No, we’re just occupied with more “enlightened” endeavors. Like reading, art and music.

Hi Jay.

JK

But when spending is under control, those bonds only yield 5%, and all that money searches for higher return— like through venture capital.

This is why the real estate shot up since 2000- bonds were yielding 4%, stocks are stagnant to down, venture capital isn’t in demand, so the money goes into real estate.

Clinton’s tax policies definitely drove the Internet by freeing up risk capital for ventures.

I guess I didn’t mean it as I have seem to have said it. Cetainly there were other factors in play, some of which were Bubba-discretionary, but my recollection of the era was the tons of venture capital being thrown at anything that had computer or Internet attached to it. Remember the football bowl games: dot com this , dot com that. I remember dot com businesses here in Atlanta who had not sold the first widget having money (again, outside venture capital – kind of a gold rush mentality) to lease large expensive prime location office buildings for 10 years. And they hired full staffs – again before the first (cyber) widget was sold. Maybe he actually did more than I give him credit for but keep in mind there was Congress and courts etc and the structure of the economy he inherited – all interrelated). But it doesn’t matter, Clinton gets the credit – either way. BTW, I really don’t think Reagan was the greatest pres or human or anything like that. Very good, yes. TR may have gotten my vote.

Dugger

Then how are they out there getting all those millions of dollars? I mean, all conservatives and Republicans are rich correct?

I guess liberals couldn’t vote enough since they’re so poor and their welfare checks won’t cover the cost of a computer.

Yes. Reagan and Ben Franklin have had equal influence on the American political and social landscape. Or Thomas Jefferson. Or Lincoln (who I voted for three times).

Not.

JK

Come come. Russia fell apart becasue the 19th century marxist economy could not survive reality forever. Reagan turned up the heat and pushed them over the edge. If you want to argue deep philosophy about whether the man makes the event of vice versa, we can do that forever. How many times have I heard about Bubba’s great economy and thought: no it was all the techno-bubble. But no matter, it happened on his watch – he gets credit. Likewise, RR for the fall of the Soviet Union. Otherwise, no great men or women anyplace.

Dugger

RC, I can’t believe that you would pass the Oscar for Best Actor in the role of President from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton to Ronald Reagan.

Dugger, All Hale the Great Reagan, Winner of the Cold War, Vanquisher of the Pinkos!

His failed economic policies: the largest peacetime military build-up in American history combined with massive tax cuts for the wealthy caused budget deficits to soar to record heights, doubled the national debt and led to the slowest growth of any decade in the post-World War II era. The median real wage failed to grow during the 1980s.

Labor relations: In 1981 he summarily fired 12,000 air traffic controllers who were striking for better working conditions, ushering in an era of labor relations where employers felt free to “permanently replace” striking workers.

International relations: Did Ronnie single-handedly win the Cold War? No, but he did use the Cold War as an excuse to justify some pretty despicable acts of foreign intervention, including supporting a war against most of the Central American population. There was genocide in Guatemala, mass murder in El Salvador and his effort to overthrow the democratically-elected government of Nicaragua. When Congress put the brakes on that, he simply did it behind their back, running an illegal, immoral war from the White House basement with an assortment of thugs, assassins, gun-runners and drug-dealers and proceeds from illegal arms sales to Iran.

“Greatest American” my ass. I didn’t shed a tear when his body died last year.

Geez, no wonder America is so effed up. I mean, MLK Jr only helped bring the civil rights fight in to the mainstream and George Washington only fought and lead the Revolution to victory and shape the foundation of the US. What have they done lately?

I believe that Oliver is nakedly partisan. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (I’ll defend to the death your right to be nakedly partisan, blah blah blah…).

But, you see, beyond being nakedly partisan, you also appear to feel the need to shout from the rooftops that you’re right, and that people who don’t agree with you are wrong. And presumably you have a comments section because you likes confirmation of the foregoing from others more than you like genuine debate on any topic.

You appear to feel that the media are in the pocket of the White House and the Republican Party since they don’t mirror every left-wing talking point you espouse, as if your beliefs are objective truth.

So if, as Vincent writes above, your instinctive reaction to disagreement seems to be at best non-substantive replies, at worst insults, why do you allow open registration for commenters? Why not just limit comments to those you approve of?

Since you now appear to moderate comments, I’m not even sure that this will ever appear on your site.