Despite President Obama's best efforts to kill capitalism, it's alive and well---at least today with the widely hyped Facebook IPO.
Facebook is a rather lyrical story of economic liberty: a college kid at Harvard with extra time on his hands creates a basic social networking program so other college kids can talk to each other and share stuff online. As the program grows exponentially, the college kid refines it, graduates, and turns it into a real business. Soon, there are hundreds of thousands of users of his program; then there are millions; now there is close to one billion worldwide.
If you build it, they will come. The college kid built it, and boy, did they come. And today, the investors come. So does the real money. Billions of dollars' worth.
All investments carry inherent risk, and nobody really knows how the Facebook IPO is going to shake out, or what the future holds for the product and the company. But it's all part of the creative destruction and production of capitalism: ideas come, risks get taken, things get created, investments transpire, failures occur, so does wild success. It's all part of the wonderfully messy choreography of the free market.
The IPO is expected to raise Facebook about $16 billion in proceeds and value it at more than $100 billion. If it goes as anticipated, over 1000 people will become millionaires today, and a few new billionaires, including that college kid, Mark Zuckerberg, will be created too.
Regardless of what you think of Facebook or if you're buying some of its shares today or not or whether you even know what Facebook is, you should celebrate what it represents: American ingenuity, creativity, and innovation.
And oh yeah: capitalism. Viva economic liberty!
Jonah Goldberg @JonahNRO
General Eisenhower invaded Europe. Historians rank this as almost as audacious as Pres. Obama's Bin Laden raid. #ObamaInHistory
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 10:50 PM
Ricochet @Ricochet
Rupert Murdoch : Let's Talk About California's $16 Billion Hole http://bit.ly/J6k1Pk
gringoNOTE: Productive Californians are doing something about it: Leaving.
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 10:54 PM
Mark Knoller @markknoller
67% in poll think Pres Obama endorsed same-sex marriage for political reasons, 24% because he thinks it's right.
Retweeted by Jonah Goldberg
gringoNOTE: Maybe Barry is just keeping his options open for life after Michelle.
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 10:58 PM
Polly Sigh @PollySigh1
USA Today says black churches NOT happy w/ Obama's gay marriage stance. Waiting for the Left to blast them as haters. #Snort
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 10:59 PM
Not a fan. RT @LachlanMarkay: ??? RT @OMGFacts: The first known contraceptive was crocodile dung, used by Egyptians in 2000 B.C.
14 May Jonah Goldberg Jonah Goldberg @JonahNRO
.@BenHowe @LachlanMarkay @OMGFacts Was there an Egyptian Sandra Fluke demanding the Pharaohs pay for her crocodile dung?
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Mo Rocca @MoRocca
Not to be outdone US News & World Report to feature cover of President Obama breastfeeding small child
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Byron York @ByronYork
Edward Klein writes: When controversy hit, Obama friend offered Jeremiah Wright $150k to stop preaching until after November '08 election.
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:04 PM
HI-Z @AGM100TUC
@ByronYork Haha 150k ? Thats chump change to the chicago politico operations. The good Rev has a $10 million dollar home..150k is nothing.
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:05 PM
Michelle Malkin @michellemalkin
Now that Obama is serially lying about Romney's Bain record, maybe MR will concede O is NOT a "nice guy." #glovesoff http://twitchy.com/2012/05/14/obama-campaign-falsely-insinuates-that-most-bain-capital-companies-went-bankrupt/
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:07 PM
Drop George Zimmerman’s murder charge
New evidence suggests Trayvon Martin's killer acted in self-defense
Comments (694)
By Alan Dershowitz / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/drop-george-zimmerman-murder-charge-article-1.1080161#ixzz1vHW8b7Dr
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:11 PM
Latest Election Polls
Election 2012
Friday, May 18
General Election: Romney vs. Obama Mason-Dixon Obama 44, Romney 47 Romney +3
General Election: Romney vs. Obama Gallup Tracking Obama 45, Romney 46 Romney +1
General Election: Romney vs. Obama Rasmussen Tracking Obama 44, Romney 46 Romney +2
Nebraska: Romney vs. Obama Rasmussen Reports Romney 53, Obama 39 Romney +14
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:18 PM
INJUSTICE IS BLIND.
Posted by: Rafe | May 18, 2012 at 04:21 PM
No, Unfortunately, it sees quite well.
Look at the FBI's railroading of American Indian Activist Leonard Peltier in the 70's.
Posted by: LongRifle | May 18, 2012 at 11:26 PM
"Meanwhile, an nearly immeasurable number of "progressives" jumped to the conclusion that the "white hispanic" ruthlessly hunted an innocent, angelic young child down like a rabid dog and killed him in cold blood." - ZimmieMJFell
Straw man alert.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 18, 2012 at 11:37 PM
Drop George Zimmerman’s murder charge
New evidence suggests Trayvon Martin's killer acted in self-defense
Comments (694)
By Alan Dershowitz / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
It was actually obvious from the start for those of us who have been in LE.
1..The Police let him go right after the incident...The Police are not stupid, as Obama would have you believe. The physical evidence and eyewitness testimony that they had AT THE SCENE corroborated Zimmerman's story. (as civilians are now finding out)
2..No charges were forthcoming until the race card was played. Politics, politics, politics...
Florida will NEVER get a conviction for 2nd degree murder.
They might have gotten one for manslaughter, but now it's too late.
A young man is dead. He may have become something. Look at George Foreman; he was a criminal at 17.
It's tragic for Martin and his family and now it's tragic for Zimmerman's; everyone loses.
Posted by: LongRifle | May 18, 2012 at 11:38 PM
Instead of GRINGOMAN posting comments from dozens of others. Why not save time and let THEM post the comments instead. Would sure save time scrolling past GRINGO'S posts!
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 18, 2012 at 11:46 PM
SatanZimmieGringoman:
Your new fetish with duplicating the twitter website here and using it to spam this website is violating Twitter's copyright, and you should be hearing from their lawyers shortly.
Have a nice weekend.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 18, 2012 at 11:47 PM
Mark Zuckerberg: example of somebody who left Harvard. Elizabeth Warren: example of somebody who stayed there
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 09:34 PM
BORING!
GRINGOMAN, someone who needs to go back to school!
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 18, 2012 at 11:52 PM
Don't forget kids.... BIG solar eclipse Sunday evening with clear crescent moon star Islamic shadows cast by the eclipse over the entire US and much of the planet.
"God is watching us, God is watching us.
God is watching us, from a distance."
"And there will be signs in the heavens..."
Posted by: xbjllb | May 18, 2012 at 11:52 PM
"Not only are income taxes at historically low levels relative to the size of the economy, they are also at historically low levels as a share of all federal revenues. In 2003, the share of federal revenues consisting of income taxes fell to its lowest level since 1941. Conversely, the share of federal revenues consisting of payroll taxes reached the highest level in the history of the tax system."
JAY
While all this may be true and you make a valid point, you are beating a dead horse.
Since Corporations are now people, don't expect to convince them to support any tax raises.
The BIG money is betting the farm on fellow Corpocrat Romney.
Posted by: LongRifle | May 18, 2012 at 11:53 PM
"It's tragic for Martin and his family and now it's tragic for Zimmerman's; everyone loses." - SatanZimmieLongrifle
One family gets to visit their idiot son in prison every day for the rest of his life and hope and pray for a parole that will never come.
One family will never see their son again in this lifetime.
A tragedy more so for the victims then the perp, and don't ever forget it.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 18, 2012 at 11:54 PM
ATTENTION NON-TROLLS
You're welcome here. If you do not already have an avatar, it's strongly suggested that you get one. Why?
1. This makes OPC (Operation Pest Control) easier.
2. It makes you instantly recognizable as a non-troll. This tends to get your post read immediately.
3. When all the non-trolls use an avatar, it simplifies scrolling right by the trolls and ignoring them. The troll craves attention. A drive by, or scroll by, defeats the troll's purpose.
If this is not clear, or you have questions, feel free to ask.
Remember, you can always change your avatar if you like. No problemo.
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:55 PM
Don't forget kids.... BIG solar eclipse Sunday evening with clear crescent moon star Islamic shadows cast by the eclipse over the entire US and much of the planet.
"God is watching us, God is watching us.
God is watching us, from a distance."
"And there will be signs in the heavens..."
Posted by: xbjllb | May 18, 2012 at 11:52 PM
june 5th for those who have the proper gear, they can see Venus transit past the Sun. Next time is in 105.5 years!
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 18, 2012 at 11:55 PM
While all this may be true and you make a valid point, you are beating a dead horse.
Since Corporations are now people, don't expect to convince them to support any tax raises.
The BIG money is betting the farm on fellow Corpocrat Romney.
Posted by: LongRifle | May 18, 2012 at 11:53 PM
Corporations are NOT people, they are made up of people. Corporations are entities, that do not deserve the same rights as people.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 18, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Don't forget kids.... BIG solar eclipse Sunday evening with clear crescent moon star Islamic shadows cast by the eclipse over the entire US and much of the planet.
xbjllb
Yeah. Looking forward to it. Don't view it without your welder's mask...
In September 2015, there will be back-to-back Lunar and Solar eclipses just before the Feast Of Trumpets on Septembet 23, 2015. I'm not predicting anything, but many scholars see this as a possible Scripture-fulfilling prophecy concerning the Second Coming of Christ.
Posted by: LongRifle | May 18, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Furthermore, the perp's family "enjoyed" the life of their son already a decade more than the Martin's their son's life.
And if they were neglectful or not, their guilt will make them question themselves every day of the rest of their lives.
While Zimmerman was an "adult" already.
And notice you haven't heard the usual absolute BS from the NRA or the Right or the GOP:
"IF ONLY TRAYVON HAD BEEN ARMED TO PROTECT HIMSELF".
Yeah.
Rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrright.
And yet that's the same tired BS they always pull out at every needless shooting.
Why not this one?
White supremacist bastards all.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 18, 2012 at 11:59 PM
Count your Blessings, Men...
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/health/2012/05/18/flesh-eating-bacteria-consumes-man-penis/
...and there but for the grace of God...
Posted by: LongRifle | May 19, 2012 at 12:02 AM
3. When all the non-trolls use an avatar, it simplifies scrolling right by the trolls and ignoring them. The troll craves attention. A drive by, or scroll by, defeats the troll's purpose.
If this is not clear, or you have questions, feel free to ask.
Remember, you can always change your avatar if you like. No problemo.
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 11:55 PM
While the so-called TROLLS get bombarded with numerous sock puppets from the IRREGULARS.
There were so many different "JAYs", had to change mine.
Kept that identity for over 2 years. Until there were a dozen different JAYs on one page.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 19, 2012 at 12:02 AM
Corporations are entities, that do not deserve the same rights as people.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 18, 2012 at 11:59 PM
AGREE, but the SCOTUS didn't.
Posted by: LongRifle | May 19, 2012 at 12:04 AM
The SCOTUS is Conservative run.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 19, 2012 at 12:06 AM
Have my 6" scope and ready for the eclipse, also of Venus tansiting across the Sun.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 19, 2012 at 12:11 AM
Romney Afraid of the Macdaddy?
Mitt Romney, while willing to destroy GOP rivals with negative ad blitzkriegs, now backs away from Obama's ties to Reverend Wright, Mittens "repudiates" superpac plan to make a devastating video expose on Obama and Wright, based on Ed Klein interviews with Wright. Mittens says he doesn't want to get "personal." This after the Obots dug up a story about him cutting a boy's hair 50 years ago. It was two days after Obots compared Romney to a vampire.
Michael Savage astounded by Romney. Mark Levin disappointed. Sean Hannity puzzled. Even the Gringo Advisory Board declared, "Didn't we tell y'all about Willard, and his McCain 2008 Redux? Know what happens to a turkey? It gets its head chopped off."
Well, now someone else is on Romney's case.
/////Herman Cain: Obama's Ties to Rev. Wright 'Fair Game'
Friday, 18 May 2012 10:00 AM
By Greg McDonald
Read more on Newsmax.com: Herman Cain: Obama's Ties to Rev. Wright 'Fair Game'
http://www.newsmax.com/Politics/obama-wright-cain/2012/05/18/id/439528?s=al&promo_code=EF32-1
Posted by: gringoman | May 19, 2012 at 12:12 AM
"Yeah. Looking forward to it. Don't view it without your welder's mask..." longrifle
I'm going to be photographing and looking at THE SHADOWS. That's where the message is.
"In September 2015, there will be back-to-back Lunar and Solar eclipses just before the Feast Of Trumpets on Septembet 23, 2015. I'm not predicting anything, but many scholars see this as a possible Scripture-fulfilling prophecy concerning the Second Coming of Christ." - longrifle
http://www.prophecycorner.theforeverfamily.com/
A very nice elderly lady who's quite the Biblical scholar, published several books in her lifetime, is followed my many in the gov, US military, and agencies, and now posts for free.
Personally? Despite medical and scientific advances that would seem to make it inevitable, and secret world wars, and technology that could easily destroy the planet, I still make long range plans.
Though nothing would please me more than to leave asap, I still have a job to do, and that job is, in admitted futility, working to avert Armageddon by removing its trigger; the great gathering of Zio-fascists for nuclear obliteration in the Mideast.
Which is why I constantly push for as much emigration to the US as possible, as soon as possible. It will only postpone the inevitable, so that's why I'm raising money to leave the job to someone, ANYONE else and move on with MY life.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 12:13 AM
"Read more on Newsmax.com: Herman Cain:" - SatanZimmieGringoman
Herman Cain: The only man on the planet left alive with a lower approval and credibility rating THAN GEORGE W. BUSH.
Tell me, really, and be honest for once in your life:
Just how long as the Obama Team been running his opposition?
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 12:14 AM
But Cain told Fox News’s Greta Van Susteren Thursday night, “I think it is fair if someone wants to highlight the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his relationship with Barack Obama because, quite frankly, it wasn’t highlighted enough in 2008 when he was running for president the first time.
“The proposal [for superpac video that Romney "repudiated"] didn’t go anywhere, but I think it is fair game,” Cain said, stressing again that he believes the relationship should not be “off limits” in the election.
Read more on Newsmax.com: Herman Cain: Obama's Ties to Rev. Wright 'Fair Game'
Posted by: gringoman | May 19, 2012 at 12:17 AM
"Since Corporations are now people," - longrifle
How long do you think that would last with Democrat control of all three branches of gov along with a disavowal of the two-thirds rule in the Senate?
And how many millennia would GOP be in control and that still wouldn't happen?
Lesser evil. Lesser evil. The ONLY choice ANYONE gets in politics.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 12:20 AM
Armageddon could be COMPLETELY averted if America and Israel would only follow TRUE Christianity as laid out CLEARLY:
MATTHEW 5:38-41
“You have heard that the Law Of Moses says ‘If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.’ But I say, don’t resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too. If a [Roman] soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.”
MATTHEW 5:43-44
“You have heard that the law of Moses says ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!” (Some manuscripts add “Bless those who curse you; do good to those that hate you.”) which ties in with the Luke account.
LUKE 6: 27-35
“But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Pray for the happiness of those that curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give what you have to anyone who asks for it; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you.”
LUKE 6:38
“If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaking together to make room for more, and running over.”
IF A TERRORIST DEMANDS FROM YOU THE LAND (IN RETURN OR OTHERWISE), GIVE YE THEM EVERYTHING ON IT AS WELL, AND DO NOTHING TO DEVALUE IT.
THEN RETURN TO AMERICA, WHERE YOU SHOULD ALL HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO EMIGRATE IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND MAKE YE THERE YOUR OWN LIFE AND YOUR OWN ZION WHEREVER TWO OR MORE OF YE SHALL BE GATHERED IN ONE PLACE, I WILL BE THERE ALSO.
DIASPORA INSURES SAFETY.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 12:27 AM
"Herman Cain on Fox News" - SatanZimmieGringoman
Herman Cain: The only man on the planet left alive with a lower approval and credibility rating THAN GEORGE W. BUSH.
Tell me, really, and be honest for once in your life:
Just how long as the Obama Team been running his opposition?
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 12:28 AM
ZIONISM INSURES OBLITERATION.
And makes it EASY.
DIASPORA INSURES SURVIVAL.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 12:30 AM
Zion ain't just a national park in Utah, U. S. of A.
No sirree.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 12:34 AM
Then again, if one thought more of Romney's political savvy, one could say he's out-smarting them all on the Obama-Wright revelations. He's holding back. He "repudiates" the making of a devastating superpac expose. For now.
However, if the Marxelrods want to have fun with Romney's Mormonism, for example, use it to get evangelicals to stay in bed on Election Day....?
Try that, Marxies, and guess what will be coming at your boy from the still simmering Reverend Wright he dumped under the bus, sealed, signed and delivered in lengthy interviews with mainstream journalist Ed Klein?
Could Willard, or at least his pricey handlers, be that contingency-minded?
Posted by: gringoman | May 19, 2012 at 12:37 AM
Obama has apparently arrested 9 people in Chicago, without warrants, or charges. One might speculate, that they removed deposits from large banks, and were placing the money under the floorboards when they were apprehended. Now, in Europe this is more commonplace, and they do not have the supporting legislation to do this, as Obama does. Recently, a socialist politician was seen carrying a shoebox, he said he thought contained bottles of wine. Turned out to be a box of 300,000 Euros.
What do you do with this stuff? Some are placing their gold coins and cash in safety deposit boxes, rather than having an account.
Posted by: Chief Joe | May 19, 2012 at 01:01 AM
"What do you do with this stuff? Some are placing their gold coins and cash in safety deposit boxes, rather than having an account. " - Chief Joe
That would be moronic. Dubyah not only signed an executive order letting any letter agency confiscate what's in any safe deposit box, THEY CONDUCTED EXERCISES IN MAJOR BANKS and employees spilled the beans to friends and family, and the news hit the net.
Long time ago.
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 01:14 AM
"The BIG money is betting the farm on fellow Corpocrat Romney." - longrifle
Once again proving that it doesn't take intelligence to become rich, just inheritance and/or complete lack of moral compass and ethics.
Big money is asinine if they don't know they're fighting the CIA, and that the CIA has more money than all of corporate world put together, and is going to win this one.
Because they're FINALLY fighting for the American People and Democracy as chartered, instead of the direct opposite as they unfortunately did and as they were hamstruck with incompetency during the rogue GHW Bush decades.
CIAObama/Biden 2012
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 01:20 AM
CIAObama means only one thing:
CIAO Right wing!
Posted by: xbjllb | May 19, 2012 at 01:20 AM
Rupert Murdoch : Let's Talk About California's $16 Billion Hole http://bit.ly/J6k1Pk
gringoNOTE: Productive Californians are doing something about it: Leaving.
Posted by: gringoman | May 18, 2012 at 10:54 PM
Perry, a Republican, campaigned on the strength of the Texas economy and made political hay of the fact the Lone Star state had avoided California's massive deficit, pegged at $25.4 billion through the upcoming budget year.
Now Texas faces a budget deficit estimated as high as $27 billion for the upcoming two-year cycle of 2012-2013. To close the gap, state legislators have proposed steep cuts in funding to education and welfare programs.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/04/us-usa-deficits-states-idUSTRE71314420110204
California and Texas are in similar budgetary dire straits following a painful U.S. recession that severely crimped state tax receipts and other critical revenue sources.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 19, 2012 at 02:19 AM
Obama wants to give Africans foreign aid, and then create a public-private partnership company, that supplies agricultural support to the Africans. That would basically place a governmental agency into Africa, at our expense.
One cannot help but feel that these partnerships, are beyond the pale - to borrow our lady's verbiage. They were created for the purpose of reducing governmental employees, when they were required for just a 1-shot project. This is being turned into a global governmental sprawl. It is also being used to add a governmental component to companies that have no competition, that are supported when need be, or possibly completely, by tax dollars.
The interface between government and business, has always been to create incentives for economic growth where needed. Sometimes corporate board members are connected with politicians- to bring a company in line with national interests. We should go back to this, and stop the socialization of our business sector.
Posted by: Chief Joe | May 19, 2012 at 02:19 AM
California's 16 BILLION HOLE
TEXAS's 27 BILLION HOLE
Californians would be better off staying away from Texas.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 19, 2012 at 02:22 AM
Texas needs to bring back the income tax and others.
With people paying one of the highest property taxes in the country. Among others, (that's what Conservatives do. They say how they will cut your taxs, then they raise others.)
The difference won't be that great.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS! LEAVE OUR WOMEN AND KIDS ALONE! | May 19, 2012 at 02:26 AM
"state legislators have proposed steep cuts in funding to education and welfare programs."
Notice how Conservatives won't say to raise taxes. better to hit the kids, the disabled and elderly.
Posted by: CONSERVATIVE POLITICIANS WON"T RAISE TAXES, THEY WILL JUST HIT YOUR KIDS, YOUR ELDERLY, YOUR DISABLED | May 19, 2012 at 02:33 AM
Zuck was late in getting into the NASDAQ crash. Congratulations, Zuck! How did he intend to make HUGE money on kitten spam and Snickers? Now if this company were socialized, you would just keep giving it tax dollars until it works- not very economical - like trying to make cornfields out of the desert.
Posted by: Chief Joe | May 19, 2012 at 03:46 AM