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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Sofa King

Sofa King

by John Cole|  February 2, 201010:14 am| 143 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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The grifter speaks:

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) called Monday evening for White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel’s firing over remarks he allegedly made about the intellectually disabled.

Palin, the mother of a child with Down’s Syndrome, called on President Barack Obama to end Emanuel’s tenure as chief of staff for having allegedly called participants in a strategy session “f—ing retarded.”

Yes. People should be fired for private comments that have no impact on policy in a closed strategy meeting.

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Reader Interactions

143Comments

  1. 1.

    Justin

    February 2, 2010 at 10:16 am

    Speaking of firing people, is there any chance you can get rid of Dougj? That kid is so annoying.

  2. 2.

    Michael D.

    February 2, 2010 at 10:17 am

    Palin: “Where’s my retarded baby?“

  3. 3.

    TR

    February 2, 2010 at 10:18 am

    We Todd Did.

  4. 4.

    Zifnab

    February 2, 2010 at 10:19 am

    Can I get a “We are all Tea Baggers Now?”

    Ok, now just the FDLers.

  5. 5.

    GReynoldsCT00

    February 2, 2010 at 10:20 am

    She hasn’t been in the limelight for a couple weeks, she had to come up with SOMETHING. When will she quit using that kid for political gain? Yeah, I know, never.

  6. 6.

    Chyron HR

    February 2, 2010 at 10:21 am

    A quick tip for the Democratic Party–

    Wrong: “Oh me, oh my, we’re so sorry, Sarah.”
    Right: “We’re sorry that Sarah Palin hates Jews so much.”

  7. 7.

    beltane

    February 2, 2010 at 10:22 am

    Is this part of the collaboration between Jane Hamsher and the teabaggers? Funny that when Palin hears the word “retarded”, the first thing she thinks of is her son. She is a dreadful mother.

  8. 8.

    cat48

    February 2, 2010 at 10:24 am

    Didn’t know she was a firebagger.

  9. 9.

    Sports + Another Reason We Are Fucked

    February 2, 2010 at 10:24 am

    You know what’s really fucking retarded? Taking any old semi-liquid brainfart this shit-for-brains splurps up onto her Facebook page and treating it like news. THAT is re-fucking-tarded.

  10. 10.

    Svensker

    February 2, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Hey, that comment actually makes me like Rahm, which is not a common phenom.

    And Justin, leave DougJ alone. The kid’s awright, plus he’s got great musical taste, (old enough to sin, but too young to vote).

  11. 11.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    February 2, 2010 at 10:26 am

    I like the word ‘alleged’ in there too, also…

    W/ Rahm, it’s easy to believe he’d say something like that, but, given it’s only alleged… isn’t FIRING the man a bit harsh?

    It’s not like he and his cohorts were caught red-handed in phone repairman drag in a a Senator’s office or anything…

  12. 12.

    ajr22

    February 2, 2010 at 10:26 am

    As the Queen of all retards, she is just speaking up in defense of her people.

  13. 13.

    demo woman

    February 2, 2010 at 10:26 am

    @beltane:

    Funny that when Palin hears the word “retarded”, the first thing she thinks of is her son. She is a dreadful mother

    That is the first thing that I thought of also. The liberal media will not challenge her though.

  14. 14.

    Ash Can

    February 2, 2010 at 10:27 am

    Is this her idea of going after the Obama Administration? She’s not bright enough to be able to engage in debate on real issues, so this is the extent of it, eh?

  15. 15.

    John S.

    February 2, 2010 at 10:28 am

    Who will be the first “liberal” to agree with Caribou Barbie because it advances their goal of getting rid of Rahm?

    Jane Hamsher is the obvious choice, but I think we’ll have a dark horse win…

  16. 16.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    February 2, 2010 at 10:28 am

    @GReynoldsCT00:

    She hasn’t been in the limelight said anything truly stupid or embarrassing for a couple weeks, so she had to come up with SOMETHING.

    Sorry… but the comment was begging for that.

  17. 17.

    demo woman

    February 2, 2010 at 10:30 am

    John, The title is okay but La-Z Boy might be more descriptive. Granted it is not as macho, though.

  18. 18.

    Church Lady

    February 2, 2010 at 10:30 am

    Why are you referring to DougJ as a “kid”? Isn’t he around 40? If 40 is a kid, heck, I’m a teenager.

  19. 19.

    Comrade Scrutinizer

    February 2, 2010 at 10:31 am

    There’s a bunch over at the GOS that would agree. Say ‘retarded’ in a post and the thought police swoop.

  20. 20.

    JenJen

    February 2, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Weird. I could’ve sworn Republicans hated this kind of PC-crap.

    Apparently not when it comes from Sarah!

  21. 21.

    Face

    February 2, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Yes. People should be fired for private comments that have no impact on policy in a closed strategy meeting.

    Oh, but behold the marriage of Drudge and ABC/CBS/Fox. Just wait to see how this blows up. Palin + controversy = ratings bonanza.

    This will be huge in 12 hours.

  22. 22.

    Comrade Scrutinizer

    February 2, 2010 at 10:32 am

    @Church Lady: You’ll always be a pouty three year old to us, CL.

  23. 23.

    MoZeu

    February 2, 2010 at 10:32 am

    I’m all about eradicating the “R” word. Sorry, this isn’t an excess of PC-ness. Or at least I don’t think so. I’ve got a son with special needs, and let me tell you, it does HURT to hear that word used that way. A lot.

    Of course, using the issue to try to score lame political points just drives the knife in that much deeper. But what would you expect for the grifter, right? The “B” word is really too kind for her.

  24. 24.

    demo woman

    February 2, 2010 at 10:33 am

    Definition of retarded
    v. re·tard·ed, re·tard·ing, re·tards
    v.tr.
    To cause to move or proceed slowly; delay or impede.
    v.intr.
    To be delayed.
    n.
    1. A slowing down or hindering of progress; a delay.
    2. Music A slackening of tempo.

    Offensive slang
    Used as a disparaging term for a mentally retarded person.

    Should we send Sarah a dictionary.

  25. 25.

    Pasquinade

    February 2, 2010 at 10:33 am

    Conservatives4Palin and Marmots

    http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YbYzWtLGTcs/S2fViADq1gI/AAAAAAAAATc/gFOYm2BVPqY/S990-R/C4P%26M.jpg

    http://www.conservatives4palin.com/

  26. 26.

    Ash

    February 2, 2010 at 10:33 am

    Pardon my French, but, seriously, this is retarded.

  27. 27.

    Dork

    February 2, 2010 at 10:33 am

    “f—-ing retarded.”

    What makes this so egregious is that no one has ever used this phrase before. Ever. No one.

  28. 28.

    jrg

    February 2, 2010 at 10:34 am

    I’ll keep in mind that Palin desperately requires sensitivity (and political correctness) in public discourse next time she insinuates I’m not a “real American”, or that I supported a terrorist sympathizer for president.

  29. 29.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    February 2, 2010 at 10:34 am

    @Ash Can:

    Is this her idea of going after the Obama Administration? She’s not bright enough to be able to engage in debate on real issues, so this is the extent of it, eh?

    ***Beating head on keyboard…***

    When… oh when… have ANY of these nitwits tried to ‘engage in debate on real issues’?

    That’s all we’ve gotten for the last year and a half – birfers and tenthers and schlongers and enough teabaggery to make a man, or woman, beat his, or her, head on their keyboard. It’s maddening….

    ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH…

    KNow what ‘conservatives’ could do that’d REALLY freak liberals and Dems out?

    Do a good job. Actually stop lying and give a shit. We’d all come unglued…

  30. 30.

    Comrade Scrutinizer

    February 2, 2010 at 10:35 am

    @demo woman: Well yeah, but I’m pretty sure that if Rahm said it, he wasn’t talking about the bit above the “offensive slang” part. Which is okay by me.

  31. 31.

    BenA

    February 2, 2010 at 10:35 am

    I don’t know why I bother to read the comment thread on any MSM site… it’s always depressing.

    There really are a lot of incredibly f–king dumb people in this world.

  32. 32.

    Alex S.

    February 2, 2010 at 10:35 am

    She really loves to be the victim.

  33. 33.

    GReynoldsCT00

    February 2, 2010 at 10:35 am

    @The Republic of Stupidity:

    Thanks for the catch… you’re right!

  34. 34.

    beltane

    February 2, 2010 at 10:36 am

    @demo woman: One of my sons was diagnosed with high-functioning autism when he was two. For several years my life revolved around the various therapies that were needed to bring him where he is today (Aspergers with no special accommodations at school). Being that Downs Syndrome is a far more severe developmental disability, you’d think Palin would occasionally mention some of what she is doing for her son. But this never happens, likely because she has zero interest in Trig’s long-term well being. Instead, she just uses this child the way beggars use such children in third-world countries-as a prop to wheedle money and sympathy.

    This woman disgusts me to no end.

  35. 35.

    chopper

    February 2, 2010 at 10:37 am

    isn’t this the woman who used the term ‘lame’ in her debate with biden?

  36. 36.

    Keith G

    February 2, 2010 at 10:38 am

    Nonetheless, I would not mind if the word retarded were not used in such a context ever again. I do not like the implication it makes about cool people battling tough challenges. I feel it is only a half step above those who adopt a stereotypical speech pattern of a disabled person for comic effect.

    Smart people can find other ways to get their point across.

  37. 37.

    Egilsson

    February 2, 2010 at 10:38 am

    Cool, I guess she’s on board with political correctness now. I expect to see her consistently apply this standard from now on.

  38. 38.

    Morbo

    February 2, 2010 at 10:39 am

    @John S.: My money is on someone at Shakesville.

  39. 39.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    February 2, 2010 at 10:39 am

    @GReynoldsCT00:

    Yer welcome.

    I am only here to be of assistance… and occasionally kick someone when they’re already down… rub a little salt in… lift their wallet whilst they’re comatose… that sort of thing…

  40. 40.

    chopper

    February 2, 2010 at 10:40 am

    yes, yes she did.

    from the debate:

    PALIN: In my comment there, it was a lame attempt at a joke and yours was a lame attempt at a joke, too, I guess, because nobody got it. Of course we know what a vice president does.

    so i guess that’s why she really quit the governorship. she realized how insensitive that term was to the disabled and demanded that she fire herself.

  41. 41.

    The Moar You Know

    February 2, 2010 at 10:41 am

    What’s getting overlooked here is that Rahm is really cleaning up his language.

  42. 42.

    demo woman

    February 2, 2010 at 10:41 am

    @beltane: Congratulations to all of you. Sarah could be using her bully pulpit to advance education and research and I would cheer her, unfortunately she decided no to.

  43. 43.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 2, 2010 at 10:42 am

    When did the right become so PC? Oh yeah, when Palin had a retarded baby. Now if we can figure out how to get Limbaugh a retarded baby..

  44. 44.

    Morbo

    February 2, 2010 at 10:42 am

    @Pasquinade: Holy fucking shit; they’re not even using that ironically, are they?

    Also, let’s not forget – let’s *not* forget, Dude – that keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city – that ain’t legal either.

  45. 45.

    Michael

    February 2, 2010 at 10:43 am

    She really loves to be the victim.

    It is a fundamentalist trait to the exponential degree. If you’re functional and not troubled, fervent prayers and Jesus can’t help you. Only if your life is sucking ass does Jesus get up off his futon to completely save your day.

  46. 46.

    4tehlulz

    February 2, 2010 at 10:43 am

    @The Moar You Know: This is true. He didn’t say “motherfucking.”

  47. 47.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    February 2, 2010 at 10:44 am

    @chopper:

    isn’t this the woman who used the term ‘lame’ in her debate with biden?

    And also ALLEGEDLY referred to the current POTUS as ‘Sambo’ back during his campaign…

  48. 48.

    Pigs & Spiders

    February 2, 2010 at 10:45 am

    This happened to me once.

    I was in 3rd grade and I told a boy in my class he was a shithead because the tetherball hit me in the nose. (Not my finest moment.)

    A girl standing nearby told her mother and her mother called my mother and the principal and said I needed detention and probably therapy.

    I think my mother might have called her a shithead.

  49. 49.

    Max

    February 2, 2010 at 10:47 am

    Sofa King Stupid.

    I think this is the point in our program where the Hamsters, Daous, Sirotas, Marshs, etal on the Left will now join with Palin and soon, like the PUMA’s they all are, will be supporting her in 2012.

  50. 50.

    Michael

    February 2, 2010 at 10:47 am

    OT, but talking about grifters, Chuck Norris is pimping Roy Moore for SCOTUS.

    http://townhall.com/columnists/ChuckNorris/2010/02/02/god_save_the_us_and_our_courts

    The U.S. needs more honest and traditional justices like my friend Judge Roy Moore, who is running for governor of Alabama. Undoubtedly, readers remember him as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama who was ousted for refusing to remove a copy of the Ten Commandments from the state’s judicial building. Roy’s resumé reads like a who’s who of American life and justice, from private practice to district attorney and then circuit judge and chief justice

    So when the Firebaggers get their wish with a minority of “purer” D senators and President Palin, we can look forward to Chief Justice Roy Moore. Roberts will happily give up his CJ slot for an associate slot, if he knows what is good for him.

  51. 51.

    gopher2b

    February 2, 2010 at 10:48 am

    If you’re not from Boston or lack a New England accent, you have no business saying “fucking retarded.” It’s better there.

    I voted in a Dem primary this morning. First time ever.

  52. 52.

    Houstonian

    February 2, 2010 at 10:48 am

    @beltane:

    you’d think Palin would occasionally mention some of what she is doing for her son. But this never happens, likely because she has zero interest in Trig’s long-term well being.

    I wonder if she knows. Sure seems like someone else is taking care of Trig because Sarah is too busy traveling around flapping her gums. Maybe Bristol knows what’s happening with Trig.

  53. 53.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 2, 2010 at 10:49 am

    Insert Obligatory Hamsher Rant Here.

  54. 54.

    scav

    February 2, 2010 at 10:51 am

    nah, come on, we know if Trig was really being neglected, the Idaho Baptists would be all over it like a swat team, liberating the poor dear orphan into BC.

  55. 55.

    Why oh why

    February 2, 2010 at 10:51 am

    Sarah Palin should be the first to resign. Oh, wait…

  56. 56.

    Cat Lady

    February 2, 2010 at 10:54 am

    @Pigs & Spiders:

    Hi honey pie, I didn’t know you commented here too!

    /mom

  57. 57.

    Bubblegum Tate

    February 2, 2010 at 10:55 am

    @beltane:

    Funny that when Palin hears the word “retarded”, the first thing she thinks of is her son.

    Well, when I hear it, the first thing I think of is Sarah Palin.

    Boy, I can’t wait for the newsgasm over this non-story!

  58. 58.

    Keith

    February 2, 2010 at 10:55 am

    Rahm’s slur on all God’s children with cognitive and developmental disabilities – and the people who love them – is unacceptable, and it’s heartbreaking

    Naturally, it wasn’t just a slur on all developmentally disabled individuals; it was a slur on Sarah Palin, too!

  59. 59.

    Alex S.

    February 2, 2010 at 10:58 am

    @Michael:

    Whenever I read something like that I think to myself that this can’t really be Chuck Norris’ own thoughts. Did he really look for a new Supreme Court nominee on his own and checked the records and then thought “Oh, I’m gonna post that on Townhall.com”?
    Someone must be behind this, someone with the intention of moving the overton window to the right. Possibly in preparation for the upcoming replacement of Justice Stevens.

  60. 60.

    Joey Maloney

    February 2, 2010 at 10:58 am

    Sarah Palin®

    I know what you typed, and what it was meant to say – but this is so much more accurate.

    @MoZeu:

    I’m all about eradicating the “R” word.

    Me, too. Those bastards have fucked up our national discourse and our nation for entirely too long.

    Wait, what are we talking about?

  61. 61.

    Fergus Wooster

    February 2, 2010 at 10:59 am

    @beltane:
    My daughter is special-needs due to a genetic disorder, although her particular manifestation is turning out to be pretty mild so far.

    I mention this to add to your point – during the health care debate, Sarah could have contributed a great deal to the discussion about the difficulties associated with raising special needs kids: the cost of physical therapy; the state programs that work, that don’t, and that are underfunded, etc.

    Instead her contribution was to say the Black Man would have put her child to death.

    At that moment, my normally mild-mannered wife slipped into fuck-speak and started sharpening her knives.

  62. 62.

    August J. Pollak

    February 2, 2010 at 10:59 am

    “Intellectually disabled?”

    Seriously?

  63. 63.

    The Republic of Stupidity

    February 2, 2010 at 11:02 am

    @Alex S.:

    Whenever I read something like that I think to myself that this can’t really be Chuck Norris’ own thoughts.

    That’s a good point. And Chuck didn’t even karate chop anything either… but… he did use the word ‘alleged’ in there… so at the very least… somebody’s going to get fired.

  64. 64.

    beltane

    February 2, 2010 at 11:02 am

    @Keith: Who elected this stupid c**t to be the representative of all special needs children and their families? This woman needs to get a real job; spending all of one’s waking hours looking for perceived insults and slights is bad karma. Palin is like one of those people who stage fender-benders so they can file lawsuits and collect settlement money.

  65. 65.

    GregB

    February 2, 2010 at 11:02 am

    That fat pud Roger Ailes was just in a sweaty, red faced rant against Arianna Huffington over the language police.

    Also, this falls under the GOP/right-wing bete noire of political correctness?

    -G

  66. 66.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    February 2, 2010 at 11:05 am

    It’s the first thing about Emanuel I’ve liked. More belittlemement of special needs people!

  67. 67.

    Keith

    February 2, 2010 at 11:06 am

    @beltane: Thing is, she only acts as their representative in so far as it involves her getting to play the victim (the central narrative of her book, incidentally). As @Fergus Wooster said, she could have gotten in front of the true issues that plague the community and used her platform to bring much-needed attention…but she didn’t.

  68. 68.

    Joey Maloney

    February 2, 2010 at 11:07 am

    @scav: I laughed. I’m not too proud to admit it.

  69. 69.

    daryljfontaine

    February 2, 2010 at 11:10 am

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Now if we can figure out how to get Limbaugh a retarded baby..

    Clone him?

    OT, but funny:

    When someone speaks to Roxxxy, her computer converts the words to text and then uses pattern-recognition software to match them against a database containing hundreds of appropriate responses. The robot then answers aloud — her prerecorded “voice” is supplied by an unnamed radio host — through a loudspeaker hidden under her wig.

    Who knew Melanie Morgan would find new work so quickly?

    D

  70. 70.

    bemused

    February 2, 2010 at 11:10 am

    During the campaign, the first time I saw Sarah with Trig, my instant thought was that she carried her baby around like he was a sack of potatoes.

  71. 71.

    Mike in NC

    February 2, 2010 at 11:13 am

    Sarah could be using her bully pulpit to advance education and research and I would cheer her, unfortunately she decided no to.

    We all know how she feels about fruit flies. In France. “I kid you not”. Also.

  72. 72.

    beltane

    February 2, 2010 at 11:13 am

    @bemused: You and everyone else with more than one working brain cell.

    Now here is a good comment thread on the subject :http://wonkette.com/413485/sarah-palin-decides-that-rahm-emanuel-hates-trig-the-most-today

  73. 73.

    Alice B. Stuck

    February 2, 2010 at 11:13 am

    Where’s my White Wabbit?

  74. 74.

    Interrobang

    February 2, 2010 at 11:15 am

    While we’re talking about deforming the discourse, could people please stop interpreting “lame” as though it’s a slur on handicapped people? If that’s so, I should have felt offended every time my horse threw a shoe. Also, if you actually are handicapped, and you somehow have a problem with legitimate uses of the word “lame,” you need to stand the fuck down already.

    And can we please stop using disabled as a euphemism for “handicapped”? I’m not shut down, I’m slowed down. I also don’t mind being in the same rhetorical class as golfers, Go and chess players, racing sailors, and polo players. God, what a horrible, dehumanising thing! Everyone be sure to be offended on behalf of elite athletes everywhere, now…

    Calling me “special needs” would be an insult (since aside from some fairly common peculiarities of diet, I have none), and I fucking hate the term anyway; there’s something overly precious about the term “special” as it’s used today that grates to no end. It reminds me entirely too much of the species of benevolent idiot one runs into far too often if one is handicapped — the “fixer,” who wants to make everything all better but is too stupid and clueless to do anything but make everything much worse…

  75. 75.

    Fergus Wooster

    February 2, 2010 at 11:15 am

    @bemused:

    And carried a newborn baby around in front of tens of thousands of screaming people at the RNC. Talk about sensory overload for the poor kid, hardly squeezed out and already a stage prop.

  76. 76.

    bemused

    February 2, 2010 at 11:18 am

    @beltane:
    It was even more startling when contrasted with how Todd, Bristol or even the little head licking sister held him.

  77. 77.

    Bryan

    February 2, 2010 at 11:19 am

    I’m sorry, but you people are fucking assholes.

  78. 78.

    Church Lady

    February 2, 2010 at 11:22 am

    @Comrade Scrutinizer:

    :)

  79. 79.

    Will

    February 2, 2010 at 11:22 am

    Guys, this is just Sarah making her move. Remember that the job she really wants is Chief of Staff.

    http://thehill.com/capital-living/in-the-know/68201-palin-i-wants-rahms-job-not-obamas

    Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin would like to be White House Chief of Staff, she told People magazine, when asked what job she would want in the White House if she had to “start tomorrow.”

    Next question: why the hell would Sarah Palin ever want to work that hard? That’s just fucking retarded.

  80. 80.

    bemused

    February 2, 2010 at 11:23 am

    @Fergus Wooster:
    A republican relative was all worked up about the Letterman/Palin dustup. She thought Dave was just disgusting & Sarah was totally right to make a media spectacle out of it. I said shame on Sarah for doing that to her kids.

  81. 81.

    Erik Vanderhoff

    February 2, 2010 at 11:23 am

    Why is “not being an asshole” equated with “political correctness” in our discourse? We shouldn’t use “retarded” because it refers to an actual class of people, especially when we have perfectly fine epithets that convey the same sentiment available to us, like “dumbshit,” “moron,” “idiot,” “shit for brains,” and so on.

    Of course, demanding someone’s firing is likewise stupid and a pandering cry for attention. Did she demand that President Obama be impeached for describing his bowling game as “Special Olympics?”

  82. 82.

    Keith G

    February 2, 2010 at 11:25 am

    @bemused:

    During the campaign, the first time I saw Sarah with Trig, my instant thought was that she carried her baby around like he was a sack of potatoes.

    There is an easy, terrible punchline somewhere in there.

  83. 83.

    Third Eye Open

    February 2, 2010 at 11:26 am

    I have been consciously trying to use the term retarded less, I am thinking of replacing it in my vocabulary with troglodyte, or perhaps fuck-stick. But old habits die hard.

  84. 84.

    chopper

    February 2, 2010 at 11:29 am

    @Third Eye Open:

    ‘mongoloid’ has a nice ring to it.

  85. 85.

    Citizen_X

    February 2, 2010 at 11:29 am

    @Pasquinade: What…the fuck is that about?

    And I’m with gopher2b: I cannot conceive of the phrase being pronounced any other way than “fuckin’ retaaahhhded.”

  86. 86.

    DonBelacquaDelPurgatorio

    February 2, 2010 at 11:30 am

    I couldn’t trust a man who had to deal with Rahm’s job and didn’t cuss like a sailor.

    Fortunately, Rahm meets this test in spectacular fashion. Even sailors blush when he gets going.

  87. 87.

    Dork

    February 2, 2010 at 11:31 am

    @Bryan: I havent done this in years. She didn’t like it, and I didn’t so much either.

  88. 88.

    Sarcastro

    February 2, 2010 at 11:31 am

    Of course, using the issue to try to score lame political points just drives the knife in that much deeper.

    I’m sure the crippled and victims of stabbings feel about those metaphors just about the same way you do concerning the retarded metaphor.

    We use a host of metaphors that are based on healthy functioning of the human body and, naturally, just as many relating to the inverse. Hell, ‘retarded’ barely even qualifies. It’s already metaphorical when used to describe mental deficiency since it was originally only applied to machinery.

  89. 89.

    chopper

    February 2, 2010 at 11:32 am

    @Interrobang:

    shrug. i just figure if she’s gonna get all PC and demand someone be fired for using the word ‘retarded’ she should take a look at her own use of language. i’m just pointing out she’s a hypocrite (which really isn’t that hard with her, but still.)

  90. 90.

    Fergus Wooster

    February 2, 2010 at 11:34 am

    @bemused:
    I won’t discuss her with relatives unless they’re like-minded. We play the special-needs card if necessary to ensure this.

    This helps me avoid hearing my male wingut relatives voice their desire to mate with her .

  91. 91.

    Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion

    February 2, 2010 at 11:36 am

    OT, but as part of our “liberal media” watch, has anybody else noticed the WTF moment on Reuters? The headline reads

    Advisory: Backdoor taxes to hit middle class

    but when you click on it, you get

    Mon Feb 1, 8:07 pm ET

    The story Backdoor taxes to hit middle class has been withdrawn. A replacement story will run later in the week.

  92. 92.

    Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion

    February 2, 2010 at 11:38 am

    blockquote fail.

    Mon Feb 1, 8:07 pm ET

    The story Backdoor taxes to hit middle class has been withdrawn. A replacement story will run later in the week.

    FYWP.

  93. 93.

    Ash Can

    February 2, 2010 at 11:41 am

    @Bryan:

    I’m sorry, but you people are fucking assholes.

    HEY! I’ll have you know that my ass is DEEPLY OFFENDED by your insensitive remark, sirrah, and I DEMAND that yours in turn be fired. Forthwith. Also.

  94. 94.

    J. Michael Neal

    February 2, 2010 at 11:42 am

    @Erik Vanderhoff:

    We shouldn’t use “retarded” because it refers to an actual class of people, especially when we have perfectly fine epithets that convey the same sentiment available to us, like . . . “moron,” . . .

    Fail.

  95. 95.

    Pasquinade

    February 2, 2010 at 11:43 am

    @Citizen_X

    Forget Groundhog Day! Feb. 2 = Marmot Day, thanks to Sarah Palin

    http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/02/sarah-palin-marmot-alaska.html

    Sarah Palin signed a bill last year to make every Feb. 2 Marmot Day in Alaska.

    Sarah Palin’s Triumphant Marmot Initiative!

  96. 96.

    Svensker

    February 2, 2010 at 11:47 am

    @Pasquinade:

    I don’t want to think about Sarah Palin’s marmot.

  97. 97.

    Joshua Norton

    February 2, 2010 at 11:47 am

    Rahm Emanuel’s firing over remarks he allegedly made about the intellectually disabled.

    I’m pretty sure he was talking about the members of the Senate – who obviously ARE intellectually disabled.

  98. 98.

    asdf

    February 2, 2010 at 11:48 am

    You know what’s really fucking retarded? Taking any old semi-liquid brainfart this shit-for-brains splurps up onto her Facebook page and treating it like news. THAT is re-fucking-tarded.

    Excellent.

  99. 99.

    asdf

    February 2, 2010 at 11:50 am

    Sorry, should have used quotation marks. Edit feature doesn’t seem to be working.

  100. 100.

    John PM

    February 2, 2010 at 11:52 am

    As long as we are eliminating words from every day use, I nominate the word “abort.” I believe the words “stop” or “cancel” convey the same meaning without bringing to mind the holocaust that thousands of fetuses experience every year at the hands of dirty liberals.

  101. 101.

    Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion

    February 2, 2010 at 11:53 am

    @asdf: ya think?

  102. 102.

    Scbarr

    February 2, 2010 at 12:02 pm

    Call me Jane Hamsher if you want, but I for one wouldn’t mind seeing Rahm “spend more time with his family”.

  103. 103.

    FlipYrWhig

    February 2, 2010 at 12:03 pm

    IIRC my political anecdotes from 2008, wasn’t Sarah Palin allegedly overheard reacting to some primary victory by Obama by saying “Sambo beat the bitch”?

  104. 104.

    Erik Vanderhoff

    February 2, 2010 at 12:05 pm

    @ J. Michael Neal

    Fail.

    Uh, what? Last I checked, Mentally Retarded was in my DSM-IV-TR, not “moron.”

    Update: Oh, I see, “moron” was coined in 1910. Sorry, I’m not up on my 100 year old, not used in fucking decades diagnostic categories.

  105. 105.

    daryljfontaine

    February 2, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    @Erik Vanderhoff:

    Uh, what? Last I checked, Mentally Retarded was in my DSM-IV-TR, not “moron.”

    There are actually strict clinical definitions for idiot, imbecile, and moron.

    But anyone can be a damn fool.

    D

  106. 106.

    Erik Vanderhoff

    February 2, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    @darylfontaine

    Yeah, I googled that one. I work in diagnostics for developmental disabilities and we haven’t used those terms for decades, so they’re not even covered in our texts and manuals.

  107. 107.

    scav

    February 2, 2010 at 12:14 pm

    @Joey Maloney: well, sorry for the blow to your self esteem. right now I can’t decide between the whole A-Team like intro, the misunderstood religio-spec-ops with Bible verses on their num-chucks or the traditional Phythonesque No One Expects the Idaho Baptists! approach.

    There are actually strict clinical definitions for idiot, imbecile, and moron.But anyone can be a damn fool.

    But some people do seem to try harder to deserve it.

  108. 108.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 2, 2010 at 12:18 pm

    @MoZeu:
    @Keith G:

    I’m with you guys. While I think Sarah is a sack of shit and full of it as well, I do agree that it would be best to use retard as a verb (slow something down) and not an adjective or noun.

  109. 109.

    Randy P

    February 2, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    @demo woman: In physics, specifically electromagnetic theory, there’s a perfectly good concept called the “retarded potential”.

    Believe it or not, I never until this moment realized you could make a “retarded” joke on that term. Nor did anyone I went through EM class with at the time. THAT’s how geeky I am!

    Anyway, I’m sure there are other perfectly good jargon-y uses of “retarded” out there.

  110. 110.

    Joey Maloney

    February 2, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    @Interrobang:

    Also, if you actually are handicapped, and you somehow have a problem with legitimate uses of the word “lame,” you need to stand the fuck down already.

    Comedy gold. Intentional?

    @Erik Vanderhoff:

    This is a slap under the bus to downtrodden Fecal-Americans everywhere!

  111. 111.

    demo woman

    February 2, 2010 at 12:21 pm

    At least Sarah did not say she was offended when Rahm said the word fucking because he might be talking about Bristol.

  112. 112.

    Joey Maloney

    February 2, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    OMG, Rahm wants to rape Sarah’s disabled baby! Oh, the humanity!

  113. 113.

    Randy P

    February 2, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    @Bryan:

    I’m sorry, but you people are fucking assholes.

    No doubt, but was there something specific you were referring to?

  114. 114.

    debbie

    February 2, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    @John PM:

    As long as we are eliminating words from every day use, I nominate the word “abort.”

    I remember back when the command to stop an action in Lotus 1 2 3 was “Abort.” Seemed like a very IT kind of phrase.

  115. 115.

    Erik Vanderhoff

    February 2, 2010 at 12:39 pm

    @Joey Maloney

    This is a slap under the bus to downtrodden Fecal-Americans everywhere!

    Win.

  116. 116.

    Zach

    February 2, 2010 at 12:40 pm

    That remark was taken out of context. He was actually promoting the sexual rights of the mentally disabled, who have suffered a long history of abuse and discrimination in that regard. The full quote was, “In a just world, it will be ok if some or all of you are fucking retarded people.”

    The middle bit of that is actually true and tragic.

    If functionally identical rhetoric were employed by a Republican implicitly slandering some other disability, Palin would say, “You know I think this is just another example of the gotcha media and political correctness and liberals are always making these elitist attacks because they don’t care about real American values.” I think Rahm’s attack is incredibly stupid (and there are several other idioms that are impolitic for the same reason), lazy, and offensive. But it’s a 2nd-order offense. Not quite on par, say, with calling the first Latina Supreme Court nominee an affirmative action pick and a racist without any reasonable justification.

  117. 117.

    gopher2b

    February 2, 2010 at 12:44 pm

    I envy Rahm. God willing, some day I will be put in charge of something and when everyone around is talking stupid, I can simply respond “this is fucking retarded” and not “have we considered all the angles here” or “may there is an issue we’re overlooking” (and then duck for cover).

  118. 118.

    Jules

    February 2, 2010 at 12:45 pm

    The fact that someone saying “fucking retarded” gets Palin all sad just makes me want to go around all day saying “fucking retarded” in the hopes that there will be some kind of psychic effect that would make Ma Palin’s head explode while she is spewing on FOX.

  119. 119.

    gopher2b

    February 2, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    Would it have been okay if he said “come on guys, this is so fucking mentally disabled.” That sounds offensive to me.

  120. 120.

    theylivebynight

    February 2, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    I’m reminded of a joke:

    What’s the difference between Sarah Palin’s mouth and her vagina?

    Not everything that comes out of her vagina is retarded.

    (I know, I know-OFFENSIVE. Let’s all clutch at pearls.)

  121. 121.

    Church Lady

    February 2, 2010 at 1:05 pm

    @Bryan: You must be new around these parts. Yes, they are fucking assholes… and they revel in it.

  122. 122.

    Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion

    February 2, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    @scav: Christian num-chucks. I shit you not.

  123. 123.

    gnomedad

    February 2, 2010 at 1:33 pm

    for having allegedly called participants in a strategy session “f—-ing retarded.”

    Oh, my ears! He’s talking like … a junior high school girl!

  124. 124.

    lethargytartare

    February 2, 2010 at 1:40 pm

    @Erik Vanderhoff:

    “I work in diagnostics for developmental disabilities and we haven’t used those terms for decades, so they’re not even covered in our texts and manuals.”

    now take 5 minutes to consider why that is the case, and you will, perhaps, gain some insight into the FAIL of your initial statement…

  125. 125.

    aimai

    February 2, 2010 at 1:45 pm

    This Is something I noticed too, and something that really enraged me. Its also why I knew that she would never move off the grifter track and remake herself as an advocate for children and their families although one of her original “talking points” was that “special needs children” would “have an advocate in the White House” if she got to be vice president in charge of sparkle ponies. Because all the things that “special needs children” and their families need revolve around organizations and issues that are too big for individuals to handle, financially, on their own. And the word that we usually use for the thing that helps large numbers of people work together towards a common goals is…uh…government. And that was off the table since she thought government and spending were part of the problem, not part of the solution.

    Every time she dragged out her special needs baby as a prop I started to become enraged. People need help. They need a ton of help with children and with disabled or aging seniors. They need medical help and lots of other things. But Miss-live-off-the-fat-of-the-PAC Palin was going to propose nothing in the way of initiatives or funding for those needs.

    aimai

  126. 126.

    Comrade Darkness

    February 2, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    This from the woman who named her child Tri-G. His name IS “Retarded” in the clinical sense of the word.

  127. 127.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    February 2, 2010 at 1:55 pm

    [email protected] 119 Yes. I dream of a world where I can say what I mean.

  128. 128.

    maus

    February 2, 2010 at 2:33 pm

    @Pasquinade: Hey, everybody in liberal Seattle loves Hoary Marmots too, they’re not just for conservatwats >:|

  129. 129.

    TheHatOnMyCat

    February 2, 2010 at 2:38 pm

    @gopher2b:

    Would it have been okay if he said “come on guys, this is so fucking mentally disabled.” That sounds offensive to me.

    He should have said, Come on guys, this is so darned socialistic.

  130. 130.

    DonBelacquaDelPurgatorio

    February 2, 2010 at 2:49 pm

    repost due to a cookie malfunction on my computer:

    @gopher2b:

    Would it have been okay if he said “come on guys, this is so fucking mentally disabled.” That sounds offensive to me.

    He should have said, Come on guys, this is so darned socialistic.

  131. 131.

    DonBelacquaDelPurgatorio

    February 2, 2010 at 2:51 pm

    a browser malfunction at my end makes me repost this:

    @gopher2b:

    Would it have been okay if he said “come on guys, this is so fucking mentally disabled.” That sounds offensive to me.

    He should have said, Come on guys, this is so darned sociaIistic.

  132. 132.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    February 2, 2010 at 3:19 pm

    Can someone artistically inclined make a “Sarah Palin as the Joker” picture with “Why so retarded?” underneath instead of “Why so serious?”

  133. 133.

    The Populist

    February 2, 2010 at 3:22 pm

    Keep milking your downs baby Sarah. When will the villagers see this woman for the fraud that she is?

  134. 134.

    jacy

    February 2, 2010 at 3:29 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:

    I would seriously wear that.

    And aren’t Republicans always whining about people using “politically correct” language? Don’t they defend the right of red-blooded ‘mericans to say anything that pops into their addled brains and if you take offense at it, that’s your problem?

    Fuck ’em. They are retarded.

    *coming from someone who stopped saying “retarded” in junior high school because I thought it was insensitive, but will defend the right for anyone else to say it whenever they see fit. As a writer, I particularly hate word police. I’m only responsible for what comes out of my mouth and nobody else’s.

  135. 135.

    Gravenstone

    February 2, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    @Third Eye Open:

    I have been consciously trying to use the term retarded less, I am thinking of replacing it in my vocabulary with troglodyte, or perhaps fuck-stick. But old habits die hard.

    My current preferred pejorative is fuck-knuckle. I’m not sure where it came from, but it flows so nicely.

  136. 136.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    February 2, 2010 at 3:46 pm

    @jacy:

    Those goofy bastards are about the best thing I’ve got going. We got this one kid, Mongo… He’s got a forehead like a drive-in movie theatre, but he’s a good ship. So we don’t bust his chops too much.

  137. 137.

    Erik Vanderhoff

    February 2, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    @lethargytartare

    Dude, I got it when I googled the etiology of the word. That’s why I updated my comment. Don’t be a pedant.

    Now, we could have an extended discussion of how using “retarded” is worse, since in the current context no one has to look up the etiology to know what group one is referencing, whereas “moron’s” etiology is more obscure. Your comment is akin to a Greenpeace member getting all bent out of shape if I called someone a dork because I am insensitive to the plight of whales and their penises.

    I could walk around my entire agency, and I would bet you a handful out of the 300 people who work here would have been able to tell you where “moron” comes from.

  138. 138.

    Darkrose

    February 2, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    @Citizen_X:

    Inorite? Rahm’s a Chicagoan, but I can’t help but hear that in a full on Reveah tone.

  139. 139.

    batgirl

    February 2, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    Ah, I just posted this in the wrong thread.

    Headline on yahoo.com:

    Fallout from Obama chief of staff’s insult

    Will this be the lead story tonight on the talking heads?

  140. 140.

    scarshapedstar

    February 2, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    I just gotta smile every time I see “Sarah Palin” and “intellectually disabled” in the same sentence.

  141. 141.

    Bob Mahnken

    February 2, 2010 at 7:09 pm

    I have a lot of sympathy for little Trig’s developmental disabilities, especially since his mother is such a fucking retard.

  142. 142.

    moja31

    February 2, 2010 at 7:14 pm

    sounds to me like someone wants to move along swiftly from all the chatter about the latest sarahPAC scam…

  143. 143.

    Lex

    February 3, 2010 at 11:02 pm

    Then there’s the whole deal about Limbaugh calling a bunch of people retards on his show. Is she gonna ask him to resign, too?

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