Michele Bachmann Too Crazy for the Right?

Beyond the Palin
Politics • Views: 28,907

Greg Sargent notes that Michele Bachmann’s speech last night wasn’t just irritating to liberals — GOP aides are also annoyed that CNN aired Bachmann’s incoherent response.

GOP aides are unhappy with the decision, because it risks making the opposition look conflicted — as if the two are trying to upstage one another — muddling GOP efforts to offer a unified response.

“CNN is basically inventing a conflict that doesn’t really exist,” a GOP aide emails. “It’s not responsible journalism.”

And it’s not just the GOP. A Tea Party group from Bachmann’s own state is slamming her too:

Please call Michele Bachmann’s Office and tell her that she does not speak for the Tea Party. Michele has announced she will be giving the ‘Tea Party Response’ to the President’s State of the Union Address. The Tea Party Patriots Organization is a grass roots organization. One person has no right to speak for the whole organization.

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108 comments
1 Randall Gross  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:00:31am

That whole "we are everyone but no one" approach seems to be contagious..... did the tea party catch it from anon, or did anon catch it from the tea party?

2 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:05:22am

re: #1 Thanos

That whole "we are everyone but no one" approach seems to be contagious... did the tea party catch it from anon, or did anon catch it from the tea party?

It sounds like one of the standard methods to attempt to avoid responsibility for one's actions.

3 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:06:44am

How does the conflict not exist, exactly? Is Bachmann not really a part of the GOP? Did she really not decide to give her own rejoinder to the SOTU?

4 prairiefire  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:07:13am

re: #2 oaktree

It sounds like one of the standard methods to attempt to avoid responsibility for one's actions.

The tea partiers have said they are glad to have no "leader."

5 Jadespring  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:07:30am

re: #1 Thanos

That whole "we are everyone but no one" approach seems to be contagious... did the tea party catch it from anon, or did anon catch it from the tea party?

No, that's been around for ages. The tea party could have caught it from the hippies of the 60's. Rubbed off on them I guess. ;) It's a very 'collectivist' way of thinking and organizing.

6 Jadespring  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:08:51am

Didn't Fox air it too? Or was it just Fox online?

7 prairiefire  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:09:07am

re: #3 Obdicut

How does the conflict not exist, exactly? Is Bachmann not really a part of the GOP? Did she really not decide to give her own rejoinder to the SOTU?

I think that aide's response should be recorded in a book of quotes for political deflection. "Nothing to see here, move along."

8 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:14:35am

Too bad. So sad. /

So the GOP didn't like the fact that Bachmann gave a retort to the SOTU that didn't toe the GOP line. Tough.

The TP didn't like it either? Tough.

This was about Bachmann thinking that she could raise her profile in front of a national audience but all she's done is succeed in showing just how nutty she is and how she really doesn't have a grasp of the issues in play and that slash and burn elimination of federal agencies isn't going to solve the budget situation.

Bachmann exposed her fatal flaws for the world to see and may lead to her dropping any pretension of running for President in 2012. If she can't keep the TP support, who exactly would consider her presidential material (except Kang or Kodos)?

9 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:14:52am

So let me get this straight...the Republicans want to use the Teabaggers because they're uninhibited by social norms and get lots of TV time to show how much whiteReal America hates President Obama, but they don't want to be seen waking up with the Teabaggers. The Teabaggers love the Republicans because that's what they are, and Michelle Bachmann gives them credibility, though they'd prefer she just did that in two minute sound-bytes on Fox News a couple of times a week and not call too much attention to them since she's a little fucked in the head and makes them look even more idiotic than they actually are. CNN says the Teabaggers are a growing movement and "news" and deserve to be heard, getting CNN ridiculed by the Democrats, the Republicans and other media outlets alike (even Fox News wouldn't carry Bachmann's incoherent response live).

What was the question?

10 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:19:17am

re: #9 darthstar

So let me get this straight...the Republicans want to use the Teabaggers because they're uninhibited by social norms and get lots of TV time to show how much whiteReal America hates President Obama, but they don't want to be seen waking up with the Teabaggers. The Teabaggers love the Republicans because that's what they are, and Michelle Bachmann gives them credibility, though they'd prefer she just did that in two minute sound-bytes on Fox News a couple of times a week and not call too much attention to them since she's a little fucked in the head and makes them look even more idiotic than they actually are. CNN says the Teabaggers are a growing movement and "news" and deserve to be heard, getting CNN ridiculed by the Democrats, the Republicans and other media outlets alike (even Fox News wouldn't carry Bachmann's incoherent response live).

What was the question?

mine would be: who's next to flame out?
this is fun, all the turmoil right our on front street

11 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:20:22am

re: #7 prairiefire

I got a picture of LGF's favorite person... at Houston Intercontinental Airport... at a fast food BBQ joint...

Image: 100_0007_palin_2.JPG

12 zora  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:20:56am

i glad cnn ran the bachmann speech. the gop helped unleash this beast, so they have to deal with it. since when is it that the gop doesn't like crazy christian chicks that go rouge.

13 avanti  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:23:01am

Bachman would agree with Bryan Fischer's dream for America, just model the government after Genesis 1 and 2 and we are good to go./

AFA..

14 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:23:49am

re: #11 Walter L. Newton

I got a picture of LGF's favorite person... at Houston Intercontinental Airport... at a fast food BBQ joint...

Image: 100_0007_palin_2.JPG

Heh..."Pick up" with an arrow over her head...good timing. It's Houston...that woman's probably proud to look like Palin.

15 HappyWarrior  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:23:51am

Well you know the saying about revolutions and devouring their own children. this is it right here. The GOP has no problem using the TP and vice versa but it always was a marriage of convience. It does amuse me that the Minnesota Tea Party is attacking Bachmann though. I think she did this whole stunt to raise her profile not just in Minnesota but the whole nation but if somehow she was ever nominated for a high office like Senate or president, she'd be slaughtered so fast.

16 Sionainn  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:24:50am

re: #6 Jadespring

Didn't Fox air it too? Or was it just Fox online?

I watched it on Fox online. Of course, it's only CNN that is trying to create a controversy. //

17 prairiefire  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:25:06am

re: #11 Walter L. Newton

I got a picture of LGF's favorite person... at Houston Intercontinental Airport... at a fast food BBQ joint...

Image: 100_0007_palin_2.JPG

lol

18 Walter L. Newton  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:25:40am

re: #14 darthstar

Heh..."Pick up" with an arrow over her head...good timing. It's Houston...that woman's probably proud to look like Palin.

I was hoping that she would turn completely my way when she was done, but she exited that area to the "left"... I wanted to get a full frontal shot of her from the table I was sitting at... she really did favor Palin... I had to look twice...

19 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:25:56am

re: #16 Sionainn

I watched it on Fox online. Of course, it's only CNN that is trying to create a controversy. //

Too funny that they want to have their cake and eat it too.

20 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:27:18am

re: #16 Sionainn

I watched it on Fox online. Of course, it's only CNN that is trying to create a controversy. //

CNN isn't creating a controversy. They're creating a media circus that they think will increase viewership, and that will increase advertising revenue. The other networks are happy to let CNN make this investment as they'll get some boost in revenue as well and all they have to do is point fingers and say, "Wow! How unethical is CNN!"

21 Interesting Times  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:27:26am

re: #19 iossarian

Too funny that they want to have their cake and eat it too.

Their cake is a lie.

22 Sionainn  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:29:21am

From the link, the statement from CNN: "The Tea Party has become a major force in American politics and within the Republican Party. Hearing the Tea Party's perspective on the State of the Union is something we believe CNN's viewers will be interested in hearing and we are happy to include this perspective as one of many in tonight's coverage."

I was extremely interested in hearing Bachmann, albeit admittedly for the wrong reasons.

23 allegro  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:38:50am

I'm delighted CNN aired her speech. Shine a big fat light on these nutjobs for all to see.

24 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:38:58am

re: #22 Sionainn

I don't think they were the wrong reasons. I think people listening to her as though she was a serious person and what she said had actual value were the ones doing it for the wrong reasons.

25 theheat  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:41:41am
“CNN is basically inventing a conflict that doesn’t really exist,” a GOP aide emails. “It’s not responsible journalism.”

But Fox News is? The GOP depends on irresponsible journalism, and that's where they live.

26 JeffM70  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:42:17am

I love that a Republican aide said airing her speech was "irresponsible journalism." Once again we've gone down the rabbit hole. Or did we ever really leave?

27 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:43:45am

re: #26 JeffM70

I love that a Republican aide said airing her speech was "irresponsible journalism." Once again we've gone down the rabbit hole. Or did we ever really leave?

If it makes the Republicans look bad, it's irresponsible journalism.

28 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:44:13am

Here's a question to keep you awake at night. If Romney manages to win the GOP nomination by being the only perceived "moderate" in a field full of wingnuts, which wingnut would be his VP candidate to energize the base? I wouldn't think Palin would play second banana; isn't Bachmann the most prominent female teabagger after Palin?

29 theheat  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:44:58am

re: #11 Walter L. Newton

She's probably there to ensure Texas becomes as stupid as possible, and has a game plan to accomplish that.

30 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:46:34am

re: #23 allegro

I'm delighted CNN aired her speech. Shine a big fat light on these nutjobs for all to see.

Her bullshit was a distraction, and GOP operatives are only too happy to talk about how upset they are that CNN aired it, because it means they don't have to talk about the content of the President's speech or the lame response by Ryan.

31 theheat  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:47:36am

re: #28 aagcobb

If he did or does, it only serves to confirm the depths he'd plow to get elected, by foisting another fundie idiot on the GOP ticket.

32 Surabaya Stew  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:47:39am

re: #28 aagcobb

Here's a question to keep you awake at night. If Romney manages to win the GOP nomination by being the only perceived "moderate" in a field full of wingnuts, which wingnut would be his VP candidate to energize the base? I wouldn't think Palin would play second banana; isn't Bachmann the most prominent female teabagger after Palin?

I can't believe he'd make that mistake if he somehow won the nomination. Probally would pick a while male southern baptist to see that the electorate overlooks his mormon background. Or someone like Jindal who is young and different.

33 Locker  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:49:27am

CNN justifies airing Bachmann speech: "Tea Party has become major force in American politics"
[Link: voices.washingtonpost.com...]

CNN, which is taking some criticism from both sides for agreeing to air Michele Bachmann's response to Obama's speech tonight, sends over a statement justifying the move:

"The Tea Party has become a major force in American politics and within the Republican Party. Hearing the Tea Party's perspective on the State of the Union is something we believe CNN's viewers will be interested in hearing and we are happy to include this perspective as one of many in tonight's coverage."

34 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:49:51am

re: #30 darthstar

Her bullshit was a distraction, and GOP operatives are only too happy to talk about how upset they are that CNN aired it, because it means they don't have to talk about the content of the President's speech or the lame response by Ryan.

Bachmann stole the whole show...BOs speech was very ordinary and uninspired, Ryan seemed like a computer generated talking head, but MB at least provided some entertainment...I give her a 4 out of 5

35 makeitstop  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:50:05am

re: #30 darthstar

Her bullshit was a distraction, and GOP operatives are only too happy to talk about how upset they are that CNN aired it, because it means they don't have to talk about the content of the President's speech or the lame response by Ryan.

If I were advising Democrats going on TV this week, I'd specifically tell them to ignore Ryan's response and refer to Bachmann's as the 'official' SOTU response.

That would get some GOP knickers pretty wound up, wouldn't it?

36 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:51:33am

re: #35 makeitstop

Except that Ryan's response is just as insane and irresponsible, it's just more cogent. He's seriously advocating raising taxes on the middle class and slashing services in order to pay for a tax break for the rich.

He's Dick Armey V2.0, another Rand-loving ideologue.

37 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:52:58am

re: #32 Surabaya Stew

re: #32 Surabaya Stew

Jim DeMint as VeeP might get the base excited.

38 simoom  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:53:04am
GOP aides are unhappy with the decision, because it risks making the opposition look conflicted — as if the two are trying to upstage one another — muddling GOP efforts to offer a unified response.

“CNN is basically inventing a conflict that doesn’t really exist,” a GOP aide emails. “It’s not responsible journalism.”

Wow, I totally disagree on the politics of it. After CNN's aired her remarks the panels basically agreed that she was echoing and supporting what Rep. Ryan said. I think David Gergen called the two speeches a, "one-two punch". So after the speech, they didn't push a conflict at all.

Also, unless CNN ended up doing a bunch of fact checking on Rep. Bachmann's response (I didn't catch any before I tuned out), it will have been free airtime, donated by CNN, for the display of extremely misleading charts and the advancement of total BS, like the made-up 16,500 Healthcare IRS agents.

Ah, I just checked -- they did put up a fact-check on the IRS agents claim this morning: [Link: www.cnn.com...]
Hopefully that gets some airtime as well.

39 mr.fusion  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:53:07am

They created it.....and now they can't control it

40 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:54:56am

re: #39 mr.fusion

They created it...and now they can't control it


[Video]

LOL...perfect!

41 Varek Raith  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:57:56am

Lol.
You reap what you sow.
How's the TP working out fer ya, gop?

42 Surabaya Stew  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 10:58:37am

re: #37 aagcobb

re: #32 Surabaya Stew

Jim DeMint as VeeP might get the base excited.

He would indeed! However, I think he enjoys being the power behind the throne in the Senate more than being Mitt's number 2. Still, he always puts himself 1st, so he just make take up that offer (not that I'm expecting it)!

43 Renaissance_Man  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:00:56am

re: #36 Obdicut

Except that Ryan's response is just as insane and irresponsible, it's just more cogent. He's seriously advocating raising taxes on the middle class and slashing services in order to pay for a tax break for the rich.

He's Dick Armey V2.0, another Rand-loving ideologue.

I once worked with a doctor, a very intelligent man and an excellent physician, who also had strong political opinions and considered himself an avid follower of political news, mostly through blogs. He insisted that he had a non-ideological view of politics, and that while he had opinions, they were not based in tribalism, that there were in fact many Democrats he thought were good statesmen and whom he agreed with. I asked who they were. His answer?

Paul Ryan and Eric Cantor.

I have no doubt that if he found the time to look, he would in fact find out that they were not Democrats. The point is more that heavy access to a certain kind of media gives people strong opinions, yet little grasp of facts.

44 Jeff In Ohio  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:02:22am

The irony about the Bachman response is it is just as loose with the facts as the official GOP/Ryan response, The only real difference I see is the extra layer crazy eyes.

Ryan Fact Checked
[Link: politicalcorrection.org...]

Bachman Fact Checked
[Link: politicalcorrection.org...]

45 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:03:07am

re: #1 Thanos

That whole "we are everyone but no one" approach seems to be contagious... did the tea party catch it from anon, or did anon catch it from the tea party?

re: #4 prairiefire

That theme is quite old, showing strongly in the Clinton-era militia statements. It's not the resistance model that came out of WWII Europe, or the communist "wars of liberation".

46 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:03:20am

re: #39 mr.fusion

Heh.... but where exactly did you get that brain...

47 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:03:59am

re: #44 Jeff In Ohio

Fact checkers are Obots. If you are a teabagger, facts are whatever you want them to be.

48 Randy W. Weeks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:04:14am

CNN is a business and they must have decided that airing her...speech would be good for business.

Why would any GOPer or TPer have a problem with good, old-fashioned money making and being responsible to their stock holders?

49 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:04:15am

I thought it was a nice speech.

51 Sol Berdinowitz  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:05:12am

The right has become too crazy for itself of late.

The political debate from the right wing has become an ideological free-for-all and a shouting match to try and gain attention at all costs. The loudest shouters win.

52 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:05:15am

I mean what can you do?....Bachmann is a republican as well as a TP nutter...she was chosen to do the rebutt because she is a celeb of GOP leadrship...I could hardly look away when she spoke and if you recall Jindals thing last year, they have a twofer!...maybe if Jindal had worn a feathered crown and Mardi Gras beads, they'd have had an epic, hall of fame run...just wait til next year if you thought these two asshats were good

53 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:05:26am

re: #43 Renaissance_Man

The saddest thing to me is how little people tend to change their views when presented with new information. Many people don't understand what the progressive tax system is; that it is literally impossible for (esoteric deductions aside) making more money to lower your income through increasing your tax.

However, many people who are opposed to raising taxes on the grounds that it 'punishes success' and are under the impression that it's possible to lose money by making more money, thanks to tax brackets, don't alter their opinion at all, one whit, in the least, when they are actually given the correct information about how progressive taxation works.

Likewise, if people are shown that government investment in basic science provides more than its funding level in economic benefit for private industry and the nation, it often doesn't affect their idealogical stance on whether the government should fund private research.

The culture war is being fought with such huge amounts of propaganda, and tying into the worst parts of human nature. The problem is that it's a 'good' strategy. It's also an immoral, unethical one that is dooming our country to second-class status behind China, but propaganda is effective, propaganda works.

54 Renaissance_Man  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:05:57am

re: #47 aagcobb

Fact checkers are Obots. If you are a teabagger, facts are whatever you want them to be.

We were, in fact, informed on this very blog recently by a Teahadi that the truth is relative, and thus FOX is just as factual and truthful as everything else, if not more so.

55 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:06:34am

re: #47 aagcobb

Fact checkers are Obots. If you are a teabagger, facts are whatever you want them to be.

Tbots...what else can they be?

56 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:07:29am

re: #18 Walter L. Newton

I was hoping that she would turn completely my way when she was done, but she exited that area to the "left"... I wanted to get a full frontal shot of her from the table I was sitting at... she really did favor Palin... I had to look twice...

She may look like her, but the morning's blogs suggest her CNN response is a greater threat to SP than to the mainstream GOP. I can't find a credible statement from SP on the SOTU. (Are you recovering?)

57 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:11:32am

re: #53 Obdicut

The saddest thing to me is how little people tend to change their views when presented with new information. Many people don't understand what the progressive tax system is; that it is literally impossible for (esoteric deductions aside) making more money to lower your income through increasing your tax.

However, many people who are opposed to raising taxes on the grounds that it 'punishes success' and are under the impression that it's possible to lose money by making more money, thanks to tax brackets, don't alter their opinion at all, one whit, in the least, when they are actually given the correct information about how progressive taxation works.

Likewise, if people are shown that government investment in basic science provides more than its funding level in economic benefit for private industry and the nation, it often doesn't affect their idealogical stance on whether the government should fund private research.

The culture war is being fought with such huge amounts of propaganda, and tying into the worst parts of human nature. The problem is that it's a 'good' strategy. It's also an immoral, unethical one that is dooming our country to second-class status behind China, but propaganda is effective, propaganda works.

boy, you said a mouthful there...I don't even want to think about it, but it's crossed my mind a bunch of times lately...I'm not articulate enough to express how I feel about this looming monster, without sound like a rad loony...gives me shivers

58 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:13:29am

Hot Air readers are thrilled with Rand Paul's insane budget proposal.

59 Summer Seale  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:13:39am

Obfuscation at its worst: Only the Tea Party can say what it is, but nobody speaks for the Tea Party so nobody can say what it is. And if you try to confirm what it is by repeating something they say, then you're just dead wrong because somebody else will come out and say that they don't believe that this is what the Tea Party stands for.

Hitchens debates people like this all the time and described it best, which I'll paraphrase here. It's "Politics a la carte", and I'm not having any of it, thank you.

60 Amory Blaine  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:14:47am

Bullshit. They're throwing her under the bus because her rant was so fucking stupid even a 5th grader could tell it was bullshit. No Michelle Bachmann could do no wrong up till now. The GOP fawns all over her and owns every bit of her stupid, hateful shit coming out of her mouth.

61 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:15:15am

re: #35 makeitstop

If I were advising Democrats going on TV this week, I'd specifically tell them to ignore Ryan's response and refer to Bachmann's as the 'official' SOTU response.

That would get some GOP knickers pretty wound up, wouldn't it?

That would be good for entertainment value.

62 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:15:15am

re: #53 Obdicut


...snip The problem is that it's a 'good' strategy. It's also an immoral, unethical one that is dooming our country to second-class status behind China, but propaganda is effective, propaganda works.

Optimist. Their environmental policies will save us from second-class status. We'll likely seem on top until "Game Over".

63 McSpiff  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:15:29am

re: #59 Summer

Obfuscation at its worst: Only the Tea Party can say what it is, but nobody speaks for the Tea Party so nobody can say what it is. And if you try to confirm what it is by repeating something they say, then you're just dead wrong because somebody else will come out and say that they don't believe that this is what the Tea Party stands for.

Hitchens debates people like this all the time and described it best, which I'll paraphrase here. It's "Politics a la carte", and I'm not having any of it, thank you.

See as well: Cafeteria Catholic. Pick and Choose the non-crazy bits.

64 simoom  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:15:56am

Kilmeade on Fox & Friends this morning edits out SoTU audience laughter and dubs in crickets -- asks Rep. Chaffetz about the President's joke telling failure:

65 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:17:42am

re: #58 Killgore Trout

What I don't get about Hot Air readers is comments like this:

What is there to debate? The Constitution already clearly establishes the authority, jurisdiction and limitations.

Get it out and follow it! End of story.

Do they honestly feel that the Constitution is something that's absolutely clear? Are they really, honestly purists who feel that all speech should go absolutely uncensored? Or are they just shitting themselves?

66 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:19:29am

re: #59 Summer

Obfuscation at its worst: Only the Tea Party can say what it is, but nobody speaks for the Tea Party so nobody can say what it is. And if you try to confirm what it is by repeating something they say, then you're just dead wrong because somebody else will come out and say that they don't believe that this is what the Tea Party stands for.

Hitchens debates people like this all the time and described it best, which I'll paraphrase here. It's "Politics a la carte", and I'm not having any of it, thank you.

I, for one, believe that what you say is true...the TP is a huge mishmash of stuff, from the reasonable to the utter irresponsible without a coherent, simple message...the very reason I think their popularity will burn out...when that is, I do not know

67 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:19:50am

Dennis Kucinich Sues Congressional Cafeteria Over Olive Pit

Congressman Dennis Kucinich bought a sandwich from the Longworth House Office Building cafeteria in April 2008, and bit into it only to find an unpitted olive that cracked a tooth. This month, he sued the cafeteria for selling "dangerous" sandwiches.

The complaint is pretty bare-boned: It claims that in April 2008, Kucinich purchased a "sandwich wrap" from the Longworth Cafeteria with an errant olive pit lurking within, and tragedy ensued.

68 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:20:20am

re: #60 Amory Blaine

Bullshit. They're throwing her under the bus because her rant was so fucking stupid even a 5th grader could tell it was bullshit. No Michelle Bachmann could do no wrong up till now. The GOP fawns all over her and owns every bit of her stupid, hateful shit coming out of her mouth.

agreed...there is really no more to it

69 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:20:28am

re: #65 Obdicut

What I don't get about Hot Air readers is comments like this:

Do they honestly feel that the Constitution is something that's absolutely clear? Are they really, honestly purists who feel that all speech should go absolutely uncensored? Or are they just shitting themselves?

Of course it's crystal clear, otherwise the founding fathers (Blessed be their names) would have created a third branch of government to interpret it.

70 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:23:28am
“CNN is basically inventing a conflict that doesn’t really exist,” a GOP aide emails. “It’s not responsible journalism.”

So this is CNN's fault? Heh.

71 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:23:35am

re: #69 Decatur Deb

Of course it's crystal clear, otherwise the founding fathers (Blessed be their names) would have created a third branch of government to interpret it.

who are those guys anyway?

72 Killgore Trout  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:23:36am

re: #65 Obdicut

What I don't get about Hot Air readers is comments like this:

Do they honestly feel that the Constitution is something that's absolutely clear? Are they really, honestly purists who feel that all speech should go absolutely uncensored? Or are they just shitting themselves?

I started to notice recently that the "Originalists" don't think there should be a Supreme Court because they believe the Konstitution is clear and isn't open to interpretation.
Yes, They are just kidding themselves even the most zealous wingnuts don't really believe this stuff but it makes them happy to toy with radical ideas.

73 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:23:49am

re: #65 Obdicut

Get out there and follow it.

That's a laugh.

Ever since Justice John Marshall opined and established judicial review, the Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of statutes, and the meaning of the Constitution itself. 200+ years of jurisprudence suggests that the Constitution is anything but simple to understand and that the beauty of the Constitution is that it isn't so cut and dry.

Heck, something like Art. 1, Sec. 8, Cl. 18 - which is the necessary and proper clause (that I think would justify pretty much any Congressional action for something like HCR) isn't nearly that clear to these folks, who think that Congress didn't have the power to impose HCR b/c it isn't explicitly included in the Constitution.

Neither is funding the Air Force (the Army and Navy are specifically included), to name but one example, but I don't think they'd have an issue with that. Well, maybe except to Rand Paul (who seems to have no problem dismantling the US nuclear weapons infrastructure too by calling for the elimination/massive cuts to the Dept. of Energy, which oversees the US nuclear infrastructure (nuclear weapons, processing/reprocessing, etc.).

74 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:23:54am

re: #58 Killgore Trout

A few choice comments from HotAir (maybe not the same article you're talking about, but general praise for RP):

Any functions which actually need to be kept from eliminated agencies could be absorbed into other agencies.

So the savings would, in fact, be nothing like the proposed amount, since you'd still be paying for a bunch of items that had apparently been "cut"?

all those who lose their jobs will be absorbed into the private sector — and our economy will get going again in a matter of months

This displays such a breathtaking lack of understanding of how the economy works (and is currently performing), it is actually awe-inspiring. "Absorbed into the private sector"?

75 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:24:51am

re: #71 albusteve

who are those guys anyway?

Think there's seven of them--Happy, Sneezy, Doc, and some others.

76 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:25:01am

re: #67 Killgore Trout

My dad once broke a tooth on an olive pit and was similarly compensated. Apparently though, if it had been on a cherry stone in a pie, he would not have had a case, because one is meant to be on the lookout for cherry stones.

Or was it the other way around?

77 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:26:17am

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Dennis Kucinich Sues Congressional Cafeteria Over Olive Pit

good god...we are doomed, it's hopeless

78 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:26:20am

re: #73 lawhawk

In Rand Paul's 'defense', he's probably just completely ignorant of the fact that the DOE oversees our nukes. Given that most of these people don't change their ideology when presented with facts, I doubt they seek out the facts in the first place.

79 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:27:53am

re: #74 iossarian

"Absorbed into the private sector"?

Soylent Red.

80 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:28:21am

re: #75 Decatur Deb

Think there's seven of them--Happy, Sneezy, Doc, and some others.

hi ho, hi ho!
it's off to work we go

81 William of Orange  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:28:30am

Very interesting, Charles. It seems that the act of CMM, airing the airhead in full which was first condemned on this very forum, seems to have a silver lining after all. America finally got to see her unedited. All the goofs where there for the naked eye!

This makes Joe Biden look like an eloquent speaker. Hahaha!

82 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:28:39am

The DOE also oversees our strategic oil requirements, I believe.

But I guess no-one in Kentucky drives a pick-up truck, so that's not going to be a problem.

83 darthstar  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:28:51am

re: #79 Slumbering Behemoth

Soylent Red.

Soylent Red is plant based. Soylent Green is people.

84 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:29:56am

re: #83 darthstar

Soylent Red is plant based. Soylent Green is people.

Once again, with the correct emphasis please:

Solylent Green is ...

PEOPLE!!!

85 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:30:06am

re: #83 darthstar

Soylent Red is plant based. Soylent Green is people.

To be fair, a few of the Feds I worked with were probably plants.

86 webevintage  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:30:52am

re: #59 Summer

Obfuscation at its worst: Only the Tea Party can say what it is, but nobody speaks for the Tea Party so nobody can say what it is. And if you try to confirm what it is by repeating something they say, then you're just dead wrong because somebody else will come out and say that they don't believe that this is what the Tea Party stands for.

Hitchens debates people like this all the time and described it best, which I'll paraphrase here. It's "Politics a la carte", and I'm not having any of it, thank you.

I don't think anyone in the "Tea Party" actually knows what the "tea Party" is or stands for except that they hate anything Obama likes.

87 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:30:53am

re: #84 iossarian

88 Slumbering Behemoth Stinks  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:32:09am

re: #83 darthstar

Soylent Red is plant based. Soylent Green is people.

But these are gov't employees we're talking about, which we all know are commies, so it must be Soylent Red.

Okay, how about Soylent Pinko?

89 albusteve  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:32:17am

re: #85 Decatur Deb

To be fair, a few of the Feds I worked with were probably plants.

Clifford Worley: 'Cause you, you're part eggplant.

90 iossarian  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:32:18am

re: #87 Obdicut

Hahahahaha. That is awesome.

91 lawhawk  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:32:41am

re: #78 Obdicut

Giving him the benefit of doubt? I'm not so charitable as it's possibly a back door way to further reduce spending on the military by eliminating nuclear weapons.

92 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:33:03am

re: #11 Walter L. Newton

I got a picture of LGF's favorite person... at Houston Intercontinental Airport... at a fast food BBQ joint...

Image: 100_0007_palin_2.JPG

Clearly not Palin. There isn't a trail of titillated rightwingers following, licking the spots where her boots hit the ground.

93 engineer cat  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:33:59am

sorry to be revisiting My Pet Peeve, but the syndrome refuses to go away

(via atrios:)
Rep Raul Broun (R-GA) wins the Twitter!

Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism. 25 minutes ago via web Retweeted by 35 people

where the hell do these people get off telling other people what they believe?

i suppose at this rate i am empowered to reply to rep. broun by saying "mr. broun, you don't believe in honesty. you believe only in manipulating fools though outright lying."

...and let's just let it slide for the moment that the definition of "socialism" in this case, if you were so rude as to pin down rep. broun on his definition of it, might tend to deviate somewhat from the dictionary definition...

94 Obdicut  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:36:22am

re: #91 lawhawk

Giving him the benefit of doubt? I'm not so charitable as it's possibly a back door way to further reduce spending on the military by eliminating nuclear weapons.

Possibly. But his cuts only included 6.5% for the general military. I think Rand has been informed in no uncertain terms that cutting the fuck out of food and housing for poor people is just fine with the GOP, but serious attempts to fuck with the military budget are off-limits.

I don't think it's meant to be taken seriously. It's not like anyone actually believes Rand Paul sat down and really came to grips with what each of those agencies does, the complexities of it, and the interconnectedness. He just cut on ideological grounds.

95 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:37:10am

re: #28 aagcobb

Here's a question to keep you awake at night. If Romney manages to win the GOP nomination by being the only perceived "moderate" in a field full of wingnuts, which wingnut would be his VP candidate to energize the base? I wouldn't think Palin would play second banana; isn't Bachmann the most prominent female teabagger after Palin?

Whoever it is, they're gonna want someone who will play ball. McCain didn't realize what he was unleashing when he added Palin--it was a Hail Mary move, involving an unknown. But Romney, or Insert the Moderate Republican of Your Choice, would have to be nuts to add a Bachmann. She won't tone down, she won't cooperate, and she has a long crazy record behind her.

96 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:37:42am

re: #74 iossarian

Any functions which actually need to be kept from eliminated agencies could be absorbed into other agencies.

OK. Those other agencies that have also been decimated by cuts will now be doing additional work.

This is a great plan - if your intention is to make it absolutely certain that you can keep claiming that the government can't do anything right.*


*Because, as we all know, no one in the private sector (ENRON, customer support representatives in India, automobile manufacturers, etc.) ever screw up or commit fraud.

97 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:40:02am

re: #45 Decatur Deb

re: #4 prairiefire

That theme is quite old, showing strongly in the Clinton-era militia statements. It's not the resistance model that came out of WWII Europe, or the communist "wars of liberation".

For the TPers, it's mostly a way of belonging to a movement without ever having to define its goals.

98 aagcobb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:40:29am

re: #95 SanFranciscoZionist

But how do you get the base excited without a dash of craaazy!

99 Decatur Deb  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:41:41am

re: #97 SanFranciscoZionist

For the TPers, it's mostly a way of belonging to a movement without ever having to define its goals.

That, and a cutout for the monied leaders behind the astro-turf components of the movement.

100 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:44:31am

re: #72 Killgore Trout

I started to notice recently that the "Originalists" don't think there should be a Supreme Court because they believe the Konstitution is clear and isn't open to interpretation.
Yes, They are just kidding themselves even the most zealous wingnuts don't really believe this stuff but it makes them happy to toy with radical ideas.

Well, if you think that the Constitution is really entirely clear, and can only be interpreted honestly in one way on any point, and is self-evident even when applied to new situations the Founders could not have reasonable predicted, then it seems a bit silly to let nine elderly lawyers be bigshots for sitting down and looking at it every now and then.

101 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:45:30am

re: #97 SanFranciscoZionist

For the TPers, it's mostly a way of belonging to a movement without ever having to define its goals.

And to have a group identity so they can vindicate their fear of persecution, and band together to focus on some invented danger to be the target for their anger.

Why would anyone claim, in this country, claim that they are being victimized by tyranny? And what makes it even odder is that they bristle with indignation if anyone says that our country's history is littered with mistaken policies.

102 SanFranciscoZionist  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:47:46am

re: #93 engineer dog

sorry to be revisiting My Pet Peeve, but the syndrome refuses to go away

(via atrios:)
Rep Raul Broun (R-GA) wins the Twitter!

Mr. President, you don't believe in the Constitution. You believe in socialism. 25 minutes ago via web Retweeted by 35 people

where the hell do these people get off telling other people what they believe?

i suppose at this rate i am empowered to reply to rep. broun by saying "mr. broun, you don't believe in honesty. you believe only in manipulating fools though outright lying."

...and let's just let it slide for the moment that the definition of "socialism" in this case, if you were so rude as to pin down rep. broun on his definition of it, might tend to deviate somewhat from the dictionary definition...

Paul Broun actually sent that?

Look, I know Twitter seems to bring out the worst in people. Maybe I'm out of the loop. Did Democrats go around Twittering stuff like that after Bush's last SOTU? Did we have Twitter then?

I feel like we're losing ground here.

103 Talking Point Detective  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:51:34am

re: #65 Obdicut

What I don't get about Hot Air readers is comments like this:

Do they honestly feel that the Constitution is something that's absolutely clear? Are they really, honestly purists who feel that all speech should go absolutely uncensored? Or are they just shitting themselves?

I have encountered many rightwingers who are absolutely certain that there is only one interpretation of anything that is in the Constitution - and that it just coincidentally jibes exactly with their political ideology.

Seriously. I haven't seen any that think that speech should be censored, but they don't believe that words (particularly in the English language) are inherently subjective in their meaning, and that how anyone interprets words is based on their own personal life history and experienced.

Words only have one possible meaning - the meaning that they determine is correct. All other interpretations are biased by librul guilt, socialistic intentions, etc.

104 TedStriker  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:52:21am

re: #58 Killgore Trout

Hot Air readers are thrilled with Rand Paul's insane budget proposal.

Of course they do, because they have shit for brains...

105 engineer cat  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 11:52:59am

re: #102 SanFranciscoZionist

Paul Broun actually sent that?

Look, I know Twitter seems to bring out the worst in people. Maybe I'm out of the loop. Did Democrats go around Twittering stuff like that after Bush's last SOTU? Did we have Twitter then?

I feel like we're losing ground here.

he's a bit of a radical:

...“It may sound a bit crazy and off base, but the thing is, he’s the one who proposed this national security force,” Rep. Paul Broun said of Obama in an interview Monday with The Associated Press. “I’m just trying to bring attention to the fact that we may — may not, I hope not — but we may have a problem with that type of philosophy of radical socialism or Marxism.”...
[Link: preview.tinyurl.com...]

...He also spoke of a “socialistic elite” – Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid – who might use a pandemic disease or natural disaster as an excuse to declare martial law.
“They’re trying to develop an environment where they can take over,” he said. “We’ve seen that historically.”...
[Link: thinkprogress.org...]

106 TedStriker  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:05:08pm

re: #95 SanFranciscoZionist

Whoever it is, they're gonna want someone who will play ball. McCain didn't realize what he was unleashing when he added Palin--it was a Hail Mary move, involving an unknown. But Romney, or Insert the Moderate Republican of Your Choice, would have to be nuts to add a Bachmann. She won't tone down, she won't cooperate, and she has a long crazy record behind her.

Which is why the modern TPGOP will never nominate a moderate such as Romney or Huntsman, because a moderate (that hasn't sold their soul) wouldn't accept having the RR and/or TP foist a krayzee wingnut on them as a condition of being put on the ticket.

107 I Am Kreniigh!  Wed, Jan 26, 2011 12:26:46pm

re: #53 Obdicut

The saddest thing to me is how little people tend to change their views when presented with new information.

Just because midgets have open minds is no reason to be upset.

(apologies)

108 ihateronpaul  Thu, Jan 27, 2011 10:30:26am

Yes, it's CNN's fault that there is huge chasms of conflict in the GOP. sure.


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