• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Fight them, without becoming them!

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

Every decision we make has lots of baggage with it, known or unknown.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

The revolution will be supervised.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

Sometimes the world just tells you your cat is here.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

With all due respect and assumptions of good faith, please fuck off into the sun.

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

When they say they are pro-life, they do not mean yours.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Foreign Affairs / Ignore the Words Coming Out of My Mouth

Ignore the Words Coming Out of My Mouth

by John Cole|  June 17, 20095:12 pm| 127 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Republican Stupidity, Clown Shoes

FacebookTweetEmail

This revolution fervor is intoxicating stuff. It makes people not even remember stuff they said five minutes ago. Case in point, this Wolf Blitzer interview with Mike Pence:

PENCE: Look, I appreciate the fact that the president said that the protesters have a right to be heard and respected and I appreciate the fact that he said he is troubled but I respectfully disagree with the administration’s decision to — to essentially draw the line at not meddling and not interfering.

Look, the cause of America is freedom. And in that cause, we must never be silent. And if the president wants to draw the line and say that we are not going to stand with those brave citizens of Iran who are taking to the streets the last five days on behalf of democracy, on behalf of the freedom of speech and free elections, then I think the Congress behind me ought to take up a resolution that very simply expresses the support of the American people through their elected representatives for the people of Iran who are taking a stand for freedom.

Thirty seconds later, the same man, sitting in the same seat, said the following:

PENCE: Well, look, I don’t think we should be in the business of endorsing the opposition candidate. What I want the Congress of the United States to do, and frankly what I would like to see the president of the United States of America do is speak a word of support to the people of Iran.

Amazing. What exactly does Pence think is going on in Iran?

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Two minutes’ hate
Next Post: Wednesday Night Open Thread »

Reader Interactions

127Comments

  1. 1.

    pseudonymous in nc

    June 17, 2009 at 5:18 pm

    Yglesias (in the first of many):

    There are very few members of congress with whom I’ve ever had the opportunity to discuss a substantive matter of public policy. But as it happens, one of them — the one with whom I’ve had the second-longest exchange — is Mike Pence (R-IN) who I’ve seen on television today repeatedly discussing the Republican Study Group’s “plan” for the financial crisis. And I can tell you this about Mike Pence: he has no idea what he’s talking about. The man is a fool, who deserves to be laughed at. He’s almost stupid enough to work in cable television.

  2. 2.

    SpotWeld

    June 17, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    Look, the cause of America is freedom.

    Ideally that would include the freedom to set up your own democratic government without outside action from other nations?

    i.e.

    not meddling and not interfering.

    Until one party or another in Iran specifically asks for help, shouldn’t the US be concerned, but on the sidelines?

    I mean the American Revolutionaries didn’t recieve help from the French until after they declated Independance and started an armed revolt… right? (Correct my history if I’m wrong here)

  3. 3.

    Jim Pharo

    June 17, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    Have you any evidence that Pence “thinks” at all? It would be newsworthy if you did…

  4. 4.

    jake 4 that 1

    June 17, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    What exactly does Pence think is going on in Iran a few blocks from his office?

    Fxd.

  5. 5.

    dmsilev

    June 17, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    What exactly does Pence think is going on in Iran?

    Fixed.

    -dms

  6. 6.

    anonevent

    June 17, 2009 at 5:23 pm

    These are the same people who can say that other countries torture, but we don’t even though we’re using the same techniques. If you don’t keep a thought in your head, you don’t have to worry about contradictions.

  7. 7.

    Zifnab

    June 17, 2009 at 5:27 pm

    He’s almost stupid enough to work in cable television.

    Oh good. Maybe Joe Scarborough will get a friend.

  8. 8.

    Anne Laurie

    June 17, 2009 at 5:28 pm

    What exactly does Pence think is going on in Iran?

    Something that makes teevee anchorpods come to Mike Pence for the sterling wisdome of Mike Pence! ! !

    What else could be important about someplace so far away?

  9. 9.

    Al Swearengen

    June 17, 2009 at 5:29 pm

    He doesn’t think.

    He got some precious time to be an asshole on TV. That’s all that matters to the fuck.

  10. 10.

    jake 4 that 1

    June 17, 2009 at 5:30 pm

    He’s under a lot of stress. According to Republipal Tweet Hoekstra the GOP is under attack, just like the people of Iran!

  11. 11.

    John PM

    June 17, 2009 at 5:32 pm

    the cause of America is freedom

    Actually, the cause (shouldn’t this actually be purpose?) of America is to “form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity… .” You know, all the things Republicans are against.

    Why is it that the people who claim they want government to leave them alone are the biggest busybodies?

  12. 12.

    asiangrrlMN

    June 17, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    What exactly does
    Pence, think! is going on in Iran?

    Really fixed.

  13. 13.

    Gus

    June 17, 2009 at 5:33 pm

    This along with Michele Bachmann. Am I ideologically blinded to the stupidity and mendacity on the Democratic side? Are there Democrats who say ridiculously stupid things like Bachmann? Are there Democrats who can lie as brazenly as, say, Dick Cheney? I’m quite sure there are, but the examples are so comparatively few.

  14. 14.

    Zandar

    June 17, 2009 at 5:34 pm

    It doesn’t matter because FREEDOM IS ON THE MOVE!

  15. 15.

    Comrade Jake

    June 17, 2009 at 5:35 pm

    @pseudonymous in nc:

    Arguably one of Yglesias’ best posts. Pence seems determined to prove him correct.

  16. 16.

    bvac

    June 17, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    My favorite part about this whole thing is how everyone on the TV is amazed that Iranians are using – OMG – technology like cell phones and twitter to communicate their protest. They’re more surprised that they don’t live in caves or use smoke signals to voice their dissent.

  17. 17.

    freelancer

    June 17, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    Amazing. What exactly does Pence think is going on in Iran?

    Tehran right now, is like any outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime.

  18. 18.

    Zifnab

    June 17, 2009 at 5:38 pm

    @Gus: I mean, I don’t doubt they do. But Republicans get 24/7 exclusive prime-time all ears media coverage.

    The camera ads five to ten pounds worth of stupid, and we’re already dealing with some serious fatties.

  19. 19.

    Martin

    June 17, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    Amazing. What exactly does Pence think is going on in Iran?

    Well, clearly the people of Iran are standing up in solidarity for the oppressed Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives, whose freedoms have been brutally snuffed out by the jack booted thugs of the Democrat Socialist Party lead by the Supreme Leader Nancy ‘Stalin Akbar’ Pelosi.

    Why, what do you think is going on in Iran?

  20. 20.

    conumbdrum

    June 17, 2009 at 5:41 pm

    Posted earlier today by John Cole:

    I had a dream about blogging, so I think I’m just going to go ahead and take the day off.

    Number of posts since: six. And that’s without a Lily update.

    We love you too, big guy.

  21. 21.

    asiangrrlMN

    June 17, 2009 at 5:42 pm

    @Gus: No, we just get the wusses like Reid, the really-are-Republicans, Blue Dawgs, and Joe Lieberman.

  22. 22.

    jake 4 that 1

    June 17, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    use smoke signals to voice their dissent.

    Drums. Brown people use drums to communicate. It’s how you know the natives are restless, just like in the Tarzan movies!

  23. 23.

    Martin

    June 17, 2009 at 5:50 pm

    Damn moderation. I let a social!sm slip by me…

  24. 24.

    GusThePrimate

    June 17, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    I respectfully disagree with the administration’s decision to—to essentially draw the line at not meddling and not interfering.

    If I parse that correctly, Pence wants us to meddle and interfere in Iran. I wonder what he thinks that might involve? Flying in Karl Rove to steal back the election?

  25. 25.

    Jay in Oregon

    June 17, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    To celebrate John’s vacation from the blog, I offer the obligatory xkcd link.

    Apologies if someone beat me to it.

  26. 26.

    eric

    June 17, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    Here is a prime example of Obama being lucky rather than good. Conjoin the idiot GOP robots going onto tv to repeatedly say stupid stuff AND the MSM’s willingness to give them disprportionate access to tv airwaves, and you get almost no real discussion from the Left of Obama’s actions on secrecy and his action on civil rights. In that alternative universe you would be hearing about disunion and discord within the Democrat (ha!) party. Infighting turns the public off. Repeated discussions of backtracking on promises with clips of campaign statements would hurt Obama’s popularity and affect his agenda which I still hope to be as progressive as I once imagined it to be. (I am not saying it would be a progressive agenda per se.)

    In short, the MSM and GOP are effectively silencing the stories that would really hurt Obama by engaging in conduct that hurts only the GOP.

    Good times.

    eric

  27. 27.

    Jon H

    June 17, 2009 at 6:01 pm

    @asiangrrlMN:

    What exactly does
    Pence?, think! is going on in Iran?

    Fixed.

  28. 28.

    jrg

    June 17, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    Amazing. What exactly does Pence think is going on in Iran?

    Apparently it’s the aftermath of some sort of “election” where people risk their lives and take to the streets in order to support no particular candidate.

    They are crazy like foxes over there. That’s why we should vocally and bombastically support the Iranian hippies, then take McCain’s advice and nuke the crap out of them later. Those terrorist college students are not fooling anyone, especially not Mike Pence {R} of Indiana.

    Unless, of course, Pence and McCain know that supporting the opposition party will be used by the Iranian government to crush the moderates. But that’s not possible – it’s not like the Republicans know they need an external enemy to be electable again.

  29. 29.

    HumboldtBlue

    June 17, 2009 at 6:03 pm

    Are there Democrats who can lie as brazenly as, say, Dick Cheney?

    Bill and Hillary Clinton could give Cheney lessons.

  30. 30.

    jake 4 that 1

    June 17, 2009 at 6:04 pm

    I had a dream about blogging, so I think I’m just going to go ahead and take the day off.

    Ignore the Words Coming Out of My Mouth

    (Or keyboard.)

    John Cole is one of those rare humans who can use reverse psychology on himself.

    Seriously, if you’re going to be like this on your days off you should just announce you’re shutting down the blog and Galting in Wyoming.

  31. 31.

    Augustine

    June 17, 2009 at 6:07 pm

    @Al Swearengen:
    Al, I scarcely understand you without a few “c**ts” thrown in for good measure.

  32. 32.

    Augustine

    June 17, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    @John PM:

    sigh…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30OyU4O80i4

  33. 33.

    Bender

    June 17, 2009 at 6:11 pm

    Am I ideologically blinded to the stupidity and mendacity on the Democratic side? Are there Democrats who say ridiculously stupid things like Bachmann? Are there Democrats who can lie as brazenly as, say, Dick Cheney? I’m quite sure there are, but the examples are so comparatively few.

    Of course there are stupid, lying Democrats, and sensible Republicans and the converse. Your viewpoint just depends on which blogs you frequent. At left-leaning sites, Republicans are clowns and prudes and snake-handlers and worse. At right-leaning sites, Democrats are lying, braindead, hippie corruptocrats. And worse.

    It’s always helpful to note that whatever blogs you and your comrades visit, there is another guy and his comrades across town who are certain that you are a drooling Neanderthal idiot. And worse.

    Hooray for the information super-highway!

  34. 34.

    asiangrrlMN

    June 17, 2009 at 6:12 pm

    @Jon H: Damn you, Jon H! *Shakes fist at Jon H

  35. 35.

    eric

    June 17, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    @Bender: But in the real non-truthiness world, is there “national” democrat with the mendacity of the leading GOPers in Congress or the last administration.

    Bill Clinton may have been too slick for his own good, but my god I long for those halcion days when he was merely triangulating and not fabricating. ;)

    eric

  36. 36.

    Michael

    June 17, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    Why does this guy have to represent my district? Someone please save me…

  37. 37.

    Jeff

    June 17, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    John — I thought we were going to be rid of that obnoxious and vile Pamela Anderson ad. If we can’t trust you to remove this ad, what can we trust you on? [grin]

  38. 38.

    mclaren

    June 17, 2009 at 6:18 pm

    Exactly what does pence think is going on in Iran?

    A calm orderly transition of power.

    Only thing that’s missing is some hanging chads.

  39. 39.

    smiley

    June 17, 2009 at 6:21 pm

    This.

  40. 40.

    slag

    June 17, 2009 at 6:23 pm

    Penser is “think” in French.
    .
    .
    Just sayin.

  41. 41.

    gnomedad

    June 17, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    Slightly OT: Rush to Obama: “It’s unseemly to keep blaming your predecessors.”
    You Can’t Make This Stuff Up.

  42. 42.

    PeopleAreNoDamnGood

    June 17, 2009 at 6:30 pm

    When you see GOPers on tv these days, you have to think “placeholder.”

    These are just talking faces that are holding the seat for some actual person in the future who will speak and utter intelligible things.

  43. 43.

    freelancer

    June 17, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    These are just talking faces that are holding the seat for some actual person in the future who will speak and utter intelligible things.

    ‘fraid not

    See also, “We have no rats!“.

  44. 44.

    Laura W

    June 17, 2009 at 6:39 pm

    I am digging the NBC Nightly News format tonight! Bri Bri is walking around the studio, standing at a bistro table yakking with Chuck Todd. Oh Look! There’s hunky Richard Engel in full body shot sitting half-cheeked on a table all cool and casual as he leads into the Iran violence.
    Seriously. This dynamic, think-and-speak-on-your-feet format is totally working for me. It brings a real sense of immediacy and urgency to the protests.

  45. 45.

    steve s

    June 17, 2009 at 6:41 pm

    Am I ideologically blinded to the stupidity and mendacity on the Democratic side? Are there Democrats who say ridiculously stupid things like Bachmann?

    Once in a while. For instance, Harry Reid a few weeks ago saying he didn’t want to see terrorists released in America. And some of the dems who are against a public health plan, that’s certainly pretty stupid (and/or corrupt. whatever).

    But you’re necessarily going to get more stupid comments from the republicans, because their core principles are so stupid, and so intelligent people are going to be disproportionally driven away. For instance, if you can believe the following ideas

    *tax cuts always increase revenue
    *the earth is 6,000 years old and Adam rode a pet stegasaurus
    *global warming is a conspiracy by thousands of scientists
    *evolution too
    *unions are bad for the poor and middle class
    *christians are more persecuted in America than anyone ever
    *Separation of church and state is a myth
    *Michele Obama is a black panther
    *gay people will make your marriage asplode
    *a blastocyst is morally identical to you
    etc

    then the GOP will welcome you with open arms. But that’s a really high level of stupidity, and many of us are just not capable of it. So it makes sense that the people who are will go on to say unusually stupid things in the future, no?

  46. 46.

    TR

    June 17, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    Why does this guy have to represent my district?

    You and your neighbors haven’t done enough work towards making voters in your district realize he’s a moron and then electing a better alternative.

    Sorry, but it’s as simple as that.

  47. 47.

    Mike P

    June 17, 2009 at 6:47 pm

    Thought I think the Americablog crew had gone a bit overboard in their attacks on Obama recently, I’m generally with their point of view and I think it’s interesting that Obama is going to get laid low pretty quickly by the LGBT community because of his foot dragging on their issues. I think he really only needs to address one of the big two right now (DOMA or DADT) and I think he’s pretty much on safe ground on the later. There’s cover from a host of corners on that one and if he really wants to put the GOP over the fire, he can ask Congress to draw up new legislation for the repeal and move it to the floor quickly. Does the GOP want to be on record as voting no collectively on funding the troops and of denying the armed services much needed bodies for their never ending WOT?

    And as to Pence, it’s hard to think that somebody that obtuse could be in a position of power, but then again, we had W for two terms.

  48. 48.

    Little Dreamer

    June 17, 2009 at 6:48 pm

    @steve s:

    Don’t forget: “America is a Christian nation”

  49. 49.

    eric

    June 17, 2009 at 6:49 pm

    @Mike P: Let’s not forget that the Gipper was not a brain surgeon. He merely had less open beligerence than W.

    really not much better.

    eric

  50. 50.

    JL

    June 17, 2009 at 6:54 pm

    Sorta OT, but the repubs were suppose to introduce their health plan today. Does anyone else know if they updated their pretty drawings from their last plan to include actual health plans?

  51. 51.

    Svensker

    June 17, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    @John PM:

    Why is it that the people who claim they want government to leave them alone are the biggest busybodies?

    A question for the ages.

  52. 52.

    Colette

    June 17, 2009 at 6:55 pm

    @Jon H:

    Pence.

    Permafixt.

  53. 53.

    Laura W

    June 17, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    @JL: I’ll one-up OT you:
    Oh My.
    PETA mourns the fly.

    Edit: And how does PETA know for sure that Obama is not the Buddha?
    I do not think they are omniscient enough to proclaim that with such certainty. Seriously.

  54. 54.

    Jon H

    June 17, 2009 at 6:57 pm

    @asiangrrlMN:

    By the way, judging from the art on your blog, you should track down a copy of “The Deluxe Transitive Vampire: The Ultimate Handbook of Grammar for the Innocent, the Eager, and the Doomed“.

    (Not that your grammar needs work.)

  55. 55.

    passerby

    June 17, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    @anonevent:

    If you don’t keep a thought in your head, you don’t have to worry about contradictions.

    To add: …and that plays perfectly to his target audience.

  56. 56.

    MelodyMaker

    June 17, 2009 at 7:06 pm

    @John PM:

    Fuck ya, schoolhouse rock. Way to rebuff.

  57. 57.

    jurassicpork

    June 17, 2009 at 7:10 pm

    Meanwhile, on the lighter side of the news, Rush Limbaugh Dies at 58.

  58. 58.

    GeneJockey

    June 17, 2009 at 7:13 pm

    Pence, and the rest of the wingnuts, see a protest going on in Iran, and figure we have to stand in solidarity with it, because we HATE Ahmadinejad.

    Never mind that the guy the protesters support created Hezbollah. The wingnuts say they’re not supporting HIM, they’re supporting the protesters. I’m not sure, exactly, how they see THAT working, but they see NOT coming out against Ahmadinejad as ‘appeasement’.

    And this doesn’t even consider the likely effect of US support for the protests on Iranian public opinion. They think we’re POPULAR over there!

  59. 59.

    MelodyMaker

    June 17, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    “Look, the cause of America is freedom.”

    Hoot-Smalley! Use it or lose it.

  60. 60.

    Calouste

    June 17, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    @Laura W:

    PETA is there to remind us that lunacy is not inherently the exclusive domain of the right, even though it might seem so occasionally.

  61. 61.

    JL

    June 17, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    @Laura W: What a hoot. I especially like this comment by TMZ We’re told the fly’s carcass has been moved to a secret location … we’re guessing the bottom of a White House trash can.
    My question was halfway serious. The repubs were suppose to introduce another health care plan and it appears that the major papers aren’t covering it. It must be the same old plan with an additional circle or two.

  62. 62.

    ninerdave

    June 17, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    @jake 4 that 1:

    Twitter mocks Hoekstra.

    And a new meme was born

  63. 63.

    Mike P

    June 17, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    @ninerdave:
    Holy shit, that site is already a classic.

  64. 64.

    Zifnab

    June 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm

    @Bender:

    Of course there are stupid, lying Democrats, and sensible Republicans and the converse.

    I think you mean the “inverse”. The converse would just get you sensible Republicans and stupid, lying Democrats.

  65. 65.

    Zifnab

    June 17, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    @Calouste: Motha Fookin’ Sea Kittens, F.T.W!

  66. 66.

    Little Dreamer

    June 17, 2009 at 7:31 pm

    @Laura W:

    I don’t know, but the next time we have some sort of major controversy which calls for a title (such as the Fifth Column, or The Fourth Estate), can we call it the Third Arm?

  67. 67.

    Zuzu's Petals

    June 17, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    @jurassicpork:

    Snork!

  68. 68.

    passerby

    June 17, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    @bvac:

    My favorite part about this whole thing is how everyone on the TV is amazed that Iranians are using – OMG – technology like cell phones and twitter to communicate their protest. They’re more surprised that they don’t live in caves or use smoke signals to voice their dissent.

    Yes. I’m enjoying the amazement of the talking heads, too.

    For forever, the US media has purposely ignored international news with regard to culture and politics and its coverage of Middle-eastern countries has only shown clay buildings, dust, rubble, and burkas.

    Whaddaya know, Iranian women wear floral scarves and lipstick.

  69. 69.

    JL

    June 17, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    @Little Dreamer: lol

  70. 70.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    June 17, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    May I so politely ask, as one does, as the official Balloon Juice “Dotty English Woman Crazy Cat Lady” where the fuck are the Lily and Tunch pictures today? Huh? I demands me some Lily and Tunch pictures (preferably together but apart will do just fine).

  71. 71.

    Roger Moore

    June 17, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    @John PM:

    Why is it that the people who claim they want government to leave them alone are the biggest busybodies?

    I’m not sure that’s quite true. It would be more accurate to say that the biggest busybodies claim they want the government to leave them alone. There are plenty of people who want the government to leave them alone who aren’t busybodies. We just tend to pay less attention to them because they aren’t such raging assholes.

    As for why, I think it’s the classic answer for most things Republican: projection. They want to use government power to do all kinds of nasty things to people they don’t like, so they definitely don’t want somebody else to be able to do equally nasty things to them. It’s the wingnut version of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others before they can do unto you.”

  72. 72.

    Ked

    June 17, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    I demands me some Lily and Tunch pictures (preferably together but apart will do just fine).

    Maybe my memory is failing me, but have we ever seen both Balloon Pets in the same picture? I remember them in the same post, yes, but is there any photographic proof that these two titans of pet blogging have actually met?

  73. 73.

    Maude

    June 17, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    @jurassicpork:
    How are you doing?

  74. 74.

    John O

    June 17, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    John, if you, Doug, and Tim decide to go all Tunch-Lily-Other Pets all day, all the time, I’ll still come visit.

    This kind of Stupid out of people who run my life to an inch of a degree is just too depressing to wallow in.

    But hey, Pence “represents his district.”

    Note to self: I’d do fine in Pence’s district, since I grew up in rural IL, but I’m not looking to give them any money, all the way down to gas taxes, so, “Stay out of that Congressional District.”

  75. 75.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    June 17, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    John – may I humbly request (and ignore my bullshit post above) a post about this

    http://www.rumproast.com/index.php/site/comments/national_mill_dog_rescue_needs_your_help_now/

    These people need money to help puppy mill dogs, they really need our help and knowing the generous nature of the BJ community can you please put up a thread? Thanks.

  76. 76.

    John O

    June 17, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    Roger @ 71,

    Mind if I use that one, the wingnut Golden Rule, for free? I’ll make sure and credit you when I remember.

    Beautiful.

  77. 77.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    June 17, 2009 at 8:07 pm

    *the earth is 6,000 years old and Adam rode a pet stegasaurus

    Proof Adam wasn’t a Repub. Otherwise he would’ve fucked it after lecturing Eve about remaining chaste.

    Too harsh?

  78. 78.

    passerby

    June 17, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    @kommrade reproductive vigor:

    Given the concept, it coulda happened that way, too harsh or not.

  79. 79.

    Bender

    June 17, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    But you’re necessarily going to get more stupid comments from the republicans, because their core principles are so stupid

    Of course, right-leaning blogs have the same kind of list ridiculing what they think are the Democratic core principles, don’t they — which was my point.

    That’s why those who consider themselves politically informed should frequent (and comment on, if you have the chops) blogs on both sides. It keeps you from getting echo-chamber-itis, and from cartooning the other side too much.

  80. 80.

    Roger Moore

    June 17, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    @John O:

    Mind if I use that one, the wingnut Golden Rule, for free?

    I only wish I had come up with that twisted formulation. It’s almost as old as the “He who has the gold makes the rules” version. I just applied it to wingnuts because it seems like their typical attitude.

  81. 81.

    jl

    June 17, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    Pence makes as much sense as McCain, who says: We need do “something” to get them hold a fair election, that makes Ahmadinejad lose and the regime fall apart.

    (Through will, or resolve, or yelling, or tough talk, or bombing, or, nuke-em-all.. something? Or what?)

    Goofballs, all of them.

  82. 82.

    AhabTRuler

    June 17, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    @Ked: As of yet all we have are the mad creations of a fevered & intemperate mind.

  83. 83.

    WereBear

    June 17, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    I appreciate wanting to be even-handed, but even if our leading Democrats painted themselves blue and mooned the other party across the aisle;

    they wouldn’t be as crazy, and do nearly as much harm, as the recent Republican party.

  84. 84.

    JL

    June 17, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    It’s almost 9 and not a word about Tunch and Lily.

  85. 85.

    Jon H

    June 17, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    OT: I just received a 419 email pretending to be from Ford.

    They provide an HTML file which pretends to be a pdf (includes a faux Acrobat toolbar). It doesn’t ask for bank info, but it does ask for your mobile phone number. I bet they’d put a charge on your phone bill.

    Dear Mr/Ms,
    Due to the World Economy Recession, Ford Motor Company, Inc undergo a statistic fall in Sales and result in a drastic financial crisis this last season.The Government has given us the opportunity to bounce back on our feet, but unfortunately we have not achieved the fund necessary.Therefore, we offer you the opportunity to purchase a very good Auto at 35% discount of the price. We decided to pull the sales of 1.000 cars at a very low price for us to aquire the capital needed to bounce back in business and to use this medium to increase the scale of our valued customers.The payment shall be made in installments through the bank at 1 month after signing the contract.The first payment for all documents necessary and lawyer is made within five work days or you have the opportunity to get 10% discount if you pay 100% payment. We will send you: the FORD SALES AGREEMENT between Seller and Buyer, and our payment department will contact you with the invoice to buy with confidence using our Payment Protection.The vehicle will be delivered to your location. It will be shipped within 5 days after the payment will be cleared the bank. The shipping is free of charge and the vehicle is fully insured for damage during the transportation, inspection process and prior to the physical sale.You will have 7 days to inspect the vehicle upon delivery. You have the option to use an independent Inspection Authority to make sure that the vehicle is as described.If the vehicle is not as described or not passes your inspection, the vehicle will be collected and you will be fully refunded. Refund requests are processed within 3 days. If you are interested in this offer please fill out the application form, A representative will contact you about this application within two business day. Thanks for your understanding and we hope to serve you better.

  86. 86.

    tc125231

    June 17, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    Why does this guy have to represent my district? Someone please save me…

    Listen my friend, quit whining. I once lived in a district represented by Henry (affairs don’t count if you didn’t get caught until later! –and I looted an S&L and got a nolo contendre) Hyde.

    Democracy is good. Its selections are often atrocious.

  87. 87.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    June 17, 2009 at 8:53 pm

    @JL:

    Dude I get you. Where are the Lily and Tunch pics and stuff…. this is not right, I mean John knows his audience right? Where the *(&# are the pictures.

  88. 88.

    tc125231

    June 17, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    @HumboldtBlue:

    Bill and Hillary Clinton could give Cheney lessons.

    If you are really dumb enough to believe those amateurs are the winners, I want to have a heart to heart talk with you about some EXCELLENT investements in your future….

  89. 89.

    JL

    June 17, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Maybe Tunch finally showed him who’s boss.

  90. 90.

    Ecks

    June 17, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    @John PM: Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait!

    “form a more perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity… .”

    To promote the general welfare? The GENERAL WELFARE?

    So what you’re sayin’ is that we got us here a socialist country.

    Gentlemen, we have no recourse. We must bomb America.

  91. 91.

    tc125231

    June 17, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    @Bender:

    That’s why those who consider themselves politically informed should frequent (and comment on, if you have the chops) blogs on both sides. It keeps you from getting echo-chamber-itis, and from cartooning the other side too much.

    Yeah –it’s very important to debate the Flat Earth Society. If you don’t spend your time that way, you might waste your time studying the facts.

    Why would anyone want to be empirical when they caould babble instead?

  92. 92.

    Comrade Stuck

    June 17, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    It’s almost 9 and not a word about Tunch and Lily.

    Where are the Lily and Tunch pics and stuff…. this is not right,

    Cole. would you please give these folks some critter pics, afore they start with the shaky tremblies and seeing spiders on the wall/

  93. 93.

    Laura W

    June 17, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt:
    @JL:
    Ladies, John said he was taking the day off and then put up 7 posts. Maybe he’s taking the night off. Man needs some time away from us. Who wouldn’t?

    I know I’m no substitute, but I had this all ready to go for an Open Thread, assuming we got one tonight, and it was for you two anyway. Hope this helps! (Yeah, I wrote it up earlier so I could just slap it up if I was tired or + Whatever as the night wore on.)

    Pigs Flew Over My House Today!
    I was shocked to find how many blueberries were ready for pickin’ today and thought I’d take some photos after I cleaned them up to make JL and LilBrit envious. Sadie was hanging out on the back deck, so I knew she’d make a great food stylist. Got some good stills of her, and then, in a moment of uncharacteristic technological bravery, I moved the little switch on my Canon Digital from AUTO to MOVIE. And it started filming!

    I had no clue if it was picking up sound or if I was supposed to be focusing or what so I tried to keep my mouth shut and just let Sadie do her usual purring and kneading and rolling to and fro. She does this if I just focus attention on her. If I actually touch her, the purring volume goes to 11. Extra bonus: Leah in the kitchen slurping big water from her bowl at the 40 second mark.

    I present: Sadie and the First Blueberries!

  94. 94.

    Ramalamadingdong

    June 17, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    I’m jonesing. I need a fix. What did Lily do today?

  95. 95.

    Dean Booth

    June 17, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    @Bender: “right-leaning blogs have the same kind of list”

    I don’t buy your false equivalency. steve s’s list is of items are not a matter of subjective opinion. Facts are facts, and denying the obvious ones are a sure sign of stupidity or mendacity.

    If you think that prominent Dems say things just a stupid as notable Repubs, give us the quotes. I got at least 20 factually dumb Rep. quotes off the top of my head.

  96. 96.

    JL

    June 17, 2009 at 9:11 pm

    @Laura W: Pretty cute. This year I put stakes around my blueberries with brightly colored rags. It’s my answer to a layman’s scarecrow. I’ll let you know if it works.
    My berries aren’t ready. June 17th is pretty early.

  97. 97.

    Delia

    June 17, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    @Laura W:

    Great footage. I was afraid the blueberries weren’t going to survive :)

    Is Sadie a Maine Coon? The best cat I ever had was a Maine Coon. He lived to be sixteen and has been gone about thirteen years now and I still miss him.

    Update: John: I need some Lily news, too.

  98. 98.

    Laura W

    June 17, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    @JL: June 17 is totally early! The blackberries come in weeks before the blues, and the blacks are still green! I have no clue how and why I got so lucky this year, except that I am selfish and wanted to harvest as many of the blues as I can before I move end of July. (ie, God loves me so He forced them early just for me.)

    John’s home. I guess my film will fade into obscurity now.
    Sigh.

    @Delia: I don’t know about Sadie. She ran in front of my car in a CO alley at 6 weeks starving and dehydrated. Who knows who her randy parents were?

  99. 99.

    MelodyMaker

    June 17, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    @Laura W:

    YES! Wondering about my sanity, but that’s some goooood video.

  100. 100.

    asiangrrlMN

    June 17, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    @Laura W: Sadie is gorgeous. She looks like she has some Maine Coon in her, but like you said, who knows? Doesn’t matter. She’s a stunner.

    Oh, and Richard Engel? Yuuuuuum.

    @JL: Here ya go. The Republican health care plan. Enjoy.

    http://www.rollcall.com/news/35940-1.html

    @Jon H: I haz art on my blog? I am getting that book, though. I am a grammar fiend, and I like me some vamps.

  101. 101.

    tc125231

    June 17, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    Who Says Words With My Mouth?

    All day I think about it, then at night I say it.

    Where did I come from, and what am I supposed to be doing?

    I have no idea.

    My soul is from elsewhere, I’m sure of that,

    and I intend to end up there.

    This drunkenness began in some other tavern.

    When I get back around to that place,

    I’ll be completely sober. Meanwhile,

    I’m like a bird from another continent, sitting in this aviary.

    The day is coming when I fly off,

    but who is it now in my ear who hears my voice?

    Who says words with my mouth?

    Who looks out with my eyes? What is the soul?

    I cannot stop asking.

    If I could taste one sip of an answer,

    I could break out of this prison for drunks.

    I didn’t come here of my own accord, and I can’t leave that way.

    Whoever brought me here will have to take me home.

    This poetry, I never know what I’m going to say.

    I don’t plan it.

    When I’m outside the saying of it,

    I get very quiet and rarely speak at all.

    From Essential Rumi

    by Coleman Barks
    Visit: ColemanBarks.com

    If I could taste one sip of an answer, I could break out of this prison for drunks.

  102. 102.

    Delia

    June 17, 2009 at 9:39 pm

    @Laura W:

    Well, my cat was an alley cat, too. But once in a vet’s office I saw a chart of cat breeds and realized he matched up for appearance and behavior characteristics. Sadie just has that look from the vid, so I wondered.

  103. 103.

    AhabTRuler

    June 17, 2009 at 9:57 pm

    Gentlemen, we have no recourse. We must bomb America.

    Um, we hate our freedom?

  104. 104.

    gex

    June 17, 2009 at 10:03 pm

    @Mike P: I disagree. Between inadvertently helping Prop 8, to the Rick Warren thing, to making the gay married jokes, to acting like he doesn’t know what promises he’s made, to making no effort to start on any of the legislation he says he’s waiting for, to actively supporting DOMA, to comparing our relationships to incest or pedophilia, to adding new arguments for DOMA, for rejecting the precedent set in Lawrence v. Texas, to justifying differential treatment because of cost savings, and now trying to make it up to us by giving (some) federal workers (some) partner benefits (not health care or retirement) that were already available (but only because gays were going to boycott a $1000 per plate fundraiser).

    He’s been as insulting as can possibly be. But he can get away with it because nobody gives a fuck, not even our straight allies. Whenever we get upset about this our “friends” just call us out for not having a sense of proportion or recognizing that there are more pressing issues. Which of course, is exactly why things are the way they are. Straight people don’t give a damn. Even the ones who say they do. So it is safer for pols to keep the status quo.

  105. 105.

    Chuck Butcher

    June 17, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    @Michael:

    Why does this guy have to represent my district? Someone please save me…

    You want sympathy? I’ve got Greg Walden (R-OR 02) and I was so pissed as to run for that office in (D) Primary. Walden just isn’t as publicly that stupid. (stupider?)

  106. 106.

    Laura W

    June 17, 2009 at 10:16 pm

    @tc125231: Lovely!

    “God has given us a dark wine that, drinking it, we leave the two worlds.”

    “Any wine will get you high. Judge like a king and choose the purest, the ones unadulterated with fear, or some urgency about ‘what’s needed.’ Drink the wine that moves you as a camel moves as it’s been untied, and is just ambling about.”

    mmmmm….Rumi.

  107. 107.

    passerby

    June 17, 2009 at 10:29 pm

    @tc125231:

    Rockin’! tc125432.

    This line I edit out:

    I didn’t come here of my own accord, and I can’t leave that way.

    We all volunteered.

  108. 108.

    MelodyMaker

    June 17, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    @gex:

    straight people don’t give a damn?

    edit: or however you spell it. too insulting.

  109. 109.

    asiangrrlMN

    June 17, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    @gex: I agree with this as far as Obama not being the fierce advocate that he promised. I am very disappointed in him for that.

    @MelodyMaker: Well, I wouldn’t say straights don’t give a damn, but I wouldn’t say they are really putting any effort into queer rights, either. It’s an issue that tends to get shunted aside until “the time is right”, whenever that time may be.

  110. 110.

    MelodyMaker

    June 17, 2009 at 11:00 pm

    Seriously. take that back. Or I’ll refer you to Mrs. Robinson.

  111. 111.

    MelodyMaker

    June 17, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    @asiangrrlMN:

    OK. But, “they” my ass. nice shorthand…

  112. 112.

    Mike P

    June 17, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    @gex: Eh, I wouldn’t go quite so far as to say that straight people “don’t give a damn” and I suspect you know better.

    I’m not defending Obama…he’s been weak sauce on gay rights and I, as a straight person, am very disappointed in him on that front.

    I do think Obama needs to recognize that if he does want to do things like repeal DADT (which I think is a far easier nut to crack than is repealing DOMA) he needs to be more activist and vocal about it, just as he’s done with health care.

    It seems that his timing is always just behind the curve of the heavily involved (activists, political junkies, etc) but he seems to move before opinions tend to harden in “middle America” (whatever that is). On most issues, I think it’s fine for him to show prudence, but given the strong backing he got from LGBT community both in terms of organizing and in $$$ (with the later being especially important), I do think it’s time for him to up his game.

    With the troop levels set to jump up in Afghanistan soon, it seems like pushing the DADT repeal through would have been a no brainer.

  113. 113.

    Comrade Stuck

    June 17, 2009 at 11:23 pm

    @Ecks:

    Gentlemen, we have no recourse. We must bomb America.

    Funny :–)

  114. 114.

    burnspbesq

    June 18, 2009 at 12:13 am

    @gex:

    You have noticed, I presume, that the President has a fairly full plate, or limited bandwidth, or however else you might want to describe it. There are, in point of actual fact, issues facing this country right now that are more pressing than DOMA or DADT. No one – at least no one I am aware of who speaks authoritatively for the Administration – is saying that these things won’t get done. I sincerely believe they will get done. And I wish they were getting done right the fuck now. But they’re not. And you gain nothing by gratuitously insulting people who are on your side.

  115. 115.

    Martin

    June 18, 2009 at 12:25 am

    He’s been as insulting as can possibly be.

    Oh, grow up and quit being so hyperbolic. He’s been as insulting as Fred Phelps? As Pat Buchanan? As George Bush? Really?

    And fuck you for saying we don’t care. We put No on 8 signs everywhere. We lost friendships with neighbors. We spent hundreds of hours at rallies, going door to door, trying to defeat it and we have no skin in this game. We did it because it was important, but now I keep hearing from people in the gay community how Obama is the worst president ever.

    It’s this single issue shit that routinely destroys the Democrats – no matter how good a Democrat may be on the dozens or hundreds of issues we care about, they’re never Gay Jesus, or Vegan Jesus, or Peace Jesus enough and so they wind up being the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad President. Worse than Hitler!

    I feel SOOO good about helping. Thanks. I’ll be sure to remember this the next time someone asks me to stand up for gay rights.

  116. 116.

    stevelaudig

    June 18, 2009 at 1:22 am

    Pence is a product of public education in Indiana. There many people like him there. The old word for them is retarded. But they are voluntarily retarded. He may be incapable of learning anything. He is certainly incapable of understanding anything. He’s rather like a parrot with a large vocabulary. Capable of saying the words but not understanding the concepts. Part of the brain is missing. The part above the neck. One reason to call them “no necks”.

  117. 117.

    Comrade Stuck

    June 18, 2009 at 1:24 am

    @Martin:

    Nicely stated Martin!

  118. 118.

    Chuck Butcher

    June 18, 2009 at 1:25 am

    @gex:

    Straight people don’t give a damn. Even the ones who say they do.

    Let me see if I can put this in some perspective, the current issues on his plate are real pressing and they affect nearly everybody including your upset self. I give a fuck, I give a damn, I give a shit and I ain’t anything resembling LGBT. Most people involved in my life are not only not LGBT, a hell of a lot of them are not in the least sympathetic. I stand up and make myself counted for people who are a vanishingly small percentage of my friendships. I put stress on friendships and relations because I don’t back the fuck down. As a political candidate I had to choose my rhetoric and frame issues my way but I never backed up.

    You want a lot and you’ve got a real nice way of trying to get it.

  119. 119.

    PeopleAreNoDamnGood

    June 18, 2009 at 1:36 am

    not even our straight allies

    Well, that’s the problem right there.

    I’m a straight ally. I have always, and will always, vote in favor of your rights. I have supported those causes, and argued against discrimination against gays at length on these very pages.

    But things have changed. LGBT, and I use that acronym only as shorthand and because I am lazy, not for any other reason, but LGBT has sent a clear message — including right here on these pages — that it doesn’t give a flying fuck about its straight allies, or their concerns, or their views on how to proceed, or anything else. It’s been your way, or highway, and shit on anything that gets in your way, as you are doing to Obama now, again, on these very pages, and as I have seen you (generic you, not you personally) do to others who have not toed whatever the LGBT line is that day.

    I’m your political ally, but I am not your friend, and I won’t go out of my way to help you any more. Your friends have as much as told me to my pseudonymous face here that they don’t need my help or support because I don’t seem to agree with them on key issues. Okay, fine. You know what? I didn’t cause your predicament. I am not responsible for fixing it. I’ll vote for your side, and that’s about it. Other than that, you are on your own.

  120. 120.

    joseph

    June 18, 2009 at 1:42 am

    Thank you, John Cole, for
    1- talking about your dog(s): we think they are your dogs, and next time send these pictures to your friends, unless you think only your friends are reading your blog. If yes, you should find a way to have only your friends access your blog.

    2- there is all this talk about supporting freedom, and i do support freedom

    3- But it seems like some people’s freedom does not count: like the gazaens and the Arabs in the “Israeli Territories”

    When are you, John Cole, going to speak up and out

    (you speak u/o or not doesn’t matter, just wanted to underscore your hypocrisy)

    Yours

  121. 121.

    Chuck Butcher

    June 18, 2009 at 1:46 am

    @PeopleAreNoDamnGood:

    Other than that, you are on your own.

    Aw, that’s no good and you know it’s not. My LGBT colleagues at State level know I’m their friend and treat me as such, regardless of my willingness to proceed at a slower pace for policy reasons than they’d like. Idjits are that, straight or otherwise.

  122. 122.

    PeopleAreNoDamnGood

    June 18, 2009 at 1:55 am

    @Chuck Butcher:

    Hey, I vote on their side, I support their goals. I don’t agree with their tactics or methods much of the time.

    For that I get told to fuck off and die. You know what? I don’t owe them anything. I am not the cause of their problems.

    This is a political blog, not a social club, AFAIC. In politics, you count votes, you do the work, and you do the best you can, and that’s it. If you lose, you pick yourself up and try again. You don’t blame everybody else for your loss, and you don’t attack your own coalition because it won’t toe your line. That’s crap. Whether it’s me, or Barack Obama, or anybody else.

    What are these guys going to do? Go to the GOP and ask for help? Good, I hope they do, and furthermore, I hope they get it. I don’t think they will, but I wish them luck. Or maybe they will start a third party. Okay, good luck with that, I hope it gets them what they want. And when they have tried the GOP and the third party and then want to sit down and work with their real allies, then call me. When they want to work with those allies and not tell them what to do, send the email. If that ain’t good enough, tough shit.

  123. 123.

    gopher2b

    June 18, 2009 at 2:17 am

    @gex:

    I can’t speak to many of the issues you raised but I can address the DOMA brief. A few things to keep in mind:

    (1) the main argument put forth in the brief is that the court didn’t have subject matter jurisdiction and the plaintiffs didn’t have standing. the two are somewhat related and they are important. you generally cannot sue the federal government directly and you can never bring a suit when you haven’t been harmed. the plaintiffs here filed “pre-emptive” lawsuit because they (a) haven’t applied for federal benefits (and been denied), (b) haven’t tried to enforce their marriage in another state (and been denied), (c) or otherwise suffered any (judicially recognized) harm. SMJ is the most important kind of jurisdiction because it cannot be waived. this case could literally go all the way to the supreme court and they could punt on this issue alone. years would be wasted.

    (2) the full faith and credit clause has alway had a public policy exception. unfortunately, the only precedent with regard to mariage on this issue is incest, polygamy, underage. i don’t think this is analagous AT ALL but the lawyers wouldn’t be doing their job if they didn’t cite it (and I would add, I cannot imagine Obama is cite checking a motion to dismiss even on an issue as important as this…I would be surprised if it even reached associate counsels in the WH)

    (3) the stand of review is a serious uphill battle. if you lose, you’ve cemented DOMA as good law. frankly, he probably has a better chance of overturning in congress than the supreme court. even then its redundant because the common law is still there (see #1).

    (4) the longer he waits on court challenges, the better the more likely DOMA dies. you don’t have favorable court right now.

    (5) One of Obama’s criticisms of the civil rights movement was that is overused the courts when it should have focused on the voting booth. There is a certain momentum that builds around issues like this and it brings legitimacy to it. He gets this and I’m sure he would rather see state after state fall. That approach ensures it survives forever. Going through the courts just means the issue will linger for decades, never have legitimacy, and is vulnerable to being overturned (see Roe v. Wade).

  124. 124.

    Martin

    June 18, 2009 at 2:23 am

    When they want to work with those allies and not tell them what to do, send the email. If that ain’t good enough, tough shit.

    I agree. And it’s not just gex. Half of GOS is saying the same thing as gex. Getting health care matters – it matters for everyone, even the LGBT community, but I get the sense that they could care less about it.

    Obama tells us to support Tammy Baldwin and her bill, but gex and half of GOS tell us to fuck off even after we got our corner of Orange County to oppose Prop 8. Ok. I won’t badger my rep and senators about it, because I’m straight and Obama hearts DOMA. I’ll bug them about the DREAM act instead. I’m pretty sure my undocumented students won’t tell me to go to hell.

  125. 125.

    Chuck Butcher

    June 18, 2009 at 3:21 am

    I don’t know, maybe Oregonians are more polite. I don’t take a “gex” too seriously, just enough to poke at him, which I did.

    Yeah, I’m a politician of sorts so I do understand counting votes, etc.

  126. 126.

    MWR

    June 18, 2009 at 10:31 am

    Post #1 is spot-on. Pence is so much like Bush, in that he lies, makes stuff up and is virtually, always wrong. Words come out of their mouths and if one is listening, you feel as if your IQ is being pulled downward.

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Behind the Curve…or Exactly Where He Should Be? « Michael Preston says:
    June 18, 2009 at 3:30 am

    […] the Curve…or Exactly Where He Should Be? I got into a mild tangle over Obama and his underwhelming (to date) efforts on improving gay rights in the comment section of a Balloon Juice thread that was about the sheer idiocy of Mike Pence. […]

Primary Sidebar

On The Road -  ?BillinGlendaleCA - Gold! 1
Image by BillinGlendaleCA (5/10/25)

Recent Comments

  • NotMax on Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Summer Travel Season (May 14, 2025 @ 10:12am)
  • schrodingers_cat on Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Summer Travel Season (May 14, 2025 @ 10:11am)
  • Baud on Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Summer Travel Season (May 14, 2025 @ 10:10am)
  • Matt McIrvin on Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Summer Travel Season (May 14, 2025 @ 10:10am)
  • zhena gogolia on Open Thread (and Saturday Afternoon Ohio Meetup Reminder) (May 14, 2025 @ 10:08am)

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
War in Ukraine
Donate to Razom for Ukraine

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Meetups

Upcoming Ohio Meetup May 17
5/11 Post about the May 17 Ohio Meetup

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Hands Off! – Denver, San Diego & Austin

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

PA Supreme Court At Risk

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!