Foster Friess Apologizes, Except He Really Didn’t

Why you no like caveman’s joke?
Wingnuts • Views: 34,064

At his “Campfire Blog” (with a logo reminiscent of the infamous farting scene in Blazing Saddles), Rick Santorum’s super-rich Dominionist backer Foster Friess is apologizing that so many Americans didn’t get his “joke” about women using aspirin for birth control (between the knees): For those who misunderstood my joke today, here’s my quest for forgiveness…

Last week my joke at the Conservative Political Action Conference generated laughter and media attention. Today on Andrea Mitchell’s show, my aspirin joke bombed as many didn’t recognize it as a joke but thought it was my prescription for today’s birth control practices. In fact, the only positive comments I got were from folks who remembered it from 50 years back. Birth control pills weren’t yet available, so everyone laughed at the silliness on how an aspirin could become a birth control pill.

After listening to the segment tonight, I can understand how I confused people with the way I worded the joke and their taking offense is very understandable. To all those who took my joke as modern day approach I deeply apologize and seek your forgiveness. My wife constantly tells me I need new material—she understood the joke but didn’t like it anyway—so I will keep that old one in the past where it belongs.

The classic right wing non-apology. He isn’t actually sorry for his misogynistic attempt at humor, he’s sorry that everyone else “misunderstood” him.

Friess also tries to spin Rick Santorum’s caveman views about contraception and women’s rights, says women love Santorum, and includes an attack on President Obama:

His 75% favorables include a lot of women who appreciate his clear stance on contraception that they favor. His strong personal convictions on the subject are well-known and he has never attempted to turn his personal preference into public policy unlike the stand President Obama has taken in forcing Catholic institutions to embrace his world view.

Santorum is a supporter of the Dark Ages religious right “Personhood” movement, which would outlaw all abortion and is so broadly defined that it would also criminalize many forms of birth control, so Friess is being less than honest. Of course.

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174 comments
1 Mattand  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:21:12am
His 75% favorables include a lot of women who appreciate his clear stance on contraception that they favor.

Citation needed.

2 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:21:51am

re: #1 mattand

Citation needed.

The Duggar family.
/

3 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:22:05am
For those who misunderstood my joke today, here’s my quest for forgiveness

Well, that is not really cogent.

One asks for forgiveness when one does something wrong.

If somebody else misunderstands you then one asks for patience while one explains himself.

4 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:22:19am
Birth control pills weren’t yet available, so everyone laughed at the silliness on how an aspirin could become a birth control pill.

Bullshit. It was a 'joke' about how if the sluts didn't want to get pregnant they should stop their complaining and keep their legs shut.

5 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:23:37am

Just so there is no misunderstanding, when I tell Friess to go eat a bag of dicks, its meant as a rejection of his apology.

6 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:24:01am

75% favorable? That can't be right. I'd be shocked if it was even that high among Republicans. Anyhow yeah this is a typical sorry you didn't understand my attempt at humor not I'm sorry for being a dickhead.

7 Simply Sarah  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:25:23am

Friess is a disgusting excuse for a human. I heard some of him talking to On Point about his support of Santorum a couple days ago and he left me, shall we say, less than impressed. He's an ultra-misogynistic social troglodyte through and through.

(I swear, I have the best/worst timing recently. It's not that I only comment on feminist-type issues, it's just that's what the topic has been every time I show up lately)

8 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:25:25am

Hey girl,
When it comes to you,
I'm a lover and a fighter.
I love telling you what to do
with your body and
I'll always fight for the
government's right
to make sure
you do what I say.
[Link: fucknoricksantorum.tumblr.com...]

9 Mattand  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:25:54am

re: #3 freetoken

Well, that is not really cogent.

One asks for forgiveness when one does something wrong.

If somebody else misunderstands you then one asks for patience while one explains himself.

I was going to post something similar, but your comment is much more succinct.

I can already hear the conservatives I know screaming that political correctness is to blame for his "apology".

What really chafes me is that the one acquaintance I'm thinking of has two teenage daughters, yet he'll laugh uproariously at Frees's "joke."

10 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:26:23am

If you have to explain the joke, it isn't very funny.

11 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:27:46am

For some reason Foster Freiss reminds me of Judd Crustbeckler. N

12 Vicious Michigan Union Thug  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:28:16am

Just like PETA's response to everyone who didn't like their lame ad: WELL WE THINK IT'S AWESOME SO FUCK YOU, YOU'RE JUST NOT HIP.

13 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:29:19am

re: #7 Simply Sarah

He's an ultra-misogynistic social troglodyte through and through.

So is Torquemada Jr. It's why they work so well together. =P

Also, given the radical anti-woman legislation the GOP have been pushing lately, I'm not so sure that being an ultra-misogynistic social troglodyte is a bug anymore. It's pretty much a feature these days.

14 Simply Sarah  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:29:43am

re: #10 Targetpractice

If you have to explain the joke, it isn't very funny.

I'm pretty sure anyone that actually cared would have figured out that the 'joke' wasn't funny from Andrea Mitchell's reaction.

15 Simply Sarah  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:30:36am

re: #13 Lidane

So is Torquemada Jr. It's why they work so well together. =P

Also, given the radical anti-woman legislation the GOP have been pushing lately, I'm not so sure that being an ultra-misogynistic social troglodyte is a bug anymore. It's pretty much a feature these days.

Oh, it's in bold inside a big gold star burst on the front of the box.

16 darthstar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:30:38am

I knew he was joking, and I got it. I just didn't think it was funny or appropriate for an interview with a respected female journalist. In fact, I thought it was an excellent example of why assholes like Friess and his puppet Santorum should be relegated to the back-benches of history.

17 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:30:45am
18 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:31:01am

What's happening in Virginia is amazing me. Really a vaginal device for women who want to get abortions? How is this not a violation of the fourth amendment and I of course love how the "small government and individual liberties" Republicans are the ones sponsoring it and they have the nerve to act like Obamacare is some tyranny. Hypocritical assholes.

19 Petero1818  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:31:06am

Am I the only one who thinks that the "blazing saddles" image on his blog could also be mistaken for the first frame of the lost orgy scene from Brokeback mountain?

20 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:31:30am

re: #17 Kragar

Santorum: ‘The Second Amendment Is There To Protect the First Amendment!’

No, its not.

That's been a meme I've heard from the right for ages. It's pretty much straight out of the NRA talking point handbook.

21 Iwouldprefernotto  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:31:33am

Bristol Palin is the poster child for abstinence only sex ed.

22 nines09  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:31:54am

"And if you get knocked up, go die in an alley with a coat hanger in you, whore. Wait. That was a joke, you know, you know? I was kidding"

23 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:32:45am

re: #14 Simply Sarah

I'm pretty sure anyone that actually cared would have figured out that the 'joke' wasn't funny from Andrea Mitchell's reaction.

What the hell would she know? She's just a woman and she's part of the lamestream media.

///

24 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:33:18am

re: #22 nines09

"Everyone laughed at the silliness on how a coat hanger could become a medical instrument."

25 Simply Sarah  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:33:29am

re: #18 HappyWarrior

What's happening in Virginia is amazing me. Really a vaginal device for women who want to get abortions? How is this not a violation of the fourth amendment and I of course love how the "small government and individual liberties" Republicans are the ones sponsoring it and they have the nerve to act like Obamacare is some tyranny. Hypocritical assholes.

They don't care. Beyond trying to use it as a vehicle to overturn Roe, the goal is to make women avoid abortions because they'll need to get raped (Maybe again) before being allowed to have one. It makes me want to cry and then punch a hole in the wall.

26 wrenchwench  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:33:41am

In order to avoid saying more stupid stuff in the future, I suggest Mr. Friess hold an aspirin between his lips.

27 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:34:12am

re: #18 HappyWarrior

What's happening in Virginia is amazing me. Really a vaginal device for women who want to get abortions? How is this not a violation of the fourth amendment and I of course love how the "small government and individual liberties" Republicans are the ones sponsoring it and they have the nerve to act like Obamacare is some tyranny. Hypocritical assholes.

Because they always argue that when they say "small government," they're simply talking about the federal government, that they're okay with states becoming monolithian nightmares in its place. Provided that the states are taking steps in the direct they want, else they're not following the "will of the people."

28 nines09  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:35:22am

re: #24 jaunte

"Everyone laughed at the silliness on how a coat hanger could become a medical instrument."

We just rolled around on the floor with that picture in our heads!"

29 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:35:46am

Friess's website is serving up lots of "out of memory" errors when I'm trying to search other parts of it than the blog. I suspect his site is really getting hit.

I will note that his "Helping Peaceful Muslims" (his phrase) book section lists first a book by none other than Mark Steyn. That's probably as insightful into the mind of Foster Friess as we can find.

30 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:36:37am

re: #24 jaunte

"Everyone laughed at the silliness on how a coat hanger could become a medical instrument."

"I paid for dinner, and when we got back home, she said no."

/kneeslapper

31 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:37:02am

re: #25 Simply Sarah

It makes me want to cry and then punch a hole in the wall.

They don't deserve tears. That's what they want. They want women to be weak and demoralized and so defeated and downtrodden that they give up on having their own strength. Fuck that.

I'd rather let their troglodyte bullshit motivate me to prove them wrong.

32 Interesting Times  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:37:44am

Image: KSAorUSA.jpg

33 McSpiff  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:38:08am

re: #25 Simply Sarah

They don't care. Beyond trying to use it as a vehicle to overturn Roe, the goal is to make women avoid abortions because they'll need to get raped (Maybe again) before being allowed to have one. It makes me want to cry and then punch a hole in the wall.

{{Sarah}}. It really is deeply disturbing.

34 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:38:12am

@grist
Back in my day, we swallowed condoms when we had a headache, because we were confused. #grandpafriess

35 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:38:34am

re: #31 Lidane

They don't deserve tears. That's what they want. They want women to be weak and demoralized and so defeated and downtrodden that they give up on having their own strength. Fuck that.

I'd rather let their troglodyte bullshit motivate me to prove them wrong.

It's about turning the clock back to the 1950s, one bullshit law at a time.

36 nines09  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:40:27am

re: #35 Targetpractice

No. It's about going all the way back to the 20's when all you people knew your place.

37 ProMayaLiberal  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:41:01am

re: #25 Simply Sarah

I feel you. All of my close friends are females, and this wanting to take their rights is making me angry.

{{Sarah}}

38 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:41:26am

re: #36 nines09

No. It's about going all the way back to the 20's when all you people knew your place.

Nah, won't get that far, as that'd require overturning the 19th Amendment, and there's no fucking way that happens short of an Act of God.

39 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:41:33am

re: #36 nines09

No. It's about going all the way back to the 20's when all you people knew your place.

Yeah. The 1820's. They want the antebellum South, basically.

40 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:42:41am

re: #38 Targetpractice

Nah, won't get that far, as that'd require overturning the 19th Amendment, and there's no fucking way that happens short of an Act of God.

There are plenty of RWNJ's who would love to overturn the 19th Amendment. They see it as a mistake, since women are ruled by our hormones and are too stupid to vote properly, or something.

41 Simply Sarah  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:43:05am

re: #31 Lidane

They don't deserve tears. That's what they want. They want women to be weak and demoralized and so defeated and downtrodden that they give up on having their own strength. Fuck that.

I'd rather let their troglodyte bullshit motivate me to prove them wrong.

Oh, I'm not going to give up. I don't see crying as a sign of weakness. In this case, it's a sign of frustration, of anger, of sadness. Doesn't mean I'm beaten down, though. Far from it.

42 nines09  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:43:30am

re: #38 Targetpractice

Nah, won't get that far, as that'd require overturning the 19th Amendment, and there's no fucking way that happens short of an Act of God.

One step at a time until they can undo The New Deal.

43 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:44:38am

re: #40 Lidane

There are plenty of RWNJ's who would love to overturn the 19th Amendment. They see it as a mistake, since women are ruled by our hormones and are too stupid to vote properly, or something.

The menfolk may, but the women would kick their ass if they tried.

44 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:44:48am

Scientists ID a humongous fungus among us

Scientists have identified the Godzilla of fungi, a giant, prehistoric fossil that has evaded classification for more than a century, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

A chemical analysis has shown that the 20-foot-tall (6-metre) organism with a tree-like trunk was a fungus that became extinct more than 350 million years ago, according to a study appearing in the May issue of the journal Geology.

Known as Prototaxites, the giant fungus originally was thought to be a conifer. Then some believed it was a lichen, or various types of algae. Some suspected it was a fungus.

"A 20-foot-fungus doesn't make any sense. Neither does a 20-foot-tall algae make any sense, but here's the fossil," C. Kevin Boyce, a University of Chicago assistant professor of geophysical sciences, said in a statement.

45 Simply Sarah  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:45:02am

re: #33 McSpiff

{{Sarah}}. It really is deeply disturbing.

Disturbing. Disgusting. Downright evil.

46 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:45:44am
47 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:46:53am

re: #39 Lidane

Yeah. The 1820's. They want the antebellum South, basically.

Are you sure it is 1120 ?

48 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:47:22am

re: #46 Killgore Trout

Alleged Suicide Bomber Arrested in D.C.

The system worked.

49 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:47:54am

Man allegedly en route to the U.S. Capitol for suicide mission arrested by feds: report

A man allegedly en route to the U.S. Capitol for a suicide mission has been arrested by federal agents.

According to Fox News, the unidentified man is in his 30s and is of Moroccan descent.

Authorities nabbed the would-be killer, who was carrying a vest supposedly packed with explosives in Washington D.C. Earlier in the day he had been seen praying at a nearby Mosque.

The FBI had been tracking the man for some time after he expressed interest in the attack, according to Fox.

He was under the impression that undercover authorities were helping him with the mission. It is not clear if any charges have been filed.

50 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:48:46am

re: #48 Targetpractice

The system worked.

Police state entrapment!

51 Simply Sarah  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:49:18am

Well, now that I've gotten my blood pressure up, time to head out for a bit.

52 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:49:51am

re: #50 Killgore Trout

Police state entrapment!

Won't surprise me when there's arguments made that, had the FBI not been stringing him along, he'd have never made it this far. That he'd have found getting explosives too hard and given up.

53 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:51:50am

re: #52 Targetpractice

Won't surprise me when there's arguments made that, had the FBI not been stringing him along, he'd have never made it this far. That he'd have found getting explosives too hard and given up.

That's pretty typical. They'll also claim that the feds are islamophobic and unfairly targeting muslims. They'll also complain if Patriot act provisions were used in the investigation. There will be no shortage of things to complain about.

54 Coracle  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:52:40am

re: #53 Killgore Trout

If both sides complain, then it's probably being done as right as it can be.

55 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:53:31am

So in this episode of HW is on the same side of a prominent Republican official, I'm happy to say Dick Cheney and I are the same side of Maryland's marriage equality bill. And yes he's probably motivated by his daughter but you know what? He could be a dick like Alan Keyes and disown her so I will give him credit here.

56 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:53:36am

re: #47 freetoken

Are you sure it is 1120 ?

They want their fantasy version of the early days of America. That means they need the Constitution to exist. It's just that all these damn women and minorities keep demanding their rights and upsetting the natural order of things. =P

57 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:53:54am

re: #53 Killgore Trout

There will be no shortage of things to complain about.

And frankly rightly so. If our legal system did not have these self-correcting mechanisms we might, likely, end up in a real police state.

Some many lament that it seems every apparently guilty party wants to exploit these checks and balances, and that "justice" gets slowed down, but that is the price of diligence.

58 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:57:19am

More RWNJ revisionist history. Apparently, Barack Obama got an easy ride when he ran for POTUS, and the media ignored Jeremiah Wright:

[Link: mediamatters.org...]

59 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:57:28am
60 dragonfire1981  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:58:18am

re: #49 Killgore Trout

Man allegedly en route to the U.S. Capitol for suicide mission arrested by feds: report

Is it sad that I read the details on this and was surprised to discover it was a possible Muslim extremist that was arrested and not a right wing nutjob?

61 Mattand  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:58:25am

re: #53 Killgore Trout

They'll also complain if Patriot act provisions were used in the investigation.

Because the Patriot Act is so essential to keeping us safe.

///

62 Charleston Chew  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:58:47am
The classic right wing non-apology. He isn’t actually sorry for his misogynistic attempt at humor, he’s sorry that everyone else “misunderstood” him.

We've seen it so many times before. Can be summed up as:

"I'm sorry... sorry you suck! Burn!"

63 Charles Johnson  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:58:50am

Actually, there was no "explosive vest." It was a fake, planted by agents.

“This arrest was the culmination of a lengthy and extensive operation during which the individual was closely and carefully monitored,” spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said in a statement. “The U.S. Capitol Police was intimately involved in the investigation for the duration of the operation. At no time was the public or Congressional community in any danger.”

The Capitol police didn’t disclose any details but Fox News and NBC reported that the man was carrying a vest containing what he believed were explosives but were actually inert. He was arrested in the sting operation after leaving a mosque where he was praying before heading to the Capitol, Fox said.

NBC said that man was in his early 30s and had been under observation for months.

64 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:58:51am

re: #57 freetoken

And frankly rightly so. If our legal system did not have these self-correcting mechanisms we might, likely, end up in a real police state.

Some many lament that it seems every apparently guilty party wants to exploit these checks and balances, and that "justice" gets slowed down, but that is the price of diligence.

I think the courts do a decent job of keeping things in check. Everybody has fantasies about what's constitutional but the court system works fairly well. I'm sure we could use some better laws but law enforcement is doing a great job busting these idiots posing as Al Qaeda agents. I think this is probably a pretty effective deterrent. I'm surprised people are still falling for this gimmick.

65 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:59:23am

re: #58 Lidane

More RWNJ revisionist history. Apparently, Barack Obama got an easy ride when he ran for POTUS, and the media ignored Jeremiah Wright:

[Link: mediamatters.org...]

Which is why no one outside conservatives knows who Jeramiah Wright is and frankly these guys have no right to talk when they're kissing ass to Bryan "the gays caused the Holocaust" Fischer.

66 CuriousLurker  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:59:50am

Foster Friess on Rick Santorum today:

His strong personal convictions on the subject are well-known and he has never attempted to turn his personal preference into public policy...

At least not YET.

Rick Santorum on contraception in 2006:

Again, I know most Presidents don’t talk about those things, and maybe people don’t want us to talk about those things, but I think it’s important that you are who you are. I’m not running for preacher. I’m not running for pastor, but these are important public policy issues. These how profound impact on the health of our society.

Rick Santorum yesterday, on Greta van Susteren's show:

VAN SUSTEREN: In terms of your views on contraception and your religious beliefs -- and everyone comes to the office of the president with certain religious beliefs -- is it something that would in any way -- you know, be -- would it -- I mean, is there any way it would be imposed on the American people? Or is it something that's -- you know, how would we see it in policy, if at all?

SANTORUM: [...] That -- look, I have my own views on these things. They're deeply held beliefs. But not everything that I think is -- that I disagree with morally should the government be involved in. Only when there is -- there are -- there are real consequences to society or to the -- or to the rights of individuals do I -- do I feel a need to speak out. And that's why I do on the issue of abortion because we have another -- we have another person involved in the decision.

But the issue of contraception, that's not the case. It's something that people have a right to do in this country. And it certainly will be safe to do so under the Santorum presidency.

And based on the wealth of his past far-right religious fundie pronouncements I should believe this why?

The mullahs & ayatollahs in Iran promised people they were going to rid them of the tyranny that existed under the Shah's regime and build a utopian Islamic society where everyone was treated justly. Once they assumed power that worked out really well for the Iranians who believed them. //

67 dragonfire1981  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 10:59:53am

re: #63 Charles Johnson

Actually, there was no "explosive vest." It was a fake, planted by agents.

In my head I picture the terrorist flicking the switch, only to have one of those BANG! flags pop out from the vest.

68 Mattand  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:00:25am

re: #60 dragonfire1981

Is it sad that I read the details on this and was surprised to discover it was a possible Muslim extremist that was arrested and not a right wing nutjob?

My first reaction was that since Fox News is reporting this, they're ginning it up for their demographic; all Caucasian, often elderly, people with a disdain for things like facts.

69 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:00:40am

re: #57 freetoken

we might, likely, end up in a real police state.

Spoken like a true lefty moonbat. The police is good. So a police state is a good state.

70 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:01:16am

re: #67 dragonfire1981

In my head I picture the terrorist flicking the switch, only to have one of those BANG! flags pop out from the vest.

"Where's the kaboom? There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering kaboom!"

71 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:01:59am

The unintended consequences of a personhood law. Take Virginia. The GOP is pushing a personhood bill there, and yet the word "person" appears in the Virginia statutes 25,000 times. Any chance that something important might be affected by changing the definition?

Absolutely.

Unfortunately, not only would this bill lay the foundation to ban abortion and contraception, it could also wreak havoc on other areas of the law. The word “person” appears over 25,000 times in the laws of Virginia. No one knows the exact consequences of changing such an ordinary word, but the proponents of H.B. 1 refused to discuss or address these concerns in committee or on the floor of the House. Granting fertilized eggs all of the rights, privileges, and immunities the people of the Commonwealth currently hold could impact inheritance laws, election laws, tax laws, and even criminal laws. The bill has the potential to allow individuals to claim embryos in petri dishes as dependents, to challenge population numbers and election districts based on where IVF clinics are located. We fear this bill could even allow a non-family member to bring charges against a woman who has had a miscarriage.

The more legislatures attempt to push these kinds of laws, the greater the chances that the unintended consequences will be more severe.

Granting personhood to an embryo could potentially result in questioning census results, tax levies, inheritance law, and domestic relations laws, employer benefits laws, etc.

The GOP is opening a Pandora's box of trouble with this - and it's all with an eye towards eliminating the legal right to abortion. It's a roundabout attempt to make abortions illegal - and by making a claim that is unsupported by the science at that.

72 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:02:25am

re: #70 Targetpractice

73 Mattand  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:02:52am

re: #63 Charles Johnson

Actually, there was no "explosive vest." It was a fake, planted by agents.

And Charles helps prove my "Don't trust Fox News" point as I was typing #68. Gracias, mein ami!

74 Obdicut  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:03:16am

re: #71 lawhawk

It's funny how quickly and easily reminds us that an embryo is not a person, and nobody treats it as one, nor could one practically do so.

An embryo is potential.

75 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:03:33am

re: #67 dragonfire1981

In my head I picture the terrorist flicking the switch, only to have one of those BANG! flags pop out from the vest.

Come confetti would be a nice touch.

76 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:03:45am

The personhood amendment resembles the one that failed in Mississippi via referendum. Virginia is nowhere near as conservative as Mississippi is. This is clearly the socons thinking this is what we Virginians want. Again I'll warn those again if Bob McDonnell ever seeks the nomination, do not be fooled by him. He's not a moderate Republican at all.

77 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:04:21am

re: #65 HappyWarrior

Which is why no one outside conservatives knows who Jeramiah Wright is and frankly these guys have no right to talk when they're kissing ass to Bryan "the gays caused the Holocaust" Fischer.

Yep. I mean, it's not like Barack Obama gave a speech about Jeremiah Wright and about race or anything. The story was totally ignored in the media.

78 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:04:49am

Honestly, I'd like to see someone propose changing birth dates and documents to fit the date they were conceived. Woohoo I'm already 25 but the downside is now my birthday is in November.

79 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:04:53am

re: #75 Killgore Trout

Come confetti would be a nice touch.

And the agent dressed as a clown playing a kazoo.

80 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:04:53am

re: #76 HappyWarrior

The personhood amendment resembles the one that failed in Mississippi via referendum. Virginia is nowhere near as conservative as Mississippi is. This is clearly the socons thinking this is what we Virginians want. Again I'll warn those again if Bob McDonnell ever seeks the nomination, do not be fooled by him. He's not a moderate Republican at all.

Only good that can be taken out of this is his successor will very likely be a Democrat after all this shit.

81 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:05:04am

Kudos to the FBI agents.

82 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:05:42am

re: #77 Lidane

Yep. I mean, it's not like Barack Obama gave a speech about Jeremiah Wright and about race or anything. The story was totally ignored in the media.

Yeah, and can you believe how horrid the Right has been, saying "Goddamn America!" all the time like it's a joke?

//

83 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:05:45am

re: #60 dragonfire1981

Is it sad that I read the details on this and was surprised to discover it was a possible Muslim extremist that was arrested and not a right wing nutjob?

Yes. It's sad that you wish it was one group instead of another. I'm sad that anyone would try to do such a thing.

84 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:05:52am

re: #80 Targetpractice

Only good that can be taken out of this is his successor will very likely be a Democrat after all this shit.

We can only hope. Only name I hear from the Democratic side is Terry McAullife and while he has done more for the state party lately, I still can't stand the guy. But he would be better than Bolling or Cuccinnelli, both of whom want the job.

85 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:05:57am

re: #78 HappyWarrior

Honestly, I'd like to see someone propose changing birth dates and documents to fit the date they were conceived. Woohoo I'm already 25 but the downside is now my birthday is in November.

Well, birth is birth. It's just not anything else by def.

86 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:06:28am

re: #67 dragonfire1981

In my head I picture the terrorist flicking the switch, only to have one of those BANG! flags pop out from the vest.

LOL! Now that would be a video I would pay to see.

87 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:06:53am

re: #83 NJDhockeyfan

Yes. It's sad that you wish it was one group instead of another. I'm sad that anyone would try to do such a thing.

Nowhere dragon indicated that he wished it to be another group.

88 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:07:19am

re: #71 lawhawk

Granting personhood to an embryo could potentially result in questioning census results, tax levies, inheritance law, and domestic relations laws, employer benefits laws, etc.

The GOP is opening a Pandora's box of trouble with this - and it's all with an eye towards eliminating the legal right to abortion. It's a roundabout attempt to make abortions illegal - and by making a claim that is unsupported by the science at that.

They don't care. They're aiming squarely at the religious fanatics to show how pure their beliefs are. If they have to trample on the rest of our legal system to show their "pro-life" bonafides, well, that's just collateral damage.

89 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:07:37am

re: #76 HappyWarrior

The personhood amendment resembles the one that failed in Mississippi via referendum. Virginia is nowhere near as conservative as Mississippi is. This is clearly the socons thinking this is what we Virginians want. Again I'll warn those again if Bob McDonnell ever seeks the nomination, do not be fooled by him. He's not a moderate Republican at all.

For those who missed it...

it is difficult to distinguish a law requiring women to be vaginally penetrated by a long metal object from state-sponsored rape. Worse, discussions among lawmakers leave little doubt that its supporters understood just what they were trying to write into law — they just didn’t care. As an unnamed lawmaker told a fellow Virginia delegate, a woman already consented to being “vaginally penetrated when they got pregnant.”

90 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:08:29am

Jimmy Carter to call for the release of the bomber in 5...4....3....
/

91 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:08:30am

re: #87 ☞☞☞☞☠

Nowhere dragon indicated that he wished it to be another group.

Maybe 'expect' was the right word.

92 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:08:56am

re: #89 Kragar

For those who missed it...

Yeah it's extremely fucked up and I of course expect McDonnell to sign it. Wouldn't expect anything less from Regent's finest.

93 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:09:37am

The GOP really deserves to crash, burn and never be reborn. You need some new fiscally conservative, socially liberal party to complement the Dems.

94 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:11:21am

re: #93 ☞☞☞☞☠

The GOP really deserves to crash, burn and never be reborn. You need some new fiscally conservative, socially liberal party to complement the Dems.

We haven't had a major party die since the Whigs died in the 1850's. Mostly major parties adapt to these situations though but I see no sign of the Republicans becoming even socially moderate let alone liberal.

95 Charleston Chew  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:12:12am

re: #58 Lidane

More RWNJ revisionist history. Apparently, Barack Obama got an easy ride when he ran for POTUS, and the media ignored Jeremiah Wright:

[Link: mediamatters.org...]

From the original piece by Rex Murphy:

The media walked right past the decades-long association of Obama with the weird and racist pastor Jeremiah Wright. In the midst of the brief stormlet over the issue, one CNN host — inexplicably — decided that CNN was going to be a “Wright-free zone.” He could have hung out a sign: “No bad news about Obama here.”

Gee, who's this Jeremiah Wright fellow? He sounds dangerous. You'd better tell me all about him, Rex.

What? That's all you have to say about him in the whole article? Seems like you've decided the rest of this article is a "Wright-free zone"! Why are you covering up for Obama?!

Or maybe it's that you know that everyone already knows all about him and you needn't say more, thus negating your argument.

96 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:12:29am

How has the left oppressed you today? asks James Taranto, reacting to conservative columnists who don't like Rick Santorum:

"In liberal metropolises like Los Angeles, Washington and New York (homes of [Conor] Friedersdorf, [Jennifer] Rubin and this columnist, respectively), a high proportion of conservatives have internalized the assumptions of feminism. One of those assumptions is that female sexual freedom, an essential component of sexual equality, is an unadulterated good. Santorum's statements to the contrary challenge this deeply held view."

97 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:12:45am

re: #94 HappyWarrior

We haven't had a major party die since the Whigs died in the 1850's. Mostly major parties adapt to these situations though but I see no sign of the Republicans becoming even socially moderate let alone liberal.

Mitt is pretty close. Mccain was too. Even Bush would fit that label.

98 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:13:22am

re: #96 jaunte

How has the left oppressed you today? asks James Taranto, reacting to conservative columnists who don't like Rick Santorum:

Crash. And. Burn. ASAP.

99 dragonfire1981  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:13:26am

re: #83 NJDhockeyfan

Yes. It's sad that you wish it was one group instead of another. I'm sad that anyone would try to do such a thing.

Um, reread what I typed. I never used the word "wish". I simply stated that at first I expected it to be one kind of extremist over another. All extremists are bad whether they are Muslim, Jewish, Left wing, Right wing, whatever.

I am against this sort of violence in all its forms.

100 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:13:50am

re: #95 Charleston Chew

From the original piece by Rex Murphy:

Gee, who's this Jeremiah Wright fellow? He sounds dangerous. You'd better tell me all about him, Rex.

What? That's all you have to say about him in the whole article? Seems like you've decided the rest of this article is a "Wright-free zone"! Why are you covering up for Obama?!

Or maybe it's that you know that everyone already knows all about him and you needn't say more, thus negating your argument.

Sounds like a piss-poor attempt to drag Wright back in the spotlight for an election year. Wonder what's next, college transcripts?

102 dragonfire1981  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:14:36am

And in the latest GOP Presidential news, Romney continues to struggle...

CNN: Ohio AG to switch endorsement from Romney to Santorum

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will announce that he is switching his endorsement for the GOP presidential nomination from Mitt Romney to Rick Santorum during a press conference in Columbus Friday, reports CNN's Peter Hamby,

"Two Ohio sources confirm to CNN that Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine will endorse Santorum today, switching his support from Romney," Hamby posted on Twitter.

Santorum's campaign announced Friday morning that he would make a "major campaign announcement" at 2:00 ET at the Ohio State House.
Santorum has a seven percentage point lead over Romney in the state, according to the Real Clear Politics polling average.

103 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:14:48am

re: #98 ☞☞☞☞☠

Eyeroll here:

Taranto: "This column has its differences with Rick Santorum, but we admire him for his fearlessness in challenging feminist pieties."

104 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:15:23am

re: #99 dragonfire1981

Um, reread what I typed. I never used the word "wish". I simply stated that at first I expected it to be one kind of extremist over another. All extremists are bad whether they are Muslim, Jewish, Left wing, Right wing, whatever.

I am against this sort of violence in all its forms.

Unless I missed the news about right wing nutjob suicide bombers I wouldn't have thought about it.

105 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:15:40am

re: #103 jaunte

What next, questioning the evil of slavery?

106 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:15:51am

re: #97 Killgore Trout

Mitt is pretty close. Mccain was too. Even Bush would fit that label.

All those guys are hardly popular with the rank and file. Bush's immigration policy, something I give him loads of credit for as a liberal is something that has been completely rejected by the party. I don't know. I just don't see it. At least not here in Virginia. Anyhow what I am saying is this, I don't see the Republicans becoming more socially moderate. All those guys you name are socially moderate I guess but they've all got one thing in common and that's their brand is hardly popular with the party faithful.

107 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:16:05am

re: #105 ☞☞☞☞☠

Courageous revisionism!

108 NJDhockeyfan  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:16:48am

Gotta go. Have a nice day lizards!

109 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:16:51am

[Link: fosterfriess.com:...]

This page no longer exists

110 Lidane  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:16:51am

re: #96 jaunte

James Taranto sez:

"One of those assumptions is that female sexual freedom, an essential component of sexual equality, is an unadulterated good."

That's because it IS an unadulterated good, you misogynistic fuckwit. The only people who think otherwise want women to STFU about equality and go back to being barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen.

111 Achilles Tang  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:17:13am

The other thing he said was "it's so inexpensive" (shades of $10,000 bets from billionaires).

That's only about $600 per year, plus $100-$200 for doctor visits. Who can't afford a measly $800 per year?//

112 lawhawk  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:17:37am

re: #88 Lidane

They'll care once they realize that certain cities in VA that are home to IVF clinics have to be counted in the census, requiring a shifting of districts to favor Democrats. Then again, they'll probably fight that they aren't the people we're supposed to be counting.

113 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:17:42am

re: #107 jaunte

Courageous revisionism!

Oh, I forgot. Goes on among the Southern neo-Confederates all the time.

114 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:17:42am

"Female sexual freedom is making candy bars get smaller."

115 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:18:25am

re: #111 Red Sea Desjardini Tang

The other thing he said was "it's so inexpensive" (shades of $10,000 bets from billionaires).

That's only about $600 per year, plus $100-$200 for doctor visits. Who can't afford a measly $800 per year?//

"Payroll tax cut? Thats only like $100 dollars a paycheck? Who will notice that?"

116 Coracle  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:18:59am

re: #94 HappyWarrior

We haven't had a major party die since the Whigs died in the 1850's. Mostly major parties adapt to these situations though but I see no sign of the Republicans becoming even socially moderate let alone liberal.

The smartest split off the GOP would be a fiscally censervative, scientifically sane, socially moderate party staking out ground between the current Reps and Dems. That would actually (in the global sense) be a true center-right party, and would probably have its base within the current Independent crowd.

It'd allow the paleocons and soccons to ride the "True Republican" brand into its well deserved grave.

117 dragonfire1981  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:19:13am

re: #104 NJDhockeyfan

Unless I missed the news about right wing nutjob suicide bombers I wouldn't have thought about it.

Does the name Anders Breivik ring a bell? I know that wasn't a domestic incident but it's still a glowing example of a killing spree that was in large part linked to violent right wing rhetoric.

And what about that guy the California highway patrol stopped some time ago who was a huge Glenn Beck fan?

Don't try and tell me there are no right wingers out there that aren't at all interested in plotting attacks against Government interests.

I AM AWARE that there are crazy left wingers too, but take a look at where the majority of the violent rhetoric has been lately and you can tell why I'm a tad more concerned about right wing violence than I am about left wing violence.

118 Our Precious Bodily Fluids  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:19:17am

re: #110 Lidane

James Taranto sez:

That's because it IS an unadulterated good, you misogynistic fuckwit. The only people who think otherwise want women to STFU about equality and go back to being barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen.

Implicit in the notion that women's sexual freedom isn't necessarily good is the idea that women's freedom not to have sex is therefore not necessarily good.

119 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:19:20am

re: #109 Bishop Cornwallis Gobbletot

[Link:

120 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:19:41am

They totally dismiss the more liberal parts of Virginia as not really being Virginia. They figure because NOVA especially isn't socially right wing that we're not really Virginia. Of course, we help out on their education and roads funding but they hate us anyhow. Assholes.

121 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:19:49am

re: #109 Bishop Cornwallis Gobbletot

I wonder if it is because so many other sites started to link to it that the whole website started to choke? Or perhaps FF thought he better rewrite it?

122 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:20:06am

re: #110 Lidane

James Taranto sez:

That's because it IS an unadulterated good, you misogynistic fuckwit. The only people who think otherwise want women to STFU about equality and go back to being barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen.

I bet he loves his viagra though.

123 Achilles Tang  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:20:19am

re: #114 jaunte

"Female sexual freedom is making candy bars get smaller."

I don't get that one, I have to reluctantly admit.

124 Varek Raith  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:20:33am

The results of the Maine caucuses are now under review.
Lol.

125 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:20:58am

re: #117 dragonfire1981

Don't bother. Tim McVeigh never existed.

126 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:21:04am

re: #106 HappyWarrior

All those guys are hardly popular with the rank and file. Bush's immigration policy, something I give him loads of credit for as a liberal is something that has been completely rejected by the party. I don't know. I just don't see it. At least not here in Virginia.

I think that depends on how you define "rank and file". The internet sometimes gives a skewed view of the political spectrum. Republican voters in presidential primaries continue to stick to moderate candidates. Fox News and wingnut blogs are one thing and Joe Republican in the real world is something pretty different. Same goes for liberals too. Sure there are moonbats in real life but they aren't the majority.

127 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:21:06am

re: #123 Red Sea Desjardini Tang

One of Breitbart's minions posted a silly story about the FLOTUS and candy bar size today.

128 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:21:24am

re: #124 Varek Raith

The results of the Maine caucuses are now under review.
Lol.

I suggest a Thunderdome to settle the dispute.

129 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:21:48am

re: #127 jaunte

One of Breitbart's minions posted a silly story about the FLOTUS and candy bar size today.

BEHAVE YOURSELF!

130 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:21:49am

re: #97 Killgore Trout

Mitt is pretty close. Mccain was too. Even Bush would fit that label.

Mitt's whatever the polls require him to be this week. They say they want a guy who hates abortion? He's been saying for years that he hates abortion! They want contraception banned? He's always been against it! They want abortion doctors burned at the stake? He'll be there with the gasoline.

The man's not held a single position that he wasn't willing to renege on the moment it became unpopular.

131 wrenchwench  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:23:09am

re: #121 freetoken

I wonder if it is because so many other sites started to link to it that the whole website started to choke? Or perhaps FF thought he better rewrite it?

He got an aspirin caught in his server.

132 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:23:23am

Koskidz are exploring the entrapment angle: BREAKING: FBI Nabs Suspeccted Suicide Bomber At U.S. Capitol

The details of this story are unfolding, but they have a similarity to the bomb plotfoiled in Oregon state months ago. It is also unclear at this time if the plot was the idea of the suspected terrorist, or if the FBI goaded him into it like in Oregon. I will update as more details are available.

The FBI has been under scrutiny for their controversial anti-terrorism tactics. Some critics have claimed many of the suspects would never have committed the act,, or attempted to, without the FBI egging them on, or aiding them in some way. Proponents claim it is the only way to weed out the suspects they think will truly carry out the actions they speak of.

More discussion in the comments.

133 Charleston Chew  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:23:31am

re: #120 HappyWarrior

They totally dismiss the more liberal parts of Virginia as not really being Virginia. They figure because NOVA especially isn't socially right wing that we're not really Virginia. Of course, we help out on their education and roads funding but they hate us anyhow. Assholes.

Liberals not real Virginians? That's a load of Pfotenhauer!

134 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:23:49am

Conservation Hawks Founder: ‘If Climate Change Isn’t Real, I’ll Give You My Beretta’


Let’s say you are walking down a trail in the wilderness with your wife and kids, and you come upon a grizzly sow, standing on a carcass. She charges, flat out. You’re in front of your family. What do you do? Just give up? Pretend it’s not happening? Let her maul you and everything your care about? Of course you don’t. You take action. That is how I see climate change. It’s real, it’s threatening everything we love. Not taking action is not an option.

Tanner rebuffed the argument that action on global warming pollution just means a government takeover. “You want to talk about government intrusion, think about what it means if we don’t address this now while we have the time and resources,” he said. “We will lose the freedoms that we have because somebody—and it will be government—will be in an all out effort to try and address the effects. To try and address the effects of our neglect. We’ll face the worst thing of all- losing our freedom. And we’ll already have lost most of hunting and fishing. That’s how serious I believe this is.”

135 jaunte  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:23:53am

re: #132 Killgore Trout

@edhenryTV
NEW from Fox's Catherine Herridge -- suspect had firearm when arrested today, had considered synagogues for target; naturalized citizen

136 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:24:06am

re: #126 Killgore Trout

I think that depends on how you define "rank and file". The internet sometimes gives a skewed view of the political spectrum. Republican voters in presidential primaries continue to stick to moderate candidates. Fox News and wingnut blogs are one thing and Joe Republican in the real world is something pretty different. Same goes for liberals too. Sure there are moonbats in real life but they aren't the majority.

Okay, I know this much KT. I know that Bob Marshall nearly won the Republican nomination for Senate here four years ago. This is a man who thinks children with conditions like Down Syndrome have them because their mothers had abortions in the past. I know that the district where I went to school once had a moderate Republican representative, Tom Davis, and I know that instead of sticking with a moderate like him, they ran a nutjob in Keith Finian the past two elections. I know not every Republican is like the ones on the FoxNation comments but I know that the party here has run away from John Warner/Tom Davis moderate Republicanism in favor of Bob Marshall/Ken Cuccinneli craziness.

137 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:24:20am

re: #130 Targetpractice

Mitt's whatever the polls require him to be this week. They say they want a guy who hates abortion? He's been saying for years that he hates abortion! They want contraception banned? He's always been against it! They want abortion doctors burned at the stake? He'll be there with the gasoline.

The man's not held a single position that he wasn't willing to renege on the moment it became unpopular.

Obama's campaign was the same thing. It's just the way politics are done. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

138 McSpiff  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:25:57am

re: #132 Killgore Trout

Koskidz are exploring the entrapment angle: BREAKING: FBI Nabs Suspeccted Suicide Bomber At U.S. Capitol

More discussion in the comments.

I'd love to hear how the FBI 'forced' him into being a suicide bomber. What did they do, hold a gun to his head?

139 Charleston Chew  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:26:11am

re: #137 Killgore Trout

Obama's campaign was the same thing. It's just the way politics are done. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Bullshit.

140 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:26:18am

Remember that Fox news story about inter-racial marriage rates w/latinos about which we discussed last night (the story with yet more obligatory bigoted remarks)?

Anyway, here is the Pew story (with link to the actual report) on the subject, should anyone care to follow up on it:

The Rise of Intermarriage

141 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:26:27am

re: #135 jaunte

@edhenryTV
NEW from Fox's Catherine Herridge -- suspect had firearm when arrested today, had considered synagogues for target; naturalized citizen

Interesting. I've seen all kinds of reports saying he was arrested in Virginia, arrested at the capitol, Illegl immigrant, legal immigrant. It'll be interesting to learn who he was.

142 CuriousLurker  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:26:50am

re: #114 jaunte

"Female sexual freedom is making candy bars get smaller."

Don't forget that promiscuous female dress or behavior also causes earthquakes. Who knows what kind of disasters unrestrained sexual freedom could bring down on our heads? Oh wait, we already know according to our own ayatollahs: Roberson, Falwell, Fischer...

143 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:28:06am

re: #139 Charleston Chew

Bullshit.

Gitmo is closed? Iraq dragged on longer than his campaign promises. NDAA? Ban on lobbyists? It's a long list. He's not an idiot, he was pandering.

144 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:28:06am

re: #137 Killgore Trout

Obama's campaign was the same thing. It's just the way politics are done. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

No. Obama was more liberal during the campaign, changed perspective on some things when he became the President - the office has this effect of "moderation" (for better or worse).

Mitt first was as a "liberal" (more or less) in office, and later changed during the campaign. The situations are reversed.

145 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:28:37am

re: #137 Killgore Trout

Obama's campaign was the same thing. It's just the way politics are done. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

I don't "hate the game".

Democracy requires compromise.

Yes, President Obama has at times been, how can I put this, conveniently flexible. However, he is no where near as malleable as the Tofu Candidate.

146 jamesfirecat  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:29:01am

re: #137 Killgore Trout

Obama's campaign was the same thing. It's just the way politics are done. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

What Positions has Obama flip flopped on?

147 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:29:24am

re: #137 Killgore Trout

Obama's campaign was the same thing. It's just the way politics are done. Don't hate the player, hate the game.

Obama moderated, Mitt has turned a complete 180.

148 Kragar  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:30:10am

re: #146 jamesfirecat

What Positions has Obama flip flopped on?

He's supposed to be a sekrit muslim but he keeps killing terrorists!
/

149 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:30:11am

re: #144 ☞☞☞☞☠

No. Obama was more liberal during the campaign, changed perspective on some things when he became the President - the office has this effect of "moderation" (for better or worse).

Mitt first was as a "liberal" (more or less) in office, and later changed during the campaign. The situations are reversed.

It's always hard to tell but Obama isn't a dumb and dreamy liberal. He's a smart guy and probably had a pretty realistic idea of what he was getting into. Things don't always pan out and plans change but I don't think he was surprised by much after taking office.

150 Four More Tears  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:30:24am

re: #143 Killgore Trout

Gitmo is closed? Iraq dragged on longer than his campaign promises. NDAA? Ban on lobbyists? It's a long list. He's not an idiot, he was pandering.

I could have sworn Iraq ended when the agreement said it would...

151 jamesfirecat  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:31:15am

re: #143 Killgore Trout

Gitmo is closed? Iraq dragged on longer than his campaign promises. NDAA? Ban on lobbyists? It's a long list. He's not an idiot, he was pandering.

He gave his best shot at Banning Gitmo but Congress wouldn't go for it. What do you want him to do about it? He did everything he could but sadly the votes weren't there, the same way for single payer/public option, there's a huge gaping difference between trying, failing, and accepting that with the current congress some things can't be done and flip flopping.

152 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:31:28am

re: #150 They're pants, essentially...

I could have sworn Iraq ended when the agreement said it would...

I forget what his official campaign promise was on Iraq. I think he promised end of combat within a year. It took about two.

153 freetoken  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:32:21am
About 15% of all new marriages in the United States in 2010 were between spouses of a different race or ethnicity from one another, more than double the share in 1980 (6.7%). Among all newlyweds in 2010, 9% of whites, 17% of blacks, 26% of Hispanics and 28% of Asians married out. Looking at all married couples in 2010, regardless of when they married, the share of intermarriages reached an all-time high of 8.4%. In 1980, that share was just 3.2%.
154 Interesting Times  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:32:49am

re: #134 Kragar

Conservation Hawks Founder: ‘If Climate Change Isn’t Real, I’ll Give You My Beretta’

Tanner rebuffed the argument that action on global warming pollution just means a government takeover. “You want to talk about government intrusion, think about what it means if we don’t address this now while we have the time and resources,” he said. “We will lose the freedoms that we have because somebody—and it will be government—will be in an all out effort to try and address the effects. To try and address the effects of our neglect. We’ll face the worst thing of all- losing our freedom. And we’ll already have lost most of hunting and fishing. That’s how serious I believe this is.”

Exactly! I'm glad someone other than a "progressive" is pointing this out. It's also addressed in an article I paged earlier about the Texas droughts. If these truth-challenged state planners stick with their pray-it-goes-away dumbfuckery, the water-use restrictions eventually imposed by the government will create brand new rivers of wingnut tears.

155 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:33:02am

re: #152 Killgore Trout

I forget what his official campaign promise was on Iraq. I think he promised end of combat within a year. It took about two.

His campaign also ended in November '08, while the strategic agreement was signed a month later.

156 CuriousLurker  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:33:56am

re: #148 Kragar

He's supposed to be a sekrit muslim but he keeps killing terrorists!
/

Or so he says. Have you actually seen any bodies, hmm? //

157 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:36:16am

re: #149 Killgore Trout

It's always hard to tell but Obama isn't a dumb and dreamy liberal. He's a smart guy and probably had a pretty realistic idea of what he was getting into. Things don't always pan out and plans change but I don't think he was surprised by much after taking office.

Not surprised, but changed perspective when forced to deal with specific real situations under specific constraints, and confronted with information not available to most people. He was a liberal all along, so his campaign can hardly be called pure pandering (although politics without some pandering is impossible). It was consistent with his record.

Mitt's changes happened because he wants to appeal to the conservative base - or because he was a conservative all along and wanted to pander to the liberal base in MA.

158 Interesting Times  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:36:35am

He's talking about the Harper Government, but it applies to the current GOP in spades:

159 Targetpractice  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:39:58am

re: #157 ☞☞☞☞☠

Not surprised, but changed perspective when forced to deal with specific real situations under specific constraints, and confronted with information not available to most people. He was a liberal all along, so his campaign can hardly be called pure pandering (although politics without some pandering is impossible). It was consistent with his record.

Mitt's changes happened because he wants to appeal to the conservative base - or because he was a conservative all along and wanted to pander to the liberal base in MA.

Bush argued against nation building in his campaign...then went back on it twice before his first term was over. We've no idea what McCain would have gone back on, but my guess would be separating health insurance from employment.

Candidates moderate themselves when their attain the office they seek, needing to deal with the political realities of the office rather than the rhetoric of the campaign trail. But Mitt started the chameleon act before he even left the governorship, gearing up for a presidential run, and hasn't stopped changing since.

160 dragonfire1981  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:40:08am

re: #158 Interesting Times

He's talking about the Harper Government, but it applies to the current GOP in spades:

The crazy thing about this, for those who aren't familiar with Canadian politics is that the elected members of the Canadian Conservative Party would be considered evil liberal socialists when compared to the American GOP.

161 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:40:30am

re: #132 Killgore Trout

Koskidz are exploring the entrapment angle: BREAKING: FBI Nabs Suspeccted Suicide Bomber At U.S. Capitol

More discussion in the comments.

My opinion is that if they weeded out the bastard and never risked anyone's life, it's great. Go on doing it.

However I think you could agree that "entrapment" is a non-trivial topic, and should be discussed, in principle.

162 Obdicut  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:41:14am

re: #157 ☞☞☞☞☠

There's a hell of a lot of reason to believe that Mitt was pandering to liberals before, and that his 'true' political leanings, if he has any, are conservative.

163 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:42:02am

re: #162 Obdicut

There's a hell of a lot of reason to believe that Mitt was pandering to liberals before, and that his 'true' political leanings, if he has any, are conservative.

That is my opinion as well, based on recent reports about Mitt's history.

164 Interesting Times  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:43:06am

re: #160 dragonfire1981

The crazy thing about this, for those who aren't familiar with Canadian politics is that the elected members of the Canadian Conservative Party would be considered evil liberal socialists when compared to the American GOP.

Once upon a time that was true, but it does not apply to Harper and his cronies. They're Koch-brother-loving, fundamentalist wingnuts in moderate clothing. Now that Harper is no longer held in check by a minority government, he's showing his true McCarthyist, climate-change denying, authoritarian colors. He's the most destructive Prime Minister Canada's had in decades.

165 HappyWarrior  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:44:34am

Who knows what Mitt's real values are. That's the problem with the guy. He'll be a Rockefeller Republican when he wants to win in Massachusetts but a huge conservative when he wants to be too. All candidates change their positions but Mitt has made this into an art form. To be fair, Gingrich has also flipped too. He just has the advantage of positioning himself as a "true conservative" more easier. Mitt sees this job the presidency as just another resume item. I don't want a leader like that. He wants to be CEO of America not President.

166 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:48:34am

re: #161 ☞☞☞☞☠

My opinion is that if they weeded out the bastard and never risked anyone's life, it's great. Go on doing it.

However I think you could agree that "entrapment" is a non-trivial topic, and should be discussed, in principle.

I agree but the argument all too often come with a lot of baggage about presumed innocence of the suspect (Koskid mentioned the case in Oregon as an example of a set up) and other issues and hangups about the evil American empire, colonialism etc. It is a serious issue but is very rarely discussed seriously.

167 Charleston Chew  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:51:21am

re: #143 Killgore Trout

Gitmo is closed? Iraq dragged on longer than his campaign promises. NDAA? Ban on lobbyists? It's a long list. He's not an idiot, he was pandering.

There's a big diference between

A.) Pretending to support something to get elected.

and

B.) Making sincere promises and then failing to achieve them.

There's a big difference between flip-flops and failure.

On January 23, 2009, Obama signed an executive order stating that Guantánamo Detention Camp would be closed within the year. In November 2009, he admitted that the "specific deadline" he had set for closure of the Guantánamo Bay camp would be "missed."

He signed the 2011 Defense Authorization Bill which contains provisions that place restrictions on the transfer of Guantánamo prisoners to the mainland or to other foreign countries, thus impeding the closure of the detention facility. However he strongly objected to the clauses and stated that he would work with Congress to oppose the measures.

The President failed to achieve the goal of shutting down Gitmo becuase it turned out to be harder to do than he thought. He didn't disown the desire to shut it down. That's a failure, not a flip-flop.

Iraq dragged on longer than his campaign promises.

What sort of supernatural powers do you expect him to have to control all the events of the entire world? He adapted his plans to reality. He failed to live up to a specific time frame. Not a flip-flop.

The ban on lobbyists had the waiver loophole so that's a broken promise.

But none of this is comparable to Romney's saying whatever voters want to hear.

The President set high standards for himself and then failed to live up to all of them. Romney has no standards. An essential difference.

168 Lord Baron Viscount Duke Earl Count Planckton  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:53:35am

re: #166 Killgore Trout

I did not read the comments in detail, but with skimming found some pretty reasonable ones.

The question is when interference "causes" the intent, and when it only facilitates it, and thus the question of responsibility - these are fair questions.

It is reasonable to assume that the guy was hellbent on committing acts of terror from the beginning. In other possible cases this may be less clear. So, again, better a discussion than pure acceptance or pure refusal. But on that we've already agreed.

169 ProMayaLiberal  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 11:53:54am

I hope the Moroccan nut doesn't hurt our relations with Morocco.

170 b_sharp  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 12:08:56pm

re: #169 ProGunLiberal

I hope the Moroccan nut doesn't hurt our relations with Morocco.

Yes.
I still want to go to Rick's Place and tell Sam to play it again.

171 Killgore Trout  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 12:09:58pm

re: #169 ProGunLiberal

I hope the Moroccan nut doesn't hurt our relations with Morocco.

My inside sources tell me regular shipments of slated lemons and hashish will not be interrupted.

172 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 12:36:51pm

re: #42 nines09

One step at a time until they can undo The New Deal.

I think they want to undo the Square Deal as well while they are at it.

173 Feline Fearless Leader  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 12:39:08pm

re: #67 dragonfire1981

In my head I picture the terrorist flicking the switch, only to have one of those BANG! flags pop out from the vest.

That's not C4, it's full of Twinkies!

174 leftynyc  Fri, Feb 17, 2012 1:09:19pm

re: #41 Simply Sarah

Oh, I'm not going to give up. I don't see crying as a sign of weakness. In this case, it's a sign of frustration, of anger, of sadness. Doesn't mean I'm beaten down, though. Far from it.

Preach it, sister. Tears just clean the spirit for the fight.


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