RNC Debate on C-SPAN

PoliticsJanuary 2011 • Views: 20,324

Candidates for the next Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) are now debating in Washington, and C-SPAN has it.

I used the word “debating” above, but there’s no debate going on here at all. Every single candidate is an extreme social conservative, hates gay people, and wants to deprive women of control over their own reproductive systems. The “debate” consists mainly of each candidate stressing over and over how much he or she adheres to these Dark Ages principles.

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148 comments

KingKenrod Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:50:45am

Steele is not an extreme social conservative, he just plays one on TV.

funky chicken Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:52:23am

Anyone who watches this crap has a stronger stomach than I.

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:53:03am

“I’d double Guntanamo!”

“I’d tripple Guantanmo!”

“I once got caked in dust when Ronald Regan’s car drove by!”

“I’m even dustier, dustier than thou!”

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:53:36am

re: #3 jamesfirecat

“I’d double Guntanamo!”

“I’d tripple Guantanmo!”

“I once got caked in dust when Ronald Regan’s car drove by!”

“I’m even dustier, dustier than thou!”

“I SAW JESUS IN MY TOAST!”

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:55:18am

As a purely political strategy, I just can’t see that this effort to appeal to a homogeneous concept of social conservatism is a winner in the long term.

Glenn Beck's Grand Unifying Theory of Obdicut Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:56:26am

I think anyone who voted for the GOP in the last election should really watch this. Watch it, and think about how these are the values of the GOP.

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:57:19am

Watching this, I’m so glad I disassociated from the right wing. These people are authoritarian assholes in the pockets of major corporations, dishonest and corrupt to the core.

Saul Anuzis: “we have to reach out to Hispanics and African Americans” … This one made me laugh out loud.

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:57:44am

These “rivals” are making Steele seem reasonable again.

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:58:26am

“Money is going to be the #1 priority.”
Same as it ever was.

Batman Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:58:44am

re: #7 Charles

Saul Anuzis: “we have to reach out to Hispanics and African Americans”

They haven’t been this whole time???

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:58:48am

Steele is the only one up there who’s even giving lip service to idea of being inclusive. All the others are extreme right wing ideologues.

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:59:00am

re: #7 Charles

Watching this, I’m so glad I disassociated from the right wing. These people are authoritarian assholes in the pockets of major corporations, dishonest and corrupt to the core.

Saul Anuzis: “we have to reach out to Hispanics and African Americans” … This one made me laugh out loud.

Clearly what is called for a new Urban- Sub-Urban hip hop style of GOP outreach….

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 10:59:43am

re: #5 jaunte

As a purely political strategy, I just can’t see that this effort to appeal to a homogeneous concept of social conservatism is a winner in the long term.

That only works on a Congressional level. Less so on the Senatorial level (in general) but even less so on a national level (i.e. Presidential race).

calochortus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:00:18am

re: #7 Charles

Saul Anuzis: “we have to reach out to Hispanics and African Americans” … This one made me laugh out loud.

The problem is that “reaching out” apparently means “getting them to agree with us” rather than listening to what they might want or need.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:00:52am

I think it’s interesting they’re doing all they can not to attack Steele. I think they should elect that Maria lady…she could be the new face of the Republican party.

Ming Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:01:58am

I remember a year or so ago, there was a news item that the Republican Party provides abortion coverage in the health insurance for their employees. I wonder if this is still the case, and what the candidates for the party chair would have to say about that.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:02:07am

Steele pulling out the steel. We didn’t do a 72 hour program, we started in January. Bam! Take that muggle-lady.

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:02:09am

re: #11 Charles

Steele is the only one up there who’s even giving lip service to idea of being inclusive. All the others are extreme right wing ideologues.

Saul Anuzis: Death Panels!!11ty

[Link: twitter.com…]

(I Stand By What I Said Whatever It Was) Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:02:13am

Love the “Anti-sanity” tag. I am sure it’s gonna get a lot of use in 2011.

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:02:34am

Here comes the ranting about ACORN.

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:04:22am

Now they’re promoting the absurd fiction that “voter fraud” is rampant. Persecution politics at its finest.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:04:35am

Reince Priebus - Photo ID for voting? When he says “We need to win more races” he isn’t talking about ethnicities.

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:04:48am

ACORN stole teh elecshun!!11ty

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:05:21am

Voter fraud in the URBAN areas!

//Whistle

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:05:22am

Urban voter fraud! Must be the Irish.

calochortus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:05:27am

OOOH-voter fraud in urban areas. No dog whistle there…

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:05:45am

ACORN?
Way to beat the sub-atomic particles of a long-dead horse.
Sheesh.

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:06:18am

re: #25 jaunte

Urban voter fraud! Must be the Irish.

re: #26 calochortus

OOOH-voter fraud in urban areas. No dog whistle there…

Image: dog-whistle.jpg

allegro Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:06:41am

re: #21 Charles

Now they’re promoting the absurd fiction that “voter fraud” is rampant. Persecution politics at its finest.

More Projection Politics.

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:06:57am

re: #25 jaunte

Urban voter fraud! Must be the Irish.

We’ll take the Ni***** and the Ch**** but we don’t want the Irish!

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:06:57am

Gotta watch for “voter fraud” in those “URBAN” areas. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:07:10am

re: #24 Gus 802

Voter fraud in the URBAN areas!

//Whistle

Funny how they can talk about caging in one breath (Photo ID) and then claim voter fraud - and this after winning 63 house seats. In short, if a Republican doesn’t win, then it had to be voter fraud.

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:07:29am

re: #31 Charles

Gotta watch for “voter fraud” in those “URBAN” areas. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

Say no more, say no more….

Sol Berdinowitz Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:08:06am

re: #1 KingKenrod

Steele is not an extreme social conservative, he just plays one on TV.

“Diff’rent Strokes” is about to be cancelled anyways…

calochortus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:08:33am

Better a thousand eligible voters be barred than have a single ineligible vote. Its sort of like letting the guilty go free rather than convicting the innocent, only backwards.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:08:36am

What’s on the yellow poster board that someone keeps holding up when Michael Steele is talking? Obviously, someone there is trying to fuck with him.

Vicious Babushka Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:09:07am

re: #31 Charles

Gotta watch for “voter fraud” in those “URBAN” areas. Nudge nudge, wink wink.

“Black Panthers” in full battle dress, intimidating voters by wielding clubs!

Oh noes.
//

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:10:32am

Europe-O-Phobia!

I like the way he mentions that Republican invention: TARP.

calochortus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:10:32am

Crony capitalism will produce a European economy? In what universe?

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:10:35am

Saul Anuzis: “We can’t have crony capitalism in this country and succeed.”

Save for later.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:12:02am

The little fat lady is a teabagger! Elect her! Elect her!

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:12:03am

Bridges to nowhere? Let’s see. Where did that come from? Hmmmm. Oh right. Republican Senator Ted Stevens.

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:12:32am

re: #42 Gus 802

Bridges to nowhere? Let’s see. Where did that come from? Hmmm. Oh right. Republican Senator Ted Stevens.

Technicality.
/

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:12:47am

“During the Bush administration we didn’t increase spending…” WTF!

They’re just lying outright.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:13:00am

What does it say about the state of the RNC when Michael Steele sounds like the only adult in the room?

calochortus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:13:32am

re: #44 Charles

Yes, yes they are.

As much fun as this is, I don’t think I can take any more of it.

Later, folks.

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:13:48am

re: #42 Gus 802

Bridges to nowhere? Let’s see. Where did that come from? Hmmm. Oh right. Republican Senator Ted Stevens.

Its not a bridge, its a series of tubes…

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:13:50am

re: #45 darthstar

What does it say about the state of the RNC when Michael Steele sounds like the only adult in the room?

Seriously.
:/

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:14:04am

Stop licking the envelopes.

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:15:05am

Tea Party Caucus Takes $1 Billion In Earmarks

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:15:42am

Time for the “We value our young republicans” bullshit.

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:15:54am

re: #50 Gus 802

Tea Party Caucus Takes $1 Billion In Earmarks

Anonymous is more organized than the TeaParties.
LOL.

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:16:58am

re: #51 darthstar

Time for the “We value our young republicans” bullshit.

Like that Young Gun who was dressing as a Nazi and more importantly in this situation was in his 50’s?

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:18:00am

We need to figure out this whole internet thing…

Yeah, that’s their problem…

HA!

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:18:55am

“The future is not tomorrow, it is right now”

Uh…mmmkay….?

Decatur Deb Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:18:55am

re: #32 darthstar

Funny how they can talk about caging in one breath (Photo ID) and then claim voter fraud - and this after winning 63 house seats. In short, if a Republican doesn’t win, then it had to be voter fraud.

There is likely massive voter fraud in FL, and it’s GOP-driven.

[Link: www.google.com…]

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:20:11am

Lick envelopes!

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:20:12am

re: #55 Varek Raith

“The future is not tomorrow, it is right now”

Uh…mmmkay…?

We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:20:15am

Sure like licking them envelopes…
/

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:20:15am

It’s the envelopes, I tell you!

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:20:52am

I had this guy ask me to lick his envelope… So that’s what they call it these days…

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:21:04am

No, 48 is young in the GOP.
;)

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:21:46am

re: #62 Varek Raith

No, 48 is young in the GOP.
;)

And she’s getting excited. Uh-oh…lightning round coming up.

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:23:05am

42.

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:24:21am

What… is your favorite color?

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:24:46am

Ashcroft?
Mr. I’m going to ban bongs and cover up lady justice’s boobies?
ROFL.

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:24:52am

Top or bottom?

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:25:27am

“Everything on the internet”

Ha!

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:25:51am

re: #68 jaunte

“Everything on the internet”

Ha!

I get my news from 4chan.
/

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:26:12am

Michael Steele starts his morning with a hard copy of the Washington Post!

Heresy!

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:27:09am

GUN PR0N!

iossarian Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:27:17am

These people are such idiots.

Funny thing is, I’m not even watching, and yet I am 100% confident that this comment is apropos.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:27:52am

They’re all afraid of Sarah Palin.

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:28:01am

Favorite bar!

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:28:11am

Drink!

Alexzander Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:28:22am

HAHAHAHAHA!

researchok Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:28:32am

Interesting comments today.

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:28:36am

ROFL!!!!

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:28:48am

Favorite book, favorite bar, just as much information in either question.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:29:03am

“The best of times, the worst of times” isn’t from War and Peace.

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:29:03am

They all think Sarah Palin can win an election.

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:29:23am

And they all want to defund Planned Parenthood.

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:29:32am

re: #80 darthstar

“The best of times, the worst of times” isn’t from War and Peace.

I know!
I’m still laughing out load.
HAHAHA!

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:29:32am

Death panels!

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:29:33am

re: #81 Charles

Or are afraid to diss her by saying she can’t.

Stanley Sea Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:29:37am

Death Panels! DRINK

Alexzander Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:30:07am

re: #81 Charles

Its fascinating. I cant help but get excited thinking about how that will play out.

iossarian Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:30:12am

re: #85 jaunte

Or are afraid to diss her by saying she can’t.

Beat me to it.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:31:02am

re: #81 Charles

They all think Sarah Palin can win an election.

They all think saying Sarah Palin can win the general will get them the job as RNC chair. I think the real question was, “Will you lie through your teeth to get this job?” Yes.

Surabaya Stew Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:31:03am

re: #81 Charles

They all think Sarah Palin can win an election.

Unless Obama starts giving props to the Nation of Islam or sells the Lincoln Bedroom to Hugo Chavez, that ain’t happening.

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:31:16am

re: #83 Varek Raith

In fact, it’s messing with my ability to spell!

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:31:24am

Tucker Carlson being a douche.

Alexzander Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:31:24am

I thought Steele wasn’t running again.

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:31:40am

re: #87 Alexzander

Its fascinating. I cant help but get excited thinking about how that will play out.

Anybody recall what happened when Apollo Creed took on Ivan Dragon?

Obama would “break her” just as badly in the 2012 election.

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:32:03am

re: #92 Gus 802

Tucker Carlson being a douche.

Tucker tried to bait Steele earlier and Steele put him down by citing his victories in Congress and state level elections.

jaunte Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:32:30am

Looking for another envelope mention for bingo.

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:33:17am

Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan, Reagan…

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:33:34am

Old people afraid of change!

researchok Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:33:36am

re: #92 Gus 802

Tucker Carlson being a douche.

It’s pretty much his public persona.

The good news is he’s not wearing a bow tie today.

100

theheat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:33:51am

Lying, racist, backwards, fundie fuckwits. it’s like Fox News caught in a loop.

101

funky chicken Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:34:40am

re: #18 Gus 802

Saul Anuzis: Death Panels!!11ty

[Link: twitter.com…]

War forever! Keeping Grandpa “alive” in the ICU for 6 months after his brain gives out!

I wonder why we spend so much government money?

102

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:37:13am

REAGAN VOTE FOR ME REAGAN GUNS!

103

Alexzander Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:38:19am

I hate it when people begin every response with “well look…”

104

theheat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:39:27am

re: #81 Charles

“Obama and them damn Yanks done come to take Tara away!”

105

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:39:35am

re: #8 Gus 802

These “rivals” are making Steele seem reasonable again.

Steele never seemed unreasonable. Just ineffective.

106

funky chicken Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:39:43am

re: #86 Stanley Sea

Death Panels! DRINK

A little early in the day for me, but it’s sickening that people buy the “fiscal conservative” presentation from people who oppose end of life counseling. Walk into any ICU in the nation, and you will see huge amounts of resources being used to keep frail, likely suffering, elderly people “alive” … and crazy family members demanding the the staff “do everything” to prolong their loved one’s “life.”

107

theheat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:40:11am

re: #105 SanFranciscoZionist

Flaccid. There’s a drug for that…

108

wrenchwench Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:40:17am

If Ann Wagner were living all of the Republican ideals, she’d have at least 10 kids.

109

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:41:06am

Steele was the “best” of the lot.
Oh, goody.

110

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:41:27am

Okay…now that I’ve seen the best and the brightest that the GOP has to offer for its own leadership, I feel better about Obama’s chances in 2012 and think the Democrats could retake the house.

Sarah Palin! Whoo-hoo!

111

Charles Johnson Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:42:39am

How was that a “debate?”

112

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:42:48am

re: #110 darthstar

Okay…now that I’ve seen the best and the brightest that the GOP has to offer for its own leadership, I feel better about Obama’s chances in 2012 and think the Democrats could retake the house.

Sarah Palin! Whoo-hoo!

Thankfully, the Mayan Prophecy is true.
*Whew*

113

researchok Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:42:55am

re: #111 Charles

How was that a “debate?”

Beauty pageant.

114

Gus Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:43:42am

BIAB (work).

115

theheat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:43:59am

re: #111 Charles

More like a hoedown.

116

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:44:06am

re: #45 darthstar

What does it say about the state of the RNC when Michael Steele sounds like the only adult in the room?

Steele has always sounded like an adult. He sounds like a goofy math teacher, but he does sound like an adult.

117

researchok Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:44:49am

Dave Barry’s Year in Review: Why 2010 Made Us Sick

Let’s put things into perspective: 2010 was not the worst year ever. There have been MUCH worse years. For example, toward the end of the Cretaceous Period, Earth was struck by an asteroid that wiped out about 75 percent of all of the species on the planet. Can we honestly say that we had a worse year than those species did? Yes, we can, because they were not exposed to “Jersey Shore…”

118

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:46:29am

re: #51 darthstar

Time for the “We value our young republicans” bullshit.

“My father is a Republican. His father was state chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. When I was young, I was a Young Republican.”

119

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:48:05am

re: #90 Surabaya Stew

Unless Obama starts giving props to the Nation of Islam or sells the Lincoln Bedroom to Hugo Chavez, that ain’t happening.

We could keep a closer eye on Chavez if he was in the Lincoln Bedroom. Just sayin’.

Also, Abe’s ghost would scare the hell out of him.

120

Varek Raith Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:48:16am

re: #118 SanFranciscoZionist

“My father is a Republican. His father was state chairman of the North Carolina Republican Party. When I was young, I was a Young Republican.”

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express…
That count?
/

121

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 11:56:28am

re: #113 researchok

Beauty pageant.

Well, between the muggle woman and the Stepford wife, Mr. insecurity beard, the obsessive envelope licker, and Michael Steele, I’d have to say Steele is probably going to win on those grounds alone.

122

funky chicken Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:00:57pm

re: #117 researchok

Dave Barry’s Year in Review: Why 2010 Made Us Sick

JANUARY

… which begins grimly, with the pesky unemployment rate remaining high. Every poll shows that the major concerns of the American people are federal spending, the exploding deficit, and — above all — jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs: This is what the public is worried about. In a word, the big issue is: jobs. So the Obama administration, displaying the keen awareness that has become its trademark, decides to focus like a laser on: health-care reform. The centerpiece of this effort is a historic bill that will either a) guarantee everybody excellent free health care, or b) permit federal bureaucrats to club old people to death. Nobody knows which, because nobody has read the bill, which in printed form has the same mass as a UPS truck.

The first indication that the health-care bill is not wildly popular comes when Republican Scott Brown, who opposes the bill, is elected to the U.S. Senate by Massachusetts voters, who in normal times would elect a crustacean before they would vote Republican. The vote shocks the Obama administration, which — recognizing that it is perceived as having its priorities wrong — decides that the president will make a series of high-profile speeches on the urgent need for: health-care reform.

Bad politics, and may have cost the democrats the elections in 2010. A lot of what the health care bill did is good, and people actually like most of the individual stuff, but they still don’t know what’s in the law. Nobody bothered to explain it to them.

123

jamesfirecat Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:03:52pm

re: #122 funky chicken

Bad politics, and may have cost the democrats the elections in 2010. A lot of what the health care bill did is good, and people actually like most of the individual stuff, but they still don’t know what’s in the law. Nobody bothered to explain it to them.

And several people tried very loudly to keep it from being explained to them also.

The Democrats did poor message control but we can’t let those who openly lied about what was in the bill off the hook….

124

researchok Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:04:53pm

re: #122 funky chicken

Bad politics, and may have cost the democrats the elections in 2010. A lot of what the health care bill did is good, and people actually like most of the individual stuff, but they still don’t know what’s in the law. Nobody bothered to explain it to them.

How could they? Nobody actually read it.

125

garhighway Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:06:34pm

re: #122 funky chicken

Bad politics, and may have cost the democrats the elections in 2010. A lot of what the health care bill did is good, and people actually like most of the individual stuff, but they still don’t know what’s in the law. Nobody bothered to explain it to them.

I agree that Obama has been tactically clumsy regarding HCR, but I disagree that pushing for it was a mistake. He ran on it, it was a key campaign promise, and he followed through.

If you think back to the 2008 campaign, Obama’s main planks were HCR, getting out of Iraq, and getting serious about Afghanistan. Much of what he has pushed for since have been improvised responses to changed conditions: the stimulus, the auto bailout, etc…

126

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:09:59pm

Oh republicans

127

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:10:30pm

re: #6 Obdicut

I think anyone who voted for the GOP in the last election should really watch this. Watch it, and think about how these are the values of the GOP.

Yes

128

iossarian Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:12:57pm

re: #125 garhighway

I agree that Obama has been tactically clumsy regarding HCR, but I disagree that pushing for it was a mistake. He ran on it, it was a key campaign promise, and he followed through.

If you think back to the 2008 campaign, Obama’s main planks were HCR, getting out of Iraq, and getting serious about Afghanistan. Much of what he has pushed for since have been improvised responses to changed conditions: the stimulus, the auto bailout, etc…

I agree with all of this, except that I don’t think Obama was particularly clumsy, he was just facing 100% opposition from a very rich industry (and, by implication, the Republican party and quite a few “centrist” Democrats).

129

iossarian Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:14:41pm

re: #128 iossarian

BTW, I’m not saying the messaging couldn’t have been better. But it’s false to say that the reason people didn’t understand HCR is that “no-one explained it to them”, if you don’t also point out the fabrications and hyperventilation from its opponents.

130

Eclectic Infidel Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:15:23pm

re: #4 Varek Raith

“I SAW JESUS IN MY TOAST!”

I wanted to post a reply using a picture, do you know how I do that? It is another keeper in the lolz-series of “omg its jesus” genre.

131

garhighway Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:16:10pm

re: #128 iossarian

I agree with all of this, except that I don’t think Obama was particularly clumsy, he was just facing 100% opposition from a very rich industry (and, by implication, the Republican party and quite a few “centrist” Democrats).

Tactically, I think he was fighting the last war, in that he was determined not to relive the Hillarycare episode by presenting Congress with a highly detailed plan. Instead, he went all the way to the other extreme and said “I don’t care how you do it, just do it”, which is (and was) an invitation to chaos.

He learned the Hillarycare lesson too well.

132

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:16:18pm

re: #130 eclectic infidel

I wanted to post a reply using a picture, do you know how I do that? It is another keeper in the lolz-series of “omg its jesus” genre.

Image: jesus_toast_platter.jpg

133

Eclectic Infidel Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:17:25pm

re: #112 Varek Raith

Thankfully, the Mayan Prophecy is true.
*Whew*

Not according to Harold Camping.

134

Slap Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:20:14pm

re: #117 researchok

Beat me to it! I love Dave Barry — he manages to be sharp and satirical in the most good-natured way. Has a good eye for detail, excellent good humor, and knows how to write well.

I suspect there must be something in the Miami Herald’s water supply. Can anybody else name a newspaper that has employed so many successful and entertaining writers (outside of the realm of political verbiage)? I know of four (at least) from the Herald — Dave Barry, Edna Buchanan, Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiassen. There may be others, but for one paper to have employed these four is pretty interesting…..

So, thanks. You should make this piece into a Page…..

135

Eclectic Infidel Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:22:14pm

re: #132 darthstar

Image: jesus_toast_platter.jpg

Right. But *how*?

136

garhighway Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:22:29pm

OT: this will be interesting. Texas has a big budget problem, too.

So it isn’t just a blue state thing.

[Link: tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com…]

137

Walter L. Newton Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:22:57pm

re: #134 Slap

Beat me to it! I love Dave Barry — he manages to be sharp and satirical in the most good-natured way. Has a good eye for detail, excellent good humor, and knows how to write well.

I suspect there must be something in the Miami Herald’s water supply. Can anybody else name a newspaper that has employed so many successful and entertaining writers (outside of the realm of political verbiage)? I know of four (at least) from the Herald — Dave Barry, Edna Buchanan, Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiassen. There may be others, but for one paper to have employed these four is pretty interesting…

So, thanks. You should make this piece into a Page…

Yes… “Popular Porn” magazine

138

Eclectic Infidel Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:23:00pm

Oscar-nominated star Pete Postlethwaite dies at 64

139

researchok Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:23:34pm

re: #134 Slap

Beat me to it! I love Dave Barry — he manages to be sharp and satirical in the most good-natured way. Has a good eye for detail, excellent good humor, and knows how to write well.

I suspect there must be something in the Miami Herald’s water supply. Can anybody else name a newspaper that has employed so many successful and entertaining writers (outside of the realm of political verbiage)? I know of four (at least) from the Herald — Dave Barry, Edna Buchanan, Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiassen. There may be others, but for one paper to have employed these four is pretty interesting…

So, thanks. You should make this piece into a Page…

Done!

140

darthstar Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:23:40pm

re: #135 eclectic infidel

Right. But *how*?

Image: jesus_toaster_2.jpg

141

Slap Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:24:58pm

re: #137 Walter L. Newton

I often get where you’re going, but you missed me with that one.

Que?

142

SanFranciscoZionist Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:26:16pm

re: #136 garhighway

OT: this will be interesting. Texas has a big budget problem, too.

So it isn’t just a blue state thing.

[Link: tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com…]

They have for ages.

143

iossarian Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:39:52pm

re: #136 garhighway

OT: this will be interesting. Texas has a big budget problem, too.

So it isn’t just a blue state thing.

[Link: tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com…]

Texas is fucked. (I know this from my monitoring of higher education funding.)

I wonder if we’ll see pieces in the Economist and WSJ explaining how bad right-wing policies are (since we got all the bullshit about how great they were two years ago when Texas hadn’t yet hit its slump).

144

garhighway Mon, Jan 3, 2011 12:40:49pm

re: #143 iossarian

I wonder if we’ll see pieces in the Economist and WSJ explaining how bad right-wing policies are (since we got all the bullshit about how great they were two years ago when Texas hadn’t yet hit its slump).

You’re funny.

145

funky chicken Mon, Jan 3, 2011 2:51:23pm

re: #125 garhighway

I agree that Obama has been tactically clumsy regarding HCR, but I disagree that pushing for it was a mistake. He ran on it, it was a key campaign promise, and he followed through.

If you think back to the 2008 campaign, Obama’s main planks were HCR, getting out of Iraq, and getting serious about Afghanistan. Much of what he has pushed for since have been improvised responses to changed conditions: the stimulus, the auto bailout, etc…

I think Barry’s point was about the tactics, and the confusion people had about the whole deal.re: #131 garhighway

Tactically, I think he was fighting the last war, in that he was determined not to relive the Hillarycare episode by presenting Congress with a highly detailed plan. Instead, he went all the way to the other extreme and said “I don’t care how you do it, just do it”, which is (and was) an invitation to chaos.

He learned the Hillarycare lesson too well.

Yep. And then he relied upon Nancy Pelosi, who is awful on camera to sell it to the American People. And she made the stupid “pass it to see what’s in it” comment instead of patiently and professionally listing the benefits of the bill/law.

146

garhighway Mon, Jan 3, 2011 2:58:56pm

re: #145 funky chicken

It is probably a mistake for either of us to treat Dave Barry as serious political commentator.

I agree that Pelosi made a terrible front-woman for the HCR effort. (Although House passage was never the problem, anyway.) And Harry Reid comes across terribly as well. But BHO doesn’t get to pick those people.

147

WINDUPBIRD DISEASE [S.K.U.M.M.] Mon, Jan 3, 2011 4:17:21pm

re: #145 funky chicken

I think Barry’s point was about the tactics, and the confusion people had about the whole deal.re: #131 garhighway

Yep. And then he relied upon Nancy Pelosi, who is awful on camera to sell it to the American People. And she made the stupid “pass it to see what’s in it” comment instead of patiently and professionally listing the benefits of the bill/law.

awful on camera = someone who looks like a real person and not a glassy eyed zombie

148

funky chicken Mon, Jan 3, 2011 8:33:02pm

re: #146 garhighway

It is probably a mistake for either of us to treat Dave Barry as serious political commentator.

I agree that Pelosi made a terrible front-woman for the HCR effort. (Although House passage was never the problem, anyway.) And Harry Reid comes across terribly as well. But BHO doesn’t get to pick those people.

Of course he’s not a serious political sage or anything. But I think he got to the crux of the problem with the Health Care debate/debacle.

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