America's Dumbest Newspaper Columnist Strikes Again. Just. WOW.

[HughBeaumont]

This is what readers in Northeast Ohio (the most consistently Democratic-voting bloc in Ohio, BTW) have to put up with every Thursday or Friday - Kevin O'Brien, who couldn't possibly be THIS amazingly stupid on his own. Or can he?

Today reeks the valiant defense of Ohio's odious Senate Bill 5, with talking points that make his Irish counterpart over at Faux go "DAMN, girlfriend!", stupidity that smashes the ceiling and shamelessness that practically begs for the Koch Bros to slip dollars in his G-string:

http://www.cleveland.com/obrien/index.ssf/2011/04/sb_5_is_a_start_worth_fighting.html

The unions still want to run things, so they'll be busily collecting signatures to get a measure on November's ballot to overturn the new collective-bargaining law.

They need to be argued with.

(snip)

Why do you hate (take your pick: teachers, police officers or firefighters)?

This is an accusation designed to make you feel guilty. Don't. There's no hate afoot here. There's a rational realization on the part of taxpayers that government has exceeded the size, scope and level of expense that the taxpayers are willing to maintain. Jobs undoubtedly will be lost, and that's an unfortunate reality. We'll want those people working at something in the private sector as soon as possible. What's not reality is the implication that the people in those jobs cannot be replaced -- ask the air traffic controllers -- or have a perpetual claim on the public purse.

Big corporations are behind this; they want to have all the influence.

First of all, this isn't about big corporations. If it's true that they don't pay any taxes (it isn't, but that's the left's narrative) then there's no reason for big corporations to care about the size or cost of government, which is all this fight is actually about.

(snip)

You never cared about spending when . . .

Ah, the hypocrisy argument -- the last refuge of people whose every attempt at substantive argument has failed: If you didn't object to expensive, inefficient government before, it's no fair bringing it up now. Never mind that at the national level, spending has gone way up in the last decade and all the way off the charts in the last two years.

It's not true. You are allowed to realize what's going on and say something. You haven't missed the deadline.

Ohioans will need to be outspoken and organized to stave off the public employee unions' big-money effort to regain control of local governments. Tea Party people, I'm looking at you.

In the end, two questions should keep everyone focused:

• Who decides when enough government is enough: taxpayers or public employees?

• What's the incentive for public employees ever to say, "That's enough"?

That's right. There isn't one.

In the words of Will Ferrel playing Alex Trebek . . . . . "Simply Stunning." What's even more stunning is the stuff I didn't include is just as bad.

Yeah, be sure to clean up the pole when you're done, Kevin. Sheesh.

[Atman]

1. Stunning

:wow:

[roguevalley]

11. when that paper folds and jobs are lost, it will be sad unfortunate ...

[HughBeaumont]

13. It's nearly the size of a pamphlet as it is.

Even the Sunday paper looks like a normal edition used to.

The internet is making this industry (and cable news also) into a dinosaur.

[annabanana]

2. Yeah.. throw a couple of wars and big cushions of cash for billionaires on

the credit card... Then blame the tattered remains of the middle class.

[Octafish]

3. He is world class stupid. Perhaps he needs a reminder about who's taking him for a ride.

One of the things "journalists" hate the most is how little they are paid. When one of their number makes significantly more than another, especially themselves, it gets under their skin.

This was a big problem at the post-strike Detroit newspapers, where scabs were brought in for those reporters who refused to honor the "final offer." At The Detroit Free Press, one guy is especially loathed for crossing the picket line, Mitch A. He gets six figures-plus for his brilliant essays on sports and life and so on. As the new hires make about one-tenth what he pulls down, I can't blame him from an economic standpoint for what he did.

Kevin O'B in Cleveland seems to be one of those guys who's in it for the money, too. Perhaps the ownership class will reward him someday. I know anyone who gives a damn about the First Amendment won't.

[marmar]

4. There's no remedy for that level of stupid.

nt

[HughBeaumont]

12. Their "remedies" usually involve promotions and salary increases.

Which this piece of work is no doubt in for, knowing the Plain Freeper.

[LeftinOH]

5. O'Brien is only at the Plain Dealer to represent the 'other side'. Every week there are

letters from people picking apart his most recent articles.

[HughBeaumont]

6. He's representing "the other side", all right . . . OF THE MOON!

There's "representing" and there's "batshit insane crayon scribblings". Blaming workers' salaries for the damaging results of whiskey-throttle Bewsh II administration spending is the act of an uneducated coward. And this guy, from what I hear, is being groomed to take over the editorial department.

[NuttyFluffers]

7. apparently reactionary playbook is, "if you say it, they will come."

just say anything crazy, and there'll be some fools who'll nod their heads and follow -- because they like the sound of conviction in the voice.

considering stupidity is an unlimited, renewable resource, the conservative overlords might actually be right about this low assessment of humanity. any ranting fool will do, because like attracts kind. and they have so much *energy* to obey...

[Ishoutandscream2]

8. Hugh, that's the common narrative in my neck of the woods

No wonder I walk around with my head down. I am surrounded by folks like this author.

[ChoppinBroccoli]

9. How Does This Guy Find His Way Home At Night

I think he must have to walk around with a sticky note permanently attached to his hand reminding him to breathe every couple of seconds.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the kind of "thinking" that came up with the whole, "If corporations don't pay taxes, why would they care about the size of the government?" nonsensical argument.

And can we please lay the smack down on this tired, old right-wing talking point that spending has exploded in the last two years? I mean, you and I and the people on this board know it's a lie, but the rest of the world thinks it's true. Therefore, we informed few have a duty to set the record straight (since the right-wing-controlled media WON'T). Because even the most BASIC perusal of the Federal budgets over the last 2 years will show conclusively that spending has DECREASED every year since Obama became President.

[madmom]

10. So if Obama goes by the bush play book and take the cost of the war(s) out of the budget,

how much does that "save" us?

[Southerner]

14. About $170 billion a year according to USA Today

"•Afghanistan will cost nearly $105 billion in the 2010 fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, including most of $33 billion in additional spending requested by Obama and pending before Congress. Iraq will cost about $66 billion. In fiscal 2011, Afghanistan is projected to cost $117 billion, Iraq $46 billion. To date, Pentagon spending in Iraq has reached $620 billion, compared with $190 billion in Afghanistan."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-05-12-afghan_N.htm

This is from 2010 by the way.