Easy. A leveraged buyout.

From Rolling Stone:

Romney and Bain avoided the hostile approach, preferring to secure the cooperation of their takeover targets by buying off a company's management with lucrative bonuses. Once management is on board, the rest is just math. So if the target company is worth $500 million, Bain might put down $20 million of its own cash, then borrow $350 million from an investment bank to take over a controlling stake.

But here's the catch. When Bain borrows all of that money from the bank, it's the target company that ends up on the hook for all of the debt.

Now your troubled firm ? let's say you make tricycles in Alabama ? has been taken over by a bunch of slick Wall Street dudes who kicked in as little as five percent as a down payment. So in addition to whatever problems you had before, Tricycle Inc. now owes Goldman or Citigroup $350 million. With all that new debt service to pay, the company's bottom line is suddenly untenable: You almost have to start firing people immediately just to get your costs down to a manageable level.

"That interest," says Lynn Turner, former chief accountant of the Securities and Exchange Commission, "just sucks the profit out of the company."

Fortunately, the geniuses at Bain who now run the place are there to help tell you whom to fire. And for the service it performs cutting your company's costs to help you pay off the massive debt that it, Bain, saddled your company with in the first place, Bain naturally charges a management fee, typically millions of dollars a year. So Tricycle Inc. now has two gigantic new burdens it never had before Bain Capital stepped into the picture: tens of millions in annual debt service, and millions more in "management fees." Since the initial acquisition of Tricycle Inc. was probably greased by promising the company's upper management lucrative bonuses, all that pain inevitably comes out of just one place: the benefits and payroll of the hourly workforce.

(link)

In short, they buy a company with borrowed money, run it into the ground, sell off what they can at a profit, charge huge consulting fees to do it, and then the rest goes into bankruptcy.

It's beautiful. You buy something with someone else's money, sell off what you can for a huge profit, charge everyone a tens of millions in consulting fees, and then leave everyone else holding the bill.

Well they helped to pay off WW2 with the Victory Tax of 1942. They also had substantially higher taxes for WW1 (77% highest rate), WW2 (up to 94% highest rate), Korea (92% highest rate and Vietnam (77%). The gulf war only cost the US $24 billion. In contrast the Iraq/Afghanistan wars have cost 3.2 Trillion. Slight difference.

And to answer the last question. Obama is a 2 term president of the United States. A slightly larger accomplishment then you, or Romney, ever had. But keep living in that Republican dream world.

Victory tax? Say what?

At first I thought you were on crack. But it seems you are correct sir:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue_Act_of_1942

Learn something every day.

Yeah, Scott Walker is real good at working with people - his benefactors, rich people (teachers, union workers, and women, not so much).

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zoD8UFDlDl...lker_640px.png

Walker is a populist demogauge, so I imagine by the time he is done robbing Peter to pay Paul (if you know anything about the smoke and mirrors job he is pulling on the WI budget), and his current term is up, I have a feeling that the voters of Wisconsin are going to turn on Walker.

Let's talk about some of Walker's other promises (besides Union busting, which he is best known for), such as Walker's promise to create 250,000 new jobs in his first term:

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5131/5...88117f80a6.jpg

From PolitiFact:

The only reason Scott Walker is known on the national political scene is because of his divisiveness. :2 cents:

Ask Chris Christie, the bully act only gets you so far, and then people turn on you.

To summarize, Scott Walker is a not very bright puppet that has sold out to corporate masters.

:stoned

ADG

So he borrowed $2 billion and promised to create 250k new jobs, and only got 4k new jobs in one month?

Sounds like a winner to me.

Wrong. "Right Wingers" LOVE lifetime/career politicians. Most of the "Right Winger" politicians ARE lifetime/career politicians....just like the Democrats.

Dems and Republicans love it! Why not? It gives THEM power over the people.

Nope, Democrat and Republicans will always want to be career politicians and bureaucrats.

Only TRUE liberal minded folks see the folly of that. True liberals (hippies in the 1960's for instance) realized that you can NOT trust the govt.

LBJ sent our youth to their death in Vietnam for...nothing.

Bush sent our youth to their death (though not as many of them) for...nothing.

Both parties are in it for power.

Once you take off your blinders and think for yourself, you'll see that.

As a TRUE liberal by the name of Bob Dylan once sang:
"I'm on the pavement thinkin' about the Government"

Think about what he is saying in that one line. He is on the "pavement". In other words he's as low as you can go, the bottom. While the govt. (you know, the U.S. govt. which is wealthier than all the "1%" combined) is above him.

Open your eyes ADG. I know you want to be a good person. But you are not really, really thinking with an open mind. You are too "team oriented" toward the Democrat Party.

Leave them. Join another party. The Green Party might suit you. Or better yet, NO party at all. You won't be able to vote in primaries, but you would be able to vote in general elections. Then you could simply vote for the right person (if they even exist in the corruption of politics) instead of a party line vote.

That's a little misleading, because after Obama became President and started turning the country around from the fiscal mismanagement of the Bush Administration, which had plunged the country into the worst recession since the Great Depression, companies were able to add some jobs for which Walker takes credit (most politicians play that game), and so WI experienced some gains in employment. Also, the WI unemployment rate is lower than the national average.

A big problem for Walker is that the jobs being created by WI are mostly not in manufacturing (good middle class jobs).

If Walker fails to make good on his jobs promise, it will be a major factor in his being a one-term Governor.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rp3-wzBuA_...job%2Bloss.JPG

:stoned

ADG

so the state, which is one of the homes to the Union movement, had the lowest unemployment rate?

sounds like a good reason to push for more union busting.. but, i suppose, the police in the state have finally figured out what happens when they're the last union left

Seriously, Robbie I am not a Democrat, and unlike you, I never voted for Obama. :1orglaugh

If anyone is confused, I would say it is you with your born again Libertarianism nonsense.

Given that there are only two viable political options currently, yes, I am more supportive of the policies of Obama and the Democrats than the Republicans, simply because I see them as the lesser of two evils (with that said, I genuinely believe that Barack Obama has been the best President in my lifetime).

I harbor no illusion, the Republicans and Democrats are in collusion, and are merely two sides of the same coin. :2 cents:

http://meetville.com/images/quotes/Q...tes-110094.jpg

:stoned

ADG

You think that Pres. Obama is the best Pres. of your lifetime?

That's cool. Everybody is free to have an opinion.

I think Kennedy was the best in my lifetime. Followed by Clinton and then Reagan.
They got results.

I believe that Obama has now taken last place just behind Carter as an effective Pres.
I do however deeply respect Carters' intellect and his post-presidency record.

As for your political leanings?
You sound a lot like a faux liberal to me. In other words a Democrat. And like most folks who are sheep to the 2 ruling parties, you seem scared to death of a third party that stands for individual freedom.
ADG, you were born to be a follower.

Hope you enjoy the view. :)

Now refute me with silly pictures (just like my teenage daughter does with her friends on facebook).
Or search the internet for some quote or story that makes you feel better.
ANYTHING except have an opinion of your own. :)

What are you 8 years old? That's all I have to say. Your posts are too goofy to take seriously. GO to Disney.com if you have this need to post all the stupid gifs.

oh shittttt.. things just got real

if ur not careful, he will challenge your ass to a bout of fisticuffs

You left out the big one.. They reigned in spending. Something this administration doesn't want to do. If you are impressed with Obama, good deal. His credentials to be president were at best weak and at worst nonexistent.

You can bet large I will keep living in my republican dream world. I'm having a great time. Having the ability to do whatever I want whenever I want is excellent. And doing it all first-class is even better. So you enjoy your democrat world of hope and change..who knows maybe it will.

Richard is going to come to WI to beat me up? You'll have to make it past my secretary first Richard.

Hos is it you guys never stop to ask the most obvious questions....

Aren't you ever curious?

Don't you ever wonder?

Why are "they" so delusional?
Why can't everyone see "we" are right?

How do you arrive at the conclusion that "they" must be crazy? Particularly when "they" represent 1/2 of the voting public and its actually quite an unreasonable conclusion.

Here is social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explaining the basics of discussions like these and the behaviors of both sides and the roots of those behaviors. I suppose its hard to sum up a few great books that are cumulatively 1000+ pages of reading including all the cited research studies and conclusions, but he does a pretty good job.

I have read all his books and its not simply a psychologist trying to offer an opinion. His life's work has centered on the study of morality and emotions. Our moral beliefs are at the heart of our decision making. He is constantly cited by neurologists, particularly when it comes to the origins of morality and the basic framework or template for morality which we are born with and comes pre-wired in our brains and related studies. (and yes, infants have a basic sense of right and wrong, understand care and harm, good and bad, that bad should be punished and so on. The research is actually quite fascinating. Babies are anything but a blank slate.)

Mr Haidt is a Liberal professor, he openly admits he leans well to the left on most issues. He also reveals in his books that his own research has opened his eyes to a lot of very disturbing facts when it comes to his worldview and that of Conservatives.

He explains the basic differences in world views between liberals and conservatives. (specifically at 17:30/18:00m).

This is not just his random and biased opinion. He is talking about the results of hundreds of thousands of surveys across cultures all over the globe. His book, "The Righteous Mind - Why good people are divided by politics and religion" would open any reasonable persons eyes to the stupidity and futility of these sorts of discussions which change no ones mind.... and more importantly, seeks to explain why.

To quote Mr Haidt "tribes, both bind and blind"

I know you aren't directing your comment at me but.... I do not believe the Obama is "the best president of my lifetime". In fact, I believe that Obama was a little known Senator with a rather unimpressive track record.

Obama is President now for two reasons:
1) The country was pissed at Republicans for the Bush administration and they fucked our country.
2) Because the Republican party failed to have a better candidate. (The Republican party got beat twice by an unknown black candidate with no viable track record - and that speaks volumes!)

Do think Obama has done good? Well, unemployment just slipped down to 6.7%, but I also wonder if my pet dog could have done better if we stopped feeding him the dry food. I honestly believe that any candidate could have steered us to where we are today. And anyone who says we are not better off today than when Bush left office, well, you are kidding yourself.

i am unable to decide on the right gif for this..

http://i.imgur.com/msTVMNA.gif

or

http://i.imgur.com/nJuLO3A.gif

but since you complained the last time to the management about your very own comment..

He was addressing ADG; how could you arrive at the conclusion he was talking to you?

That being said, ADG is trolling with that remark.

Richard, you have this desire for violence. Why is that. Are you some kind of a badass?
Or a masochist.

considering you know nothing about me, and are perceiving this 'desire for violence', i can only assume you're experiencing what some people call 'the projection of consciousness'

it's ok tho, they have vaccines for that.

Richard isn't one of those kind of people.

He's actually a really cool guy. He does post some insanity some time, but I like _Richard_ a lot. :)

:thumbsup always a pleasure, and likewise :)

Then why would you post this?


Originally Posted by _Richard_
oh shittttt.. things just got real

if ur not careful, he will challenge your ass to a bout of fisticuffs

why? because it's at the same level of maturity as 'what are you.. 8?'

the 'fisticuffs' reference is to remind you of the era you're from, and the accompanying maturity that should come with that

My guess is he was just joking around. :)

__Retard__ is a tough guy.

Me? Scared of the empty "individual freedom" sloganeering from the ineffectual and totally fringe/kook led Libertarian Party that you are so enamored of lately?!? :1orglaugh

Why is it that after being a political party for 40 years, the Libertarian Party has virtually no elected officials on any level, and can barely draw 1% of the vote?

Well, if you say so, then I must be a real follower Robbie. :error

At 17, I left home and joined the Navy, where I served 6 years, most of which I spent on a Staff Command in Japan, rising to the rank of Petty Officer (Sergeant). Since leaving home at 17, I have never received a dime from a relative in my life.

Following that I spent 6 years in college, where I was one of the main political forces on campus (elected VP of the Student Government, Exec Asst to the President, Forums and Lectures Chairperson, and I ran the largest political activist group on campus called Students for Peace).

After that I ended up working in corporate sales for over a decade, progressively being promoted to Branch, Regional, and eventually National Sales Manager, for computer and wide area networking companies in Silicon Valley.

Almost 15 years ago, I ventured out and started two of my own businesses, which I continue to operate to this day (a graphic design firm that has generated $200,000-$300,000 annually, with only two employees), and my adult businesses, of which I am the only full-time employee. Based upon income, I am in the top 5% of income earners in America.

Not sure how you figure that makes me a follower (remember, you were the one that voted for Obama, not me)... :winkwink:

I didn't inherit my Dad's company like Minte and Romney, so I guess I just have a somewhat different perspective than people like him too, since I am a real independent self-made man:

http://hooplaha.com/wp-content/uploa...lver-Spoon.jpg

As for you Robbie, since you want to hurl insults, you seem extremely naive and ignorant when it comes to politics (you bitch and moan a lot, and we know what you are against, but there is little constructive or positive in what you have to say, and precious few solutions provided), and while I genuinely respect your independence from the large corporate/pirate adult sites, I am happy to say that I have never had to pimp my wife out for money (nor would I ever consider it). :2 cents:

No gifs for you (the silver spoon is Minte's). :winkwink:

:stoned

ADG

and you're rather sweet in person.. but don't seem to have many takers for your ads

hmm.

If you think the world's problems are due to a great percentage of the world's wealth being owned by a small number of multi billionaires just come out and say it, stop hiding behind all the social, demographic and economic trends you read about and parrot and just say you're a communist and/or socialist and you want your handout from the super rich.

ADG you're still babbling and posting dumb pictures.

And you keep talking about the Libertarian Party. I've already stated that I am for FREEDOM. You keep saying that you are for the "lesser of 2 evils" in your opinion between the 2 ruling parties.

I've said over and over that IF the Libertarian Party ever gets to power, they too will become corrupt and I'll move on from them.

But you seem to be tied to your fake liberal b.s.

Hurling insults? You are the king of implied insults and posting juvenile pictures in a vain attempt at making yourself feel better about yourself by trying to denigrate others.

I'm asking you to open that narrow mind and think in terms of personal FREEDOM instead of what you are thinking of now.

I can only try to reach out and say "Give peace a chance" (or in this case "give freedom a chance")

John Lennon would NOT be behind the Democrat Party of 2013 for damn sure.
He wouldn't be behind the Libertarian Party either.

But I bet that he would agree with far more of the Libertarian Party than the Democrat Party.

The Libertarians don't want the U.S. involved in all these wars. They want to bring all troops home NOW (not in future years as the govt. tries to bullshit about these days).
Libertarians say that you are FREE to do drugs if you CHOOSE to.
Gay marriage? Why not! The govt. has no right to be in charge of marriage.
Spying on people? Yep Lennon sure had his share of being spied on by the FBI. Libertarians are against that as well.

No ADG, you are a FAKE liberal.
You foolishly believe what you are fed by the Democrats just as surely as hypnotized Republicans fall for the shit from their party.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin...would have no patience for you.
And neither would true liberal progressive thinkers (not the ones you see on MSNBC) like John Lennon.

You're a fraud.

You smoke pot. Pretend to be in the porn biz by shooting pics of Asian girls (without ever making any money back from it). And you like to think of yourself as "liberal" minded.

You're not.

You fall way short of being truly "progressive" in any sense of the word.

And I just read your implied insult about my wife. I guess that's supposed to make you feel better about yourself too?

You're such a small man in so many ways.

Did it ever occur to your narrow mind that she LOVES sex? Or that we are in the ADULT INDUSTRY (which is by definition the SEX industry)?
No, I guess not.
In your world, women don't have a mind of their own. She can't make decisions for herself. Only I can. Right?

Brother you are a lost cause. A fake liberal who isn't even CLOSE to the real thing. Your viewpoints about sexuality for instance...are really no better than some Southern Baptist preacher. Of COURSE you couldn't handle your wife being with another man (if you EVER find a wife that is)...your sense of self worth wouldn't allow it. You live in San Francisco and act like you're enlightened...but deep down inside you are as hung up sexually as a jealous redneck in Alabama.

You think a woman is a "possession".

Well, Claudia Marie doesn't do ANYTHING she doesn't want to do. And I don't control her.
But you Demopublicans just don't understand true progressive thinking or sexual freedom.

If you are joking around Richard, I like jokes. Do you have any more?

Does the op need a lawyer? He said Obama was the best president he has seen in his life.

Obama has been in for 5. Clearly Bush wasn't. What about Clinton. GHW Bush..if Obama is the best in his life he would have to be 8.

So it took 6 years to make E5? 6 years to get a degree and you're in the 5% income bracket. You're way out of your league....next :1orglaugh

I left it out because it isn't true. Federal spending rose 3x faster under Bush then it has under Obama. In fact over the past 3 years govt spending has grown at its slowest pace since Eisenhower was President.

And you asked what Obama has done in his life. And I answered. Far more then you.

And you definitely don't seem like you're having a great time. All you do is bitch. That's something I'll never understand about the Republican portion of the 1%. Things have never been better for you under Obama yet you constantly complain. One would think you would be kissing his ass. And you would be, if only he didn't have a (D) by his name.

Kennedy and Clinton were awesome. Regan was a puppet who took it up ass.

I'm with you on the politics but that was uncalled for. This is the sex industry and Robbie and his wife can, and should, do whatever the hell they want. They both seem to enjoy themselves.

Not a very 'liberal' comment to make.

Since you asked, no it didn't take 6 years to reach E-5. I could have gone higher (I was offered to go to Officer Candidate School as a Warrant Officer if I stayed in), but I wanted out so I kicked it in a P-3 (submarine chaser) squadron my final two years, until my enlistment was up.

Yes, I spent 6 years in college (probably closer to 8 years if you add all of the classes I took while I was in the Navy). The reasons for that include that I was extremely active in student politics, so in order to do both things well (get grades and do a good job as a student leader), I cut back my unit load to 12 units (3 classes) the year that I was elected as Vice-President. I also took a semester off when my Mother unexpectedly passed away.

Additionally, I switched majors three times (Social Work, Sociology, and finally History), and also pursued a Minor in Psychology, and earned a secondary education teaching credential (High School).

I was able to afford college for so many years because of my GI Bill income, my student government stipend, and various grants and scholarships (my wife was also earning money with her job; we bought a house while I was still in college).

I started working at NCR Computers during my last two years of college, so I already had a good job and income before exiting college.

I had an excellent college experience, and don't regret it for a day. :)

Like I said:

http://hooplaha.com/wp-content/uploa...lver-Spoon.jpg

:stoned

ADG

You assume a lot. You actually know less. Things haven't ever been better for me in spite of this administration. It's not better for the people my business employs. And contrary to the popular belief all business owners do not hate the people that work for them.

I didn't run for president. Obama did. He has charisma, I will give him that. I have far more life experience than he does. Hillary Clinton would've made a better president. I voted for Bill. I vote the person. Not the party.

All your talking points about growing at the slowest pace is meaningless. The deficit has grown more under this administration than it has under any president in history. By a large margin. You have your opinion. I have the numbers to back up my position.

But like you said, Things have never been better for me. And you are absolutely correct. I love my job. I am the first one there every morning and more often than not the last to leave. My children have both graduated from college and are both living the life that they want. My wife is my best friend. My health is great and I have more money than I would ever need.

absolutely, the post was referring to you. ie, you don't appear to be able to read

You realize that despite what you just wrote .....she was influential enough to help tank McCain's campaign by going rogue and off the script that was written for him because he was too incompetent to come up with his own.

Now scroll ahead 16 years. My manufacturing business has grown to 3 separate companies in a 502,000 Sq ft building sitting on 50 acres of land. My tire company alone does more sales in a week than we did in a year in the late 90's. It's significantly larger than the plastics/metals company. And the good news, is we invested heavily in new equipment in 2013. The tire company will grow at least 40% this year. We are hiring 50more employees in the first quarter.

Your assumptions do not make your original comment any more accurate. :2 cents:

It isn't an assumption that McCain was spineless and allowed his campaign advisors and Palin to sabotage his bid for the presidency. If by some miracle he was elected, how many others including Palin would have continued to walk all over him?

LOL

be gentle with this one..

Wow, you are pretty far gone huh....

I said I knew he wasn't speaking to me, but I decided to comment.

Says the man who went into business with his daddy.

Imagine that.

You have no idea what your employees are feeling or thinking; You are so far removed form them that you are clueless.

The last time I heard a oil change for your car was in the six hundred dollar range. Do you really think your employees are going to come to you and cry on your shoulder because their kid needs braces that will cost them $3k when you blow $600 on an oil dhcange? When you drive your Lambo into the office, do you think your secretary pulling down $40k a year has anything in common with you? Somewhere along the line you have someone who sweeps the floor - when was the last time you visited his house for dinner? You are best buddies now right?

Of course your employees are better off now than they were five years ago. Five years ago their children lost their jobs and had to move back in, or their spouses lost their jobs and they were in danger of loosing their house. But you never saw this because you had a comfy job with your daddy, and then took over his business. You haven't faced loosing your job or loosing your house.

You are so far detached from reality that you cannot even grasp the basic ideas of what your employees are thinking.

I'm sorry to bash you but everything you say is pretty much ridiculous. You keep telling us how bad Obama is, you continue to do well, you are expanding, people have stopped loosing their houses, unemployment is coming done - to 6.7% - incomes are up, and the economy is moving again.

How are things bad?

Oh, it is your contention that Palin intentionally sabotaged the campaign?

I apologize; obviously read it wrong the first time.

Of course. It's better for you (in spite of the current administration) and worse for your employees (because of the current administration). Whatever fits your narrative. If you're employees are struggling so bad and worse off then they were 5 years ago (stats do not back any of this up) maybe you should give them a higher salary, or a bonus, instead of spending 6 figures on a fountain. But then again your employees might need some place serene to think about their impending foreclosure. Better yet, why don't you give your employees the tried and true Reagan speech of pulling themselves up by their boot straps. No excuses. Oh thats right, they don't have a company they can inherit.

Yes I know, Obama ran for President (twice) and won (twice). A far bigger accomplishment then you ever have had. And my guess is that job is a touch more demanding then deciding on what style fountain to put in the courtyard or what guitar to purchase next. You very well may be a big dick in Madison but you know, that whole leader of the free world and all might trump it.

Oh, and saying you voted for Clinton in the 90's is the Republican version of the white guy who was just caught saying something racist pointing out his black friend.

No, those 'talking points' (aka facts) are not meaningless. You said the Obama administration had no interest in cutting spending. I pointed out that they clearly do. Here's a couple more for you?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/busine...Q_graphic.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickunga...lly-shrinking/

To get your numbers (and the numbers the GOP like to throw out) you include the fiscal year 2009. This fiscal year actually starts in June 2008 and includes all of the Bush administration policies. But of course why mention that. Again, doesn't fit the narrative.

Congrats on your success and continued health.

I don't understand...if Obama is cutting spending...then why is the deficit now so much higher?

You know in Washington D.C. they call it "cutting" when they don't INCREASE spending as much over last year as they projected they would.
In other words if they only spent $300 BILLION more instead of a projection of $400 Billion more...they call that "cutting" $100 billion.

That kind of bullshit math only works for the Federal govt.
I don't suggest trying it with your business or personal finances.
It "works" for them because they TAKE the money from the people and then borrow the rest and deficit spend like drunken sailors.

Easy to do when you don't have to actually EARN the money.

Here's a story from CBS News (a pretty liberal news organization) from almost 2 years ago. Even then they are saying that Obama has increased the national debt more than Bush.

Some of you guys are trying to rewrite history...even as it is happening in front of our eyes:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/national...an-under-bush/

I know that January isn't over yet, but I would like to nominate this post topic as the most hostile of the month!

http://firm-guide.com/wp-content/upl...y_internet.jpg