Comments about ‘Out of the box: Year after financial meltdown a Utah original shoots from the hip’

"I have opinions. I don't try to force them down people's throats," Byrne said


Uh... yeah you do. That is EXACTLY what the whole voucher debacle was about. The interviews during that time were ugly. I'm seem to recall some nasty name calling.

Nevertheless, the guy seems to be quite a character.

I'll take Byrne whackiness over Cuban's whackedness any day. Cuban's not nearly the big player he thinks he is.

The documentary 'The Obama deception', which we watched yesterday, factually details and supports Byrne's position that 'powerful players in the New York financial establishment have "captured" Washington and call the shots, putting American democracy under their thumb'.

Makes one think of the book 'Atlas Shrugged'. Scary.

He sounds pretty full of himself. I would expect Overstock to implode on itself with him in the middle. It's only a matter of time.

Conservatives who think the school voucher is a conservative stand ought to look at who the biggest financial supporters of it were. As the article states, Patrick Byrne supports Obama over Bush, and in other news, Walmart supports Obama's nationalized health care plan. These are NOT principled conservative leaders to follow.

Vouchers would give government control of private schools. Just like agricultural subsidies that many usually conservative farmers supported, it's a money grab from the government that allows the government to get their hooks in for control.

Vouchers are a Trojan horse for private schools!

Patrick Byrne is a pretty cool guy. He's very understanding, and I can personally say that he doesn't take anything for granted. I hope he continues to see great success in his business and in life.

"As the article states, Patrick Byrne supports Obama over Bush, and in other news, Walmart supports Obama's nationalized health care plan."

Um...I think Wal-mart's stance has very little to do with a political ideology and much more to do with wanting the monkey of not insuring its workers taken off its back. It is a purely pragmatic alignment, not one born of ideological agreement.

This is the one who said that Utahns failed an "intelligence test" when they wouldn't swallow the half-baked ideas on education of a childless, unmarried CEO. Guess he wants the goodwill of the public now that he's under investigation again. He's not getting it from me. I stopped buying at Overstock we he opened his big mouth back then, and I'm not buying at Overstock now.

Agreed, Bryce.

Since he hurled insults at Utahns after the voucher battle, I have not purchased anything from Overstock.com and have resolved never to do so again.

I would believe this guy over the PTA president any day of the week. He was correct in his assessment of Utahns on that vote. Look at our schools... They are in shambles. Barack Obama can't run our health care, but he can have our kids minds? Doesn't make any sense.

It has been my pleasure to work for Mr. Byrne for almost 2 years. Few men have impressed me the way he has with his integrity. He has been honest even when it is not to his advantage to be so. I will take honesty over smarmy politics any day!

Tim,

Stop drinking the kool aid. Our schools are doing great. We are a model for the rest of the country to follow. We get more bang for the buck than any other state.

I'd like you to show me some comparison, apples to apples, that shows our schools are "in shambles".

Can't find one? I didn't think you could.

Our schools are safe, we have high graduation rates and a high percentage of our kids go on to college, but no one ever stops to consider how much better it could be. Teachers' unions and public school monopolies are doing this country and our children a horrible disservice. We shouldn't accept that our youth enter adulthood without being thoroughly schooled in math, sciences and history, but we do. We've all drunken the cool-aid. The only way to improve the situation is competition, and a voucher system is the only practical way to introduce competition. This guy, Byrne, is a smart guy and had no other motivation beside love of country to dedicate himself to the voucher issue.

Patrick Byrne knows what he is speaking about and he is right on target. My Father was in the securities business and has consistently identified the same problems for years. That is why he can't recommend participating in the stock market despite the perception to buy low when there is blood in the streets. Who from the SEC, CFTC, DTCC, or the Cede company is going to jail? You have the same old corrupted crew "enforcing" the rules. If you have a broker that is telling you to get in the market now, you better start doing your own research. That stock broker is either ignorant or he cares more about his commissions than your future. Nobody is as concerned about your financial as you should be.

If the state government is smart they would eliminate the state income tax so that they can keep knowledgeable and talented people like Patrick in this state. Otherwise he is likely to flee to a Wyoming ranch like many other wealthy and talented from Utah.

Patrick Byrne for Senate! Utah needs him to do a good job on the Senate finance and banking committee, unlike a certain junior Senator from Utah.

I think what Patrick has done shedding light on this massive fraud being perpetuated on the investing public is nothing short of heroic! The time has come for our justice system to step up and do the right thing and eliminate this criminal culture that has been allowed to flourish in our financial markets.

Bravo Patrick Byrne!

As someone who worked for Overstock at one point, I can say that Patrick is a good man who makes bad decisions. His surrounding executives have never been held accountable for bad business deals or decisions, they almost certainly agree with whatever ideas he comes up with, and no one has ever been able to seriously contend with him on a business decision without threat of termination. That is not an environment that fosters growth and is probably the main reason Overstock has teetered on the brink of bankruptcy for 10 years. If it wasn't for the wealthy Byrne family and friends pumping continuous cash into OSTK, the company would've faltered long ago. I hope one day the company can succeed, but I don't see it happening with Patrick at the helm.

Overstock and Mr. Byrne are a classic example of someone with connections but no talent wasting a fortune playing games in his narcissistic world. If you work for Overstock, I feel sorry for you. I am glad I got out when I did.

I think its clear from this interview why Overstock doesn't work as a business even ten years after its founding.

In the discounting business the margins are very thin. Pennies can make the difference between success and failure. The only way it works is if you drive a hard line on purchasing and on your operating costs, especially your payroll.

A guy who can do that isn't interested in ranches or "monster houses". He certainly isn't interested is attacking anyone who disagrees with him or making excuses for his lack of performance.

Patrick Byrne competes with Amazon, E-Bay, Wallmart, and TJ Maxx. Perhaps he should be concentrating on how he can lower his cost structure to beat them as to how he's going to next smear Sam Antar.