A Nasty Plot Shift
"I think Americans just don't know sometimes which Mitt Romney they're dealing with. Is it the Mitt Romney that was on the side of … against … the Second Amendment before he was for the Second Amendment … was it before he was before these social programs, uh, from the standpoint he was standing, uh, for Roe vs. Wade before he was against Roe, uh, Roe vs. Wade … uh … he was … uh for Race To The Top. ... Uh … (long pause) ... he's for Obamacare and now he's against it. … I mean, we'll wait until tomorrow and, and, and wait to see which Mitt Romney we're really talking to."
Governor Rick Perry
GOP debate, 22 September 2011
Goodness gracious, this is not good. My wildest dream - that either Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry would somehow make it to the Republican National Convention next summer - has gone up in flames; or so it would seem. If a month is a lifetime in American politics (as the politicians love to remind us) a year is a millennium.
Perry's d
isastrous appearance at last Thursday's debate in Florida seemed to put the ol' kibosh on his presidential aspirations. And it was only a matter of time before Congresswoman Bachmann said something irreparably stupid. When she blurted out that a certain vaccination caused mental retardation, it proved to be too idiotic for Florida Republicans even - an accomplishment in itself to be sure. In a straw poll conducted in that state a few days ago, she registered near the bottom. This only a month after her moment on the mountaintop in Iowa. The Democrats are depressed by these turns of events and I can't blame them. With a comparative moderate (at least by modern-day standards) like Mitt Romney as the nominee next year, President Obama's reelection is more uncertain than ever. Or is it?
There is a
silver lining for the Dems behind this dark cloud. The nitwits that comprise "the base" of the GOP are not going to be motivated to come out in droves for a former governor of Taxachusetts who brought health care to his state - and who also happens to be a Mormon. Remember this, too: Between now and the convention, Mitt Romney is going to be saying a lot of really stupid things - things of monumentally idiotic proportions. That is the only way to win the nomination of that party anymore. Think about it! Have you been watching these people? Who's the most impressive and articulate one of the bunch? Jon Huntsman! And he's not even registering with these people. In fact he's at the bottom of every poll!
Willard Mitt Romney's pandering to that party's nitwit base during the primaries - particularly in the deep south and the Midwest - will only come back to haunt him when he faces the president in the general election. Fifty years from now, when historians gather in judgement of Barack Obama's political career, if they're only in agreement on one point it will be this one:
This was one lucky son-of-a-bitch.
THE CHRISTIE EQUATION
I'm blushing as
I write these words. Much as I hate to admit this, I've gotta be upfront with you and just say it: Chris Christie has grown on me. That is not as hard for me to say as you might think. I don't live in New Jersey - and I'm far enough away from it's border that whatever happens there doesn't effect me much. That being said, I've come to admire the governor's gruff bluntness. You can accuse the guy of many things. Being a phony ain't one of them. Some operatives within "the party of Lincoln" are begging him to get into the race, but Christie isn't budging. He is reminding people of General William Tecumseh Sherman when he refused the GOP nomination a century-and-a-half ago:
"If nominated I will not run. If elected I will not serve."
Everyone is wondering: What's up with this guy??? I have a theory. In his years as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, there were allegations that Christie was somewhat "ethically challenged". These allegations followed him into the campaign for governor in 2009. My theory is that Chris knows damned well if he announces his candidacy for the president, a few industrious reporters are going to dig up a few things he doesn't want them to find. Maybe I'm wrong about this - and forgive me if I am - but I can't believe that any ambitious politician would turn down what Christie is turning down if he didn't have a small chorus line of skeletons in his closet. I'm not saying that he's done anything that could put him in prison for a long stretch, I'm just sayin'....This is pure speculation on my part but there it is.
But even if he were to enter the race, compared to the rest of the frontrunners - including Mitt Romney - Chris Christie is as liberal as it is possible for a Republican to be in this day and age. Compared to the rest of the jackasses on that side of the aisle he looks like Franklin D. Roosevelt. Despite a strong endorsement this week from Rupert Murdoch, he is not likely to inspire the base very much. In a recent interview - and God bless him for saying this - he said that gays and lesbians are God's children and that we should accept them for who they are. Trust me on this one, kids; as beautiful as that statement is, it's not going to play too well in Peoria - Arizona. It might do a little better in Peoria, Illinois but not much I suspect. He's also been publicly scornful of the extremism of the conservative movement. I'll say it again. Barack Obama is one lucky som'bitch.
I'm still hoping against hope that Rick and Michele will be able to get their respective acts together. I want one of them to get the nomination so bad I can almost taste it. It doesn't matter in the least which one. Can you imagine how delightfully twisted either of their campaigns would be?
PLEASE, FATE! I'M BEGGIN' YA!
Tom Degan
tomdegan@frontiernet.net
AFTERTHOUGHT:
Happy
birthday to my cousin Shawn Bliven who turns forty-two today. I remember the night of September 27, 1969 like it was yesterday, pal. My dear old Grandma Degan's first great-grandson. You were big news! Come to think of it, you still are, How the hell do you do that?
SUGGESTED READING:
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72
by Hunter S. Thompson
Required reading for any self-respecting political junkie. Here is a link to order it off of Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Fear-Loathing-Campaign-Trail-72/dp/0446698229/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317167168&sr=1-1
Normally I would suggest that you order it from your local, independently owned bookstore - but they no longer exist. Let's just stop kidding ourselves here and now, okay?
Here's a link for more recent postings on this disgusting site:
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Cheerio! Pip! Pip!
Governor Rick Perry
GOP debate, 22 September 2011
Goodness gracious, this is not good. My wildest dream - that either Michele Bachmann or Rick Perry would somehow make it to the Republican National Convention next summer - has gone up in flames; or so it would seem. If a month is a lifetime in American politics (as the politicians love to remind us) a year is a millennium.
Perry's d
isastrous appearance at last Thursday's debate in Florida seemed to put the ol' kibosh on his presidential aspirations. And it was only a matter of time before Congresswoman Bachmann said something irreparably stupid. When she blurted out that a certain vaccination caused mental retardation, it proved to be too idiotic for Florida Republicans even - an accomplishment in itself to be sure. In a straw poll conducted in that state a few days ago, she registered near the bottom. This only a month after her moment on the mountaintop in Iowa. The Democrats are depressed by these turns of events and I can't blame them. With a comparative moderate (at least by modern-day standards) like Mitt Romney as the nominee next year, President Obama's reelection is more uncertain than ever. Or is it?There is a
silver lining for the Dems behind this dark cloud. The nitwits that comprise "the base" of the GOP are not going to be motivated to come out in droves for a former governor of Taxachusetts who brought health care to his state - and who also happens to be a Mormon. Remember this, too: Between now and the convention, Mitt Romney is going to be saying a lot of really stupid things - things of monumentally idiotic proportions. That is the only way to win the nomination of that party anymore. Think about it! Have you been watching these people? Who's the most impressive and articulate one of the bunch? Jon Huntsman! And he's not even registering with these people. In fact he's at the bottom of every poll! Willard Mitt Romney's pandering to that party's nitwit base during the primaries - particularly in the deep south and the Midwest - will only come back to haunt him when he faces the president in the general election. Fifty years from now, when historians gather in judgement of Barack Obama's political career, if they're only in agreement on one point it will be this one:
This was one lucky son-of-a-bitch.
THE CHRISTIE EQUATION
I'm blushing as
I write these words. Much as I hate to admit this, I've gotta be upfront with you and just say it: Chris Christie has grown on me. That is not as hard for me to say as you might think. I don't live in New Jersey - and I'm far enough away from it's border that whatever happens there doesn't effect me much. That being said, I've come to admire the governor's gruff bluntness. You can accuse the guy of many things. Being a phony ain't one of them. Some operatives within "the party of Lincoln" are begging him to get into the race, but Christie isn't budging. He is reminding people of General William Tecumseh Sherman when he refused the GOP nomination a century-and-a-half ago:"If nominated I will not run. If elected I will not serve."
Everyone is wondering: What's up with this guy??? I have a theory. In his years as United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, there were allegations that Christie was somewhat "ethically challenged". These allegations followed him into the campaign for governor in 2009. My theory is that Chris knows damned well if he announces his candidacy for the president, a few industrious reporters are going to dig up a few things he doesn't want them to find. Maybe I'm wrong about this - and forgive me if I am - but I can't believe that any ambitious politician would turn down what Christie is turning down if he didn't have a small chorus line of skeletons in his closet. I'm not saying that he's done anything that could put him in prison for a long stretch, I'm just sayin'....This is pure speculation on my part but there it is.
But even if he were to enter the race, compared to the rest of the frontrunners - including Mitt Romney - Chris Christie is as liberal as it is possible for a Republican to be in this day and age. Compared to the rest of the jackasses on that side of the aisle he looks like Franklin D. Roosevelt. Despite a strong endorsement this week from Rupert Murdoch, he is not likely to inspire the base very much. In a recent interview - and God bless him for saying this - he said that gays and lesbians are God's children and that we should accept them for who they are. Trust me on this one, kids; as beautiful as that statement is, it's not going to play too well in Peoria - Arizona. It might do a little better in Peoria, Illinois but not much I suspect. He's also been publicly scornful of the extremism of the conservative movement. I'll say it again. Barack Obama is one lucky som'bitch.
I'm still hoping against hope that Rick and Michele will be able to get their respective acts together. I want one of them to get the nomination so bad I can almost taste it. It doesn't matter in the least which one. Can you imagine how delightfully twisted either of their campaigns would be?
PLEASE, FATE! I'M BEGGIN' YA!
Tom Degan
tomdegan@frontiernet.net
AFTERTHOUGHT:
Happy
birthday to my cousin Shawn Bliven who turns forty-two today. I remember the night of September 27, 1969 like it was yesterday, pal. My dear old Grandma Degan's first great-grandson. You were big news! Come to think of it, you still are, How the hell do you do that?SUGGESTED READING:
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72
by Hunter S. Thompson
Required reading for any self-respecting political junkie. Here is a link to order it off of Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Fear-Loathing-Campaign-Trail-72/dp/0446698229/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317167168&sr=1-1
Normally I would suggest that you order it from your local, independently owned bookstore - but they no longer exist. Let's just stop kidding ourselves here and now, okay?
Here's a link for more recent postings on this disgusting site:
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Cheerio! Pip! Pip!
posted by Tom Degan @ 12:50 PM
31 comments
31 Comments:
What's ironic is that "they" won't want Romney just because he's Mormon.
I like the tan guy with black hair, dark suit and red tie.
As someone said on another site, can you imagine the visuals of a Christie-Obama debate? Christie huffing, puffing, waddling around and sweating and Obama cool and collected? Aa for Bachmann, yoy know that the Greedy Old Party of bigoted old white men will never nominate a woman for president. She just might be allowed to go get a cup of coffee for them, but that is about it.
Frankly, "Just because he's a Mormon" is a very good reason not to like him.
I've wondered, too, if Christie doesn't know that his health can't stand up to a campaign as tough as this one will be, followed by a possible term that would wring the gizzard out of a rooster.
Stand by one, though. There's still the faint hope that Sarah Barracuda will rush in to fill the vacuum. I just don't think this circus would be worth the price of admission without her. Tina Fey is standing ready in the wings....
Just because he's a Mormon" is a very good reason not to like him."@ Sybil
Why is that?
Tom D,
If Obama did not have his teleprompter, his speeches would be like Perry's comment to Romney.
Every so often they let Obama speak without the teleprompter, like letting a youngster go without diapers, but he ends up crapping his underwear like the time he said there were 57 states.
Anonymous....
Every president since Dwight David Eisenhower has relied on the teleprompter. I find it just a tad odd that it was never an issue until the black guy won the office. I'm sure that that's just a coincidence.
Just a thought.
Sincerely,
Tom Degan
Anonymous, check out Obama's performance in January of 2010 when he addressed the House Republicans at their retreat in Baltimore. It was televised and not only did he lecture them but he also took questions and answers for over an hour and a half. His performance without a teleprompter devastated the GOP and crucified them to the point that Fox news couldn't handle it and cut out early and the attendees said they had made a mistake in letting it be televised.
@Charles,
Many people identify with fat and puffing and admire it more than they admire a Big Mac at McDonald’s.
@Tom,
Be careful what you wish for. People voted for Obama on the promise of change. They did not get it. They voted the Tea Party in because they still craved change, and they are still unsatisfied. To moderates, Romney may seem liberal enough and a chance for change. They may be looking for a reason not to give Obama a second chance, and at the same time they may be wanting to avoid Tea Party crazy. Enter: Romney.
I think Romney will find it very difficult to win the primaries, but the GOP hates Obama so much, they will not stay home. They will not vote for Romney, for sure. They will vote against Obama and Romney will be the de facto beneficiary.
I do not want Romney to get the nomination and if he does, he has at least a 50% chance of winning the presidency.
Eight years of a Romney administration would probably end in a completely stacked Supreme Court. A century of social progress would be reversed.
Bachmann 2012! Perry 2012! We need Obama vs. crazy.
@Anon (not you, Anon, you egomaniac, I am talking to Anon):
Obama is the most articulate president we have seen in my lifetime, by far. He does not need a teleprompter. Thus far, he speaks better than he leads. Hopefully that will change. He definitely has my vote.
The Republican with the best chance to beat Obama is the pre-neocon, pre-Palin McCain.
But, no moderates are allowed on the national GOP stage.
Yeah, I know, "what moderates?".
"Obama is the most articulate president we have seen in my lifetime, by far. He does not need a teleprompter."
An example of the most articulate but wrong president in our life time?
"We are the country that built the
Intercontinental Railroad."
And this man was a professor at Harvard?
Great idea, Anonymous. Let's trade stupid quotes. For every Obama quote, I'll post two from a GOP 'genius'.
"Before we get started, let's all say 'Happy Birthday' to Elvis Presley today." -Rep. Michele Bachmann, while campaigning for president in South Carolina on what was actually the anniversary of Elvis's death, Aug. 16, 2011 (Elvis was born on January 8)
(the HPV vaccine quote was a gimme)
"George W. Bush did a incredible job in the presidency, defending us from freedom." –Rick Perry in 2010
Your turn!
Somebody will be in office in 2012 – don’t worry. And nothing will change much. We’ll still be in debt to our eyeballs, the economy will still be stagnant at best, everybody will still be PO’d, the discourse will probably continue to be more and more uncivil. That’s my America unfortunately.
But, Tom hits on the REAL tragedy we face as a culture at the end of his post - the demise of the independent book seller. I am fortunate to have a wonderful one in my town – “Eighth Day Books”. You walk in to the smell of books – new and old – and are greeted warmly by wonderful folks. Props to them.
De_Bill
None of the people you listed were professors @ Harvard. (Has anyone ever interviewed one of Prof Obama's students or peers just asking.)
No one ever claimed or called them the smartest President we have ever had.
None of those you listed are President.
None of the people you listed when running for the office of President didn't know, as then Senator Obama did when he was running for the office, how many States made up the United States of America.
I just KNEW Harley reads books !! I wish more Amerikans would follow suit. I've read that the average reading level of Amerikans is seventh grade level. THAT explains A LOT !!!
Ellis D., Esq.
Who would you blame for the poor reading skills of our students?
De_Bill
Here is a smart person, after all he was selected to be V.P. by "the most articulate president we have seen."
Vice President Joe Biden told Florida radio station WLRN on Thursday 9/29/2011 that voters should hold President Barack Obama, not former President George W. Bush, accountable for the poor state of America’s economy.
Smartest man in Washington,D.C.
I find the hate speech about Governor Christie's weight very hurtful! This is discrimination against weight challenged people! There must be a clause in the hate speech law that you have violated!
@Just the facts:
Just finished reading Carolyn Jessup's "Escape". true story about making her escape from the FDLS. Check out how the Mormon faith originated and you will understand my comment. CULT, pure and simple.
Sybil,
What does your study and research about Islam find? Is it all so a cult?
De_Bil,
Here's the most honest thing this super brainiac of a President has ever said. IMHO.
“I did not love every class I took. I wasn’t always paying attention the way I should have,” Obama said. “I remember when I was in 8th grade I had to take a class called ethics. Now, ethics is about right and wrong, but if you’d ask me what my favorite subject was back in 8th grade, it was basketball. I don’t think ethics would have made it on the list.”
It's clear that not only was ethics his least favorite subject, it is clear that he is 100% lacking in ethics to this day.
Really? So you think (or whatever you call the process you use) an 8th grader should be more interested in an ethics class than sports or maybe girls?
What were you doing in the 8th grade?
C'mon now, Tom, just as you began accepting the idea that this president is a corporatist shill to the core, you've lapsed once again into thinking elections in America are mostly fair and square. You certainly haven't forgotten the heists of 2000 and 2004, have you?
As for the next presidential installation, if the powers-that-be don't think he's doing their bidding fast enough, don't you think they'll make certain that their Trojan Horse will be supplanted with Romney, Perry, Christie, or whoever the flavor of the week is late next year? A quarter of America's electorate can't be wrong. Or can they?
Protesters sought to attract 20,000 people to "flood into lower Manhattan, set up beds, kitchens, and peaceful barricades, and occupy Wall Street for a few months," according to the Occupy Wall Street website. They fell short on numbers--it appeared that fewer than 500 protestors gathered over the weekend, and roughly 200 remained by Monday morning. Those who came did manage to tie up Wall Street briefly.
Matt Parica, 17, Maywood, N.J., student
"I came here to occupy Wall Street. I'm pissed off that corporations can control our country however they want because of their monetary influence. I just wish Jefferson's Guardian was here so that he could autograph my Che Guevera t-shirt."
Mina Kudler-Flam, 19, Middletown, Conn., student
"There needs to be change from the people, by the people, so we can have more equality just like Dave Dubya talks about on his blog."
Aron Kay, 61, New York City, activist
"Right now, I say it's a class war. The mayor was right when he said there was danger of riot. I just wish Ellis D had showed up. He usually has the best pot."
Greg Hauser, 21, Pittsburgh, student
"I'm tired of corporations and banks having their greedy hands on our country. I think this is a good way to voice our opinions just like Tom Degan and his followers do on 'The Rant'."
Name Brand Corporations help Fuel the Fire
The protesters fed on bagels, Skippy peanut butter, Dunkin Donuts coffee and pizza over the course of the weekend. Ramati Lilienthal, 19, said, "America runs on Dunkin' but protesters run on Skippy."
De_Bill, I can answer your question. Anonymous was probably whacking off in the 8th grade, just like I'm still doing now.
De_Bill,
What was I doing in 8th grade?
Honestly, I was learning the Constitutions of my State and the USA's. By state law a passing grade was required in order for a student to move up to high school.
That is what I remember the most about 8th grade. Next was the well stacked blond (for a 8th grader that is) who wore the shortest skirts allowed at the time (1962).
Wow, all this talk of eighth grade makes me wish I had attended.
Mr. Myste, another casualty of home schooling, I assume?
See what you missed?! ;-)
Jefferson,
Home schooling would have still had an eighth grade and that is just too much. Eight years!!! You get a PHD for that. I am certainly not going to waste eight years working toward a diploma. No sir.
Hmm, not that I think about it, home schooled means I was my own teacher. I would not need eight years because my teacher would be so skilled. Hmm. I think I could do it in under five!
Towanda,
What's ironic is that "they" won't want Romney just because he's Mormon.
You see, Mormonism is a cult, unlike Christianity. The relevant difference that makes "real Christians" Christians, but Mormons cult members is this:
.
Mr. Myste, concerning your comment regarding cults:
As I've mentioned to you once before, and on another blog, your humor isn't lost on me. ;-)
Have a joyous Monday!
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