But these meatspace hijinks were eclipsed by even bigger news for the Chamber of Commerce. Will this news from Mother Jones shrink their influence in the halls of Congress and regulatory agencies?
In an interview on Friday, Greg Marx of the Columbia Journalism Review asked Chamber spokesman Eric Wohlschlegel to comment on two competing newspaper accounts. Presented with a Wall Street Journal article that said the Chamber claims “300,000 members,” Wohlschlegel said, “That’s accurate.” Read an Associated Press article that said the Chamber claims “a membership of 3 million,” he responded, “That’s not exactly reported correctly.”
The second statement appears to be a reversal for Wohlschlegel, who, in September, told the New York Times: “We have over 3 million members.”
Since September, the United States Chamber of Commerce appears to have lost 2,700,000 members. While corporate-owned media and derivative parasite bloggers focus on the big companies leaving the Board of Directors (Nike) and the Chamber itself (Apple and Exelon and PG&E ) over climate change and carbon-cap, America is seeing something unprecedented: the disappearance of more than two and a half million businessmen & -women, all of them members of the US Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber might conceivably try to wiggle out of this by saying that it does “represent” these businesses even if they aren’t official members, or, since its spokesmen have used the phrase “three million members,” by trying, as it has, to redefine the meaning of “membership.”
Of course, the Obama Administration, determined to deploy its ACORN-strike-force of swine-flu vaccinators at your child’s pre-school and your parents’ assisted-living facility, has ignored this disappearance of Achievers and constructive contributors to society in less than six weeks. Because of his laser-focus on bringing Gitmo terrorists to your neighborhood, this huge void of Americans is off Obama’s radar. Since the Obamabots propose to throw Grandma under the bus to create a socialist National Health Service, no Czar will look for these missing businessmen and -women.
But where have they gone?
Where is Chamber’s Gulch? Where have these Achievers disappeared to? If more than two-and-a-half million food stamp recipients disappeared, wouldn’t the Obama Administration investigate? If almost three million Organizing for America volunteers stopped showing up for phone-bank house parties, wouldn’t the Obama Administration act? If these missing Americans were Democrats, wouldn’t Obama care?
This contempt for the safety and welfare of **likely Republican** voters, good members of the Chamber of Commerce every single one, is exactly how the Obama Administration would hide the forced disappearances that Glenn Beck warns good Americans about every night. Are these Chamber members in FEMA camps? Have they being relocated to new facilities?
And can it really be a coincidence that Glenn Beck’s ratings are down 300,000 viewers just this week? I think not.
Where are the Chamber Two-Point-Seven-Million? And why does no one care about them?



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Yes?
Zed!
Aw crap! Missed again.
love this line teddy — its all obama’s fault the chamber is a shadow of its former self.
Hiya Teddy — remembering Minnesota’s best warrior, lost to us 7 years ago today. Senator Paul Wellstone.
Hiya Zedders
How is everyone this evening?
Oh my yes.
That’s some mighty fancy disappearing that the Obamanator has been doing. Would that he could do the same to the Blue Dogs and Conservadems.
Ask Liz cheney: what’s not Obama’s fault?
gud! u?
Ask Liz cheney: what’s not Obama’s fault?
Or Nooners or almost anyone else in the Cocktail Wienie Caucus.
Speaking of Chamber of Commerce Type Bidnis, here’s an O/T. Worth the time…
Enjoy.
I think Dolphin Lady probably submitted her “Obama Owns It” column about our current presidency to WSJ editors in June or July, but they kicked it back to her with a note: “But, Peggy, 9/11?”
She’s had it in her credenza drawer since then, watching the calendar carefully.
I don’t even wanna admit the definition of what I thought “meatspace” meant the first time I saw it….
Interesting how the Chamber had to correct its claimed numbers.
Betcha the GOPers and Fox Noise would have to do the same.
Would be interesting to compare the ratings for Fox and MSNBC and CNN counting only those distributions where all three actually appear, and cut out the cables that censor out MSNBC from their basic package.
Please circulate widely. I’m thinking the (ground level) wingnuts might actually be able to grasp this stuff. Politics makes strange bedfellows. Just ask James and Mary…
I suspect most of her columns are either simply a single template or recycled anyway.
Isn’t it a wonderful synonym for real life or non-virtual? Has some real dirty connotation.
And all the hotels that don’t have either MSNBC or Comedy Central!
Back when I traveled, I always complained to the management about that.
Gotta give Peggy credit for extrapolating an entire career from one (Reagan) speech. Lenny Bruce said something to the effect that, “Without polio (Jonas) Salk is a putz.” Without the Challenger disaster Peggy is (merely) a lush.
Doesn’t take much when you are a wingnut. Look at Jonah Goldburg. An entire career based on the fact that his daddy didn’t pull out fast enough.
In fairness it seems likely most of us got our start that way…
Look at Jonah Goldburg. An entire career based on the fact that his daddy didn’t pull out fast enough.
oooh – that’s cold.
So – of course, I like it.
How ya doin’, Doc?
Pretty fair. Winter is fixing to set in this week, but I managed to get in a nice hike today. How’s the law talking bidness going?
payin’ the rent is about all.
But I’m still having fun.
The Chamber of Commerce: still living in the reflected glory of Bush the Last.
That is what it is all about in the long run.
The question is, out of Mrs. Goldberg or out of Jonah?
And that speech was plagiarized, at least the “touched the face of God” part, which I remembered immediately from the very late nite teevee signoff in college.
OUCH! Now that is cold.
LOL!
Monday is the 8th anniversary of Bush signing the Patriot Act. Yippee!
Rumor has it his dad was a whale, so turnaround if fair play.
Thanks. Hard to think it’s been seven years already.
that’s even colder.
I gotta switch gears here, or get left behind, methinks.
I was thinking that was the case. It struck me as slightly creepy but maybe it was just the speaker.
Whoa, so true. I have a friend who was looking at Satellite, and it cost extra for MSNBC.
I cancelled a cable package 3 years ago when I found out that Comedy Central wasn’t even available.
Cost me a fucking fortune.
Fortunately, both are part of the standard package here. Surprisingly, our cable company is actually pretty good.
this is outrageous! i wonder if KO and Rachel know this…
Can’t be Comcast then. They recently nixed the local weather channel from the basic package. To make up for it they apparently added ESPN 2. Thanks guys, when I glanced at it today they were showing a yacht race… so much more useful to me than a local forecast.
why is stuff like this permitted? doesn’t msnbc have enough clout or enough of a name to stop that kinda shit?
I’ve been here for 2 3/4 years, and just realized last week that I also have C-Span3.
I really gotta start paying more attention – watching a recorded Milk right now. This isn’t going to end well.
“touched the face of God” is from Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s poem “High Flight”{?}. (29 June 1900—31 July 1944) was a French writer and aviator. …
PBS – Chasing the Sun
Biography
Loved his book Wind, Sand, Stars…
AND, thanks for this Late Night — really made me laugh out loud while immediately sending a link to my email list. And still smiling –you really hit the mark!
karen
LOL! No, I have Bresnan Communications. It is a privately held company operating in Montana, Wyoming, Utah and Colorado.
As an attorney you must admire the audacity of the Twinkie defense. I gather White did not have to settle for a public defender, who I assume would not have gone to the trouble of making something up.
I’ve no idea. I assumed this was everywhere if it’s true here in SoCal…
Time for me to toddle off. Take care all. Be careful not to get disappeared by the Chamber of Commerce.
Hopefully they won’t get bought out by Comcast, who appear to be trying to acquire all the cable operations in the U.S.. Since they purchased the local Insight franchise a couple years ago they have steadily eliminated services while raising rates. In the past couple months they announced that they were nixing 22 jobs at the local office, treacherous capitalist vermin…
Only very recently, I’ve disovered that I have some prosecutor in me as well.
I have a female client whose boyfriend punched her – walked out the door and went down and filed for a Protective Order against *HER*.
We’re heading ino our 4th hearing, and I’ve eaten that motherfucker’s lunch every single time, and enjoyed doing it.
He’s going down.
You have a good incentive.
G’nite. Believe I will head out too, splendid evening to all.
*waving g’nite to the leaving sleepyheads*
Er, fuck them before they fuck us?
Really, where ARE we at anymore?
No reall. I mean that. *G*
Wassup my fav Suz!!!! *G*
Thank you, Karen. Your words mean a lot.
well — you are certainly cheerful tonight larue. what ever happened to your harrumph?
**g’nite all you sleepy pups**
I save it for emphasis.
In the meantime, fuck ‘em.
*G*
Teddy, you’ve had some recent good posits.
Thanks.
*G*
teddy is there any way to independently verify what the chamber’s membership really is?
Some Pickin, Dobro, Too
Just sayin . . . . *G*
I was wondering that too. I’m presuming that a national Chamber of Commerce differs greatly rom local Chambers.
So what is the membership? Are we talking Wal-Mart, Home Depot – who?
Would I be correct to assume that the National Chamber of Commerce is composed of nthe bigger/biggest corporations?
I’m guessing they never had that many members but under what rules do they get funding if by having more members than they claim were they able to laundry taxes I do not know how they are set up as far as taxes just throwing out an idea.
Thank you Larue.
Yours too!
There are HUNDREDS of COC patrons who have left the national chamber, and there are many patrons who are leaving the local area chambers across the USA.
Why?
Because of lack of support of local area issues supporting local small busunesses.
Google is yer pal, and frankly, FDL and NEWS DESK have covered it.
Search, for your raisin’s d’etre . . . *G*
Da masses are unhappy with the status quo.
Very. Un. Happy. *G*
Dood, I always bow to yer wow.
Thanks for all you do.
*G*
Now go to sleep . . . ;-)
Several local Chambers have made clear they are unrelated to the US Chamber, but (like any trade association) I’m sure their membership is a secret. Why? Because they can.
Although every week they seem to lose another corporate member. Somewhere, there’s a petition to companies asking them to end Chamber membership, but I’m not sure now where that is.
There’s also all the Toyota owners. Now at 848 photos!
Hundreds is not over a million I think their books are funny. If not are bankrupcies that bad or does Climate Change have that many supporters?
Either way we are good provided we fix the economy.
The opposition to Chamber Allegiance is of itself a good thang.
Hell, a GREAT thang.
I think, the masses are starting to impact the elected offals.
What a trip THAT is, huh . . . *G*
What is her stand on Don’t ask Don’t tell has nobody in the Media asked her that yet?
Uh, what do ya mean? Cuz I’m not sure what ya said.
Really, spell it out in detail.
I’ve liked all your thoughts, but they are often difficult to delve into.
I’m not against ya, I’m just not sure what you mean, most of the time.
We’re all swimmin up against a tide . . . .
Liz won’t go on media that might ask her non-approved questions.
While whining about how MSNBC won’t hear her views (in a commercial her new organization Keep America Safe put on the web) her people turned Rachel down three times one day last week.
She’s a coward, like her old man.
That’s the coolest!
Teddy, thanks for staying up and knockin that one down.
Sometimes, I wonder why we all have to knock it down, time after time.
*G*
I’m not gay, but I would march with you and yours, any day.
I did, in the late 80′s.
And I’m SO annoyed with the putz’ who would abuse basic civil rights.
So annoyed. Meh. Just not right.
Sorry I’m a random thinker:) You said
Ted said
Thats over a 2 million member difference I think even style Enron accounting can’t call that a clerical error.
So I suggest that if members contributions are limited for tax reasons claiming more members might have let them launder money past the IRS. I really should have spelled that out my bad.
Either that or the Bush Depression is way worse than we thought.
Or Climate Change is responsible for an over 2 million membership drop. Any way you play it or some combination of the three its good for us.
ok – so I’m watching late-night tv, and there’s a commercial for an asthma medicine.
Now any medification that identifies the symptoms it is designed to “help” is required, by law, to name all of the possible side-effects.
For this particular asthma medication – “Possibility of death” was recited as a possible side effect.
Now I’m no marketing genius, but I’m thinking that “posibility of death” is among your possible “side”-effects”, then maybe I’m keeping that one off the teevee.
otoh, whadda I know about marketing?
Maybe there’s a big “I have asthma and I wanna die” market out there.
I would kill to see her asked about that:)
Or 2,700,000 have gone Galt.
Have NO clue what you are professing.
None, whatsoever.
Best to ya.
Next question how are their contributions taxed?
Sorry I tried.
Usually, when they get to the really bad side effects (like death) they have puppies or kittehs on the screen at the same time. Or babies. But they have to say the side effects if they tell you what the medicine is for.
Which is why some of the ads just have a pretty song, and “Ask your doctor” without ever telling you what the drug is for. Then they don’t have to mention any adverse side effects!
I think that I have to leave tee vee and all prescription meds. I think that “Possibility of death” is the one for me.
Then why didn’t they take Megan McCain their Ayn Rand cheerleader? They can’t go Galt and leave her behind!
Please take the blonde!
Then I’m sorry I missed it . . .
Perhaps we can do better next time . . . .
I haven’t heard much from the Chamber of Commerce locally, not since they bragged a few years ago about “all the business” they were bringing our way. Yeah, 13 Mickey Ds, 7 Wendys, etc. is just really a help to our local economy.
Maybe they lost their homes, businesses, and had to drop out.
I guess you say hundreds and I trust your sources but hundreds do not account for millions I’m offering possible ways and reasons why the missing millions were over counted.
I like your stuff I think you bring a strong voice to the Lake. But am I that hard to understand?
Which is why some of the ads just have a pretty song, and “Ask your doctor” without ever telling you what the drug is for.
yeah, I’ve seen a few of those. I’d rather hear about “possibility of death” than try to figure out what the heck that particular drug might be designed to “help”.
Margot, can I get fries, or offer fries, with that?
Cuz ya know, I’m really customer service oriented that way.
*G*
(love yer snark, M, bless ya for it) *G*
those are some of the scariest words any job seeker can think about saying.
I think that I have to leave tee vee and all prescription meds. I think that “Possibility of death” is the one for me.
But they only advertise NEW drugs.
I wonder what the old-school stuff would have to disclose if advertised.
I would say “just kill me now”, but I’m thinking that death as a side-effect might be more interesting…..
yes! please take the blonde! LOL
13 Mickey Ds, 7 Wendys, etc. is just really a help to our local economy.
Maybe they lost their homes, businesses, and had to drop out.
But they can eat cheap.
Taking out taxes and all, all ya gotta do is work an hour and a half, and you can afford “lunch”.
on edit: Make that “lunch for one”.
Yes. For me, you are hard to understand.
I’m not the brightest bulb in the lamp, though.
Sorry if I’ve called you out.
Best to ya, and your efforts, I can tell you are for the progs and good folks.
I’ll figger it out, one way or another . . .
Thanks :)
I’m one of those job hunters.
Best to you too! Nite.
yes! please take the blonde! LOL
I don’t know who you’re talking about, but ok.
jeez, the things I do for this place….
hey you guys, Suzanne’s upstairs
Used to work there myself thinking of going back even a few hundred can help the market is dead and even if Obama does everything we want today it will take time before the market recovers.
Megan McCain the Ayn Rand cheerleader.
Honey You Don’t Know My Mind:
Honey you don’t know my mind I’m lonesome all the time
Born to lose a drifter that’s me
You can travel for so long then a rambler’s heart goes wrong
Baby you don’t know my mind today
Heard the music of a rail slept in every old dirty jail
And life’s too short for you to worry me
When I find I can’t win I’ll be checking out again
Baby you don’t know my mind today
I’ve been a hobo and a tramp my soul has done been stamped
Lord things I know I learned the hard hard way
I ain’t here to judge or plea but to give my poor heart ease
Baby you don’t know my mind today
Honey you don’t know my mind I’m lonesome all the time
Born to lose a drifter that’s me
You say I’m sweet and kind I can love you a thousand times
Baby you don’t know my mind today
*G*
Que?
*G*
Hard to tell sometimes what folks mean without being able to actually hear them; punctuation helps, though. *g*