Dec 30th, 2011
Yesterday, I wrote that I thought Rep. Bachmann's handling of the news that her Iowa campaign Chairman, Kent Soreson, had defected to the Ron Paul camp was "crazy and conspiratorial." I resisted the urge to declare that I believed it to be an outright lie. However, Mike Enos, Bachmann's political director in Iowa, issued a denial that nearly seemed to do just that:
"I can say unequivocally that Kent Sorenson’s decision was, in no way financially motivated," Enos said in his statement. "While I personally disagree with Kent’s decision, and plan to stay with Michele Bachmann because I truly believe in her, I cannot, in good conscious watch a good man like Kent Sorenson be attacked as a 'sell-out.'"
Despite his stated intention of remaining with her campaign team, he later resigned. This seems to indicate that he was purged from the campaign for insisting on rational truth.
Rep. Bachmann is, unsurprisingly, doubling down:
"No one else knows about that conversation other than Kent Sorenson and myself."
It's extremely implausible that Bachmann would not have revealed this conversation to her team immediately to begin planning damage control. The reaction of Enos and his subsequent break from her team expose not only Bachmann's executive inability but, also her apparent mental instability.
The Ron Paul camp insists her claim is fiction. Paul himself is quoted by KCAU:
"He called up and asked if he could join us and I said 'That's a great idea!' He's somebody I've known for a long time and we've helped him in the past."
Sorenson appeared on CNN to declare that the alleged conversation "never happened."
I am no fan of Ron Paul. I find him absurd. But, Bachmann is coming out of this looking both desperate and delusional.
With four days to go before the Iowa Circus, I expect this all to get even more entertaining.
Showing posts with label Rep. Michelle Bachmann. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rep. Michelle Bachmann. Show all posts
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Iowa Circus
Dec 29th, 2011
The latest round of crazy involves a bit player making a big splash just ahead of the Iowa GOP caucus. The Des Moines Register reports:
"In a stunning, late-breaking Iowa caucus turnabout, the state chairman for presidential candidate Michele Bachmann ditched her campaign Wednesday night to endorse Ron Paul, a rival in the race for the GOP nomination.
The defection of Kent Sorenson, an Iowa state senator, came just six days before Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, and caught the Bachmann campaign by surprise. Sorenson had chaired Bachmann’s caucus efforts here for months, and even attended a Bachmann event in Indianola on Wednesday afternoon just hours before appearing at a Paul rally in Des Moines to announce his endorsement."
The latest round of crazy involves a bit player making a big splash just ahead of the Iowa GOP caucus. The Des Moines Register reports:
"In a stunning, late-breaking Iowa caucus turnabout, the state chairman for presidential candidate Michele Bachmann ditched her campaign Wednesday night to endorse Ron Paul, a rival in the race for the GOP nomination.
The defection of Kent Sorenson, an Iowa state senator, came just six days before Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses, and caught the Bachmann campaign by surprise. Sorenson had chaired Bachmann’s caucus efforts here for months, and even attended a Bachmann event in Indianola on Wednesday afternoon just hours before appearing at a Paul rally in Des Moines to announce his endorsement."
Friday, December 9, 2011
Dominionist Watch - Bachmann's Rules For Girls
Dec 9th, 2011
Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) worked hard earlier this year to spin remarks she had made about the bible and spousal submissiveness. Just last month, the Washington Post got her to go on the record again for clarification:
"Since Bachmann was elected to Congress five years ago, the primary caregiver for their oft-mentioned kids has been her husband, Marcus Bachmann, back home in Minnesota. "We’ve been a tag team," she says. Only, her husband has been "it" for the past five years, hasn’t he, despite her Bible-based belief that wives should be submissive to their husbands?
"My husband is the head of the household," she says, but "we’re equals. If it came down to it, I’d probably let him have the last word." But in 33 years, she adds, this has never happened. "Every decision has been a negotiated settlement."
There are many, relatively mainstream Christians who don't find these statements particularly objectionable. I am not among them. The argument I have made since this flap started in July was that her willingness to project these views in a political setting exposes deeper and more dangerous beliefs; Antiquated notions of traditional marriage are likely the least repressive of her philosophies regarding gender. Which brings us to her most recent interview on Hannity's radio show. Alex Seitz-Wald reports via ThinkProgress:
"While promoting her new book on Sean Hannity’s radio show this afternoon, Rep, Michele Bachmann (R-MN) said she doesn’t let her daughters ask boys out on dates. Apparently embracing antiquated notions of sexuality and gender relations, Bachmann suggested women should have to wait to be asked out. Otherwise, they’re out of luck if they never are. No word on Sadie Hawkins exceptions:
BACHMANN: People do find out [in my book] that I did not get asked to my senior prom.
HANNITY: Well, neither did I. And nobody would go with me.
BACHMANN: Well, in my time, girls didn’t ask boys to prom. If you didn’t get asked, you didn’t go.
HANNITY: Yeah, well let me tell you, I have a 13-year-old son. Those days have changed big time.
BACHMANN: And our girls are not allowed to do that in our house. They have to wait for the boys to call."
Should women also walk behind their husbands if they are told to do so? What does Bachmann think? It's a legitimate question.
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| Steve Pope / Getty Images via |
"Since Bachmann was elected to Congress five years ago, the primary caregiver for their oft-mentioned kids has been her husband, Marcus Bachmann, back home in Minnesota. "We’ve been a tag team," she says. Only, her husband has been "it" for the past five years, hasn’t he, despite her Bible-based belief that wives should be submissive to their husbands?
"My husband is the head of the household," she says, but "we’re equals. If it came down to it, I’d probably let him have the last word." But in 33 years, she adds, this has never happened. "Every decision has been a negotiated settlement."
There are many, relatively mainstream Christians who don't find these statements particularly objectionable. I am not among them. The argument I have made since this flap started in July was that her willingness to project these views in a political setting exposes deeper and more dangerous beliefs; Antiquated notions of traditional marriage are likely the least repressive of her philosophies regarding gender. Which brings us to her most recent interview on Hannity's radio show. Alex Seitz-Wald reports via ThinkProgress:
"While promoting her new book on Sean Hannity’s radio show this afternoon, Rep, Michele Bachmann (R-MN) said she doesn’t let her daughters ask boys out on dates. Apparently embracing antiquated notions of sexuality and gender relations, Bachmann suggested women should have to wait to be asked out. Otherwise, they’re out of luck if they never are. No word on Sadie Hawkins exceptions:
BACHMANN: People do find out [in my book] that I did not get asked to my senior prom.
HANNITY: Well, neither did I. And nobody would go with me.
BACHMANN: Well, in my time, girls didn’t ask boys to prom. If you didn’t get asked, you didn’t go.
HANNITY: Yeah, well let me tell you, I have a 13-year-old son. Those days have changed big time.
BACHMANN: And our girls are not allowed to do that in our house. They have to wait for the boys to call."
Should women also walk behind their husbands if they are told to do so? What does Bachmann think? It's a legitimate question.
Monday, December 5, 2011
From The Mouths Of Babes
Dec 5th, 2011
"My mommy is gay but she doesn't need any fixing."
So said a little eight year old boy named Elijah to Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) yesterday.
It is likely that many anti-LGBT "conservatives" will fret about a "child being used for politics." To all such detractors, here's what the observer who shot the video reported:
"I was standing in line with Elijah and his mom. His mom was going to say something to her, but she got nervous and told me she wanted to leave. We were about to step out of the line but Elijah cried out, "Nooo!" He grabbed onto her coat and pulled her back in the line, saying he wanted to talk to her.
When we got up to Michele, he got a little stage fright. His mom just didn't want him to not say it because he was afraid, because she knew he would regret it if he didn't. I used to do ballet as a child, and before performances, I'd want to no do it-- my mom pushed me to perform. Afterwards, I'd run to her and tell her how happy I was. How is this any different? If we were shown a video of a child before a school play, or a recital, being pushed to perform and not give into stage fright, would we get the same reaction? My gut says no."
Perhaps a young child should not have to be a part of the conversation, but he is. To those "conservatives" who have a problem with this; I recommend you go look in a mirror and stare at the person who made Elijah's participation necessary.
"My mommy is gay but she doesn't need any fixing."
So said a little eight year old boy named Elijah to Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn) yesterday.
It is likely that many anti-LGBT "conservatives" will fret about a "child being used for politics." To all such detractors, here's what the observer who shot the video reported:
"I was standing in line with Elijah and his mom. His mom was going to say something to her, but she got nervous and told me she wanted to leave. We were about to step out of the line but Elijah cried out, "Nooo!" He grabbed onto her coat and pulled her back in the line, saying he wanted to talk to her.
When we got up to Michele, he got a little stage fright. His mom just didn't want him to not say it because he was afraid, because she knew he would regret it if he didn't. I used to do ballet as a child, and before performances, I'd want to no do it-- my mom pushed me to perform. Afterwards, I'd run to her and tell her how happy I was. How is this any different? If we were shown a video of a child before a school play, or a recital, being pushed to perform and not give into stage fright, would we get the same reaction? My gut says no."
Perhaps a young child should not have to be a part of the conversation, but he is. To those "conservatives" who have a problem with this; I recommend you go look in a mirror and stare at the person who made Elijah's participation necessary.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Bachmann Watch - Iranian Embassy Edition
Dec 1st, 2011
Despite the fact that we have embassy in Tehran, much less formal relations of any kind in over 3 decades, candidate Bachmann has declared that she will close said embassy. So there...
Her team is doing its best to spin this as an incidence of misreporting, stipulating that Rep. Bachmann was speaking in a "hypothetical" way. The problem with that is we now have the exact quote. While discussin England's decision to pull out its diplomatic team following recent student violence dirtected at their embassy, Bachmann said, "That’s exactly what I would do [if I were president]. We wouldn’t have an embassy in Iran. I wouldn’t allow that to be there."
Coverage of this very amazing gaffe is HERE, HERE and HERE.
Note to the GOP... Jon Huntsman is a very intelligent man and actually knows some stuff. Just sayin'.
Despite the fact that we have embassy in Tehran, much less formal relations of any kind in over 3 decades, candidate Bachmann has declared that she will close said embassy. So there...
Her team is doing its best to spin this as an incidence of misreporting, stipulating that Rep. Bachmann was speaking in a "hypothetical" way. The problem with that is we now have the exact quote. While discussin England's decision to pull out its diplomatic team following recent student violence dirtected at their embassy, Bachmann said, "That’s exactly what I would do [if I were president]. We wouldn’t have an embassy in Iran. I wouldn’t allow that to be there."
Coverage of this very amazing gaffe is HERE, HERE and HERE.
Note to the GOP... Jon Huntsman is a very intelligent man and actually knows some stuff. Just sayin'.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Bachmann Watch - It's Over
Sept 20th, 2011
If Rep Michele Bachmann (R-MINN) stays in the race for very much longer it is for no other reason than to position herself, Palin-like, for a better share of market in future money making schemes. She has no chance of receiving the nomination. It is over.
If Rep Michele Bachmann (R-MINN) stays in the race for very much longer it is for no other reason than to position herself, Palin-like, for a better share of market in future money making schemes. She has no chance of receiving the nomination. It is over.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Bachmann Should Apologize
Aug 29th, 2011
Billions of dollars in damage from hurricane Irene and a death toll now standing at 37 were apparently fodder for a little Dominionist humor over the weekend. Yup. Rep Michele Bachmann (R-MN) joked that it was God's wrath because of liberal spending.
If you think Rep. bachmann should apologize, you can sign the Credo petition HERE
Or, you can send her a message on Twitter HERE
Or, you can send her a message on Facebook HERE
Or, you call her Washington D.C. office at (202) 225-2331
Or, you call her Minnesota offices at 651-731-5400 and 320-253-5931
Billions of dollars in damage from hurricane Irene and a death toll now standing at 37 were apparently fodder for a little Dominionist humor over the weekend. Yup. Rep Michele Bachmann (R-MN) joked that it was God's wrath because of liberal spending.
If you think Rep. bachmann should apologize, you can sign the Credo petition HERE
Or, you can send her a message on Twitter HERE
Or, you can send her a message on Facebook HERE
Or, you call her Washington D.C. office at (202) 225-2331
Or, you call her Minnesota offices at 651-731-5400 and 320-253-5931
Personally, I think you should choose all of the above as your option
Unless, of course, you think scenes like these are funny.
 |
| North Carolina's Hwy12 photo via |
Dominionist Watch - Bachmann's Humor Edition
Aug 29th, 2011
I swear, this year's motto really ought to be the phrase, "No, I am not making this up."
Speaking to a crowd of GOP loyalists and conservative activists in Florida this weekend, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) said this:
"I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?' Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending."
Her campaign spokesperson, Alice Stewart reportedly told TPM "Obviously she was saying it in jest."
Oh. Funny. Ha ha. It was a joke when you said that God caused widespread devastation and 30 deaths reported so far because He wants America to tax the rich even less and cut services to the poor even more. Got it.
It actually was a joke. A very ugly, nasty and not at all funny spectacle of a joke. A joke built on horror and pain and death. And her audience laughed... and laughed... and laughed. That's the GOP base. It's not just candidate Bachmann's judgment that is suspect.
I swear, this year's motto really ought to be the phrase, "No, I am not making this up."
Speaking to a crowd of GOP loyalists and conservative activists in Florida this weekend, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) said this:
"I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?' Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending."
Her campaign spokesperson, Alice Stewart reportedly told TPM "Obviously she was saying it in jest."
Oh. Funny. Ha ha. It was a joke when you said that God caused widespread devastation and 30 deaths reported so far because He wants America to tax the rich even less and cut services to the poor even more. Got it.
It actually was a joke. A very ugly, nasty and not at all funny spectacle of a joke. A joke built on horror and pain and death. And her audience laughed... and laughed... and laughed. That's the GOP base. It's not just candidate Bachmann's judgment that is suspect.
Bachmann Watch - White People Edition
Aug 29th, 2011
Well, here's an interesting recent appearance by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). You might not really absorb or even make it to the absurdity which follows her let's-get-the-crowd-goin' opener because you will be too stunned:
"WHO LIKES WHITE PEOPLE?!" (video below)
There are unconfirmed reports that a music group called the "White People Soul Band" performed at this event. Who gives a shit? The woman has no judgment. Mrs. Bachmann's apologists are already going into overdrive on social networks to blame those of us who are offended for being offended by her offensiveness. Watch for yourself. And keep watching because there is something else going on here that is far more illuminating...
Michele Bachman may be more mind-numbingly ignorant of scripture than anyone I have heard in my life. She tells the fawning crowd that "God is not partial" right before, with her very next breath, she preaches a garbled version of the First Book of Samuel. If you are unfamiliar, this is partly the fable of Jonathan, son of King Saul, who lays waste to a garrison of Philistines nearly single handed with only the assistance of his armor-bearer. This is possible through the blessing of the vengeful, Old Testament God. Such rich poetry is perhaps too delicate a thing for one who cannot accurately define the word "partial."
It is also one more example of the Dominionist habit of throwing the word Jesus around pretty indiscriminately while simultaneously focusing most of their attention on the blood and the war and killing in the Torah.
I recommend Lewis Black's take on this phenomena.
"WHO LIKES WHITE PEOPLE?!" (video below)
There are unconfirmed reports that a music group called the "White People Soul Band" performed at this event. Who gives a shit? The woman has no judgment. Mrs. Bachmann's apologists are already going into overdrive on social networks to blame those of us who are offended for being offended by her offensiveness. Watch for yourself. And keep watching because there is something else going on here that is far more illuminating...
Michele Bachman may be more mind-numbingly ignorant of scripture than anyone I have heard in my life. She tells the fawning crowd that "God is not partial" right before, with her very next breath, she preaches a garbled version of the First Book of Samuel. If you are unfamiliar, this is partly the fable of Jonathan, son of King Saul, who lays waste to a garrison of Philistines nearly single handed with only the assistance of his armor-bearer. This is possible through the blessing of the vengeful, Old Testament God. Such rich poetry is perhaps too delicate a thing for one who cannot accurately define the word "partial."
It is also one more example of the Dominionist habit of throwing the word Jesus around pretty indiscriminately while simultaneously focusing most of their attention on the blood and the war and killing in the Torah.
I recommend Lewis Black's take on this phenomena.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Bachmann's Straw Poll Victory
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Off Limits?
July 28th, 2011
"I'm running for the presidency of the United States. My husband is not running for the presidency. Neither are my children. Neither is our business."
So says Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Which is simply amazing on two levels. The first and the most obvious is that she has led nothing less than a campaign of character assassination directed at the current First Lady.
When Michelle Obama voiced her support for an initiative aimed at improving public health, Bachmann did more than screech in contempt. She curried favor with the rabid Tea Party base by conflating the First Lady's position with some secret, extreme conspiracy:
So says Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Which is simply amazing on two levels. The first and the most obvious is that she has led nothing less than a campaign of character assassination directed at the current First Lady.
When Michelle Obama voiced her support for an initiative aimed at improving public health, Bachmann did more than screech in contempt. She curried favor with the rabid Tea Party base by conflating the First Lady's position with some secret, extreme conspiracy:
Friday, July 8, 2011
Michele Bachmann Thinks The Jobs Report Is Great... For Her Campaign
July 8th, 2011
In spite of a few lapses in judgment already this morning, this one takes the prize. She just gave an interview with CNBC's Carl Quintanilla that included this exchange (via):
Quintanilla: "Does it strike you that as the unemployment rate goes up that your chances of winning office also go up?"
Bachmann: "Well, that could be. Again, I hope so."
In spite of a few lapses in judgment already this morning, this one takes the prize. She just gave an interview with CNBC's Carl Quintanilla that included this exchange (via):
Quintanilla: "Does it strike you that as the unemployment rate goes up that your chances of winning office also go up?"
Bachmann: "Well, that could be. Again, I hope so."
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Bachmann Zealotry Watch
July 5th, 2011
Rep Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) continued the long and dubious tradition of right wing Presidential hopefuls appealing to the evangelical base in an appearance before two groups of Iowa churchgoers this Sunday:
"We too are at a crucial time today. And I think it is for us to remember, that if we do as Chronicles tells us, if we humble ourselves, and pray and confess our sins, and turn away from our wicked ways, and ask an almighty God to come and protect us and fight the battle for us, we know from his word, his promise is sure. He will come. He will heal our land. And we will have a new day."
In the interests of disclosure, I find her words most appalling due to my being a practicing Christian. First of all, faith is not policy. We are endowed with the will to act and through that alone we will better our country. Second, her history of venomous and divisive statements coupled with policy proposals that are decidedly un-Christian makes her pandering repulsive.
We can expect to see more of this, I am sure.
Rep Michelle Bachmann (R-MN) continued the long and dubious tradition of right wing Presidential hopefuls appealing to the evangelical base in an appearance before two groups of Iowa churchgoers this Sunday:
"We too are at a crucial time today. And I think it is for us to remember, that if we do as Chronicles tells us, if we humble ourselves, and pray and confess our sins, and turn away from our wicked ways, and ask an almighty God to come and protect us and fight the battle for us, we know from his word, his promise is sure. He will come. He will heal our land. And we will have a new day."
In the interests of disclosure, I find her words most appalling due to my being a practicing Christian. First of all, faith is not policy. We are endowed with the will to act and through that alone we will better our country. Second, her history of venomous and divisive statements coupled with policy proposals that are decidedly un-Christian makes her pandering repulsive.
We can expect to see more of this, I am sure.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Bachmann? Really? Okay then.
April 9th, 2011
I do sometimes find Mark McKinnon to be interesting. Less often, I find him to be incisive. But it wasn't until this morning that I found him laugh out loud, knee-slappingly funny. He has a piece that appeared in yesterday's Daily Beast which, to tell you the truth, I am not sure is meant to be taken seriously. This is because, in it, he seems to be taking Michelle Bachmann very seriously. You can read it for yourselves but here is a screencap of the sub-header in bold type
Wow. "Fire in the belly?" This may well be. However, he seems to have not taken into account the rocks in her head, the ice in her veins, or the "closed for repairs sign" that sits just outside her center of reason. Was this one of those unfortunate late-night posts about which we all feel regret at one time or another?
I have made a couple of gently glib remarks in the past week about actually wanting the Reagan vision back within the Republican party. The Gipper may have called ketchup a "vegetable." But I honestly think Bachmann would try and find a way to conflate ketchup with a "threat to our freedoms" if it might give her some momentary edge.
The journey through the looking glass continues...
I do sometimes find Mark McKinnon to be interesting. Less often, I find him to be incisive. But it wasn't until this morning that I found him laugh out loud, knee-slappingly funny. He has a piece that appeared in yesterday's Daily Beast which, to tell you the truth, I am not sure is meant to be taken seriously. This is because, in it, he seems to be taking Michelle Bachmann very seriously. You can read it for yourselves but here is a screencap of the sub-header in bold type
Wow. "Fire in the belly?" This may well be. However, he seems to have not taken into account the rocks in her head, the ice in her veins, or the "closed for repairs sign" that sits just outside her center of reason. Was this one of those unfortunate late-night posts about which we all feel regret at one time or another?
I have made a couple of gently glib remarks in the past week about actually wanting the Reagan vision back within the Republican party. The Gipper may have called ketchup a "vegetable." But I honestly think Bachmann would try and find a way to conflate ketchup with a "threat to our freedoms" if it might give her some momentary edge.
The journey through the looking glass continues...
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Bachmann Keeps Talking
April 6th, 2011
We can't believe this is the face of a modern political movement.
We can't believe this is the face of a modern political movement.
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