Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

I did not have telepathic declassification on my 2022 bingo card.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

You cannot shame the shameless.

John Fetterman: Too Manly for Pennsylvania.  Paid for by the Oz for Senator campaign.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

In my day, never was longer.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

No one could have predicted…

You are here: Home / Politics / Republican Stupidity / The Tim F. Theory Of Government And Everything

The Tim F. Theory Of Government And Everything

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As told by David Ignatius.

The Bush political operatives have become the people the Republicans once warned the country against — a club of insiders who seem to think that they’re better than other folks. They are so contemptuous of government and the public servants who populate it that they have been unable to govern effectively. They are a smug, inward-looking elite that thinks it knows who the good guys are by the political labels they wear.

This contempt has been evident in many of the administration’s failures. The disastrous incompetence of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq in 2003 and 2004 flowed from its status as a clubhouse for ambitious conservatives eager to punch a political ticket in a country they knew nothing about. The political purges that enfeebled the CIA in 2005 were the work of a conservative former member of Congress, Porter Goss, and a coterie of political aides he brought from Capitol Hill who thought they knew more about intelligence than career professionals. The administration’s signature failure, its bumbling response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was the work of a right-wing political appointee who knew almost nothing about disaster management and who scorned many of the bureaucrats who worked for him.

Here is the primary defect of movement conservatives – people who care more about the ideological flavor of a work product than its quality will do a crappy job. The problem extends beyond neutral jobs like dealing with hurricanes to preferred policies like rebuilding the middle east or rewriting the entitlement code. Read Rajiv Chandrasekaran’s reporting from Iraq to get a sense of how, even for the most important initiative in the entire Republican agenda, competence always loses to ideological purity.

Frankly, if I supported rightwing politics I would probably despise them even more. At least for libs like me the grand crash-and-burn of movement conservatism has an upside.

Reader Interactions

71Comments

  1. 1.

    Tom Hilton

    As I often point out, here is the primary defect of movement conservatives – people who care more about the ideological flavor of a work product than its quality will do a crappy job.

    It’s worse than that: for people who are ideologically hostile to government, government failure isn’t a bug–it’s a feature. Government screws up? Well, that just shows that you can’t trust government!

    I knew back in 1994 that the Republican party would come to this–not because I was prescient but because it was painfully frickin’ obvious that putting government in the hands of people who are ideologically hostile to government can’t possibly result in anything other than incompetence and corruption.

  2. 2.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    All those burueacracies like the CIA are just filled with people like Ray Nagin. People who couldn’t even run a bus schedule.

    At least our ideological flavors are pure – our party, our country, right or wrong.

    You keep cheering for the losing team, it’s who you are.

  3. 3.

    ATLLIBERAL

    This is what happens when you elect people to run the government who dont believe that government can do ANYTHING right.
    They get into office and “prove” it.

    We have seen the disastrous results of it in many ways over the last 6 years.

  4. 4.

    neil

    even in the most important initiative in the entire Republican agenda, competence always loses to ideological purity.

    I think you misspelled ‘especially’.

  5. 5.

    Jake

    The Bush political operatives have become the people the Republicans once warned the country against

    Have become? Did I miss the 15 seconds when they weren’t like this?

  7. 7.

    numbskull

    At least Bush doesn’t have to create a Gulf of Tonkin like LBJ did:

    Iran captures British sailors

    Well, I guess that’s another pile of crap that Toney Blare will have to deal with.

    Us, not so much. We’ve already got our hands full stepping on our dicks in Iraq.

  8. 8.

    28 Percent

    You do not know anything no matter how bad you say they are you cannot admit that Al “you give me fever” Gore or John “Bleeding Purple Heart” Kerry would have been worse because all you can do is HATE. I bet even if Bush had not done these things you would still criticize you even criticize when people just talk about Hitlery’s hair so you see both sides do it. It is a shame that you always find something to complain about and cannot just love this GREAT COUNTRY!!!

  10. 10.

    Lee

    This

    …people who care more about the ideological flavor of a work product than its quality will do a crappy job.

    Bolton’s interview with Jon Stewart makes perfect sense keeping this in mind.

  11. 11.

    Cyrus

    28 Percent Says:
    You do not know anything no matter how bad you say they are you cannot admit that Al “you give me fever” Gore or John “Bleeding Purple Heart” Kerry would have been worse because all you can do is HATE. I bet even if Bush had not done these things you would still criticize you even criticize when people just talk about Hitlery’s hair so you see both sides do it. It is a shame that you always find something to complain about and cannot just love this GREAT COUNTRY

    Hmmm. He doesn’t swear like Darrell, but for some reason, I think he’s genuine. It’s so incoherent that if it’s a spoof, I think it’s a bad one. Besides, this is a new guy around here, right?

    Has anyone seen BIRDZILLA lately? Mr. 28 Percent is a little more talkative than he was, but other than that, it seems very familiar.

  13. 13.

    Zifnab

    Looks like 28 Percent is the new BIRDZILLA

    You’re not really BIRDZILLA until you spell your name in all caps.

    As I often point out, here is the primary defect of movement conservatives – people who care more about the ideological flavor of a work product than its quality will do a crappy job.

    Frankly, this could be said for any ideological movement. You think Communism failed because the idea of ten people working a farm instead of three is a disfunctional idea? You think the British Empire crumbled because monarchies just don’t work? Or take Rome – as everyone else does – and analyze it to death. Nothing kills a political system like loyalty to the party/ideology/king/whatever being held above doing a good job.

    The true tragedy of the Republican Party is that the Republicans who could govern well were run out off office by the Republicans who just sold out. One of the beauties of a welfare state is that at least you’re encouraged to make a good welfare system. An anti-welfare state just seems to encourage ripping off training wheels and stopping up safety valves without really asking why these regulations and controls are in place. Basically, you have one party that wants governmental control and another that wants corporate anarchy. Surprise, surprise, the party of corporate anarchy isn’t very good at handling government controls.

  14. 14.

    chopper

    You do not know anything no matter how bad you say they are you cannot admit that Al “you give me fever” Gore or John “Bleeding Purple Heart” Kerry would have been worse because all you can do is HATE. I bet even if Bush had not done these things you would still criticize you even criticize when people just talk about Hitlery’s hair so you see both sides do it. It is a shame that you always find something to complain about and cannot just love this GREAT COUNTRY

    can i buy some pot from you?

  15. 15.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    Us, not so much. We’ve already got our hands full stepping on our dicks in Iraq.

    Any great nation, like any great man, can handle two at a time.

  16. 16.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    Nothing kills a political system like loyalty to the party/ideology/king/whatever being held above doing a good job.

    So you moonbats just institutionalize always doing a crappy job and holding that up as the benchmark. Sure the other side screws up, but you all have lowered the bar so much there’s not much to work with. At least the other side is trying other ideas, and just rearranging the deckchairs on the quaqmire of public education, welfare, etc.

  17. 17.

    Fruitbat Jones

    Any great nation, like any great man, can handle two at a time.

    Lots of great men in Key West.

  18. 18.

    Tom Hilton

    …you cannot admit that Al “you give me fever” Gore or John “Bleeding Purple Heart” Kerry would have been worse because all you can do is HATE.

    Indeed. Your ability to HATE and apply trite and unimaginative nicknames makes you inherently superior.

  19. 19.

    28 Percent

    You cannot meet my arguments so you use ad hominem. How sad and typical. You have no respect for AMERICAS glonous history and cultual.

  21. 21.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    Lots of great men in Key West.

    A fine country on the frontline against communofascism.

  23. 23.

    Punchy

    OT–Mizz’ippi

    The only exceptions to the state ban would be in cases of rape or if the pregnancy threatened the woman’s life. The bill has no exception for pregnancies caused by incest.

    No one can accuse Mississippi legislators of NOT knowing their constituents. Seriously, when can we just give Mississippi and their collective 3 teeth to China for payment on our debt?

  24. 24.

    Doubting Thomas

    That’s funny! There is actually a definition for “cultual” online! Of course, in the link’s example of usage it seems to be an adjective, but 28% uses it as a noun.

    I’m sure someone here can come up with a wonderful (or at least snarky) definition of “cultual” as a noun.

  25. 25.

    mrmobi

    Ok, I’m with you, Ted. Culture is the proper spelling. I believe that is proved out by the word glonous, which, if I’m interpreting newspeak correctly, means glorious.

    I think that 28 Percent just proved that maxim about 1,000 monkeys typing, etc.

    28 Percent, you are sounding more and more like an inhabitant of the movie “Idiocracy.”

  26. 26.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    The bill has no exception for pregnancies caused by incest.

    Look, it’s simple. If God didn’t want kinfolk hookin up, why did he design it so they could?

  27. 27.

    Mike S

    Oh man, check out the latest from the Redstate braintrust.

    After the vote in the House today on H R 1591, the so-called “U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007,” we get to meet our 2 newest traitors from the GOP.

    Meet Wayne Gilchrest, MD. and Walter Jones, NC.

    Much like their inspiration, Benedict Arnold, they found a better offer than being loyal to those they once took an oath to serve.

    snip

    They have achieved their victory against the Republicans today; against a President they have successfully vilified beyond the pale. There will be high 5’s aplenty amongst and in between the champagne and scotch glasses tonight, and Jones and Gilchrest will enjoy their buzz right along with their new pals.

    Tomorrow, however, is only a few hours away. Their time in the spotlight has come, and they must not be allowed wallow in it with any great comfort. The temperature needs to rise until they sweat and dehydrate under the glare of it.

    Add 2 more to the haystack hall of shame. They need to share Arnold’s ultimate fate of shriveling and slithering home to live out their lives in well-earned shame, wishing they had decided differently today; wishing they had taken the “winning” side.

    If there was ever a need for a new “cult awareness network” Redstate is it. Maybe someone can get the Church if Scientology” to give back the name.

  28. 28.

    Punchy

    Add 2 more to the haystack hall of shame

    That’s the best they can do? “haystack”?? What the hell does it even mean?

    It’s clear now why John “Dont call me U.S.S.” Cole left Redstate. They write like retards. And I think that may slander retards.

  29. 29.

    Zifnab

    They need to share Arnold’s ultimate fate of shriveling and slithering home to live out their lives in well-earned shame, wishing they had decided differently today; wishing they had taken the “winning” side.

    Yeah. Red State takes on the governator. This I want to see. The biggest joke in that post is the fact that RSers still consider themselves relevant.

  30. 30.

    Mike S

    It’s by one of their brightest lights, Haystack. And yes, he is one of their brightest lights.

  31. 31.

    jenniebee

    I like this part best:

    I would opine, m’lady, that the REAL war on terror is being fought in the House of Representatives, and you have two new recruits on board to help you lose it.

    It’s amazing – one grasps instantly what he’s trying to say, but the words themselves mean nothing of the sort. Curious.

  33. 33.

    Bubblegum Tate

    “haystack”?? What the hell does it even mean?

    Well, according to Mike S, it’s the nom de plume of the writer of that particular piece of drivel. As for me, the only way I’ve heard it used besides as a reference to a big pile of hay is as a nickname for an overweight redneck.

  34. 34.

    Richard 23

    The administration’s signature failure, its bumbling response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was the work of a right-wing political appointee who knew almost nothing about disaster management and who scorned many of the bureaucrats who worked for him.

    Of course! It was all the Bush Administration’s fault and not the state and local government. I understand now. It’s all so clear!

    Sadly, the great Dem Governor Kathleen Blanco has apparently decided to quit while she’s ahead, fresh off her Katrina success, and spend more time with her family:

    According to PoliticsLA.com, Louisiana’s so-called governor, Kathleen Blanco, will not seek reelection. Even she saw the handwriting on the wall and saw she had no chance in hell at winning. The people of New Orleans may be stupid enough to reelect Ray Nagin and Bill Jefferson, but the people of Louisiana as a whole are not as stupid as the average New Orleans voter.

    Nice for her that she’s still got $3 million in her campaign warchest and nothing to spend it on. Maybe she can stash some of it in Jefferson’s freezer.

    I guess it’s all Bush’s fault that Louisiana had an incompetent Governor and New Orleans had a brainless mayor. All part of that vast right wing conspiracy, eh moonbats?

    Dishonesty: you’re soaking in it.

  37. 37.

    Richard 23

    I am perfectly aware of the Democrat party cult and the nutroots cult and the Kos Thrill Kill Kult (“screw them”), Mike S.

  38. 38.

    Mike S

    Ahh, now I see. One of the reasons I stopped reading John and Tim’s site as much is because I got sick of the spoofers.

  40. 40.

    BARRASSO

    I tire of the spoofing myself, if you can’t add to the conversation at least don’t detract from it.

  42. 42.

    haystacks calhoun

    Add 2 more to the haystack hall of shame

    them’s fightin’ words!

    The only exceptions to the state ban would be in cases of rape or if the pregnancy threatened the woman’s life. The bill has no exception for pregnancies caused by incest.

    hey now, my sister is quite exceptional. put her in thar, too! or ah’ll put you in a figure 4.

  43. 43.

    Andrew

    ??? Please explain.

    There are plenty of ‘tards out there living really kick ass lives.

  44. 44.

    plum

    Sure, Ignatius nailed the contempt the Bushies have for civil service, but this part (about the US Attorney firings) grated:

    I don’t think the story is much of a scandal. U.S. attorneys serve at the pleasure of the president, and he can fire whomever he wants.

  45. 45.

    jenniebee

    I don’t really see how general concurrence is “contributing” to the conversation any more than disagreement is “detracting” from it. That governmental response to Katrina was, from start to finish, top to bottom a complete and utter cock-up is a hard thing to dispute; the idea that Louisianna might have more than its share of bottom-feeding, wholly corrupt politicians is hardly farfetched. Pointing out that Blanco and Nagin were ineffectual isn’t to say that Bush was anything short of horrible, so why fight over Blanco and Nagin?

    Also, Richard 23, I love your work. Kudos. Big fan.

  46. 46.

    numbskull

    A problem with Ignatius’ op-ed is that he buys into the Kinsley/Brooks “I was born yesterday” take on the USA firing – that it’s all OK because they serve at the pleasure of the president.

    Just how much has to be spelled out before these guys understand that nobody is arguing that point? The point is: Did the president obstruct justice by firing some of these USAs? We they fired specifically because they were investigating Republicans? Were they fired specifically because they declined to persue Democrats once initial investigation showed that there was no reason to move forward with those cases?

    Of course, those two questions beg the question: Were the other 95 NOT fired because they were willing to play ball?

  47. 47.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    ??? Please explain.

    Punchy, lead, follow, or get out of the way.

  48. 48.

    Richard 23

    Also, Richard 23, I love your work. Kudos. Big fan.

    Thank you very much. And you make a good point in your comment that I won’t try to dispute. There’s plenty of blame to go around. It’s still an absolute disaster down there.

    For every vocal John S, there are dozens of quiet lurking jenniebees. I’m glad that at least one of the jenniebees (perhaps even the original one) has spoken up.

  50. 50.

    tBone

    For every vocal John S, there are dozens of quiet lurking jenniebees. I’m glad that at least one of the jenniebees (perhaps even the original one) has spoken up.

    Don’t let the haters get you down, R23. The Kool-Aid Drinking Kos Kidz Klan hates it when a bright, articulate conservative such as yourself reveals their groupthink echochamber whack-a-thon as the flimsy (& sticky) house of cards that it really is. They have no choice but to resort to personal attacks. It’s just who these leftards really are.

  51. 51.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    tBone,

    It says on your chart you’re fucked up, you talk like a fag, and your shit’s all retarded.

  52. 52.

    Bubblegum Tate

    It says on your chart you’re fucked up, you talk like a fag, and your shit’s all retarded.

    ‘Sup, esse? Basically, what I do is…like…ya know….

  53. 53.

    chopper

    The administration’s signature failure, its bumbling response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, was the work of a right-wing political appointee who knew almost nothing about disaster management and who scorned many of the bureaucrats who worked for him.

    Of course! It was all the Bush Administration’s fault and not the state and local government. I understand now. It’s all so clear!

    you know he didn’t say it was all the bush admin’s fault. he said that the administration’s response to katrina was it’s biggest blunder, not that the state and local gov’ts are blameless.

    your spoofing kinda sucks. at least darrell doesn’t let himself (herself? hmmm) make such obvious errors.

  54. 54.

    chopper

    It says on your chart you’re fucked up, you talk like a fag, and your shit’s all retarded

    i’m still trying to convince my brother-in-law, who’s starting his residency this summer, to use that line on someone.

  55. 55.

    Ted

    Yeah. Red State takes on the governator.

    Actually, I think the Arnold the RedStater was referring to was Benedict. Yes. If you vote for a bill to end another Vietnam, you’re Benedict Arnold.

  56. 56.

    MikeF

    Darrell, D’Souza, DeLay and Strauss: Any great nation, like any great man, can handle two at a time.

    You obviously have Bush and Rove well in hand there, so I will leave you alone. Don’t forget to swallow….

  57. 57.

    Krista

    It’s clear now why John “Dont call me U.S.S.” Cole left Redstate.

    I don’t know why, but that just tickles me.

  58. 58.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    You obviously have Bush and Rove well in hand there, so I will leave you alone.

    MikeF? Who the f* is that? Another jeeniebelle?

    I hate these iterant posters. They’re like migrants. You never know when they’re going to get shipped back and show up at the worst time.

    Not that I don’t treat them well. It’s just when I drive up at the corner and Jose ain’t there, I’m like f*! I gots to train a new guy.

  60. 60.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    Man, I CANNOT concentrate with Rudy on the left sidebar.

    Man, that’s nuts. I get an Irish Spring ad.

    And I can tell you, Rudy ain’t no mic.

  61. 61.

    MikeF

    I have been here quite a while. Longer than I have seen your obviously carefully chosen moniker.

  62. 62.

    Punchy

    Gonzo’s in more trouble. Seems like his lies can now be proven. Will be good comedy to see how the WH spins this.

  63. 63.

    tBone

    It says on your chart you’re fucked up, you talk like a fag, and your shit’s all retarded.

    Go away. ‘Batin.

  64. 64.

    Richard 23

    Man, I CANNOT concentrate with Rudy on the left sidebar.

    Tell me about it. Fruity Rudy must go.

  65. 65.

    Darrell, D'Souza, DeLay and Strauss

    I have been here quite a while. Longer than I have seen your obviously carefully chosen moniker.

    Well, that would be about today.

  66. 66.

    Andrew

    Gonzo’s in more trouble. Seems like his lies can now be proven. Will be good comedy to see how the WH spins this.

    I don’t really think we have time for a handjob.

  67. 67.

    Pb

    After the vote in the House today on H R 1591, the so-called “U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007,” we get to meet our 2 newest traitors from the GOP.

    Meet Wayne Gilchrest, MD. and Walter Jones, NC.

    This is just more proof of how ignorant, shallow, and disgustingly partisan the Red State crowd is–that they’d say this, and that they haven’t noticed until now. Of course, they weren’t complaining when Walter Jones came up with “freedom fries”, or when Wayne Gilchrest served in Vietnam. Both men supported the war in Iraq, and both men have long since turned against it–maybe it helps that they actually go to the funerals, and talk to the parents and loved ones of our dead soldiers. But at Red State, principled Republicans are traitors to their country if they vote their conscience and don’t toe the line on Iraq. Uh-huh. Keep it up, guys, let’s see how many seats that idiocy buys you.

  68. 68.

    lard lad

    Jesus creeping Christ on a cross.

    If you thought the shenanigans at Walter Reed were the worst that this clown-car administration had to dish out to our troops, then you are tragically mistaken.

    Read this — then try to keep your head from exploding in rage.

    The gist:

    Eventually the rocket shrapnel was removed from (Spc. Jon) Town’s neck and his ears stopped leaking blood. But his hearing never really recovered, and in many ways, neither has his life. A soldier honored twelve times during his seven years in uniform, Town has spent the last three struggling with deafness, memory failure and depression. By September 2006 he and the Army agreed he was no longer combat-ready.

    But instead of sending Town to a medical board and discharging him because of his injuries, doctors at Fort Carson, Colorado, did something strange: They claimed Town’s wounds were actually caused by a “personality disorder.” Town was then booted from the Army and told that under a personality disorder discharge, he would never receive disability or medical benefits.

    Town is not alone. A six-month investigation has uncovered multiple cases in which soldiers wounded in Iraq are suspiciously diagnosed as having a personality disorder, then prevented from collecting benefits. The conditions of their discharge have infuriated many in the military community, including the injured soldiers and their families, veterans’ rights groups, even military officials required to process these dismissals.

    They say the military is purposely misdiagnosing soldiers like Town and that it’s doing so for one reason: to cheat them out of a lifetime of disability and medical benefits, thereby saving billions in expenses.

    Get this — not only did the Army rook this combat-wounded vet out of his benefits, they also hit him with a bill for nearly four thousand bucks.

    The final blow for Town came when he found out that, despite assurances from Wexler and other Fort Carson officials, the specialist would indeed have to give back the bulk of his $15,000 signing bonus. At the time of his dismissal, Town had served one year of his six-year contract. Under 5-13’s regulations, he was allowed to keep one-sixth of his bonus…

    When Town sat down with Fort Carson’s outprocessor, he saw the details of his own discharge for the first time. He’d receive a $500 closing allowance, $1500 for leave he didn’t take, and $6,000 of separation pay. But his 5-13 dismissal also meant returning to the military $12,000 of his 2005 signing bonus.

    The result: Town packed up and left Fort Carson without a penny. In fact, he now owed the Army close to $4,000.

    I can’t summon up sarcasm scathing enough to do justice to the villainy at play here. Suffice to say that hell doesn’t go deep enough to house the moral shitbuckets who coined this policy and now cheerfully inflict it on our damaged veterans. To save money.

    God damn them. God damn them all.

  71. 71.

    Lit3Bolt

    It’s for things like lard lad brought up the world should be thankful for the fact that I don’t have to ability to summon razor-penis demons from the 9th circle of hell to rape those responsible for such a travesty of justice. On National TV, no less.

    [sex] these unjust sheep. [sex] them and their [stool]-brained policies forever.

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