The State of Our Union

CNN ^ | Feb 2, 2006 | Lou Dobbs

[Mel Gibson]

It's astounding after almost 5 years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01 that the US has still done absolutely nothing to combat illegal immigration into this country. The Republican Party is only interested in cheap labor while the Democrat Party is only interested in cheap votes.

Dobbs is right, even 96% of our clothing is imported. We cannot even afford to clothe ourselves.

[MNJohnnie]

Utter economic ignorance and grotesque stupidity. Dobbs has finally come out of the closet to show himself as the rabid Democrat Socialists he is. Glad he has dropped the psuedo "Conservative" facade. Amazing how the "populists" always show themselves to be Big Govt Tax and Spend, Spend, SPEND Liberals in the end.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

"the US has still done absolutely nothing to combat illegal immigration into this country"

BS. Don't add to the people who don't have a clue as to what's happening.

[MNJohnnie]

"This is an economy that's not creating high-paying jobs, and those who have jobs are watching their real wages decline."

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Average NON manufacturing job hourly wage is 17.38 an hour up over $2.00 since Dobbs hero Clinton left office. So not only is Dobbs intellectually vacuous he is knowingly LYING in his claims. Just another Junk Journalists whoring for the DNC.

[WatchingInAmazement]

Johnnie on the spot, slander, slander, slander. Name one thing that Dobbs has not reported factually.

[roses of sharon]

LOL, can't wait for Dobbs to return to his "peace and prosperity" claims when a Dem become Pres.

Isn't is strange how he became interested in outsourcing, immigration, and the ineptness of bureaucracy, under a Republican?

But for most Americans history begins when they wake up in the morning, and believe its true if its on TV!

[Dont_Tread_On_Me_888]

Idiots like that poster you responded to don't deserve a response from you.

These morons who trash respected national commentators are the scum of FR. They have done it to not only Dobbs, but Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Peggy Noonan, George Will, . . . you name the best and they have done it.

They also trash fellow FR memebrs who have the "gall" to state facts. Ignore them. Post and repsond to civil and reality based members.

[Alberta's Child]

I hearxd an interesting interview yesterday on a financial radio show. The host asked the guest what he thought the most important and highly-valued job skills would be in this country in the coming years, and the guest suggested that training for a specific job is one of the worst career moves a person can make.

Instead, he said that most important "job skills" for a person to have would be things like basic intelligence, a good demeanor, a solid work ethic, honesty, etc. -- because someone with these attributes can learn to do just about any job on the planet.

It's important to remember that he was making this comment in the context of what is likely to be the most serious problem this country faces in the coming decades (Lou Dobbs' idiotic statements notwithstanding) . . . a labor SHORTAGE.

[MNJohnnie]

Idiots like that poster you responded to don't deserve a response from you.

Considering your complete ignornace of fundemental Economics it is absurd for you to call anyone an idiot. Take a couple of basic economic classes before coming here and spewing any more of your hysteric bigotry and ignornace.

[MNJohnnie]

They have done it to not only Dobbs, but Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Peggy Noonan, George Will, . . . you name the best and they have done it.

I sorry, you must be lost. We are Conservative here. We don't practice Cult of Personality politics. Principals and factual merit of arguments, not mindless Celebrity Worship, is what we value here

[The Duke]

Dobbs has finally come out of the closet to show himself as the rabid Democrat Socialists he is.

Actually, the "rabid" socialists appeal to the lower rungs of the social ladder. Dobbs is appealing the the middle class.

But more than that, I read sincerity in his face. In short...Dobbs ain't no Hillary Clinton.

[rudabaga]

liberals are tax and spend, conservatives are now just borrow and spend. so who should pay, you, the person who voted for this government, or your children who didn't? frankly, the old tax and spend label is just not working for me anymore, it means nothing in the face of the new republican course of conduct.

[mr_hammer]

"Considering your complete ignornace of fundemental Economics it is absurd for you to call anyone an idiot. Take a couple of basic economic classes before coming here and spewing any more of your hysteric bigotry and ignornace."

Free Traitor's days are numbered, the facade of cheap immigrant labor and slave labor imports has been lifted and it ain't pretty.

Ya, better step aside of the tracks, because the train is a coming.

[LambSlave]

Take a couple of basic economic classes before coming here and spewing any more of your hysteric bigotry...

Economics 101: Calculate inflation on wage since Clinton left office... what do you find? I find even using the fudged government numbers (CPI)the worker lost spending power... e.g. the $15.12 in 2000 is equivalent to $17.45 in 2006. Since government inflation numbers (CPI) don't count gas, heating, housing cost, etc. (which we know are up over 40%) and are manipulated horribly (several economists estimate the 2.2% reported is closer to 6%) real loss in spending power is a LOT greater. I don't have a horse in this show, but if your going to rip someone for not understanding economics, at least check your facts first... the average american worker has lost significant spending power because wages aren't pacing inflation!!

[Mase]

Name one thing that Dobbs has not reported factually.

I was stuck in the Atlanta airport last week and was forced to watch Dobbs for the first time in more than a year. The entire show was nothing more than an Anti-Bush/republican rant. He appeals to the emotion in people and he's very good at playing off their fears - in an algore kind of way. He's perfect for the standard uninformed CNN sheeple. Dobbs' facts, for the most part, are far from accurate and he relies on information from lefty sources like E.P.I. and the Institute for Policy Studies.

Dobbs is an alarmist who doesn't (or pretends he doesn't) understand that there is no war on the middle class and that these Americans, who fall into this category, are doing better than ever. Dobbs focuses solely on the costs of our free-market policies without even attempting to communicate the benefits. He conveniently ignores the rapid increases in our standard of living brought on by increased worker productivity and lower prices for consumers. The American middle class is getting more bang for their buck now but that benefit is lost on a demagogue like Dobbs.

Dobbs got into the dot com craze too late and didn't manage to score his big payday. He was forced to go back to CNN where he is now a bitter and bitten man who wants nothing more than to talk down our an amazing economy. His message is driven by the need for ratings and political bias so facts have little to do with his agenda. That conservatives buy into this dog and pony show is unfortunate to say the least.

[Mase]

Ya, better step aside of the tracks, because the train is a coming.

This train wouldn't happen to be run by Amtrak, would it? Because it sure is takin' a long time to get here even though you guys keep telling us it's comin'. Just be patient a few more years?

[Serenissima Venezia]

First they came for the gardening jobs
and I did not speak out
because I was not a gardener.
Then they came for the construction jobs
and I did not speak out
because I was not in construction.
Then they came for the computer jobs
and I did not speak out
because I was not a computer programmer.
Then they came for my job
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

paraphrased from
Pastor Martin Niemöller

[Toddsterpatriot]

Since government inflation numbers (CPI) don't count gas, heating, housing cost

That's funny!

(several economists estimate the 2.2% reported is closer to 6%)

Really? Who?

[Mase]

Since government inflation numbers (CPI) don't count gas, heating, housing cost, etc. (which we know are up over 40%) and are manipulated horribly (several economists estimate the 2.2% reported is closer to 6%) real loss in spending power is a LOT greater.

You sure do pack a lot of misinformation into a small space.

"7. What goods and services does the CPI cover?

The CPI represents all goods and services purchased for consumption by the reference population (U or W) BLS has classified all expenditure items into more than 200 categories, arranged into eight major groups. Major groups and examples of categories in each are as follows:

• FOOD AND BEVERAGES (breakfast cereal, milk, coffee, chicken, wine, service meals and snacks)
  
• HOUSING (rent of primary residence, owners' equivalent rent, fuel oil, bedroom furniture)
  
• APPAREL (men's shirts and sweaters, women's dresses, jewelry)
  TRANSPORTATION (new vehicles, airline fares, gasoline, motor vehicle insurance)
• MEDICAL CARE (prescription drugs and medical supplies, physicians' services, eyeglasses and eye care, hospital services)
  
• RECREATION (televisions, pets and pet products, sports equipment, admissions);
  
• EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION (college tuition, postage, telephone services, computer software and accessories);
  
• OTHER GOODS AND SERVICES (tobacco and smoking products, haircuts and other personal services, funeral expenses)".

  Source

  the average american worker has lost significant spending power because wages aren't pacing inflation!!

  Lou Dobbs is against free trade because it reduces wages of American workers, right? Let's go back to 1994, when NAFTA passed, and look at its impact on wages through 2004.

  Real hourly wages have risen since 1994 for all workers. For all workers, hourly wages rose 38.4% while the Consumer Price Index (CPI) just rose 27.1%, hence the real gain. For manufacturing jobs, hourly wages also rose more than prices, with a 34.1% gain. But a pre-NAFTA comparison is in order. From 1984-1994, hourly wages for all workers rose 33.5%, while the CPI rose 42.2%, indicating a fall in real wages. The same happened for manufacturing jobs with hourly wages rising only 33%, well under the rise in prices. So it looks like workers did better in the years after NAFTA went into effect than before.

  Source

  Maybe you should be more careful before lecturing anyone about economics or facts.

[WatchingInAmazement]

Nice rant, but you still didn't answer the question.

Name one thing that Dobbs has not reported factually.

Here, all of Dobbs shows are transcribed. Point it out.

www.cnn.com/lou