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You are here: Home / Attn: Wanker

Attn: Wanker

by John Cole|  November 12, 200812:29 pm| 178 Comments

This post is in: Clown Shoes, I Read These Morons So You Don't Have To

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Yes, you, BTD:

The Cult will not because it can not. No such posts exist. I remind my dear readers and the Cult of two words that I used – “shoo-in.” Before most. Those who actually can read and actually read my posts know precisely what I wrote.

Start with a search at the Talk Left archives with the words Unity + Ticket. Work backwards.

This one is kind of fun:

Obama’s GE Margin Of Error: Nonexistent

I am sorry to continue to harp on the need for a Unity Ticket, but I feel it is important. I just looked at the latest McCain-Obama head to heads (forget the electoral college math problems for a moment) and here they are:

Rasmussen: Obama 44, McCain 46

Gallup: Obama 45, McCain 47

Newsweek: Obama 46, McCain 46

Forget for a moment that Clinton is beating McCain in these same polls, excuse me, is no one but me worried about needing a unified Democratic Party in November? I pray there are grownups in the Obama camp that will give him a reality check on this.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

Speaking for the entire country, I am glad there are adults in the Obama camp and that they ignored every damned thing you had to say. We could spend all day doing this, but we all know what we would find. Waste of my time.

Although, I will add, this one is pretty awesome:

The dynamics of this race are now set in stone. No amount of Media and Mo and Kennedys can get Obama over the hump. He can not win women, Latinos, older voters and lower income non-African Americans. The Obama coalition is simply not enough. I discussed this problem for the past month.

The bottom line is nothing has changed from Nevada. Obama can not break through. He will not be the Presidential nominee. He will be the Vice Presidential nominee.

President Elect Obama says “Hi, Armando!”

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Reader Interactions

178Comments

  1. 1.

    demimondian

    November 12, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    "Speaking for the county"? Hrmm….

  2. 2.

    wvng

    November 12, 2008 at 12:37 pm

    "Those who actually can read and actually read my posts know precisely what I wrote." Hmmm, I guess the answer is that yes, we do know exactly what you wrote.

    One would think that a web kinda guy would understand that the memory hole is pretty darned small in the age of teh google.

    One would think so, anyway.

  3. 3.

    dewberry

    November 12, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    Oh good. A pie fight. I know which bunker I’m in. I’m proud to be in the cult of butterscotch pecan.

  4. 4.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    November 12, 2008 at 12:39 pm

    There’s only one thing worse than uber-nutjob wingnuts: uber-nutjob partisan Dems with a self-inflated sense of importance.

    Just like BigTentAsshole. Or Larry "needs to be shat upon" Johnson.

  5. 5.

    Josh Hueco

    November 12, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    @dewberry:

    I prefer creem. Or hair.

  6. 6.

    jake 4 that 1

    November 12, 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Waaah, no fair! You’re not supposed to read the words he wrote, you’re supposed to read the words he meant to write. Or would have written if he’d known the election’s outcome. Or is going to retroactively write once he finishes his time machine…

    You need a frickin’ electron microscope to tell these cretins from their fRiechtard soulmates.

  7. 7.

    Dave

    November 12, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    I always thought Armando couldn’t be more of a douche-bag than he was at the GOS. Was I ever wrong…

  8. 8.

    Doug H. (Comrade Fausto no more)

    November 12, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    I love the references to ‘the Cult’. Heaven forbid that, after eight years of Bushisms, we celebrate having a cerebral Democrat in the Oval Office. Isn’t this the day we were all looking forward to?

    Its apparent that Pup Tent Democrat isn’t as much progressive as he’s prohimself.

  9. 9.

    Will Danz

    November 12, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    Big Tent Dumb outdid himself this year. What a self-important ass.

    It was always amusing to watch him preach a "Unity" ticket while viciously trashing any Democrat who disagreed with him.

    (Get ready for his hissy-fit response. BOY, is he gonna stamp his feet and threaten to hold his breath this time! Won’t we be sorry….)

  10. 10.

    Mark Adams

    November 12, 2008 at 12:50 pm

    Johhny, you speak for me too! This ass has needed spanked for too long.

    I relish the time one of BTD’s cult followers tried to read me the riot act when I blogged about his penchant for closing the tent flap to dissent. I was supposed to take note that there were a lot of opposite views voiced before he closed the comments and was pointed to an ongoing thread that contained a lot of dissent — which was closed and purged by the time I looked.

    He really did ruin that site. Between Armando and Jeralyn I don’t know why TChris even bothers.

  11. 11.

    John S.

    November 12, 2008 at 12:53 pm

    BigTimeDouchebag has decided to double-down on his inanity…

    I never cared for Obama’s (and Edwards’) phony attacks on lobbyists. But the Cult was quite enthused about it.

    I find his transformation into a fringe Republican barking at the moon to be fascinating. He should hook up with fellow converts p.lukasiak, myiq1/2xu, Lambert and RiverDaughter. They could start a new blog like "Ratfuckers4Change" or something. Maybe merge with NoiQ. The possibilities are endless.

  12. 12.

    canuckistani

    November 12, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    I thought we could delete all those "Chill the fuck out – I got this" images after the election..

  13. 13.

    The Other Steve

    November 12, 2008 at 12:54 pm

    talkleft apparently hasn’t been getting enough traffic, so they’re starting blog fights.

  14. 14.

    libarbarian

    November 12, 2008 at 12:56 pm

    I thought we could delete all those "Chill the fuck out – I got this" images after the election..

    It’s still my windows desktop background.

  15. 15.

    greynoldsct00

    November 12, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    And such irony that he calls himself the Big Tent Democrat…when his "tent" appears to be so limited and closed to discussion. Doug H. is right, it’s more of a pup tent.

    Long live the B-J Obama cult, we’re a proud bunch.

  16. 16.

    Zifnab

    November 12, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    I love the references to ‘the Cult’. Heaven forbid that, after eight years of Bushisms, we celebrate having a cerebral Democrat in the Oval Office. Isn’t this the day we were all looking forward to?

    When crazy fundie churches start setting up card-board cut outs of President Obama and start praying at it (and I’m confident someone will – I’m saying "when" not "if"), feel free to call that a cult.

    But I’m going to gag the next time I hear one of the raving Bush supporters – or better yet, one of the wacko rabid Mitt Romney or Rudy Guiliani supporters – talk about being too enthusiastic about your candidate.

    Ironically enough, you know which group of people I don’t see complaining about Obama cultism nearly as much as the rest? Ron Paul’s guys. Maybe that’s because they’re too busy fund raising, campaigning, and organizing their movement to have time for Cheetos-flinging stupidity.

  17. 17.

    greynoldsct00

    November 12, 2008 at 1:00 pm

    I thought we could delete all those "Chill the fuck out – I got this" images after the election..

    We could create a new one, with John’s picture this time. Maybe not the Hemingway pic from Halloween, but you get my drift.

  18. 18.

    Shinobi

    November 12, 2008 at 1:01 pm

    So, if we’re a cult, do we get like, sweet ass robes and sticks with which to beat anyone who disagrees with us? Because that’d be cool.

    Can we have a secret symbol and hidden rooms and stuff? We are the Obamanatti! Fear our tremendous power!

  19. 19.

    TheFountainHead

    November 12, 2008 at 1:02 pm

    Some people just don’t know when to quit.

  20. 20.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 12, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    The Cult? Didn’t they release a new album last year?

  21. 21.

    demimondian

    November 12, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    @The Other Steve: Right. So…they’re starting a blog fight with a small, relatively obscure, center-right-left-democratic-independent blog to create traffic?

    Listen, BJuice is my first stop in the morning, but, really, you know, I just don’t think we’re *that* prominent.

  22. 22.

    kay

    November 12, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    He shouldn’t be taken seriously as an amateur Democratic pundit if he wrote that Obama would have trouble taking Michigan, and that’s what he wrote.

    It wasn’t so. It was NEVER so. Michigan was never in doubt.

    This silliness about Michigan was bandied about on the Right re:Romney. HRC industriously worked to pretend that she was the only Democrat who could carry Michigan and it was transparent nonsense. Not a rank and file soul in Michigan took her seriously. Even John McCain knew enough to get out of there.

    Any Democrat who bought it and spread it can’t be taken seriously.

  23. 23.

    demimondian

    November 12, 2008 at 1:04 pm

    @Shinobi: Nope. Nikes and sweatsuits, though.

  24. 24.

    sparky

    November 12, 2008 at 1:05 pm

    @TheFountainHead: is it possible to have too much pie? discuss.

  25. 25.

    greynoldsct00

    November 12, 2008 at 1:06 pm

    sweatsuits

    Eh, might be a tad Sopranos…black cargo pants, etc would be slick.

  26. 26.

    TheFountainHead

    November 12, 2008 at 1:07 pm

    @sparky: Depends on the quality of the pie.

  27. 27.

    Shinobi

    November 12, 2008 at 1:08 pm

    Yeah I am NOT joining if we have to wear sweatsuits. No amount of brainwashing will get me into a sweatsuit.

    I like the black cargo pants idea, get the Obama campaign logo patches and put them on the cargo pockets.

  28. 28.

    Krista

    November 12, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    Big Tent Democrat just takes himself and his blog way too seriously. He and his commenters seem to think that if they protest loudly about Obama doing x before Obama actually contemplates doing x, then Obama will listen to them and change his course.

    As if Obama’s going to act on the advice of a second-rate PUMA blogger.

    Delusions of grandeur, anybody?

  29. 29.

    Shinobi

    November 12, 2008 at 1:10 pm

    Also, in lieu of kool-aid, I propose Pie. Kool-aid is so Bush Administration.

  30. 30.

    jake 4 that 1

    November 12, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    We could create a new one, with John’s picture this time. Maybe not the Hemingway pic from Halloween, but you get my drift.

    Nah, A picture of Tunch when John has woken him up.

    I like the black cargo pants idea, get the Obama campaign logo patches and put them on the cargo pockets.

    So would that make it a … Cargo Cult?

    Thank you! I’ll be here until the guy with the hook shows up!

  31. 31.

    John Cole

    November 12, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    @kay: Exactly- the silliness about Michigan was a last ditch effort to win it for the Clinton camp. Period.

    The funniest thing about this asshat is he just doesn’t get it. Everyone here is going to be livid if Obama continues the Bush regime of torture. I will personally flip my shit.

    But I am not going to run around and pre-emptively flame him for shit two months before he is in office. And these morons that think he is “just applying pressure” are even dumber. Do these guys have such an inflated sense of self-importance that they think the Obama campaign is reading TalkLeft, and all of a sudden said “Hey- you know that torture we were thinking about? We better stick to our campaign promise, or Big Tent Democra is going to let us have it.”

    Just first class wankery all the way around.

  32. 32.

    demimondian

    November 12, 2008 at 1:14 pm

    @Shinobi: No, sorry. Sweatpants and black shirts only. Arm patches optional.

  33. 33.

    Incertus

    November 12, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    He’s like Camille Paglia without the charming repartee. Maybe the two of them could get together and try to out-wrong each other on a day-by-day basis.

  34. 34.

    greynoldsct00

    November 12, 2008 at 1:20 pm

    Nah, A picture of Tunch when John has woken him up.

    Tunch is the official mascot no matter what!

  35. 35.

    Dr. Squid

    November 12, 2008 at 1:20 pm

    Shorter BTD: Now is the perfect time for Hillary to save the party before Obama destroys it by losing.

  36. 36.

    Shinobi

    November 12, 2008 at 1:22 pm

    But Deminondian, we’re not killing ourselves, we’re following "The One." After all the man walks on water. Maybe we should ask this guy what he thinks he would best evoke the liberal youth cult vibe? He certainly had some opinions about Michelle Obama’s election night attire.

  37. 37.

    Perry Como

    November 12, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    @sparky: The problem is BTD comes to the party, sticks his dick in the pie, then complains that someone stuck a dick in the pie. When people point out that, indeed, BTD was the pie dick sticker, he whines loudly about unity or some other bullshit.

    And since I have a pretty good idea that BTD likes to read comments in blog fights: BTD, I’ve had a blast trolling your site. It’s more fun than trolling Volokh and Patterico, combined.

  38. 38.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 12, 2008 at 1:24 pm

    So would that make it a … Cargo Cult?

    And this is the blog with which BTD wants to start a war? Seems like he’s bringing a knife to a gun fight.

  39. 39.

    ksmiami

    November 12, 2008 at 1:25 pm

    In all honesty, I think I looked at BTD one time during the primaries, took a shower, and never looked back. I am glad Hillary is a decent senator, but relieved that this election was NOT a 50% + 1 hinging on fate in Ohio. BTW, I am a former Catholic turned atheist/humanist and have never been a cultist, more of an apathetic and unaware until the power of the internet was unleashed…

    A little off topic, but lastly, most of America’s economic issues right now stem from a group of white men in their 50s and 60s sitting around boardrooms convinced of their superiority and believing their own bullshit… but I will speak on that later

  40. 40.

    boonagain

    November 12, 2008 at 1:25 pm

    Is there gonna be any wanking at all on this side?

    We should know this before we choose, but, I guess, all the pie would override the no wanking rule.

    While black may be slimming, cargo pants make me look fat. I think we need to maybe rethink the uniform.

  41. 41.

    JamesB

    November 12, 2008 at 1:27 pm

    Ah, Balloon Juice… The only blog I where can laugh at morons and look at cute cat pictures at the same time. Where would I be without it?

  42. 42.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 12, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    You say you want uniforms? I got your uniforms right here.

  43. 43.

    Tom65

    November 12, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    as the kids say, "pwned".

  44. 44.

    Brian J

    November 12, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    If there’s ever a standard example of why it’s not always good to speak with such certainty when talking about politics, this might just be it.

  45. 45.

    Zifnab

    November 12, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    BTW, I am a former Catholic turned atheist/humanist and have never been a cultist, more of an apathetic and unaware until the power of the internet was unleashed…

    What, you haven’t heard? Atheism is totally a cult. I’ve been informed on numerous occasions that not believing in a magical sky fairy who will whisk me off to heaven is exactly the same as believing in a magical sky fairy, except for the fact that people who don’t believe in magic Jesus are more likely to rape and kill and go gay and cheat on taxes. And since atheists are too few and far between to constitute an evil religion, we are inherently a cult. QED.

  46. 46.

    Nikki

    November 12, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    BTD responds:

    here, here and here.

  47. 47.

    Incertus

    November 12, 2008 at 1:31 pm

    @Brian J: And if you’re going to speak with certainty–and I’ve done it more than a few times–always be willing to take the ass beating when you wind up being wrong. There’s no shame in messing up, as long as you admit it.

  48. 48.

    Zifnab

    November 12, 2008 at 1:32 pm

    @Dennis – SGMM: ZOMG! Cult full of pirates! I’m in. Where do I sign?

  49. 49.

    demimondian

    November 12, 2008 at 1:33 pm

    @Zifnab: Damn it, Zif, leave my fucking Sky Ghost alone!

  50. 50.

    greynoldsct00

    November 12, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    The problem is BTD comes to the party, sticks his dick in the pie, then complains that someone stuck a dick in the pie. When people point out that, indeed, BTD was the pie dick sticker, he whines loudly about unity or some other bullshit.

    ROFLOL!!

    Based on what little I’ve read over at BTD, they are just way too serious; we have a damn good time over here and manage to laugh amongst the debates.

  51. 51.

    rts

    November 12, 2008 at 1:36 pm

    It would be a small thrill if Armando comes into this comment thread and attempts to defend himself. The amusement will be doubled even if he is defending the indefensible. The GOS is a much better place in his absence, with better writing, clearer thinking and a less hectoring tone, suffice it to say.

  52. 52.

    Mr. Merle

    November 12, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    Has anyone asked why Ian Astbury is/was so interested in the 2008 election? Did he write Sweet Soul Sister for Michelle back in the day?

    I assume that at least 438 people have made a variant of this joke already.

  53. 53.

    Comrade Jake

    November 12, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    @John Cole:

    Do these guys have such an inflated sense of self-importance that they think the Obama campaign is reading TalkLeft, and all of a sudden said “Hey- you know that torture we were thinking about? We better stick to our campaign promise, or Big Tent Democrat is going to let us have it.”

    All of the evidence would suggest that the Obama campaign completely ignored BTD during the primaries and GE, and everyone knows he did extremely well. Given such facts and today’s events, I think it’s safe to conclude that BTD is 100% certain that the Obama campaign reads his posts. After all, who are you going to believe? Armando or your lying eyes?

  54. 54.

    greynoldsct00

    November 12, 2008 at 1:40 pm

    It would be a small thrill if Armando comes into this comment thread and attempts to defend himself

    Doubt he has the stones to leave his own environment where he can delete the dissenters. That and we’d laugh at him.

  55. 55.

    Tzal

    November 12, 2008 at 1:41 pm

    You are only gonna encourage Armando by posting about him, John. Not sure if that’s a bad thing.

    I will say that it is encouraging to see these early intramural fights among Obama supporters. It should help to keep the discourse honest going forward. The last thing we need is a universal circle jerk like we saw on the right during the early years of the Bush administration.

  56. 56.

    dmsilev

    November 12, 2008 at 1:41 pm

    @Zifnab:

    When crazy fundie churches start setting up card-board cut outs of President Obama and start praying at it (and I’m confident someone will – I’m saying "when" not "if"), feel free to call that a cult.

    There was a story on the news a day or so ago about someone who claimed to have seen Barack’s face in a piece of toast, said piece of toast now up for auction on eBay.

    So, it has already begun.

    -dms

  57. 57.

    sparky

    November 12, 2008 at 1:42 pm

    uh oh. two pie issues have been raised! looks like a job for concern troll! nothing to do now but wait for Paul L to toss some O/T lacrosse sticks in that pie.

    there’s room here for something about trolls half-baked and a pie but i leave that for the poetically gifted. also.

  58. 58.

    PotVsKtl

    November 12, 2008 at 1:43 pm

    BTD is pretty clearly a straight up drunk. His commentary descends into ham-fisted keyboard pounding as the day goes on with all the requisite spelling mishaps and belligerence. I especially enjoy the "new" tone there when TalkLeft was one of the worst and most recognizable of the proto-PUMA blogs.

  59. 59.

    Krista

    November 12, 2008 at 1:44 pm

    I could work with the cargo pants, as long as they have an elastic waist for comfort.

    We DO love pie, after all.

    Anyway, Armando shouldn’t be wasting his time with blog fights. After all, I’m sure that President-Elect Obama is waiting breathlessly for the next pearls of advice from Big Tent Democrat and his commentariat. Put that pressure on, BTD! Only you can save democracy!

  60. 60.

    Tony J

    November 12, 2008 at 1:45 pm

    Obamanati

    Heh. Sweet.

  61. 61.

    John Cole

    November 12, 2008 at 1:46 pm

    BTD responds: here, here and here.

    He is the gift that keeps on giving. From your first link:

    Which part do you have a problem with? Obama got 42% of the white vote in the GE. He lost the white vote big in the Indiana and NC primaries. Are facts that diffocult for the Cult to swallow.

    Actually, he got 43%. John Kerry got 41%

    Those damned facts are so hard for us Cultists to swallow. If BTD were someone I cared about, it would be way beyond time for an intervention.

    Not to mention, the gist of his defense is the same damned flaw he made for months during the primaries, specifically, trying to extrapolate data regarding voting in the primaries to what would happen in the General Election. That was all shit chummed up by the Clintons to win the support of the undecided Supers, and Armando never figured that out. I suppose the also thinks that because Hillary won Texas in the primary, she would win it in the general. It just never stops.

  62. 62.

    greynoldsct00

    November 12, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    We DO love pie, after all.

    yeah, coconut cream for me please!

  63. 63.

    RSA

    November 12, 2008 at 1:49 pm

    But I’m going to gag the next time I hear one of the raving Bush supporters – or better yet, one of the wacko rabid Mitt Romney or Rudy Guiliani supporters – talk about being too enthusiastic about your candidate.

    Rightwing blogs have been referring to Obama as "Dear Leader" since September, so…

  64. 64.

    Comrade Jake

    November 12, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    Hey Armando, if you’re reading this, I just want to say that I’ve read your posts from time to time, and I always walked away thinking that you were a complete moron. Let us know when you stop banning dissent, so we can tell you to your face. Mmmkay? Kay.

    Or come over here and post. Our current trolls really don’t have anything close to your bullshit-ego product.

  65. 65.

    Xanthippas

    November 12, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    @The Other Steve: Right. So…they’re starting a blog fight with a small, relatively obscure, center-right-left-democratic-independent blog to create traffic?

    Well, to be fair, Cole fired first (though BTD always seems to be aiming to piss somebody off.) And I would not characterize Balloon Juice as "small, relatively obscure" by any definition of small, or obscure.

  66. 66.

    Doug H. (Comrade Fausto no more)

    November 12, 2008 at 1:51 pm

    Those damned facts are so hard for us Cultists to swallow. If BTD were someone I cared about, it would be way beyond time for an intervention.

    At least someone could post up the Dr. Cox video again. I’d do it, but I’m YouTube firewalled at work.

  67. 67.

    Zifnab

    November 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    If BTD were someone I cared about, it would be way beyond time for an intervention.

    We could have a concert. Call it Cool-Aid. Raise money for awareness of how certain people have are totally not cool, and need to get with the program. Oh! Oh! Cool-Aid could also raise money by selling drinks.

  68. 68.

    Nazgul35

    November 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm

    I think the real question to ask is,

    "Is he aware of all internet traditions?"

    the search function should be one of those…don’t you think?

    On a side note…Wow! What a fever swamp they have over there. Reading through the comments, I had to ask myself what color the sky was in their world…

  69. 69.

    Cameron

    November 12, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    @John Cole:
    BTD seems to focus on whether facts he cited at the time were true or not.

    That’s a bit of a strawman as the problem with his posts is not (necessarily) the facts he presents but rather the conclusions he draws from them.

  70. 70.

    Xanthippas

    November 12, 2008 at 2:02 pm

    I suppose the also thinks that because Hillary won Texas in the primary, she would win it in the general. It just never stops.

    I don’t know if he was ever that stupid, but he was stupid enough to lift his leg and take a piss on the Texas caucus system. I’m a Texas Dem who participated in those caucuses and thought they were well-run and fair, and the willingness of that jackass and his comrade Jeralyn to question the legitimacy of the caucuses and insult Texas Dems in the process, all in order to game expectations for Hillary, earned my undying enmity.

  71. 71.

    Comrade Peter J

    November 12, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    The Cult? Shouldn’t a cult be more about blocking opposing views? Like banning users and deleting comments? Were have I seen that? Some blog, it’s on the tip of my tongue…

  72. 72.

    Comrade Jake

    November 12, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    Again, I give you the essence of TalkLeft during the primaries, the sort of genius logic that infested BTD’s thinking. Watch at your own risk.

  73. 73.

    Brian J

    November 12, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    @Brian J: And if you’re going to speak with certainty—and I’ve done it more than a few times—always be willing to take the ass beating when you wind up being wrong. There’s no shame in messing up, as long as you admit it

    Absolutely.

    But if there’s one thing I’ve noticed, it’s that the people who speak with such certainty on issues where things could pretty clearly go the other way don’t have the sort of personalities that allow them to say that they were wrong. My guess is, this doesn’t describe you, but does describe someone like Armando.

  74. 74.

    TheFountainHead

    November 12, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    All this pie is making me sleepy.

  75. 75.

    Geek, Esq.

    November 12, 2008 at 2:14 pm

    His response:

    Further Update – the Cult is still scanning my posts and adding to his post. He finally found one I got totally wrong. My mistake was this – like Mark Penn’s actually – I did not realize that Obama would utterly dominate the caucuses.

    He wrote that crap AFTER Super Tuesday–AFTER Obama dominated the caucuses.

    His true Mark Penn problem was that he only thought about ten states mattered in the election.

  76. 76.

    jibeaux

    November 12, 2008 at 2:16 pm

    Love it…kind of a variation on "We keep the tapes, Senator".

    In sadder news, the Truck Nutz option is gone from that Rebuild the Party website. Although you can still choose its antithesis, no free truck nutz because that would be commie.

  77. 77.

    Perry Como

    November 12, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    @Comrade Jake: That is so full of wrong and fail it hurts.

  78. 78.

    Joshau Norton

    November 12, 2008 at 2:19 pm

    I dunno. Maybe he has a point. I mean, we elected Obama and 9/11 still happened. It proves he’s isn’t in favor of change.

    /snark

    /fox wingnut logic

  79. 79.

    NonWonderDog (НеинтереснаяСобака)

    November 12, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    @dmsilev:

    That was a joke. He burned Obama’s face into the toast with a stencil or something, and then sold it on eBay.

  80. 80.

    jake 4 that 1

    November 12, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    I am glad there are adults in the Obama camp and that they ignored every damned thing you had to say.

    To back up a bit, surely even this knucklehead never thought any of the campaigns cared what he had to say.

    Please?

    Armandhammer – Talking to himself only.

  81. 81.

    John Cole

    November 12, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    @Geek, Esq.: I thought he told us he never said the things he now admits he said and that we were supposed to dig it up? I am confused.

    BTW- for a good giggle, the top post at NoQuarter is calling me dense and offensive. WHERE IS MY WHITEY TAPE DAMNIT.

    Maybe he is a Big Tent Democrat after all- point out he is a jackass just making things up and Corrente Wire and NoQuarter get all upset. I suppose I will be getting a call from Harriet Christian soon.

  82. 82.

    Tony J

    November 12, 2008 at 2:25 pm

    Please to FSM Armando gets drunk and surly tonight and strays onto BJ to ‘defend his reputation’.

    Being on the other side of the Atlantic, I can only really enjoy a good troll-lashing after the fact. But this one would fill my evening reading with oodles of win. The Leftosphere could do with a Darwinian culling or two in the wake of their side, y’know, actually winning big in the only pissing contest that actually matters.

    Fingers crossed.

  83. 83.

    Jack H.

    November 12, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    re: ‘scanning my posts’ What the heck did BTD think was going to happen after his ‘no such posts exist’ claim?

  84. 84.

    jibeaux

    November 12, 2008 at 2:29 pm

    re: ‘scanning my posts’ What the heck did BTD think was going to happen after his ‘no such post exists’ claims?

    Dammit, he thought he had purged them all! He loves a good delete, that guy.

  85. 85.

    Perry Como

    November 12, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    BTW- for a good giggle, the top post at NoQuarter is calling me dense and offensive. WHERE IS MY WHITEY TAPE DAMNIT.

    And the blogfight spreads. Here I thought today was going to be a boring day of refactoring.

  86. 86.

    Blue Raven

    November 12, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    How many cults can a person belong to at the same time? I’m a pagan, so that makes me a cult member to the fundamentalists. I’m bisexual, which puts me in some form of cult to someone. There’s so much dissent in my tradition that there are folks who are sure I drank the Kool-Aid ages ago and really need to see their side as the reasonable option. And now I find out I’m in the Cult of Obama. Man, the tithing is gonna be hell on the budget…

  87. 87.

    Comrade Jake

    November 12, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    @Perry Como:

    Pretty much. You can nearly see the gears in Jeralyn’s head turning (slowly) as Mark Kleiman proceeds to walk her (slowly) through the logic, showing way more patience than I would have had. It’s impossible to watch that and view Jeralyn favorably, but I think the fact of the matter is that the PUMA juice was seriously skunked.

  88. 88.

    Anne

    November 12, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    I just want to repeat, I am really enjoying this. There really cannot enough of throwing that guy’s words back in his face. I salute you.

  89. 89.

    Comrade Jake

    November 12, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    Heh. Read the comments in the top post over at NoIQ on Cole. They just start right up, completely off-topic, on the birth certificate/citizenship nonsense.

    That’s quite an awesome community you’ve formed over there, Larry. I have to hand it to you. All our wingnuts are belong to you.

  90. 90.

    John Cole

    November 12, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    And the blogfight spreads.

    The only thing missing is a post by MYIQ at Riverdaughter’s puma palace.

    And my whitey tape. Where is it, damnit?

  91. 91.

    Shinobi

    November 12, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    Blue Raven, Maybe we can arrange some kind of Bisexual Obamanati Orgy or something and sell admission to handle the extra tithes. (Because, y’know, bisexuals just want to have sex with EVERYONE ALL THE TIME.)

  92. 92.

    taylormattd

    November 12, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    Sorry Armando. Pw4n3d!

  93. 93.

    Ash Can

    November 12, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    Count me among those who would love to see this BTD character post here. I recall a while back, when one Patterico ventured onto this board on the topic of kicks and junk. I hurt myself laughing over the proceedings.

  94. 94.

    bhagamu

    November 12, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    I’m proud to be on the Balloon Juice side of the war pie fight one-way massacre.

    There’s nothing more to say.

  95. 95.

    Joshau Norton

    November 12, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    (Because, y’know, bisexuals just want to have sex with EVERYONE ALL THE TIME.)

    Just thinking about that exhausts me completely.

  96. 96.

    boonagain

    November 12, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    Venal?

    When do I get my share of these bribes? (When I get mine, I’m gonna buy ME a flowbee so I can get one of those cool haircuts)

  97. 97.

    Kevin K.

    November 12, 2008 at 3:00 pm

    John, I’ll guarantee you that out-of-nowhere NQ blogger "Lena Grove" who dissed you is really Larry’s third-in-command Truthteller (the use of "venal" being a giveaway). He has a propensity for hiding behind additional aliases and is the same lowlife I outed for running around the blogosphere calling Michelle Obama, among other terrible things, a "blow job queen."

  98. 98.

    clonecone

    November 12, 2008 at 3:00 pm

    Armando provides a blueprint for Democratic electoral success: simply do the opposite of everything he says. Someone should write up a manual and teach it as a class like so much Camp Wellstone.

  99. 99.

    Joshau Norton

    November 12, 2008 at 3:03 pm

    And the blogfight spreads.

    All they’re asking is that we refuse to work with Obama at all until he becomes Hillary Clinton.

    Maybe we can satisfy the wingnutz, too, by calling for the end of bigotry towards all bigots everywhere.

    Then we can all live in the land of sympathy, hugs and magic unicorn love.

  100. 100.

    The Dense & Venally Offensive Svensker

    November 12, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    Reading NQ and BTD reminds me of Mason Williams’ "Them" poems. Here’s one:

    How about them hog liver likers,
    ain’t they funny guys?
    Eatin’ hog liver soup, eatin’ hog liver pies.
    Eatin’ them cooked, eatin’ them raw,
    Eatin’ them hog livers suits they craw.
    Look at them hog liver likers,
    ain’t they a disgrace?
    Hog liver juice, all over they face.
    Them pig lickin, high falutin’, big hunk o’ French-fried hog liver likers, aint they a sight?
    Servin’ up a hog liver, gonna get liked.
    How to be a hog liver liker,
    Don’t try to psych-it.
    Eat yourself a hog liver and see if you like it.
    _________________

  101. 101.

    The Dense & Venally Offensive Svensker

    November 12, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    Here’s one of them Them Poems for Say-rah:

    How about Them Moose Goosers,
    Ain’t they recluse?
    Up in them boondocks,
    Goosin’ them moose.

    Goosin’ them huge moose,
    Goosin’ them tiny,
    Goosin’ them meadow-moose
    In they hiney.

    Look at Them Moose Goosers,
    Ain’t they dumb?
    Some use an umbrella,
    Some use a thumb.

    Them obtuse Moose Goosers,
    Sneakin’ through the woods,
    Pokin’ them snoozy moose
    In they goods.

    How to be a Moose Gooser?
    It’ll turn ye puce.
    Gitchy gooser loose and
    Rouse a drowsy moose!

    (Ah is so thee-rilled to be in moderashun!)

  102. 102.

    Shinobi

    November 12, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Maybe we can satisfy the wingnutz, too, by calling for the end of bigotry towards all bigots everywhere.

    Bigots are people too!

  103. 103.

    Josh E.

    November 12, 2008 at 3:13 pm

    As someone who was banned twice from TL for pointing out how terrible Armando’s "arguments" were, please continue to thrash him for a while.

  104. 104.

    jake 4 that 1

    November 12, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    @Jack H.: You would take his word for it as a gentleman and a lawyer. In fact, looking back at what he said before is a SLAP IN THE FACE.

  105. 105.

    Geek, Esq.

    November 12, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    BTW- for a good giggle, the top post at NoQuarter is calling me dense and offensive. WHERE IS MY WHITEY TAPE DAMNIT.

    Jcole:

    It’s being digitally processed by Techdude, the guy who ‘proved’ that Obama’s birth certificate was a forgery.

    In Armando’s world, Paul Lukasiak is a credible voice and Josh Marshall isn’t.

  106. 106.

    taylormattd

    November 12, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    @jake 4 that 1: Lol.

    Not as big of a SLAP IN THE FACE as when somebody said something nice to Patty Solis Doyle. Now that was SLAP IN THE FACE to Hillary.

  107. 107.

    Buzzybill

    November 12, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    The reason I read this site every day is because you truly do read that crap, so that I don’t have to.

    I had wondered what the PUMAs had been up to lately. Based on this post, I went to a website that seems to be run primarily by a Puerto Rican Intellectual Property attorney. I read some comments to his posts, and they all seem to say "its been a whole damn week! Why hasn’t anything changed?"

    While I very much appreciate you taking the time to wade through this nonsense, I certainly don’t envy your job.

  108. 108.

    Josh E.

    November 12, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    If you want a treasure chest of epic fail from BTD, do a search for Florida + Michigan + re-vote.

  109. 109.

    South of I-10

    November 12, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    @Anne: I agree! I’m in on the "Cult of Obama" as long as there is pie. I would like pecan, please. This is very entertaining.

  110. 110.

    Comrade Stuck

    November 12, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Hey now, you guy’s ought to leave the BTD be. He’s got a family of Straw Men to support.

    Hmmmm, on second thought.

  111. 111.

    Perry Como

    November 12, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Has the voice of the common people, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, weighed in on this yet?

  112. 112.

    Joshau Norton

    November 12, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild,

    Actually she has. She’s put out with McCain concerning his "treatment" of Palin, too.

    I think she’s starting her own movement called "Debutante’s for Equal Rights".

    I keed, I keed…….

  113. 113.

    Johnny Pez

    November 12, 2008 at 3:37 pm

    No compromise, no surrender. It must be Boston Creme or all of civilization is threatened. Here I take my stand.

  114. 114.

    Genine

    November 12, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    Joshau Norton

    (Because, y’know, bisexuals just want to have sex with EVERYONE ALL THE TIME.)

    Just thinking about that exhausts me completely.

    Yet, it gets me energized!

  115. 115.

    John Cole

    November 12, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    It may just be me, but I am really a fan of mincemeat pie. Lemon meringue, too.

  116. 116.

    Johnny Pez

    November 12, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    @Joshau Norton:

    Good evening, gentlemen of the press, I am Lady Forester de Rothschild’s butler, Weathersbee. Her Ladyship has requested that I inform you that she cannot contemplate supporting Mr. Obama as she finds him to be terribly elitist, and that furthermore Her Ladyship cannot imagine that any ordinary person such as herself would deign to vote for such a presumptuous negro.

    I would also like to remind the gentlemen of the press that they are requested to use the tradesman’s entrance to depart from Her Ladyship’s residence. Thank you.

  117. 117.

    bellatrys

    November 12, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    He can not win women, Latinos, older voters and lower income non-African Americans.

    That’s why Obama did so disastrously in NH. A mere 9 percentage points ahead, in a state which is over 90% white, with lots of older people, poor people, rich people, and a growing Latino population – and where, possibly most relevantly, up until even late last year, most liberals thought of McCain with affection, buying into his "maverick" PR and believing him a moderate/centrist who wouldn’t be a bad second choice.

    I guess I must have been hallucinating how the first stores in the Manchester area to start posting "Business Owners for Obama" signs were the Latino ones downtown…

    It’s not like he had strong coattails, either. I’m sure the fact that Carol Shea Porter and Paul Hodes and Jean Shaheen all won was completely unconnected to the national election and the increased turnout and interest this year. (Gov. Hodes however would have won reelection regardless, having one of the highest approval ratings ever, in a state where you *really* have to screw up as the incumbent not to get a second term. Which our last "Bizness-Friendly" power-abusing whackjob Republican governor managed to do…)

  118. 118.

    eglenn

    November 12, 2008 at 3:55 pm

    I get a really strong Ignatius J. Reilly vibe from BTD.

  119. 119.

    atari age

    November 12, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    WTF are you two doing.

    Cut the crap right NOW.

    You’re both perfectly respectable and intelligent bloggers and you’ve both been on the right side of many issues.

    So cut the s**t.

    BTD was not ever a PUMA and he was very VERY on-board with Obama.
    You are not a "cult" follower and I’m sure you simply have your own take on what makes sense to criticize at a given time and that’s all.

    You both have SLIGHTLY different views of what’s important. That’s all.

    Quit this crap. It should be the GOP that’s sniping at each other, not you guys.

    You’ve lost focus. Both of you.

  120. 120.

    shera

    November 12, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Further Update – the Cult is still scanning my posts and adding to his post. He finally found one I got totally wrong. My mistake was this – like Mark Penn’s actually – I did not realize that Obama would utterly dominate the caucuses.

    I love that John is now "the Cult." All hail John "the Cult" Cole!

  121. 121.

    Perry Como

    November 12, 2008 at 4:15 pm

    @Johnny Pez: LULZ

  122. 122.

    Doug H. (Comrade Fausto no more)

    November 12, 2008 at 4:15 pm

    BTD was not ever a PUMA and he was very VERY on-board with Obama.

    The very next post:

    Further Update – the Cult is still scanning my posts and adding to his post.

    Yep, very VERY on-board with Obama.

    When Pup Tent Democrat swallows his ego, maybe then we can talk. Until that point, we’ll mock as needed.

  123. 123.

    atari age

    November 12, 2008 at 4:17 pm

    Um… I’m not sure how BTD’s sniping (as he’s prone to do) about what’s going on here shows he’s a PUMA. Don’t see the connection.

  124. 124.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    November 12, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    The Cult my ass! I would never wear Nike’s; I’m a New Balance kinda guy.

    I think we should elect John Cole our new messiah now that Barack Obama is an obvious failure. Jesus, the guys had an entire week to save the world and WTF? Nothing! And all those assholes trying to justify this inaction with little bits of facts like he hasn’t been inaugurated yet should just STFU!

    John Cole for Messiah!

    We’re not worthy.

  125. 125.

    Doug H. (Comrade Fausto no more)

    November 12, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    Um… I’m not sure how BTD’s sniping (as he’s prone to do) about what’s going on here shows he’s a PUMA. Don’t see the connection.

    Oop, my bad. I should’ve clarified that he wasn’t a PUMA. Just very full of himself – and not fooling anyone about his ‘support’ of Obama.

  126. 126.

    Genine

    November 12, 2008 at 4:22 pm

    It may just be me, but I am really a fan of mincemeat pie. Lemon meringue, too.

    Lemon meringue is my favorite!

    WTF are you two doing.

    Cut the crap right NOW.

    Atari, I’m sure it will end soon. I think the reason John is such a cat person is because he plays like a cat. He’ll find a mouse, bat it around, then become bored and walk away.

    I think the boredom will set in soon. In the meantime, its all highly entertaining.

  127. 127.

    Doug H. (Comrade Fausto no more)

    November 12, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Atari, I’m sure it will end soon. I think the reason John is such a cat person is because he plays like a cat. He’ll find a mouse, bat it around, then become bored and walk away.

    meowmeowhisssssssss

  128. 128.

    atari age

    November 12, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    @Doug H.
    additionally, if people were to be mocked solely for having big egos and talking the blustery talk, I doubt few blogs – certainly this one or BTD – would have an audience. (And that’s not a criticism of here, btw. Blustery talk I agree with is fine with me.)

  129. 129.

    atari age

    November 12, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Atari, I’m sure it will end soon. I think the reason John is such a cat person is because he plays like a cat. He’ll find a mouse, bat it around, then become bored and walk away.

    I think the boredom will set in soon. In the meantime, its all highly entertaining.

    I figured so. No worries. Once in a blue moon I pipe up and say something ’cause I feel like it. I mean it’s not like anyone listens. But at least I said it and it makes me feel better.

    Which is pretty much how blogs work, too.

  130. 130.

    Capelza Gradenko

    November 12, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Pie? Mmmmmm…marionberry with a flakey crust that melts in your mouth.

    Ah, the old days, when an Armando drama was great fun at Kos. Sorry, it was entertaining as all get out. His continual drama and the pie fight (the original…I was in favour of Ginger and MaryAnn staying…)…the GBCW diaries…no one does this kind of stuff better than Democrats.

    Though I gotta say that the Pubs are learning, seeing as so many of them jumped ship because of Palin. It’s raining "RINOS"!

    Armando, these days…it’s just pathetic…but it is fun to see John Cole stirring the hornet’s nest. It’s why I love this place.

  131. 131.

    jake 4 that 1

    November 12, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    @atari age: Apple, peach or blueberry?

    The Boston Creme is MINE.

  132. 132.

    Buzzybill

    November 12, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    Here is a fun comment from Talk Left. It is from a post about Mark Foley.

    If I had to choose between Foley and the Dem who replaced him, knowing what I know now, I think I might take Foley!

    They are just a super tight knit group over there. That must be a really Big Tent!

  133. 133.

    Comrade Stuck

    November 12, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    @atari age: :–)

    BTD was not ever a PUMA and he was very VERY on-board with Obama.

    And I am VERY much Teh Pope.

    **Funhouse edited to remove any "earthy" language.

    Only The Queen’s English be spoke from our lips!

  134. 134.

    John Cole

    November 12, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    I am already bored.

  135. 135.

    atari age

    November 12, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    @Comrade Stuck
    as someone who reads both talkleft and this blog plenty, all I can say to that comment is: "whatever". Believe what you’d like, regardless of validity.

    I admit, I should probably have omitted the "VERY", though.

  136. 136.

    Blue Raven

    November 12, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Blue Raven, Maybe we can arrange some kind of Bisexual Obamanati Orgy or something and sell admission to handle the extra tithes. (Because, y’know, bisexuals just want to have sex with EVERYONE ALL THE TIME.)

    I’m down with that. Everyone I’m dating these days is an Obama Cult member, and most of them are bisexual. Cast the net out to the plus ones each of them have… and we’re gonna need a bigger hall.

    I am SO not helping the stereotype here, am I?

    PS – Chocolate cream pie, damn it.

  137. 137.

    jake 4 that 1

    November 12, 2008 at 4:39 pm

    If I had to choose between Foley and the Dem who replaced him, knowing what I know now, I think I might take Foley!

    That’s just pure befucked.

  138. 138.

    Comrade Stuck

    November 12, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    @atari age:

    I admit, I should probably have omitted the "VERY", though.

    I hope you caught my smiley face in my comment to you. Your just trying to make peace, I know. But sometimes these things need to be aired out before they get so big they can’t be. :–)

  139. 139.

    Joe Beese

    November 12, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    No Quarter explains how they got it so humiliatingly wrong:

    Here is my list of reasons for that astonishing, against-all-common-sense win:

    1) In-the-tank mainstream media
    2) John McCain, who was NOT the same John McCain of 2000 — just a tad too old and no longer the maverick of yore. (If the John McCain of 2000 had run, I believe he could have won.)
    3) In-the-tank mainstream media
    4) Obamabot and Obama Campaign Thuggery and Intimidation
    5) In-the-tank mainstream media
    6) Obamabot and Obama Campaign Thuggery and Intimidation
    7) In-the-tank mainstream media
    8) Obamabot and Obama Campaign Thuggery and Intimidation
    9) In-the-tank mainstream media
    10) Obamabot and Obama Campaign Thuggery and Intimidation

    http://www.noquarterusa.net/blog/2008/11/12/open-thread-pop-the-dumbos-balloon/#more-6048

    If only they’d seen it coming…

  140. 140.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    November 12, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    I want banoffee pie. And black cargo pants will make me look funny, I’m too short and skinny for them. May I suggest Peter Pan Robes for the men and Tinkerbell robes for the girlies?

  141. 141.

    Jeff

    November 12, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    I love how he points to a post about a potential 7-10 point win by picking Hillary as proof that he was right when Obama had a 7 point win without her.

  142. 142.

    Comrade Jake

    November 12, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    @atari age:

    You’re both perfectly respectable and intelligent bloggers and you’ve both been on the right side of many issues.

    Armando’s respectable and intelligent? I do not think those words mean what you think they mean.

  143. 143.

    Sleeper

    November 12, 2008 at 4:47 pm

    Armando provides a blueprint for Democratic electoral success: simply do the opposite of everything he says.

    Yeah, he’s sort of like a fusion of Mark Penn and Colonel Tigh from Battlestar Galactica . A human divining rod of wrong.

  144. 144.

    Xanthippas

    November 12, 2008 at 4:51 pm

    I love how he points to a post about a potential 7-10 point win by picking Hillary as proof that he was right when Obama had a 7 point win without her.

    When provoked, BTD definitely ups his game…by throwing himself under the bus.

  145. 145.

    Atanarjuat

    November 12, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    By the way, lefties, I’m absolutely LOVING this internicine blog war all of you are vigorously engaging in. Diminishing and reviling all those not standing foursquare behind the Great Redistributionist will most CERTAINLY strengthen the Democrat Party.

    Of course!

    Signed,

    The Grand Old Party

    – Country First.

  146. 146.

    Sleeper

    November 12, 2008 at 4:56 pm

    I get a really strong Ignatius J. Reilly vibe from BTD.

    hahahaha. That makes me think of the scene from the book where Ignatius goes to the movies, and I immediately transpose that with BTD watching the Super Tuesday returns. hee.

  147. 147.

    Xanthippas

    November 12, 2008 at 5:00 pm

    @ Atanarjuat: you’re not having nearly as much fun as we are watching the meltdown on your side.

  148. 148.

    Comrade Kevin

    November 12, 2008 at 5:06 pm

    @Joe Beese:

    Fourth Bruce: No. Right, I just want to remind you of the faculty rules: Rule One!

    Everybruce: No Poofters!

    Fourth Bruce: Rule Two, no member of the faculty is to maltreat the Abbos in any way at all — if there’s anybody watching. Rule Three?

    Everybruce: No Poofters!!

    Fourth Bruce: Rule Four, now this term, I don’t want to catch anybody not drinking. Rule Five,

    Everybruce: No Poofters!

    Fourth Bruce: Rule Six, there is NO … Rule Six. Rule Seven,

    Everybruce: No Poofters!!

  149. 149.

    Josh E.

    November 12, 2008 at 5:08 pm

    Further Update – the Cult is still scanning my posts and adding to his post.

    A cult of one? You’re pathetic, Cole. Can’t even find one other member?

    @atari age: In my view, Armando was "on board" with Obama in the same sense that people like Kirsten Powers and Camille Paglia are "progressive Democrats". "Even the Obama-supporting BTD" was a useful schtick on TalkLeft during the primaries.

  150. 150.

    Sleeper

    November 12, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    I love how he points to a post about a potential 7-10 point win by picking Hillary as proof that he was right when Obama had a 7 point win without her.

    Well, that’s a classic hedge from him. He incessantly insisted that unless he picked her, it would be a nailbiter. But needing her on the ticket became needing her support, and she did campaign for him, so in the end he was still completely 100% right.

    It cracks me up when he depicts himself as St. George fighting the Obama Cult Dragon, when he himself is pretty cultish in his devotion to all things Clinton. His "support" of Obama (always laced with a wistful longing for What Might Have Been…) was really just his contrarian way of praising the Clintons. They’re the Candidates We Deserve, but the media won’t let anyone but Obama win, so we should get behind him, I guess, even though it totally sucks and stuff. That kind of teeth-grinding, morosely tepid "support" suffused pretty much every one of his posts.

    Ah, but you see, he refuses to play the game! A pol is just a pol! He’s all about…The Issues! Passion means nothing in politics, it’s all about coldly and rationally examining the issues, so when he unceasingly tugs on the loose threads of Obama’s cable-knit sweater, he’s really just trying to help Obama be a better Clinton, er, I mean a better candidate, and he’s not at all in any way playing on the festering resentment of the demi-PUMAs who comprise the bulk of his loyal readership, no. No, not at all. And the fact that I just said that? I must be a Cultist. Game, set, and match, Armando.

  151. 151.

    Tom Hilton

    November 12, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    @Jake:

    The most priceless line in that exchange is when Jeralyn explains why Obama won’t win Indiana, "and you don’t have to look at any polls or anything"–in other words, you just have to ‘know’ what you ‘know’, and facts have nothing to do with it.

    (In all fairness, of course, Kleiman was wrong when he said Indiana was "completely out of reach"…but he was wrong only in so far as he underestimated Obama’s electoral strength.)

  152. 152.

    AkaDad

    November 12, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    Only real Americans eat apple pie.

    – Country Roads Take Me Home

  153. 153.

    L. Wood

    November 12, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    I checked BTD’s quote and it was made in May 2008. By my calendar, that was long before McCain selected Sarah Palin as VP, even longer before the GWB economy and markets collapsed in September, and well prior to most of McCain’s gaffes and poor debate performances…All of which combined to reverse the McCain leads and allow Obama to win.

    In fact, an objective observer would look at this election and conclude that those factors, developing after the BTD statement that you mock, should have changed the vote spread by at least 10-15 points away from McCain. But Barack won by only 6 or 7%. So the correct assessment then becomes that BTD’s comment is confirmed. In fact, in May 2008, only those who were warning of a possible Obama loss were contemporaneously correct, and only the reality challenged claiming to be able to predict the future would ex post facto claim otherwise.

    Joe Biden was right when he said that HRC was probably a better selection than he was. And it is probable that those unforeseen intervening factors mentioned earlier saved the election for us.

  154. 154.

    Comrade Scrutinizer

    November 12, 2008 at 6:01 pm

    In fact, an objective observer would look at this election and conclude that those factors, developing after the BTD statement that you mock, should have changed the vote spread by at least 10-15 points away from McCain.

    An objective observer would say that you’re pulling that 10-15 point delta out of your ass.

  155. 155.

    Jeff

    November 12, 2008 at 6:04 pm

    @L. Wood: One little problem with your theory. In the May/June time period, Obama was leading by 10-15 points in the polls. But don’t let facts get in your way.

  156. 156.

    handy

    November 12, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    @eglenn:

    BTD’s next post: "The Cult refuses to read Boethius."

  157. 157.

    Jeff

    November 12, 2008 at 6:13 pm

    Just looked at the link again and realized it was a state poll; yet, Obama still had a lead of 5 points.

  158. 158.

    boonagain

    November 12, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    Well then, I guess BTD was right and that makes Hillary president!

  159. 159.

    Slatersan

    November 12, 2008 at 6:19 pm

    John, it’s an absolute joy watching you annihilate this dude. Keep going. I’ve got the popcorn popping.

  160. 160.

    handy

    November 12, 2008 at 6:20 pm

    @L. Wood:

    Shorter: If it weren’t for his opponent’s crappy campaign and eight years of self same’s party’s disastrous policies coming back to bite us all, Obama totally could have lost. Therefore BTD was right all along!!!!

  161. 161.

    atari age

    November 12, 2008 at 6:43 pm

    @Comrade Stuck

    I didn’t see the smiley, but now I do. Thanks – you got my ultimate point,too.

    I suppose now that the *real* baddies are somewhat on the sidelines (oh so transiently, I’m sure) it’s kinda like pigeons searching for the tiniest crumbs to go at – just to keep the jaws all exercised and the digestion at least mildly engaged, I figure.

    I’m just wary of deep rifts forming that might never heal. Rifts that didn’t have to be formed at all because of tiny disagreements.

    We saw it all happen during the primaries and it took a LOT of work by a lot of people to heal them. And even then, some haven’t forgiven.

    Then one side becomes a monster in the eyes of the other side and vice-versa. And that’s fine (sort of) when the disagreements are really great. But this? Nah. Not worth the damage. Shouldn’t have even been started.

    But, yeah, people are people, imperfect and all.

  162. 162.

    John Cole

    November 12, 2008 at 6:47 pm

    @atari age: If people are really concerned about rifts forming, they should tell folks like BTD to stop suggesting that Obama supports torture (just with oversight!), because that is what started this whole nonsense.

  163. 163.

    Jeff

    November 12, 2008 at 6:54 pm

    John Cole made the NY Times

    That last line, it would seem, is directed at John Cole of Balloon Juice, a former Republican turned lefty blogger (reader be warned before you click the link: Mr. Cole’s language can be a bit, well, earthy.)

  164. 164.

    Comrade Stuck

    November 12, 2008 at 7:06 pm

    @atari age:

    But, yeah, people are people, imperfect and all.

    This is politics, not beanbags. It’s how a functioning democracy operates. It’s when we stop fighting and start agreeing all the time that we should worry. And sometimes the fights are intraparty and that’s never fun, but nevertheless necessary to clear the air. Otherwise, what Cole said.

    @John Cole:

  165. 165.

    chopper

    November 12, 2008 at 8:05 pm

    jesus, in all the euphoria of this election i completely forgot what a complete and total fucking moron armando is.

    seriously. the dude is wrong about every goddamn thing.

    god, i forgot that that kind of stupid exists outside of the republican party.

  166. 166.

    taylormattd

    November 12, 2008 at 8:20 pm

    @atari age:

    He’s not a PUMA. His posts have made it clear, however, he hated Obama. Plus, although I really like him, he can be a total asshole, i.e., writing posts calling John a "cultist".

  167. 167.

    taylormattd

    November 12, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    @Sleeper:

    Well, that’s a classic hedge from him. He incessantly insisted that unless he picked her, it would be a nailbiter. But needing her on the ticket became needing her support, and she did campaign for him, so in the end he was still completely 100% right.
    It cracks me up when he depicts himself as St. George fighting the Obama Cult Dragon, when he himself is pretty cultish in his devotion to all things Clinton. His "support" of Obama (always laced with a wistful longing for What Might Have Been…) was really just his contrarian way of praising the Clintons. They’re the Candidates We Deserve, but the media won’t let anyone but Obama win, so we should get behind him, I guess, even though it totally sucks and stuff. That kind of teeth-grinding, morosely tepid "support" suffused pretty much every one of his posts.
    Ah, but you see, he refuses to play the game! A pol is just a pol! He’s all about…The Issues! Passion means nothing in politics, it’s all about coldly and rationally examining the issues, so when he unceasingly tugs on the loose threads of Obama’s cable-knit sweater, he’s really just trying to help Obama be a better Clinton, er, I mean a better candidate, and he’s not at all in any way playing on the festering resentment of the demi-PUMAs who comprise the bulk of his loyal readership, no. No, not at all. And the fact that I just said that? I must be a Cultist. Game, set, and match, Armando.

    Wow. Just perfect, Sleeper.

  168. 168.

    Crusty Dem

    November 12, 2008 at 8:32 pm

    Late reader on the left coast here, I used to read Armando (on occasion) at the GOS and I can say that even when I agreed with him, I always felt a little dirtier afterwards. And that was before he became the left’s own Bill Kristol, wrong about everything. This is my favorite post, and not the post itself, but the fucktarded commentary and insults throughout the comments section. Several people patiently pointed out exactly how and why he was wrong and he responded like an angry 4 year old, stomping his feet impotently at their annoying facts. A few winners:

    In response to a commenter noting that Hillary would lose 100 delegates in the 9 states after Super Tuesday:

    Say he wins them by a net 100 delegates. He’ll lose that and more in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania. He finshes down a hundred. Hillary will be the nominee.

    In response to commenter complaining about the pro-Hillary slant at TalkLeft:

    I think your comment shows a bias that makes it impossible for you to understand my post. There is no bias. There is an informed opinion that may be right or may be wrong. Your inability to ADDRESS what I wrote without accusing me of bias tells me you are not capable of having such a discussion.

    Demonstrating a complete ignorance of basic addition:

    I am expressing m views. Fairness dictates you address what I wrote. To wit, how cna Obama win Texas, Penn and Ohio? He can’t. Therefore, he loses.

    Note: Obama lost these states, he still won (alternative explanation, I don’t think therefore means what you think it means).

    My point is s simple one. Hillary will carry a 100-200 delegate lead after Pennsylvania. NOT counting MI and FL. In what scenario does the leader in delegates not become the nominee?

    Note that three months later, Armando was arguing that despite being behind by 200 delegates, Hillary should be given all the delegates in MI and FL, and therefore the nomination.

    There’s just a taste of the idiocy, but the point is, you can look through the entire post and find almost no opinion that is correct. Not only that, but most was obviously wrong at the time (kos was saying it was over the evening of Super Tuesday, based on the fact that most of remaining states were clearly in Obama’s zone), but rather than address the comments criticizing his opinion, he just treated his antagonists as idiots unworthy of posting on his site.

    Armando is a useless idiot, and I propose he receive the full-on "irrelevant" treatment.

  169. 169.

    Church Lady

    November 12, 2008 at 8:36 pm

    Ding, ding, ding….time for round three. Oh darn, the popcorn bowl is empty – time for another trip to the microwave. Hmmm, butter or plain?

    Seriously, John, do you really want to carry on tit for tat postings with this BTD guy? You really, really don’t have anything better to do with your time than get into some kind of flame war? The two or you are being such jerks to each other that even the New York Times noticed.

    Yeah, there’s not too much going on right now, so people are reduced to speculation about potential appointments. That’s all it is. Why get so whacked out? At our age, high book pressure just isn’t healthy. Time to take a chill pill and grade some papers or something.

  170. 170.

    Conservatively Liberal

    November 12, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    So would that make it a … Cargo Cult?

    And this is the blog with which BTD wants to start a war? Seems like he’s bringing a knife spork to a gun fight.

    Fixed.

    Well, to be fair, Cole fired first…

    Sure, but passing up a shot at Armando the Vapid is like passing on a free midget dunk tank at a carnival. In this case, we are aiming at a mental midget.

    Who could resist that?

    Maybe he is a Big Tent Democrat after all…

    Of course he is, but only because it is necessary since he needs a big tent to hold his ego securely. Of course, this means that there is no room for anyone else in there. That’s fine with me, I heard he doesn’t use deodorant and his favorite comfort foods are chili and egg salad & garlic sandwiches.

    If someone is taking orders, I will take a dozen Kahlua Cream pies. To go. Oh, and a trebuchet for launching them.

  171. 171.

    Conservatively Liberal

    November 12, 2008 at 9:09 pm

    When Pup Tent Democrat swallows his ego, maybe then we can talk. Until that point, we’ll mock as needed.

    Nah guh ha pen. His ego is just as full of shit as he is and Armando don’t eat shit.

    He just dishes it out. Liberally.

  172. 172.

    Mithras

    November 12, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    John-
    Best thing to do, is ignore BTD and friends. You’re just giving them exposure. They don’t do anything but type, so they’re politically irrelevant.

  173. 173.

    Comrade Kevin

    November 12, 2008 at 10:38 pm

    @Crusty Dem:

    I know you were concentrating on the comments, but the first sentence of the post itself is pretty funny:

    Unlike the entire world apparently, I see last night’s results as the beginning of the end for the Obama Presidential campaign.

    Whoops!

  174. 174.

    Crusty Dem

    November 12, 2008 at 11:10 pm

    Oh, the post itself is chock full of fail, but the response to comments really brings out teh stupid. The last two paragraphs of the post were profoundly imbecilic:

    The dynamics of this race are now set in stone. No amount of Media and Mo and Kennedys can get Obama over the hump. He can not win women, Latinos, older voters and lower income non-African Americans. The Obama coalition is simply not enough. I discussed this problem for the past month.

    The bottom line is nothing has changed from Nevada. Obama can not break through. He will not be the Presidential nominee. He will be the Vice Presidential nominee.

  175. 175.

    Captain USA

    November 12, 2008 at 11:16 pm

    What a complete douchenozzle.

  176. 176.

    Dennis - SGMM

    November 12, 2008 at 11:17 pm

    @jake 4 that 1:
    You have clearly never had pecan pie. There is no other pie before pecan pie.

  177. 177.

    elmo

    November 13, 2008 at 10:35 am

    Let me just say that this is the bestest commenting community in the Interwebs. Full of win.

    And John Scalzi‘s schadenfreude pie is my favorite.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Blog War: John Cole vs. Big Tent Democrat - Liberal Values - Defending Liberty and Enlightened Thought says:
    November 12, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    […] John Cole responds to Big Tent Democrat’s claims that the posts he mentioned do not exist by searching […]

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