Thursday, January 15, 2009

Troll Hall of Fame: Bryan



Bryan used to troll around Pushing Rope and Tas's defunct blog Loaded Mouth. Tas and I took great joy in mocking Bryan. In 2006, Bryan promised to write a muckraking expose on Tas. Bryan never got to the article because of his busy schedule trolling other progressive blogs.

I wrote the post "Charlie Crist Economics 101." I argued the housing bubbble popped and sales taxes wouldn't pay for Florida's growth. I didn't know residents would start leaving the state. Creating a smaller tax base. Since then the housing market tanked and Florida is in a budget deficit. Bryan took pains explaining to me that this would never happen.


The article you linked indicates a substantial surplus in the current budget.
Given that Crist is correct about Florida's growth, what exactly is wrong with his economic understanding, assuming that that the inherent instability of sales-tax revenue in a tourist-reliant state doesn't lead to an exceptional decrease in revenue?

And if that were the case, wouldn't Crist be able to react in some manner, as by recommending a change in policy to account for the loss in revenue?


What policies changes has Charlie Crist instituted besides raiding trust funds and borrowing money? Cutting programs for the needy and driving the state in debt is not sound policy. Crist balked at the cigarette tax and walked away from Seminole Indian Tribe controversy.

Crist negotiated the deal without legislative approval. The Florida Supreme Court ruled the gaming compact unconstitutional. The Seminoles refused to shut down the blackjack and slot machines. Republicans have asked the federal government to intervene. The state is losing $100 million in tax revenue and Crist has remained silent on his mess.

Bryan the troll declares growth will save Florida.


If Florida is having problems paying for current growth management, then why is there a current surplus?

The housing bubble "popped"?
The bubble pops when prices start going down, not when the rise in prices slows.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/jul/12/economist_southwest_florida_housing_market_cooling/?business

Your argument against Crist's understanding of economics boils down to your past observations of tax cuts with increased spending?

We should assume that your past observations were made with similar anticipations of growth, or what?


Where is that Florida surplus, Bryan? The housing bubble popped when people stop buying houses. That is exactly what happened in Florida.

Bryan continues to argue the 2006 housing market was fantastic.


"Do you read your links?"

Of course. What part did you quote that you think translates into the housing market having popped?
The part about decreased confidence about the future?
Does "downward momentum" mean slowing price gains or decreasing prices?

Do you just read into stuff what you want to see, or what?


In 2006, I saw Florida in economic trouble. Bryan, I could ask you if you saw what you wanted to see. But that would be a pointless rhetorical question.

Bryan, you are the first inductee into the Pushing Rope Hall of Fame.

Side note: trolls using performance enhancing drugs will be disqualified.

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7 Comments:

At January 15, 2009 8:52 PM , Blogger Tucker said...

In 2006, Bryan promised to write a muckraking expose on Tas.

He did? Hahhaa.. I totally forgot about this douchebag. I guess when you've seen one troll, you've seen them all.

I like the graphic for this post. It explains a few comments we've received at Comments From Left Field lately.

 
At January 15, 2009 8:55 PM , Blogger Tucker said...

And then I clicked the next link in your post and found out Bryan IS one of the trolls at CFLF. Is he stalking me or something?

I didn't even remember the Bryan from Loaded Mouth and make the connection that it's the same guy. Just goes to show how unremarkable he is.

 
At January 15, 2009 11:31 PM , Blogger Michael Hussey said...

Bryan is like a troll with superpowers. He's everywhere.

 
At January 16, 2009 1:52 AM , Blogger Bryan White said...

I think it is intellectually weak bloggers who re-define "troll" in order to discredit via labeling the posts of others.

A housing bubble bursts when prices drop. That has now happened, but PR was rather premature in calling it. And apparently either too proud or too ignorant to admit the mistake at this stage of the game.

As a tourist based economy, Florida's budget troubles are both predictable and pretty much inevitable during an economic downturn. That wasn't on the map during Crist's run for governor. Bringing up campaign rhetoric in light of the current economic situation as an attack on Crist is nonsensical--but certainly the sort of thing once could expect from a blind ideologue.
And Tas didn't get his write-up because he retired from his blog, though his level of writing has scarcely improved from what I can see.

Now I'll leave you kids to go through another round of crying "troll." Sayonara.

 
At January 16, 2009 7:58 AM , Blogger tas said...

A housing bubble bursts when prices drop. That has now happened, but PR was rather premature in calling it.

"Premature" here, in non-Byran/real world terms, is something we like to call projection. Foresight. Seeing a problem on the horizon by inspecting the current policy of political leaders.

Any jackass -- including jackass trolls who claim that anyone labeling them such is "intellectually weak" -- can see what happens after the fact. Byran can say now that the housing bubble popped. But would he say it back in 2006? No. This shows intellectual inferiority. Furthermore, Byran compounds his idiocy by claiming that Michael was "premature" in calling the housing bubble. In other words, Michael was right -- not that Byran would ever admit that he was wrong because he's just such an intellectual treasure to our society. Just look at his often not-read blogs! Everyone wants to know what Byran's saying!

And Tas didn't get his write-up because he retired from his blog, though his level of writing has scarcely improved from what I can see.

You'll have the right to criticize my writing after you get some readers. [pats Byran on the head] Now go play in traffic, simp.

 
At January 16, 2009 1:14 PM , Blogger Michael Hussey said...

I knew Bryan would come out of the magical troll hole. We're still waiting for that expose on Tas.

A housing bubble bursts when prices drop. That has now happened, but PR was rather premature in calling it. And apparently either too proud or too ignorant to admit the mistake at this stage of the game.

The housing bubble popped in Floria before appraisal values dropped. Many homeowners were complaining their houses were overvalued. Bryan, you argued property taxes and growth would fund the budget. Florida is in a budget deficit because residents are leaving. Which means new residents are not coming to buy homes.

As a tourist based economy, Florida's budget troubles are both predictable and pretty much inevitable during an economic downturn.

Bryan, you wrote this comment.

Given that Crist is correct about Florida's growth, what exactly is wrong with his economic understanding, assuming that that the inherent instability of sales-tax revenue in a tourist-reliant state doesn't lead to an exceptional decrease in revenue?

And if that were the case, wouldn't Crist be able to react in some manner, as by recommending a change in policy to account for the loss in revenue?


I stand by my assertion that Crist is economically ignorant. What has done besides borrow money the state will have to pay back later? Crist owes the Lawton Chiles endowment money and he raided it again. Driving the state into deeper debt is not a fiscal policy.

 
At January 17, 2009 1:40 AM , Blogger tas said...

Slightly related: Mere hours after Bryan criticized my writing, I got a link from Crooks and Liars. The poor troll just ain't ever rght about anything, is he?

 

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