The REAL joke is not Colbert but Conyers, Lofgren, Pelosi and the rest of the spendthrift leftist progressives

But why is no one laughing?

Quantify that.

Like W was a fiscal conservative.

Hi Pot, this is Kettle.

"Quantify that." [the REAL joke of Conyers, Lofgren, Pelosi and the rest of the spendthrift leftist progressives]

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Maybe a quintillion joules of ego, corruption, stupidity, selfishness and sheer criminality.

Your right they want to cut social security after they plundered the coffers; yet not one has offered to cut their salaries or cut their spending.

DUMP ALL INCUMBENTS leaving one incumbent in office is like leaving one black rat flee and the plague of good ole boy incumbents will be back, unless they are all dumped this November.

Yash...

So because Bush was a screw up and spent tons of money he shouldn't have that makes it okay for Obama to do the same on a bigger scale, right? Your logic is laughable and petulant, but you're not alone...so is our POTUS...aka...The Man Child.

I'm not happy with everything Obama has done but I shudder to think what would have happened if we had another 4 years of Bush, which is what McCain would have brought us, and where we would be now.

Like the UAW members that drink and smoke dope during lunch right?

You don't get it. The e-coli in the broccoli awhile back was from raw sewage coming out of a broken pipe that wasn't fixed - it had nothing to do with the workers, many of whom became ill themselves from working in the filth. The recent egg incidents were from farm owners (the white guys) cutting corners and not improving factory conditions. They tried to blame feed producers, who bounced it back to them. Last I heard the feed was fine. Again, the actual workers had nothing to do with it - they are stuck in the same filthy conditions but don't complain because it is a JOB. No white American will take these jobs because they are so nasty. If YOU want to be first in line to bend over picking strawberries all day in 100+ heat, I would have more respect for you.

Xtro,

I'd be willing to say we'd be better off than we are now. We wouldn't have this atrocious Healthcare debacle...only 1/6 of the entire U.S. economy will be affected. We wouldn't have all the talk of carbon regulation through Cap and Tax. We wouldn't be stealing money from the GM bond holders and giving it to the UAW. We would extend the Bush tax cuts in full.

In short...we wouldn't have such an uncertain economic climate. Business leaders would be able to accurately plan their budgets and we would see a lot more jobs a whole lot sooner. Do I think people care about and need healthcare, carbon emissions, paying off our debt? Certainly...but I think they would rather have a job that can provide income that will in turn give them shelter and food.

But who cares about that stuff when the Obama's ego needs to be stroked.

Brent...

Couple things to address here. Name one country in the ENTIRE world who's intelegence agency thought he didn't have WMS's? You can't name one. Why you ask? Because we gave Hussain WDM's to fight Iran in the 70's & 80's. Our biggest critics (Russia, France and China) all the top 3 benefactors of the oil-for-food program. Funny how that works, huh? Additionally, there is about a 78% chance that you were onboard with that decision at the time b/c that was the public support level at the time. Besides... What are we supposed to do? Let over 19 UN sanctions go unheeded forever?

Yes, our POS president is spending it in the U.S. I like that. But at what cost? Our long term viability and solventcy as a country. yeah that make sperfect sense.

Maybe a quintillion joules of ego, corruption, stupidity, selfishness and sheer criminality.

M'kay. Maybe it was naive optimism what led me to expect an actual answer.

This is a perfect example of how ALL of our PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (Federal, State,City) WASTE AMERICA'S TAX DOLLARS 1.4

So according to you the military, police, firemen, 911 operators, school teaches, food inspectors, EMTs, post office workers, bus drivers, court officers, judges etc are all a wast of tax dollars..... move to Somalia, there are ZERO TAXES collected and there and none of the aforementioned "WASTE" of tax dollars.

And what really scares me is that (currently) 4 people just are crazy enough to with you!

This is absurd. This is our government wasting time and taxpayer money to participate in a late night comedians joke. Maybe they were just hoping to get their faces shown on Colbert's show. Whoever was behind this stunt should be removed from office. A US Conressional hearing is not a place for stunts like this.

Exodite,

Wanna debate? I quantified it for you, yet no response. I'm ready when you are...

I think it's good to have a comedian show the absurdity of our current Congress, and I'd feel the same way if it was a Republican Congress. I actually agree that there needs to be some Immigration reform that allows migrant farm workers to be in the country legally and once they have been here long enough without running afoul of the law, apply for citizenship.

Oh, it's not that I disagree, Jess. It's that Madison has a lousy habit (like several other regular posters on FR) of throwing out talking points instead of stating a thesis and backing up their argument. I personally find HCR and ARRA reprehensible - HCR, in particular, I consider the downfall of the President's administration.

It costs the taxpayers 125K an hour when these subcommittes are in session! What, your not laughing any more. I'm glad the Dems think an unemploment rate of 10% is funny.

Colbert was awesomely hilarious! All people addressing congress should at least be funny.

Tim, your comment is absolute nonsense. Mexican workers have been the main source of farm labor in the San Joaquin Valley for at least 50 years. If not expressing your opinion, please refrain from posting psuedo-facts, as they only serve to mislead people, and do not add value to any discussion.

Let's be sure to miss no opportunity for gratuitous and meanspirited attacks.

Mark...

You clearly have not read my posts in their entirety. Get back to me when you’ve done your research on where I stand with Obama. If you think Bush was a fiscal angel…you’re fooling yourself. Until Obama…he spent more than any other POTUS in U.S. history. Get caught up on the facts and we’ll talk. The funny thing is we are closer than you think on the issues.

Now subcommities have to be entertained while legal citizens hope for jobs that don't exist. Illegal is illegal, what's so hard to understand?

What a mockery of our government! What value could this statement have possibly had?

A real embarassment for our Congress. Who was the moron who set this up???

Tim Omaha--Not in your lifetime....

ROTFL....You should be really scared by now Lack of any Sense. It is now 20 to the 1 vote you gave yourself!

Negative Mark.

Talking out of both side of my mouth? Nice cliche... However, I am and always will be firm in my belief that BOTH sides are to blame. Repub and dem for where we are. Anyone who wants to blame one side as beign entirely at fault, is relegating themselves to a pool of ignorance in my book becase the facts don't support it. For those in the nose bleed section...BOTH SIDES ARE TO BLAME FOR WHERE WE ARE TODAY!! Can you hear me now?

I agreed with Bush's defense spending and choice to go into Iraq based on what we knew and presented to the U.N. at the time. Hell...I think we should increase it still. However, that wasn't the bulk of what killed him fiscally. It was the Medicare Part D Durg plan and the No Child Left Behind that were his initiatives and the cost spiraled out of control on them. Again...please check your facts.

I blame the Dems for a ton of where we are. Yes...they have been in control since 2007 and spent money durning Bush's last term. But Mark, here is a question for you. Where to bills go to after they have been passed in congress? Where do they go for final approval. Are you going to tell me they got a 2/3's majority on every dem bill that passed and over-rode the Presidential veto?

Un-freakin-believable! What about the GOP having Elmo testify before congress in 2002? At least Colbert paid for as much of it as he could pay. Both sides suck. But you GOPers really need to stfu until you have some 'intelligence' (it's spelled 'i-n-t-e-l-l-i-g-e-n-c-e, Jess!) to share, cause it is apparent to most (even some Dems) that you people have little clue and it is obvious cause I watch most of you struggle forming any kind of rational opinion that many others have rationalized out of possibility but YOUR intellect does not allow that level of thinking.

It's pretty simple, one side is running on mostly emotion and the other is running on reason, with a lot of misleading bs in the way on both sides.

Also, Jess, most countries believed Bush cause he fed them the same reports of lies that he fed the US.

I'll reply jess:

"Usher in a new era of bi-partisanship." - Obama did. That the republicans refuse to compromise is not Obama's fault.

""Extending jobless benefits creates jobs."" Yes, it does. consumer spending accounts for the majority of the economy - people not spending because they have no money slows the economy, spending on the other hand creates jobs.

""You have to pass it to find out what's in it."" I don't understand this argument all bills are available online at thomas.gov You can read them right now.

""Fat cat bankers…" Yet no regulation of Fannie and Freddie." Fannie and Freddie are regulated. Nor for that matter were fannie or freddie the issue with the meltdown of the housing market as Fannie and freddie loans made up only about 20% of the sub prime loan market.

"We want campaign finance reform…but not for unions." Unions are subject to the same laws and restrictions as corporations. This point has no basis in reality.

""I'm going to close Guantanamo Bay."" And he's delivering on that promise - which I might point out McCain also promised to do.

""Healthcare debate on C-Span."" I watched the floor debates on C-Span - did you miss them? Or does your complaint revolve around non-debate sessions where democrats discuss the bill amongst themselves, because that's not - well - debate.

"Let's crucify AZ for trying to protect thier borders." Immigration enforcement and management is specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution. This is a "states rights" thing Jess, as in the power is specifically NOT given to the States. Not that illegal immigrants can vote. Not that your attacking hispanics as a democratic "base" doesn't highlight that the republican opposition to hispanics is politically motivated.

"Dropping of the New Black Panter case. Cmon... Everyone knows ONLY white people can be racist or intimidate voters." This case was dropped by the Bush administration Department of Justice.

Perhaps if you had any valid arguments people would be more inclined to respond to you.

LOL!! Great comment Joe!!

Kyzzy...everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, let's here your facts. The misspelling...yeah my bad...didn't mean to offend your sense of grammatical correctness. I'll make sure to spell check if it helps you feel better about yourself. lol...opps...that's not a word. There I go pissing off Kyzzy again. LOL!!

The real problem with the nanny state is that it is easier to stay at home and collect benefits than to go out and do the hard work.

It has to enter the debate on illegal immigration. Clearly, some of our fellow humans will have to do the work. You can't say it is inhumane. It is work that has been done by us for longer than recorded history. And many of the people who come into this country to do this work would be doing the exact same hard work in their home countries for less pay there.

What you have got to ask is how they can work so hard, make very little, but still send extra money back home. ($17 Billion goes back to Mexico, alone in a year).

It makes those Americans who get a free ride from the Gov't and sit at home doing nothing look like the laziest people in the world.

But until we make sure that entitlements are not a better deal than working, we will have three major problems:

1. Gov't spending on services for both the illegal & legal immigrants who do this work and on the US citizens on welfare. Nearly 2/3 of all Federal Spending is entitlements. Social Services are second only to education in state budgets.

2. Illegals will stop coming if there is no work. You don't have to build fences, make new laws, or spend any money to deport them. If we had Americans mowing lawns and picking crops there just wouldn't be any incentive for illegals to come here. Unemployment is over 20%, and yet immigrants are still coming here, and finding work. Many don't have educations or speak English, but unlike those on the public dole here, they are willing to work.

3. We would be able to better compete with Foriegn countries. Think about how this works now. My taxes are at the level they are now to pay people to sit at home and not work. If my taxes were lower, I would end up with more money in my pocket. So I can spend more. Or I can take less pay if the Global price demands it and I have no other choice. The people who were formerly on welfare would be spending, not my money, but their own money. That will increase the size of the economy here. They would not be sending the money out of the country with nothing in return, as is done with remittances now. But I can't emphasize enough just how big a jump our economy would have by employing just 15 million more Americans (the exact size of illegal workforce).

So we fix so many of our problems just by cutting handouts down to a level that is under what you can make working 40 hours on minimum wage. There should never be a benefit to being a paid burden on our society.

This might be the final nail in the DEM congresses coffin..

That was funny.

I do reject that notion of jobs that Americans won't do. If there is a shortage of labor, then wages should rise (assuming that the free market is working) until there is no shortage of labor. Minimum wage. No thanks. $9 or $10 an hour might get some interest from people.

Lower that wages for these Congress men and women to minimum wage and we'll see how many Americans want that job as well.

LOL, WOW, how did this turn into a Bush thing??? A Democrat invited him and it turned into a Republican thing!! Classic...............You know we hear your Battle Cry about looking forward, but these people continue to look back into the pass!!!!

Man I wish I was in the UAW, I would go out to lunch and drink some beer and smoke a joint!!! LOL

To Ryan in Texas- that's why Charlie Rangel won in Harlem.

Yeah those are all jokes, but so is Boehner, McConnell, DeMint and those loonies on the right.

No one is laughing because there is no laugh track.....and we are conditioned to hear that when something is supposed to be funny.

Pavlog was right.

'Asked if it was appropriate for a comedian to testify on the Hill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters, "Of course." '

I agree. He should feel right at home with Pelosi, whose Congress is such a joke.

LOL

So sick of morons on comment boards making sweeping generalizations about the evil of our the democrats and/or the evil G.O.P, yet not a one of them can cite one single example based in specific objective fact, i.e, The government sucks because I say so and the reason I say so, is because some cable pundit told me so, thefore my view is legitimate. All parties do this all the time and all are guilty for drowing our country in a pool of stupidity.

If you do not have a high school diploma and have never grasped the concept of forensics, please do yourself a favor and shut up.

I'm glad they all think this is so funny.

If you want a real laugh, why not let Beck address those morons?

I have a feeling they'd laugh so hard they'd cry!

nogod --

All well and good to want higher wages and seduce American workers by paying 8-9 $ per hour -- if you want to pay $5 for a peach. The free market works both ways.

November can not get here soon enough!!!

we have all types of criminals in our jail sysytems that are just hanging around wiating to get into more trouble. Go back to chain gangs, put them in the fields to work and earn their keep. Thus we would no longer need the illegals and can take care of our own. problem solved.

NEUTER IN NOVEMBER !!! Replace the Democrats with people of common sense......right now I honestly don't care if they are Republican or Independent.....we need common sense in Washington. Send the liberal elitists home !!

Larry, Moe and Curly made us laugh when we were young.

Harry, Bo and Squirrelly make us cry now that were older. Any problem figuring out who Squirrelly might be ?????

So because Bush was a screw up and spent tons of money he shouldn't have that makes it okay for Obama to do the same on a bigger scale, right?

No it means your side is always the first to throw stones and live in glass houses.

to joe californian and others of similar ilk

Let's not berate the rank and file government worker and their benefits because of the misdeeds or no-deeds of Congress/legislatures/councils. Fed govt. salaries were on parity to the private sector prior to the 'great recession' and their benefits (such as health which they contribute to) are also similar to most large private sector corporations. They also contribute to their pension plan just as you do to social security. Know your facts before you spout off conservative rhetoric.

Just as you are subject to the whims of management ... so are they. I am getting sick and tired of assuming that any government worker (fed, state, county, city) is some shiftless lazy ass. I have family and friends who are responsible hard-working government employees.

I will join those who think that congress is wasting time and money(my time and money) with the nonsense of having comedians doing their thing for their entertainment. For those of you who think that he gave valuable information, you are pathetic and would follow any leftwing crap without question. This is not all a big joke even though you intend to make it a joke at the expense of conservatives. Take another look at the polls concerning congress and think again about who the joke is on. I protest any time and money spent on this kind of charade and phoniness. It is not clever and it is not funny. It doesnt make conservatives look bad except in the eyes of the liberal nuts who push that attitude regardless. It certainly does make congress look stupid and foolish.....How are your poll rating going congress?

Yash...

Seriously? He started it!! She touched me!! It's like you are a child fighting with your little brother as little kids...strike that...little toddlers. Who cares? Trust me...the first stone was thrown a long long time ago (before either of us was even born), so don't talk like you know who threw the first stone.

My side?

Do your research before talking out of your azz. Read my post history and tell me I don't blame the repubs too for where we are. Take your 'your side started' argument back to the playground. The adults are having a conversation here. Having a dissenting opinion is one thing…arguing like a child is another.

Quantify that? Well, I have no brain, and I'm angry and scared, and if Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Fox News say it's true, it must be.

And here I thought it was impossible for our government to look any dumber than they already do...silly me.

Would it be possible for posters to be adults here? I am a moderate leaning left, and one area that I am to the right is on illegal entry and any form of amnesty (with possible exception of citizenship after military service).

With that said... Another exception is agriculture and thus the term "migrant workers." This work is seasonal--not year around like construction, landscaping, services (hospitality/restaurants), meat packing, car wash, etc. This is the one exception in which migrant workers are very helpful, and in the past this was administered very effectively.

If people can pause and put their prejudices aside for a moment, they will note that agricultural "migrant workers" is all that Colbert refers to - 'K'?

To the Undies in a Bundle poster below, this is a very legitimate issue. Far more than intervention in sports scandals, or for that matter Terri Schiavo's private rights that Republicans waste our tax dollars on.

I hear a bunch of "stuffed shirts" insensed at the idea of a comedian testifying before Congress. Wait till they have a real brainless comedian in the name of Christine O'Donnell as an elected Senator. She should be able to offer lots of intelligent ideas on the topic of illegal immigration.

This whole sad incident seems to me to be like Nero fiddling while Rome burned. A sorry outrage.

After reading some of these comments, I live in a small community and have white kids knocking on my door willing to mow my front and back yard for $10. Their parents grew up depending on jobs illegals are now doing. I live in WA State and never once did the apple growers or farmers have trouble getting their crops harvested, 10 or 12 years ago everything started changing as Mexicans came in one after another. It's scary because now you see nothing but Mexicans and illegal workers. People in Idaho, Montana, and surrounding areas all have the same complaints. As one poster said, it's a trickle down affect, because then stores have to hire bi-linguals, which we don't have, because we didn't want to live in Mexico, so we didn't learned their language. Soon all the jobs our people depended on are going to illegals. Why are we even trying? We might as well throw our hands in the air and copy everything illegals do, mock up some phony IDs from another country and get our free medical, perks and under the table jobs, no taxes, etc. According to politicians, most of whom are wealthy, we don't exist, only illegals do.

It's a circus put up by the democrats, so it's fitting to have a clown in there. heh! Heh! He!

wow, you REALLY missed the point and a ton of info that he gave. it may have been in joke form but he showed that no one wants the jobs except the illegals pretty much.

Tim-348217

Really? Our elected officials have decided that one of the major issues facing this country is a joke? Can't think of a better reason to vote them out of office.

What about those uncultivated yahoos like Sarah Palin, Cristine O'Donnell , Sharon Angel, Carl Paladino? Particulary, Sarah Palin who thinks President Obama "palled around with terrorists". Not only is Smiling Sarah a joke she is nuts; just like that witchy O'Donnel.

Except, unfortunately, that is a total lie. I am an American, born and raised in the USA, and i have worked these jobs, and was grateful everyday for the chance to make an honest living. However, over the last several years it has become increasingly difficult to support a family in these lines of work because of the illegals. They work for cheap, don't get benefits (if the company even offers them), they don't go on the company log books. Basically, to the company they are cheap and disposable. We Americans WANT those jobs, but we can't afford to do that kind of work for so little pay.

See and I think you're missing the point. I don't care if American's want to do this work. The fact is there are a lot of people recieving Govt. aide from programs like welfare. I saw we get those people out there doing this work and earning those benfits.

There is absolutely no reason, we should even consider allowing illegal immigants to come into the country and work, send their kids to free schools, with free lunches, getting free medical care, so that they can send the money back into the economy of their home countries. I know that in California, we 9the taxpayer we) spend and average of 5 billion a year on benefits for illegal workers, when you factor that into the equation, it greatly changes their impact on the economy and it has to stop.

We'll take the job. Rather be working in the field than no job at all. McDonalds says we're "overqualified" but we'll do anything to make an honest day's wage.

thayne and jeanette, then where were you when the united farm workers offered their take our jobs programs? only 16 people showed up to do take these jobs back. not even enough to do one field, let alone the thousands of them. if you want one of those jobs it's waiting for you right now.

Except, unfortunately, that is a total lie. I am an American, born and raised in the USA, and i have worked these jobs, and was grateful everyday for the chance to make an honest living. However, over the last several years it has become increasingly difficult to support a family in these lines of work because of the illegals. They work for cheap, don't get benefits (if the company even offers them), they don't go on the company log books. Basically, to the company they are cheap and disposable. We Americans WANT those jobs, but we can't afford to do that kind of work for so little pay.

If you want this job, you should try to give them citizenship. Then, they will no longer be exploited, since they will have other options, and you can both have this job, and the competition for your effort will drive your wages higher.

Thayne - I think you are full of it. 99% of all our produce has been picked by immigrants for at least 30 years now. Pickers have never, ever received benefits or health coverage. Before the immigrants took over, these jobs were held by people (citizens or not) who would travel the country depending on what season it was working for the farm owners. The farm owners often housed and fed them and these people never paid taxes getting paid under the table. When supply demands grew to be as high as they are now, farmers needed ten times the man power. In order to bring a tomato to the market and sell for less than $3 a pound, they need people they can pay $3 p/h with no benefits, no room and no board. Unless you owned and worked the farm yourself, no one has ever been able to support a family on produce picking salaries. Hell, farm owners barely can.

Brutus CA You hit the nail on the head, also growing up in the midwest farms would hire us highschool kids

Hatr...Checked with farm jobs in FL they are full...no citrus jobs yet. But I have a feeling we won't be the ones "picked" to work (no pun intended). When we went to the groves last week the hiring boss who is latino asked if we could speak Spanish. I told him no we speak English, French and a little Italian.

Beverly in Chicago

Sarah Palin a yahoo?

I got news for you Bev. What you said could be farther from the truth. Read this, but you are such a moron you would not believe it anyway. You would rather stick by ODUMBO.

By Dewie Whetsell, Alaskan Fisherman.
As posted in comments on Greta's article referencing the MOVEON ad about Sarah Palin.

The last 45 of my 66 years I've spent in a commercial fishing town in Alaska . I understand Alaska politics but never understood national politics well until this last year. Here's the breaking point: Neither side of the Palin controversy gets it. It's not about persona, style, rhetoric, it's about doing things. Even Palin supporters never mention the things that I'm about to mention here.

1. Democrats forget when Palin was the Darling of the Democrats, because as soon as Palin took the Governor's office away from a fellow Republican and tough SOB, Frank Murkowski, she tore into the Republican's "Corrupt Bastards Club" (CBC) and sent them packing. Many of them are now residing in State housing and wearing orange jump suits The Democrats reacted by skipping around the yard, throwing confetti and singing, "la la la la" (well, you know how they are). Name another governor in this country that has ever done anything similar.

2. Now with the CBC gone, there were fewer Alaskan politicians to protect the huge, giant oil companies here. So she constructed and enacted a new system of splitting the oil profits called "ACES." Exxon (the biggest corporation in the world) protested and Sarah told them, "don't let the door hit you in the stern on your way out." They stayed, and Alaska residents went from being merely wealthy to being filthy rich. Of course, the other huge international oil companies meekly fell in line. Again, give me the name of any other governor in the country that has done anything similar.

3. The other thing she did when she walked into the governor's office is she got the list of State requests for federal funding for projects, known as "pork." She went through the list, took 85% of them and placed them in the "when-hell-freezes-over" stack. She let locals know that if we need something built, we'll pay for it ourselves. Maybe she figured she could use the money she got from selling the previous governor's jet because it was extravagant. Maybe she could use the money she saved by dismissing the governor's cook (remarking that she could cook for her own family), giving back the State vehicle issued to her, maintaining that she already had a car, and dismissing her State provided security force (never mentioning - I imagine - that she's packing heat herself). I'm still waiting to hear the names of those other governors.

4. Now, even with her much-ridiculed "gosh and golly" mannerism, she also managed to put together a totally new approach to getting a natural gas pipeline built which will be the biggest private construction project in the history of North America. No one else could do it although they tried. If that doesn't impress you, then you're trying too hard to be unimpressed while watching her do things like this while baking up a batch of brownies with her other hand.

5. For 30 years, Exxon held a lease to do exploratory drilling at a place called Point Thompson. They made excuses the entire time why they couldn't start drilling. In truth they were holding it like an investment. No governor for 30 years could make them get started. Then, she told them she was revoking their lease and kicking them out. They protested and threatened court action. She shrugged and reminded them that she knew the way to the court house. Alaska won again.

6. President Obama wants the nation to be on 25% renewable resources for electricity by 2025. Sarah went to the legislature and submitted her plan for Alaska to be at 50% renewable by 2025. We are already at 25%. I can give you more specifics about things done, as opposed to style and persona. Everybody wants to be cool, sound cool, look cool. But that's just a cover-up. I'm still waiting to hear from liberals the names of other governors who can match what mine has done in two and a half years. I won't be holding my breath.

By the way, she was content to return to Alaska after the national election and go to work, but the haters wouldn't let her. Now these adolescent screechers are obviously not scuba divers. And no one ever told them what happens when you continually jab and pester a barracuda. Without warning, it will spin around and tear your face off. Shoulda known better.

You have just read the truth about Sarah Palin that sends the media, along with the Democrat party, into a wild uncontrolled frenzy to discredit her. I guess they are only interested in skirt chasers, dishonesty, immoral people, liars, womanizers, murderers, and bitter ex-presidents' wives.

So "You go, Girl." I only wish the men in Washington had your guts, determination, honesty, and morals.
I rest my case. Only FOOLS listen to the biased media.

You are from Chicago anyway, isn't that the most corrupt city in the U.S.?

Thayne and Brutus

Excellent posts.

From the time I was 12 I worked these types of jobs in the fields to make my money for school and college, but about that time it got to where I could no longer get this work because everyone was using illegals and didn't want americans in the fields with the illegals, it caused too many problems for the farmers. There are still plenty of americans that will do this type of work even for minimum wage and there would have been more if the american workers had not been forced out by the farmers and the illegals.

Also why does working in the fields one day give Colbert the right to be an expert on illegals? all the Hollywood types think they know so much but they really don't have a clue about real life.

I thought that is was great! If you really listen to the points made, via satire, they show amzing insight on the underlying issues. It was a stroke of genius to have Colbert come in to draw attention to this issue. It's too bad that we can't get this kind of attention via the issues alone...

Sure she did.

Fox News?

mark- as far as pork projects, alaska's bridge to nowhere is one of the biggest wastes of money ever thought up. when it fell through she kept the money for it anyway.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/8/29/185340/759/281/579419

Mark, I could only check one of your pro Palin items (but I did find them interesting).

http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/solar.renewables/page/state_profiles/alaska.html

looks like AK is 20 % renewable, based on exisiting hydro power (takes years to site)...so what is the plan to make up the other 30 % ? And it sounds a bit like she was holding oil hostage...but as a consumer I am not so sure I like paying for AK residents to become filth rich by passing the costs of her increases to consumers of oil.

But I like some of her examples she set (not sure I can verify them, but hey, we are all honest here :)

Hatr

That bridge was not her bridge that was planned by the former governer.

What about the 35 million dollar planetarium that the city of chicago was supposed to get?

Also the money was used for other projects that Alaska did need.

SO you are so narrow minded that one f-ing bridge project wipes away all the other things that she did?

Amazing that Obama can sit in a racist church for 20 years, begin his political career in the living room os Bill Ayers and we are supposed to overlook that. BUT Sarah has a bridge project that the liberals make a stink about and that is important???

Twisted logic, you must be from Chicago!

Rojo.

That post came from an open letter that was written to a canadian paper and printed. It is from the point of view of an Alaskan.

Everything in that letter can be proven if you just look it up, I did not believe it all either but I researched it and found it to all be true!

For all of you saying that you "would work these jobs" . . . I call BS. You might work them, but not for those wages and no benefits. Don't even try to lie and say that you would be willing to work for $3 per hour and no benefits. No, you would demand minimum wage and benefits for your entire family.

Now what do you think would happen if all the current workers were paid minimum wage and offered benefits? The prices for this produce would skyrocket. Right now everyone in America, including YOU, are having an aneurysm over health insurance premiums going up. You don't care about the fact that everyone will have health care, NO . . . you only care about your money. Now do you really think everyone will be "OK" paying double or triple the price for food? Sure, you will say "I will gladly pay more if it gives an American honest work", but that is also BS. If you are not willing to pay more to make sure a sick American child has health insurance, you will not pay more to make sure someone else has a job.

Bottom line . . . without illegals, YOU WILL PAY MORE. And our current situation PROVES that Americans are NOT WILLING to pay more for anything.

Pockho Suckhof

No It did not come from Fox News!

If you had bothered to read it it was an article written to a canadian newspaper.

Why do you have such a problem with Fox News? Because they are not in the tank for 'The One"

Thoughts from Cali--I don't like the healthcare thing because I don't use it. I believe on just rubbing dirt on the wound and it will heal. Some people go to the hostpital for the stupidest of things. Like I was talking to a guy and he started getting a bloody nose so he got up from lunch to go to the hostpital. Why should I have to pay for that? And to believe people will only use it if they need to shows how ignorant you are.

And to the part about working at those wages, farmers can't pay you that little. They like illegals doing their work because then they can pay under the table and not pay minimum wage or taxes on the money. So what incentive does a farmer have to employ the average American. Also, if they wouldn't make unemployment look so nice, I bet more people would work in the field. I knew this guy who had a job that he earned $13/hr, he was laid off and he still makes more money a week than I do and I work full time at $10/hr. What is in place to make him want to go find a job?

10 dollars an hour 40 hours a week is $1600/month before taxes. Unemployment max benny i believe is $400 per week (at least it was in 2002) before taxes thus he also makes $1600.

The laid off guy you know has to pay taxes on those bennies as well.

http://bit.ly/asFzZk

Try calculating your estimated UI benefits

http://www.coworkforce.com/uibestimator/#estimator

I see that Gallup is reporting that only 36% of Americans have faith in the legislative branch of the government to do what is right for the country. This is, I might add, 8 points below the previous 'low water mark'-set in October of 2008 after the market crash.

Think this little stunt is going to raise that rating?

/And-to the misinformed poster above: Ronald Reagan did not give China Most Favored Nation status-that was Bill Clinton.

Jeanette: You hit the nail on the head the jobs aren't offered to English speaking citizens.

Thoughts from Cali:The work doesn't pay by the hour, so the $3 you refer to is irrelevant, it pays by how much you produce,by the bushel, or the bag, or the pound.If you work hard and learn the tricks to do it fast, you can make more than minimum wage.

I know people who would take these jobs if they could get them.I know people who are praying for a heavy winter because they can get work shoveling snow without having to speak Spanish.

I swear to God, I feel like I was the last white kid in America to actually do yardwork and wash cars for summer money.

...maybe we should ship the kids out to the farms to do the work....obuma's new summer jobs program...

I don't know how old you are ED, but being from LA in the 50's and 60's I had to mow and wash all year round. I also had a paper route. Do they have kids delivering papers anymore?

Not that I've seen Kirby, no.

But who reads newspapers anymore? Look at all of us, sitting here blogging day-in and day-out, scouring online articles.

CC I am for that! Not only does that teach the kids some appreciation and values it would also improve their physical condition that is worsening everyday.

I still remember the days I worked in my family's restaurant just so my family can make a living. It is long hours and hard work, in addition to the studying and extra-curricular activities you are "suppose" to do to get into a good college. That was only a decade ago.

I love video games like other kids, but I also had the opportunity to learn the meaning of working with your hands. It takes time and effort. Kids nowadays will cry and whine. In the end however they will learn a great deal from it.

My friends and I used to mow several neighbors lawns growing up. This was in the 90's and we'd make $15 a lawn. Now, my aging father offers kids in the neighborhood $25 to do his (I'd do it for him for free if I didn't live in another state). He has no takers. So he hires out a company and pays them around $30 to do his lawn. Want to guess who's pushing the mower?

Oh no ED. I read my paper and did the crossword before I logged on. That is why you don't see me too early. Something soothing about the paper. I'll be sad when they go away.

Landscaping companies drive around with their commercial lawn mowers in tow getting most of the mowing jobs now. Adults are taking over the paper routes. Most kids can't get a job doing anything anymore - either the adults have beat them to the jobs or their parents don't want them to do anything because of pedophiles. When I was a kid we could pick strawberries for 10 cents a quart, mow, babysit, run errands, feed the neighbors cat/dog/whatever while they were on vacation. It is really pathetic that kids can't get a job doing anything anymore (the economy sucks so bad the adults are taking anything they can get). Well - the recession is officially over (LOL) so maybe everyone will be able to get a job soon.

I live in a farming community and I don't know one single farm worker that works for less than the state minimum wage. I also know alot of kids that work (chores). They feed the cows or change water before and after school, that's just two examples. I also know many hispanics that get perferred for jobs in the community because they can speak spanish. In the grocery store, bank, schools, parts stores.....because of the large community of farm labor. Well paid farm labor that spends their money in the community as well as send it home to Mexico. Spending one day working in the field that United Farm Workers set up doesn't give Cobert one iota of an idea of how it works.

And, what about the other "hard" jobs in America like construction, janitor, waste management I could list many. There are plenty of hard working Americans that do all of these jobs.

It is like going through the drive-thru at a fast food you can barely understand the person. I remember when these jobs went to high schoolers or seniors on fixed incomes and now most can barely speak where you can understand and you are right about being told over qualified, the only place that hasn't said is Walmart for the door greeter and those people are seniors. I like some of you did the picking, mowed lawns, babysat and etc while in school trying some school kid to do that now. I willing to pay for it but they don't want to the finish work unless I pay them extra. By finish work I mean raking the cut grass up, sweeping the walks when they are done cutting the lawn, I always did that as part of cutting the lawn. When I babysat if there were dishes to do I did them, you get the picture well not so today. Oh well, we reap what we sow. As always just my opinion.

Kirby, I actually carry a book of crosswords around with me most of the time... :)

Lyn, you were given an allowance for chores? Whenever I asked for an allowance I was just told that they allow me to live in their house and give me food. I would mow the lawn, trim the trees, wash the siding then spend the rest of the day outside. When I turned 16, I had to get a job to save up for college. And while working/going to school still did all the chores. I just think parents of today don't want to bring their kids up with the burden they had as kids when all they did was spend all day outside but I'm glad my parents did that. And I was always made fun of when I couldn't party with my friends since I worked all the time. Working as a highschooler helped me learn about how much things really cost and I think it made me value them more. I have paid for everything I own pretty much like my Car, both laptops, all my video games and movies and my t.v. and put myself through college. It gives me a sense of accomplishment knowing that all your hardwork went to something.

You think you had it bad. We lived in a shoebox on the side of the road.............

LUXURY!!!!!

Well said!!!

Totally agree zdcdoc. Colbert and Stewart are like the court jesters of medieval times. Their role was to tell the royals when they were being stupid. They used humour in order to avoid being killed for it. What is sad is that Americans are so focused on entertainment and titillation that it takes pulling an entertainer into a congressional hearing to get people to pay attention.

Frankly, Steward gives more in depth coverage to most of the big news stories than anything I've seen on network "news" in the last 10 years. And since he is an equal opportunity basher, its about as unbiased as you can get, too. He did a great interview with the king of Jordan last night (whom, by the way, I'd happily trade for our own leadership. Well spoke, open minded, non-partisan... We could use a serious injection of that in this country). Colbert is total fluff but I'll take John Steward any day.

Well, the facts were blured with the crap. Either give a straight forward testamony or do a comedy routine.

But JoJo, then it wouldn't be as interesting.

Agreed Hatr_Hurter!

If blurred than your ability to read between the lines of his jokes is weak if not blind. Americans will not work twelve or more hours per day in the fields picking crops, setting irrigation, etc. At least not for no benefits or over time. Farm work is from can see to can't see despite weather. I don't see any white people standing line for these jobs. I'm white unemployed and have farm experience however a broken back suffered six years ago prevents me from bending for more than ten minutes before I'm in to much pain to continue bending or I would consider doing this type of work. I'm 60 and in good shape compared to today's youth despite my back. I don't get nor have I applied for assistance. I just keep looking for something that I can do.

this is one of those major pressing issues, immigration. it has been for a while.

Mark

they're just pointing out what a joke it was when Palin/Beck made their big rally...for $$$ of coarse.

Oh....and these guys unlike Palin/Beck don't want a dime.

So who sells out for the $$$?

Not sure how you make the leap from a comedian testifying before a subcommitte to Glenn Beck's August DC rally. There's really no comparison. By the way, the money Beck's rally raised went to the Wounded Warrior Foundation.

cheney: NO - If there were any profits made after expenses, they MAY go to wwf, which also has lots of overhead, most likely.

This was not a volunteer event - they were PAID.

You guys all need to WAKE UP...... and call Goldline.

why was it a waste of money? immigration is a huge political subject.

Just like other tired comments from the right. Wasting taxpayer dollars is the tired comment on this article.

Colbert "took" only 5 minutes of Congress' precious time, Colbert paid ALL of his own expenses as he said on his show last night. What did Congress pay for? Free water if he becomes parched and the electricity for his microphone.

How about the salaries of the Congressmen, the aides, the security? I don't blame Colbert for his stunt, as he is an entertainer and that what he does for a living...entertain. Congressmen are not entertainers...big difference. If they wanted him and his act to entertain them, then they could have easily invited them to their own house and not wasted the taxpayers dollars...

Believe me, it can get a lot worse. Wait till you see real living breathing idiots as seated Senators, for example MS Angle and MS O'Donnell.

Mike. Something that we do know about these conservatives is that they never voted to increase our debt to an unbelievable point. They never voted to grow our government into an unbelievable size. They never voted to decide for us that we should have a huge unworkable central government. They never voted to change our system(profound change) into more and more socialism. If they are so stupid and ignorant as you keep calling them, why do they seem so much better than the liberal radicals that they would replace. We know what the libs in office will do because they have proven their true colors.....At least with new blood, we are not guaranteeing the ugly slide of our country....Conservatives could take the motto of "hope and change" because that is what we now need, But I think Obama has ruined that motto for a very long time....Few like or trust the president or that Dem/socialist congress for they have proven to only make matters much worse. Who needs more of that??? No one can even point to one policy where this president has produced one program that would actually be successful in long term correction of the downslide of our economy. Instead we only have the promise of more debt and more people on the government dole. The only opportunity turns out to be the opportunity to get some(little) more money from government that has been taken form the people who still produce.

Mike - "A living breathing idiot", as you referred to Sharon Angle, is an improvement over the incompetent lieing moron currently occupying the NV Senate seat.

Because the Koch Brothers and Dick Armey don't want to pay for such a rally.

Da Noid

Because the Koch Brothers and Dick Armey don't want to pay for such a rally.

I'll bet they pay for a vegetable and fruit rally. I can wait those that if it happens. There will be lots of fruits in it. Maybe there will be some empty gourds too.

I work in agriculture on the border, and back in the 70's illegal laborers may have worked the fields but that was then, now its entirely different. With the focus on immigration and Border Patrols beefed up manpower and civil penalties the majority of the "picking crews" refuse to hire anyone here illegally. The way agriculture business has changed and the money has changed this issue.

Today in Arizona/California/New Mexico and Texas produce buyers negotiate and arrange purchase of product long before it is even grown. One the deal is set the buyer pays up to 50% of the agreed purchase price based on past production records. The farmer will use the front cash and his own investment to plant, harvest and transport the product to a cooler where it will be inspected and received by the buyer. In the southwest we get as many as four crops or more a year and the picking is calculated down to mere days. Pick to early and it will be rejected, pick to late and it will spoil before market and either way the buyer will reject it and the farmer must repay the front money as well as loose his investment.

So picking crews are vital and reserved well in advance of the crops mature date. IF a crew can not be secured in advance the crop is not planted. The crew leaders know that if they hire illegals and get caught or raided by Border Patrol they go out of business for weeks at a time and the crops does not get picked and they lose money, the farmers quit using them and lawsuits abound.

These are million dollar crops seasons and picking crews (despite common thinking) is a very skilled art. Pick or cut it wrong, handle it wrong and you screw it up resulting in product rejection. These crops are picked packaged and transprted right from field to cooler. Hollywood may portray pickers as ignorant illegals grabbing veggies in the hot sun, but it is a learned and skilled labor.

The majority of the illegals now head for urban area's looking for unskilled labor jobs in resturants and loading docks. The days of the illegal farm workers are over.

Beverly

So now you are making cracks about Gay people. You just do not stop with the biggotry do you! You must be A Chicago Black. Like you think that excuses you being a biggot!

AZRancher - Thank you for some real, informed input. I would like to ask a few questions for your confirmation/correction. These contracted legal workers are predominately Hispanic? They are paid by what they produce (bushels picked, etc) rather than hourly? A highly productive worker can make something more than minimum wage, but the average is pretty close to minimum wage? Are they paid as employees with taxes withheld or are they paid as contract workers with 1099 forms filed?

mark-500225, glad you said it.

AZ Rancher ---thanks for taking the time to provide insight into the way things are in the fields. Too many of us are removed from the actual growing of our produce to really know how it works.

Jeremy

Someone had to say it! I am getting really tired of this myth that you have to be a blonde haired, blue eyed, male to be a biggot.

Remember it was during an election where liberals flooded to the ballot box to vote for Obama that also brought Prop 8 to California SO if the majority voted for Obama and he won that it is logical that those same people voted for prop 8.

ALSO keep in mind that "Don't Ask Don't tell" and "Defence of Marriage Act" Were both brought by Bill Clinton, who courted the Gay Community for their vote. Obama and Biden have both said that they do not agree with Gay Marriage either.

At least with the Republicans you know they do not like you and do not pretend they do you get your vote and then screw you over.

Many Republicans keep their sexuality a private matter because they understand that when everyone knows it becomes more about that fact and less about your position. It is much easier to pull the strings in private than marching with a brass band playing!

I look at it this way, IF you have a couple who hardly touch each other in private but are all affectionate in public who are they trying to convince of their love? Us or Themselves?

I am offended..... I have brown hair and brown eyes....

To AZRANCHER, from someone who has been greatly agitated every time I hear about "Poor produce pickers" when I know they have unions, your information is like music to my ears. I live in an area full of illegals, nicely dressed, with several children, driving upscale cars, mothers having the advantage of raising their children because they draw a nice Gov. salary for having them, daddy gets paid under the table, as grandma cris-crosses to a border post office, collects her SS check then returns o Mexico. The Mexican leaders and their anchor children who live in these neighborhoods, rally and cry over and over about nothing bur poor farm workers. Lazy whites won't do farm work, (I was born and raised on ranches and know what working land is all about) now you disclose the farm system of profit and loss. (Differs from cattle back when.) This proves that once again we have been lied to by politicians, the LaRaza Revolution and the very Mexicans making all the noise. It is even more frightening than we ever knew. I can only say Thank You.

Indpndnt, here is the number to report illegal immigrants. Enjoy!

1-866-DHS-2ICE

So Pat, you are comparing millions of ILLEGAL immigrants flooding across the border to Ricky Ricardo? Are you serious? If you adore ILLEGAL immigrants so much, why don't you move into one of their neighborhoods. I'm sure the driveby shootings, squawking chickens, screaming kids, and empty beer bottles on your lawn will surely "charm" you.

I think that's one of the main reasons the whole world looks up to America: the gathering of such a cultural diversity. That's what makes your country so unique. It's a country build up on immigration, the perfect melting pot. That's the essence of your great(er) civilization. It's very hard for me to understand the resistance that some of you have against immigrants. It just seems incoherent.

No one is bashing legal immigrants. The problem is illegal immigrants. And, BTW, if certain members of the Dem party and the Pres. have their way 10 to 20 million illegals already here will be legalized. When that happens they will not be looking for migrant farm worker jobs any more , but will be competing for all types of jobs, many of which will be jobs currently sought by union workers. Moreover, those that don't manage to take jobs away from US citizens will be adding themselves to the ever increasing numbers of people lining up for entitlement benefits that people able to find work will have to pay for by way of increased taxes. The laws we have in place already provide a way for foreign citizens to come here to work and obatin citizenship. All the illegals have to do is follow those laws and, if appropriate, they will be able to come here and work and become citizens. Simply opening our borders is a recipe for disaster from both a security standpoint and a financial standpoint. But I guess you are too busy watching pie in the sky reruns of I love Lucy to understand any of that!

Pat, Boston MA

We need to stop with the immigrant bashing. They have much to offer our nation as history has proven.

Yes that is what makes America so beautiful. I love it. You sure have been giving us a lot of tunes today; keep up the good work. Music soothes the savage beast.

I have read a little about Desi and Lucy and you are not only right, but how few americans understand that we have been in this country for so little time; we are mostly from other parts of the world. My family was of Scotland, England and German descent. My Scottish great-grandfather shot another man and had to make his way here via Montreal! That was at about 1890.

The immigrants actually play a part in our economy and if you disbelieve it, trying picking your own produce as Colbert suggests. Immigrants spend money in stores, on food, clothing, used cars, etc.

Interesting the way you stereotype them, beacuse I don't really see that. And with stereotypes like that it's obvious why people react the way they do towards them. I see that type of behavior with legal Americans, so your stereotype is just wrong.

The "melting pot" is boiling over. Time to put the lid on it. Legal immigration is okay as it limits the numbers and speed at which immigration takes place.

The illegal immigrants have been with us for a long long long time. Only now it is an issue. It was not an issue when their labor was needed. Everybody looked the other way.

We exploit them, we ignore them, we use them and then we bash them. And blame them for everything. And have been for many years.

btw, I've seen some "white" neighborhoods in pretty rough shape. And have my entire life.

No one is immigrant bashing. What is being bashed iILLEGAL immigration

See the movie "The Long, Long Trailer" by Lucy and Ricky. Very funny.

It's happening here in Europe. But this is just how i feel: maybe we're bashing illegal immigrants, but what is certain is we're bashing people. I don't think it's the right thing to do. Most of those people are in a struggle to survive. I can't be comfortable with that.

We live in a very complex world, i know. But i have faith in America. The world looks up to you. It's a very thin line between immigration control and steping on human rights. It's happening in our borders, too. But your history and immigration background just proves that there are more benefits from that than prejuduce. History is a good teacher.

Pat,

Your whole point on the illegal immigrant debate is lost, because Desi Arnaz wasn't here illegally.

You are comparing apples and hand grenades. The two don't go together no matter how you try to mix them, and if your not careful, you get a big mess of apple sauce.

Desi came to America legally. He was not a criminal. The people who invade our country on a daily basis are criminals. Would you forgive the individuals who stole your car or wedding ring so readily? Why then should these individuals be rewarded for breaking our laws?

You want to stop illegal immigration.... then end farm subsidies.

Kevin 500221: "No one is bashing legal immigrants. The problem is illegal immigrants"

The first logical comment that has been made. I 100% agree with you. My wife has (a little unwillingly to be with me) immigrated from Japan to the United States through the legal process. I did all the paperwork myself without the help of an attorney as some would lead you to believe you need. Just file the proper paper work wait a little time and be done with it. Go to www.uscis.gov find the information you need and Viola, legal status.

do you have experience in farm work? yeah, didn't think so. how about immigration control? no, ok. how about experience in knowing what the hell is going on? no, obviously not as this is no waste when millions of americans are worried about IMMIGRATION!

Incorrect. Millions of Americans are concerned about ILLEGAL immigration. Leaving out the word ILLEGAL doesn't change their status.

My summer jobs were on farms. It really is back breaking work. However, there ARE LEGAL CITIZENS who are still WILLING AND ABLE to do it.

i'm pretty sure everyone here that has a brain knows that's what i mean. hell, you knew didn't you?

No we are not missing the point. It is you that is missing the point, which is Congress should be working to solve our problems, not hosting a comedy show. Lofgren invited Colbert because Colbert will invite him on his show, thus Lofgren get's free face time. And Colbert gets free publicity for his Comedy Central show. Are you so blinded by Party Loyalty that you can't see it for what it really was?

When my forefathers came here in 1632, in order for a son-in-law to move into Ipswich, they had to post a bond to insure that he would not be a burden to the community. Ipswich did this because it was important that people worked.

My wife's family immigrated from Poland and had to go through Ellis Island. Today to immigrate from Poland you are placed in a Lottery and if you are lucky enough, you may be one of the ten thousand allowed each year by the USA to immigrate from there.

I think Colbert making a joke out of illegal immigration is an insult to the integrity of our nation. If people want to come here to stay, do it legally.

Dearly love Steven Colbert, but have to agree w' Dread on this one. Looks like a smug little party to me... and great material for Colbert's next show. I'd've rather had my tax $$ spent on bringing in some "regular guys" who also know the numbers and the business.

Did any of you even watch his statement? Again, I submit, he knows more than you think.

XTRO - the answer to your question is that our nation's debt would be about $10 trillion LOWER, the stock market would be back over 11,000 and climbing, and our economic recovery would be well on it's way, while Blagoyevich, Emanuel and Obama fight over the mayor's job in Chicago.

Da Noid - I watched, and then I watched a replay. It wasn't worth the first viewing. His attempts to inject humor were lame. His assertions about illegals in the fields were based on 1 hour of his personal experience. Even in the fields he clowned around and didn't take it seriously. I agree with other posters who say this was a monumental waste of time and another black mark for the Dems when they can ill afford it.

Joe66

Now if they had to pay for ever thing like we do Im sure you see no mexicans here.

They do pay excise taxes. Guess who pays your medical bills when you visit most other countries? European countries have a better public health care system. Certainly, frownin on immigrants in the good old USA doesn't put a smiley face on what we are about. What do you think about the Tax dollars spent in the "ER" because people have no insurance?

According to Paul Krugman every other advanced country offers universal coverage, while spending much less on health care than we do. For example, the French health care system covers everyone, offers excellent care and costs barely more than half as much per person as our system.

Beverly

You are really deluded!

EUROPE has a better health care system??? Then explain to me why people come to the US to have major surgeries?

If France has such excellent health care the why did the french president come to America for his cancer treatments?

Canadians, English, French, German and most other european politicians, businessmen, royality, and the rich and famous come to the US for their health care!

Paul Krugman is a complete liar, buffoon and liberal hack who has his tongue so far up Obama's bohinus that he should set up residence in the White House. When you source Krugman as where you get your information and opinions, then you have lost all credibility, period.

Mark,

do you know that that doesn't depend on the health care system of the country? I mean, if you're ill, you're just looking for the best doctors or the most advanced technics. Do you know that there are americans coming to my country to get eye surgerys, for example? We have made great efforts on research in that field.

There's a lot of people looking for the best treatments everywhere, in America, sure, but also in India, Thailand and even in Cuba.

In that field, we're going GLOBAL. It's a good thing if one is fortunate enough to seek the best help they can get.

Susanna,

Eye surgery? Best surgery in Cuba? AHAHAHHAHAHAH

Cuba, a country where they even have trouble getting car parts?

Mark, you are a perfect example of Americans with blinders on. Being oblivious is bliss eh?

Here is a 2008 article regarding Medical Tourism.

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1861919,00.html

2009 Deloitte Report

http://www.deloitte.com/view/en_US/us/Insights/centers/center-for-health-solutions/55d9f278c9184210VgnVCM200000bb42f00aRCRD.htm

Mark,

I hope you get the point of where i wanted to get.

By the way, i'm not cuban, you know?

I'm Portuguese and I know that there are a lot of people from everywhere going to Cuba looking for health treatments.

It's about medicine as science and research.

mark-500225

Eye surgery? Best surgery in Cuba? AHAHAHHAHAHAH

Laugh all you want Mark United states ranks # 37 in healthcare in the world!

1         France
2         Italy
3         San Marino
4         Andorra
5         Malta
6         Singapore
7         Spain
8         Oman
9         Austria
10        Japan
11        Norway
12        Portugal
13        Monaco
14        Greece
15        Iceland
16        Luxembourg
17        Netherlands
18        United  Kingdom
19        Ireland
20        Switzerland
21        Belgium
22        Colombia
23        Sweden

24        Cyprus
25        Germany
26        Saudi Arabia
27        United  Arab  Emirates
28        Israel
29        Morocco
30        Canada
31        Finland
32        Australia
33        Chile
34        Denmark
35        Dominica
36        Costa Rica
37        United States of America 

38        Slovenia
39        Cuba

http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html

While the U.S. Spends Heavily on Health Care, a Study Faults the Quality

http://allcountries.org/health/usa_health_care_2008_nyt.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beverly in Chicago

Sarah Palin a yahoo?

I got news for you Bev. What you said could be farther from the truth. Read this, but you are such a moron you would not believe it anyway. You would rather stick by ODUMBO.

I have not called you any name THAT IS AN INFLAMMATORY, PERSONAL, ATTACK AND AGAINST THE COH, though I do question some things you say as being unreasonable. Tea bagger may offensive to you. It is a term many Tea Baggers are proud of. You do realize Tea Bagger won the Oxford dictionary word of the year?

Come on Mark, get with it.

____-------------------------------------------------

You must be A Chicago Black. Like you think that excuses you being a biggot!

Mark,

No matter what entity I would be you'd label me a bigot; I think.

The eyes are the mirror of the soul. You only see in others what you see in your self.

Beverly

You made the statements not me. Could it be the fact that you do not like a mirror being held up to your face because you do not like what you see?

Also BEV you used the term TEABAGGER, I do know what that means and do not like to be reffered to by that term.

You also Called Sarah Palin by a name and I took offence to that too.

You cut and Pasted my post but did you bother to read it? I do not think so you were too busy trying to pass of bigotry and hate as intellect!

Bev

and you also name me ONE person in the Tea Party Movement that just lives the term "TEABAGGER" they are just as insulted by it as I am.

Beverly

also those stats that you mentioned in your post come from 2000 which is almost 11 years ago. I am sure those figures are incorrect since they are 10 years out of date. You only cut and pasted them to prove some point to me.

Show me something more current than 10 yo figures.

How about a 2008 report that the US ranks 42nd in Life Expectancy Rates? Anyone have figures on Infant Mortality?

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/933429/united_states_life_expectany_ranking.html?cat=5

Keep up the posts bev. I enjoy reading them and I agree we could do a lot better with health care here.

Beverly Chicago - Those world rankings have been discredited for years. They include such things as vehicular deaths and suicides for the U.S. numbers. The results are badly skewed.

You must be a liberal shill or a blind sheep.

The point is, the USA is number #1 (as Colbert enthusiastically confirmed) but not number #1 in healthcare worldwide as many like to claim in an oblivious fashion.

Do you really think the Tea Party is comprised of spoiled millionaires? If you do, you really need to get out of the factory more. Your thesis implies since you worked in farming, them we shouldn't get angry with Congress for wasting time on a Colbert free publicity stunt. I now understand why you have worked in manual labor all your life.

I used to work for a fellow who grew up in Hawaii. He told a story of working for a Dole pineapple farm one summer. In 90+ heat they have to wear full coverage rubber suits because pineapples will slice you like a scalpel. He did it for one week and quit, but said most of the workers were illegals - not from Mexico, but from VietNam, Cambodia, all of SE Asia. They got paid next to nothing and pulled these pineapples six days a week, sun up to sunset, and never complained because it was enough money to eat. Americans are LAZY and refuse to work in fields, in back of restaurants, livestock farms, etc. The illegals are not all criminals. Most just want to survive and will do any sort of dirty work to do so! If these places offered triple the pay, maybe Americans would do the work, but then the product would triple in price. Are you folks willing to pay $5 for one apple? Or pay triple next time you go to a restaurant? Prices would skyrocket.

so in your view it ok to be a criminal ,rob a bank that ok it just some poor slob who needed some money his girl friend wanted a fur coat ,hell never mind what the law saz,what part of illegal do you not understand,we have laws for immigration ,and just walking across the border an,t one off them

the united farm workers allowed people like you with big mouths saying that americans would do those jobs to have a chance. stephen colbert was one of 16 people who took them up on their offer. put up or shut up.

Make it 17. Where do I sign up?

not sure the site i found was right. i'll find it though, gimme a sec.

"So tell me what happens when we make all the "ILLEGALS" legal??? Then they don't want to work for low wages.....in fact, the're not going to want to work at all. They will grab all the free crap they came here for. Free food stamp, housing assistance, schools, healthcare, etc. If any of them do work, then they will demand higher wages and now we need another 30 million of them to do the jobs that they don't want to do....................does anyone see where this is going????? Send them back and pay Americans a decent wage for doing manual labor. If your vegies go up in price, then it's you're choice not to buy them if they are too high for you. They are a drain on the system and I'm paying for it. I have no problem sending everyone of them back and growing a garden in my back yard if that's what it takes. Wake up people!"

Because Americans themselves aren't fat lazy incompetent no good dredges of society? Lemme lay it out for you; their status as an illegal immigrant is only true because the process of actually gaining citizenship is such a pain in the ass that it really isn't worth it for the majority of them. Wanna know why? Because they migrated from Mexico, a nation which is nearly a third world what with all the @!$%# that goes down. Most American's couldn't pass the citizenship test how should we expect someone from a third world who might not be able too read because he was too busy trying to legally work in his country so he can have dinner that night for him and his family, to pass?

I see kids now and either they're too busy being fat lazy brats with parents who can see no evil or hear no evil about their perfect little pumpkin or they're stuck in a padded room and given all the electronics they want so that they can stay nice and safe while their parents don't have to worry about watching them. We are as a society encouraging laziness.

Those "illegal" workers are coming here to get away from the @!$%#storm that is Mexico and to better their life and the lives of their future generations. The same god damn thing that the Founders came here for. We are punishing them for them not wanting to be involved with Mexico's problems.

Of course there will be bad seeds but this is a truth for everywhere in the world.

And you're right, if they are made legal we will still need another 30 million to grow our food. Because we're fat lazy @!$%#ing Americans.

jeanette, couldn't find the link but check with ufw.org and they can tell you.

The sheep sure are bleating loud today. Way to create a scapegoat! OH NO, the ILLEGAL ALIENS are taking all the jobs! Well having lived in the same neighborhoods as several illegals, let me tell you what I've experienced. They live roughly on average 8 to an apartment (as opposed to the four in a three bedroom apartment like myself), everyone of working age has at least one job (if not two or three) and mostly it's work that I don't want to do (fast food, bussing tables, washing dishes, landscaping crews), the ones I have met are very religious with a strong sense of family values and are working their asses off to have their shot at the American dream. The fact is, Americans want a scapegoat to blame their problems on and the illegals are a good fit. The Republicans are happy to oblige. The fact is, citizenship in this country is expensive when it shouldn't be. Citizenship should be a time consuming process (as should be anything where a certain amount of commitment is required) and I firmly believe that anyone entering this country needs to learn English at a conversational level, but it should be as cheap as we can make it. Either that, or we need to close our borders entirely and replace the sign on the statue of liberty (you know the one, 'give us your poor, your hungry, your tired, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free') with a much larger one that says 'No Vacancy'.

Of course, trying to look at this situation rationally would require people to think for themselves, an American ideal that has become quite lost with the average citizen who is ready to go to war over the latest sound byte from Beck or Limbaugh.

To respond to nolliabed's comment below:

"So tell me what happens when we make all the "ILLEGALS" legal??? Then they don't want to work for low wages.....in fact, the're not going to want to work at all. They will grab all the free crap they came here for. Free food stamp, housing assistance, schools, healthcare, etc. If any of them do work, then they will demand higher wages and now we need another 30 million of them to do the jobs that they don't want to do....................does anyone see where this is going?????"

To me the real problem is our goverment sets up a Welfare System that invites abuse. Some poor people have enough pride and dignity to figure out a way to make a living or to make ends meet and take satisfaction out of it but to some this is abuse heaven. Why do I go to work when I can get the same amount of money? Our welfare system is very illogical and prone to severe abuse.

The U.S. created the immigration problem long ago when it put big business before people. While many of these Latin American nations were just getting on their feet we bribed, threatened or just killed any Latin American leader that didn't allow our companies to rape and pillage their land. We propped up right wing dictatorships that made the rich super rich, and their poor destitute.

Look at the facts that are right in front of you. Immigrants are not lazy, they do not come here to take advantage of our great health care and free handouts. I have yet to see any Latinos on street corners begging for money. When I used to volunteer at the homeless shelter the immigrants there were always just waiting for someone to pick them up. Not one was ever looking for a free place to sleep for the night. So by making these hardworking people legal we open up the opportunities to pay them fairly, which will in itself raise wages, and to tax those wages.

The website is http://takeourjobs.org/

Dem in Texas...

A good point, but let me ask you this question? What about all the immigrants that came to this country legally? What about the expenses they incurred hiring lawyers, paying immigration fees? Should all those costs be returned to those that played by the rules and immigrated to this country legally? I have a very dear and close friend that is here via an H-1 work visa who has done everything that the U.S. government has required of her. Do you know how much she has paid thus far? Between legal fees and immigration fees, she has shelled out over $10K.

You speak of those that have strong family values. What about the values they show to the country in which they work?? Do they offer to pay taxes that you and I have to pay?

We can't have a program where we grant amnesty to people who have not played by the rules. What does that say to the people that have followed the established path to citizenship? What values are we showing to them??

Like the average back yard garden will supply enough produce to sustain a family,not to mention citrus fruits that cannot be grown everywhere get real.

WeldDem - I live on a half-acre lot. I have a 24'x16' garden at the back. I raise and can enough beans and tomatoes for our family of three to last a year and then some. I raise enough squash and cucumbers that we give them to neighbors and co-workers. We grow enough lettuce that we don't buy any for 3 months.

When we landscaped we planted 2 apple trees, 2 pear trees, 3 blueberry bushes, 2 peach trees and 1 plum tree. We have fresh fruit all summer and give away a ton of stuff.

Just an example of what you can do on a small lot.

He got his point across, he drew a crowd for comedy hour. They put a prissy comedian, who only works by his mouth, to do a days work farmers do? They say prices of Vegs will go up, they go up anyway depending on who peed in the water to contaminate the produce. That also doesn't cover the fact that Mexicans have been coming here for years "legally" to do farm work with their "green cards" or they wouldn't get in. It has just been since El Presidente Vicente Fox sent floods of his people here with a map and instruction book of benefits, that we have had this many ILLEGAL Mexicans here. They come as planed to "make history" by taking over America. Anything posted here to make illegals look valuable, is done by Mexican anchors who are, of course, LaRaza or Dem politicians.

Hence why I'm in favor of a tiered plan for a path to citizenship for every migrant worker currently dwelling in the US.

By resorting to under-the-table wages on the backs of undocumented aliens, employers are shafting both their 'cheap' alternative and native-born citizens. It's ludicrous. Lax application of labor laws is one large piece of an overwhelming puzzle.

if they pay more for the labor the price of fooddoesn't just go up, it skyrockets. lettuce for 1.19? more like 3-4 dollars.

I'm sure the increased cost of veggies will be more than offset by the reduction of costs to the hospitals, schools, car insurance and social services that are given to illegal's. As for them doing the work that Americans won't do.....maybe if they allowed American kids to go out and harvest crops again like they used to we wouldn't need to have the illegal's here. And it possibly would help with the obesity problem with kids....teach them the value of hard work.....

Oh, god forbid people spend their money on essentials instead of cable TV and World of Warcraft. God forbid wages should be made to increase without a class of illicit labor dragging down the going rates.

Hey, what's wrong with WoW?

And I only buy organic produce, ideally local if it's available. Never even look at the price, but then I have my priorities.

I put my money where my mouth is.

What's wrong with WoW? You mean, before they made Horde kid-friendly or after? :p

Blood Elf paladins my fanny.

If you actually watched Colbert testify, you would see that he has some valid points. Just because you don't agree doesn't make it incorrect.

did you watch the entire hearing? no, you just watched part of it as that's all they have on msnbc to show you. ever think they might have some other people with expertise in the field at a later time? probably not as your post would have indicated that you did.

The comedian works 1 day in the field. Now he's qualified as "an expert"?!? Seems like all those in power want to short-circuit their responsibilities and entertain themselves instead. I grew up on a dairy farm in Pennsylvania. We worked 365 days. We put in 5 hours a day in the barn doing the milking, feeding and taking care of the cows. This was before breakfast & school and then again after school and before supper. This was Christmas, Easter and yes ... all summer long. There were no holiday or vacation. Our summers included field work, garden work, mowing the lawn, painting buildings, fences and the same 5 hours a day in the barn. We were up at 5 am and often didn't stop until 9 pm. We sharecropped a lot of neighboring farms so we would have enough hay for the winter. My brother and his wife now run the same farm and their kids and my kids and the other nieces and nephews worked the farm through high school. It is hard work. But it is great training. There are lots of Americans who still farm and still work the fields and pick vegetables. Shame on anyone to suggest that no American will do this work. Get your head out of your ivory tower and come on down. There is always work to do on the farm. But try it for a week. One day is nothing!!!!

So you're one of those 40% of people who actually takes Colbert at his word.

"So you're one of those 40% of people who actually takes Colbert at his word"

??? That he actually worked 1 day in his life?!?

wasting valuable time on an idiots opinion

you mean like one who can't spell medieval then calls someone else an idiot? quit wasting my time!

Didnt realize you owned these boards Hatr. No one here is wasting your time if you dont like it leave. Maybe go somewhere like Mexico. You'd fit in there

wow, that one flew right over your head huh? you like defending hypocrites?

Look at Bill White using a moron's retort. "Hey maybe if I say he should move to Mexico, I won't have to think and reply with anything of substance. That'll show him, and no one will see through what a loud-mouthed, insubstantive idiot I am".

There are so many on this board who are so loud and so angry, while very noticeably so very ignorant. Good luck USA, we'll need it--not because of adversity from outside factors, but for so many loud idiots who won't take the time to actually read and understand the things they scream about, within.

LeeLee,

Your answer why Bev in Chicago is so angry......she is from Chicago....that may be the reason she is so angry and hates the republicans so much.

Angry, Democrats? Like the Tea Party has been a happy, positive, bipartisan, let's-work-together group of people?! Conservative Tea Partiers are the definition of angry and bitter, and even violent, about the fair election of Obama, and you want to call Democrats "angry" and "nasty?" lol

LeeLee-1744546

Hey Beverly in Chicago......you are the exact reason why Democrats will be out of office in November. Everyone is so sick of the nastiness coming from people like you. Why so angry?

I'm sorry if that's your perception. Let me ask you this. Are you suffering from some type of hallucinatory disorder. Don't you hear and see the anger in the Tea Baggers.

Tea Baggers have the trade mark on "I'm mad as hell and ain't gonna take it any more". Anymore superstitions; since that voodoo economy thing failed to work?

Hey , you need more than that ole black magic to get the GOPTP back in with their past proven failed policies!!

One sees very nasty comments coming from the Democrats or those not in lock-step with the Far Right. It is the Far Right, Tea Partiers (TP'ers) who are the ones with the nasty language, veiled threats, and overall disrespect for anyone in office unless it is a Republican.

When the current crop of Republicans throw a line out in attacking the Democrats, it is usually a common, age old trick of taking Republican shortcomings or mistakes or nasty language and dumping it upon the opponent as these factors were coming from the Democrats. People have to learn to read between the lines and know who said what and when.

Colbert had every right to petition to be heard. It was up to Congress to determine if they wished to hear him out. I don't see anything wrong with someone in a position as he has being in the public's eyes, to wish to make a statement. He was not mocking the hearing, but making a point that it is past time to treat this subject with some serious solutions. To quote the article above and his comments (enhancements are mine):

"Colbert did note the seriousness of the issue of immigration during the hearing's question-and-answer period, saying that he likes "talking about people who have no power."

"Migrant workers suffer. And have no rights," he said."

@NickOhio

A comedian testifies before a US senate sub-committe at the behest of a California democrat on a topic of which he has no expertise, practical experience or background.

Having read this article, You, of course, seize upon this theatre of the absurd to attack Republicans and Tea Party members and their supporters.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Get right with yourself and your maker and teach others to do the same.

Sweep your side of the street and cast your vote.

The rest is blahba bah blobbity boo.

Nick - Illegals aren't totally without rights, they have the right to go back to Mexico.

alwaysfaithfull

Who's next? Jon Stewart, followed by Bill Maher, Keith Obermann, Rachel Whatsername and Bozo the Clown in full make-up!? For some reason the image of Nero "playing" his harp while Rome was burning just popped into my head. No wonder we are all in deep doo doo!

Now, alwaysfaithfull

You know the top coo coo clock (or should I say time bomb?) in the GOPTP is that megalomaniacal, multiple personality, Glenn Beck.

Old crying Glenda is in a lot of deep sH!t too for his gold finger scam of overcharging people for its products.