead was brought to us courtesy of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
Apparently the only ones benefitting from this porkulous are the sign makers because in only one of these three places did I actually see even a hint of activity. The other two did not have as much as a cone in place much less any work being done.
The one where I did see activity has obviously been underway for many months (likely pre-stimulas) as large sections of rock had already been blasted, huge tracks of land had been cleared, etc. Not stuff you do if a few weeks or a couple of months.
2012 campaign slogan - "Carter got his 2nd term, NOW can we move on?"
Roadway construction
July 2, 2009 - 09:43 ET by sevenMotor fuel tax funds this. These are not new taxes. Obama is taking credit for it. Last year when asphalt, concrete and rebar prices jumped, construction costs escalated. Had we commited to more domestic oil production, we would have been spared high prices. Most road constructin costs go back to energy prices.
DISMAL ECONOMY... FROM THE DEMOCRATS!
July 2, 2009 - 09:52 ET by reelman46DEMOCRAT JULY 4TH…THEIR DISMAL ECONOMY
“Stocks tumbled Thursday after a report showed more jobs were lost last month than expected.”…
9.5% with hundreds of thousands not included that have given up looking.
Remember when 5% under Bush was hammered as so very awful?
CRAWFISH NOTE: Keep in mind the arrogant secular
socialists never see the light, never respect economic laws, never
learn from history (J. Carter), never cease promising, never promote
business, never cut taxes, never cut gov-meant waste (78,000 new
gov-meant jobs for 2009 so far), never can manage an economy without
great harm.
Happy Independence Day from the J. Carter Obama democrat administration and its clueless socialist hacks in congress.
Now go look at that 401k statement just one more time before you start grilling.
How is that “hope and change” working for ya?
The Dufus has only begun to trash America so stay tuned.
But hey, Dufus is historic…go pay your bills or get a job with a bucket of “historic”.
When are voters going to learn that secular socialism is never the answer?
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
Road Work Recovery?
July 2, 2009 - 11:05 ET by CobraMan"Apparently the only ones benefitting from this porkulous are the sign makers"
They are the only ones benefiting. Road repairs and construction projects are planned, and the financing secured, a least a year a head of time, so any repair work or construction we are witnessing today is NOT, repeat NOT, paid for by any stimulus money. The signs are a lie.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Economy improves
July 2, 2009 - 09:39 ET by sevenThe stats and the data or reports are getting worse. But that means according to Obama it is getting better. President Bush showed at one point, 52 consecutive months of employment growth. Obama has never had one. He won't have one or if he does, it may be a long time away.
Of course there is good news in the economy. Homeless people emit less greenhouse gases. In cap and trade, I hope they save the cars to be traded in for people to sleep in.
Economic growth
July 2, 2009 - 11:11 ET by BlondeIs an impossibity for the Obama administration and its acolytes...no matter how they attempt to spin it.
I heard one of the Czars, earlier, commenting on the unemployment numbers (don't know her name, nor did I recognize her face....she was fat, dumb and stupid).
I almost lost my coffee as she touted May's unemployment "improvement" of only 400K+ jobs lost, and lamented the numbers went up again in June.....and "hopefully we'll get back to our previous positive trend". Only in liberal math land would a (-400K) anything be a good thing, and a one month blip becomes a "trend".
Bloody hell!
<edit> Oh yeah, that was my hat tip to Varney for slaying the liberal math and the guy who was trying to put it over on the viewing public. Great job!
I hope he fails, too.
Stuart needs to be given a bigger roll on Fox,,,
July 2, 2009 - 09:43 ET by wnaegeleGo, Stuart!
Our country is going to
July 2, 2009 - 09:44 ET by mattmOur country is going to Hell and the Chief Czar is taking us there, and we're supposed to "get behind" him? The only way I'd get behind him is to kick him out of the front door of the White House.
As I have been saying since the ACORN presidency began, I will support Oscumbag just as much as the Libtards supported Bush.
BTW - It must have been weird for that Airhead Amerikkka guy to be on a show that has an audience.
HOW DARE
July 2, 2009 - 09:46 ET by jacktheripperMr. Varney question Obambi's policies !! Stick your head in the sand Stu , just like all the good little Libs who supported this fraud!!! No answers just talking points...change you can believe in...... riiiiiight!!!!!!!!!!1
Where was his philosophy
July 2, 2009 - 11:30 ET by kgWhere was his philosophy the last eight years?
"DumbAssity of Dope"
Hey Mikey!
July 2, 2009 - 09:58 ET by jdlybrandThat's the lamest attempt to justify a failed policy that I have ever seen. You, my friend, are as full of s**t as a Thanksgiving turkey.
when backed into a corner-
July 2, 2009 - 10:14 ET by JIMMY1660George Bush is to blame. GWB is home on the ranch. He lead us through some good times, we have not had one day of good times.
BHO is a fraud, empty suit. Ill equipped for the job at hand.
BHO- THE PROGRESSIVE PIRATE
I saw it. It was a smack
July 2, 2009 - 10:46 ET by nolotrippenI saw it. It was a smack down. Papantonio brought a toothpick to a knife fight. Varney would not let the guy off the ropes (or was it the floor).
When Papantonio would point out some tiny statistic somewhere in the heart land that showed things were improving, Varney, came back with huge numbers and percentages showing that things were, in fact, tanking.
It reminded me of...real journalism. What a blast from the past. Tough quesions, relentlessly asked. Varney rocked.
Did Varney expect to have a
July 2, 2009 - 10:51 ET by fitzfongDid Varney expect to have a serious, substantive economic discussion with this clown? The guy is one of the chief welfare recipients on Dead Air Amerika, a "business" that was drowning in red ink during the best of economic times, and has failed to recover after several "stimulus packages" were thrown in to save it. A compassionate owner would have but this dying horse down years ago.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
This was great -- I came in
July 2, 2009 - 11:03 ET by Jack BauerThis was great -- I came in after it had started.
One of the best things was the way Varney's former English accent came to the fore as he swatted that other Obama cultist.
To my ear Varney has a mid-Atlantic twang veering slightly towards a cultured English accent. However as he became more animated I started to pick up a Northern English (possibly Yorkshire) accent that was probably his original speaking voice.
Papa Doc Obama seems to think that the mere FACT that you criticize Obama is what is making his policies fail. What a cult.
Funny how that happens, Jack
July 2, 2009 - 11:46 ET by BlondeWhen we get hot under the collar, all pretense flies out the window and the accent of our youth emerges loud and proud. For some reason, many people attempt to lose their regional accents...ya'll owta heauh some of the twangin' I heauh occasionally.
Varney could have done it in Pig Latin, and it would have still sounded as sweet.
I hope he fails, too.
ha-- true! What's that
July 2, 2009 - 12:13 ET by Jack Bauerha-- true!
What's that accent you slip into once riled?
Can't wait for Obama to break into his arabic accent at some point.
Did you hear him pronounce Honduras? That phoney Spanish accent he adopted -- though he can't speak a word, including adios.
Re break into an accent
July 2, 2009 - 13:19 ET by slickwillie2001I know a guy that breaks out in a British accent when he is significantly stressed, like at a meeting if he is asked a tough question or put on the spot. He has never been to the U.K. One of the strangest things I have ever seen.
In the Bamster's case, it might be Indonesian that he falls back on. From age 6 to 10 he had to pick it up.
Obama's accent
July 2, 2009 - 13:23 ET by BlondeI think his accent is as phony as Hillary's. Perhaps he picked up the affectation from his grandparents or something, but I've never met anyone who's from Hawaii that talks anything like he does.
I hope he fails, too.
slick -- now that is WEIRD!
July 3, 2009 - 12:30 ET by Jack Bauerslick -- now that is WEIRD! If he wants some genuine Bristish English slang and words. I'll be happy to oblige.
I am fairly literate in British and American English!
When he meddles
July 2, 2009 - 14:30 ET by StarAZGoes he say Honduras funny when he meddles? I thought
Pock-istahn was weird.
Papentonio
July 2, 2009 - 13:58 ET by doug1950is yet another local lawyer type, in fact he and Scarborough are buds and worked for the same law firm here in Pensacola. Since Obama has come on the scene all kinds of local liberals are coming out of the woodwork like Palmetto bugs at night. For those unfamiliar with "Palmetto bugs" it is a really a giant flying cockroach. We only call them Palmetto bugs so the tourists won't leave the State the first time they see one. They usually come out at night and in the dark to do their nasty work. He had or has a local TV show that maybe has four loyal viewers. The small crowd of local liberals have been emboldened by 'The One's" win.
That's good, Doug
July 2, 2009 - 16:54 ET by BlondeI hadn't heard that....good to hear the local stuff.
As for "Palmetto Bugs".....do you tell the tourists up that way about "soapfish" too?
I hope he fails, too.
Blonde
July 3, 2009 - 16:33 ET by doug1950Not familiar with "soapfish" one though. I can hardly wait.....
Stuart
July 2, 2009 - 11:07 ET by Ran56I look for him to take Cavuto's seat if Neil get's too ill to work.
Ran56
July 2, 2009 - 11:42 ET by BlondePlease don't tell me Neil is sick. I don't think I could stand it.
I hope he fails, too.
Re sick
July 2, 2009 - 11:56 ET by slickwillie2001Cavuto has multiple sclerosis, diagnosed many years ago. Seems a milder variety but all the varieties are degenerative diseases so you can't really predict how bad it will get.
Thanks, slick
July 2, 2009 - 12:02 ET by BlondeUnfortunately, I know ALL about MS.
I didn't know Neil has MS, he's my absolute favorite on Fox (Megyn is my 2nd favorite). I wish him all the best.
I hope he fails, too.
I agree
July 2, 2009 - 17:00 ET by jackssnI hope he is doing well or as well as one can do. I will pass this on to the wife (the better half). God speed
Papantonio stuttered during
July 2, 2009 - 11:30 ET by ConservativeMissourianPapantonio stuttered during that interview with Varney; he didn't know how to defend Obama. All the sudden he wants to support whomever the President is. I don't think that was his motto a year ago? All the points brought up by Varney were very interesting and good points. That's great that Obama has saved some jobs, but where are the new jobs? When is unemployment going to stop rising? It just went up.
Papantonio.
July 2, 2009 - 16:08 ET by blazermaniacWhat would anyone expect from the Liberal Loser Papantonio. "Scare America" is a disaster. Papantonio is a disaster. Of course Papantonio would get a chance on the FNC. That audience is a million times bigger than his on radio.
It was fun come back again!!
July 2, 2009 - 11:35 ET by upcountrywaterha ha ha, Lame O lefty.
Reagan VS Liberalism
jessieH
July 2, 2009 - 12:28 ET by jessieHjessieH I would like to see the reporters at the white house briefing do this to Gibbs. Now that would be " Must See TV"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Economy Question
July 2, 2009 - 13:21 ET by CacciatoSince many of the Newsbusters like to place ALL of the blame for the bad economy on Obama and his policies, does that mean that they will also give him ALL the credit when the economy improves drastically in the next 6 - 12 months?
Now THAT is funny!!!
July 2, 2009 - 14:10 ET by SouthJersey1953IF....sorry....hold on while I stop laughing....If the economy recovers, I will give him credit.
(It ain't gonna happen as long as he continues to try to spend his way out of the recession)
SJ... I'm in the same
July 2, 2009 - 14:20 ET by bigtimerSJ...
I'm in the same boat as you are.....I can't quit laughing either.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
credit...
July 2, 2009 - 14:32 ET by katainkentfor staying out of the way and allowing the private sector to recover? Hasn't happened yet. If he does step back and stop meddling I will happily credit him.
In his position the best he can do is not damage it. All he can grow is government.
___________________________________________
Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past - George Orwell - 1984
Non contributors
July 2, 2009 - 17:06 ET by general companyDont care if the economy improves, in-fact they dont even know when it's not doing well. The non contributers are guaranteed their funds. Obama's plan it to create more non contributers then contributers, then demonize the contributers to keep power. Not that I think Cac would understand this?
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Well now... it seems the
July 2, 2009 - 14:31 ET by MightyMouthWell now... it seems the House of Representin' and Pres Kamacho seem bound and determined to take the ecomony down, as in smack down! Maybe the problem needs more BRAWNDO!!
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Willl our elec bills have tripled by then?
July 2, 2009 - 14:27 ET by StarAZOh, OK--he can have all the credit.
Cacciato... Who has blamed
July 2, 2009 - 14:43 ET by motherbeltCacciato... Who has blamed it ALL on him? Please be specific.
I have already had to chastise one child in another thread for calling Sanford "Your boy" (meaning all of "you" here) and I really shouldn't have to keep doing this. You're supposed to be capable of discussing like an adult here.
Obama has already taken steps he wanted to take, and they have failed. Is that George W. Bush's fault?
At what point do you think responsibility for the economy becomes his? After 9 months? After one year? Two years? Give us a clue, here!
Oh, wait! You said when the economy improves drastically in the next 6 - 12 months?
So I guess 6 months from now the economy will be his, for good or ill? Or only if it improves drastically? Is that 6 months if it improves, 12 months if it doesn't?
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
WOW, the effects of drugs
July 2, 2009 - 14:53 ET by pahuberWOW, the effects of drugs on the mind can create such drastic expectations.
Do you actually believe this is going to happen cacc?
Well, the cotton-candy
July 2, 2009 - 15:11 ET by Roger the ShrubberWell, the cotton-candy clouds and rainbow-colored unicorns are on back order, and might not be delivered for another 6 months. THEN the amazing, flick-of-the-lightswitch quick economic turnaround will surely occur.
Until that moment of fantasy happens, you will just have to suck it up, buttercup, knowing that this crap economy, indeed, is now nestled Bloefield-like in the lap of your Lord and Master.
"improves drastically in the next 6-12 months".
July 2, 2009 - 16:41 ET by jdlybrandHow about when pigs fly?
Sure, if it actually
July 2, 2009 - 20:43 ET by fitzfongSure, if it actually happens. But that would require him to pull his swelled head out of his ass so he can learn economics. Once he's properly educated himself, he can cut taxes, cut spending and take full responsibilty for the economic growth he has brought about. But he's a pawn of the union thugs, the eco-parasites and the shysters, so he won't pull his head out of his ass...so, unfortunately, there will be no economic recovery in the next 6-12 months.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Noel, the sad thing is we ain't seen nothing yet. ACA
July 2, 2009 - 15:56 ET by acaiguanaThe US is forced to borrow upwards of $2 Trillion this year. That would be in 2009. The Treasury auctions are not reflecting these numbers. Why? If they keep putting it off, then it will hit in last Quarter of this year. That would be the 1st Quarter of the Next Fiscal Year, 2010.
So, they can blovate about how they aren't really borrowing that much in 2009?
Ah well, Wonderful Numbers.
Now, even though American saving rates are way up for the first time in many years, that still won't fix the need for capital. Capital markets in the US simply won't have the money. So, that leads to International Capital Markets.
In order to make borrowing attractive to the International Capital Markets, the US is going to have to pay a lot of interest.
How Much?
I would guess that interest will rise to somewhere between 8.5 to 11.0 percent by 2010. That will be a reflection of the devaluation of the US dollar, of course.
The dollar is like a bond. When Interest rates are High, the value is low. When Interest Rates are low, the value is high.
Of course, the market is contra-intuitive here. The high interest rates would make one think that since one is paying more for each dollar, it is worth more.
But the present value of money vs the future value of money comes into play. That would mean that the US is trying to borrow money at its current worth with an expectation of paying it back with inflated dollars, which are worth less; Bernie Madoff would be proud.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Instead of waiting for an economic recovery that isn't coming
July 2, 2009 - 17:05 ET by R D Helm...people had best be planning for the hidious inflation I believe is just around the corner.
Given the huge amount they are in the process of printing,we could be headed for some rough times.
Rougher than they are now, I mean.
-Dave
"Obama's health care 'reform' plan is to blow up the building in order to fix a leak in the roof." - Herman Cain
yea where is the inflation? I just posted some info elsewhere
July 2, 2009 - 17:13 ET by upcountrywaterMisery index, the inflation rate is as low as it was in the 50's?
As soon as the bail-out started the inflation rate went to (almost) zero..??
Scroll to the bottom of that link.Puzzeling
Reagan VS Liberalism
ucw, Its the calm before the storm.
July 2, 2009 - 17:27 ET by R D HelmEvery time they put a dollar into circulation without taking one out, it makes all of them worth a fraction less (LOL-I know you know this, but some of our readers don't).
They are going to be printing them by the billions. At some point, it is going to have an impact.
I have been seeing estimates of an annual inflation rate of between 10 and 20%.
Outside of a promotion or a new job, have you ever gotten a 20% raise?
Scary.
-Dave
"Obama's health care 'reform' plan is to blow up the building in order to fix a leak in the roof." - Herman Cain