Mitt Watch - A Staggeringly Ugly Reveal

May 26th, 2012

Image via

Websters defines the word game as an "activity engaged in for diversion or amusement."

Games are fun.

They are also frivolous.

This matters.

In an interview with one of his fawning water-carriers, the WSJ's Peggy Noonan, the GOP nominee for the most powerful position in the history of world said the following a few days ago:

"I think the game is like a sport for old guys. I mean, you know, I can’t compete in competitive sports very well, but I can compete in politics."

This should end Mitt Romney right here.

The shocking elitism in his statement is only matched by its craven stupidity. It's bad enough to consider his even thinking this way. But, to have so little regard for the people that he would say it aloud is unlike anything I have witnessed in the last quarter century.

Politics, by his own proclamation, is simply his latest hobby. While wife Ann spends part of their fortune on her "dressage," Romney has set out to saddle the people with a more hopeless future for his own gratification and that of his monied friends.

After all, it's just a "game."

We are the pawns and pieces. We are the poker chips. He likes a good bluff so why not truck with "birthers" and "tenthers" and propagandists? Anything to win.

After all, it's just a "game."

This serves to explain Romney's staggering mendacity. Why bother to tell the truth?

It's just a "game."

Wild proclamations that Russia is our "number one enemy" don't really mean anything.

It's just a "game."

Promising the last administration's neo-cons that he will give them their third war in the Middle East is of no consequence.

It's just a "game."

A worldview in which leadership of the United States is just a shiny prize during times this turbulent and potentially transformative should preclude eligibility for any office, much less Commander in Chief.

To doubt that a Romney presidency would be a disaster of previously un-imagined proportions is increasingly naive.

Stephen Kruiser on "Tolerance"

Feb 26th, 2012

When "comedian" Stephen Kruiser isn't bringing his "humor" to outlets like Fox's Red Eye, he tweets funny things like this.

Things You Can't Make Up - "Socialist" Boehner Edition

Sept 19th, 2011

Via TPM:
"David Lewis, a 26 year old Tea Party activist believes the man he is mounting a primary challenge against, Speaker of the House Rep. John Boehner (R-OH), is a "socialist."

Indeed, David Lewis and those who support him actually seem to believe this stuff. Dig the interview. When Cavuto thinks you're nuts? Man, you are seriously crazy.

YAY! We Have An AttackWatch Hyperbole Award Winner!

Sept 14th, 2011

Way to go, Washington Times! Your editorial team has really come up with the play that was needed to win the game. In fact, said play made all previous examples of today's craziness simply pale by comparison. And you started straight in with the headline!

Wow. Not only do you evoke Winston Smith at 13 O'Clock, you also got away with calling the first African-American President "Brother."

Pretty Clever.

From the very first line, your piece would be fantastically funny... were it not for the fact that you are so utterly humorless:

"Be careful, if you dare to criticize Citizen Obama, comrade. The Web is watching."

I am just so impressed with this piece, it simply has to get the award for... (drum roll please)

"Most Hyperbolic Freak Out Over AttackWatch.com!"

YAY!

Worth 1,000 Words - Rick Perry Edition

Sept. 6th, 2011

Well, goodness me. If that ain't the down-home, folksy, anti-ACORN firebrand himself, grinnin' like an idiot while surrounded by the good folks from... ACORN. Yup.
via

Tea Party Even Less Popular Than Previously Thought

Aug 29th, 2011

I am not sure this is actually news, but the latest AP GfK Poll shows that the Tea Party's total disapproval now stands at 87% of the electorate and 79% of likely voters. That they are driving policy at all is nuts.

In other news which is still receiving little to no attention, the Tea Party's most prominent media mouthpieces continue to freefall in ratings as shown HERE and HERE.

Dominionist Watch - Perry Edition

Aug 29th, 2011

I have been trying to imagine what it would have sounded like to the average American had they been hearing 20 years ago what we have been hearing recently within a field of Republican Presidential hopefuls.

Frankly, I think I would have assumed someone was doing a very poor impersonation of Margaret Atwood. Nevertheless, here we are.

Having jumped into front runner status with the GOP base almost immediately upon his entry into the race mere weeks ago, Texas Governor Rick Perry is, as was predicted, doubling down on some very ugly, anti-intellectual and outright Dominionist statements. It's one thing for him to misrepresent his economic record. It's another thing for him to deny climate science. However, it is something altogether more dangerous for a potential Commander in Chief to allege that the current crippling recession is not the product of decades of unrealistic economic policy and is, rather, a test from God.

Yup, who needs a comprehensive plan to deal with perennially widening income disparity or the collapse of job creation? Apparently, all we really have to do is to submit in accordance with Mr. Perry's theological view.

Glory!
 

Perhaps we should pray for the Republic. As Paul Krugman noted today:

"Now, we don’t know who will win next year’s presidential election. But the odds are that one of these years the world’s greatest nation will find itself ruled by a party that is aggressively anti-science, indeed anti-knowledge. And, in a time of severe challenges — environmental, economic, and more — that’s a terrifying prospect."

That Was Then...

Aug 22nd, 2011

I grow weary of so frequently having to say the words, "I am not making this up," while discussing the 2012 Republican field.

Parody cover via

In Presidential politics, it is not at all uncommon to find potential candidates forced to defend themselves from accusations of youthful indiscretion.

Listening to the hopefuls explain how their current philosophy has matured or how it differs from their views in earlier times has become a matter of course.

This part of the public vetting is really not supposed to be this interesting.

Bill Clinton took some hits over his attendance at anti-war rallies in England more than two decades before his first White House run. W had some dodging to do over allegations of, well, dodging the draft (along with more than a few other unpleasant accusations).

So here we are, earlier than we should be in such tumultuous times, focused on next year's primary politics.

The first big story of a politician distancing himself from, if not outright disavowing, any number of previously held positions has arrived. This is different, though. Perhaps reflecting the obscene speed of the socially networked world, the "old" views from which Gov. Rick Perry is trying to separate himself date back an entire 9 months.

She's Going To Run

Aug 21st, 2011

If you thought the entrance of Gov. Rick Perry dragged the debate down, just wait. It seems clear the Sarah Palin is about to join the race. In spite of months of the beltway crowd arguing that she would not, they never seem to have considered the fact that Palin is a certifiable megalomaniac. She can't not run. She is far and away her own favorite person in the world, after all. In her mind, how could she possibly deny America the amazing gift of herself?

Watch the video below. It looks like a campaign ad. It sure as heck sounds like a campaign ad. I think it is a campaign ad.

Ann Coulter Might Be A Monkey...

Aug 18th, 2011

... as this is so clearly the intellectual equivalent of throwing poo. Regarding the riots in England:

"Mobs are always the same -- destructive, left-wing and without any clear cause."

After my little argument with Jonah last week, I did have a nagging suspicion that the mouth-breathers were going to make him appear relatively sane in short order.

Bachmann's Straw Poll Victory

Aug 13th, 2011

via

This is nuts. Michele Bachmann has topped Ron Paul and achieved the electorally meaningless victory of winning the Iowa Straw Poll. There are so many levels on which this is disastrous for the broader Republican brand.

A Curmudgeon Vs. Norquist

August 3rd, 2011

Although I am often appalled at Alan Simpson's angry grandpa routine, it was fairly entertaining watching him set his sights on our nation's preeminent zero-tax lunatic, Grover Norquist.

The Tea Party Gets The Taiwanese Animation Treatment

August 1st, 2011

Via The Economist

Libertarian Vacation

August 1st, 2011

Indeed

Quote Of The Day - Here and Now Edition

July 29th, 2011

"But making nebulous calls for centrism, like writing news reports that always place equal blame on both parties, is a big cop-out — a cop-out that only encourages more bad behavior. The problem with American politics right now is Republican extremism, and if you’re not willing to say that...

you’re helping make that problem worse."

-- Paul Krugman on the absurdity of calling for compromise with radicals

Flashback...

July 26th, 2011

The GOP refusal to even repeat the word compromise (much less engage in it in recent memory) should not be a surprise. Thanks to Teagan Goddard over at Political Wire for this little reminder. BTW, this was the interview where Boehner started the waterworks over the "children" while planning to to do everything in his power to make sure the next generation of children has no teeth, can't read, thinks New Hampshire is the Capital of Kentucky, dinosaurs are Jesus-Lizards and that a living wage is some kind of Communist conspiracy to sap our fluids.

Psst... Republicans... that last sentence is called "political satire," (ie. humorous ideological hyperbole) not libel.

"J. BOEHNER: We have to govern. That's what we were elected to do.

STAHL: But governing means a -- compromising.

J. BOEHNER: It means working together. It means find...

STAHL: It also means compromising.

J. BOEHNER: It means finding common ground.

STAHL: OK, is that compromising?

J. BOEHNER: I made clear I am not going to compromise on -- on my principles, nor am I going to compromise...

STAHL: What are you saying?

J. BOEHNER: ... the will of the American people.

STAHL: And you're saying I want common ground, but I'm not going to compromise. I don't understand that. I really don't.

J. BOEHNER: When you say the -- when you say the word "compromise"...

STAHL: Yeah?

J. BOEHNER: ... a lot of Americans look up and go, "Uh-oh, they're going to sell me out." And so finding common ground I think makes more sense."

Thank you to the Simpsons for illustrating Rep. John Boehner's entire manipulative histrionic meltdown. 

And here you go...

In Case You Didn't Know Who Is In Charge...

July 26th, 2011

This ought to dispel any illusions you might have. From The Hill:

"Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) outlined the GOP's debt-ceiling plan to conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh on Monday before showing it to his conference.

On Monday during his radio program, Limbaugh talked about the call he received from Boehner. Limbaugh's support of the plan would be advantageous to Republicans because it might help rally the conservative base."

At what point did it become anything less than a cause for broad public outrage to formally loop in a bomb throwing media personality on actual legislation before the rest of our representative government?

On False Equivalence...

Jan 14th, 2011

As conservative writers from Malkin to Erickson have not only refused to address the merits of having a discussion on hateful rhetoric and weaponized language but have doubled down by accusing the Left of being "worse," it's notable how very easy it is to poke holes in their arguments of equivalence.

For the record, none of the defeated Democratic candidates in the last election marched their supporters into confrontations with Republican victors while their supporters shouted the word "JEW!"

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I figured that responses from the mainstream Right to this video on Lawrence O'Donnell's Last Word would have at least a trace of disavowal. I was wrong. Over at NRO, Jim Geraghty makes excuses for the racists. "We hear no threats on the tape," he writes. 


It's notable that one of the Popaditch supporters who was in the crowd is a white supremacist so extreme he has even been disavowed by Stormfront. Is it a stretch to suggest that there was something in Popaditch's rhetoric that this man found attractive?

In Consideration...

Jan 14th, 2011

If images like this one were not offensive in the first place, they would not have had to remove them this week. Yes, this appeared in the Tucson, AZ market.

Gabrielle Giffords Chilling Warning

Jan 9th, 2011

The operative word here is "consequences."