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You are here: Home / Politics / Trumpery / Hail to the Hairpiece / Open Thread: Some Men Just Want to Watch the World Burn

Open Thread: Some Men Just Want to Watch the World Burn

by Anne Laurie|  December 7, 20165:13 pm| 98 Comments

This post is in: Hail to the Hairpiece, Open Threads, Republican Venality, Decline and Fall

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The man behind Ronald Reagan’s tax cuts says Donald Trump's tax policy will lead to economic 'nirvana' in the US https://t.co/pEZnJUQfbV

— Financial Times (@FT) December 7, 2016

Sure, the caption claims that’s Arthur Laffer, of the infamous Laffer curve, but look at that demented grin!

Also the guy behind Sam Brownback. And look what a great job he’s done making Nirvana in Kansas! https://t.co/SZ4vWocnEy

— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) December 7, 2016


.

Apart from picking out theme songs for the Apocalypse Trump’s inaugural ball, what’s on the agenda for the evening?

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Reader Interactions

98Comments

  1. 1.

    BGinCHI

    December 7, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    Titles for Rick Perlstein’s next two books:

    Trump: Joining the Laffer Curve and the Bell Curve.

    Or, White Supremacy and Greed, with Bonus Misogyny.

  2. 2.

    Stacy

    December 7, 2016 at 5:17 pm

    David Stockman, on CNBC, is saying sell everything and that there will be a fiscal bloodbath.

  3. 3.

    Manyakitty

    December 7, 2016 at 5:18 pm

    This just HAS to be a joke. He’s launched the TV channel, too.

  4. 4.

    Turgidson

    December 7, 2016 at 5:22 pm

    @Stacy:

    Stockman is kind of a crank in his own right, although of a different stripe.

  5. 5.

    Major Major Major Major

    December 7, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    My CNN alert says Linda McMahon for SBA.

  6. 6.

    Xboxershorts

    December 7, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    Love me some BOC

    Yup, buckle up. The swamp’s been put on steroids and Godzilla’s on the loose!

  7. 7.

    Turgidson

    December 7, 2016 at 5:29 pm

    Laffer has the shit-eating grin of a guy who knows that his station within the Wingnut Welfare ecosystem is secure no matter how many times his shitty predictions prove to be wrong and his shitty theories fail to deliver the results he promises. And he also knows that since Wingnut Welfare World will always view him as the sainted godfather of Ronaldus Magnus’ economic triumphs – resulting in Republican politicians lining up to get his blessing for their tax cutting, safety net shredding bullshit – he will also be treated with exponentially more respect and deference than he deserves by the BothSides4Ever media.

  8. 8.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    December 7, 2016 at 5:30 pm

    @Stacy: Interesting, he’s basically arguing that Trump’s lack of any mandate with his win electoral collage but lose the popular vote and the Tea Tard’s refusal to increase spending on anything but their own programs mean a civil war in the GOP and chaos over the 2017 budget.

  9. 9.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 7, 2016 at 5:31 pm

    @Stacy: He’s been saying that for years now.

  10. 10.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 7, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    I always confused Howard Jarvis and Arthur Laffer

  11. 11.

    Hal

    December 7, 2016 at 5:34 pm

    Kloob the one device for everything

  12. 12.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 7, 2016 at 5:36 pm

    I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a picture of him before now. That is one scary-looking dude. “Demented grin” is right!

    @Major Major Major Major:

    I was just going to mention that. This Cabinet gets weirder with every day that passes.

  13. 13.

    Another Scott

    December 7, 2016 at 5:37 pm

    @Hal: :-)

    Thanks.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  14. 14.

    Steve in the ATL

    December 7, 2016 at 5:38 pm

    I’m not big on Facebook check ins but props to whomever mentioned the “Larry Craig Memorial Restroom” at MSP. Will be doing that every time I’m back here! Which hopefully will not happen again until spring….

  15. 15.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 5:44 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: Howard Jarvis is still dead(buried at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills*), Arthur Laffer isn’t.

    *Information provided in case you want to water his final resting place.

  16. 16.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 5:47 pm

    @PR:

    This is the most pro business pro growth administration since Harding-Coolidge.

    That worked out well.

  17. 17.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 7, 2016 at 5:49 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    I always confused Howard Jarvis and Arthur Laffer

    I always confuse the Laffer Curve and the Overton Window. Should probably make a Venn Diagram of them.

  18. 18.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 7, 2016 at 5:51 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: IIR Laffer did a commercial back in the early 90s, for Cadillac. But it’s not on youtube, which you’d think something like that would be

  19. 19.

    hedgehog the occasional commenter

    December 7, 2016 at 5:52 pm

    Are we sure that’s not Jack Nicholson?

  20. 20.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 5:53 pm

    @PR: Yeah, that commie; should have never named that dam after him. Boulder Dam, now; Boulder Dam, forever!

  21. 21.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 7, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Well, here’s a Venn diagram *in* a window. Not an Overton window, alas.

  22. 22.

    Tilda Swinton's Bald Cap

    December 7, 2016 at 5:55 pm

    PR or NR, you decide.

  23. 23.

    Ksmiami

    December 7, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    @PR: Ryan has no business experience- recession within 2 years

  24. 24.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Not an Overton window, alas.

    Overton window, Anderson window; what difference does it make?

  25. 25.

    MomSense

    December 7, 2016 at 5:58 pm

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Please do a little wide stance toe tapping for me.

  26. 26.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    December 7, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    @Tilda Swinton’s Bald Cap: PR is trying to be funny. NR is trying to be obnoxious.

  27. 27.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    @Ksmiami: But TEFA’s a bidnessman, so it’s all good.

  28. 28.

    Major Major Major Major

    December 7, 2016 at 5:59 pm

    @Tilda Swinton’s Bald Cap: Yeah, what is this thing?

    Is this our new version of unlimited brinks cash? I forget?

  29. 29.

    Lurking Canadian

    December 7, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    Laffer first started pedding his napkin theory forty fucking years ago. Is he immortal, or was he in high school when he met Dick Cheney?

  30. 30.

    Mnemosyne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    @PR:

    Front pagers, we need a cleanup in aisle 15. Banned troll is back.

  31. 31.

    Mnemosyne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:02 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    No, I’m pretty sure this is the banned troll hisownself.

    Please to ignore until a front-pager has time to wield the banhammer again.

  32. 32.

    Lurking Canadian

    December 7, 2016 at 6:03 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I disagree. PR is trying to gloat, in the mistaken impression that people will like it now that its daddy can finally beat up our daddy.

  33. 33.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 7, 2016 at 6:04 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA: Boulder? Here’s Boulder. Utah, not Colorado.

  34. 34.

    Mnemosyne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:05 pm

    @Lurking Canadian:

    I suspect he’s using the Elisabeth Bathory skin care regimen. Applying the blood of the innocent always keeps one’s skin tight and firm.

  35. 35.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: (Hoover Dam was originally named Boulder Dam(even though it was eventually built in Black Canyon and not Boulder Canyon), the name was changed in 1947).

  36. 36.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 7, 2016 at 6:11 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA: I am actually aware of that. But I’ve been in Boulder, UT several times and kind of like it there. I have never been in Boulder, CO.

  37. 37.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 6:12 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: But, have you been to Boulder Dam?

    ETA: The wife and I went about 25 years ago, but we’ve lost the pics; sad.

  38. 38.

    Major Major Major Major

    December 7, 2016 at 6:12 pm

    See, here’s GOS with the right kind of headline for talking about Mattis. Republicans back off threat to shut down government to undermine civilian control of the military

  39. 39.

    Gvg

    December 7, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    At least that article points out that he was wrong. The picture of him back then looks like he was really young when Reagan’s people jumped on his theory.

    He is clearly doing a lot of projecting onto Trump and thinks Trump is only going to do the things Laffer thinks are good and will moderate on things Laffer thinks are bad. Typical GOP voter this time. Fool again.

  40. 40.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 7, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA: I have driven across it.

  41. 41.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:13 pm

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Cool windows, thanks!

  42. 42.

    father pussbucket

    December 7, 2016 at 6:16 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    Front pagers, we need a cleanup in aisle 15. Banned troll is back.

    He’s off his game; I thought this was sarcasm.

  43. 43.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: We went inside, very cool.

  44. 44.

    Mnemosyne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:19 pm

    Fans of Holiday need to get votin’ if they want that to be our next Weekend Movie Club offering. Right now, His Girl Friday is leading by 9 votes.

    Voting closes on Friday night, assuming I set the poll up correctly, which is frequently a sucker’s bet.

  45. 45.

    Mary G

    December 7, 2016 at 6:23 pm

    Has any reporter, anywhere, asked these guys how they explain Kansas and Louisiana if these theories are so great?

  46. 46.

    PsiFighter37

    December 7, 2016 at 6:24 pm

    I wonder how Al Gore feels about his ‘extremely interesting’ conversation with Cheddar Christ now that the guy chosen to run the EPA will gut almost anything out of the agency that he possibly can.

  47. 47.

    Shell

    December 7, 2016 at 6:25 pm

    Re: this posts title, isn’t there a similar line in the play “The Little Foxes”? Something along the lines of “There are men who will devour the earth, and some who stand by and watch them do it.”

  48. 48.

    Tenar Arha (same Tenar, more Nameless Ones)

    December 7, 2016 at 6:26 pm

    I had the unfortunate experience to find out that my bother believes in the Laffer Curve & I had to sit on my hands to keep from emailing links about Kansas.

  49. 49.

    Mnemosyne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:26 pm

    @Mary G:

    “They didn’t try hard enough.”

    ETA: And if you hear that subtext as, “Their faith was weak,” you’re right.

  50. 50.

    Keith G

    December 7, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    @PsiFighter37: So, are you saying you shouldn’t have attended the meeting?

  51. 51.

    Ksmiami

    December 7, 2016 at 6:28 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA: nah they will ef up because they are idealogues with little regard for reality.

  52. 52.

    Mnemosyne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    @PsiFighter37:

    Al Gore is a Southerner by birth. I’m pretty sure that for him, “extremely interesting” means something along the lines of, “Bless their hearts.”

  53. 53.

    ThresherK

    December 7, 2016 at 6:29 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: Connecticut’s “loss” is America’s loss. Take it from a Nutmegger.

  54. 54.

    Lurking Canadian

    December 7, 2016 at 6:30 pm

    @Tenar Arha (same Tenar, more Nameless Ones): The suggestion that a small cut in tax rates, say 1%, in the right circumstances might pay for itself by causing more than 1% incremental growth in the economy is at least worth discussing.

    The notion that cutting the tax rate in half will pay for itself by causing the economy to immediately double in size is so stupid that nobody ever should have believed it.

  55. 55.

    PsiFighter37

    December 7, 2016 at 6:32 pm

    @Keith G: No, I’m just mocking his extremely diplomatic way of saying “Donald Trump is stupider in person than he appears on Twitter”.

    More sad than anything. The EPA won’t exist by the time team Trump decimates the country.

  56. 56.

    Brachiator

    December 7, 2016 at 6:37 pm

    The man behind Ronald Reagan’s tax cuts says Donald Trump’s tax policy will lead to economic ‘nirvana’ in the US

    Do we also get 72 virgins and the Baby Jesus serving us heavenly loaves and fishes?

  57. 57.

    tobie

    December 7, 2016 at 6:42 pm

    @PsiFighter37: I couldn’t agree more. You can’t play nice with this horrible excuse for a human being. He’ll still throw sand in your face. This is what masha gesen has been saying.

  58. 58.

    mai naem mobile

    December 7, 2016 at 6:43 pm

    I have no idea what these ads holes want at the end. Do none of them read history? I get that Orange Douche is a moron and doesn’t know history but the others? Concentrared wealth in a few is not good. These stories don’t end well for the rich. They end up getting rounded up and hung,guillotined, shot or stoned. Do they really think it’s going to be different for them?

  59. 59.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    For something to take your mind off of TEFA: Mission San Juan Capistrano.

  60. 60.

    Steve in the ATL

    December 7, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    @mai naem mobile:

    They end up getting rounded up and hung,guillotined, shot or stoned. Do they really think it’s going to be different for them?

    God I hope it’s not. Let’s burn down the Bastille again!

  61. 61.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    @Brachiator: I think you’re mixin’ your religions.

  62. 62.

    Mnemosyne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    @mai naem mobile:

    Do they really think it’s going to be different for them?

    Yes. Yes, they do. SATSQ.

  63. 63.

    Jack the Second

    December 7, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA: Do you know if Laffer already bought a funeral plot? I don’t mind pre-emptively shitting on it.

  64. 64.

    Steve in the ATL

    December 7, 2016 at 6:46 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA: he’s way closer to Christianity than any mega church pastor!

  65. 65.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    December 7, 2016 at 6:47 pm

    @mai naem mobile:

    Do they really think it’s going to be different for them?

    Yes; they are also wrong.

  66. 66.

    Mnemosyne

    December 7, 2016 at 6:48 pm

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Very possibly my favorite lyrics from The Musical That Must Not Be Named:

    We signed a treaty with a King whose head is now in a basket
    Would you like to take it out and ask it?
    “Should we honor our treaty, King Louis’ head?”
    “Uhh … do whatever you want, I’m super dead!”

  67. 67.

    Brachiator

    December 7, 2016 at 6:50 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    I think you’re mixin’ your religions.

    Trump is magic. He is so powerful that he will bring the Hallelujah moment of all world religions. Free Market Buddha’s Belly be praised!

  68. 68.

    debbie

    December 7, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    @Mary G:

    Better to ask him how many states he think will fall down the rathole along with Kansas. Ohio’s governor, Mr. Sunshine until now, is warning of a coming recession because the tax cuts he championed have cut revenues to unsustainable levels.

  69. 69.

    schrodinger's cat

    December 7, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    @Brachiator: The Chinese Buddha is fat with a belly not the one from the subcontinent. I wonder what accounts for the difference.

  70. 70.

    max

    December 7, 2016 at 6:54 pm

    Sure, the caption claims that’s Arthur Laffer, of the infamous Laffer curve, but look at that demented grin!

    That’s exactly what proves it’s fucking Laffer.

    max
    [‘The napkin drawing that ate fucking America.’]

  71. 71.

    Steve in the ATL

    December 7, 2016 at 6:56 pm

    @debbie:

    Ohio’s governor, Mr. Sunshine until now, is warning of a coming recession because the tax cuts he championed have cut revenues to unsustainable levels.

    That is offensive for two reasons: (1) it defames supply side orthodoxy, and (2) it fails to consider the material rewards that Ohio will reap from Our Lord for banning abortion.

  72. 72.

    Steve in the ATL

    December 7, 2016 at 6:57 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat: I thought he went through a period of excess and a period of asceticism, thus he was built differently at different times in his life.

  73. 73.

    mai naem mobile

    December 7, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    @BillinGlendaleCA: In my job I work with some pretty poor people. Not third world poor but no car,barely able to afford public transportatiin,,renting/sharing small apartment,no savinga,food insecure kind of poor. Anecdotally I see more homeless people in Phoenix. I just feel at some point you get somebody a little mentally unstable with no hope who’ll do something really bad. And don’t assume it will be a RWNJ.

  74. 74.

    Van Buren

    December 7, 2016 at 7:00 pm

    @Brachiator: I looked up the lyrics to Smells Like Teen Spirit and I don’t see anything about taxes, or even economics. What am I missing, Dr. Laffer?

  75. 75.

    debbie

    December 7, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Don’t even get me started on those bastards.

  76. 76.

    SenyorDave

    December 7, 2016 at 7:07 pm

    Who will be playing the inauguration balls? Seems like most popular artists under 50 other than country wouldn’t be big fans of the predator-elect. Even younger country didn’t seem like they were into the orange menace. Ted Nugent as the headliner of one of the balls?

  77. 77.

    Kropadope

    December 7, 2016 at 7:08 pm

    @debbie:

    Better to ask him how many states he think will fall down the rathole along with Kansas.

    Once Trump takes the KS tax plan national, “all of them, Katie.”

  78. 78.

    Emma

    December 7, 2016 at 7:08 pm

    @Mnemosyne: Yep. “Extremely interesting” usually means “they’re effin’ loony.”

  79. 79.

    Major Major Major Major

    December 7, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    @SenyorDave: Kid Rock?

  80. 80.

    Botsplainer

    December 7, 2016 at 7:10 pm

    @Lurking Canadian:

    I knew he was alive, but Christ, he seems to be getting younger.

    Why hasn’t he been beaten to death with a claw hammer yet?

  81. 81.

    Major Major Major Major

    December 7, 2016 at 7:13 pm

    NYTimes headline is going with calling Pruitt a “climate change dissenter“.

  82. 82.

    MazeDancer

    December 7, 2016 at 7:20 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    Al Gore is a Southerner by birth. I’m pretty sure that for him, “extremely interesting” means something along the lines of, “Bless their hearts.”

    Exactly. Gore knows Trump is an idiot. Who wants famous people to like him. So he gave that a shot yesterday. Pence and Bannon had other plans. Doesn’t mean Pruitt gets confirmed.

    Bannon and Pence get their EPA nom. Doesn’t mean Trump will stick with “Destroy the Planet”. Famous people can persuade Trump. If someone famous enough sacrifices to have Trump and Ivanka to holidays at their place, the planet can be saved.

    Trying to remind myself that sane, open-minded people are the majority of US. And that right now the news is all about Trump. And his – or rather Bannon/Pence/GOP – picks for cabinet positions.

    When/If the Trump administration happens, the rest of us get to rise up. Paul Ryan is going to get skewered by Trump in revenge. Medicare and Social Security will not be trashed. The three biggest questions are:

    – How will people survive the destruction of Obamacare and will someone convince Trump to save them with TrumpCare? Play to his ego, save lives.

    – How will the environment survive? Again, celebs can rescue here.

    – Women’s bodies. States are going to try shit like “Heartbeat Bills”. If filibuster allowed to continue, then it is an 8 person court as long as RBG breathes.

  83. 83.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 7, 2016 at 7:21 pm

    @Gin & Tonic: One is a dead asshole. The other is a living asshole. Bottom line: assholes.

  84. 84.

    ingrediorum

    December 7, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    For the inaugural ball, “Bartholomew” (theme song for “Goliath” starring Billy Bob Thornton), or practically anything from The Silent Comedy. Hell, EVERYTHING byThe Silent Comedy for the inaugural ball, and postively nothing else.

  85. 85.

    the Conster, la Citoyenne

    December 7, 2016 at 7:25 pm

    @Major Major Major Major:

    “Dissenter”. Waiting for the Times to give equal time to the flat earthers, if they haven’t already. Other than Charles Blow, they’re dead to me.

  86. 86.

    Manyakitty

    December 7, 2016 at 7:26 pm

    @Mnemosyne: Hmmm…hard to choose, but I ADORE “Cabinet Battle.”

  87. 87.

    Major Major Major Major

    December 7, 2016 at 7:27 pm

    @the Conster, la Citoyenne: no love for Krugman?

  88. 88.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    December 7, 2016 at 7:27 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    The fat Buddha is not the Buddha.

  89. 89.

    Duke's Archives

    December 7, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    @efgoldman: I prefer Traffic Cone Cheeseweasel. I know there’s a hypen in there someplace.

  90. 90.

    Major Major Major Major

    December 7, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    @Steeplejack (tablet): I was always partial to Bodhidharma for my iconography.

  91. 91.

    liberal

    December 7, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    @Tenar Arha (same Tenar, more Nameless Ones): the laffer curve is valid. What’s not valid is the further claim that since the optimal tax rate is less than 100%, it’s also less than the current tax rate.

  92. 92.

    Duke's Archives

    December 7, 2016 at 7:37 pm

    The Iceweasels get you at night.

    The Cheeseweasels get you in between ordering coffee and receiving coffee/pastries.

  93. 93.

    tobie

    December 7, 2016 at 7:40 pm

    @MazeDancer: sorry but all of this strikes me as wishful thinking.

  94. 94.

    schrodinger's cat

    December 7, 2016 at 8:08 pm

    @Steeplejack (tablet): Thanks! I did not know that.

  95. 95.

    marc

    December 7, 2016 at 8:17 pm

    I don’t like the ad hominems of the op. That’s just ugly and that shit ain’t helping. Dr. Martin Luther The King would not be happy with you.

  96. 96.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    December 7, 2016 at 8:23 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    I didn’t have time earlier to write much. I don’t know about China, but in Japan (in my limited experience) the “fat Buddha” is usually just called Hotei (or something similar) and there isn’t much association with the Buddha or Buddhism. It’s just sort of a lucky object like the “fortune cat.”

    In fact, I always thought it got the association with the Buddha from Americans seeing the statues at Japanese (and maybe Chinese) restaurants and making a false connection.

  97. 97.

    Mike G

    December 7, 2016 at 10:15 pm

    The Laffer curve was a big success at its real, hidden goal — a Repuke con job funneling wealth to the rich and to hell with the rest of the country.

    There is some evidence of the effect from various studies, with the peak tax revenue around 68%.

  98. 98.

    jayjaybear

    December 8, 2016 at 12:09 am

    I wish he’d choked on that goddamn napkin…

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