Andrew McCarthy: It Is Impossible for Republicans to Win National Elections

The Art of the Impossible…Indeed
blueraven
Politics • Views: 23,522

This article is several days old, but I just recently happened upon it. I am struck by the desperate and totally cynical tone.

Andrew McCarthy is saying in effect; Republicans can not win national elections. It is impossible. They have no choice but to shutdown government and hold the world’s economy hostage to get their way. And while doing so, they must try really, really hard to fool the public and make it appear that President Obama is actually the unreasonable one.

Of course he blasts establishment Republicans and blames the failure of this folly on McCain, McConnell, the liberal media etc…

And oh yeah, one last thing…Healthcare is NOT for everyone. So says Andrew McCarthy and The Free Market.

This is not Democracy.

The Art of the Impossible

Option One was the GOP establishment’s “win elections, then repeal” strategy: Do nothing for now; allow Obamacare to be implemented; assume its unpopularity would increase, creating a climate for extended, uninterrupted GOP electoral success…

Option Two: Because, as a matter of law, Obamacare could not proceed unless both congressional chambers agreed to fund it, and because Republicans control the House, House Republicans could deny it funding.

…

Option Two would be tough to pull off, but it was not exclusive of Option One; and, contrary to conventional wisdom, there was the chance that the memory of any government shutdown would fade quickly while raising public consciousness about Obamacare’s downsides would have enduring electoral benefits.

…

So, were we out of better options? I think so. To my mind, if the defund plan was delusional, the GOP establishment’s “repeal Obamacare by winning elections” alternative is delusional squared.

So, were we out of better options? I think so. To my mind, if the defund plan was delusional, the GOP establishment’s “repeal Obamacare by winning elections” alternative is delusional squared.

To buy it, you first have to believe that the GOP is suddenly going to become an electoral juggernaut. Mind you, we are talking about Republicans who have won the popular vote in a presidential election only once since 1988; who are rapidly losing the confidence of the conservative base that gave the GOP the historic midterm victory in 2010; and whose current priorities include a mass legalization of (Democrat-leaning) illegal immigrants that would make it increasingly difficult for Republicans to win elections in the future. We are to believe, moreover, that this electoral juggernaut is poised to take off in the cycle right after the GOP lost to Obama and lost congressional seats despite high unemployment and no economic growth.

…

Republicans do not make the case that health care is like any other commodity in a free market rather than a corporate asset to be centrally managed. They are the guys who accept core premises of Obamacare: Republicans do not make the case that health care is like any other commodity in a free market rather than a corporate asset to be centrally managed.The disagreement between statist Democrats and the GOP establishment is about the degree of government intrusion in health care, not the matter of government intrusion in principle. Republicans are also the guys who want to keep some of Obamacare’s core, anti-free-market elements — e.g., provisions that forbid denial of coverage owing to preexisting conditions and that keep “children” on their parents’ coverage until age 26.

…

Republicans had to demonstrate that they were so fearful of Obamacare’s harmful effects on the country that they were firmly resolved not to fund it. If this ended up meaning the government got (very partially) shut down, they had to tee that up in a way that could persuade the public that it was Obama, not the Republicans, who was forcing the shutdown.

More: The Art of the Impossible

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136 comments
1 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 11:22:16am

The problem is the GOP’s growth in recent years has been in parts of the population that are getting smaller not larger. If they want to be nationally viable, they need to present a reasonable center-right message to the American people. Romney and McCain may have governed center-right as governor and senator respectively but they moved far right as candidates. GOP could also stand to not be so rigid on social and economics issues. They’ve got loads of problems though which is their own fault by being bigoted jackasses.

2 blueraven  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 11:30:35am

McCain and Romney had their own issues. McCain chose Pain; also Bush…enough said.
Romney was never accepted by the base, nor trusted by others. He bashed Obamacare which was based on his own healthcare plan. He wouldn’t release his Tax records, he insulted half of the country as losers. He was out of touch with middle America.

I think a good moderate GOP candidate would have had a chance in 2012. But the tea party pushed everybody to the right. Now they bitch and argue that they have no choice but to go rogue. It is a pity party everyday.

3 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 11:44:20am

re: #2 blueraven

McCain and Romney had their own issues. McCain chose Pain; also Bush…enough said.
Romney was never accepted by the base, nor trusted by others. He bashed Obamacare which was based on his own healthcare plan. He wouldn’t release his Tax records, he insulted half of the country as losers. He was out of touch with middle America.

I think a good moderate GOP candidate would have had a chance in 2012. But the tea party pushed everybody to the right. Now they bitch and argue that they have no choice but to go rogue. It is a pity party everyday.

Huntsman perhaps for 2012? The problem though is even moderate candidates have to be pushed to the right to win their primary. Even the aforementioned Huntsman still wants to get the EPA.

4 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 11:54:09am

It will be interesting to see what Christie, the only Republican who looks like he could conceivably defeat Hillary, will do in ‘16. If I were him, I would conclude that the GOP nomination for president is not worth winning if it requires him to move so far to the Right that he is unelectable, and I wouldn’t try to compete with the pack of howler monkeys for the extremist votes. If there aren’t enough pragmatic GOP voters to win the nomination, then so be it; let Rand Paul, Ted Cruz or some other crazy have the nomination and go down in flames. That may be what it takes to break the GOP’s fever.

5 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:10:11pm

re: #3 HappyWarrior

Huntsman perhaps for 2012? The problem though is even moderate candidates have to be pushed to the right to win their primary. Even the aforementioned Huntsman still wants to get the EPA.

Huntsman was no moderate. His proposal to eliminate taxes on capital gains and dividends is the holy grail for the top 0.001%.

Huntsman distinguished himself from the others in the 2012 GOP field by being relatively sane and moderate.

6 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:11:11pm

re: #5 EPR-radar

Huntsman was no moderate. His proposal to eliminate taxes on capital gains and dividends is the holy grail for the top 0.001%.

Huntsman distinguished himself from the others in the 2012 GOP field by being >relatively sane and moderate.

Very true. There’s no true moderate wing in the Republican Party left anymore really.They were disappearing in the Bush years and they’re virtually all gone now in the Obama years.

7 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:12:06pm

re: #5 EPR-radar

Huntsman was no moderate. His proposal to eliminate taxes on capital gains and dividends is the holy grail for the top 0.001%.

Huntsman distinguished himself from the others in the 2012 GOP field by being >relatively sane and moderate.

Everything is relative.

The least batshit insane moron is still a batshit insane moron.

8 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:13:19pm

There’s comedy gold in the linked article:

Furthermore, unlike Senate Republicans, Senate Democrats are unified and disciplined. Knowing the press is the wind at their backs, they are disposed to use every parliamentary privilege available to a minority to obstruct a repeal of Obamacare. Remember, Democrats unilaterally enacted Obamacare at a time when it was very unpopular and seemed likely to cost them dearly at the ballot box. But they are influenced by movement progressives to a far greater degree than the Tea Party influences Republicans. So important was socialized medicine to the Left that Democrats rammed Obamacare through, regardless of the likely electoral consequences. They are going to fight repeal to the death.

The delusions are strong in this one.

9 piratedan  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:14:55pm

re: #8 EPR-radar

There’s comedy gold in the linked article:

The delusions are strong in this one.

yeah, remember that time when Code Pink and Occupy dominated Democratic policy? me neither….

10 GeneJockey  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:16:20pm

re: #8 EPR-radar

There’s comedy gold in the linked article:

But they are influenced by movement progressives to a far greater degree than the Tea Party influences Republicans.

The delusions are strong in this one.

lolwhut?

11 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:16:26pm

re: #9 piratedan

yeah, remember that time when Code Pink and Occupy dominated Democratic policy? me neither….

Democrats marginalize their lunatic fringe.

Republicans elect them to office.

12 Mattand  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:16:43pm

re: #6 HappyWarrior

Very true. There’s no true moderate wing in the Republican Party left anymore really.They were disappearing in the Bush years and they’re virtually all gone now in the Obama years.

On Monday’s show, Rachel Maddow did a pretty good take down of the “Christie is our moderate savior” horseshit that 65% of NJ and the half of the country swallows.

Look at the VA gov race. Kenny C is bringing an unrepentant homophobic, fundamentalist bigot to stump for him, which will somehow convince people to vote GOP.

Sorry, Republicans, but you guys are fucking insane right now. And I don’t see it getting better.

13 Bulworth  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:17:44pm

re: #8 EPR-radar

Democrats rammed Obamacare through,

i.e. passed Obamacare using legislative majorities in both houses (and a filibuster preventing 60-vote majority in the Senate) and signed into law by a Democratic president. But, yeah, “rammed it through”.

14 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:17:48pm

re: #8 EPR-radar

There’s comedy gold in the linked article:

The delusions are strong in this one.

Yeah that’s delusional nonsense and the way you can see that is how big the Democratic Party’s tent is in comparison to the Republican one’s.

15 Eclectic Cyborg  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:18:11pm

Healthcare.gov is the Obama administration’s Disco Demolition night.

16 Mattand  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:18:12pm

re: #9 piratedan

yeah, remember that time when Code Pink and Occupy dominated Democratic policy? me neither….

The corollary to “MSNBC damages political discourse as badly as Fox News.”

17 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:18:19pm

What do you call a Tea Partiers who wonders if maybe conservatism doesn’t always win in the end?

RINO!

18 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:18:28pm
Republicans are also the guys who want to keep some of Obamacare’s core, anti-free-market elements — e.g., provisions that forbid denial of coverage owing to preexisting conditions and that keep “children” on their parents’ coverage until age 26.

The major indicator that personal health insurance is not something that should in any way be solely a free-market mechanism.

These pundits do a very good job of coming across as inhuman machines rather then living beings. “Death Panels” as a concept seems to apply to them than most of things they attempt to slap that label on.

19 erik_t  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:18:49pm

(scratches head)

Not Even Wrong

Not even wrong refers to any statement, argument or explanation that can be neither correct nor incorrect, because it fails to meet the criteria by which correctness and incorrectness are determined. As a more formal fallacy, it refers to the fine art of generating an ostensibly “correct” conclusion, but from premises known to be wrong or inapplicable.

The phrase implies that not only is someone not making a valid point in a discussion, but they don’t even understand the nature of the discussion itself, or the things that need to be understood in order to participate.

20 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:19:20pm

re: #10 GeneJockey

lolwhut?

Obviously, since they pushed the Democrats away from using the GOP model for healthcare reform, Romneycare, and got them to enact singlepayer universal coverage instead.///

21 Lidane  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:19:40pm

re: #3 HappyWarrior

Huntsman perhaps for 2012? The problem though is even moderate candidates have to be pushed to the right to win their primary. Even the aforementioned Huntsman still wants to get the EPA.

Huntsman is just as batshit as the rest of them. He just hid it better and was just enough of a RINO to be Obama’s ambassador to China.

22 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:20:56pm

re: #12 Mattand

On Monday’s show, Rachel Maddow did a pretty good take down of the “Christie is our moderate savior” horseshit that 65% of NJ and the half of the country swallows.

Look at the VA gov race. Kenny C is bringing an unrepentant homophobic, fundamentalist bigot to stump for him, which will somehow convince people to vote GOP.

Sorry, Republicans, but you guys are fucking insane right now. And I don’t see it getting better.

It’ll get worse before it gets better. I assume you’re talkign about Jackson though. He’s doing more than just stump for him, he’s his running mate and the AG nominee isn’t much better. I believe he sponsored a bill that would try to criminally investigate miscarriages. He hasn’t gotten as much attention as Jackson and Cuccinelli. But yeah the GOP is fucking insane right now and I really don’t see it gettign better. They need to realize how bankrupt their ideology is. They need to stop deluding themselves that they would win more if they were just “more conservative.”

23 Lidane  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:21:16pm

re: #12 Mattand

Look at the VA gov race. Kenny C is bringing an unrepentant homophobic, fundamentalist bigot to stump for him, which will somehow convince people to vote GOP.

And the Tea Party are already calling him a RINO:

24 GeneJockey  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:22:10pm

re: #20 aagcobb

Obviously, since they pushed the Democrats away from using the GOP model for healthcare reform, Romneycare, and got them to enact singlepayer universal coverage instead.///

Yeah. I don’t even really have much response to projection on the scale McCarthy’s doing there.

25 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:22:11pm

re: #23 Lidane

And the Tea Party are already calling him a RINO:

[Embedded content]

Yeah, I saw that. That’s insane. The man has done everything outside dressing up in colonial era garb to kiss the Tea Party’s ass from the minute he was nominated to be our AG four years ago.

26 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:22:32pm

re: #23 Lidane

And the Tea Party are already calling him a RINO:

[Embedded content]

So it looks like Cuccinelli will be this election’s Maximillian Robespierre.

27 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:23:53pm

re: #26 Dr Lizardo

So it looks like Cuccinelli will be this election’s Maximillian Robespierre.

Yes. It was inevitable. Thing is even Cucci knows he couldn’t full out embrace the shutdown in a state with so many federal employees. I mean I think he’s a downright lunatic most of the time who believes what he’s doing but the man is a politician too and I think even he saw that he couldn’t totally embrace the shutdown and Toxic Ted Cruz.

28 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:24:09pm

re: #23 Lidane

And the Tea Party are already calling him a RINO:

[Embedded content]

Conservatism is a harsh mistress.
/

29 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:24:27pm

Does it look to anyone else like Rasmussen is bending over backwards to correct its GOP tilt? He had Obama’s approval rating at 51% recently when no-one else did, and now he has McAuliffe up 17 points.

30 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:25:54pm

re: #29 aagcobb

Does it look to anyone else like Rasmussen is bending over backwards to correct its GOP tilt? He had Obama’s approval rating at 51% recently when no-one else did, and now he has McAuliffe up 17 points.

I’ll wait for the unskewed results.
/

31 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:26:46pm

re: #30 Kragar

I’ll wait for the unskewed results.
/

Still “M” to “[stack overflow error]” the last time I checked.

32 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:27:20pm

The fact of the matter is had the Virginian Democratic Party had an even somewhat likable nominee for governor, Cuccinelli would have never had a chance. He only had a chance to begin with because McAuliffe is unlikable. When Cucci inevitably loses, it won’t be because he wasn’t conservative enough, it will be because of the Tea Party who think tantrums are the way to govern. The Tea Party I’d wager to say could have gotten 90% of what they wanted had they left Bolling replace McDonnell as the Republican Party’s standard bearer but instead they wanted Kooky Ken and his running mate the not so honorable Reverend I think PP is worse than the KKK. Bolling, I’m no fan would have been in a comfortable position even with the shutdown on his party’s back because Bolling doesn’t act like a partisan hack and I think lives somewhere on the planet Earth ideologically.

33 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:27:57pm

re: #30 Kragar

I’ll wait for the unskewed results.
/

I just looked, and Rasmussen has Obama’s approval rating at 52% when no other poll has him higher than 47%. It looks like he’s overcompensating.

34 piratedan  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:28:25pm

re: #29 aagcobb

Does it look to anyone else like Rasmussen is bending over backwards to correct its GOP tilt? He had Obama’s approval rating at 51% recently when no-one else did, and now he has McAuliffe up 17 points.

Think Ras realized that his professional bacom was being fried with being seen as an outlier with PPP handing him his lunch, besides, when you’re being mocked by Silver, Wang and Klein…. and your only friend is Chuck Todd and the GOP Watercarriers union, you may have to rethink your strategies long term.

35 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:28:45pm

re: #29 aagcobb

Does it look to anyone else like Rasmussen is bending over backwards to correct its GOP tilt? He had Obama’s approval rating at 51% recently when no-one else did, and now he has McAuliffe up 17 points.

That is strange. Rasmussen’s usual MO is to skew its results to favor the GOP in early polling to set early-campaign narratives, then get back on target as the election day draws near to preserve its credibility.

36 lawhawk  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:30:44pm

re: #23 Lidane

No True Tea Party.

Same with No True Conservative or No True Republican.

The GOP isn’t going to win by catering to the extortionist/extremist wing, but that’s precisely the tact that the party’s most vocal segment - and the group most likely to vote in their primaries are taking.

That big tent is shrinking fast - but the clown car keeps on motoring.

37 blueraven  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:31:18pm

McCarthy, along with many other conservative commentators are part of the bubble the “far right” clings to so desperately.

They make excuses for the failures, rile up the base and promote anti- democratic solutions.

They are the enablers for the thoroughly rejected ideology of the tea party.

38 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:33:08pm

re: #36 lawhawk

No True Tea Party.

Same with No True Conservative or No True Republican.

The GOP isn’t going to win by catering to the extortionist/extremist wing, but that’s precisely the tact that the party’s most vocal segment - and the group most likely to vote in their primaries are taking.

That big tent is shrinking fast - but the clown car keeps on motoring.

At the rate the GOP is going the “big tent” is gonna look like this in the not-too-distant future: Image: 201247_ts.jpg

39 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:33:26pm

re: #36 lawhawk

No True Tea Party.

Same with No True Conservative or No True Republican.

The GOP isn’t going to win by catering to the extortionist/extremist wing, but that’s precisely the tact that the party’s most vocal segment - and the group most likely to vote in their primaries are taking.

That big tent is shrinking fast - but the clown car keeps on motoring.

They’re going to really regret alienating the young and Hispanic voters when the time comes. I’ve seen many social conservatives argue that youthful support for things like SSM and other what I guess we’d call socially liberal position is just youthful idealism but it’s not. It’s a firm belief in equality that won’t change with age. Really, the GOP should have abandoned the religious right when they had the chance at the height of Reagan’s political power in the 80’s but they didn’t so they’re stuck with people who vote not out of checkbook but fear of the outsider and unknown. It really is their own damn fault for catering to tehse guys when they did.

40 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:33:42pm

re: #32 HappyWarrior

It would be greatly amusing to see Cuccinelli VA-gov join the list of notable tea party failures, such as Angle-Senate, O’Donnell-Senate, Mourdock-Senate, and Akin-Senate.

41 blueraven  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:34:10pm

re: #33 aagcobb

I just looked, and Rasmussen has Obama’s approval rating at 52% when no other poll has him higher than 47%. It looks like he’s overcompensating.

Yes, I have noticed that for a while now.
Strange

42 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:35:00pm

About that GOP Big tent…

Image: a_560x375.jpg

43 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:35:23pm

re: #40 EPR-radar

It would be greatly amusing to see Cuccinelli VA-gov join the list of notable tea party failures, such as Angle-Senate, O’Donnell-Senate, Mourdock-Senate, and Akin-Senate.

Only 13 days away. Terry just needs to keep his mouth shut and let Cucci, Jackson, and co talk. I really do have my doubts about Terry though. I would love to be wrong fwiw but I don’t know how he’ll do. Now the good thing is he’s got some people who understand Virginia running with him so maybe he’ll be okay. HE’s not insane though and that enough is for me ot prefer him.

44 Ming  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:36:12pm

It is profoundly against the US Constitution for some Republicans to be so strongly obsessed about the Affordable Care Act.

As it happens, the Affordable Care Act is ideologically centrist; it’s quite similar to what Mitt Romney did in Massachusetts.

But even if (hypothetically) the Affordable Care Act were deeply liberal, it was passed by both houses of Congress, signed into law by the President, and upheld by the Supreme Court. At this point, anyone with respect for the US Constitution should view the Affordable Care Act as the law of the land.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with working to improve existing laws. But there is something very wrong with being obsessed with one particular body of law, and wanting to undo everything and anything related to the Affordable Care Act. This shows a profound lack of respect for the constitutional process which allowed the Affordable Care Act to become law in the first place.

45 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:36:36pm

This is funny: Infowars is mocking website sabotage conspiracy theory.

46 piratedan  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:39:27pm

The GOP Idea of the proper use of the big tent is to invite everyone inside, the whites leave and then set the tent on fire.

47 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:39:43pm

re: #44 Ming

It is profoundly against the US Constitution for some Republicans to be so strongly obsessed about the Affordable Care Act.

As it happens, the Affordable Care Act is ideologically centrist; it’s quite similar to what Mitt Romney did in Massachusetts.

But even if (hypothetically) the Affordable Care Act were deeply liberal, it was passed by both houses of Congress, signed into law by the President, and upheld by the Supreme Court. At this point, anyone with respect for the US Constitution should view the Affordable Care Act as the law of the land.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with working to improve existing laws. But there is something very wrong with being obsessed with one particular body of law, and wanting to undo everything and anything related to the Affordable Care Act. This shows a profound lack of respect for the constitutional process which allowed the Affordable Care Act to become law in the first place.

There is nothing wrong with the GOP making repeal of Obamacare its only platform plank. If they get control of the House, Senate and presidency with sufficient numbers to repeal the law, then it is gone.

What is illegitimate about the GOP’s antics is to try to use control of only the House to accomplish the same end via hostage taking.

48 leftynyc  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:40:09pm

re: #4 aagcobb


I think Christie is looking at 2020. I think he knows he stands no chance in the republican primaries for not hating the President enough and I suspect he thinks (as you do) that 2016 is going to be a “Goldwater” year. I think that’s why he pulled his appeal on the gay marriage issue. By 2020, that simply wont be an issue anymore.

49 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:40:13pm

re: #46 piratedan

The GOP Idea of the proper use of the big tent is to invite everyone inside, the whites leave and then set the tent on fire.

Then file the insurance claim.

50 Joanne  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:40:58pm

re: #29 aagcobb

Does it look to anyone else like Rasmussen is bending over backwards to correct its GOP tilt? He had Obama’s approval rating at 51% recently when no-one else did, and now he has McAuliffe up 17 points.

Unless you go full Unskewed Polls, it’s hard to cover up a 17 point deficit.

51 piratedan  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:41:09pm

re: #49 EPR-radar

Then file the insurance claim.

and sue the victim’s families…..

52 GeneJockey  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:41:18pm

re: #44 Ming

It is profoundly against the US Constitution for some Republicans to be so strongly obsessed about the Affordable Care Act.

As it happens, the Affordable Care Act is ideologically centrist; it’s quite similar to what Mitt Romney did in Massachusetts.

But even if (hypothetically) the Affordable Care Act were deeply liberal, it was passed by both houses of Congress, signed into law by the President, and upheld by the Supreme Court. At this point, anyone with respect for the US Constitution should view the Affordable Care Act as the law of the land.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with working to improve existing laws. But there is something very wrong with being obsessed with one particular body of law, and wanting to undo everything and anything related to the Affordable Care Act. This shows a profound lack of respect for the constitutional process which allowed the Affordable Care Act to become law in the first place.

The problem is, the average Teabagger defines ‘Centrist’ as his own views. They stand at one end of the spectrum, and define themselves as the middle. OR, they say it doesn’t matter what Public Opinion says, their view are the RIGHT ones.

WRT the Constitutional process, they really have no respect for it, because it doesn’t give them what they want. What they want is automatically Constitutional.

And honestly, they’re getting to be like Cloud William and the Yangs in ‘Omega Glory’ - they worship the documents, they speak the words, but they no longer understand what they mean.

53 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:42:16pm

my friend Jonah Goldberg

just in case you hadn’t already figured out that he’s a MORON

54 GeneJockey  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:42:17pm

re: #45 aagcobb

This is funny: Infowars is moking website sabotage conspiracy theory.

You’d have to be nuts to believe that, but FEMA camps and guillotines - THAT shit makes sense!

55 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:42:39pm

re: #48 leftynyc

I think Christie is looking at 2020. I think he knows he stands no chance in the republican primaries for not hating the President enough and I suspect he thinks (as you do) that 2016 is going to be a “Goldwater” year. I think that’s why he pulled his appeal on the gay marriage issue. By 2020, that simply wont be an issue anymore.

We’ll see. I don’t think gay marriage will be an issue in 2016, either, except in the GOP primaries. I think if Christie runs in ‘16, he skips Iowa to avoid the socon crazies, and goes straight to NH, where he should kill.

56 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:44:24pm

re: #48 leftynyc

I think Christie is looking at 2020. I think he knows he stands no chance in the republican primaries for not hating the President enough and I suspect he thinks (as you do) that 2016 is going to be a “Goldwater” year. I think that’s why he pulled his appeal on the gay marriage issue. By 2020, that simply wont be an issue anymore.

I agree; Christie probably has the feeling - the same as a lot of us - that 2016 is going to be an electoral massacre for the GOP, and he has every intention of staying the hell out of it.

57 blueraven  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:45:02pm

re: #47 EPR-radar

There is nothing wrong with the GOP making repeal of Obamacare its only platform plank. If they get control of the House, Senate and presidency with sufficient numbers to repeal the law, then it is gone.

What is illegitimate about the GOP’s antics is to try to use control of only the House to accomplish the same end via hostage taking.

Right, they tried in 2012 and lost. They dont think they will have any more chances now that the ACA has been implemented.
They now think it is OK to use sabotage, hostage taking, brinkmanship and maybe even civil war to achieve their goals.

58 leftynyc  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:46:33pm

re: #35 EPR-radar

That is strange. Rasmussen’s usual MO is to skew its results to favor the GOP in early polling to set early-campaign narratives, then get back on target as the election day draws near to preserve its credibility.

Could be that’s exactly what he’s doing. When the difference is only 6-7 points, the pubbies will scream how the race is tightening up.

59 GeneJockey  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:46:45pm

re: #50 Joanne

Unless you go full Unskewed Polls, it’s hard to cover up a 17 point deficit.

“You see, the problem with these polls is that there are too many Democrats. Not that they POLLED too many Democrats. Just that they exist. If we imagine the state the way we think it should be, and weight according to that, then Cuccinelli …(sound of calculator buttons clicking)… loses. Hold on….”

60 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:46:52pm

Robertson: Mother Who Can’t Heal Son’s Deafness Must Be Doing Something Wrong

Pat Robertson says you must be doing something wrong if you can’t “heal” your son of deafness. After all, Robertson himself has healed deafness before, he said on the 700 Club today. Responding to a question from a mother who asked why her hearing impaired son hasn’t been healed despite her prayers, Robertson said that her son may be hindered by a “spirit of deafness.”

“I have dealt with people who are deaf and you rebuke the spirit of deafness and they get healed,” Robertson said. “I don’t know what you’re doing wrong.”

Just a thought, but maybe quit pissing away your money tithing it to charlatans and invest in some health insurance.

61 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:47:33pm

re: #58 leftynyc

Could be that’s exactly what he’s doing. When the difference is only 6-7 points, the pubbies will scream how the race is tightening up.

Once Cooch takes the lead in the polls, I don’t think he’s going to give it up.

62 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:48:49pm

re: #59 GeneJockey

“You see, the problem with these polls is that there are too many Democrats. Not that they POLLED too many Democrats. Just that they exist. If we imagine the state the way we think it should be, and weight according to that, then Cuccinelli …(sound of calculator buttons clicking)… loses. Hold on….”

“The problem seems to be that there are people who exist who aren’t us.”

63 leftynyc  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:49:10pm

re: #22 HappyWarrior

It’ll get worse before it gets better. I assume you’re talkign about Jackson though. He’s doing more than just stump for him, he’s his running mate and the AG nominee isn’t much better. I believe he sponsored a bill that would try to criminally investigate miscarriages. He hasn’t gotten as much attention as Jackson and Cuccinelli. But yeah the GOP is fucking insane right now and I really don’t see it gettign better. They need to realize how bankrupt their ideology is. They need to stop deluding themselves that they would win more if they were just “more conservative.”

Actually, I think he’s talking about Santorum who is supposedly going to ride in on his white horse and save Cooch’s ass. Or something like that.

rawstory.com

64 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:49:43pm

Andrew C. McCarthy is a senior fellow

i’ll say

65 Bulworth  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:50:08pm

re: #57 blueraven

I think Christie runs in 2016. You’re probably right that NH is his best early hope, but I suspect he’ll make an effort in Iowa, if for no other reason than that SantorumCruzPaul fracture the fundy vote, allowing a more moderate candidate to have a respectable showing. And if Christie runs and doesn’t get the nomination, and the GOP candidate goes on to lose, Christie will have gained potentially important campaign experience while setting himself as the 2020 GOP frontrunner.

66 Charles Johnson  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:50:39pm
67 leftynyc  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:51:27pm

re: #55 aagcobb

We’ll see. I don’t think gay marriage will be an issue in 2016, either, except in the GOP primaries. I think if Christie runs in ‘16, he skips Iowa to avoid the socon crazies, and goes straight to NH, where he should kill.

But doesn’t South Carolina come next? I really feel the pubs are going to have to get destroyed at the polls (and I do mean destroyed) before they get the message that this is not a tea party nation. I think that’ what 2016 is going to be all about.

68 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:53:37pm

McCarthy was an addled neo-con, now it appears he’s an addled tea partier. As long as the Republicans all over the spectrum have to rely on obvious lies from opportunistic liars, they’ll never get anywhere.

Democrats were being asked to defund or delay Obamacare under circumstances in which Obama himself had already defunded and delayed major portions of it. The president could have been made to see that he was just being asked to do for everyone what he had already done for corporations, cronies, and Congress.

He won’t lose his NRO gig, but he doesn’t have much else to look forward to, I think.

69 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:53:53pm

re: #67 leftynyc

But doesn’t South Carolina come next? I really feel the pubs are going to have to get destroyed at the polls (and I do mean destroyed) before they get the message that this is not a tea party nation. I think that’ what 2016 is going to be all about.

It’ll take a Mondale-sized wipeout before the TP finally gets it through their heads. 2016 will most likely provide that wipeout.

70 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:54:35pm

re: #67 leftynyc

But doesn’t South Carolina come next? I really feel the pubs are going to have to get destroyed at the polls (and I do mean destroyed) before they get the message that this is not a tea party nation. I think that’ what 2016 is going to be all about.

South Carolina does come next. But remember, Romney lost to Gingrich in S.C. and won the nomination anyway.

71 Bulworth  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:54:51pm

re: #61 Kragar

“I’m also seeing more Cooch signs in my upscale, conservative neighborhood of gated communities….”

72 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:56:00pm

re: #71 Bulworth

“I’m also seeing more Cooch signs in my upscale, conservative neighborhood of gated communities….”

Actually, I think those people are just wife swapping…

Oh, you meant Cuccinelli.

73 piratedan  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:56:42pm

re: #69 Dr Lizardo

It’ll take a Mondale-sized wipeout before the TP finally gets it through their heads. 2016 will most likely provide that wipeout.

I’m not sure, I really think that the Tea Party is the political equivalent of the Black Knight sketch from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

74 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:58:28pm

re: #71 Bulworth

“I’m also seeing more Cooch signs in my upscale, conservative neighborhood of gated communities….”

Need a subtle and well-worked out plan to promote the barren areas of Oklahoma and the American Southwest as the “new” Zion and preferred place for conservatives to build their isolated and fortified security locations.

Once they’ve constructed and moved into their self-proclaimed reservations on their own dollar the government can then just change the locks on the front gates and have their FEMA camps established and occupied without raising a finger.
///

75 Bulworth  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 12:59:25pm

re: #70 aagcobb

Romney lost to Gingrich in S.C

Ah, yes, brings back fond memories of when Cain Gingrich was going to win the nom and mop up PBO in the debates….

76 Varek Raith  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:01:44pm

re: #23 Lidane

And the Tea Party are already calling him a RINO:

[Embedded content]

He’s too conservative.
*Minds blown*

77 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:02:03pm

re: #73 piratedan

I’m not sure, I really think that the Tea Party is the political equivalent of the Black Knight sketch from Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Oh, I’m sure there will remain a small core of the “true believers” but I think the bulk of the whole TP movement will splinter and fall away in the wake of an electoral debacle.

78 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:02:59pm

re: #76 Varek Raith

He’s too conservative.
*Minds blown*

If Cooch was really conservative, he would be winning. Since he is not, it must because he is not conservative enough.

That has to be it, right?
/

79 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:03:01pm

re: #75 Bulworth

Ah, yes, brings back fond memories of when Cain Gingrich was going to win the nom and mop up PBO in the debates….

christie’s best weapon against tea party attacks on the positions of his that don’t conform is his ability to make an ugly right wing sound bite in the way that gingrich is so good at

80 Mattand  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:03:03pm

re: #22 HappyWarrior

It’ll get worse before it gets better. I assume you’re talkign about Jackson though. He’s doing more than just stump for him, he’s his running mate and the AG nominee isn’t much better. I believe he sponsored a bill that would try to criminally investigate miscarriages. He hasn’t gotten as much attention as Jackson and Cuccinelli. But yeah the GOP is fucking insane right now and I really don’t see it gettign better. They need to realize how bankrupt their ideology is. They need to stop deluding themselves that they would win more if they were just “more conservative.”

Crap. Sorry, got my wing nuts confused.

81 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:06:17pm

re: #77 Dr Lizardo

Oh, I’m sure there will remain a small core of the “true believers” but I think the bulk of the whole TP movement will splinter and fall away in the wake of an electoral debacle.

In this 40k analogy, the Tea Party would be the World Eaters and Ted Cruz would be Kharn at the battle of Skalathrax.

Sorry, I had to geek out there.

82 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:06:59pm

re: #77 Dr Lizardo

Oh, I’m sure there will remain a small core of the “true believers” but I think the bulk of the whole TP movement will splinter and fall away in the wake of an electoral debacle.

i’ve been waiting for years to see the party split into the True Conservative Republican Party (wall st) and the One and Only Really Really Truly Conservative Republican Party (morons) for many years, and ted cruz and the shutdown have brought that closer, faster, than i had ever dared hope

83 Mattand  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:07:12pm

re: #60 Kragar

Robertson: Mother Who Can’t Heal Son’s Deafness Must Be Doing Something Wrong

Just a thought, but maybe quit pissing away your money tithing it to charlatans and invest in some health insurance.

Huh. Praying doesn’t produce tangible medical results. Who knew?

Is it me, or is Robertson just getting nastier and nastier as he gets on in years?

84 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:08:07pm
85 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:09:28pm

as the article for this post demonstrates, the wedge issue that the two sides of the gop cannot help but disagree on violently has finally arrived

86 sagehen  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:09:50pm

re: #56 Dr Lizardo

I agree; Christie probably has the feeling - the same as a lot of us - that 2016 is going to be an electoral massacre for the GOP, and he has every intention of staying the hell out of it.

He needs to be the runner-up in 2016, so he’s next in line for the nom in 2020. That’s how R’s do things. (so… I guess Santorum is the 2016 roadkill?)

87 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:11:27pm

re: #82 dog philosopher

i’ve been waiting for years to see the party split into the True Conservative Republican Party (wall st) and the One and Only Really Really Truly Conservative Republican Party (morons) for many years, and ted cruz and the shutdown have brought that closer, faster, than i had ever dared hope

Indeed. The GOP is going through what the Democratic Party went through in the wake of 1968; it will take them about 20 to 25 years to regain their footing. Until then, they will be largely confined to the Deep South and Intermountain West as a regional party.

I could see the TP’ers morphing into some kind of White Nationalist party at some point in the near future; that’s another possibility I can’t rule out either.

88 TheSwedish  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:12:34pm

McCarthy, along with Steve Lonegan, strikes me as a right-winger who has rabies, honest-to-god rabies, but doesn’t seem to think it’s that much of a big deal.

Breitbart was another.

Maybe that’s what killed him.

89 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:12:43pm

re: #86 sagehen

He needs to be the runner-up in 2016, so he’s next in line for the nom in 2020. That’s how R’s do things. (so… I guess Santorum is the 2016 roadkill?)

You have no idea how much I’d love to see something like a Palin/Santorum ticket, and then to see that ticket go down in an electoral drubbing of epic proportions.

90 blueraven  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:13:36pm

re: #85 dog philosopher

as the article for this post demonstrates, the wedge issue that the two sides of the gop cannot help but disagree on violently has finally arrived

The comments are pretty fierce. Most agree with McCarthy (sycophants) but there is a good deal of push-back.

91 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:19:55pm

re: #90 blueraven

The comments are pretty fierce. Most agree with McCarthy (sycophants) but there is a good deal of push-back.

the gop establishment is now seeing what happens when the 400 pound rabid pit bull that you spent years training to be as vicious as possible turns on you

92 GeneJockey  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:21:01pm

re: #67 leftynyc

But doesn’t South Carolina come next? I really feel the pubs are going to have to get destroyed at the polls (and I do mean destroyed) before they get the message that this is not a tea party nation. I think that’ what 2016 is going to be all about.

I believe there is NOTHING that could put the Teabaggers back into electoral reality. They already know their views are not those of a majority of Americans, so they seek to redefine what ‘American’ means. REAL Americans believe as they do, and even if they’re only a small minority, they must force their way on the rest of us, because they’re RIGHT.

Just try arguing with a Teabagger that most Americans are cool with same sex marriage. Their answer: “We’re not a democracy. We’re a Republic.”

Of course, they point to the unpopularity of Obamacare and bitch about courts overturning the ‘Will-O’-The-People’ when Prop 8 is decared unconstitutional.

The only thing that will work is time. They have to die off, because they won’t piss off.

93 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:21:58pm

re: #89 Dr Lizardo

You have no idea how much I’d love to see something like a Palin/Santorum ticket, and then to see that ticket go down in an electoral drubbing of epic proportions.

I do think that Santorum is really going to go for it in 2016, but not with Palin. She’s such a joke now. Her latest FB rant is all butthurt stuff from five years ago (she just can NOT lose a grudge or forget a single slight).
For me, the fun GOP ticket would be Santorum/GOHMERT!…

94 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:22:24pm

re: #89 Dr Lizardo

You have no idea how much I’d love to see something like a Palin/Santorum ticket, and then to see that ticket go down in an electoral drubbing of epic proportions.

Yeah, but see… history has a way of throwing curve balls. What if they won?

95 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:23:27pm

re: #93 Backwoods_Sleuth

I do think that Santorum is really going to go for it in 2016, but not with Palin. She’s such a joke now. Her latest FB rant is all butthurt stuff from five years ago (she just can NOT lose a grudge or forget a single slight).
For me, the fun GOP ticket would be Santorum/GOHMERT!…

Santorum/GOHMERT! would indeed be quite a sight to behold.

96 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:23:56pm

re: #94 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Yeah, but see… history has a way of throwing curve balls. What if they won?

Fair enough, but I don’t think either has enough appeal to win at the national level.

97 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:24:16pm

re: #95 Dr Lizardo

Santorum/GOHMERT! would indeed be quite a sight to behold.

The late night comedy shows would see that as the ultimate gift!

98 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:25:07pm

re: #97 Backwoods_Sleuth

The late night comedy shows would see that as the ultimate gift!

As would whoever the Democratic Party nominees are.

99 erik_t  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:26:01pm

re: #96 Dr Lizardo

Fair enough, but I don’t think either has enough appeal to win at the national level.

That’s essentially what Minnesotans said about Norm Coleman.

Then their sitting senator died in a plane crash twelve days before the election.

100 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:27:28pm

re: #69 Dr Lizardo

It’ll take a Mondale-sized wipeout before the TP finally gets it through their heads. 2016 will most likely provide that wipeout.

Mondale carried only MN and DC, with 40.6% of the national popular vote.

This GOP richly deserves a 50 state wipeout with less than 30% of the national popular vote in 2016.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem at all likely. With the increasing polarization of the electorate, I don’t think it is possible for either party to see the kind of crushing result we had in 1984. A GOP tea/party split could cause them to lose really big, but I just don’t see how they get annihilated as badly as they need to be in a two-way race.

101 Lidane  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:29:27pm

re: #86 sagehen

He needs to be the runner-up in 2016, so he’s next in line for the nom in 2020. That’s how R’s do things. (so… I guess Santorum is the 2016 roadkill?)

The universe doesn’t love me enough to make Santorum the 2016 roadkill, even though he’s next in line.

If Christie is smart enough to let the TP/Establishment wars play out in 2016, the GOP primaries will be a hoot.

102 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:29:50pm

re: #100 EPR-radar

Mondale carried only MN and DC, with 40.6% of the national popular vote.

This GOP richly deserves a 50 state wipeout with less than 30% of the national popular vote in 2016.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem at all likely. With the increasing polarization of the electorate, I don’t think it is possible for either party to see the kind of crushing result we had in 1984. A GOP tea/party split could cause them to lose really big, but I just don’t see how they get annihilated as badly as they need to be in a two-way race.

True. President Obama has already proven you no longer need the South to win the White House. The South will end up isolated, Teahadistan, if you will. A de facto secession of sorts, though not a de jure one.

103 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:30:35pm
104 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:30:53pm

re: #94 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Yeah, but see… history has a way of throwing curve balls. What if they won?

That would only be possible if the Zombie Apocalypse was already upon us, at which time the occupant of the White House would be of little import.

105 Charles Johnson  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:31:48pm
106 leftynyc  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:33:33pm

re: #92 GeneJockey

I believe there is NOTHING that could put the Teabaggers back into electoral reality. They already know their views are not those of a majority of Americans, so they seek to redefine what ‘American’ means. REAL Americans believe as they do, and even if they’re only a small minority, they must force their way on the rest of us, because they’re RIGHT.

Just try arguing with a Teabagger that most Americans are cool with same sex marriage. Their answer: “We’re not a democracy. We’re a Republic.”

Of course, they point to the unpopularity of Obamacare and bitch about courts overturning the ‘Will-O’-The-People’ when Prop 8 is decared unconstitutional.

The only thing that will work is time. They have to die off, because they won’t piss off.

Oy - that is depressing. I’m very lucky in that I seriously don’t know any teabaaggers to have a conversation with. The republicans I know are horrified by them - some voted for Pres Obama, some sat home, maybe 20% voted for Romney on the tax issue alone (and they all hated Ryan). I’m thinking if they face a 40 state rout, all the money will dry up and we know that’s the only thing that will push them aside.

107 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:37:57pm

I need to say this: We don’t yet know what the 2016 election will be about. It’s still three years away and a lot can happen in that time. So don’t be so quick to talk about what 2016 “must be about” because you just don’t know what the issues and candidates will be in that year.

108 HoosierHoops  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:39:42pm

re: #106 leftynyc

Oy - that is depressing. I’m very lucky in that I seriously don’t know any teabaaggers to have a conversation with. The republicans I know are horrified by them - some voted for Pres Obama, some sat home, maybe 20% voted for Romney on the tax issue alone (and they all hated Ryan). I’m thinking if they face a 40 state rout, all the money will dry up and we know that’s the only thing that will push them aside.

I don’t know any tea party people..But I think the GOP will reform some how.
Besides Florida, Bush called for a big tent of voters and won. ( anybody recall those days?)
I think elections go through cycles..Too write off the GOP is folly. ( I just choked on that statement..But history proves that )

109 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:41:41pm

re: #103 wrenchwench

[Embedded content]

Oy. 5 will get you 10 that the officer was carrying a Glock and that the trigger “snagged” on something, very likely his holster.

110 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:43:44pm

re: #107 Dark_Falcon

I need to say this: We don’t yet know what the 2016 election will be about. It’s still three years away and a lot can happen in that time. So don’t be so quick to talk about what 2016 “must be about” because you just don’t know what the issues and candidates will be in that year.

I disagree. The central issue of the 2016 election will be the insanity level of the GOP. All other considerations are secondary to that.

111 erik_t  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:44:49pm

re: #102 Dr Lizardo

True. President Obama has already proven you no longer need the South to win the White House. The South will end up isolated, Teahadistan, if you will. A de facto secession of sorts, though not a de jure one.

Arguably, that occurred long ago.

112 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:45:02pm

re: #108 HoosierHoops

I don’t know any tea party people..But I think the GOP will reform some how.
Besides Florida, Bush called for a big tent of voters and won. ( anybody recall those days?)
I think elections go through cycles..Too write off the GOP is folly. ( I just choked on that statement..But history proves that )

Exactly. Mondale got blown away in 1984, and Dukakis was upended 4 years later. But 4 years after that Bill Clinton won. That of course was in large part due to H. Ross Perot’s take away of many voters who otherwise would have gone for Bush the Elder, an event no one could have predicted in 1989. Thus my point about not trying to prematurely map out elections.

113 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:47:13pm

re: #107 Dark_Falcon

I need to say this: We don’t yet know what the 2016 election will be about. It’s still three years away and a lot can happen in that time. So don’t be so quick to talk about what 2016 “must be about” because you just don’t know what the issues and candidates will be in that year.

When the Republicans make significant changes to the party platform, then you can say that.

Until then, the issue for me is equality of opportunity. This means abortion, contraception, immigration, and gay rights will be issues.

114 Kragar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:48:41pm
115 HoosierHoops  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:49:17pm

re: #107 Dark_Falcon

I need to say this: We don’t yet know what the 2016 election will be about. It’s still three years away and a lot can happen in that time. So don’t be so quick to talk about what 2016 “must be about” because you just don’t know what the issues and candidates will be in that year.

True dat..How is life? I’m weeks away from early retirement and will pass through Chicago several times during the big move..I was there was and got stuck in Rush hour..Good Lord..Traffic sucks

116 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:50:19pm

re: #114 Kragar

By now someone must have subbed the famous scene from Downfall with a rant about Twitter leaks.

117 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:50:22pm

It’s a beautiful sunny day in Arizona (and also New Mexico).

118 Varek Raith  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:50:41pm

re: #112 Dark_Falcon

Your party currently bows before the insane.
When they eject them and their ideas, I may start to believe the Gop is serious about reforming.

119 erik_t  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:52:14pm

re: #114 Kragar

@BrettLoGiurato Truly chilling RT @TheStalwart: Obama has fired more people for pseudonymous Tweeting than all past Presidents combined.

Image: twitter-use-history.jpg

Lulz.

121 Eclectic Cyborg  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:53:35pm

McDonald’s advises employees to use gov’t assistance

A recent study showed that 52% of non-management fast food workers in the U.S. are receiving some sort of federal benefits to supplement their wages, and that McDonald’s employees alone account for an estimated $1.2 billion (with a “b”) in annual payouts. And when employees call the McDonald’s hotline for workers looking to improve their financial position, operators direct them to various welfare programs.

The folks at Low Pay Is Not OK, one of the campaigns seeking the ability to unionize fast food workers and increase their pay, has posted the above video of a 10-year McDonald’s vet (who earns $8.25/hour and has never received a raise) placing a call to the McResources hotline, which the company advertises to cash-strapped employees with statements like “Getting Help is Easy” and “Free help when you need it!”

The recording is admittedly edited by the video-makers, so we don’t know the full content of what the hotline operator said. However, it is clear from the call that the operator does suggest that the employee seek out food pantries, look into SNAP (food stamps), and Medicaid.

But the free market perfectly handles EVERYTHING!

122 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:54:24pm

re: #117 wrenchwench

It’s a beautiful sunny day in Arizona (and also New Mexico).

[Embedded content]

In the background is a cactus, one of the few things that has more sharp points than a cat with intact front claws.

124 Joanne  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:56:46pm

re: #94 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Yeah, but see… history has a way of throwing curve balls. What if they won?

Mommy! That bad man scared me!

/sorta

125 darthstar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:56:47pm
126 Eclectic Cyborg  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:57:16pm

I may have to try this sometime…

127 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 1:57:36pm

re: #122 Dark_Falcon

In the background is a cactus, one of the few things that has more sharp points than a cat with intact front claws.

Nope. It’s a yucca. Which also has plenty of points. As do mesquite, agaves, ocotillos, and of course the many cacti.

Cats like to stay indoors in the Southwest.

128 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 2:00:49pm

re: #112 Dark_Falcon

That of course was in large part due to H. Ross Perot’s take away of many voters who otherwise would have gone for Bush the Elder

i’ve heard this asserted, but the actual sequence of events was this:

1) bush, perot and clinton were in the race (early 1992) - perot was surging in the polls, clinton was behind. perot seemed to be detaching more votes from clinton than bush

2) perot implodes, cites interference with his daughter’s wedding, withdraws from race

clinton and bush are left in race, and now clinton is way ahead

3) perot gets back in race, but now is in third place. biggest effect on the race after this is when in a debate he responds to bush’s claim of “greater experience” with “yeah - more experience running up deficits!”

perot also made a large gas pump tax a big part of his program - he asserted strongly that it was unrealistic to claim to be able to balance the budget without a major tax increase

doesn’t sound at all to me like clinton won because perot’s votes would have gone to bush - the evidence points to the opposite

129 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 2:02:27pm

re: #127 wrenchwench

Nope. It’s a yucca. Which also has plenty of points. As do mesquite, agaves, ocotillos, and of course the many cacti.

Cats like to stay indoors in the Southwest.

I dunno. There are plenty of pictures of that blog of Tarder Sauce and Pokey outside and most of the time they seem quite curious about what is going on around them.

130 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 2:15:35pm

re: #129 Dark_Falcon

I dunno. There are plenty of pictures of that blog of Tarder Sauce and Pokey outside and most of the time they seem quite curious about what is going on around them.

Closely supervised, of course.

Yes, cats here like to go out and eat birds and lizards. I’m the authoritarian who believes they don’t belong outside.

131 AlexRogan  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 3:19:26pm

re: #49 EPR-radar

Then file the insurance claim.

The “Darrell Issa special”.

132 aagcobb  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 3:22:32pm

re: #114 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Surprising, considering how big tweeting was before Obama was President.///

133 Ming  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 4:29:35pm

re: #47 EPR-radar

There is nothing wrong with the GOP making repeal of Obamacare its only platform plank. If they get control of the House, Senate and presidency with sufficient numbers to repeal the law, then it is gone.

What is illegitimate about the GOP’s antics is to try to use control of only the House to accomplish the same end via hostage taking.

You are absolutely right. As you say, “There is nothing wrong with the GOP making repeal of Obamacare its only platform plank.” I take your point.

I guess what I was trying to say about the GOP’s attitude towards the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is that they don’t even grant it constitutional legitimacy. The GOP’s attitude is that the ACA is an abomination that is flat-out unconstitutional, should be illegal on its face, and is some kind of destructive, malevolent freak of nature that never should have been brought into existence.

To give an example, I’m opposed to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that Congress passed, and President Clinton signed, in the late 1990’s. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with someone who makes repeal of DOMA their entire platform; I might do that myself. But what I would NOT do is deny that DOMA was legitimately passed and signed into law. I would not portray DOMA as beyond the pale, as something that was somehow shoved through “the system” illegally and maliciously. I wouldn’t do this (as much as I personally disagree with DOMA) because it would disrespect the Constitutional process that DOMA went through, which were precisely those “compromises” that the Constitution encourages.

I’m obviously nit-picking this point to death, but I’m really bothered that the GOP (and at times it seems like the entire GOP) has such an obsession with the ACA as a satanic, illegitimate freak of nature, an urgent threat to the country, like nothing else that was ever signed into law, etc. Frankly, the GOP opposition to the ACA is really getting into mental-health pathology.

134 EPR-radar  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 4:36:17pm

re: #133 Ming

You are absolutely right. As you say, “There is nothing wrong with the GOP making repeal of Obamacare its only platform plank.” I take your point.

I guess what I was trying to say about the GOP’s attitude towards the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is that they don’t even grant it constitutional legitimacy. The GOP’s attitude is that the ACA is an abomination that is flat-out unconstitutional, should be illegal on its face, and is some kind of freak of nature that never should have been brought into existence.

To give an example, I’m opposed to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that Congress passed, and President Clinton signed, in the late 1990’s. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with someone who makes repeal of DOMA their entire platform; I might do that myself. But what I would NOT do is deny that DOMA was legitimately passed and signed into law. I would not portray DOMA is beyond the pale, as something that was somehow shoved through “the system” illegally and maliciously. I wouldn’t do this (as much as I personally disagree with DOMA) because it would disrespect the Constitutional process that DOMA went through, which were precisely those “compromises” that the Constitution encourages.

This is nit-picking a point, but this is what bothers me: that the GOP (and it almost seems the entire GOP) has such an obsession with the ACA as a satanic, illegitimate freak of nature, an urgent threat to the country, etc. Frankly, the GOP opposition to the ACA is really getting into mental-health pathology.

If the ACA wasn’t around, this GOP would be collectively psychotic about other issues. Benghazi, voter fraud, ***** ***** in the White House. Being crazy is just what crazy people do.

IMO, the health care fight has a special intensity because its a start on getting the government involved in helping with the US health care mess, which simultaneously punches all of the RWNJ triggers.

135 funky chicken  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 5:31:45pm
Republicans are also the guys who want to keep some of Obamacare’s core, anti-free-market elements — e.g., provisions that forbid denial of coverage owing to preexisting conditions and that keep “children” on their parents’ coverage until age 26.

Yes, yes they are. McCarthey may have just helped write campaign commercials and talking points for canditates from the Democratic Party.

136 Jay C  Wed, Oct 23, 2013 8:33:24pm

re: #8 EPR-radar

Another nugget of comedy gold:

Knowing the press is the wind at their backs, they are disposed to use every parliamentary privilege available to a minority to obstruct a repeal of Obamacare.

He’s talking about the Senate, right? The actual Senate, where Democrats are the MAJORITY??

Baffoon….


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