Photo of the Day (With Bonus #Twitchy.com Hilarity)

Not impressed
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From the White House’s Photostream on Flickr, here’s President Obama with Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, learning how to do her “not impressed” look.

Click to enlarge

Almost as funny, here’s the reaction of Michelle Malkin’s twitchy.com, where they saw this tweet from McKayla Maroney…

…and instantly twitched to the wrong conclusion: Gymnast McKayla Maroney Not Impressed With President Obama?

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147 comments
1 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:24:29pm

That's a cute photo. Can you imagine her taking such a lighthearted and amusing picture with stiff-as-a-board Romney? I certainly can't.

2 TedStriker  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:26:09pm
…and instantly assumed the worst: Gymnast McKayla Maroney Not Impressed With President Obama?

FFS, Michelle and your Twitchy minions....

3 Henchman Ghazi-808  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:28:42pm

Twitchy is such a fitting name for that cesspool of partisan gossip.

4 allegro  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:29:44pm

Yet another example of shooting first, then looking for the target.

5 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:32:56pm

The people in the background give context to the photo. It's a lighthearted moment.

How anyone could turn that into a partisan attack is beyond me. Of course, I'm not a wingnut.

6 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:33:02pm

Obama is the father of daughters. I get the idea he is a great father of daughters.

7 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:34:42pm

re: #5 Lidane

The people in the background give context to the photo. It's a lighthearted moment.

How anyone could turn that into a partisan attack is beyond me. Of course, I'm not a wingnut.

Well, there's yer problem, right there./

8 Obdicut  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:35:11pm

The freaks need to believe in a world where normal people hate the President the way they do. It's kinda sad.

9 Eclectic Infidel  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:35:38pm

What a heart-warming photo. I think it's great we have such a personable, down-to-Earth President. I'm so happy he's with us for another four years.

10 Stanghazi  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:36:18pm

They attack an American Olympic athlete. Shame.

hahaha, of course they do, she's with POTUS.

11 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:37:31pm

re: #8 Obdicut

The freaks need to believe in a world where normal people hate the President the way they do. It's kinda sad.

On this topic, my folks are here for the weekend. I had to endure a completely unhinged rant from my ultra-conservative father while we were out shopping for tools to work on the new fishmobile. I just don't get WHY they have to hate him so much. I get that they don't agree with his fiscal policies, and that the root cause is that he's not a Republican and therefore evil, but the raw hatred just takes me aback every time.

12 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:39:13pm

re: #11 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

On this topic, my folks are here for the weekend. I had to endure a completely unhinged rant from my ultra-conservative father while we were out shopping for tools to work on the new fishmobile. I just don't get WHY they have to hate him so much. I get that they don't agree with his fiscal policies, and that the root cause is that he's not a Republican and therefore evil, but the raw hatred just takes me aback every time.

He is a black man.

I had a hard time with it at first, but it's the truth.

Deep, deep seated racism in this country.

13 engineer cat  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:40:12pm

McKayla Maroney

allow me to do my "impressed" face

14 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:40:54pm

re: #12 Gretchen G.Tiger

He is a black man.

I had a hard time with it at first, but it's the truth.

Deep, deep seated racism in this country.

Honestly, I have a hard time believing that my parents are racist. But on the other hand, they are severely anti-affirmative action. And they do the whole "sooper sekrit Muslim" schtick about the President and openly question his American citizenship, so maybe I should just acknowledge the signs already.

15 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:42:51pm

re: #14 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Honestly, I have a hard time believing that my parents are racist. But on the other hand, they are severely anti-affirmative action. And they do the whole "sooper sekrit Muslim" schtick about the President and openly question his American citizenship, so maybe I should just acknowledge the signs already.

It's all tied into fear of slave revolt, communism, mixing of the races and all the bogie men that don't exist anymore.

16 engineer cat  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:43:02pm

re: #11 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

On this topic, my folks are here for the weekend. I had to endure a completely unhinged rant from my ultra-conservative father while we were out shopping for tools to work on the new fishmobile. I just don't get WHY they have to hate him so much. I get that they don't agree with his fiscal policies, and that the root cause is that he's not a Republican and therefore evil, but the raw hatred just takes me aback every time.

the fact that he's president, and especially the fact that he was re-elected president, say loudly and clearly and infuriatingly Everything You Know For Sure Is Wrong

17 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:44:24pm

re: #16 engineer cat

the fact that he's president, and especially the fact that he was re-elected president, say loudly and clearly and infuriatingly Everything You Know For Sure Is Wrong

Yeah, my dad was pretty pissed that Minnesota went very VERY solidly for Obama this year, even after I told him that it would. Of course, I didn't mention that one of those blue votes was mine... *ducks*

18 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:45:03pm

Reading Master of the Senate by Robert Caro helped me to understand the recent history of racism --the kind I grew-up with and the kind ingrained in my parent's generation.

19 Targetpractice  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:46:08pm

re: #11 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

On this topic, my folks are here for the weekend. I had to endure a completely unhinged rant from my ultra-conservative father while we were out shopping for tools to work on the new fishmobile. I just don't get WHY they have to hate him so much. I get that they don't agree with his fiscal policies, and that the root cause is that he's not a Republican and therefore evil, but the raw hatred just takes me aback every time.

Oh, I know the feeling. I gotta drive 10 hours tomorrow just so I can listen to 5 days worth of griping about Obama, bellyaching about the election, and doomsaying about the next 4 years. I'm almost tempted to fake an illness just to get out of it.

20 Stanghazi  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:46:45pm

re: #14 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Honestly, I have a hard time believing that my parents are racist. But on the other hand, they are severely anti-affirmative action. And they do the whole "sooper sekrit Muslim" schtick about the President and openly question his American citizenship, so maybe I should just acknowledge the signs already.

It's weird. But you have to think, why do they buy so easily into these bullshit classifications of POTUS? Something makes it easy.

I do blame Sister Sarah and John McCain for starting the whole thing off.
Why couldn't they just run against a Democratic oponent? McCain used Sister Sarah who very very happily played the "other" about Obama.

21 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:47:17pm

re: #19 Targetpractice

Oh, I know the feeling. I gotta drive 10 hours tomorrow just so I can listen to 5 days worth of griping about Obama, bellyaching about the election, and doomsaying about the next 4 years. I'm almost tempted to fake an illness just to get out of it.

I have a very low tolerance for Forced Family Fun, the older I get.

22 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:47:27pm

re: #19 Targetpractice

Yeah. My dad even asked me to write an app for his iPhone (I'm an official iOS developer now!) that would display a countdown until January 20, 2017. I had to exercise some serious anger management.

23 engineer cat  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:47:41pm

re: #14 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Honestly, I have a hard time believing that my parents are racist. But on the other hand, they are severely anti-affirmative action. And they do the whole "sooper sekrit Muslim" schtick about the President and openly question his American citizenship, so maybe I should just acknowledge the signs already.

i'm afraid they sound very much to me like racists of the "i'm not a racist - BUT..." variety

24 Iwouldprefernotto  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:48:10pm

re: #22 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Yeah. My dad even asked me to write an app for his iPhone (I'm an official iOS developer now!) that would display a countdown until January 20, 2017. I had to exercise some serious anger management.

January 20, 2017: The day Hillary is sworn in.

25 A Mom Anon  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:48:13pm

That photo is awesome. I actually like the idea of a President that can be that personable and light hearted sometimes. If the wingnuts find that a reason to hate the guy(another reason that is), well it says way more about them than it does anyone in that photo.

I can't imagine what it's like to live with someone who takes that whole "Twitchy" thing seriously, it simply cannot be fun on any level. Twitchy? Really? It sounds like what happens after a night of too much meth and bourbon.

26 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:48:17pm

re: #19 Targetpractice

Oh, I know the feeling. I gotta drive 10 hours tomorrow just so I can listen to 5 days worth of griping about Obama, bellyaching about the election, and doomsaying about the next 4 years. I'm almost tempted to fake an illness just to get out of it.

That's why I'm avoiding my family until Christmas. I don't want to deal with my disgruntled Republican relatives until they've had some distance from the election.

27 Stanghazi  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:48:52pm

re: #19 Targetpractice

Oh, I know the feeling. I gotta drive 10 hours tomorrow just so I can listen to 5 days worth of griping about Obama, bellyaching about the election, and doomsaying about the next 4 years. I'm almost tempted to fake an illness just to get out of it.

I'm going to South Carolina! And Fox News Dad! I am so glad, so fucking glad POTUS was reelected. I will not have to hold my tongue, they will.

28 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:48:59pm

re: #24 Iwouldprefernotto

January 20, 2017 The day Hillary is sworn in.

At which point his head would asplode. He's so upset he says he's even swearing off voting. I'm trying not to indulge in too much schadenfreude at his expense, because it is my own father, but still.

29 Targetpractice  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:49:27pm

re: #21 Gretchen G.Tiger

I have a very low tolerance for Forced Family Fun, the older I get.

Agreed. I live in a fairly vibrant suburban environment, which makes the prospect of five days in BFE Kentucky very unappealing. Yeah, I want to be there for Thanksgiving to spend time with my relatives, but at the same time, I'm old enough to realize now that most of them already have other commitments. Either they're visiting their in-laws for the holidays or have moved hours away and don't want to make the drive just for a couple hours of merrymaking. And it just doesn't make up for the $200+ cost of getting there and back.

30 Usually refered to as anyways  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:50:53pm

re: #22 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Yeah. My dad even asked me to write an app for his iPhone (I'm an official iOS developer now!) that would display a countdown until January 20, 2017. I had to exercise some serious anger management.

I think you could have some fun with that.
Pop ups of his achievements of anniversaries would be the first thing that comes to mind.

Go on, you could do it ;)

31 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:51:57pm

re: #25 A Mom Anon

That photo is awesome. I actually like the idea of a President that can be that personable and light hearted sometimes. If the wingnuts find that a reason to hate the guy(another reason that is), well it says way more about them than it does anyone in that photo.

I can't imagine what it's like to live with someone who takes that whole "Twitchy" thing seriously, it simply cannot be fun on any level. Twitchy? Really? It sounds like what happens after a night of too much meth and bourbon.

One of my favorite shots of Bush II, was at the Olympics. He was sitting in the "bleachers" with some college kids and one of the kids handed him his cell phone. Bush took it and started talking to whomever the kid had been talking to. He had this total "Dad" look on his face. Like, "I have 12 million things to do, but sure, I'll play along." I think he is also a good father of daughters. When daughters become teenagers, Dad's kinda feel lost. They don't have alot in common anymore.

32 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:53:09pm

re: #29 Targetpractice

Agreed. I live in a fairly vibrant suburban environment, which makes the prospect of five days in BFE Kentucky very unappealing. Yeah, I want to be there for Thanksgiving to spend time with my relatives, but at the same time, I'm old enough to realize now that most of them already have other commitments. Either they're visiting their in-laws for the holidays or have moved hours away and don't want to make the drive just for a couple hours of merrymaking. And it just doesn't make up for the $200+ cost of getting there and back.

I've been to BFE Kentucky. I don't think I'd go anytime but Summer--when there is a lot to do outside--away from people.

33 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:54:47pm

re: #28 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

At which point his head would asplode. He's so upset he says he's even swearing off voting. I'm trying not to indulge in too much schadenfreude at his expense, because it is my own father, but still.

I'm grateful that my mom taught me to not be racist. But she also taught me that Men Are Bad. At some point I had to choose to either hate men and get along with Mom (and my sisters) or get along with men, and not some of my family. I haven't had a holiday with my original family in a long time, but my chosen family is going on 29 years now. (We're doing Thanksgiving in a restaurant for the first time next week!)

34 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:56:22pm

re: #33 wrenchwench

I'm grateful that my mom taught me to not be racist. But she also taught me that Men Are Bad. At some point I had to choose to either hate men and get along with Mom (and my sisters) or get along with men, and not some of my family. I haven't had a holiday with my original family in a long time, but my chosen family is going on 29 years now. (We're doing Thanksgiving in a restaurant for the first time next week!)

So she taught you to be a sexist, but not a racist.

(something wrong there)

35 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:56:42pm

re: #33 wrenchwench

I just kinda cover it up. Honestly, my parents are more anti-Democratic than they are racist. Not to say that the race component isn't there, but they managed to teach me pretty well not to hate on non-white people. So I just nod and smile and let them ramble on about evil librul this and evil librul that, and then when we're gone I tell my wife how full of crap they were and leave it at that.

36 Gretchen G.Tiger  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:59:10pm

re: #35 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

I just kinda cover it up. Honestly, my parents are more anti-Democratic than they are racist. Not to say that the race component isn't there, but they managed to teach me pretty well not to hate on non-white people. So I just nod and smile and let them ramble on about evil librul this and evil librul that, and then when we're gone I tell my wife how full of crap they were and leave it at that.

Yeah, I can't do that. I make it rather clear that I don't tolerate labels. "I can do quite a lot of generalizing myself if I want to, but I choose not to." while looking straight into their eyes.

Or I say that I don't want to hear about politics--it's a family gathering.

37 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 2:59:18pm

re: #34 Gretchen G.Tiger

So she taught you to be a sexist, but not a racist.

(something wrong there)

A lot wrong, but it seems to get diluted further with each generation.

38 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:01:24pm

re: #35 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

I just kinda cover it up. Honestly, my parents are more anti-Democratic than they are racist. Not to say that the race component isn't there, but they managed to teach me pretty well not to hate on non-white people. So I just nod and smile and let them ramble on about evil librul this and evil librul that, and then when we're gone I tell my wife how full of crap they were and leave it at that.

If the relationships can be kept intact, I think that's for the best. The trick will be to show the little fishy that it's OK to love the grandparents even when they're wrong. I guess you have a couple of years before that's an issue.

39 freetoken  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:01:56pm

Some people are less able to deal with change, or for some reason seek to escape to what "used to be" - an ideal world that never really existed.

In the really big picture, I suspect our cultural evolution these past 10,000 or so years has so outstripped our organic ability to cope (essential in all living organisms) with the environment in which one finds itself that we are just overwhelmed and can't really accept it.

I wonder if on other planets in this universe, on the ones which have complex life, if the scenario is the same: some species develops a runaway increase in information processing and finds itself estranged from the very life-system that gave it birth. I suppose so.

40 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:02:19pm

re: #36 Gretchen G.Tiger

Yeah, I can't do that. I make it rather clear that I don't tolerate labels. "I can do quite a lot of generalizing myself if I want to, but I choose not to." while looking straight into their eyes.

Or I say that I don't want to hear about politics--it's a family gathering.

Thankfully, it doesn't happen all too often at our family gatherings. I think this one is worse mostly because the election was so recent. Once they finally get resigned to their fate, it'll settle down to the occasional "Obama and his stupid socialism" remark.

41 Targetpractice  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:03:33pm

re: #32 Gretchen G.Tiger

I've been to BFE Kentucky. I don't think I'd go anytime but Summer--when there is a lot to do outside--away from people.

I'm beginning to agree with a sentiment I heard a comedian mention the other day, which is the realization that if I weren't related to those people, I probably wouldn't have anything to do with them. I go back home now more out of a sense of obligation to my grandmother, who rarely gets to see us anymore. When she's gone, I think the family's gonna just fall apart.

42 Stanghazi  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:05:45pm

lol, we are reading and typing Thanksgiving prep. Lessons to take home.

43 Pawn of the Oppressor  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:06:44pm

Look at that filthy non-Republican, using his evil Negro Magic to brainwash the youth vote by seeming "cool" on social media. HE'S GOING TO DESTROY AMURICAH!!!!11

Or, it's a funny photo. You pick.

44 Dancing along the light of day  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:06:57pm

I just do the "bobble-head doll" thing when politics comes up over the holidays. I nod & keep my mouth shut, until I can change the subject!

45 Stanghazi  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:09:41pm

re: #44 Dancing along the light of day

I just do the "bobble-head doll" thing when politics comes up over the holidays. I nod & keep my mouth shut, until I can change the subject!

I'm practicing!!!

46 Targetpractice  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:10:44pm

re: #44 Dancing along the light of day

I just do the "bobble-head doll" thing when politics comes up over the holidays. I nod & keep my mouth shut, until I can change the subject!

Smile and nod, smile and nod. "What's that? Oh yeah, sure, whatever you say."

47 engineer cat  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:14:30pm

one of my closest cousins has become a right winger too

how can a surgeon be stupid enough to read jonah goldberg and believe him, i ask you?

i'm ashamed to admit that i just keep my mouth shut and nod when he goes on one of his "will you be behind the barricades shooting rioters with me when all hell breaks loose?" rants

48 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:16:21pm

re: #47 engineer cat

one of my closest cousins has become a right winger too

how can a surgeon be stupid enough to read jonah goldberg and believe him, i ask you?

i'm ashamed to admit that i just keep my mouth shut and nod when he goes on one of his "will you be behind the barricades shooting rioters with me when all hell breaks loose?" rants

You know, sometimes, it's just confirmation bias raised to an art form. There are some brilliant engineers I know that are completely unhinged politically, some even believe in conspiracy theories of some flavor. I just don't get it.

49 Targetpractice  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:20:45pm

My relatives are of the Fox News variety, so yeah, I'm in for a lot of hurtin' this next week. Think I'll grab a bottle of extra-strength Advil on the way into town.

50 Obdicut  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:28:02pm

re: #47 engineer cat

how can a surgeon be stupid enough to read jonah goldberg and believe him, i ask you?

My wife would say that surgeons are the jocks of the medical world. But really, anyone of any intelligence level is vulnerable to derp. It's an emotional, not an intellectual thing.

51 OhNoZombies!  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:28:06pm

re: #44 Dancing along the light of day

I just do the "bobble-head doll" thing when politics comes up over the holidays. I nod & keep my mouth shut, until I can change the subject!

Same here.
When the in-laws get all churchy, I just nod and smile.

52 The Mountain That Blogs  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:34:26pm

re: #50 Obdicut

My wife would say that surgeons are the jocks of the medical world

And she would be right.

53 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:41:59pm

CNN statement on the questionable Reuters video that has been making the rounds.
Statement about Gaza images CNN aired

The video we aired came from the news agency Reuters and their feed to us did not include the image of the man standing.

We asked Reuters about it today.

They said they don’t know the source of the image of that man standing or when that image was shot.

They also said that they never saw or shot any similar image.

The bottom line is we cannot independently verify when the image of the man standing was taken.

There you see it at the bottom of your screen, whether it was taken before or after the other image was taken of the man being dragged away.

We obviously will not be using either of these images again.

This is not only a traditional military conflict but one that’s being waged in the media as well, and our only goal, as always, is to report the truth, the facts on all fronts and that’s why we’ve sent so many of our own reporters and producers into the field.

I think the video originated with BBC. It seems somewhere along the line Reuters picked it up and the portion of the video showing the man uninjured went missing.

54 PhillyPretzel  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:48:46pm

The President and Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney are having a funny moment in front of the cameras. I cannot see anything wrong. It takes someone or several someones with a major chip on their shoulders the size of the Rock of Gibraltar to put anything else in there. I guess that is the current agenda of the GOP. They really need to get out of their castles and see how people live.

55 Charles Johnson  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:49:08pm

I just found out at Free Republic that I've turned into a "Muslim-lover."

56 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:50:33pm

re: #55 Charles Johnson

I just found out at Free Republic that I've turned into a "Muslim-lover."

When did this become a bad thing?

57 Targetpractice  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:51:02pm

re: #55 Charles Johnson

I just found out at Free Republic that I've turned into a "Muslim-lover."

What's so wrong with it? I hear it's a very fashionable fabric and there's nothing wrong with liking it, let alone loving it.

*whisper whisper*

Oh, Muslim, not Muslin...nevermind.

//

58 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:53:52pm

re: #55 Charles Johnson

I just found out at Free Republic that I've turned into a "Muslim-lover."

I hope they notice the upcoming promotion.

I like her too.

59 OhNoZombies!  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 3:57:35pm

re: #56 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

When did this become a bad thing?

Because Obama did something with the Muslim Brotherhood and Jay-Z in Benghazi.
...or something.

60 jaunte  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:00:24pm

Thanks Rupert. Now shut up.

61 PhillyPretzel  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:03:03pm

re: #60 jaunte

Amen.

62 TedStriker  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:03:50pm

re: #55 Charles Johnson

I just found out at Free Republic that I've turned into a "Muslim-lover."

BOOGA BOOGA!!!11ty

/

63 PhillyPretzel  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:05:20pm

Darn. I just got a telemarketer calling my cell phone with a restricted number. :(

64 Charles Johnson  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:06:03pm
65 Amory Blaine  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:16:44pm

re: #4 allegro

Yet another example of shooting first, then looking for the target.

The very definition of twitchy.

66 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:19:39pm

re: #44 Dancing along the light of day

I just do the "bobble-head doll" thing when politics comes up over the holidays. I nod & keep my mouth shut, until I can change the subject!

I am a master of the bobble-head move at the family table.

They know I'm not a Republican or a conservative, but I think they're still convinced it's a phase and that eventually I'll grow out of it. Not bloody likely, especially after this election.

67 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:20:30pm

re: #49 Targetpractice

My relatives are of the Fox News variety, so yeah, I'm in for a lot of hurtin' this next week. Think I'll grab a bottle of extra-strength Advil on the way into town.

Forget the Advil and go straight for the wine. Tell them it's the holidays and you're not planning on driving around, so why not?

68 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:20:53pm

re: #66 Lidane

I am a master of the bobble-head move at the family table.

They know I'm not a Republican or a conservative, but I think they're still convinced it's a phase and that eventually I'll grow out of it. Not bloody likely, especially after this election.

Yeah, my folks don't know that I've come to the dark side. They probably never will. As long as they don't press the issue, the peace shall be kept.

69 Amory Blaine  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:22:49pm

I have no tolerance for wingnuts. I won't eat at their houses and they are not welcome at mine. Maybe I'll go to their funeral, but you hold their vile putrid views, GFY.

70 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:28:40pm
71 Amory Blaine  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:30:48pm

Chrysler boosting U.S. engine output; adds flex line

Chrysler Group LLC will invest $238 million in two plants in Michigan to boost engine production to meet U.S. demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient engines, the U.S. automaker majority owned by Fiat SpA said on Thursday.

Chrysler is spending $198 million to make by early 2014 its Pentastar V6 engine at the Mack I Engine Plant in Detroit, which now makes a larger engine for the Ram 1500 truck. The automaker is also working on several variants of the 3.6-liter V6 engine, including a smaller 3.2-liter version.

The No. 3 U.S. automaker is also spending $40 million to install a flexible production line -- its first ever -- at its Trenton North plant in Trenton, Michigan, to build both the V-6 engine and the Tigershark four-cylinder engine.

"You can see a downsizing of engines," Sergio Marchionne, the chief executive of both Chrysler and Fiat told reporters at the engine plant in Detroit. "We have more and more efficiency out of the (four-cylinder), you'll see them taking some of the places of the V6s."

The company said it would add up 250 jobs in Mack, subject to market conditions. In March 2013, Chrysler also will add 1,000 new jobs on a third shift at its Warren Truck Assembly Plant, which builds the 2013 Ram 1500 truck in Warren, Michigan.

Marchionne said the added jobs were proof of Chrysler's turnaround since it emerged from a bankruptcy restructuring under management control of Fiat in 2009.

Fuck you Mitt Romney.

72 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:30:52pm

re: #70 Killgore Trout

[Embedded content]

Too bad the Israeli navy doesn't have any of the long 16's. Of course, they'd have to fire them from halfway across the Mediterranean./

73 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:33:22pm

re: #71 Amory Blaine

Chrysler boosting U.S. engine output; adds flex line

Fuck you Mitt Romney.

American engine technology is rapidly catching up to the Japanese and Germans. I own a newer Chevy sedan with a 4-cylinder that is comparable in power and fuel efficiency to one of the turbocharged rice burners or to the Volkswagen 5-cylinder. It's a darn good thing we bailed out Detroit.

74 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:33:51pm

re: #72 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Too bad the Israeli navy doesn't have any of the long 16's. Of course, they'd have to fire them from halfway across the Mediterranean./

Makes me wonder what they're shooting at. Maybe tunnels along the border. I know they have some super accurate targeted artillery capabilities but I don't know if the Navy has them or not.

75 OhNoZombies!  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:34:10pm

My husband's step mom is an evangelical wingnut.
I don't like typing all that much, but a good debate makes my eyes all twinkly.
So, the new rule at family gatherings is, if I'm around, we aren't allowed to talk about politics.
Hee hee.

76 Kragar  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:35:52pm

Arpaio wants automatic weapons to gun down fleeing suspects

Newly re-elected Sheriff Joe Arpaio on Thursday pledged to put an automatic weapon in the hands of every Maricopa Country deputy because “[m]ore and more illegal aliens are attempting to escape.”

An official press release distributed by the Maricopa Country Sheriff’s Office on Thursday told the story of several groups of “illegal aliens” that had tried to flee from deputies. In total, 16 allegedly undocumented immigrants were arrested during a two-day period. Several had tried to flee on foot or in cars and were chased down with helicopters and K-9 units. One vehicle was reportedly discovered with Hispanic males and “what appeared to be large bundles of marijuana.”

77 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:37:20pm

re: #76 Kragar

Arpaio wants automatic weapons to gun down fleeing suspects

Because really, what could go wrong?

78 Amory Blaine  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:37:40pm

Making beef jerky today. About 3 hrs left...

79 Shiplord Kirel  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:39:01pm

re: #74 Killgore Trout

Makes me wonder what they're shooting at. Maybe tunnels along the border. I know they have some super accurate targeted artillery capabilities but I don't know if the Navy has them or not.

The largest guns in the IDF-Navy are the 76mm Oto Melara mounts on the Saar 4.0 and 4.5 class missile boats. Given the small caliber and high rate of fire, I would guess on a quick reaction strike against a transitory target, something like an exposed rocket launcher.

80 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:39:31pm
81 Hercules Grytpype-Thynne  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:39:53pm

re: #77 Lidane

Because really, what could go wrong?

Our definition of "wrong" is probably his definition of "right".

82 Kragar  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:40:29pm

re: #77 Lidane

Because really, what could go wrong?

Gunning down suspects is what all the cool sheriffs are doing nowadays.

83 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:40:57pm

re: #81 Hercules Grytpype-Thynne

Our definition of "wrong" is probably his definition of "right".

Until one of his trigger happy officers hits the wrong target, sure.

Giving Arpaio automatic weapons is an invitation for a wrongful death lawsuit.

84 Vicious Babushka  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:41:09pm
85 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:41:40pm

re: #82 Kragar

Gunning down suspects is what all the cool sheriffs are doing nowadays.

Yeah, if by "nowadays" you mean "back in the 1880's". Arpaio is apparently reincarnated from the Wild West.

86 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:43:16pm

re: #76 Kragar

Arpaio wants automatic weapons to gun down fleeing suspects

From that link:

“Once again the entry into Maricopa County from Mexico by illegal aliens does not seem to have subsided by evidence of numerous arrests made by my deputies,”

They must be flying in, because Maricopa County is not on the Mexican border.

87 TedStriker  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:44:08pm

re: #80 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

Too bad that's a satire account, because that tweet's funny.

88 Shiplord Kirel  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:45:33pm

re: #85 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Yeah, if by "nowadays" you mean "back in the 1880's". Arpaio is apparently reincarnated from the Wild West.

Sheriff Joe is 80 years old, so he has practically been around since the Wild West.

89 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:46:59pm

re: #87 Ben G. Hazi

Too bad that's a satire account, because that tweet's funny.

Satire accounts are sometimes known for being funny.

They've created a whole satire person, and put him to good use.

90 TedStriker  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:47:56pm

re: #86 wrenchwench

From that link:

They must be flying in, because Maricopa County is not on the Mexican border.

Isn't Phoenix/Maricopa County like about 30 miles or so from the border?

91 Kragar  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:48:51pm

re: #90 Ben G. Hazi

Isn't Phoenix/Maricopa Country like about 30 miles or so from the border?

[Link: www.google.com...]

92 TedStriker  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:50:00pm

re: #89 wrenchwench

Satire accounts are sometimes known for being funny.

They've created a whole satire person, and put him to good use.

More useful than some of the morons and nutjobs who currently occupy elected office...

93 OhNoZombies!  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:51:29pm

Arpaio reminds me of the good ol' boys of segregation.
George Wallace and his ilk come to mind. He'd fit right in.

94 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:52:48pm

re: #79 Shiplord Kirel

The largest guns in the IDF-Navy are the 76mm Oto Melara mounts on the Saar 4.0 and 4.5 class missile boats. Given the small caliber and high rate of fire, I would guess on a quick reaction strike against a transitory target, something like an exposed rocket launcher.

You can listen to it here, it's still going on a bit but slower now...
[Link: www.ustream.tv...]
It does sound kind of like big artillery to me, lots of bass. But the range seems very short. Ba-wump, ba-wump. I think the "ba" is firing and "wump" is hitting. less than a second apart.

95 TedStriker  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:53:00pm

re: #91 Kragar

[Link: www.google.com...]

Yeah, I had Googled it too after I posted...Maricopa County's huge.

I somehow feel like Arpaio's looking for an excuse to have his department hunt The Most Dangerous Game with full auto weapons, under the guise of stemming the tide of Scary Brown People.

96 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:54:03pm

re: #84 Vicious Babushka

Interesting photo from Ashdod:

Two Hasidic men carry a woman to safety during a "Red Alert"

Guy in the pink shirt is moving too slow!

97 OhNoZombies!  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:54:27pm

re: #93 OhNoZombies!

Arpaio reminds me of the good ol' boys of segregation.
George Wallace and his ilk come to mind. He'd fit right in.

All he needs are some hound dogs, and the picture would be complete.

98 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:56:01pm

re: #78 Amory Blaine

Making beef jerky today. About 3 hrs left...

The closest I've come to Thanksgiving dinner in my adult life was budwiser and turkey pot pies with lesbians in college. I'm considering maybe BBQing some turkey legs this year.

99 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:56:34pm

re: #90 Ben G. Hazi

Isn't Phoenix/Maricopa County like about 30 miles or so from the border?

Looking at the ol' map on the wall, the closest corner of Maricopa County is about 30 miles from the border, and very remote from much of anything, and Phoenix is more like 70 miles from the border.

Is that about what Google says?

100 Kragar  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:56:54pm

re: #97 OhNoZombies!

All he needs are some hound dogs, and the picture would be complete.

They've got them.

"In total, 16 allegedly undocumented immigrants were arrested during a two-day period. Several had tried to flee on foot or in cars and were chased down with helicopters and K-9 units."

101 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:57:56pm

re: #95 Ben G. Hazi

Yeah, I had Googled it too after I posted...Maricopa County's huge.

I somehow feel like Arpaio's looking for an excuse to have his department hunt The Most Dangerous Game with full auto weapons, under the guise of stemming the tide of Scary Brown People.

Pinal County, also not on the border, wants to put armed civilians out in the desert.

102 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:58:55pm

I hate to get "news" from twitter but AFP just retweeted this

103 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 4:59:06pm

re: #101 wrenchwench

Pinal County, also not on the border, wants to put armed civilians out in the desert.

Saddle up, boys, we're formin' a posse to go after them Mexicans. Grab your long guns and your Colt revolvers!

104 OhNoZombies!  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:00:04pm

re: #100 Kragar

They've got them.

"In total, 16 allegedly undocumented immigrants were arrested during a two-day period. Several had tried to flee on foot or in cars and were chased down with helicopters and K-9 units."

Jeezus.

105 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:01:10pm
106 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:01:13pm

re: #101 wrenchwench

Pinal County, also not on the border, wants to put armed civilians out in the desert.

*sigh*

Because armed civilians will know exactly what to do in any given situation, and will be properly trained.

God, these lunatics annoy me and scare me in equal measure. There's a reason why law enforcement and the military go through training, for fuck's sake. You can't just put a gun in someone's hand and expect them to be able to handle themselves in a firefight or in a tense moment.

107 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:01:37pm

re: #104 OhNoZombies!

Jeezus.

And then there's Texas....

108 Kragar  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:01:59pm

re: #104 OhNoZombies!

Jeezus.

Yeah, helicopters and dogs? Not good enough, you need automatic weapons to gun them down to keep them from getting away according to Joe.

109 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:03:17pm

re: #106 Lidane

*sigh*

Because armed civilians will know exactly what to do in any given situation, and will be properly trained.

God, these lunatics annoy me and scare me in equal measure. There's a reason why law enforcement and the military go through training, for fuck's sake. You can't just put a gun in someone's hand and expect them to be able to handle themselves in a firefight or in a tense moment.

The proposal might get shot down (so to speak) because the company that provides insurance for Sheriff's posses in Arizona said they won't insure armed civilians patrolling the desert.

110 TedStriker  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:03:57pm

re: #99 wrenchwench

Looking at the ol' map on the wall, the closest corner of Maricopa County is about 30 miles from the border, and very remote from much of anything, and Phoenix is more like 70 miles from the border.

Is that about what Google says?

Looked that way to me...counties out west always blow me away in their sheer size. My hometown (and current location) is metropolitan Nashville/Davidson County and it's only about 526 square miles; Maricopa County is about 9224 square miles and almost 4 million people (about 2/3rds of the population of the whole of Tennessee in about a quarter of the space).

111 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:05:40pm

re: #109 wrenchwench

The proposal might get shot down (so to speak) because the company that provides insurance for Sheriff's posses in Arizona said they won't insure armed civilians patrolling the desert.

Why should they insure armed civilians? They're not law enforcement and aren't entitled to protection if they end up getting themselves shot or hurt in the desert.

If you're enough of a demented wingnut fanatic that you want to carry a gun and be an armed civilian vigilante in the desert, whatever happens is all on you.

112 Kragar  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:05:55pm

re: #106 Lidane

*sigh*

Because armed civilians will know exactly what to do in any given situation, and will be properly trained.

God, these lunatics annoy me and scare me in equal measure. There's a reason why law enforcement and the military go through training, for fuck's sake. You can't just put a gun in someone's hand and expect them to be able to handle themselves in a firefight or in a tense moment.

From earlier this year:

Extremists Go To ‘War’ In The Arizona Desert

In just the past few years alone, federal agents in Arizona have gone on a hunt for a man who claimed to have littered the desert with explosive devices. They have been told a Minuteman-style organization planned to shut down a major freeway. They have discovered a bomb planted along a known smuggling route. And more recently, a militia group has talked openly about buying a tank to combat what it calls “narco terrorism” flowing across the border.

In a way, authorities were lucky they stopped Harbin when they did. He was 150 miles north of the US-Mexico border when he was pulled over on Jan. 14, 2011, in a pickup truck near his hometown of Apache Junction, Ariz., a sleepy exurb on the far eastern edge of metropolitan Phoenix.

Harbin was an active member of the National Socialist Movement, the largest neo-Nazi group in the United States, and was known to don the organization’s full dress uniform: black pants, black shirt, swastika armband and helmet emblazoned with the white letters SS to mimic the look of Hitler’s army.

More than six months before his arrest, members of the National Socialist Movement were spotted in plain clothes at a Tea Party rally in the Phoenix suburbs, passing out fliers that called for landmines to be placed along the US-Mexico border.

“We all should be actively advocating daily to mainstream America the most humane, non-racist, fair border security plan available,” the fliers said. “Namely, A MINEFIELD!

113 ReamWorks SKG  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:06:12pm

re: #1 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

It is an adorable photo. I'm glad that my country is represented by a person who seems fully in touch with trends and styles, among his other qualifications.

114 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:06:17pm

Israeli air strike hits Gaza media building, three hurt — medics

An Israeli air strike hit a media building in Gaza City on Sunday morning, injuring at least three journalists, Palestinian medical sources said.

"At least three journalists were wounded when Israeli warplanes bombed the Showa and Hassary building," the sources said. The building houses multiple media offices, including that of al-Quds television, which is close to Hamas. — AFP

115 Dancing along the light of day  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:08:09pm

re: #105 Killgore Trout

Caveman Pops (aka Roasted Turkey Legs)

Caveman pops! LOL! You going to make them?

116 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:08:11pm

re: #111 Lidane

Why should they insure armed civilians? They're not law enforcement and aren't entitled to protection if they end up getting themselves shot or hurt in the desert.

If you're enough of a demented wingnut fanatic that you want to carry a gun and be an armed civilian vigilante in the desert, whatever happens is all on you.

I wonder if they'll take another look at covering any posses.

117 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:08:33pm

re: #107 wrenchwench

And then there's Texas....

Helicopter snipers have their place in larger states where it is difficult to track dangerous fugitives. I remember watching a TV episode with one such case, a police sniper in Alaska who traded fire from a helicopter with an armed survivalist nutjob on the ground. The bullets passed each other in the air; the cop killed the man, the man killed the cop's partner. With all that said, I don't think Texas is quite doing it right.

118 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:10:35pm

re: #117 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Helicopter snipers have their place in larger states where it is difficult to track dangerous fugitives. I remember watching a TV episode with one such case, a police sniper in Alaska who traded fire from a helicopter with an armed survivalist nutjob on the ground. The bullets passed each other in the air; the cop killed the man, the man killed the cop's partner. With all that said, I don't think Texas is quite doing it right.

With states that big, they can just follow the vehicle and wait until it runs out of gas. The case in Texas was not near people, IIRC. The truck was being driven by a 14 year old.

119 OhNoZombies!  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:11:20pm

re: #117 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too

Helicopter snipers have their place in larger states where it is difficult to track dangerous fugitives. I remember watching a TV episode with one such case, a police sniper in Alaska who traded fire from a helicopter with an armed survivalist nutjob on the ground. The bullets passed each other in the air; the cop killed the man, the man killed the cop's partner. With all that said, I don't think Texas is quite doing it right.

I saw that episode.

120 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:11:28pm

re: #115 Dancing along the light of day

Caveman pops! LOL! You going to make them?

I think so, I'll just trow them on the grill. Seems easy enough. Maybe I'll even pick up a box of that cheap stuffing. I know it's crap but it's always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I guess I'm just in the mood this year.

121 Douchecanoe and Ryan Too  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:12:44pm

re: #118 wrenchwench

With states that big, they can just follow the vehicle and wait until it runs out of gas. The case in Texas was not near people, IIRC. The truck was being driven by a 14 year old.

Alaska I think deserves special consideration because there simply are no roads anywhere. Searching for a fugitive in the forest is best done from the air. I wouldn't trust Texas with a ball of yarn, let alone a helicopter-mounted marksman.

122 Interesting Times  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:15:16pm

Wow - this picture is worth well over 1000 words:

The 113th Congress will be the most diverse in history

"Diversity" for the purposes of the chart being LGBT, Race/Ethnicity/Religion, Women, and Youth. I think there are a total of 46 congresspeople pictured, and - no exaggeration - you can count the republicans on one hand.

123 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:17:36pm

re: #122 Interesting Times

Wow - this picture is worth well over 1000 words:

The 113th Congress will be the most diverse in history

"Diversity" for the purposes of the chart being LGBT, Race/Ethnicity, Women, and Youth. I think there are a total of 56 congresspeople pictured, and - no exaggeration - you can count the republicans on one hand.

You weren't kidding about that. Wow.

Cool picture.

124 Dancing along the light of day  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:19:59pm

re: #120 Killgore Trout

Cheap stuffing is better with way too much celery & onions!

125 kirkspencer  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:21:02pm

re: #124 Dancing along the light of day

Cheap stuffing is better with way too much celery & onions!

And a handful or two of your favorite chopped nuts.

126 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:21:40pm

re: #124 Dancing along the light of day

Cheap stuffing is better with way too much celery & onions!

Good tip. That I can do.

127 OhNoZombies!  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:21:48pm

re: #118 wrenchwench

With states that big, they can just follow the vehicle and wait until it runs out of gas. The case in Texas was not near people, IIRC. The truck was being driven by a 14 year old.

I drove from San Antonio to Corpus Christi and after rush hour, I didn't see anything but clouds and an armadillo.

But seriously, these people have confused real life with the movies.

128 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:21:59pm

re: #124 Dancing along the light of day

Cheap stuffing is better with way too much celery & onions!

My mother always added either raisins or dried cranberries to the cheap stuffing, along with the celery and onions.

129 Killgore Trout  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:22:54pm

re: #125 kirkspencer

And a handful or two of your favorite chopped nuts.

I do have a whole bunch of my first crop of home grown hazelnuts. This could be a good occasion to make use of them.

130 Charles Johnson  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:28:16pm
131 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:31:08pm

re: #130 Charles Johnson

Better question: Why is Murdoch owned press so consistently anti-reason in every crisis?

132 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:31:58pm

re: #6 Gretchen G.Tiger

Obama is the father of daughters. I get the idea he is a great father of daughters.

Whereas Mitt Romney is the father of sons.

But more important to this sort of photo op is that Mitt Romney isn't a "neighborhood person". It's not really something his business career encouraged, given the long hours and lots of travel his work entailed, and by the time he shift into politics he was set in his ways. But while he relates easily with his own family and has proven a good father in his won right, Romney's dealing with people outside of his social circle tend to be formal and during the campaign were rigidly controlled in a bid to prevent gaffes.

Barack Obama is a neighborhood person, and has been since the 1980's. While his being a community organizer has often been derided in some circles, it did press upon him the importance of making sure to appear accessible and friendly to his clients and supporters. Coming from Chicago also resulted in Obama being taught the importance of local area awareness, a vital skill in a political machine that retains its power in part by making sure its leaders are well informed about events in their wards and districts and that some of that knowledge is to be derived first hand.

The upshot of all this is that it is to be expected that Barack Obama would throw in that extra bit for a photo op like this, whereas Romney would have been scripted and formal.

133 Kragar  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:37:22pm

re: #131 Lidane

Better question: Why is Murdoch owned press so consistently anti-reason in every crisis?

Why do you hate America?

134 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:40:01pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

I differ with your analysis. I think the who these men were as youngsters and teenagers and young adults determined what kind of work they went into. Obama grew up among very diverse kinds of people. (Hawaii is very diverse, and so is Indonesia, and so is LA, where Occidental College is.) Romney, not so much.

I don't know what it takes to make a venture capitalist, or whatever you'd call Romney, but I do know what it takes to make a community organizer. It takes a 'people person'. Obama has been one since way before the 80's.

135 Obdicut  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:41:29pm

re: #130 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Great, another white guy who's really concerned about intra-Jewish relations. That'll help.

136 bratwurst  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:49:53pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

Whereas Mitt Romney is the father of sons.

But more important to this sort of photo op is that Mitt Romney isn't a "neighborhood person". It's not really something his business career encouraged, given the long hours and lots of travel his work entailed, and by the time he shift into politics he was set in his ways. But while he relates easily with his own family and has proven a good father in his won right, Romney's dealing with people outside of his social circle tend to be formal and during the campaign were rigidly controlled in a bid to prevent gaffes.

Good news...the election is over! You can stop compulsively defending Mitt Romney now.

137 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:57:08pm

re: #134 wrenchwench

I differ with your analysis. I think the who these men were as youngsters and teenagers and young adults determined what kind of work they went into. Obama grew up among very diverse kinds of people. (Hawaii is very diverse, and so is Indonesia, and so is LA, where Occidental College is.) Romney, not so much.

I don't know what it takes to make a venture capitalist, or whatever you'd call Romney, but I do know what it takes to make a community organizer. It takes a 'people person'. Obama has been one since way before the 80's.

You've got a point, though I think my point still has validity as well. But I'm not sure its all diversity. Some of it, I think, is the expectations placed on both men when they were young. Both Obama and Romney were firstborn sons, but while Barak Obama the Elder did not directly play a large role in his son's life, George Romney clearly did. This ended up meaning that Barack Obama was to a great extent able to choose his own course without being under external pressure to live up to his father's example, whereas Mitt Romney has clearly from youth been seen (and sees himself) as his father's heir, the man who would carry the family name to even greater heights. And in many ways, Mitt Romney has done that and done a lot of good along the way. But it has meant that his choices have been made with an eye towards his status as the heir, a status that influences Mitt Romney even unto this very day.

138 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 5:58:00pm

re: #136 bratwurst

Good news...the election is over! You can stop compulsively defending Mitt Romney now.

That post was more about me being compulsively analytical.

139 wrenchwench  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 6:03:55pm

re: #137 Dark_Falcon

You've got a point, though I think my point still has validity as well. But I'm not sure its all diversity. Some of it, I think, is the expectations placed on both men when they were young. Both Obama and Romney were firstborn sons, but while Barak Obama the Elder did not directly play a large role in his son's life, George Romney clearly did. This ended up meaning that Barack Obama was to a great extent able to choose his own course without being under external pressure to live up to his father's example, whereas Mitt Romney has clearly from youth been seen (and sees himself) as his father's heir, the man who would carry the family name to even greater heights. And in many ways, Mitt Romney has done that and done a lot of good along the way. But it has meant that his choices have been made with an eye towards his status as the heir, a status that influences Mitt Romney even unto this very day.

Those are good points. Romney was constricted by his upbringing, and Obama was freed. I hope Romney does not have the opportunity to constrict the freedom of anyone else. I suppose his sons are already constricted, the oldest most of all.

140 Lidane  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 6:05:12pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

Or, to put it more succinctly -- Barack Obama has lived in the real world, Mitt Romney has not.

Obama grew up among diverse groups of people and put his convictions to work among the poor, making him able to relate to all kinds of people. Mitt Romney has lived a sheltered, privileged life surrounded by people like him, and it shows.

141 Obdicut  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 6:07:02pm

re: #132 Dark_Falcon

There's such a thing as overanalysis.

142 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 6:12:20pm

re: #141 Obdicut

There's such a thing as overanalysis.

Yes, there is, and I'm rather prone to it.

143 Dark_Falcon  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 6:15:15pm

re: #139 wrenchwench

Those are good points. Romney was constricted by his upbringing, and Obama was freed. I hope Romney does not have the opportunity to constrict the freedom of anyone else. I suppose his sons are already constricted, the oldest most of all.

Well, they seem to be good men and they do well in the world. But having the Romneys' kind of larger and more traditional family has been my own experience in life, so that's part of why I tend to identify with them.

144 Eventual Carrion  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 6:17:23pm

re: #97 OhNoZombies!

All he needs are some hound dogs, and the picture would be complete.

What we have here is a failure to comunicarse.

145 Ming  Sat, Nov 17, 2012 9:19:21pm

It's astonishing to read some of the comments on Michelle Malkin's website. Some of the wingnuts are already idealizing the young Ms. Maroney as their Joan of Arc, who stood up to The Evil One.

It's hard not to feel shaken after reading those comments. What is going on? As Dr. Scott said in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, "I knew he was in with a bad crowd, but it was worse than I imagined."

146 Bulworth  Sun, Nov 18, 2012 5:14:41am

That Twitchy team, you just can't fool them. //

147 ಠ_ಠ  Sun, Nov 18, 2012 12:22:04pm

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