April 10, 2004

Lou Dobbs: CNN's own nasty little populist

One of my regular gym workout times coincides with the CNN news show "Lou Dobbs Tonight", which is usually playing on one of the overhead TVs in the aerobics machine areas where I warm up. The show is broadcast with closed captioning, so I can usually follow it if I care. Last night's show, apparently, was a continuation on the "Exporting America" theme that Dobbs seems to be so passionate about. One of the guests was Walter Wriston, chairman emeritus of Citibank (which they acknowledged), but who is also in my recollection the author of "The Twilight of Sovereignty: How the Information Revolution Is Transforming Our World".

Wriston was giving Dobbs a run for his money, effectively skewering Dobbs' anti-offshoring populist arguments ("American jobs are being shipped offshore! This is bad!"), pointing out that the principle of comparative advantage is as true now as it was in the 19th century (see Ricardo). After the segment with Wriston, Dobbs had a roundtable of business journalists, including Steve Forbes, with whom he was particularly nasty. He really has a hard-on about "shipping jobs overseas". In a weird sort of way, he seems the lefty mirror-image of Bill O'Reilly, the nasty little populist of the religious right on Fox News. Both of them seem to be shilling for each of the major Boot On Your Neck political parties.

I know the offshoring issue is a hot button issue with Dobbs, because a week or so ago I saw him try to skewer Marc Andreesen on the same issue. Marc also acquitted himself well. Dobbs hates that.

Posted by Russell Whitaker at April 10, 2004 11:36 AM | TrackBack
Comments

Lou Doobs' frothing-at-the mouth denunciations are a travesty to professional journalism. Without outsourcing, shirts in this country would cost $200 instead of $20, and so on. Standard of living would plummet, people would not be able to afford TV and thus deprive Lou of his frothing sessions. Illegal immeigration: it's bad. But why blame the immigrants? They come because there are people who will employ them. Again, if they don't do it, the jobs will be done by others at 5 times the cost, making US living costs unaffordable to the masses.

Lou Doobs is too intelligent to not know this. But sensational lies sell.

Posted by: on June 12, 2005 02:47 AM

I watched Mr Dobbs the other day, and I think he must be on drugs. He was discussing conditions on Katrina. I hope they are not really paying him to be on the air?

Posted by: Michael Leslie on September 3, 2005 05:15 PM

Dear Lou: Just when I crossed CNN off my list you came to the rescue. Thanks for the story on the inept performance of Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco. I went through Andrew and the other hurricans. The preparations before and right after begin with state and local governments. Alice Jacksonville Fl

Posted by: Alice Miciotta on September 6, 2005 03:18 PM

Lou, I wanted to thank you for being there and for doing what your doing every day. What with the media we have today, and with a government that could give a wit less about the average men and women of our country, It is nice to have a few on our side. Thank You,
Robert Mitchell
Forsyth Mo.

Posted by: Robert Mitchell on February 14, 2006 07:22 AM

Lou, I wanted to thank you for being there and for doing what your doing every day. What with the media we have today, and with a government that could give a wit less about the average men and women of our country, It is nice to have a few on our side. Thank You,
Robert Mitchell
Forsyth Mo.

Posted by: Robert Mitchell on February 14, 2006 07:24 AM

Thank you lou "Dobbs for bringing the port deal out. Ex-President Bush and Neil bush are hung up in it plus bob Doyle, and many others. They are so nasty.

Posted by: J. eichelberger on February 28, 2006 12:45 PM

lou dobbs was on a talk radio in san francisco today and he said the most profound honest words ever spoken about the bush white house.. you know they will try to shut you up.!.. please lets hang on to a thread of remaining democracy through you honesty thanks

Posted by: connie jeffers on March 2, 2006 05:12 PM

dear lou when is this madness going stop who is in charge of this great country.it seems like the clowns are in charge.

Posted by: pat segrave on April 4, 2006 03:34 PM

Dear Mr. Dobbs,

I appreciate your show and respect your intelligence and ambition. I also believe if you had been born a Mexican from a poor Mexican family as I was, you would have made that track across the border just like I did fity-two years ago. I now am a proud American citizen. At the time when I was young my family was very poor and hungry, I tried going throgh the immigration process however it was too slow and expensive for us. Therefore I made the journey north as many do, at night, in the cold , not knowing where I was actually going or what was in store for me. All I knew was I had to do it for my family. I spent the first night walking all night through the desert, myself and my cousin. We were 17 years old. We finally came upon an orchard and spent a few hours sleeping. We were very fortunate to get hired on to work in the orchard for a few days for 65 cents an hour. Then we continued are journey north. It's what we had to do, just as I belive you would have, It's what ambitious, successful people do.
Jesus V. Martinez

Posted by: Jesus V. Martinez on April 4, 2006 08:16 PM

Lou: Didn't you get one e-mail in support of the immigration protests? I'm sure there were one or two, and printing those would have added credibility to your passionate support of your stand! You'd have been on top of that imbalance if it were about another subject.

Posted by: charlotte silverman on April 11, 2006 04:48 PM

Lou: Didn't you get one e-mail in support of the immigration protests? I'm sure there were one or two, and printing those would have added credibility to your passionate support of your stand! You'd have been on top of that imbalance if it were about another subject.

Posted by: charlotte silverman on April 11, 2006 04:48 PM

Are you people stupid, inattentive, or what? Most of you seem to be writing as if 1.) this were Lou Dobbs' blog and/or 2.) he reads this and gives a damn.

Crack smokers.

Posted by: Russell Whitaker on April 11, 2006 04:53 PM

Is Lou Dobbs on crack? I can't believe he went to Harvard for economics. First he has a hard-on for outsourcing, as you can see it has had such a negative impact on our economy... what's the unemployment rate now, oh yeh a whopping 4.6%. He also talks about raising product prices just to pay people more, when it not necessary. Now he has a hard-on for immigrants and Bush's immigration plan which he calls "amnesty" without any debate. He should get a refund from Harvard, as they did him a great disservice.

Posted by: John on June 10, 2006 08:06 PM

If one/1000 of people in this world was half as
honest and wonderful as Mr. Doobs they would be
beside themselves. He is honest,cares about the little hard working people living from paycheck to
paychec. I love you Mr.Doobs shoul leave CNN i would never watch the station again. The morning
crew is a complete joke, not at all professional
they talk over one another, and giggle like little
school girs, people want to know what is going on the world, not the cross talking and ha/ha Mr. A.
Cooper and Mr. Cafferty makes CNN no doubt about it. everyone else is just taking up space because
all they do is repeat everything over and over with in the minutes how sad, Love you mr. Doobs and Mr. Cooper and Cafferty, you all are God send.
you all are my main men;

Posted by: betty smith on June 19, 2006 06:43 AM

If one/1000 of people in this world was half as
honest and wonderful as Mr. Doobs they would be
beside themselves. He is honest,cares about the little hard working people living from paycheck to
paychec. I love you Mr.Doobs shoul leave CNN i would never watch the station again. The morning
crew is a complete joke, not at all professional
they talk over one another, and giggle like little
school girs, people want to know what is going on the world, not the cross talking and ha/ha Mr. A.
Cooper and Mr. Cafferty makes CNN no doubt about it. everyone else is just taking up space because
all they do is repeat everything over and over with in the minutes how sad, Love you mr. Doobs and Mr. Cooper and Cafferty, you all are God send.
you all are my main men;

Posted by: betty smith on June 19, 2006 06:44 AM

lou, How about we take all our troups out of irag and send them to the boarder of mexico. I dont see a bunch of canandians trying to jump the boarder. What the heck is the mexican government doing for there people. OOOOPPPPSSSS its the NAFTA Free Trade Agreement that is working out so well. All the mexican labor that was going to save the corporate giants in america just failed. lou , ill sell my 140,000.00 house and move to mexico and live like a prince. African american have been complining about them being a minority. Just give it 30 years. The whites , African Americans, Indians, Skin Heads will all be at the boarders of mexico wanting to get out of america. lou you keep telling how it is

Thanks Ben

Posted by: ben reuille on August 31, 2006 03:14 AM

Great Job Lou Dobbs your comments are right on the money . You are our last hope. Please run for president we love your honesty.

Thank you so very much

Posted by: Mark Bailey on October 22, 2006 06:10 PM

LOU DOBBS ,I HAVE ALOT OF WORDS I COULD CALL YOU BUT I WOULD BE CENCERED SO I WILL SAY YOU AND RUSH LIMBAUGH BELONG IN THE SAME GATAGORY, AS BEING THE THE WORST REDNECKS,RACEST,BIGATRY A___h_____s in the world......................

Posted by: dan on November 19, 2006 08:43 PM

LOU DOBBS ,I HAVE ALOT OF WORDS I COULD CALL YOU BUT I WOULD BE CENCERED SO I WILL SAY YOU AND RUSH LIMBAUGH BELONG IN THE SAME GATAGORY, AS BEING THE THE WORST REDNECKS,RACEST,BIGATRY A___h_____s in the world......................

Posted by: dan on November 19, 2006 08:44 PM

Lou, please contact me, I have a letter from senateor Jeff Sessions about the Free Trade agreement It has ruined the work force in beautiful Fort Pane Al. Bring your show there and show how this FTA has devistated this beautiful town
Thanks Steve Little
102Independence Dr.
Meridianville Al.
35759
Ph. 256 828 0031

Posted by: Steve Litle on December 14, 2006 05:46 PM

Hey,
Mr.Dobbs, I watch CNN every day and whenever a topic on Illegal Immigration comes up an you have to cover the story I notice that you get very emotional,Why? What I am Try to say is that your emotions expresses to my point of view that you are against Illegal Immigrants. Am I right? Well I guess you colud use some advice, please don't get emotionl when you are covering Illegal Immagrants stories, because it dosen't look good, and it's irreateing, espically to my father, because he grew up watching CNN and he is a supporter of Illegal Immigrants, so you know the way you express the coverage, gets on his last nerves so how about praticing in the mirros everyday from now on to make sure your emotions changes, okay. {No Offence}

Posted by: Ameeka on January 6, 2007 02:07 PM

Mr. Dobbs and some of his cohorts seem to forget that America was founded by illegal immigrants.

Posted by: mark on May 25, 2007 04:10 AM

The big Question Lou is how much money are the drug cartels funneling into the political campaigns of both political parties and groups supporting illegal immigrants. Why else no fence or prosecutions or deportations. Its everything free for illegal immigrants. Why not for the rest of us. Let the politicians ask the illegal immigrants to vote for them and ask the citizens not to. We get the message we don't count

Posted by: Bob on July 19, 2007 03:44 PM

Lou I always hear everything has changed since 9/11 throwing out all the crazy treaties we have with other countries in the name of 9/11 thanks
Ed

Posted by: Ed on September 6, 2007 03:54 PM

Lou I always hear everything has changed since 9/11 how about throwing out all the crazy treaties we have with other countries in the name of 9/11 thanks
Ed

Posted by: Ed on September 6, 2007 04:03 PM

dear lou...
try to watch your show daily,no i do not agree with you on all issues.but this is freedom of speach.
your strong compassion on the immegration law,is to be undestood.
now here is my problem with that,you invide governer's to your program who feel the way you do about immegration,that is ok.
now let's take governer matt blumm from the state of mo.who cut hundret thousend of familie's from the medicare program[this included children,seniors]
his education system is one of the worst in this country,i could go on and on,but i believe this are the 2 top issues that he is failing in his state.
lou,so what is more important????????were should the resources go to???????????i strong believe that should be one of your compassion's to.
9 million uninsured children in our country,do you talk about this every night?????47 million people in this country do not have health insurance,do you talk about this every night????????
education[leave no child behind]do you talk about this every night?????
katrina....2005...do you talk about this every night,what is going on in new orleans???houses now being buldozed to clear the land in the 9th ward,this people lived in poverty,dont have the money to rebuild...so do you know what is going to happen????some rich white man will purchase the land cheap and condos will be going up,that will be a true fact...do you talk about this every night???????????
YOU FORGET THE AVERAGE AND POOR AMERICANS IN MANY WAY'S.THIS ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEM WE FACE.
now let's get to the china issue....i agree with you,so you have the power with your show to call for boycott on merchandise made in china.
lets hit this big company's were it hurt's the most,on the bottom line
JCPENNEY,WALMART,KMART,SEARS,DILLARDS,MACY,NIKE,REBOOK,IBM,MICROSOFT,BEST BUY,SHOP NBC,QVC,HSN.,PIER ONE,KROGER,ALBERTSON,AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE U.S GOVERNMENT,STATE GOVERNMENT/
WELL I COULD GO ON AND ON,LET'S NOT FORGET OUR MAJOR AUTOMAKERS TO.
SO LOU,THIS IS HOW A LOT OF AMERICAN PEOPLE FEEL.
THANKS,
S. KANSAS.

Posted by: sigrid holt on September 7, 2007 02:58 PM

Your vile representation of the authors of the Dream Act are so reprehensible. Are there only the good guys and bad guys? The original author of the Dream Act is Orrin Hatch, hardly a liberal senator.

The young people who are not citizens were brought here by their parents and they graduated from our schools. They are the Valdictorians and actors and athletes in their schools. If they earned the Academic grades, citizenship, and recommendations for college, and are working to become citizens-they are not our enemies. Stop your yelling and listen once, for you turn me off.
Where would you find more detailed records about these young people than in the schools with grades, attendance, deportment, wonderful people.

The teachers and schools do not know if students are citizens or not. Please stop your mean diatribes and talk to Senator Hatch.

Posted by: kay kessel on October 23, 2007 03:32 PM

Lou:
You tell us all about the problems we have inwhich I agree 100%.
Now we need help on knowing who is out there that is worth voting for in 08.
My husband and I are talking about not voting for the very first time since we turned of voting age.
Both party's tell me they are going to continue to give my country away no matter what I have to say about it.. HELP!! put things in perspective for all of us who don't have a clue as to what to do next time around.
Thanks
Clue-less in Indiana

Posted by: Lori Flahart on October 27, 2007 05:51 PM

South America, of which Mexico is a part, is one of the Americas. The part of the Latino that is not Spanish is South American Indian. With that in mind, why do you wish to persecute the indiginous people of one of our continents? There may be drugs coming across the Mexican border along with other ways of bringing drugs in, but that will never stop. The war on drugs is dead. I have worked in the legal community for 20 years and I see everyday that kick-backs and pay-offs are the results of the war on drugs. There are no Jihadists coming in from Mexico, and while I am at it, Osama bin Laden is not hiding in any dusty mountains. He is, by now, ensconced in a palace belonging to his father-blood is thicker than water-or he is dead. Blather on and turn everyone's attention from bin Laden and Arabia to the poor, ignorant Mexican trying to make a life. Arabia is not our friend and it is time we learn to do without their oil and find our on way of fueling our transportation. And while I am at it, yes, amnesty should be installed in our government. Set a certain date. On that date, those who are here illegally should identify themselves and begin the process of becoming a citizen, or be sent back to Mexico. Lou Dobbs, I used to like you, but you are becoming almost as egotistical as Bill O'Riley. Barbara Buttram

Posted by: Barbara Buttram on January 3, 2008 04:42 PM

could you find out why obama does not slute the flag or wear the american flag on his lapel .

I hope that he is sworen with the bible .

i am 75 and my spelling is not to good sorry

Robert Baucom

Posted by: Robert Baucom on January 10, 2008 10:55 PM

could you find out why obama does not slute the flag or wear the american flag on his lapel .

I hope that he is sworen with the bible .

i am 75 and my spelling is not to good sorry

Robert Baucom

Posted by: Robert Baucom on January 10, 2008 10:56 PM
Post a comment














Enter this code below: