Congratulations to the 35,000 doomed people who filed new unemployment claims last week — thanks to you unlucky folks, January job losses hit 626,000, the highest unemployment numbers since the Ronald Reagan Recession/Depression of 1982. That was a fun catastrophe. Why doesn’t anyone ever talk about Reagan’s Depression?
Meanwhile, December’s job losses were the biggest since 1945, while job losses in the last quarter of 2008 were the largest since the 1975 recession. Unemployment is up to 7.5%, the highest since the 1992 recession — and it’s expected to hit at least 9% this year, while if these weekly corporate announcements of another 100,000 layoffs a week somehow continued through 2009, the Great Depression monstrosity of 25% unemployment will return after a 90-year-long slumber.
In other words, pick your Historical American Financial Catastrophe, and say hello because it’s back.
Barack Obama and his team of petty tax cheats are ready for Huge Government Action, of course, and maybe it will work, just like the New Deal!
But nobody (since Hoover, anyway) responded to Financial Catastrophe with quite the disastrous style of our Greatest Communicator, the trickle-down twat Ronald Reagan, an actual imbecile. As the painful recession of 1980 deepened into the actual Depression of 1982, Reagan simply refused to mention it.
His administration’s “remedies” for the 1980 downturn consisted of the most harmful actions against America taken by any president, ever. Not even George W. Bush could compete with the intentional dismantling of America on Ronald Reagan’s stupid, senile watch.
The white-haired lunatics fighting for space over a heating grate tonight? Thank Reagan. The SEC that refuses to investigate Maddoff’s massive Ponzi scheme even when the evidence is delivered by hand? Thank Reagan. A completely unregulated securities and investment bank industry that takes down the whole country when it implodes? Thank Reagan.
The United States was experiencing its worst recession since the Depression, with conditions frighteningly reminiscent of those 50 years earlier. By November 1982, unemployment reached, nine million, the highest rate since the Depression; 17,000 businesses failed, the second highest number since 1933; farmers lost their land; and many sick, elderly, and poor became homeless.
The country lived through the recession for a full year before Reagan finally admitted publicly that the economy was in trouble. His budget cuts, which hurt the poor, and his tax cuts, which favored the rich, combined with the hardships of a recession, spawned the belief that Reagan was insensitive to his people’s needs.
Ha, because he was! Never has an American president been so sneeringly contemptuous of the poor. Never has an American president so openly despised the vast majority of Americans. Ronald Reagan was stupid, dishonest and just plain mean. The heavens rejoiced when that piece of shit finally died.
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Your putting a grave on top of the grave or Reagan, or some such!
Rocky watch me pull an economy out of my hat
Those really were the greatest days of the Republican party! How can we bring the magic back?
Doesn’t that mean Heaven (Hell?) now has to deal with Reagan’s BS? Will Hell now implode, like those 17,000 80′s style beige, fushia and teal businesses? Will that release the zombies?!
Ah! Zombies!
Gee Mr. Layne, tell us how you really feel…
But nobody (since Hoover, anyway) responded to Financial Catastrophe with quite the disastrous style of our Greatest Communicator, the trickle-down twat Ronald Reagan, an actual imbecile.
But, he gave Peggy Noonan hope, albeit hope for a number of book deals and speaking tours.
God.
We are soooo fucked.
This is inspired writing, Ken, and I agree with–and applaud–every word.
Wait….tax cuts for the rich weren’t the paean to the peon he’d pee on Reagan said they’d be????
It’s 2 a.m. in the long, dark night of America!
“The heavens rejoiced when that piece of shit finally died.” That needs to be said again.
Fuck you, Rawhide. Enjoy your tenure in hell.
By November 1982, unemployment reached, nine million. That’s cuz the Reagan administration raised interest rates through the roof. And guess who did that? Obama’s economic advisory chairman, Paul Volcker.
My grandfather hated Reagan, called him a “Feudalist”
“The heavens rejoiced when that piece of shit finally died.”
You’re going to be in so much trouble when Denby reads this.
[re=236854]BklynIlluminati[/re]:
If only. US America would have been better off with Bullwinkle at the helm than Hapless Ronnie the Alzheimer man.
Well from all we know, he never got caught with his noodle anywhere other than where it was supposed to be. Neither did Bush Jr., though Bush Sr. had a slice on the side, according to the WH sign in books. Therefore they were two of the GREATEST PRESIDENTS EVAR! by virtue of their presumed total eschewing of oral sex. God Bless America!
Can we please get National re-renamed? How about Paul Wellstone National Airport?
Talk tough, cut taxes and deregulate industry. If problems still exist, blame the previous administration and repeat the steps. It can’t possibly fail, at least in eight years. Well, unless you start an expensive, unplanned, elective land war in Asia. But what kind of buffoon would do something like that?
[re=236873]Mr Blifil[/re]: Patti was born seven months after Nancy and Ronald married.
Wanna run that one by me again, please?
And since we’re in full early 80s revival mode, what with the death of Lux and all, I give you The Damned ca. 1981, the final word on Reagan in rock:
Bad Time For Bonzo
Bad time
You know i saw him in a movie with his leather on
Bad time
The fists were flying and the guns did roar
Bad time
You know i kinda liked the way he sung his cowboy songs
Bad time
But i don’t listen to ‘em anymore
Chorus part 1
Bad time for me
Bad time for you
Bad time for bonzo too
You know that bonzo’s always dreaming
He’d like you to be dreaming too
Bad time for me
Bad time for you
Bad time for bonzo too
You know that bonzo’s always scheming
He’d like you to be scheming too,oohh
He’d like you to be scheming too
Bad time
You know there was a time when no-one knew the fun he’d start
Bad time
As actors go he was an ‘also ran’
Bad time
But now old bonzo’s gone and got himself another part
Bad time
We’d best re-write the script while we can
Bad time for me
Bad time for you
Bad time for bonzo too
You know that bonzo’s always dreaming
He’d like you to be dreaming too
Bad time for me
Bad time for you
Bad time for bonzo too
You know that bonzo’s always screaming
He’d like you to be screaming too,
He’d like you to be screaming too
Bad time for me
Bad time for you
Bad time for bonzo too
No no no no no no no
No no no no no no no
No no no no no no no nooh
Bad time for me
Bad time for you
Bad time for bonzo too
You know that bonzos always dreaming
He’d like you to be dreaming too
Bad time for me
Bda time for you
Bad time for bonzo too
You know that bonzo’s always scheming
He’d like you to be scheming too
Bad time for me Bad time for you
Bonzo is dreaming
Bad time for me Bad time for you
Bonzo is scheming
Unfortunately, Reagan’s depression will be nothing next to Obama’s as long as he and that turd Geitner keep shovelling money at the banks. He is steering us the wrong way, and everything that I’m reading about the coming bank bailouts scare the shit out of me. They are trying so hard to avoid doing the right thing. I’m in Krugman’s camp here: color me out of love. And bashing Reagan won’t fix that.
[re=236878]actor212[/re]: The Lord works in mysterious ways…
I’m so sick of repeating 80′s trends like leggings and fucking Depressions.
This will bring out the wingnutz. They hate it when you speak of the god Reagan in vain.
“an actual imbecile”
Ken, he’s gonna Burma shave your ass when you join him in hell.
…Rosebud?
Here you go again, Ken, saying bad things about Saint Ronnie who, as we speak, sits, nay, sleeps on the right hand of god.
[re=236890]NewAlgier[/re]: They are feeding the beast. Instead, they should buy it, own it and cut its nuts off.
[re=236868]Aurelio[/re]: Appointed by Carter.
[re=236914]King of Pants[/re]: That’s bipartisanship for ya!
Ronny being his 98 birthday tomorrow may the years of eternity in hell are joyous and clear minded to see his shamefulness on society…
To be only partly fair, Clinton can also be blamed for deregulation. I’m pretty sure that Glass-Steagall was overturned on his Republican-cock-sucking watch.
Oh Ken! Did you get your invite to the premier of “Rendezvous with Destiny”? http://rendezvouswithdestinymovie.com/
I smell an upcoming AOL Political Machine post that will attract wingnuts like mosquitos to a bug zapper…
Also, he fought in the War! Who among us can doubt the exploits of the vaunted “First Motion Picture Unit”?
But don’t you understand St. Ronnie ended the depression by cutting all those taxes to rich people who made it rich off of trading bonds and hostile takeovers and were able to trickle the money down to poor people by buying yacths and airplanes and how everyone was too whacked out on coke to care? And remember how he totally restored America’s faith in itself by making pretty campaign commercials showing shiny happy white people and pretending to be John Wayne and telling Gorbachev to tear down the wall, which Gorby totally did just because of the sheer awesome power of Reagan?
Ha ha, what a great post. I don’t blame Reagan much for his idiot decisions, because after all, he was all Alzheimering out and shit while he was in office. Poor old thing didn’t even know what he was doing!
Ken, this post isn’t very bipartisan of you. Because everything has to be FUCKING BIPARTISAN, we can’t have the Republicans feel bad for being giant fucking walking colostomy bags of poop and piss.
But he was in that Knute Rockne movie! So it all evens out, for America.
[re=236931]Neon Trotsky[/re]: This movie premier http://www.citizensunited.org/ will do the same, no doubt. I’m betting they had some mixed feelings about holding it at the KENNEDY center. Also.
[re=236927]AnnieGetYourFun[/re]: And the capital gains tax was cut in half under Clinton. Also.
Scene: Top of the Washington Monument, a Spring Day in 1984
Actors: A 3 year old Eko, his doting mother, and his gruff naval officer grandfather
Eko: What’s that?
Mom: That’s the Jefferson Memorial. Jefferson was the president.
Eko: Does he live there?
Mom: No, he’s dead.
Eko: What’s that?
Mom: That’s the White House. That’s where President Reagan lives.
Eko: Is he dead?
Grandpa: *to nobody in particular* Yeah, in the head, probably.
[re=236890]NewAlgier[/re]: You say “Obama’s Depression” like he was the one who caused it. Reagan actually caused and worsened his own depression. Obama inherited his from BUSHco. Ronald Reagan was a Illiterate, Randian, Deluded, Neo-Fascist-Fetishist, Baby-Devouring Philistine. I am so glad he’s dead. I just wish that everyone who believes his foul spew was dead too.
[re=236969]JadedDIssonance[/re]: get your articles and pluralities correct, idiot.
Ken, marry me! I will bear and rear your Reagan hating babies who will barf at the mere mention of Reagan Democrats.
It all started with Ronnie. God, I hated him then and I hate him now. My otherwise very nice old Vermont Yankee neighbor worships his memory – he wants Reagan on Mt. Rushmore and he’s dead serious about it. I bite my tongue and die a little inside.
[re=236956]space stout[/re]: Wow. Did not know–do not want. Though I’m intrigued to see if Celsius 41.40 (use Fahrenheit you commies!) is as “good” as Fahrenhype 9/11…
Also, I do hate that Lech Wałęsa and Vacslav Havel are continuously trucked out for various wingnutty right-wing causes–they may be former world leaders but they’re still probably cheaper than getting prominent Americans to speak at your event!
Old skull said it best..
[re=236888]Mr Blifil[/re]: i see your damned and raise you the ramones’ bonzo goes to bitburg.
[re=237009]Neon Trotsky[/re]: the wingnuts gotta have people like Walesa and Havel as they are the closest thing to a minority one will find in their crocumentaries.
[re=236903]tunamelt[/re]: Wait’ll that new Jane Fonda workout video hits the shelves!
[re=236945]Hooray For Anything[/re]: Mourning in America.
Wait ’til the RNC re-brands, and they unveil their new Goldon Idol: “Reagraham Lincool.”
[re=237078]KingofQueenAnne[/re]: Reagraham Lincool
Brilliant!
Can’t wait for more of RNC’s Uncle Tom Steele, this will really divide the supreme party of the south…
working for the war machine that is Defense contracting may have darkened my soul, but at least i’m still wearing a different pair of undies everyday… CLEAN ones! HA HA suckers! (seriously though, i hate my job)
tunamelt: I guess I shouldn’t tell you that, apparently, FUCKING ACID WASH JEANS are also making a comeback. Never has there been more disturbing proof of the declining mental stability of the American people.
http://www.thefashionpolice.net/2008/02/acid-wash-jeans.html
[re=237129]Deepthroat[/re]: If women start wearing those again, I’m going gay. Like militant-gay.
I was a young lad of 8 and I hated him then. Fucking evil muppet.
Boy I’m going to hate wearing velour again.
Can I ask for a little perspective from those older and wiser than me? I was born in 1982, so tell me- are we in a bigger shit-pile now? Or is it roughly equitable?
Irony: My Dubya lovin’, H. Obama’s a Mooslim, all Clinton’s fault, and poor people’s fault sister-in-law got laid off Monday in California. I wonder if she’s rethinking the snooty shitbag comment she made to us at Thanksgiving that THEY can “afford” to pay their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd mortgages on THEIR home (they cashed out ALL the equity to live pretend rich by buying a Porshe 911 uh-a friggin’ turbo at that, 900 series BMW, a mere Toyota for a commuter car, a Harley, a new yard, and $2000 handbags by designers she’d never heard of 5 years ago). So, she snaps, “Why the hell should my tax dollars help THOSE people (and by ‘people’, she ment Mexicans -’cuz to a CA Retardlican, it’s all the Mexican’s fault, and Barney Frank’s. Also.) who bought more house than they knew they could afford thanks to Fannie and Freddie and Clinton’s policies!” She really said that.
Wednesday, they called and said they have zero savings and have to sell everything and declare bankruptcy.
My compassionate side wants to forgive…
Deland: It is rough but we always prevail…It is like a roller coaster, or the graph scales of the market…history repeats, so all aboard…
[re=237201]DeLand DeLakes[/re]: It is always hard to tell, but Reagan had the avantage that Carter had already started moving things in the right direction. Here…, well, Bush was president. ‘Nuff said?
[re=237201]DeLand DeLakes[/re]: Quite a bit worse. Going downhill faster, the brakes are shot, and the wingnuts leading the Disloyal Opposition are doing their deranged best to fuck it all up permanently.
“I tremble for my country… .” Also.
[re=237228]fish with broken dreams[/re]: Holy Shit! Homeless by Old Skull
is always my answer when asked my favorite song!
My first presidential vote was cast for Jimmy Carter against St. Ronnie. My father never forgave me.
Meanwhile in 1982, I was in college, playing in rock bands, and partying my ass off.
Sure, I hated senile Ronnie, but I didn’t notice any ol’ depression going on. So the answer my friends, the key, is party your ass off.
Or it’s a repeat of the Panic of 1837. Man, that Van Buren!
http://sofaoftheunemployed.wordpress.com/
During 82 I was working 250 feet on top of a nuke plant dome in New Hampshire working with those that on August 5, Reagan fired 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored his order to return to work busting the union. According to Charles Craver, a labor law professor at George Washington University Law School, the move gave Americans a new view of Reagan, who “sent a message to the private employer community that it would be all right to go up against the unions.”
So the man really didn’t care about families only the rich bosses….
Glad the fuck is dead….Hickley should of used a bigger gun….
[re=237221]almond rotary phone[/re]:
Haha?
OMG Ken, EVERYTHING YOU SAID.
[re=237221]almond rotary phone[/re]: ohmigodohmigodohmigod. that was the most satisfying run-on sentence ever. one repubtard down and eleventybillion to go.
I HAZ A BIG KEN LAYNE LUV.
The man made ketchup a vegetable to reduce the school lunch budget, created the “homeless” when he threw the mentally ill out of institutions and they had to live on the streets, and secretly gave arms to Iran then used the money to fund the civil war in Nicaragua (which was illegal btw). Reagan’s was a horrible administration.
These posts are why I read Wonkette.
*Bows*
I think Reagan ignored the recession becuase he was busy with other pursuits. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyQUm0A5QGg
[re=236865]actor212[/re]: and they say ogden nash is dead!
I like all people who hate Reagan!
[re=236931]Neon Trotsky[/re]: does that mean it will only serve to kill them and provide us with countless hours of entertainment?
Your article was good up until the last paragraph. To which you go off a tangent and completely screw everything you said up to that point and completely lose your argument. It was immature, irresponsible and idiotic. I am not a supporter of trickledown economics by any stretch of the imagination, but your comments about Regan are off the mark. He is ranked 16th in effectiveness and is responsible in part for the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany. IE Ending the Cold War.
Also he couldn’t have been too despised because he was re-elected for a second term and his vice-president won the election directly after words.
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