Bachmann and her followers are delusional. The GOP has never nominated this kind of demagogue. Seriously, look at the nominees: McCain, Bush, Dole, Bush 41, Reagan, Ford, Nixon, Goldwater, Eisenhower, Dewey. Most were (or a least ran as) relatively mainstream conservative. They might have been very conservative and played footsie with the religious right. Some -- Bush in particular -- turned out to be more radical than they appeared when they ran. But candidates in the mold of even Pat Robertson (who looks mild by comparison to Bachmann) never really get close. In the last election, with the base howling over Bush's spending explosion and bungled wars, they nominated ... McCain. In 1996, after giving the GOP control of Congress and spurred by anti-Clinton invective close to what they throw at Obama, they nominated ... Dole.

In the age of YouTube, she can't hide who she is. Like Trump in April, she's the radical flavor of the month. She'll implode sooner or later and they'll end up nominating Romney, base be damned.

(I'm also curious. If God told her to run for President, why didn't he tell her those nuns weren't going to go all radical lesbian on her?)

dad's got a sense of humor sometimes

She did not answer any questions and has a hair trigger on the Blame Obama double barrel.

At least she's consistent.

Image: Bachmanndodge.jpg

"I'm not running to be anyone's judge," said one of the most judgmental, reactionary politicians in America.

Schieffer was great!

I have the feeling that Bachmann wouldn't know a "judge that follows the constitution" if they hit her in the head.

As to the religious thing, I'm not offended at the knowledge of someone's religion. I was thinking today of the bruhaha over JFK being a Catholic, which for some was a huge deal. 50 years later, we shouldn't be caring about this stuff (i.e. Romney is a Mormon). My beef, of course with Bachmann is that it directly influences her political life to the point where it limits her scope.

Drill, Michelle, Drill? Really?

Here's the Pants On Fire quote Schieffer mentioned.
[Link: www.politifact.com...]

The economy is on a slow recovery, that's for sure, but I wouldn't lay it all at the feet of the President. It's a long term affect of the banking, real estate problems and of course, two wars.

I'd like to hear more from these people on how they would go about fixing these things instead of just an endless Obama dump.

By the way, I sent in a support request to bit.ly, to see if they can do something about blocking the numbskulls who've been jacking around with our bit.ly statistics. (The numbers next to the retweet buttons.)

re: #7 Charles

By the way, I sent in a support request to bit.ly, to see if they can do something about blocking the numbskulls who've been jacking around with our bit.ly statistics. (The numbers next to the retweet buttons.)

Sweet.

sophomoric twit...she'll probably win

Knee jerk reactions aside, it is had to believe that Bachmann actually believes these silly things. She is a well educated woman. Her personal faith has motivated her to do some very good things, especially in adopting kids. That work is done virtually all out of the spotlight.

She appears to be exploiting a lesser educated and very small but noisy more fundamentalist voter bloc.

This is disturbing for two reasons- Is she really that callous and cold (which in itself is a disturbing pathology)? Or, is she suffering from some kind of detachment disorder that allows her to assume such outrageous beliefs and positions and not recognize how marginal she is?

She is like a functional alcoholic, seemingly able to perform despite her handicap. Sooner or later, the repercussions of her dysfunction will present themselves.

In either case, she cannot be considered seriously for high office.

I don't hate Bachmann any more than I hated Sharon Angle or Christine O'Donnell. I just don't want to see any these people representing me

Politics it seems, is attracting the wrong kind of people nowadays..

re: #9 albusteve

sophomoric twit...she'll probably win

Pfft. Let her win. It just secures a two term POTUS.

Konstitution! Konstitution! Konstitution!

Oral Robert's University.

re: #1 Hal_10000

I don't know -- she's right behind Romney in the first Iowa poll. Romney 23%, Bachmann 22%.

The interesting question for this election is how far right the GOP really has swung. I think the party as a whole is farther right than I've ever seen it, and more dominated by the religious right than ever, and I wouldn't be shocked to see someone like Bachmann actually get the nomination.

Here’s Michele Bachmann explaining that God talks to her all the time, and told her to run for President of the United States.

Of course he did..., he also apparently told her:

To oppose gay equality.
To oppose gays in the military.
To oppose contraception.
To oppose abortion.
To back DADT.
To back DOMA.
To back federal crop subsidies.
To oppose subsidies funding for Planned Parenthood.
To call for the teaching of Intelligent Design in public schools.
To oppose the teaching of evolution.
etc,
etc...

This is why backing candidates who claim a theocratic call to office is bad, Mmmkay?

re: #14 Charles

I don't know -- she's right behind Romney in the first Iowa poll. Romney 23%, Bachmann 22%.

The interesting question for this election is how far right the GOP really has swung. I think the party as a whole is farther right than I've ever seen it, and more dominated by the religious right than ever, and I wouldn't be shocked to see someone like Bachmann actually get the nomination.

I still think Palin is going to jump in.

re: #14 Charles

I don't know -- she's right behind Romney in the first Iowa poll. Romney 23%, Bachmann 22%.

The interesting question for this election is how far right the GOP really has swung. I think the party as a whole is farther right than I've ever seen it, and more dominated by the religious right than ever, and I wouldn't be shocked to see someone like Bachmann actually get the nomination.

Iowa is a temporary bump. She was born there and is enjoying that 'home town' boost.

Recall Iowa has legalized same sex marriage as well.

re: #10 researchok

Knee jerk reactions aside, it is had to believe that Bachmann actually believes these silly things. She is a well educated woman. Her personal faith has motivated her to do some very good things, especially in adopting kids. That work is done virtually all out of the spotlight.

She appears to be exploiting a lesser educated and very small but noisy more fundamentalist voter bloc.

This is disturbing for two reasons- Is she really that callous and cold (which in itself is a disturbing pathology)? Or, is she suffering from some kind of detachment disorder that allows her to assume such outrageous beliefs and positions and not recognize how marginal she is?

She is like a functional alcoholic, seemingly able to perform despite her handicap. Sooner or later, the repercussions of her dysfunction will present themselves.

In either case, she cannot be considered seriously for high office.

I don't hate Bachmann any more than I hated Sharon Angle or Christine O'Donnell. I just don't want to see any these people representing me

Politics it seems, is attracting the wrong kind of people nowadays..

hehe I was being kind when I said "limiting her scope." She absolutely represents one kind of voter, but that one kind of voter makes up a huge chunk of the GOP. How is the GOP representing Republicans these days? They have two outspoken Muslim bigots and others didn't even support domestic partnerships or civil unions. Pro anti-immigration laws. Tough crowd.

"No, I haven't mislead people at all"
Ha!

re: #10 researchok

Knee jerk reactions aside, it is had to believe that Bachmann actually believes these silly things.

I have to disagree. She has the glassy stare of the true believer. And here's a video from 2006 to show just how serious she is about this stuff:

re: #17 researchok

Iowa is a temporary bump. She was born there and is enjoying that 'home town' boost.

Recall Iowa has legalized same sex marriage as well.

interesting...I wonder what her stand is on the corn subsidy rip-off fiasco..probably some incoherent mumbo jumbo

re: #20 Charles

Let's not forget how she believed her life was in danger and freaked out when two lesbians just wanted to talk to her for a bit.

re: #14 Charles

A fair point. But we saw Trump bump up in the polls to become the front-runner when he cashed in on the birther hysteria. I think Bachman is riding a similar wave of tea party enthusiasm and anti-Romney sentiment. The "global warming is a hoax, Obamacare is communism" front has settled on her. But right now, most people don't know her that well. Even as a political junkie, it wasn't until recently that I realized just how deep her crazy goes.

Let's hope!

re: #18 marjoriemoon

hehe I was being kind when I said "limiting her scope." She absolutely represents one kind of voter, but that one kind of voter makes up a huge chunk of the GOP. How is the GOP representing Republicans these days? They have two outspoken Muslim bigots and others didn't even support domestic partnerships or civil unions. Pro anti-immigration laws. Tough crowd.

She only represents the 'me too!' GOP voter who is only too happy to jump on any rah rah bandwagon.

The GOP candidates who are pandering to the idiot brigade will fade away when reality hits.

There is a big base of quiet conservative voters who will stay home rather than vote for a backward agenda.

Next time around they will focus on a candidate who is inclusive.

re: #16 Stanley Sea

I still think Palin is going to jump in.

For one or two states possibly, but that will be much later in the campaign cycle, you do realize she gets to keep unspent campaign contributions to spend as she wants, right? She still has an excellent shot at making another 7 or 8 figure monetary windfall out of this election if she plays her cards right.

i think the surrealist and dadaist parties are gonna be 100% behind the republican platform this time around

fish!

re: #24 researchok

Next time around they will focus on a candidate who is inclusive.

Too early for another Big Tent redux?

re: #20 Charles

I have to disagree. She has the glassy stare of the true believer. And here's a video from 2006 to show just how serious she is about this stuff:

[Video]

That 'true believer' side of her is why I said she really may be suffering from some kind of detachment disorder.

She really is like a functioning alcoholic.

re: #26 engineer dog

Ceci n’est pas une President.

re: #27 BigPapa

Too early for another Big Tent redux?

Yup.

Sometimes, hitting bottom is the best thing that can happen.

re: #21 albusteve

interesting...I wonder what her stand is on the corn subsidy rip-off fiasco..probably some incoherent mumbo jumbo

Possibly, but more likely she is for the subsidies.

Bring home the bacon, especially early on.

Palin will jump in..

re: #16 Stanley Sea

Hilarity would ensue. :)

God told me not to vote for her, so that settles that.

re: #27 BigPapa

Too early for another Big Tent redux?

If you have a house with a crumbling foundation, broken windows, leaky roof, uneven floors and walls and bad plumbing you have two choices.

You can try and fix everything tackling one job or patch at a time or you just start over from scratch and build it better than it was.

Over and over - how large is the Tea Party really, and how unified is it?

Is it large enough to prevent Romney from crossing the post before the convention? Is it unified enough to make one TP candidate the challenger - which by implication means giving that person enough money to offset Romney's Bucks?

I don't know. And I've been digging enough to think anybody who says they do know is either fooling themselves or lying.

i'm sure the teabaggers will unite behind an anit-romney, but i'm waiting to see how bad the split will be

contested convention?

OT
It is currently 105 degrees in Lubbock. Yesterday's high was 110, with 112 forecast today. An all-time record (114) is not out of the question. Of course, there has been no rainfall and there is no chance of any for another couple of weeks at least. If it doesn't rain before the 1st, this will be only the 16th complete month in the records (which go back to 1892) that no rain at all has fallen. It will be the first June ever with no rainfall, June is normally the rainiest month of the year here (avg 2.9 inches in the 20th century). Precipitation since January is right around an inch, same place it was last time it rained in early May.

Coincidentally, a local Facebook friend (also a cotton farmer) commented to me that AGW is "all bullshit." I asked him how his cotton is doing.

re: #38 Shiplord Kirel

Projections for AGW impact show Texas drying out all to hell. Like Sahara dry. It's really bad.

I can't tell you how my cotton is doing, I don't have any. I do have a cotton field that is rapidly transitioning to sand dune though.

Why is it if someone says the Devil told them to do it, they're called crazy, but if they say God told them to do it, its "a higher calling"?

re: #41 kragar (proud to be kafir)

Why is it if someone says the Devil told them to do it, they're called crazy, but if they say God told them to do it, its "a higher calling"?

It used to just be funny :(

re: #31 researchok

Possibly, but more likely she is for the subsidies.

Bring home the bacon, especially early on.

Her District ranks 4th in Corn Subsidies

4. 6th District of Minnesota (Rep. Michele Bachmann) $213,139,880 2.9% 76.5%

Her District also ranks 3rd for Dairy subsidies.

3. 6th District of Minnesota (Rep. Michele Bachmann) $50,921,429 13.2% 70.8%

donate now to help send michelle bachmann to "learn how to answer a direct question" camp

teevee interviewers everywhere will thank you

re: #43 Bubblehead II

Her District ranks 4th in Corn Subsidies

4. 6th District of Minnesota (Rep. Michele Bachmann) $213,139,880 2.9% 76.5%

Her District also ranks 3rd for Dairy subsidies.

3. 6th District of Minnesota (Rep. Michele Bachmann) $50,921,429 13.2% 70.8%

Bachmann gets her share of aid

BBIAB I have to go see what the Sunday sales are this week at Walgreens.

(Hey sometimes they have some really great sales like two Red Baron pizzas for $5 and the like). :p

Oh for fuck's sake;

Obama's use of autopen scrutinized

While traveling in Europe last month, Obama directed his staff in Washington to use an autopen to sign into law an extension of certain Patriot Act powers to fight terrorism. The legislation had been approved by Congress at the last minute, and there was no time to fly it to France for Obama's signature before the anti-terrorism powers expired.

It was believed to be the first time a president has used an autopen to sign legislation, and that didn't sit well with a number of Republicans. Twenty-one GOP House members sent Obama a letter on June 17 asking him to re-sign the legislation with his actual signature because use of the autopen "appears contrary to the Constitution."

re: #45 kragar (proud to be kafir)

Yep, She does, even though She has denied it.

Bachmann's had her share of government aid

*snip*

Bachmann said in December that the subsidies went to her in-laws and she never received "one penny" from the farm, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. However, in financial disclosure forms, she reported receiving between $32,503 and $105,000 in income from the farm, at minimum, between 2006 and 2009.

re: #40 Shiplord Kirel

I can't tell you how my cotton is doing, I don't have any. I do have a cotton field that is rapidly transitioning to sand dune though.

I didn't know you farmed. Very cool! Sorry to hear about your crop.

Back in the days of my employment with the IRS one of my jobs was to retrieve the cases that were going to Tax Court. I would also receive the cases that returned. I would always read the rulings to determine what department to send them too. Ninety percent of the time they never actually made it to court. The tax attornies would always settle for a considerable amount less that what the auditors were seeking.

I always told unhappy taxpayers to take it to Tax Court. In fact many auditors had a distinct opinion about the quality of the Tax Attorneys and it wasn't that favorable.

re: #14 Charles

I don't know -- she's right behind Romney in the first Iowa poll. Romney 23%, Bachmann 22%.

The interesting question for this election is how far right the GOP really has swung. I think the party as a whole is farther right than I've ever seen it, and more dominated by the religious right than ever, and I wouldn't be shocked to see someone like Bachmann actually get the nomination.

Too much mouth baggage. Pointy Boots has a much better chance. Great campaigner. No gaffes. Untouchable pedigree. All he has to avoid is the sexual orientation question exploding in his face. I don't think it will.

(sigh)

re: #48 Bubblehead II

Yep, She does, even though She has denied it.

Bachmann's had her share of government aid

*snip*

Bachmann said in December that the subsidies went to her in-laws and she never received "one penny" from the farm, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. However, in financial disclosure forms, she reported receiving between $32,503 and $105,000 in income from the farm, at minimum, between 2006 and 2009.

Well, she did say not one penny.

re: #1 Hal_10000

The left doesn't nominate loons either.

Melvin Udall: Where do they teach you to talk like this? In some Panama City "Sailor wanna hump-hump" bar, or is it getaway day and your last shot at his whiskey? Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here.

Bachmann does Minnesota a great disservice. The many people I know from Minnesota are pretty much diametric opposites of her.

re: #40 Shiplord Kirel

I can't tell you how my cotton is doing, I don't have any. I do have a cotton field that is rapidly transitioning to sand dune though.

"Moisture Farming" seemed to work pretty well for the Skywalkers on their dunes, so there's always that.

re: #54 spocomptonite

I've always suspected that she gets elected because the people want to ship her out of state. I've had that suspicion about most people elected to either congress or parliament over the years.

I usually lurk and comment rarely but have to pipe in and say--what is amazing to me is that these sunday show hosts and journalists never push back, never pin the lies down. how will she ever be held accountable if she just gets away with saying whatever the hell she wants?

I demand that that voice who talked to her show proper ID. With a photo. Sounds like it might need a passport too. How do we know it's not demons screwing with her? Or Aliens. The kind that fly between dimensions and worlds and Alex Jones' ears. Or worse.

re: #54 spocomptonite

Bachmann does Minnesota a great disservice. The many people I know from Minnesota are pretty much diametric opposites of her.

Jesse Ventura. I have no idea what goes on in Minnesota but they have a whole lot of crazy up there.

re: #51 austin_blue

Pointy boots who??

re: #60 Winny Spencer

Pointy boots who??

I used the google. Yeah, that douche.

re: #57 valdivia

I usually lurk and comment rarely but have to pipe in and say--what is amazing to me is that these sunday show hosts and journalists never push back, never pin the lies down. how will she ever be held accountable if she just gets away with saying whatever the hell she wants?

Because that's bad for business.

If they push back, they stop getting the interviews. Cable media are enablers, think of them as a sort of amorphous promotional arm, more like an infomercial than anything

re: #57 valdivia

I usually lurk and comment rarely but have to pipe in and say--what is amazing to me is that these sunday show hosts and journalists never push back, never pin the lies down. how will she ever be held accountable if she just gets away with saying whatever the hell she wants?

TV journalism is toast. It's all a business now. That's why I see the blogs as the journalism to really follow. Blogs investigate.

re: #62 WindUpBird

Because that's bad for business.

If they push back, they stop getting the interviews. Cable media are enablers, think of them as a sort of amorphous promotional arm, more like an infomercial than anything

Exactamundo.

re: #59 Killgore Trout

Jesse Ventura. I have no idea what goes on in Minnesota but they have a whole lot of crazy up there.

I was in neighboring SD when he got elected. I thought he made a pretty good governor, to my surprise.

My time frame with the IRS was 1985 until 1989. 1988 the IRS were in the Congresses cross-hairs. We were the Talking Points for Democrats and Republicans even though we were just fulfilling their policies. Our funding was drastically cut. Audits evaporated.

We would receive from the service center boxes (measuring 4'x4') packed with a small sheet of paper with the taxpayers name, tax year to be looked at, and SSN and what kicked it out of the system for review. My last 2 years with the IRS these boxes returned to the service center full. No new hires for auditors. If Bachmann was with the IRS in that time frame it was not the hard job people would iimagine.

re: #65 Spocomptonite

I was in neighboring SD when he got elected. I thought he made a pretty good governor, to my surprise.

The man's a complete lunatic and should have never been allowed in a position of power. He is probably clinically insane.

re: #54 spocomptonite

Bachmann does Minnesota a great disservice. The many people I know from Minnesota are pretty much diametric opposites of her.

While that's true so far as it goes, I went to school at St. Cloud State. There are far too many people like her in that area and I was quite happy to get my ass back to Wisconsin.

You know it's bad when even the Missouri Synod people are freaked out by them.

re: #62 WindUpBird

re: #63 Stanley Sea

thanks guys. I agree but the problem is that while the blogs correct the record, it's not a confrontation that happens at the moment the lie is uttered. I also think that people like Gregory (total hack) is very very aggressive but never actually follows up on substance, which is what he should be doing. But as you say, The Village can't do this, and won't do it.

Fox news is stretching again...
Bachmann Regrets Saying Obama Has 'Anti-American Views'
If you watch the clip she never says she regrets her statements but agrees to the general statement that she does sometimes wish she had phrased things differently.

re: #67 Killgore Trout

The man's a complete lunatic and should have never been allowed in a position of power. He is probably clinically insane.

Well, he is now, no arguing that. And whether he was crazy then or not, still doesn't negate the cool things he did as governor (fighting to increase mass transit/light rail, supported abortion rights and gay rights, and basically did a lot of things Bachmann would've screamed about being against the American theocratic way of life. The dude was ultimately beneficial to Minnesota IMO, and probably the single term prevented his personal flaws/craziness from ruining it.

I think Bachmann will force herself on the ballot as VP to mollify the Tea Party crowd if Romney, Perry, or Huntsman win. The others will need a miracle to pass all four of the above.

She is a nobody in the House and may get redistricted since Minnesota has a (D) governor. Get used to her craziness - there is more coming.

In the video of her describing her career, she said God told her husband she should go to law school for a post-doc degree in tax law. She said she didn't want to, and didn't like tax, but a wife must submit to her husband because that's God's will.

So if she were to be elected President, who would we be electing - her, or her husband? If he told her God told him we should invade Iran, would she then do it because she had to submit to her husband?

re: #69 valdivia

re: #63 Stanley Sea

thanks guys. I agree but the problem is that while the blogs correct the record, it's not a confrontation that happens at the moment the lie is uttered. I also think that people like Gregory (total hack) is very very aggressive but never actually follows up on substance, which is what he should be doing. But as you say, The Village can't do this, and won't do it.

The internet just allows the old techniques of yellow journalism and the old ways of lying and misinformation and kowtowing to power to happen at a faster rate ;-)

She is a strict constitutionalist that would like to see a constitutional amendment to deny rights to Gays.

re: #73 thatthatisis

In the video of her describing her career, she said God told her husband she should go to law school for a post-doc degree in tax law. She said she didn't want to, and didn't like tax, but a wife must submit to her husband because that's God's will.

So if she were to be elected President, who would we be electing - her, or her husband? If he told her God told him we should invade Iran, would she then do it because she had to submit to her husband?

If the quote you attribute to her is true, than yes, that would certainly be a fair question. My suspicion is she could get out of it with a simple "my husband is always a sounding board that I consult with" type answer.

Charles said, "Is it possible that we’d actually see this fundamentalist homophobic bigot as the Republican Party’s nominee for President?"

Yes. In the Citizens United States of America, anything is possible.

re: #10 researchok

Knee jerk reactions aside, it is had to believe that Bachmann actually believes these silly things. She is a well educated woman.

Dunno, I don't buy this. She's well-educated, with a JD from Oral Roberts University. To me that says she's well-educated and quite likely is a true believer, as well. The two are typically mutually-exclusive, but not always.

In fact, Christian Fundamentalism itself started out as a mainly academic movement, at the turn of last century. [Link: en.wikipedia.org...] Cornelius van Til, one of the founders of Christian Reconstructionism, which makes Bachmann look like a bra-burning radical lesbian feminist separatist from the 70s, was once at Princeton Theological (yes, THAT Princeton).

The question that has been on my mind for years: did she ever take classes with Anita Hill. I admit, I'm actually dying to know!

Bachmann's briefing for the interview:

Political Adviser: Anytime you are asked about your views regarding gay marriage just say the constitution, the constitution, the constitution.

Michele: But what if...

Political Adviser: No ifs and no butts. Just spout the constitution a lot. People dig the constitution.

Michele: Right? Must be good, I'll get around to reading it eventually.

She should be asked if god also told her to lie about the various things she lied about? She should be further asked if she has sought forgiveness for her deliberately misleading the American people.

re: #14 Charles

I don't know -- she's right behind Romney in the first Iowa poll. Romney 23%, Bachmann 22%.

The interesting question for this election is how far right the GOP really has swung. I think the party as a whole is farther right than I've ever seen it, and more dominated by the religious right than ever, and I wouldn't be shocked to see someone like Bachmann actually get the nomination.

I almost wouldn't either. At the end of the day, while I think Bachmann can go deep into the primaries, the establishment will rally behind Romney, or maybe Pawlenty, with Bachmann coming in 3rd, which would position her well to run in 2016 (if Obama is re-elected. And sadly, that "if" is getting more and more reasonable to say).

I think she came through pretty well on Face The Nation.

She was called out a few times but didn't show the insanity that she has many times in the past.

For instance, the "god told me to run" -- I guess I have to disagree with that characterization in that she actually said this:

1) I use prayer to talk to god
2) I prayed on whether to run for president
3) i felt a calling, a sense of assurance that i should

This will ring true with any person of faith -- and probably anyone who doesn't have faith but is ok with people who do.

She seems to have a pretty good team coaching here these days as she avoided nearly all the crazy that she has said in the past including stepping away from "anti-american statements" and sticking to "constitutional" rules which she was able to talk about reasonably.

I don't think it will hold, long -- crazy people ten to have moments of lucidity but will eventually flip out -- but at least she did reasonably well in this interview.