Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, door #2)

Democracy cannot function without a free press.

Humiliatingly small and eclipsed by the derision of millions.

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

Shut up, hissy kitty!

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

We will not go back.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

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

The real work of an opposition party is to hold the people in power accountable.

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

Mediocre white men think RFK Jr’s pathetic midlife crisis is inspirational. The bar is set so low for them, it’s subterranean.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

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Firebagger/Obot ethnic tension was threatening to escalate into a regional conflict in the last thread so I thought it might be time for a new one.

A few topics….

First off, James Joyner kindly responded to John’s fine post. He poses the question

Has the noise machine gotten so prolific that it drowns out any good legislation?

I hate to do the SATSQ routine, but the answer is obviously “yes”.

Secondly, I highly recommend Mark Schmitt’s piece on Harold Ford:

The independence movement melds populism of both the left and right varieties (see Lou Dobbs, author of the 2007 book Independents Day), centrism, and technocratic anti-politics into one messy soup. Concern about long-term budget deficits and slipping U.S. economic superiority, plus tax cuts, are usually mainstays of the movement’s vague platforms. The mere idea of being somehow different from whatever is on offer in current politics seems to be “unity” enough. Independents share not a vision of where to take the country but an analysis of its politics.

Second, most of the people involved in these efforts aren’t independent at all but deeply embedded in the political system as candidates or consultants. (McCain and Lieberman are lifelong politicians; among Ford’s several titles is chair of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council.) They never suffer for lack of funds. And the most gullible audience for their efforts consists of the most practiced purveyors of conventional wisdom, like Washington Post columnist David Broder, who swooned over Unity08. Often it seems like the independents’ primary complaint about the state of American politics is simply that they’re not the ones running it.

But the independents never have to face up to these contradictions because of the third fact about these efforts — they almost never amount to anything. Bloomberg, who’s spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars of his fortune on his three campaigns, is the exception, but even after almost a decade, he hasn’t been able to extend his technocratic project beyond the city or into the future. Because the independence projects fade so fast, the idea never quite goes away. It’s always available as an imaginary alternative to the actual political choices before us.

Finally, I’m a bit surprised that Jon Mecham let this Jonathan Kay piece on teabaggers into Newsweek. I can only imagine what lunatic will be allowed to write a rebuttal in next week’s issue.

Reader Interactions

143Comments

  3. 3.

    CT Voter

    re: Jonathan Kay. Newsweek is going to have to spill a lot of ink explaining why they let some Canadian CANADIAN write a piece about America’s finest grassrooters.

    Newsweek: just part of that international socialistic network that is gunning for the U.S.A.

    Mecham probably kicks kittens in his spare time.

  4. 4.

    BTD

    You mean Rahmbots don’t you?

    I mean Cole is the leader of a whole new movement – Rahmbotism. It’s not fair to not credit him for it.

  6. 6.

    Midnight Marauder

    @BTD:

    You mean Rahmbots don’t you?
    __
    I mean Cole is the leader of a whole new movement – Rahmbotism. It’s not fair to not credit him for it.

    Just…stop.

  7. 7.

    JK

    OT

    Doug, it’s very disappointing to read that you’re “not as upset as others” by David Broder column on Sarah Palin. When the Dean of the Washington Press Corps lavishes praise on a knuckledragging neanderthal, we have a major fucking problem on our hands.

  9. 9.

    John Quixote

    Often it seems like the independents’ primary complaint about the state of American politics is simply that they’re not the ones running it.

    If Bloomberg was actually serious about being a actual independent, he could drop a small amount of his huge pile of money and start his own 3rd party, much like what Perot did. But then he probably would not be able to get Rude Rudy to campaign for him, with Rudy’s uncanny ability to scare the crap out of older, Jewish voters.

    BTW – the last thread was awsomely metal and brutal.

  10. 10.

    licensed to kill time

    I got a new thread, one that won’t make sick
    One that won’t make me crash my car
    Or make me feel three feet thick

  12. 12.

    Ash Can

    I can only imagine what lunatic will be allowed to write a rebuttal in next week’s issue.

    Is it too much to hope that said lunatic is so thoroughly and obviously in need of a tranquilizer dart and forcible restraint that at least some of the people reading the rebuttal start to think that the Teabaggers might not be all that legitimate after all?

  13. 13.

    gwangung

    Firebagger/Obot ethnic tension was threatening to escalate into a regional conflict in the last thread

    If I thought Firebaggers as a whole were factually challenged and as rectal-cranially afflicted as particular individuals, I’d say it would be ethnic/group tensions. However, my problems are more individualistic; the moment they show they know what they’re talking about, my problems go way down (doesn’t mean I’ll agree, but it shows we’re in the same reality).

  15. 15.

    MattF

    It’s an interesting point about how the Village loves the idea of mixing ‘centrism’, technocrats, and populism. The only thing missing is ‘voters’. Funny, that.

  17. 17.

    jacy

    Any bets on how long it takes this thread to devolve into a retarded* slap fight?

    *retarded only used a rhetorical device to piss Sarah Palin off.

  18. 18.

    Mark S.

    Someone mentioned this in the comments last night but I didn’t realize the crazy woman screaming at Ron Reagan, Jr, that he didn’t know his own father was none other than batshit insane Atlas Pam. How does a lunatic like that get on TV? What’s next, Confederate Yankee on Meet the Press? Dan Riehl on the McLaughlin Group?

  19. 19.

    Phoenix Woman

    @Oscar Leroy:

    His candidacy makes no sense. What, Kirsten Gillibrand isn’t right-wing enough for Bloomie? (Though to her credit, she has been moving to represent the whole of NYS and not just her old CD, which arguably was among the most conservative in the state.) It’s not exactly as if Ford has a stellar electoral record in his home state.

  20. 20.

    Kryptik

    Village Centrism seems to follow the same pattern as Village Bipartisanship and Village Compromise.

    Village Centrism – Democrats should always strive to be more like Republicans, no matter who is being more partisan.

    Republicans going out on the fringe and about to send teabagger after teabagger to Congress? Obviously Democrats need to ditch their DFHs and court the teabagger vote.

  21. 21.

    Michael

    And the most gullible audience for their efforts consists of the most practiced purveyors of conventional wisdom, like Washington Post columnist David Broder, who swooned over Unity08.

    It occurs to me that some of the older villagers are afflicted with the notion of their youth that consensus and compromise form a center.

    The past 30 years have seen that center lurch further and further, with evil clowns simply refusing to participate in the consensus and compromise.

    The problem for Broder and the older villagers is that they have missed looking down the road where the evil clowns are driving us.

  22. 22.

    Violet

    @MattF:

    It’s an interesting point about how the Village loves the idea of mixing ‘centrism’, technocrats, and populism. The only thing missing is ‘voters’. Funny, that.

    The Village likes anything that gets them attention and makes them look important. Someone should create a “Princess for a day!” game for the Villagers. They could all vie to be the Princess, complete with plaudits from their peers, and leave the actual work of the nation alone.

  24. 24.

    Ash Can

    When the Dean of the Washington Press Corps lavishes praise on a knuckledragging neanderthal, we have a major fucking problem on our hands business as usual, since everyone knows this so-called “dean” should have retired back when Pet Rocks were still in vogue.

  25. 25.

    Bubblegum Tate

    As I said in the other thread, the comments at Newsweek read like the CliffsNotes for Behold a Pale Horse. Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Trilateral Commission, One World Government, the responsibility of patriots to revolt agianst their government because mumblemumblemumble New World Order!

    The only thing missing is the tale of how JFK was killed by his limo driver because he (JFK) was going to spill the secrets of how we’d been collaborating with space aliens for years.

  28. 28.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    I have an older brother who claims to be an Independent, despite only voting for Republican candidates all his life. He seems to believe that just by stating that he is an Independent makes him the most reasonable, fair-minded person in the world.

    Now the best way to describe my brother is that he is what you would get if you put Tom Tancredo, James Inhofe, John McCain and a horsefly in a teleporter and accidentally combined their DNA in the matter transfer.

  29. 29.

    Phoenix Woman

    @Phoenix Woman:

    Remember, this is the woman who scored not one, but two video interviews with Bush’s UN ambassador John Bolton, and I don’t think he looked her in the face during either interview — not because he was ashamed, but because he was, erm, distracted.

  31. 31.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @JK: Most of what Broder writes these days is from an old mean spirited curmudgeon designed specifically to piss of people that have been giving him shit for years now. Namely, spunky young libtards. And nothing under the sun would do that faster than a puff piece on the Wassilla Wingnut that the left loves to hate.

    He doesn’t have a point, other than to use the one on his quill pen to poke whippersnappers with. I ignore him, he reminds me of my dead grandpappy who in his later years became hard of hearing when we complained about him spitting his tobacco juice on the living room floor. Broder just has a bigger living room floor is all.

  32. 32.

    John Quixote

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:

    Now the best way to describe my brother is that he is what you would get if you put Tom Tancredo, James Inhofe, John McCain and a horsefly in a teleporter and accidentally combined their DNA in the matter transfer.

    Your brother is Dale Gribble?

    “I’m gonna take your blood and replace it with my rabies infested blood and gain your knowledge of propane and propane acccessories and take over the world!!”

  34. 34.

    DougJ

    @Phoenix Woman:

    Remember, this is the woman who scored not one, but two video interviews with Bush’s UN ambassador John Bolton, and I don’t think he looked her in the face during either interview—not because he was ashamed, but because he was, erm, distracted.

    Or scared.

  35. 35.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Jonathan Kay describes Teabaggers in Newsweek:

    “…radicalized conservatives will behave like unhinged paranoiacs when they collect in the same room.”

    This sounds very similar to J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford calling me names for performing food-stamp Arithmetic.

    “Really getting sick of BoB the Bigot…”

    I would be very happy to write a rebuttal should Newsweek like. As a card-carrying league-bowler who works in a warehouse, I am highly qualified. You would be surprised how many warehouse workers discuss Glenn Beck, without prompting. One lady reads his book during lunch. These are therefore my people.

    Look me up Jon, but I will not take you to lunch.

  38. 38.

    de stijl

    Your brother is Dale Gribble?

    I just realized how Dale Gribblish Glenn Beck is. Glenn Beck is Dale Gribble with a teevee show.

  39. 39.

    Max

    @Oscar Leroy:

    That’s what I think of most “independents”. Research show they lean heavily to one side or the other, but call themselves independent for reasons unknown.

    This reminds me of Joe Scarborough. He calls himself a “conservative with libertarian leanings”. WTF?

  40. 40.

    t jasper parnell

    @DougJ: I don’t hate Klein either, I’ve never met him, but his arguments are flaccid and that whole kerfluffal about nuclear attacks being on the table was just creepy.

  43. 43.

    Michael

    This reminds me of Joe Scarborough. He calls himself a “conservative with libertarian leanings”. WTF?

    Translated: Taking your tax money and giving it to well-dressed, well-educated, well-connected white businessmen to spend at will while cutting out benefits for shiftless n*****s and sp*cs, all while making the right noises come out of his mouth about wanting to reduce the size and cost of government.

    Also.

  44. 44.

    Kryptik

    My good god, the idiocy on display from Pam Gellar is astounding. And yet, it’s depressingly not uncommon.

    Anything to keep the myth of Palin the genius going, I guess.

  45. 45.

    Michael

    Awesome, Pam denies that Palin quit 1/2 way through her term.

    She came down to the lower 48 to lead, donchaknow we needed her.

    Also.

  46. 46.

    Comrade Kevin

    @cleek:

    How dare Ron Reagan assume that he knows his own father when Pam Geller has spent countless nights cuddled up in bed with her Ronnie statuette fantasizing about jelly beans and nuclear war. Let’s just say that in her mind, Gellar has “known” Ronald Reagan in the biblical sense, and one has to admit that’s something Ron Jr is very unlikely to have experienced.

    EEEWWWWW.

  47. 47.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    @Brick Oven Bill:

    This sounds very similar to J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford calling me names for performing food-stamp Arithmetic.

    Wrong. I didn’t call you names. I called you what you are and what you continually prove yourself to be, a bigot.

    Now where’s that information I asked for?

  49. 49.

    asiangrrlMN

    @cleek: Holy shit. Just…holy shit. “You’ve never met your father, either”? Really. This, my friends, is what rewarding stupidity looks like in its distilled essence. Holy the fuck shit. As for Ronald Reagan Jr., I like him. I think his daddy would be proud of him–if Ronald Reagan Sr. remembered who he was.

  50. 50.

    bemused

    @Mark S.:
    I think that is the 3rd time I’ve seen some rightie on tv have the nerve to tell Ron Jr, who isn’t often on the cable shows, how his father would have felt about an issue. I feel for Ron. He must be thoroughly fed up with that crap.

  51. 51.

    mr. whipple

    I have an older brother who claims to be an Independent, despite only voting for Republican candidates all his life. He seems to believe that just by stating that he is an Independent makes him the most reasonable, fair-minded person in the world.

    This. I think >2/3 of ‘independants vote almost exclusevly for one party or the other. They like to say they are independant because then they don’t have to defend the excesses of either party. The remainder are just regular morons that vote for the person they’d like to have a beer with.

  53. 53.

    Michael

    My good god, the idiocy on display from Pam Gellar is astounding.

    Her performance brought to mind a joke from the Jewish guy here at work –

    Q: “Why are Jewish divorces so expensive?
    A: “They’re worth it”.

    My God, could you imagine having to listen to that mouth on a daily basis? I’d have to off myself.

  58. 58.

    Bruce (formerly Steve S.)

    Has the noise machine gotten so prolific that it drowns out any good legislation?
    I hate to do the SATSQ routine, but the answer is obviously “yes”.

    But Doug, this is the place where the Obots point out Lilly Ledbetter, the Stimulus, credit card reform, and a health care package that came closer than any other in history to passing. For what other reason does the Balloon Juice comment section exist than to remind us of these things?

  59. 59.

    JK

    @DougJ:

    Joe Klein and David Broder have both written columns on Sarah Palin that are epic fails.

    When I hear Sarah Palin speak, I’m reminded of the story of the emperor with no clothes. Palin is the emptiest of empty skirts. It’s time for someone in the chattering class to stop with the starbursts crappola when evaluating Palin and reveal her for the monumental fraud she is. Palin talks like Clint Eastwood, but acts like George Costanza. For someone who didn’t have the guts to finish her term in office because of a few ethics investigations, who the fuck is Palin to lecture Obama on how to fight Al Qaeda.

  66. 66.

    asiangrrlMN

    @arguingwithsignposts: Missed this. I can think of several, but I think the rusty hoe would be the best.

    @JK: Hi! Good to see ya. You would think one of the chattering class would break with the ranks and say exactly this. However, I don’t think any of them have the balls or ovaries to do so. It’s part of the problem for which I don’t see an easy solution.

  67. 67.

    Ash Can

    OT (the ones at hand, anyway), but I have to say that John must have threatened the hamsters with Tunch, because the site’s working even better than before this latest crash. I’m on my dinosaur Win98 system right now, and I no longer have to hit the refresh button to see the page right after I post a comment (yes, I did before, and yes, this computer and its OS are for shit).

  73. 73.

    bemused

    I can’t imagine why anyone who is not a stale, pale male 65 or older would want to read Broder.

  74. 74.

    beltane

    @Michael: Ah yes, another exclamation point diary. But why do you doubt that Burnor, not being a member of Congress, is in the absolute best position to pass a health care bill containing a public option? Only a corporate sellout would underestimate the legislative abilities of unelected legislators.

  75. 75.

    Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion

    @arguingwithsignposts: Yeah, me too, kinda. Which is interesting, ’cause I’m old enough that I was politically active when his asshole know-nothing bigoted fuck of a father was in office.

  78. 78.

    Ash Can

    Oh, sure. As soon as I comment on how well the site is working, it takes another crap. I guess Tunch ate the hamsters anyway.

  81. 81.

    Bruce (formerly Steve S.)

    “I’m guessing it exists for the exercise of exquisitely ironical comments that prove one’s interlocutors are doltishly missing the point.”

    5.1, you fell while attempting a Triple Salkow. Better luck next time.

  82. 82.

    CalD

    I really think the DLC is the ACORN of the left. The Illuminati-like omnipotence widely attributed to them really seems to bear very little resemblance to real life. I don’t think they even publish their magazine anymore, do they? Balloon Juice probably has more juice than they do these days.

  83. 83.

    licensed to kill time

    Wow, JC said the site might be up and down.
    Been down so long seems like up to me. Argh.

    (ETA – ok, all of a sudden snappyness returns..)

  84. 84.

    geg6

    OT again, but breaking news on ABC.com (but no details, just a headline):

    Former president Bill Clinton hospitalized in NYC.

  86. 86.

    Mark S.

    Gah! After having no problems with this site this week, all the sudden it takes me eleventy tries to get a page to load. I’m going to write John 10 emails complaining about this because I know he loves the feedback.

    edit: Also, I think he should check Phish out.

  87. 87.

    Michael

    @ Beltane

    Ah yes, another exclamation point diary. But why do you doubt that Burner, not being a member of Congress, is in the absolute best position to pass a health care bill containing a public option? Only a corporate sellout would underestimate the legislative abilities of unelected legislators.

    How dare you impugn the VITAL work that Eve and slinkertwit have done by writing about healthcare for the internet choir. 47 jillion hide rates for you, you corporate sellout tool of Democrats.

    When Co-Presidents Hamsher and Nader sign the decree granting us all free healthcare forever and ponies, you’ll be sorry you ever doubted the wisdom of the approach of electing President Palin.

  88. 88.

    demo woman

    For those that did not read the NewsWeek article, I’ll leave you with this paragraph.

    That doesn’t say much for the state of the right in America. The tea partiers’ tricornered hat is supposed to be a symbol of patriotism and constitutional first principles. But when you take a closer look, all you find is a helmet made of tin foil.

  89. 89.

    Tonal Crow

    @Kryptik:

    Republicans going out on the fringe and about to send teabagger after teabagger to Congress? Obviously Democrats need to ditch their DFHs and court the teabagger vote.

    Yeah. Because, you know, that might peel off a few “moderate” Republicans to help Obama pass…um…a few kidney stones?

  91. 91.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @t jasper parnell: Triple Saklow is a flying spin maneuver in figure skating, similar to a Triple Axel jump. Why it has anything to do with commenting on BJ, you are on your own, cause I don’t have a clue.

    Which reminds me the Winter Olympics is starting very soon, and I can’t wait. Love it.

  92. 92.

    Ailuridae

    @mr. whipple:
    ucpress.edu/books/pages/4996.php

    Myth of the Independent voter. I haven’t read it in a while but basically there are 10-12% of the population at play in any election. Most independents identify strongly with either party and vote for that party at the same rate (almost always low 90%) as registered partisans.

    Here is a pretty good distillation of the first link by the always excellent Alan I. Abramowitz from Larry Sabato’s site.

    centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/aia2009082001/

    The ever swinging independent voter is possibly the single dumbest piece of beltway CW around. I wish someone, anyone, on one of the cable shows would just stick the numbers back in an interviewers face.

  93. 93.

    Arclite

    Has the noise machine gotten so prolific that it drowns out any good legislation?

    In defense of James Joyner, I think it was a rhetorical question…

    But at least he could come to the same realization that John did. That’s progress.

  98. 98.

    Kryptik

    @Arclite:

    Judging from the preceding line and the original emphasis, I think he was earnestly asking the question. Whole paragraph, with original emphasis added:

    But, again, I’m not as certain of this as I once was. Is John right: Has the noise machine gotten so prolific that it drowns out any good legislation?

    Seems like a genuine question, which only serves to show how disconnected Ol’ JJ is. Like John pointed out… SATSQs…

  100. 100.

    PurpleGirl

    Sort of OT: The Democrats unveiled their Jobs bill this afternoon: Smaller than needed, TAX CUTS, bond money for road construction, etc. But small. Argh. (From the NY Times)

    The top Democrat and Republican on the Senate tax-writing committee today unveiled the main elements of a new jobs and economic recovery measure, hoping to put some rare bipartisan momentum behind major legislation.

    Senators Max Baucus, Democrat of Montana and chairman of the Finance Committee, and Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the panel’s senior Republican, released a draft $85 billion plan that would give employers a payroll tax exemption for hiring those who have been unemployed for at least 60 days. The bill would also provide a $1,000 income tax credit for new workers retained for 52 weeks.

  102. 102.

    Bubblegum Tate

    As for Atlas Pammy, aka Tits on a Blintz…yeah, uh, she cray-cray. I particularly liked how she kept comparing Ron Jr. to “the father” rather than “his father.” Looks like she finally erased whatever blurry lines there were between Reagan and god in her mind.

  104. 104.

    Violet

    @General Winfield Stuck:
    I love the Winter Olympics! They’re my favorite. I’ll be watching nonstop from Friday. Care to discuss the finer points of curling? /total Olympics geek

    @geg6:

    OT, but very excellent news and perhaps a signal that the Preznit and Senator “No Cojones” Reid may just have had enough of Senator Baucus:

    I saw this! Very exciting news. Well, I hope it as anyway.

    And also OT, I hope Bill Clinton is doing okay.

  107. 107.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @PurpleGirl: I love all the events, except the one with the big shuffleboard puck on ice with people sweeping the ice out it’s path as it slides to wherever. Sorry Canuck’s, don’t see the point with that one.

  109. 109.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Violet: LOL should have read you post first. Curling, that’s what it’s called. I didn’t know there were finer points, but am always willing to learn:)

  110. 110.

    Violet

    @General Winfield Stuck:
    No, no, no! Curling is seriously fun! Didn’t know anything about it until I got caught up watching it last Olympics. Way fun. I’ll be returning to being seriously lame and watching curling on Saturday afternoons this Olympics. LOL.

  111. 111.

    Mnemosyne

    @PurpleGirl:

    Don’t despair. Reid has knocked that bill down. And it looks like, in this case, smaller is better since Baucus was adding an awful lot of padding:

    Baucus had stuffed the bill with many provisions that Democratic senators thought went beyond the goal of creating jobs, such as $31 billion in extensions to expiring tax provisions, including the research and development tax credit. That and other tax cuts were included to win GOP votes.

    Of course, I now fully expect to hear the Jane Hamshers of the Left refer to the new jobs bill that Reid is preparing as “the Baucus bill” from now until eternity.

  112. 112.

    t jasper parnell

    @General Winfield Stuck: It’s point is its very pointlessness. Curling, the name doesn’t make anything like sense, is the greatest sport because it is 1) pointless, 2) you can drink beer while you play and 3) like watching paint dry.

  114. 114.

    Max

    @Violet: I love love the Olympics and have no plans this weekend because I want to watch.

    I even printed out the tv networks schedule so I can plot my viewing plan.

    /dork

    P.S – Being in California, I appreciate that games are being played in my time zone

  115. 115.

    catclub

    Amazed I saw this from Michael Scherer at Swampland:

    Euphemism of the Day: “Morale Welfare Recreation”
    means Filipina prostitutes imported to Afghanistan, by Blackwater/Xe, and paid for by Uncle Sam.

    And he saw it in WAPO.

  117. 117.

    Mnemosyne

    Also, why does Baucus always remind me of the kid on the playground who tries flattering the bullies who take his lunch money every day in the mistaken belief that, one of these days, they’ll be his friends?

  118. 118.

    mr. whipple

    Sorry Canuck’s, don’t see the point with that one.

    Think of it like ice fishing; sitting in a shed on a sheet of ice, getting drunk. This is sort of an athletic form of same.

  119. 119.

    Violet

    @General Winfield Stuck:
    I really didn’t know anything about it, but got hooked after the US Men’s team did so well last Olympics. There’s a lot more to it than it looks, and I’ll admit it looks completely ridiculous. We whiled away several pleasant hours screaming at curling on the TV. Seriously, I’m a total Winter Olympics geek. LOL.

  120. 120.

    Bruce (formerly Steve S.)

    For you to complain that you don’t have your pony

    4.9, which includes a full point deduction for egregious overuse of a hamfisted metaphor.

  121. 121.

    PurpleGirl

    I like the Winter Games more than the Summer ones. I’m not completely sure why that is. I don’t understand curling either, but it reminds me of various Scottish Highland games so I watch it. To each his own.

  122. 122.

    Mark S.

    Bobo on his new mancrush Paul Ryan:

    It is also a vision for a voucher state. Government would have very few decision-making powers. Instead it would essentially redistribute money so that individuals could better secure their own welfare provision. Medicare and Social Security would essentially be turned into cash programs. The elderly would receive $11,000 a year to purchase insurance.

    Wow, $11,000 is about what it costs to insure a perfectly healthy family; I’m sure seniors are going to love this proposal.

    link

  123. 123.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Violet: @t jasper parnell:

    Maybe Cole will put up a Curling thread Saturday and you all can educate me on what it’s about. :-)

    Being winter and all, it is impossible to get in any decent watching the grass grow time .

  124. 124.

    Violet

    @PurpleGirl:

    I like the Winter Games more than the Summer ones. I’m not completely sure why that is. I don’t understand curling either, but it reminds me of various Scottish Highland games so I watch it. To each his own.

    Curling is Scottish in origin. So there you go!

    @General Winfield Stuck:
    I’ll be happy to educate you on curling, whenever it starts. Keep in mind that I barely know anything about it. But when did that ever stop an Olympics fan? LOL. Which reminds me I should check the Olympic TV schedule….

  126. 126.

    Annie

    @PurpleGirl:

    I agree. I just love watching the skiing. And, after surviving our 30+ inches of snow in DC this week, and finally finding my car today buried under a white mountain, I think I am in the right mood to watch. Fortunately, the wine did not run out, so I am ready and able.

  127. 127.

    demo woman

    @Mark S.: It’s worse than it looks because affordable programs might not cover all illnesses. Ezra Klein gave the example that some programs might not cover Parkinsons. Then what happens? The fee is capped so those under 50 can look at paying most of the fees.

  128. 128.

    Tonal Crow

    Has the noise machine gotten so prolific that it drowns out any good legislation?

    And can you guess one big reason for that? Clue: it’s not the moranic firebaggers.

  132. 132.

    darryl

    Finally, I’m a bit surprised that Jon Mecham let this Jonathan Kay piece on teabaggers into Newsweek.

    With the link on the words ‘Finally I’m a bit surprised’? It always puzzled me that people often put the link to the article on irrelevant words and not, say, the words ‘this Jonathan Kay piece’.

    nothing personal, just something I’ve always found curious.

  134. 134.

    darryl

    Someone mentioned this in the comments last night but I didn’t realize the crazy woman screaming at Ron Reagan, Jr, that he didn’t know his own father was none other than batshit insane Atlas Pam. How does a lunatic like that get on TV? What’s next, Confederate Yankee on Meet the Press? Dan Riehl on the McLaughlin Group?

    Maybe you haven’t seen The McLaughlin Group lately. Dan Rielh would fit right in there. It’s another unwatchable political yell-fest.

  135. 135.

    inkadu

    Someone asked for a checklist summarizing John’s recent magnum opus. Here it is (with some of my amendments and modifications).

    How a Bill becomes Charlie Brown’s Football: A Balloon Juice Guide to the Legislative Process

    – Start with something both parties and the public agree on.

    – Proposed House bill contains all reasonable conservative compromises before negotiations begin.

    – House bill passes after more compromise.

    – Republican Senators, who recently voiced support for the exact provisions or the general goals of the bill, decide they no longer support the bill for reasons that make no sense.

    – Senate bill stalls as key Democrats (Baucus, Contrad) attempt to win Republican support (Collins, Snowe).

    – Media asks, “Why haven’t Democrats reached out to Republicans?”and call for bipartisanship.

    – Republicans/MSM accuse Democrats of using the bill for political payoff or other corruption (Breitbart).

    – Republicans/MSM characterize Democratic plan as so—ism and threaten the end of the American Way of Life. They also associate the plans with history’s villains.

    – Republicans/MSM mischaracterize an innocuous part of the plan as pure evil.

    – Republicans/MSM demonize beneficiaries of the bill as lazy and/or black.

    – Libertarian press complain about expansion of federal government, executive overreach, “big government programs”, the deficit, and threats to liberty. The bill will make things worse instead of better (Nick Gillespie, Matt Welch, Pete Suderman, Megan McArdle). Possible admissions that similar plans work in Europe, but are not applicable to the U S of A.

    – Specific beneficiaries are singled out for public attack, ridicule, and inevitable threats. (Michle Malkin)

    – Juvenille dirty tricks get national attention (James O’Keefe).

    – Extreme paranoia is unleashed, ie comparisons to Nazis, fears of prison camps for bill’s opponents (Scheuneman, Meg Stapleton, Sarah Palin, Weekly Standard (Matt Continetti), Michael Goldfard, CNN’s Stephen Hayes, Bill Kristol, several Washington Post editorials.

    – Public protests, coordinated by Fox news, will be major news headlines regardless of turn out (Tea Party).

    – “Centrist Democrats,” sensing weakness, threaten to withdraw their votes unless their states receive more government largess. They simultaneously complain the bill is too expensive. (Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu).

    – Hippie-punching Democratic senators express doubts about the bill (Joe Lieberman, Marhsall Whitman).

    – Fiscal conservatives appear on Sunday talk shows and bemoan the increasing deficit while continuing to support off-budget funding for war (Evan Bayh, John McCain). Several glaring errors of fact go uncorrected.

    – The Democratic circular firing squad begins. DLC-style members of Obama’s administration come under heavy fire (Rahm Emmanuel). Obama is blamed for not using the bully pulpit, despite several prime-time speeches and press conferences.

    – Calmer sections of Left Blogistan (Balloon Juice) attack the emotional sections (Firedog Lake) for undermining Democrats in public. The GOP and its media wurlitzer are left unscathed.

    – Republican senators (Snowe, Collins) who got what they wanted in earlier negotiations announce they can longer in good faith support the bill.

    – The bill, watered down to the point of total inadequacy, quietly dies.

    – Media announces that this is good news for Republicans, begins predicting Democratic massacre in next election.

    – If the bill passes, the loudest opponents of the bill will be the first in line for the dole.

  136. 136.

    inkadu

    Someone asked for a checklist summarizing John’s recent magnum opus. Here it is (with some of my amendments and modifications). (Follow along with the most recent jobs bill).

    How a Bill becomes Charlie Brown’s Football: A Balloon Juice Guide to the Legislative Process

    – Start with something both parties and the public agree on.

    – Proposed House bill contains all reasonable conservative compromises before negotiations begin.

    – House bill passes after more compromise.

    – Republican Senators, who recently voiced support for the exact provisions or the general goals of the bill, decide they no longer support the bill for reasons that make no sense.

    – Senate bill stalls as key Democrats (Baucus, Contrad) attempt to win Republican support (Collins, Snowe).

    – Media asks, “Why haven’t Democrats reached out to Republicans?”and call for bipartisanship.

    – Republicans/MSM accuse Democrats of using the bill for political payoff or other corruption (Breitbart).

    – Republicans/MSM characterize Democratic plan as so—ism and threaten the end of the American Way of Life. They also associate the plans with history’s villains.

    – Republicans/MSM mischaracterize an innocuous part of the plan as pure evil.

    – Republicans/MSM demonize beneficiaries of the bill as lazy and/or black.

    – Libertarian press complain about expansion of federal government, executive overreach, “big government programs”, the deficit, and threats to liberty. The bill will make things worse instead of better (Nick Gillespie, Matt Welch, Pete Suderman, Megan McArdle). Possible admissions that similar plans work in Europe, but are not applicable to the U S of A.

    – Specific beneficiaries are singled out for public attack, ridicule, and inevitable threats. (Michle Malkin)

    – Juvenille dirty tricks get national attention (James O’Keefe).

    – Extreme paranoia is unleashed, ie comparisons to Nazis, fears of prison camps for bill’s opponents (Scheuneman, Meg Stapleton, Sarah Palin, Weekly Standard (Matt Continetti), Michael Goldfard, CNN’s Stephen Hayes, Bill Kristol, several Washington Post editorials.

    – Public protests, coordinated by Fox news, will be major news headlines regardless of turn out (Tea Party).

    – “Centrist Democrats,” sensing weakness, threaten to withdraw their votes unless their states receive more government largess. They simultaneously complain the bill is too expensive. (Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Mary Landrieu).

    – Hippie-punching Democratic senators express doubts about the bill (Joe Lieberman, Marhsall Whitman).

    – Fiscal conservatives appear on Sunday talk shows and bemoan the increasing deficit while continuing to support off-budget funding for war (Evan Bayh, John McCain). Several glaring errors of fact go uncorrected.

    – The Democratic circular firing squad begins. DLC-style members of Obama’s administration come under heavy fire (Rahm Emmanuel). Obama is blamed for not using the bully pulpit, despite several prime-time speeches and press conferences.

    – Calmer sections of Left Blogistan (Balloon Juice) attack the emotional sections (Firedog Lake) for undermining Democrats in public. The GOP and its media wurlitzer are left unscathed.

    – Republican senators (Snowe, Collins) who got what they wanted in earlier negotiations announce they can longer in good faith support the bill.

    – The bill, watered down to the point of total inadequacy, quietly dies.

    – Media announces that this is good news for Republicans, begins predicting Democratic massacre in next election.

    – If the bill passes, the loudest opponents of the bill will be the first in line for the dole.

  137. 137.

    CalD

    @inkadu:

    Amazing that we can make it through a process with that players and that many steps without a single Liberal/Progressive person doing a single counterproductive thing. What advanced and righteous beings we must truly be.

  138. 138.

    Tonal Crow

    @inkadu:

    Obama is blamed for not using the bully pulpit, despite several prime-time speeches and press conferences.

    I see I haven’t been clear enough. “Several prime-time speeches and press conferences” is (1) meaningless if the President’s rhetoric bites and (2) a necessary but not sufficient part of his job of persuasion.

    That Obama’s rhetoric usually bites should be obvious by now. He’s repeatedly given the GOP openings to move the goalposts right by implicitly compromising away important Democratic and progressive goals. He often begins negotiations by proposing a position that’s centrist or center-right. This not only concedes substantive ground, demoralizes his supporters, and implicitly boosts the GOP’s “we’re a center-right country” message, it also frames the issue as one validly addressed by GOP nostrums.

    Then, as things deteriorate, he repeatedly invokes the shibboleth of “bipartisanship”, usually without calling the GOP on its shenanigans [1]. If the President calls for moar “bipartisanship”, is it any wonder that the “liberal” media take the theme and run with it?

    On necessary but not sufficient, the President sets the rhetorical tone for his party. His choices reverberate through Congress, the party apparatus, state officials, local officials, and to his party’s rank and file. If his rhetoric is calibrated to excite Joe Lieberman, it’s not going to get citizens jamming the Capitol switchboard demanding whatever it is Obama’s selling. It’s not going to excite Barbara Boxer or Al Franken — or even Dick Durbin — and motivate them to push extra hard. Rather, it’ll motivate Joe Lieberman and Ben Nelson to do what they’re so good at doing. And it tells the GOP that he can be rolled.

    In short, Obama’s got to radically improve his rhetoric, or he’s gonna lose, and the GOP’ll take the whole country down with him.

    This is not Obama-bashing or PUMA crap or pony worship or firebagging. This is reality.

    [1] Very recently he’s improved on this point. We need to see more improvement.

  139. 139.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    @bemused:

    I saw that exchange and I had to pick my jaw up off the floor after Atlas Jugs spouted that bullshit. I have seen the same shit happen before, Republicans claiming to know his father better than Ron did, and you can clearly see that it makes Ron furious when they pull that shit. It’s like they think that since Ron Jr. is pretty much the opposite of what they think his father was then that gives them the right to assess him as if they were speaking for his father. If someone pulled that shit on me I would want to knock the shit out of them there on the spot.

    Kudos to Ron Jr. for his civility in the face of incivility. I would like to think that though father and son did not see eye to eye that the Senior Reagan would be proud of his son for standing up for what he believes in.

  140. 140.

    Tax Analyst

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    I have an older brother who claims to be an Independent, despite only voting for Republican candidates all his life. He seems to believe that just by stating that he is an Independent makes him the most reasonable, fair-minded person in the world.

    Now the best way to describe my brother is that he is what you would get if you put Tom Tancredo, James Inhofe, John McCain and a horsefly in a teleporter and accidentally combined their DNA in the matter transfer.

    Are we related, J.A.F.? You’ve just described MY recently deceased older brother.

    Edit: I don’t know how I fucked up my blockquotes, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to try and untangle them now.

  141. 141.

    Tax Analyst

    Myth of the Independent voter. I haven’t read it in a while but basically there are 10-12% of the population at play in any election. Most independents identify strongly with either party and vote for that party at the same rate (almost always low 90%) as registered partisans.

    One big bonus in being an “Independent” is not participating in the Primary Elections and then getting to complain about the lack of decent candidates to choose from in the General Election.

    They should have their Party Designation read “Waaaahhhh!”

  143. 143.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Tax Analyst: Agreed. My brother is kind of an independent, but only because he has lost his Republican faith (after the W. regime fucked up the country), but can’t quite make the leap to the left. (He did vote for Obama in the last election). I’ve been working on him for many many years. I think I can coax him to the dark eventually.

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