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Drunken Ben Bernanke Tells Everyone At Neighborhood Bar How Screwed U.S. Economy Really Is

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meegbear Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 01:33 PM
Original message
Drunken Ben Bernanke Tells Everyone At Neighborhood Bar How Screwed U.S. Economy Really Is

The intoxicated Federal Reserve chairman informs bar patrons of the dangers of reckless spending.

Claiming he wasn't afraid to let everyone in attendance know about "the real mess we're in," Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke reportedly got drunk Tuesday and told everyone at Elwood's Corner Tavern about how absolutely fucked the U.S. economy actually is.

Bernanke, who sources confirmed was "totally sloshed," arrived at the drinking establishment at approximately 5:30 p.m., ensconced himself upon a bar stool, and consumed several bottles of Miller High Life and a half-dozen shots of whiskey while loudly proclaiming to any patron who would listen that the economic outlook was "pretty goddamned awful if you want the God's honest truth."

"Look, they don't want anyone except for the Washington, D.C. bigwigs to know how bad shit really is," said Bernanke, slurring his words as he spoke. "Mounting debt exacerbated—and not relieved—by unchecked consumption, spiraling interest rates, and the grim realities of an inevitable worldwide energy crisis are projected to leave our entire economy in the shitter for, like, a generation, man, I'm telling you."

"And hell, as long as we're being honest, I might as well tell you that a truer estimate of the U.S. unemployment rate is actually up around 16 percent, with a 0.7 percent annual rate of economic growth if we're lucky—if we're lucky," continued Bernanke, nearly knocking a full beer over while gesturing with his hands. "Of course, if everybody knew that, it would likely cripple financial markets across the entire fucking globe, even in various emerging economies with self- sustaining growth."

After launching into an extended 45-minute diatribe about shortsighted moves by "those bastards in Congress" that could potentially exacerbate the nation's already deeply troublesome budget imbalance, the Federal Reserve chairman reportedly bought a round of tequila shots for two customers he had just met who were seated on either side of him, announcing, "I love these guys."


A drunken Bernanke attempts to find the Aerosmith song "Back In The Saddle" on the bar jukebox.

Numerous bar patrons slowly nodded in agreement as Bernanke went on to suggest the United States could pass three or four more stimulus packages and "it wouldn't even matter."

"You think that's going to create long-term economic growth, let alone promote job creation?" Bernanke said. "We're way beyond that, my friend. There are no jobs, okay? There's nothing. I think that calls for another drink, don't you?"

While using beer bottles and pretzel sticks in an attempt to explain to the bartender the importance of infusing $650 billion into the bond market, the inebriated Fed chairman nearly fell off his stool and had to be held up by the patron sitting next to him.

<snip>

http://www.theonion.com/articles/drunken-ben-bernanke-tells-everyone-at-neighborhoo,21059/
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Angry Dragon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 01:39 PM
Response to Original message
1. It says a lot about this country when you can find more truth
in the Onion than you can in DC, the newspapers or on the tv news
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LiberalLoner Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 01:39 PM
Response to Original message
2. K&R I didn't realize this was satire until the very end. n/t
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Control-Z Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 01:56 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. Neither did I.
Which is effing scary.
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Raine Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 06:15 PM
Response to Reply #4
14. Yup, when you read the whole thing and can believe it
that is :scared: shows how bad things are.
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Blue Owl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 01:51 PM
Response to Original message
3. The left out the part where he was trying to bum a cigarette off the bartender
n/t
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HughBeaumont Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 01:57 PM
Response to Original message
5. The Onion will be out of business soon.
Real life's got this paper beat by a mile when it comes to laugh-if-you-weren't-crying satire.
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Stinky The Clown Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 01:59 PM
Response to Original message
6. I knew it before I clicked in here. I knew it!
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xchrom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 02:32 PM
Response to Original message
7. god, i love the onion. nt
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Octafish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 02:35 PM
Response to Original message
8. Laughter, the Best Qualitative Easing.
And all the banksters should be given.

Thanks for the big bellyfull, meegbear. "Ben" a while...
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senseandsensibility Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 03:17 PM
Response to Original message
9. LOL Thanks for lightening the mood.
Kick for the comedy gold.
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Aerows Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 03:20 PM
Response to Original message
10. I was actually shocked this was an Onion piece
I mean, hell, isn't it about time someone on Wall Street/Washington told the damn truth?

Oh, that's right. They are PR reps, not people that actually do a fucking thing besides blow smoke.
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senseandsensibility Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 03:22 PM
Response to Original message
11. click to read the whole thing
The ending is great.
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spanone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 03:23 PM
Response to Original message
12. onion.
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driver8 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 05:55 PM
Response to Original message
13. I posted this on my Facebook page -- my mother in law thought it was real!
She spent part of her morning trying to confirm that this was true!!

My wife called me at work and told me...cracked me up!
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dixiegrrrrl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 07:17 PM
Response to Original message
15. "Fucking love this song."
:rofl: :rofl:
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KansDem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 08:18 PM
Response to Reply #15
16. Maybe I'll try this...
Customers at the bar told reporters the "shitfaced" and disruptive Bernanke refused to pay for his drinks with U.S. currency, claiming it was "worthless." Witnesses also confirmed that near the end of the evening, Bernanke put money into the jukebox and selected Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing" to play five times in a row.

"I'm sorry I can't pay but my money is worthless!" :rofl:
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marmar Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 08:21 PM
Response to Original message
17. The only really unrealistic part of this.......

...... is Bernanke hanging out at a neighborhood tavern.


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Bozita Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 08:28 PM
Response to Original message
18. Sometimes the Onion contains more truth than the Daily Show
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pacalo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Aug-03-11 08:31 PM
Response to Original message
19. My eyes were as big as saucers, hanging onto every word...

:rofl:

AWESOME!

:applause:


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myrna minx Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-04-11 07:35 AM
Response to Original message
20. Wow - are we sure this is satire? n/t
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Snoutport Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-04-11 01:40 PM
Response to Original message
21. damn onion! that was scary!!
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