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You are here: Home / Politics / Well, That Is Done

Well, That Is Done

by John Cole|  November 7, 200612:48 pm| 72 Comments

This post is in: Politics

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And with the push of a touch-screen, my unblemished record of consistently voting against Alan Mollohan has ended. I had to really work to push the button for Byrd, but I managed to get it done with minimal internal discomfort. As for the voting itself, it was rather easy- no line, the voting machine was easy to use, and it provided a paper trail. I would prefer a paper ballot, but I guess a paper trail is better than nothing at all.

And so it is done. I hope I am not the only one to stick the knife into my party’s back, because they really have to go, although the Baseball Crank does make a good case:

Even here and now, on Election Day, you can still hear the grumbling of disaffected Republicans, conservatives, and libertarians who will tell you that our elected representatives in Washington, and their leaders, deserve to lose this election. Many of us have felt the same way at some point or another over the past two years.

***

The question you have to ask yourself, or ask of anyone you know who still feels that way, isn’t what the politicians deserve. It’s what we deserve. Why should we and our posterity be punished for their mistakes with the kind of folly that a Speaker Pelosi and a Majority Leader Reid would visit upon us?

Any other year, I might agree. But the Republicans really are that bad, and if some higher taxes are the price I have to pay to clean out these sewer trout, so be it. Also on the front page of Red State is this piece by Ben, titled “In Your Heart, You Know They’re Nuts” :

Make no mistake: The Democrats will win in spite of their message, not because of it. They will win because they are not Republicans, not because they embody principled reform. A morally corrupt lifetime Congressman like Ben Cardin is not an agent of change; an empty suit like Bob Casey Jr is no champion of the little guy; and a politically crass Washington insider like Harold Ford Jr is no idealistic leader.

They will win because they have successfully convinced voters that they are not the other guys – except on issues like national security, where they’re just like the other guys, don’t you worry. And marriage – they love marriage. And abortion – in Pennsylvania and Colorado at least. And taxes – don’t worry, we’ll only raise them for OTHER people, not you.

***

My sister, following an assault by a sign wielding Cindy Sheehan goon at a rally yesterday, said to me: “You know, if people saw that this is what the Democrats are today, this election wouldn’t be close.”

The title of that piece is, of course, a co-mingling of the Goldwater election slogan and it’s counterpart. After 6 years of faith-based legislating, it is not surprising that Red State wants you to go with your heart, as it is simply what the current GOP does- they feel, they believe, they have faith.

But they don’t think.

We currently have a party in power that has rubber-stamped an authoritarian and arrogant administration, has codified torture, has spent us into huge debt, has rejected science in favor of the religious fanatacism du jour, thinks that chanting “Stay thecourse” is an actual strategy/plan, cares more about a brain-dead woman and a blastocyst than the living, and thinks the greatest peril to western society is gay marriage (of course, only when they aren’t flashing pictures of Osama every election cycle). I could go on and on (and have in the past), but you get the point.

“The Democrats are Worse” may have been a successful rallying cry for GOP faithful in years past, but the problem is that the Democrats actually have to be worse in order for that message to resonate. The current GOP and their enablers have made that impossible.

*** Update ***

A humorous aside- I just check the mail and a postcard from Brian Louk, a Republican candidate for the House of Delegates, was in the mail- the front had a picture of him handling a baby and the caption “Standing up for our values.” On the back, Brian let me know he had been endorsed by the West Virginia Family Foundation and West Virginian’s for Life.

What weighty issues did Brian think matter most to the folks of West Virginia? Legal protection for ‘unborn children’ and the “Marriage Protection Act.”

I am feeling better and better about my vote.

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72Comments

  1. 1.

    Sojourner

    November 7, 2006 at 12:53 pm

    Hell, if it causes gridlock and presents further legislation like that which “legalized” torture and the disappearing of people, the Constitution will be the major beneficiary of your votes.

    Congrats, John.

  2. 2.

    SeesThroughIt

    November 7, 2006 at 12:53 pm

    “The Democrats are Worse” may have been a successful rallying cry for GOP faithful in years past, but the problem is that the Democrats actually have to be worse in order for that message to resonate. The current GOP and their enablers have made that impossible.

    Bing bang boom

  3. 3.

    Zifnab

    November 7, 2006 at 12:54 pm

    Make no mistake: The Democrats will win in spite of their message, not because of it. They will win because they are not Republicans, not because they embody principled reform. A morally corrupt lifetime Congressman like Ben Cardin is not an agent of change; an empty suit like Bob Casey Jr is no champion of the little guy; and a politically crass Washington insider like Harold Ford Jr is no idealistic leader.

    Hey, here’s a thought. Why don’t the Republicans run someone who isn’t a liar, a cheater, a child-molester, or a general thug for office? Why is that so hard?

    I have to force down a gag when I hear this level of whining and bitchery.

  4. 4.

    Dave

    November 7, 2006 at 12:56 pm

    I rather enjoyed this one from the front page.

    I Concede Nothing: We’re Not Losing A Single Seat. Period.

    We’re at this point here, where everybody expects us to lose numerous seats, enough to lose the majority in either House, not because the Democrats ran anhonest issue-based campaign, not even because of the missteps by the folks representing our party and philosophy in the Houses of Congress, but because our Fourth Estate conducted an air war against our people and carried the Democrats’ water for the past two years, and our people were too cowed to attack back.

    But now is not the time for recriminations. The time to deal with the partisan activists masquerading as objective “journalists” is later. After tomorrow … after we retain control of Congress.

    The Democrats (and I include most of the Fourth Estate in that designation) have been conducting an air war designed to mislead the American people on the economy, the reason we took out Saddam Hussein and re-cast Iraq as Vietnam where the American people lost heart at home and thus for the first time America lost a war.

    As always, it’s the media’s fault. Not that they’ve completely screwed up the country. I love how he points out that the media has mislead the American people on the “reason we took out Saddam Hussein”. I mean seriously can you really be that out of touch? How do you live life with your eyes closed like that?

  5. 5.

    orogeny

    November 7, 2006 at 1:00 pm

    Just curious, John … since Bush has been in office, how much of a cut in taxes have you personally seen? My family income is less than $200K, and I haven’t been able to see any significant decline in my taxes over the last 6 years compared to the Clinton years. Maybe a few hundred dollars, but nothing that makes me feel less burdened, particularly in light of the ballooning deficit

  6. 6.

    scarshapedstar

    November 7, 2006 at 1:00 pm

    Why should we and our posterity be punished for their mistakes with the kind of folly that a Speaker Pelosi and a Majority Leader Reid would visit upon us?

    Are you fucking joking?

  7. 7.

    Zifnab

    November 7, 2006 at 1:00 pm

    Laura Ingraham has asked her listeners to call the Dem Voter protection hotline — and they are now being flooded with calls from crank callers. Please call Laura and tell her what you think about this: 800.876.4123. You can e-mail her here. Apparently, voter intimidation and fraud are a joke to Laura Ingraham. Let’s let her know that it is no joke.

    ~FDL

    Feel better knowing these are the guys you voted against, John.

  8. 8.

    Pb

    November 7, 2006 at 1:01 pm

    The Democrats (and I include most of the Fourth Estate in that designation) have been conducting an air war designed to mislead the American people on the economy, the reason we took out Saddam Hussein and re-cast Iraq as Vietnam where the American people lost heart at home and thus for the first time America lost a war.

    Red State: all Dolchstoßlegende, all the time.

    Or, as Clinton put it:

    The campaign that has been run against Jim Webb is just the sort of most grotesque example of this formula they’re running all around the country. It goes something like this. This is their message, pretend I’m their guy: ‘OK, we really messed up. I mean, this Iraq deal didn’t work out too good and now we put Afghanistan at risk. And we probably shouldn’t have put that horse show association guy in charge of FEMA… And you know, it was embarrassing when our senior White House aide that dealt with Mr. Abramoff had to go to prison. But Karl Rove didn’t know him very well, he only had 485 contacts with the White House. And he’s shy, Karl Rove, you’ve got to know him 486 times before he knows you. Yeah, we’ve got a lot of problems but you’ve still got to vote for us. ‘Cuz my opponent is a slug. And they’re going to tax you into the poorhouse. On the way to the poorhouse you’ll meet a terrorist on every street corner. And when you try to run away from that terrorist you’re going to trip over an illegal immigrant. You can’t vote for ’em. I mean, is that it?’

  9. 9.

    fwiffo

    November 7, 2006 at 1:03 pm

    A morally corrupt lifetime Congressman like Ben Cardin is not an agent of change; an empty suit like Bob Casey Jr is no champion of the little guy; and a politically crass Washington insider like Harold Ford Jr is no idealistic leader.

    In the case of those candidates, I must agree with at least that much of Ben’s assessment. On the other hand, it isn’t possible to lump somebody like Jim Webb or Jon Tester in that group. The truly remarkable thing is that even the Democrats lousiest candidates are a distinct improvement over the status quo.

    but because our Fourth Estate conducted an air war against our people and carried the Democrats’ water for the past two years, and our people were too cowed to attack back.

    You really gotta love that moxie. Our liberal media at work.

  10. 10.

    chopper

    November 7, 2006 at 1:03 pm

    My sister, following an assault by a sign wielding Cindy Sheehan goon at a rally yesterday, said to me: “You know, if people saw that this is what the Democrats are today, this election wouldn’t be close.”

    if ben’s sister thinks that ‘sheehan sign wielding goons’ at a rally represent the democratic party as a whole, then stupidity really does run in the family.

    or should i use the anti-abortion protestor what chucked a rock at my head as a representative of the GOP? man, if people really understood that that’s what the GOP is today, this election wouldn’t even be close.

  11. 11.

    ThymeZone

    November 7, 2006 at 1:03 pm

    Congrats and kudos, John. Bravo for the last 18 months here.

    I hope the Dems come through and justify your vote, I know it didn’t come easy.

    And I’ll swear on a stack of Bibles that when the Dems have the country in a ditch, I’ll join you in voting their asses out someday.

  12. 12.

    Mr Furious

    November 7, 2006 at 1:03 pm

    Good for you, John. That is all.

  13. 13.

    mds

    November 7, 2006 at 1:05 pm

    or should i use the anti-abortion protestor what chucked a rock at my head as a representative of the GOP?

    Yes.

    Wait, was that rhetorical?

  14. 14.

    chopper

    November 7, 2006 at 1:05 pm

    As always, it’s the media’s fault. Not that they’ve completely screwed up the country. I love how he points out that the media has mislead the American people on the “reason we took out Saddam Hussein”. I mean seriously can you really be that out of touch? How do you live life with your eyes closed like that?

    apparently, when you sign up for the GOP, along with your card in the mail they send a set of blinders.

  15. 15.

    ThymeZone

    November 7, 2006 at 1:06 pm

    sheehan sign wielding goons

    If I saw a Sheehan-sign-wielding goon, I’d assume it was a GOP trickster until I had evidence otherwise.

  16. 16.

    Mona

    November 7, 2006 at 1:07 pm

    John, me too. I just voted a straight Dem ticket for the first time in my life. Previously, I voted for exactly one Dem once in my life, and that was for Wm “Golden Fleece Award” Proxmire when I lived in WI.

    My reasons are the same as yours.

    BTW, have you followed Michael Schiavo’s kewl campaign antics? Last week he sat in the front row during a debate between candidates in, I think it was AZ, and the Republican congresswoman who had spewed all kinds of BS about Terri and the supposedly evil Michael was so freaked out she made the timekeeper move — Michael was in her line of vision vis-a-vis the timekeeper, and she didn’t want to look at him. She tried to get him ejected but the cops wouldn’t do it.

    He wrote it all up in his diary at Kos. He was a Republican before all this.

  17. 17.

    Zifnab

    November 7, 2006 at 1:10 pm

    A morally corrupt lifetime Congressman like Ben Cardin is not an agent of change but a morally corrupt Republican like Michael Steele is; an empty suit like Bob Casey Jr is no champion of the little guybox turtle who will be viciously raped; and a politically crass Washington insider like Harold Ford Jr is no idealistic leader going to have sex with white women

    Fixed.

  18. 18.

    RSA

    November 7, 2006 at 1:10 pm

    They will win because they have successfully convinced voters that they are not the other guys – except on issues like national security, where they’re just like the other guys, don’t you worry. And marriage – they love marriage. And abortion – in Pennsylvania and Colorado at least.

    So Ben Stein has broken down his pitch into angry political baby talk for the base. I wonder who needs convincing that Democrats are not Republicans?

  19. 19.

    Tsulagi

    November 7, 2006 at 1:16 pm

    “The Democrats are Worse” may have been a successful rallying cry for GOP faithful in years past, but the problem is that the Democrats actually have to be worse in order for that message to resonate. The current GOP and their enablers have made that impossible.

    Exactly.

    Still, you have to laugh. With “The Democrats are Worse” as the only reason to vote keeping the present retards in office, they’re saying “We suck, we know we suck, we know you know we suck, but, just as we know the planet is only 6,000 years old, the Democrats are worse.” So sayeth the base.

    I’m looking forward to tomorrow when Georgie’s secretary tells him “Speaker Pelosi is calling.” I would so love to see his expression.

  20. 20.

    scarshapedstar

    November 7, 2006 at 1:16 pm

    I have no illusions that this thing will end quickly, cleanly, or favorably, but if we win this… my god. Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting to troll every single wingnut blog with “HOW ABOUT YOU GUYS START WINNING ELECTIONS FIRST LOLOL”? Five fucking years.

    I don’t think I’ll ever stop.

  21. 21.

    Perry Como

    November 7, 2006 at 1:19 pm

    Or, as Clinton put it:

    You know, I was never a Clinton fan, but I have to say that man is impressive. I watched the Webb stump speech last night and it floored me.

  22. 22.

    DougJ

    November 7, 2006 at 1:26 pm

    Mollohan’s a bitter pill to swallow. I voted for Hevesi, so I feel your pain.

  23. 23.

    Pb

    November 7, 2006 at 1:28 pm

    Mona Says:

    John, me too. I just voted a straight Dem ticket for the first time in my life.

    Wow, good to hear it, Mona.

    BTW, have you followed Michael Schiavo’s kewl campaign antics?

    Yes, he noticed that not too long ago, and I linked to the Daily Kos story.

  24. 24.

    Thomas

    November 7, 2006 at 1:29 pm

    A universe based on humor would have had John walk outside to see Cindy Sheehan with a Vote Dem sign.

  25. 25.

    John S.

    November 7, 2006 at 1:33 pm

    A universe based on humor

    Our universe is based on humor.

    The only thing is, generally it is not humanity doing the laughing.

  26. 26.

    The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me

    November 7, 2006 at 1:34 pm

    So Ben Stein has broken down his pitch into angry political baby talk for the base. I wonder who needs convincing that Democrats are not Republicans?

    Lieberman could prolly use a reminder. Unless his third party takes off on the national level, of course.

  27. 27.

    Baby Jane

    November 7, 2006 at 1:39 pm

    A universe based on humor would have had John walk outside to see Cindy Sheehan with a Vote Dem sign.

    This comment, based on humor, might be funny in another universe.

  28. 28.

    David

    November 7, 2006 at 1:39 pm

    Every time I think of the “In your heart, you know he’s nuts” slogan, I have to chuckle. Thanks, Ben!

  29. 29.

    t. jasper parnell

    November 7, 2006 at 1:39 pm

    There’s an election? Who knew.

  30. 30.

    ThymeZone

    November 7, 2006 at 1:39 pm

    Unless his third party takes off

    The Lieberman Party?

    The party of preemptive wars with no plan for victory, suppression of free speech, and the clying bathos of faux religiosity?

    I think it has a great future.

  31. 31.

    jcricket

    November 7, 2006 at 1:40 pm

    Unless his third party takes off on the national level, of course.

    Lieberman’s party taking off? I don’t think the GOP is going to do that well for the next few election cycles ;-)

    Or are you referring to the Liebermans for Lieberman Party? I can only hope that Holy Joe will be too busy defending himself from a campaign finance scandal (you know, where’s that $400k in petty cash) to do that much damage to America.

  32. 32.

    Walker

    November 7, 2006 at 1:41 pm

    Just curious, John … since Bush has been in office, how much of a cut in taxes have you personally seen? My family income is less than $200K, and I haven’t been able to see any significant decline in my taxes over the last 6 years compared to the Clinton years. Maybe a few hundred dollars, but nothing that makes me feel less burdened, particularly in light of the ballooning deficit,

    In terms of actual income taxes, we have gotten nothing. In addition, their actions with the trust fund amount to a stealth tax. The reason social security is in danger is because they are taking so much money from the trust fund to cover their “tax cuts”. All in time to declare it unsolvent when I retire, making my contributions worthless.

    To spend is to tax. Not a direct tax on us, but the bill has to be paid just the same. And before you go on about deficits incouraging growth, the GDP in this spending spree has grown less than the interest that has to be paid back, so it is a net loss. Factor all that in and the lifetime taxes incurred to me by this administration are far worse than anything the democrats have done.

    When housing finally collapses, supply-side economics will finally be seen for the crap it is. And not a moment too soon.

  33. 33.

    John Cole

    November 7, 2006 at 1:46 pm

    Maybe a few hundred dollars, but nothing that makes me feel less burdened, particularly in light of the ballooning deficit,

    It has been negligible at my tax bracket.

  34. 34.

    The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me

    November 7, 2006 at 1:49 pm

    The Lieberman Party?

    The party of preemptive wars with no plan for victory, suppression of free speech, and the clying bathos of faux religiosity?

    I think it has a great future.

    Well, after the GOP implodes, who else should conservatives vote for if not the Connecticut for Lieberman party?

    Lieberman’s party taking off? I don’t think the GOP is going to do that well for the next few election cycles

    Never underestimate the power of money, robocalls, and base appeals to the irrelevant scare issue du jour.

    Or are you referring to the Liebermans for Lieberman Party? I can only hope that Holy Joe will be too busy defending himself from a campaign finance scandal (you know, where’s that $400k in petty cash) to do that much damage to America.

    Good. Another bastard in jail.

  35. 35.

    Mona

    November 7, 2006 at 1:51 pm

    Pb, I can’t believe I missed that Michael Schiavo post. I check here at least every other day. [shrug]

    One of my other favorite bloggers, Jim Henley, posted today Punish the Wicked:

    For any national office, vote for Democrats today. If you can’t bring yourself to vote Democratic, vote for anyone who isn’t a Republican. If you don’t have a third-party candidate on your ballot, or only disgusting ones, write someone in. I recommend Jesse Walker of Reason magazine.

    A lot of us came to libertarianism because we learned from Hayek that schemes to mandate economic equality, pursued zealously enough, led to torture, arbitrary detention and state murder. All true. But it’s also possible to skip the mandating economic equality step and go straight for the torture, arbitrary detention and state murder. That’s the path we’re on now. I’m not saying we’ll get there, but that’s where rule by the Republican Party, as presently constituted, leads.

  36. 36.

    Baby Jane

    November 7, 2006 at 1:55 pm

    The Lieberman Party?

    Gak! Where’s your sense conceit and entitlement?

    It’s The Connecticut For Lieberman Party.

  37. 37.

    Baby Jane

    November 7, 2006 at 1:58 pm

    sense of

  38. 38.

    Steve

    November 7, 2006 at 1:58 pm

    Mollohan’s a bitter pill to swallow. I voted for Hevesi, so I feel your pain.

    That was an annoying choice, wasn’t it? I voted Green for Comptroller, since I have an illusion that a significant protest vote might send a message. It’s a shame about Hevesi, since from everything I’ve heard he always ran his office very competently.

  39. 39.

    The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me

    November 7, 2006 at 1:59 pm

    It’s The Connecticut For Lieberman Party.

    Exactly.

    Who do you think will run against Lieberman for the party’s nomination in 2008? New Hampshire should be a tough primary for them, it’s close to Connecticut and that’s Lieberman territory. But once the primaries head out to Oklahoma, Colorado, and New Mexico, the other candidates should have a good shot at winning some primaries.

  40. 40.

    Perry Como

    November 7, 2006 at 2:03 pm

    Ugh. I voted for Menendez. I have to go take a shower now.

  41. 41.

    matt

    November 7, 2006 at 2:03 pm

    You know, I was never a Clinton fan, but I have to say that man is impressive. I watched the Webb stump speech last night and it floored me.

    I had the same experience, wonderful speech.

  42. 42.

    wilfred

    November 7, 2006 at 2:03 pm

    I’m with J. Cole, not that I believe that the Democrats are any better. I just don’t give a shit. Conservatives have been dragged down so deep into the netherworld of the Christian fuckhead right that our only hope is to re-invent ourselves as libertarians. As much as I’m praying for a Democrat sweep today, conservatives have got to keep moving in the direction of a viable third party.

  43. 43.

    tBone

    November 7, 2006 at 2:10 pm

    Kudos John, Mona, wilfred, OCSteve, and other sane Republicans. I hope there are a lot more like you out there.

    I just hope you can live with yourselves when Cindy Sheehan is elected president in 2008.

  44. 44.

    The Other Steve

    November 7, 2006 at 2:11 pm

    Just curious, John … since Bush has been in office, how much of a cut in taxes have you personally seen? My family income is less than $200K, and I haven’t been able to see any significant decline in my taxes over the last 6 years compared to the Clinton years. Maybe a few hundred dollars, but nothing that makes me feel less burdened, particularly in light of the ballooning deficit

    The amount of taxes I pay has not changed, if anything I’m paying more today than in 2000. That is influenced by several factors, mostly at the state level.

    But the thing which has been signifigant for me. Through the 1990s my salary rose at a quite impressive annual rate. Since 2001, it has rose at a level below the inflation rate.

    That’s what has hit my pocketbook the most. Not the taxes, but the lagging economy.

  45. 45.

    The Other Steve

    November 7, 2006 at 2:15 pm

    The thing is, what people want in this country is fiscal conservatism, and social liberalism.

    Why Democrats or Republicans never realize this, I don’t understand. Although the Democrats are clearly much closer to this ideal than the Republicans.

    I think people are going to be surprised by this Democratic Congress, if the newcomers are allowed to be in charge. They’re the most moderate people I’ve seen running for Congress in years.

    I’m working on two posts…(ok three)… one on what should be the Dem strategy moving the Congress for the next two years. two will be why the republicans lost…

    and three will be why the Democrats are fucked, but I’m saving that one for if the Democrats don’t win a lot of seats. :-)

  46. 46.

    searp

    November 7, 2006 at 2:16 pm

    I am most definintely NOT with John Cole. Compare the Clinton presidency with W’s turn at the helm.

  47. 47.

    MattM

    November 7, 2006 at 2:19 pm

    the front had a picture of him handling a baby and the caption “Standing up for our valus.”

    Please tell me that was his typo and not yours…

  48. 48.

    Bombadil

    November 7, 2006 at 2:21 pm

    In re: your vote —

    Thank you, John.

  49. 49.

    Perry Como

    November 7, 2006 at 2:27 pm

    They’re the most moderate people I’ve seen running for Congress in years.

    Yeah right, moonbat. Jim Webb might as well be Cynthia McKinney in combat boots. And have you ever seen Tester and Pelosi together in the same room? I’m just sayin’…

  50. 50.

    Zifnab

    November 7, 2006 at 2:37 pm

    I think people are going to be surprised by this Democratic Congress, if the newcomers are allowed to be in charge. They’re the most moderate people I’ve seen running for Congress in years.

    In practice, perhaps. In punditry they’ll be “THE MOST RADICALLY LIBERAL CONGRESS IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND EVER AND FOREVER” as parroted by every ABC news correspondent, FOX “journalist”, right-wing radio host, and 2/3rds of the editorals in every American newspaper in the country.

    If you think robocalling and voter suppresion is the limit of Republican political hackery, you’ve only begun to taste what the ’06 Dems are going to have to put up with.

  51. 51.

    The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me

    November 7, 2006 at 2:40 pm

    In practice, perhaps. In punditry they’ll be “THE MOST RADICALLY LIBERAL CONGRESS IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND EVER AND FOREVER” as parroted by every ABC news correspondent, FOX “journalist”, right-wing radio host, and 2/3rds of the editorals in every American newspaper in the country.

    Yep. I can distinctly remember people calling Clinton a Marxist. These may or may not have been the same people who called him a serial rapist who had Vince Foster whacked.

  52. 52.

    Perry Como

    November 7, 2006 at 2:43 pm

    I can distinctly remember people calling Clinton a Marxist.

    I never understood the wingnut fascination with Groucho.

  53. 53.

    The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me

    November 7, 2006 at 2:45 pm

    I never understood the wingnut fascination with Groucho.

    Well, Bush is a Harpo, so…

  54. 54.

    VidaLoca

    November 7, 2006 at 3:08 pm

    Yep. I can distinctly remember people calling Clinton a Marxist.

    But wasn’t it you who called John Cole a Trotskyist?

  55. 55.

    The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me

    November 7, 2006 at 3:18 pm

    But wasn’t it you who called John Cole a Trotskyist?

    He is- he voted Democrat, didn’t he? [/Scrutator]

  56. 56.

    MNPundit

    November 7, 2006 at 3:55 pm

    It’s convenient how one Dem protester becomes synonymous with the Democratic party while they ignore the guys who threw Mike Stark to the ground and put him in headlock for being rude.

  57. 57.

    hederman

    November 7, 2006 at 4:11 pm

    voting for mollohan is an interesting protest vote against Republican corruption. Seems like splitting a ticket for byrd/anyone but Mollo would have been a better sign of outrage at corruption.

    guess all politics is no longer local.

  58. 58.

    Punchy

    November 7, 2006 at 4:22 pm

    or should i use the anti-abortion protestor what chucked a rock at my head

    You should be damn thankful it was a rock, and not a fetal spleen or liver. Althought those would surely hurt less, but who wants endoderm jammed in their earhole?

  59. 59.

    jcricket

    November 7, 2006 at 4:56 pm

    Yeah right, moonbat. Jim Webb might as well be Cynthia McKinney in combat boots

    No no no. Wearing combat boots is only bad when you’re a woman, because it means you are spreading TEH GAY to others.

    Unless you’re saying Jim Webb is actually a ugly woman who is pretending to be a man. In which case your metaphor holds.

  60. 60.

    t. jasper parnell

    November 7, 2006 at 5:05 pm

    John Cole’s vote is a help but, and I heard this on tv the other day from a very well respected source, the dead have risen from their grave and they’re voting Republican. Led by Zombie Flanders, no doubt.

  61. 61.

    Mike S

    November 7, 2006 at 5:18 pm

    Are we sure those are Ben’s words.

  62. 62.

    jcricket

    November 7, 2006 at 5:24 pm

    Led by Zombie Flanders, no doubt.

    Stupid Zombie Flanders.

  63. 63.

    orogeny

    November 7, 2006 at 5:25 pm

    It has been negligible at my tax bracket.

    That’s what I thought. I repeatedly hear people like you say that you are anti-Democrat because they’re going to increase your taxes as in:

    if some higher taxes are the price I have to pay to clean out these sewer trout,

    In fact, for the vast majority of Americans, the Democrats have been far better for an economic standpoint than the Republicans. When Clinton was in office, I’d hear friends that I know made less than $40K per year bitching about the Clinton tax hikes. I just figured they were ignorant and were being lead by the nose by Rush Limbaugh.

    I know that’s not true of you, so why do you keep repeating the “Democrats want to take all our hard-earned money” canard?

  64. 64.

    jcricket

    November 7, 2006 at 5:26 pm

    Operations Enduring Occupation. I love it.

    It was either that or Operation Enduring Operation.

  65. 65.

    Redleg

    November 7, 2006 at 5:59 pm

    Tomorrow the real attacks on Pelosi and Reid will begin. The Rethugs are going to take out their anger and frustration on the Dems before the Dems even have a chance to take control. Fucking sore losers.

  66. 66.

    The Asshole Formerly Known as GOP4Me

    November 7, 2006 at 10:17 pm

    Tomorrow the real attacks on Pelosi and Reid will begin. The Rethugs are going to take out their anger and frustration on the Dems before the Dems even have a chance to take control. Fucking sore losers.

    We know which way Osama voted today. He files absentee ballot for Pelosi’s district. Ayman Al-Zawahri has a house in Nevada, and intends to vote for Reid next time around.

    This is the greatest defeat America could’ve possibly endured in its Global War on Freedom. Every American worthy of the name should hang his head in shame.

  67. 67.

    Robert Fredson

    November 7, 2006 at 11:42 pm

    You all laugh. Starting now, we are less safe. Al Qaeda is standing around in Baghdad now with an inkling that they may be turning the tide. President Bush, in what I think was one of his strongest speeches, illustrates this:

    I strongly believe that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. The Democrats may not think so, but Osama bin Laden does. Here are the words of bin Laden, “I now address the whole Islamic nation: Listen and understand The most serious issue today for the whole world is this Third World War [that] is raging in [Iraq].” He calls it “a war of destiny between infidelity and Islam.” He says, “The whole world is watching this war,” and that it will end in “victory and glory or misery and humiliation.”

    For al Qaeda, Iraq is not a distraction from their war on America, it is a central battlefield where there’s — outcome of the struggle will be decided.

    (President George W. Bush, Sep. 30, 2006)

    Before you call me a troll or what have you, let me remind you that a good part of America–the good part, really–still loves and prays for this President, and still believes firmly in his values and direction.

    Thank God for the Senate. A Democrat Senate would have trouble deciding which to do first: impeach the President, or surrender to the enemy.

  68. 68.

    Killy McNukerson

    November 8, 2006 at 2:49 am

    Before you call me a troll or what have you, let me remind you that a good part of America—the good part, really—still loves and prays for this President, and still believes firmly in his values and direction.

    Don’t you worry your pretty head about it. Bush still has the nukes. If it comes down to it, we can take out Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, AND Pakistan in 45 minutes.

    Nancy Pelosi can’t stop us from bringing freedom to the Middle East.

    Thank God for the Senate. A Democrat Senate would have trouble deciding which to do first: impeach the President, or surrender to the enemy.

    Unfortunately, DougJ, it looks like that’s coming too. At least until the CIA’s domestic death squad apparatus is up and running.

  69. 69.

    ben dover

    November 8, 2006 at 3:25 pm

    i don’t know who you are, john, or even if that’s your real name (it could be a play on ‘juan cole’ of course), but the next catharsis for you will likely be “why” can’t you become a democrat? what is the alienation there? if you truly believe in reason then you need to join the party of reason. the republican party has racism and ignorance as its organizing core.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Baseball Crank says:
    November 8, 2006 at 12:22 pm

    POLITICS: The Day After

    Well, that was no fun. Some disjointed thoughts: *We lost the battle. Now, it’s up to the President to make sure that doesn’t result in losing the War. *It’s been a long time since Republicans have had a bad mid-term…

  2. Toys in the Attic » Blog Archive » Quote of the day says:
    November 8, 2006 at 1:44 pm

    […] *John Cole should get his wish: a Congressional majority that combines the fiscal discipline of Robert Byrd and the integrity of Alan Mollohan. […]

  3. Toys in the Attic » Blog Archive » Quote of the day says:
    February 1, 2007 at 9:23 am

    […] I am feeling better and better about my vote. – Principled conservative (you know, the type who votes for Democrats and pushes left-wing hyperbole) John Cole […]

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