Jordan Birnbaum

Host

YOU THINK WHAT?! (a left/right political debate)

Apr 18, 2013·28 visitors

David Kaufman

Cohost

Stage· 226 messages

Apr 18, 2013

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:00 AM

Paging Mr. Kaufman.

David Kaufman · 1:00 AM

Ahoy.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:00 AM

welcome everyone!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:00 AM

a quick word to the the newcomers

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

remember to "listen" and "like" or "dislike" comments in order to move them up or down

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

and don't be shy!!!

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:01 AM

So we're here today because David and I were friendly in high school. We reconnected on FB. We fund each other's comments to be witty, charming

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

and completely wrong

David Kaufman · 1:02 AM

This is true.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

So thanks for joining me in this forum. I want to compliment your profile.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:02 AM

Betwen your picture with Mel Brooks and your quote of a 1979 Rupert Holmes song,

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

you have as much chance of attracting the youth vote as the Republican Party

David Kaufman · 1:03 AM

Yeah, I'm all about the hipsters.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:03 AM

aren't today's hipsters tomorrow's leaders?

David Kaufman · 1:03 AM

Not the hipsters I'm seeing. They'll be way too busy looking for Pabst Blue Ribbon and ironically wearing Phil Collins T-shirts to do any leading.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:04 AM

All right. So we've established that you're a righty and I'm a lefty. But are you happy with the Republican Party?

David Kaufman · 1:05 AM

Well, sorta. I find the Republican Party to be generally less worse than the Democrat Party. It's a generally convenient label for people I agree with more than I agree with the other guys...

David Kaufman · 1:05 AM

It ends up kind of like team sports, though, doesn't it?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:06 AM

OK - I have some specific questions about the platform

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:06 AM

how do you feel about social issues on the right?

David Kaufman · 1:07 AM

My general approach to almost all domestic policy is "Get out of my face." That doesn't mean I think that we should just sit around saying everything is fine and whatever you do I totally support, but it does mean that generally speaking,

David Kaufman · 1:07 AM

even if the Bible might say I'm going to Hell for one reason or another, it's not the business of the State of New Jersey to keep me from going there.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:08 AM

OK - I'm glad to hear you say this.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:08 AM

It buys a lot of credibility.

David Kaufman · 1:08 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“What a KEY term that is in today's political situation... "Less Worse"”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:08 AM

So I assume you find the whole anti-evolution, anti-stem-cell, pro-school-religion, anti-gay-marriage thing pretty distasteful?

David Kaufman · 1:10 AM

Let's break it down. I'm pro gay marriage (and if my father joined the Tawk he just said, "WHAT?!?!"). Stem cell research I'm in favor of but I have certain issues with government support of it.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:11 AM

Well, I sort of wish you were representative of your party, but I don't think you are. Like Blake said, I guess we're settling for less worse

David Kaufman · 1:12 AM

Well, I think I am representative of a lot of my party. One of the things that I think gets sort of confused is that a person might take a position on an issue, but it's not a HUGE deal to them.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:13 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“Sounds more like the Ron Paul branch of the party”

David Kaufman · 1:13 AM

I know lots of people who have moral problems with gay relationships. But they don't really care all that much about whether someone else is in one. So if you asked, "Is homosexuality immoral?" They might say, "Yes." But that doesn't mean that

David Kaufman · 1:14 AM

from a government perspective they think it's worth legislating against.

David Kaufman · 1:14 AM

And I think that's the difference.

David Kaufman · 1:14 AM

I'm NOT a Ron Paul dude, if only because of his staggeringly stupid approach to foreign policy, Seth.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:15 AM

Well - I don't like your friends who think that, first of all

David Kaufman · 1:15 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“I hope this conversation gets less polite.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:15 AM

second of all, don't you think it reasonable to assume the party is represented by the positions taken by its elected leaders?

David Kaufman · 1:16 AM

I think that if we were in a parliamentary system, sure.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:16 AM

we're getting there, rick

David Kaufman · 1:16 AM

But not here.

David Kaufman · 1:16 AM

And just for Rick, Jordan, you smell.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:16 AM

so do you ever feel embarrased by associating with some of the anti-science ideology preached by Republicans?

David Kaufman · 1:17 AM

★ Spotlighted from Myles Maher

“Anyone know how to lower my health insurance premiums?”

David Kaufman · 1:17 AM

I sigh, sometimes, sure. But they don't have an effect on my life.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:17 AM

I do actually, Myles, but I'm lettng David answer first

David Kaufman · 1:17 AM

Yes, Myles. Stop getting sick.

David Kaufman · 1:18 AM

★ Spotlighted from Adam Kizner

“we actually have a parliamentary system, but requiring 60% of the vote.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:18 AM

1 - allow the governent to negotiate drug prices - this is absolutely outrageous and goes against everything Republicans are supposed to stand for with free markets

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

2 - allow medicare to import generic drugs from Canada

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:19 AM

3 - De-privatize hospitals and don't run them for profit

David Kaufman · 1:19 AM

1) Why is government paying for any of this crap anyway?

David Kaufman · 1:19 AM

2) I don't think Myles is on Medicare.

David Kaufman · 1:20 AM

3) And people are going to spend an extra 15 years and $150K in student loans so that they can become doctors why?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:20 AM

3) student slavery is another topic we'l address

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:21 AM

4 - the bigest way to lower health insurance costs is to ELIMINATE INSURANCE COMPANIES

David Kaufman · 1:21 AM

Actually, the biggest way to lower health insurance costs is to have insurance companies actually be insurance companies, rather than having this absurd third party payment system we have. There's price competition in the areas insurance

David Kaufman · 1:21 AM

doesn't cover.

David Kaufman · 1:22 AM

I spend thousands of dollars a year so that I can pay $20 instead of $200 to go see the doctor.

David Kaufman · 1:22 AM

And I pretend I'm saving money.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:23 AM

so do you feel the right offers a more suitable proposal on how to handle health insurance?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:23 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“Well the alternative to govt paying for peoples healthcare is throwing them out on the street and letting them die quickly...is that who we are?”

David Kaufman · 1:24 AM

I don't think the "right" goes far enough. I don't think it's correct to state that if we have an issue with health care on the margins that we need to make it worse for everyone.

David Kaufman · 1:24 AM

Seth -- that's not the alternative.

David Kaufman · 1:25 AM

If we were only talking about indigent health care, that's totally manageable.

David Kaufman · 1:26 AM

We've created a paradigm where so much of health care costs are hidden, and we expect "someone else" to pay for them that we have traded away control to either the government or some insurance policymaker.

David Kaufman · 1:26 AM

I think we need to reduce "insurance," and create a paradigm of actual INSURANCE.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:26 AM

forst of all you're off on so many bases I on't know where to begin, but first I want to spotlight something

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:26 AM

★ Spotlighted from Peter Crysdale

“Having more public hospitals make them even less efficient!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:27 AM

Peter - this is untrue. I know because I lived in England for a year and a half where I attended a public hospital

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:27 AM

and I attended a hospital in Canada

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:27 AM

that is simply propaganda

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:28 AM

★ Spotlighted from Myles Maher

“I feel like a deserve a bit more credit for raising the health care topic. Why is no one paying attention to anything else I'm Tawking about?”

David Kaufman · 1:28 AM

So the incredible number of stories about how so many Canadians buy supplemental insurance to come to the US is all propaganda?

David Kaufman · 1:28 AM

And the well publicized waits for treatment by the NHS is propaganda?

David Kaufman · 1:29 AM

I'm sorry, Myles. Here, hug it out. I love you.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:29 AM

yes - they buy insurance when they come to America because they know they need it if God forbid they got hurt over here, unlike anywhere else in the civilized world

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:29 AM

you don't think England has high-end doctors for the super rich

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:29 AM

at this point there is more sophisticated work being down in South America for God's sake

David Kaufman · 1:29 AM

No, they buy insurance because they don't want to wait 2 months for a heart transplant.

David Kaufman · 1:29 AM

★ Spotlighted from C. Brian Smith

“I just spent four days in the hospital and my insurance company was charged $200,000. It was all make-believe money to me, but were I not insured I assume I would be paying off that bill for the rest of my life.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:30 AM

You beter be funny, C. Brian

David Kaufman · 1:30 AM

Yeah, but I don't think it would have been $200,000 if we didn't have the system we have, is my point. And getting government involved will simply make it worse.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:30 AM

All right - let's go broader

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:30 AM

you sem to feel that when we come together as a society, the lines we draw ought to be far more austere, correct?

David Kaufman · 1:31 AM

I think the lines we enforce by government action, operating at the point of a gun, should be far reduced, yes.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:31 AM

do you support the civil rights movement?

David Kaufman · 1:32 AM

I support the notion that every citizen must be treated equally by the government.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:32 AM

What the hell does that mean?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:33 AM

If one group is being attacked by another, should the gov't. step in?

David Kaufman · 1:33 AM

Attacked how? Physically, sure. But I think that an asshole has the right to be an asshole.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:33 AM

segregation?

David Kaufman · 1:33 AM

Enforced by whom?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:34 AM

the populace. should the government allow that or step in?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:34 AM

★ Spotlighted from Myles Maher

“Jordan what do you mean by "civil rights"?”

David Kaufman · 1:34 AM

How is the populace enforcing this?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:34 AM

why are you being dificult? Jim Crow.

David Kaufman · 1:34 AM

Jim Crow is government stepping in.

David Kaufman · 1:34 AM

Jim Crow is government violating rights.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:35 AM

DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT WAS JUSTIFIED IN INTERVENING IN MISSISSIPPI OR ALABAMA?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:35 AM

FUCKING LAWYER

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Myles Maher

“I wish I could be more of an asshole.”

David Kaufman · 1:35 AM

Yes, but that's because the governments of Mississippi and Alabama weren't treating their citizens equally.

David Kaufman · 1:35 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“How do you enforce that if you essentially want almost no govt involvement? Does a business have the right to get rid of anyone for any reason?”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:36 AM

so you acknowledge that the givernment does at times have to step in to curtail human beings from their nature?

David Kaufman · 1:37 AM

No. I think that in your examples, it was governmental action itself that was the problem. The Federal government got involved to enforce the Constitutional rights of individuals to be treated equally by their government.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:37 AM

I don't understand that at all

David Kaufman · 1:38 AM

Montgomery, Alabama had a law which required Blacks to go to the back of the bus. That wasn't the Montgomery Bus Company (which, incidentally, fought the law because they didn't want to piss off their customers)

David Kaufman · 1:38 AM

The GOVERNMENT was violating their responsibility to treat citizens equally.

David Kaufman · 1:38 AM

So, yeah, we don't allow that.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:39 AM

are you insinuating that there was no unjustifiable racism perpetrated in the South by non-government forces?

David Kaufman · 1:41 AM

No, I'm saying that a racist has the right to be a racist. The government doesn't. Further, the racist doesn't have the right to lynch someone, whether it's motivated by racism or any other reason. The murder is equal.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:41 AM

do you believe corporations can be trusted?

David Kaufman · 1:41 AM

Which one?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:41 AM

to act responsibly and within the law?

David Kaufman · 1:42 AM

Depends on the corporation, doesn't it?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:42 AM

you seem to be advocating minimal government, so I'm assuming you believe that if left to their own devices, corporations would lead us to a Nirvana?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“what if that "rasist" person is in the government? that give him the right then?”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

★ Spotlighted from Gary Shapiro

“This is a good place to take a time-out for some Budweiser Black Crown.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:43 AM

lmao Gar

David Kaufman · 1:43 AM

No, I think individuals pursuing voluntary actions is the right way to go.

David Kaufman · 1:43 AM

Dickies: As long as he's not using government power, he has no effect on my life.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:44 AM

you trust a racist in government to legislate uniasedly?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:44 AM

unbiasedly?

David Kaufman · 1:45 AM

Well, I think my solution is more to keep the government restrained. The Davis-Bacon law, which effectively requires union wages to paid for all government jobs, was passed completely based on racist Congressman who wanted to keep

David Kaufman · 1:45 AM

Northern white workers safe from less expensive Southern black workers.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:45 AM

it's amazng how everything designed to help the little guy has some negative twist to it

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:46 AM

In that case the ends justify the means

David Kaufman · 1:46 AM

That didn't help the little guy. In that case, the little guy was the Southern black laborer who wanted to make a living, but couldn't because he was kept out artificially because he wasn't allowed to join the union, and Davis Bacon prevented his

David Kaufman · 1:46 AM

being hired at a lower wage.

David Kaufman · 1:47 AM

So now, you had establishment white workers getting the jobs.

David Kaufman · 1:47 AM

It was white protectionism.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:47 AM

Well, I think a lot of minority workers are able to maintain a barely liveable standard of life thanks to government jobs, so however it happened, I'm pleased

David Kaufman · 1:48 AM

But you can't see the jobs they would have gotten had the money not been shunted differently by fiat.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:48 AM

All right - let's move in a new direction

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:48 AM

big principles, explain what you think is misguided about me and my people

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:49 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“Fiats are too unreliable.”

David Kaufman · 1:49 AM

Rick -- they used to be. They're better now, I think...

David Kaufman · 1:49 AM

I don't know.

David Kaufman · 1:49 AM

I'm gonna get a Mini, probably...

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:50 AM

I forgot we were supposed to be funny

David Kaufman · 1:50 AM

Anyway, Jordan, what's wrong with you is the same thing that you bitch about the right.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:50 AM

which is, Mr. Vague?

David Kaufman · 1:51 AM

The right is trying to keep me out of Hell by not allowing me to sleep with a guy (if I wanted to, which I don't, not that there's anything wrong with that), and you want to keep me out of Hell

David Kaufman · 1:51 AM

by taking all my stuff and giving it to other people.

David Kaufman · 1:51 AM

Screw both of you.

David Kaufman · 1:51 AM

★ Spotlighted from Myles Maher

“I feel I'm entitled to more $$$$ because I want a bigger house for my family to spread all of our shit around more.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:52 AM

David, I'm curious. Imagine any piece of land on the planet. Now imagine the first ever owner of that piece of land.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:52 AM

do you think he got it by calling it? like shotgun?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

The transition of stolen property to a minority through the years does not entitle an abandoning of the basic life needs of everyone else?

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rachael Workman

“Dickies - your points are well taken even if they're not getting pulled up on stage. you have the ear of the room.”

David Kaufman · 1:53 AM

My property is the product of my efforts.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:53 AM

★ Spotlighted from C. Brian Smith

“I do sleep with another guy, and I promise you there's a lot wrong with it.”

David Kaufman · 1:53 AM

It's not yours to give away.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:54 AM

David - to a degree. It also has alot to do wiht the life you were born into and the opportunities you had. Just like me.

David Kaufman · 1:55 AM

Which has to do with the product of my parents efforts. And their parents efforts. My great-grandfather showed up with 12 bucks and a tallis. Now, I work 90 hours a week at a law firm. (Wait. That doesn't sound that good.)

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:55 AM

lol

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:55 AM

I don't dispute that you work exceptionally hard and are exceptionally talented and deserve to reap the rewards of that

David Kaufman · 1:55 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“Did you not benefit from police, firemen, public roads, defense of the country, libraries, parks, etc. Freedom isn't free and neither is running a country”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:56 AM

I only argue that at a certain masive point individual wealth becomes a cancer to society

David Kaufman · 1:57 AM

How? My productivity doesn't hurt someone else. And Seth, I'm not an anarchist. My point, generally speaking, is that government should be the solution of last resort for a given problem.

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

because at some point the accumulation of wealth passes beyond the point of reasonable, and people gain too mjch power and are inevitably corrupt

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:58 AM

it's the fall of every empire in history

David Kaufman · 1:58 AM

You forgot the other part. The power only comes from the misuse of government force.

David Kaufman · 1:59 AM

★ Spotlighted from Gary Shapiro

“David makes a good point for the right that we want to be able to create our own wealth rather than have an economy based on redistribution, but still has no answer to Jordan's question from the left about how to take care of the less fortunate.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

I think the smart perspective is that in practice corporations are running the country, and we don't really have a government

Jordan Birnbaum · 1:59 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“If only my Juno options didn't take a dump . . .”

David Kaufman · 2:00 AM

I think that "corporations" is a convenient bugaboo. Coke, Inc. doesn't equal Pepsi, Inc., doesn't equal Wal-Mart, Inc. doesn't equal Pacifica Radio, Inc. There isn't this faceless mega-corporation out there.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

yes there is

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:00 AM

you just can't see the forrest through the trees

David Kaufman · 2:00 AM

There has never, without government intervention, been a coercive monopoly in history.

David Kaufman · 2:01 AM

What -- Bilderberg, Inc.

David Kaufman · 2:01 AM

I'm a Freemason, too, by the way....

David Kaufman · 2:01 AM

;)

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

seriously, David. I like you very much. I think you are a compassionate and loving and reasonable person - I disagree with them, but I respect your point of view

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

views

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“david,yes there is!!!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

★ Spotlighted from Myles Maher

“Anyone going to get in on the Tawkers IPO?”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

I AM!!!!!!!!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:02 AM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“I nominate Rick Rosner to get up on stage in his own Tawk ASAP!”

David Kaufman · 2:03 AM

No, Jordan, no. Don't be part of this horrible system of corporate vultures.

David Kaufman · 2:03 AM

Be free.

David Kaufman · 2:03 AM

Join a commune.

David Kaufman · 2:03 AM

(I'm in on the IPO, though.)

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

I'll use the money to build one

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

so blake has a good point

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

I do want to encourage you guys to start hosting

David Kaufman · 2:03 AM

Yeah, I nominate Rick, also.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:03 AM

I'll tawk with you, I'll visit your tawks - I have no life

David Kaufman · 2:04 AM

Don't put that in the IPO book.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:04 AM

David you want to make any big points before we go out?

David Kaufman · 2:04 AM

★ Spotlighted from Clinton Freeman

“We do have a government, but even a democracy gets distorted between elections when there is to much inequality”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:04 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“What bothers me is that the hard right has zero concern for all the corporate welfare and military waste yet is boiling angry at minorities, many of whom live in section 8h housing, who receive welfare or food stamps...kind of hypocritical don't you”

David Kaufman · 2:04 AM

Yeah, we were supposed to mean to each other, I think, weren't we? So, you're a doody-head.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:05 AM

what seth and clinton said!!!!!!!!!!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:05 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“i agree with Jordan - he has no life!!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:05 AM

What Dickies said!!!! (My digital new best friend, btw)

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:05 AM

r u going to address seth and clinton?

David Kaufman · 2:06 AM

Sure!

David Kaufman · 2:07 AM

Seth -- you're certainly partially right. I don't know how the right can know that the government can do everything incredibly poorly and then pretend that the military is a paragon of efficiency that should get all the money it wants. That's absur

David Kaufman · 2:07 AM

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:07 AM

holy shit - a Republican who is willing to be reasonable - I deserve Kudos for finding him

David Kaufman · 2:07 AM

And Clinton AND Seth -- I think my point is that I don't want the government to pick winners and losers. It's that ability which creates the incentives for the corruption.

David Kaufman · 2:08 AM

I don't want a "pro"-business government any more than I want an anti-business government. I want government out of the business business.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:08 AM

★ Spotlighted from Lucy Dyer

“cut the sodding military budget and give to schools and hospitals for a start!”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:09 AM

David - I want to have an extensve conversation about how non-profit operation of the vital infrastructure is the solution to everything

David Kaufman · 2:09 AM

We started talking during the Carlin Tawk about how the Tea Party and the Occupy movements had overlapping goals.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:09 AM

but I'm guessing that will have to wait for Rd. 2. (Or does "the re`match" sound beter?)

David Kaufman · 2:09 AM

Jordan-David 2. Electric Boogaloo.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:10 AM

To all my friends who came and supported - I LOVE YOU

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:10 AM

I hope you had fun

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:10 AM

To all of David's friends wo came, I love you too

David Kaufman · 2:10 AM

Watch out for Jordan, my friends. He's a fondler.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:11 AM

You still wear lingerie under your suit?

David Kaufman · 2:11 AM

Yes.

David Kaufman · 2:11 AM

Crap. Are we still on?

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:11 AM

don't blame you. it feels wonderful!

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:11 AM

★ Spotlighted from Seth Hochman

“Next time we'll have to get you two in the boxing ring to make it more exciting”

David Kaufman · 2:11 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rick Rosner

“Typical republican dress.”

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:11 AM

yeah - careful, David, I've been working out

David Kaufman · 2:12 AM

GOP: Garters Over Panties.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:12 AM

That's beter than Get Over Principles

David Kaufman · 2:13 AM

Let's do foreign policy next. I might be a libertarian domestically, but I'm a war monger, too.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:13 AM

perfect - nothing gets beter ratings than baby killers

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:13 AM

Amigos - let's Tawk! I'l see you soon!

David Kaufman · 2:14 AM

Friends, I bid you adieu.

Jordan Birnbaum · 2:14 AM

And if you're coming late to the party, I sugest you hit the "top" button in the upper left corner so you don't get confused and flustered.

Forum · 181

Forum· 181 comments

28 visitors

Blake IanApr 15, 2013, 4:26 PM

Nice to see David Kaufman go from audience to host after being so vocal in the Kelly Carlin Tawk! Looking forward to this one. Great title by JB as always!

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 12:19 AM

I'm not here yet.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 12:29 AM

me either

Jordan SudyApr 18, 2013, 12:40 AM

If you both agree with one another that you aren't here, you might be

Jordan SudyApr 18, 2013, 12:41 AM

Relativity and all

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 12:46 AM

you might be talking to yourself tho

Jordan SudyApr 18, 2013, 12:56 AM

True true

Blake IanApr 18, 2013, 12:56 AM

You misspelled Tawk Dickies!

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:00 AM

The suspense is killing me.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:00 AM

evening all :-)

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:00 AM

Yo, J!

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:01 AM

i am NEVER shy!! hehe

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:02 AM

awww thats kinda sweet.

Blake IanApr 18, 2013, 1:03 AM

I find most comments on Facebook to be completely wrong... even the ones that directly oppose those comments!

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:03 AM

Tomorrow's drug addicts, more likely.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:03 AM

"he's so hip,his bum almost fell off!"

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:04 AM

i did? where? :-O

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:06 AM

a hopefully endangered species - a Jewish Republican

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:06 AM

i was never that good in team sports...never had a team

Blake IanApr 18, 2013, 1:06 AM★ Spotlighted

What a KEY term that is in today's political situation... "Less Worse"

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:06 AM

Anyone ever drop their iPhone in the toilet?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:07 AM

less worse kinda sounds like a double negative

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:10 AM

Good question to get things going

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:10 AM

I'll bite - what issues?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:11 AM

maybe hes worried that they would use their own stem cells.....god forbid

Joshua BaileyApr 18, 2013, 1:11 AM

Aren't those the main platform items of the Republican Party?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:12 AM

the lesser of two evils - and you still have evil

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:13 AM★ Spotlighted

Sounds more like the Ron Paul branch of the party

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:14 AM★ Spotlighted

I hope this conversation gets less polite.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:14 AM

if there was a third party - say for example,Green - would David agree with any of their policies. just a thought...

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:14 AM★ Spotlighted

Anyone know how to lower my health insurance premiums?

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:16 AM

Go baby go

Adam KiznerApr 18, 2013, 1:17 AM★ Spotlighted

we actually have a parliamentary system, but requiring 60% of the vote.

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:18 AM

Sorry It's hard for me to focus--my 4 years old is moaning about her itchy bunion down the hall.

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:18 AM

One of the problems with the Republicans is that they have reduced themselves to the lowest possible denominators.

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:20 AM

What I meant by the Ron Paul branch was that you are more libertarian than Tea Party in your beliefs, it seems, and many of your positions seems to run counter to those held by the majority of the party

Adam KiznerApr 18, 2013, 1:20 AM

because it is a noble profession.

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:21 AM

Even Geico????

Peter CrysdaleApr 18, 2013, 1:21 AM

De-privatize hospitals?! They are already pretty antiquated as is!

Adam KiznerApr 18, 2013, 1:21 AM

and preventative medicine. food as medicine.

Joshua BaileyApr 18, 2013, 1:21 AM

Overt republican answer, only e

Danny GarciaApr 18, 2013, 1:21 AM

LOL... I just read that McDonalds is now asking for Bachelors degrees.....

Peter CrysdaleApr 18, 2013, 1:21 AM★ Spotlighted

Having more public hospitals make them even less efficient!

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:22 AM

Go Jordan - you're singing my song.

Joshua BaileyApr 18, 2013, 1:22 AM

Very republican response, if it doesn't make money no one will do it, that is why people get into teaching

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:22 AM★ Spotlighted

Well the alternative to govt paying for peoples healthcare is throwing them out on the street and letting them die quickly...is that who we are?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:23 AM

what you are talking about is kinda like what we have here - the NHS. which is so crap its unreal

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:23 AM

I just celebrated my first anniversary of a double hernia repair.

C. Brian SmithApr 18, 2013, 1:24 AM

Here here.

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:25 AM

For people who cannot afford it what other alternative is there

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:25 AM

Uh-oh, the indigents - part of the 47%.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:26 AM

the NHS - or the national health system - is not working too well right now. hasnt been for years. too much money going on people like managers and not on nurses or treatment. to put it bluntly,what you are talking doesnt work that well

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:26 AM

we may even go back to being privatized,where everyone pays for their treatment. sound familiar?

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:27 AM★ Spotlighted

I feel like a deserve a bit more credit for raising the health care topic. Why is no one paying attention to anything else I'm Tawking about?

Joshua BaileyApr 18, 2013, 1:27 AM

The poor management of the NHS does not mean that public hospitals don't work

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:27 AM

thank you Jordan. i knew i wasnt talking shite

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:28 AM

Because we hate you.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:28 AM

probably same no-one cares what i am saying,they dont want to listen to what might be true

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:28 AM

rick,shut up

C. Brian SmithApr 18, 2013, 1:28 AM★ Spotlighted

I just spent four days in the hospital and my insurance company was charged $200,000. It was all make-believe money to me, but were I not insured I assume I would be paying off that bill for the rest of my life.

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:29 AM

There are only two to three health insurers in most states...how is that competition and before Obamacare was even a thought HMO's were increasing premiums over 30% per year. Clearly the free market isn't working--not to mention about a quarter of t

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:29 AM

My lips are sealed. But my fingers . . . .

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:29 AM

the country has no health insurance whtasoever

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:29 AM

lol rick hush

Peter CrysdaleApr 18, 2013, 1:29 AM

Roughly 1/3 of healthcare spending in Canada is private: http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/healthcare/public_vs_private.html

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:30 AM

david even if you have health insurance here,you STILL have to wait

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:30 AM

Why not legalize weed and make texting while driving illegal?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:31 AM

is there any point in me tawking?

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:31 AM

Thanks David!

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:31 AM

sorry jordan i'm off. bye

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:31 AM

I'm reading everything you say . . .

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:32 AM

And more to the point - by eachother

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:33 AM★ Spotlighted

Jordan what do you mean by "civil rights"?

Gary ShapiroApr 18, 2013, 1:33 AM

Change "attack" to "discriminated against"

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:34 AM★ Spotlighted

I wish I could be more of an asshole.

C. Brian SmithApr 18, 2013, 1:34 AM

The government serves as the toilet paper in a populace of assholes.

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:34 AM★ Spotlighted

How do you enforce that if you essentially want almost no govt involvement? Does a business have the right to get rid of anyone for any reason?

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:35 AM

Tell that to President Johnson.

C. Brian SmithApr 18, 2013, 1:35 AM

Caps lock doesn't suit you, JB.

Peter RosenblumApr 18, 2013, 1:35 AM

Love it!

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:36 AM

Where do you draw the line then David?

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:36 AM

Thanks to whomever just elevated my idiotic comment out of the basement.

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:38 AM

Actually it was the action of a lot of private citizens that refused blacks in their restaurants and paid them less on the job--with less benefits, if any at all

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:38 AM

The State, not the Feds.

Rachael WorkmanApr 18, 2013, 1:39 AM

david's point is ringing true to me here. i'm struggling to remember a time that the populace has spontaneously attacked a minority if that sentiment wasn't already trickling down from the powers that be.

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:41 AM

Where are the big mouth f-ing analysts who were pounding the table for AAPL 1,1000 when it was 650?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:41 AM

the government is just a bunch of asshats.they couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag

Gary ShapiroApr 18, 2013, 1:41 AM★ Spotlighted

This is a good place to take a time-out for some Budweiser Black Crown.

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:41 AM

You obviously weren't alive in the 60s.

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:41 AM

Sorry wrong forum.

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:42 AM

Dickies - you' back!

Blake IanApr 18, 2013, 1:42 AM

Hahah I FEEL you Myles! I felt it all day with that brutal plunge!

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:42 AM★ Spotlighted

what if that "rasist" person is in the government? that give him the right then?

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:42 AM

Following up on what you just said David, do you believe a business has the right to refuse someone because of their race, ethnicity or sexual orientation?

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:43 AM

lol Jordan

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:43 AM

corporations are not owned by the government but fat cats who buy the people in government

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:45 AM

Thanks, Blake. Never touched it, but it's gotta be a buy somewhere close to here.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:45 AM

sorry but what a *insert swear word*. if he,or indeed she, is a racist and in government,you think they aint gonna use what they believe to influence things? which may have an effect on your life?

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:46 AM

The 47%; aye there's the rub.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:47 AM

scuse me while i just scream obscenities at you guys. you do my friggin' nut in!

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:48 AM★ Spotlighted

I feel I'm entitled to more $$$$ because I want a bigger house for my family to spread all of our shit around more.

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:48 AM★ Spotlighted

Fiats are too unreliable.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:48 AM

yes lets....

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:49 AM

I want new, spacious bathrooms; one with a legitt jacuzzi.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:49 AM

me and my people? lol really?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:50 AM

calm the fuck down jordan for fucks sake!

C. Brian SmithApr 18, 2013, 1:50 AM

Mr. Vague. Sounds fancy.

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:51 AM

He is calm, just havin' fun.

Eric GoldsmithApr 18, 2013, 1:51 AM

@Myles - re; lowering health insurance premiums I do.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:51 AM

and you - points at david - stop antagonizing him. dam i feel like a parent

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:51 AM

I want to drop 25 lbs without exercising or cutting back on my sick eating habits.

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:51 AM

I don;t want your stuff, including the Mini.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:51 AM

remind me again why i came back in?

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:52 AM

Intellectual mastur . . . .stimulation.

Rachael WorkmanApr 18, 2013, 1:52 AM★ Spotlighted

Dickies - your points are well taken even if they're not getting pulled up on stage. you have the ear of the room.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:52 AM

lol rick...oh rick....

C. Brian SmithApr 18, 2013, 1:52 AM★ Spotlighted

I do sleep with another guy, and I promise you there's a lot wrong with it.

Peter RosenblumApr 18, 2013, 1:52 AM

LOL

Eric GoldsmithApr 18, 2013, 1:52 AM

@Jordan - 3 very good suggestions which have been brought to the forum for years and have no chance b/c these companies have too much power ($)

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:52 AM

thank you rachael

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:53 AM

Actually the real welfare queens are corporations, which incidentally often pay zero taxes, yet get massive amounts of taxpayer money, and defense companies--like Lockheed, Boeing, etc. Our military budget alone is over a quarter of the budget and th

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:54 AM

that doesn't even include the interest we are paying for past wars and weapons

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:54 AM

now that Jordan i can agree with

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:55 AM

you work for what you want,you get nothing by buying your way thru life

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 1:55 AM★ Spotlighted

Did you not benefit from police, firemen, public roads, defense of the country, libraries, parks, etc. Freedom isn't free and neither is running a country

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:55 AM

Any married men in the room do most of the family laundry?

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:57 AM

I don;t want cancer, but . . .

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:57 AM

oh and i forgot to say - dont governments work for the people and not the other way round? as is happening today?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:57 AM

or am i living in cloud lala land?

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 1:57 AM

I want to be rich!

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:57 AM★ Spotlighted

If only my Juno options didn't take a dump . . .

Rachael WorkmanApr 18, 2013, 1:58 AM

hahahahah Rick

Gary ShapiroApr 18, 2013, 1:58 AM★ Spotlighted

David makes a good point for the right that we want to be able to create our own wealth rather than have an economy based on redistribution, but still has no answer to Jordan's question from the left about how to take care of the less fortunate.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:58 AM

david,a last resort? try actually telling the government that then

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 1:58 AM

No Dickies. I'm in L.A. land, you're in the U.K.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:58 AM

usually governments ARE the problem

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 1:59 AM

yes thank you rick lol

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:00 AM

Didn't say you were but this is the notion of the right that their money is being "given away" to welfare receiving parasites driving around in Cadillacs...

Blake IanApr 18, 2013, 2:00 AM★ Spotlighted

I nominate Rick Rosner to get up on stage in his own Tawk ASAP!

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:00 AM★ Spotlighted

david,yes there is!!!

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:01 AM

I'm not trying to say that everyone on welfare or unemployment is 100% right however there are far more abuses of govt money, and waste, if you will by the very rich, taking ridiculous tax breaks, hiding their money in offshore tax havens, and not t

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:01 AM

its this mega corporation thats funding the politicians and companies and wall street..cant you see that?

Liphan LeeApr 18, 2013, 2:01 AM

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/04/11/full-list-of-bankers-at-white-house-meeting-thursday/

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 2:01 AM

Thanks, Ian. But my joke becomes boring in short order.,

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:01 AM

to mention corporate welfare, which is more than all the money spent on welfare and unemployment combined

Myles MaherApr 18, 2013, 2:01 AM★ Spotlighted

Anyone going to get in on the Tawkers IPO?

Liphan LeeApr 18, 2013, 2:02 AM

list of Bankers meeting with at the Whitehouse last thursday

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:03 AM

i cant just see Jordan in a kaftan...JUST a kaftan mind

Clinton FreemanApr 18, 2013, 2:03 AM★ Spotlighted

We do have a government, but even a democracy gets distorted between elections when there is to much inequality

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 2:03 AM

Yes! Communes - Lots of sex!

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:04 AM★ Spotlighted

i agree with Jordan - he has no life!!

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:04 AM★ Spotlighted

What bothers me is that the hard right has zero concern for all the corporate welfare and military waste yet is boiling angry at minorities, many of whom live in section 8h housing, who receive welfare or food stamps...kind of hypocritical don't you

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:04 AM

think?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:05 AM

doody head? that the best you can do?

Eric GoldsmithApr 18, 2013, 2:07 AM

@ gary - black crown hysterical!

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 2:07 AM

That's one.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:08 AM★ Spotlighted

cut the sodding military budget and give to schools and hospitals for a start!

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:08 AM

Glad we agree on something...I don't think govt is Satan nor do I think corporations are Saints

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:09 AM

give the money spent on the military and wars on the poor people,give them homes,give them food,give them a proper wage....not too much to ask for

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:09 AM

No Govt is out of business anywhere...one of the fundamental responsibilities of govt is to protect its citizens not only from bombs but also from scammers, ripoff artists, abusive companies etc.

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 2:10 AM

Thanks, Jordan.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:10 AM

if you call it the electric boogaloo you both have to dress up as the BeeGees

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:10 AM

Well done!

Eric GoldsmithApr 18, 2013, 2:10 AM

whats a Dickies Bent?

Gary ShapiroApr 18, 2013, 2:10 AM

Great Tawk, everyone!

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:10 AM

a fondler? YES!!!

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:11 AM★ Spotlighted

Next time we'll have to get you two in the boxing ring to make it more exciting

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 2:11 AM★ Spotlighted

Typical republican dress.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:11 AM

pmsl rick

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:11 AM

Plus it would be fun betting on that :)

Rick RosnerApr 18, 2013, 2:11 AM

Dickies - take 'er easy, Dude.

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:12 AM

can we get that on a t shirt?

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:12 AM

and i thought Reps wore g strings?

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:12 AM

No ear biting however...we'll keep regulation to a minimum though

Eric GoldsmithApr 18, 2013, 2:13 AM

@birnbaum- your perspective on wealth and passing a certain point whereby pple gain too much power and become corrupt seems extremely flawed

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:13 AM

lol Jordan

Eric GoldsmithApr 18, 2013, 2:13 AM

d argue the majority of wealthy pple today are good pple and do more good than bad for humanity

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:13 AM

and kittens too jordan dont forget them

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:13 AM

That's an interesting dicotomy

Seth HochmanApr 18, 2013, 2:14 AM

Peace out

Lucy DyerApr 18, 2013, 2:14 AM

TTFN to both of you