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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread

Open Thread

by John Cole|  July 25, 20118:43 pm| 212 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Where the hell did everyone go?

The Ills are over because it is Jill’s birthday, so I will keep this brief. I think this may be my new favorite all-time typo:

I’m rethinking my aversion to camping.

Back to the gin and tonics company.

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Reader Interactions

212Comments

  1. 1.

    jwb

    July 25, 2011 at 8:45 pm

    We’re right here, just where we’ve always been.

  2. 2.

    JGabriel

    July 25, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    So. Just a few days after the conservative terror attack in Norway, I’m getting an ad for this book on the front page — A Simple Guide: How Liberalism, a Euphemism for Socia1ism, Destroys People and Nations by Fred Sauer.

    But of course American conservatives don’t wish violence on the center-left. They would never do or suggest anything like what that conservative terrorist in Norway did.

    They just want everyone to think we’re traitorous people who wish to destroy their way of life. No cause for violence there.

    Aaaarrrggh!

    .

  3. 3.

    El Tiburon

    July 25, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    How do you know it’s a typo?

  4. 4.

    Keith G

    July 25, 2011 at 8:49 pm

    Something about that bothers me, but I cant put my finger on it.

  5. 5.

    lamh34

    July 25, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    Have it on good authority by Howard Fineman on Lawrence O, if POTUS uses speech to “go after Tea Party”, then he makes himself seem more “partisan” (even though the polls show that majority support this approach) but if he does too much “the only adult in the room”, then he alienates the base.

    The stage if fuckin’ set, but bully pulpit and all that!

  6. 6.

    MobiusKlein

    July 25, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Camping – just like your parent’s house, except the racoons break into your pack & steal your food.

    Luckily, they can’t operate gin bottles.

  7. 7.

    Steeplejack

    July 25, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    Everybody drifted off because it was apparently a slow-posting day.

    I got so bored I have been doing a deep cleansing of the man-cave. Just found some notes from a seminar I took five years ago. Whoa.

  8. 8.

    The Dangerman

    July 25, 2011 at 8:51 pm

    In an odd coincidence, I’ve never double fished.

  9. 9.

    Shinobi

    July 25, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    I’m getting set up to watch Barak Obama’s speech while playing some League of Legends. 2x the nerdery.

    (Any other LoL players around these parts? Or HoN? I’m looking for people to play with who wont constantly threaten to rape the other team.)

  10. 10.

    Comrade Mary

    July 25, 2011 at 8:53 pm

    Did you know that fisting doesn’t always involve a fist? Or so Wikipedia tells me.

    (YOU Google it. I ain’t linking, because someone will come back here crying about the pictures they saw. I will say the guy looks oddly irritated and the woman looks oddly serene.)

  11. 11.

    Comrade Mary

    July 25, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    I got so bored I have been doing a deep cleansing of the man-cave.

    Umm, maybe this isn’t the best thread to make that specific observation in exactly those words.

  12. 12.

    Martin

    July 25, 2011 at 8:54 pm

    @Shinobi:

    I’m looking for people to play with who wont constantly threaten to rape the other team.

    So, no House Republicans then?

  13. 13.

    Shinobi

    July 25, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    @Martin

    Or french economists.

  14. 14.

    dmsilev

    July 25, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    Camping – just like your parent’s house, except the racoons break into your pack & steal your food.

    Friend of mine likes to tell the story of when he went camping and the only bit of food that they forgot to lock up was a large box of teabags. They were woken up in the middle of the night by a godawful clamor. A raccoon had come by and started to eat. The first few bags were very neatly slit open and emptied, but as the poor critter got increasingly wired on caffeine, the tears and rends became wilder and wilder, and the last half of the box was just simply ripped to shreds.

    Poor thing was probably riding a caffeine buzz for a week.

  15. 15.

    General Stuck

    July 25, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    Where the hell did everyone go?

    I’ll be here shortly. Had to plunger my toilet. Ain’t life the shits?

  16. 16.

    Svensker

    July 25, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    @ Comrade Mary #11

    Oops. Ha ha ha ha.

  17. 17.

    J. Michael Neal

    July 25, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    I’m probably going to be going into intensive outpatient therapy for the depression. Two to three days a week for three hours. So I went to the coordinator for the program I volunteer for to tell her that I might need to rearrange my schedule. She asked me if I wanted to take some time off, and then made it clear that that wasn’t a question. So there goes one of my few social outlets. It makes me regret that I even brought it up.

    And one of Yutsano’s co-workers can’t read a list of stock transactions if it’s on an attached sheet rather than squeezed into the Schedule D itself and is claiming that I owe the IRS $15,000. That’s not helping my mood any.

  18. 18.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    @14

    If this country could unite against the (as should be obvious by now) vast raccoon conspiracy, liberal mooching, international drug ring, terrorist all around everything bad menace, we could resolve our little family squabbles in these great United States.

  19. 19.

    Davis X. Machina

    July 25, 2011 at 9:01 pm

    @MobiusKlein: They can open the bottles, but racoons are too smart to drink gin, at least not drink it neat. This is why it’s best to secure your vermouth, and olives in the same sort of containers used for food in bear country.

  20. 20.

    soonergrunt

    July 25, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    Obama just started. I wonder what this will be like.

  21. 21.

    licensed to kill time

    July 25, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Watching Obama, hope he kicks ass….

  22. 22.

    trollhattan

    July 25, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    Did the preznit just say, “Our groin debt”? Because somehow that would fit this thread.

  23. 23.

    JPL

    July 25, 2011 at 9:04 pm

    both sides do it…not true..When Pelosi was in charge she made sure spending was paid for.

  24. 24.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    JPL

    Come on, that’s not what he said.

  25. 25.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    @21 What he says is reality based, except for the detail that there is no long run debt crisis right now, and won’t be for over a decade…

    But now it sounds like he is about to mention that House GOP is nuts, sorry, I mean break our precious bipartisan symmetry, and destroy the country, perhaps obliterating the time space continuum and killing all life in the multiverse.

    So, same old ho hum, I guess.

    Doesn’t look like he is ready to go all 14th amendment and conflict of laws, so looks like tomorrow will be another grondhog day in the debt ceiling crisis.

    Now, if they had cast Bill Murray in this version, it would be waaayyy better.

  26. 26.

    suzanne

    July 25, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    He’s doing a good job, methinks.

  27. 27.

    RareSanity

    July 25, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    Reagan quote…nice

  28. 28.

    dmsilev

    July 25, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    Hah. Obama points out that the House maniacs would regard Reagan’s approach as anathema.

  29. 29.

    Irregardless

    July 25, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    I’m 100% sure that it isnt a typo. I’ve been following her for quite a while now and she excels at bringing the funny in all sorts of manners. Typos included.

  30. 30.

    lamh34

    July 25, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    Karen Tumulty on twitter “POTUS seems …ANNOYED”! NO YA THINK KAREN?…Jackass

  31. 31.

    Thoughtcrime

    July 25, 2011 at 9:09 pm

    “A regime, in our case all the cultural Marxist regimes of Western Europe, cannot be defeated without devastating/paralyzing the fundament of the regime. The primary fundament of a regime is its economy. Of course, a shock attack will contribute to weaken a regimes economy but specific and advanced sabotage missions aimed at weakening a regime economically is an essential requirement in order to eventually defeat it. No regime in history has ever been overthrown before it has first been considerably weakened through multiple shock/sabotage attacks. The reason is that the people will not rise and fight for their ideals as long as we live in economical prosperity.”

    The above reflects the views and strategy of:

    A. The Norwegian terrorist
    B. The Republican Party
    C. Both A. and B.

    If you’re having difficulty answering, just change “cultural Marxist regimes of Western Europe”” to “government currently headed by the other party”.

  32. 32.

    Reality Check

    July 25, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    It’s the GOP plan or nothing, Hopey, and your whining won’t change it.

  33. 33.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 25, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    both sides do it…not true..

    Dianne Feinstein, Max Baucus, Mary Landrieu and a whole lot more voted for the Bush tax cuts and the Iraq War.

  34. 34.

    licensed to kill time

    July 25, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    Good, he’s calling out the Republicans.

  35. 35.

    Korea Beat

    July 25, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    If you haven’t yet, do yourself a favor and check out Cracked’s article on Trump. The destruction is epic.

    http://www.cracked.com/blog/10-stories-about-donald-trump-you-wont-believe-are-true/

  36. 36.

    trollhattan

    July 25, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    “Reckless and irresponsible” A-yup.

  37. 37.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    OK, look for firestorm, Obama was mean to House GOP.

    All they want to do is bring down the economy to force a rewrite of the Constitution.

    Who’s inflexible now, Mr. Asymmetric Unbalanced Non Nonpartisan President?

    And now another glancing blow at Boehner.

    Very very mean again to House GOP. Interesting to see the reaction of the corporate media to Obama’s thuggery.

    Note: snark may lurk in this comment.

  38. 38.

    trollhattan

    July 25, 2011 at 9:12 pm

    @Reality Check – July 25, 2011 | 9:10 pm · Link

    It’s the GOP plan or nothing, Hopey, and your whining won’t change it.

    Er, how does the GOP “plan” differ from “nothing”?

  39. 39.

    JPL

    July 25, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    Raven (formerly stuckinred) He said both parties were responsible for the deficit and I don’t agree with that. After the first sentence, I think he is doing great.

    EDIT The President might be right because both parties voted for the unfunded war.

  40. 40.

    Reality Check

    July 25, 2011 at 9:13 pm

    The Speaker already made big compromises, now Obambi needs to accept it or the whole thing goes down.

  41. 41.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    JPL

    He was talking about a much greater time frame than when Nancy was speaker.

  42. 42.

    Judas Escargot

    July 25, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    It’s the GOP plan or nothing, Hopey, and your whining won’t change it.

    Dude: Eat more fiber.

  43. 43.

    licensed to kill time

    July 25, 2011 at 9:15 pm

    Don’t respond to Reality Blows Chunks, it’s a walking talking point.

  44. 44.

    JPL

    July 25, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    Raven (formerly stuckinred,, You calling your rep?

  45. 45.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    He is pissed — controlled, but pissed.

    Y’all better watch out. He is mentally ready to put the plunger to the problem, so to speak (tribute to Stuck). May not be to-day, but he is mentally ready.

    Remember bin-Laden, you Republicans….Showed your sorry asses up, going to get that guy and “taking care of business”. He is going to “do you” again…

  46. 46.

    Martin

    July 25, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    Hmm. This sounds quite reasonable, but my firebagger closed captioning isn’t working. I trust someone will translate for us later?

    I flipped on the teatard closed captioning for a moment, but it kept repeating ‘reparations’ over and over. I can’t tell if that was broken or not.

  47. 47.

    MrCee

    July 25, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    That’s not a typo. She always writes crazy-push the envelope quips

  48. 48.

    Reality Check

    July 25, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    Shorter Barack Obama: I’m fucked and I know it. God, why did I ever run for this office?

  49. 49.

    suzanne

    July 25, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    David Schweikert can count on a phone call from me tomorrow.

  50. 50.

    trollhattan

    July 25, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    @Reality Check – July 25, 2011 | 9:13 pm · Link

    The Speaker already made big compromises, now Obambi needs to accept it or the whole thing goes down.

    In Orange Man’s case I don’t believe letting David Koch be on top constitutes a compromise.

  51. 51.

    lamh34

    July 25, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    I’m calling this speech a “call to action”. POTUS telling people to call their Congressman. Here’s hoping not just crazy tea partiers and repubs calls!

  52. 52.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    JPL

    Now THAT is funny! :)

  53. 53.

    suzanne

    July 25, 2011 at 9:17 pm

    David Gregory needs to get his face off my TV. Dood looks like Iggy Pop.

  54. 54.

    Martin

    July 25, 2011 at 9:18 pm

    now Obambi needs to accept it or the whole thing goes down.

    You know, when you put it that way, it seems quite obvious that you’re hoping for the latter. That’s, well, treasonous.

  55. 55.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 25, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    John Boehner’s idea of compromise is opening a bottle of merlot after he runs out of cabernet. I’m guessing that happens around 9:30

    I can’t ever remember such a direct appeal from a President to contact Congress, at least not in such a formal setting

  56. 56.

    lamh34

    July 25, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    anyone plan on watching “Orange Julius” i sure ain’t!

  57. 57.

    trollhattan

    July 25, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    Orange Man’s using echo. Not fair, he sounds like Darth Vader. Or Dwayne Eddy.

  58. 58.

    JC

    July 25, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    Karen Tumulty on twitter “POTUS seems …ANNOYED

    Actually, he didn’t seem annoyed to me. Friday, now that was a thing of beauty.

    But today? He came off too nice for me, really.

    though I understand this is to the american people, so he doesn’t want to seem angry.

  59. 59.

    bemused

    July 25, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    I just read in the Mpls Tribune that my Rep, Chip Cravaack, keeps two books at his desk: “Sharia: The Threat to America” by panel of rightwing authors including Gen. Wm J Boykin (My God is bigger than Allah) and the insane Frank Gaffney Jr. The other book is “The Terrorist Next Door” (Muslim, of course) by Erick Stokelbeck, reviewed by Michele Malkin.

    I think I’m going to be sick.

  60. 60.

    JPL

    July 25, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)…yeah .my rep doesn’t respond to me anymore.

  61. 61.

    JGabriel

    July 25, 2011 at 9:19 pm

    Listen, John Boehner: The United States is NOT A BUSINESS, you asshole!

    .

  62. 62.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    OH NOO

    Boner —

    All lies.. right off the bat…spending binge on Obama — not their spending…

    Same ol same ol

  63. 63.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    What? It’s over? Another inspiring Obama address ™?

    I feel re assured, but then I always do for a few minutes after a calm reassuring Obama speech.

    I will let politically savvy analyze whether it was good or bad, will be constructive or not.

    All more or less reality based, except for detail that there is no long run debt crisis now, and no reason we need to deal with it, or even worry about it, before the recovery is more robust. Probably need to increase deficit for next year or two to improve recovery, which would help with long run deficit problem, along with better health care reform and stronger financial regulation.

    And will check out Boehner’s claptrap tomorrow.

  64. 64.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:20 pm

    JPL

    Paul Broun. . .

  65. 65.

    RareSanity

    July 25, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    cleek thank you, good Sir, for your pie filter.

    MikeJ, thank you good Sir, for the Chrome adaptation.

  66. 66.

    Keith G

    July 25, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Obama used the statesman route and Boehner is using the pitbull route. Who will America back?

  67. 67.

    trollhattan

    July 25, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Ooh, the conspicuously missing (2001-2008) balanced budget amendment returns.

  68. 68.

    JGabriel

    July 25, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    Giving Boehner both fingers.

    .

  69. 69.

    Cain

    July 25, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Good grief, I knew this speech was going to suck when he started with “Hi, I’m John Boehner!”

  70. 70.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Blank check!!!!! the debt limit has nothing to do with future spending!!! Effing liar….

    Please.Whup.This.Man’s.Ass, Lord. Please.

  71. 71.

    AAA Bonds

    July 25, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    So are y’all going to start paying attention to right-wing media like I told you or does some OTHER mass murderer have to plagiarize it extensively in his 1,500 page manifesto before you realize what I’m talking about?

  72. 72.

    4tehlulz

    July 25, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    WOLVERINES

  73. 73.

    JGabriel

    July 25, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    Boehner: LIAR.

    .

  74. 74.

    yeahyeahwhatevs (Studly Pantload, once upon a time)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    @licensed to kill time

    And old ones, at that. Case in point:

    “Obambi”: 1
    Osama bin Laden: Zero X eleventy (and his little porn stash, too)

  75. 75.

    Rommie

    July 25, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    He still has the 14th in the back pocket. Speaker Dude is giving a big middle finger to him. Don’t taunt the happy fun ball.

  76. 76.

    Davis X. Machina

    July 25, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    Been here, done that. A hundred and fifty years ago, another promoted-over-his-head, compromise-obsessed old Springfield state house hack, another bunch of intransigent Southerners, another elaborate minuet to make sure the other guys fired the first shot.

    Bor-ing.

  77. 77.

    Omnes Omnibus

    July 25, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    The orange man is fitting far more bullshit into his time than I would have thought possible.

  78. 78.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    July 25, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    Good god, did he really use the “blank check” phrase straight from Karl Rove’s ad campaign? Will anyone not on MSNBC point this out?

  79. 79.

    Poopyman

    July 25, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    John Boehner is lying his face off on my TV, so I naturally reached for Balloon Juice. I don’t know what this means.

  80. 80.

    trollhattan

    July 25, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    “Some politician get reelected.” Now who could he possibly mean?

    “Sapping the drive out of our people.” Can I get a precious bodily fluids at checkout seven?

  81. 81.

    gbear

    July 25, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    Giving Boehner both fingers.

    Why don’t you give him both fists?

  82. 82.

    licensed to kill time

    July 25, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    Eat a bag of boners, Boehner.

  83. 83.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    You crumbums got me curious enough to click into Boehner’s address.

    So, far, BS. This ain’t pitbull, it is boilerplate.

    I feel… sappped.

    Didn’t cry. If Boehner cried that would be a slam dunk win. Guess he is saving that for last.

  84. 84.

    Loviatar

    July 25, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    OMG,

    Did Obama just use the bully pulpit.

    That can’t be, according to John and the Obots the bully pulpit is ineffective. Why did he waste his and our time by going on national TV and laying out his position and calling on the American people for their support of his position.

    I guess it was something he cared about, unlike Universal Healthcare.

  85. 85.

    General Stuck

    July 25, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    Well, I guess that settles that. Hello default, goodbye Dolly.

  86. 86.

    suzanne

    July 25, 2011 at 9:24 pm

    Boehner sounded like my grumpy-ass killjoy grandfather.

  87. 87.

    J. Michael Neal

    July 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    bemused: I’d move into the city if I were you. I get to vote for my very own Islamofascist congressman. I’m pretty sure Pam Geller has called me out personally.

  88. 88.

    JGabriel

    July 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    John Boehner : Insincere lying creep :: Usain Bolt : Sprinting.

    .

  89. 89.

    Stillwater

    July 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    @J. Michael Neal: Good on ya brother. Get that taken care of. Listen to the Docs, and good luck.

    And FTFIRS

  90. 90.

    gnomedad

    July 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    @J. Michael Neal:
    I’m glad you’re feeling together enough to check in here. Hang in there, good luck, and keep us posted.

  91. 91.

    daryljfontaine

    July 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    Since I don’t expect the talking heads to get it right, I really would have liked to see President Obama or his communications staff come back with the “well then, allow me to retort” rebuttal to Orange YouLieUs.

    D

  92. 92.

    Poopyman

    July 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    BTW, Boehner chose a nice green tie that went well with his orange (very orange) face.

  93. 93.

    Reality Check

    July 25, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    The Speaker says: Go ahead, make my day, punk.

  94. 94.

    Martin

    July 25, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    I think Boehner blew this, in the rare event anyone was watching him. Obama praised Boehner as seeking a bipartisan solution and focused his energy on ‘some Republicans in Congress’.

    In his response, Boehner came straight at Obama as though he was only talking to teatards. That just looks douchey.

  95. 95.

    RareSanity

    July 25, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    Well, Boehner has all the 27 percenters swooning…

    And everyone else going, “What an asshole…”

  96. 96.

    Dexter

    July 25, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    Boner is not drunk? That is a huge breaking news.

  97. 97.

    Emma

    July 25, 2011 at 9:26 pm

    Loviatar: Irony and sarcasm require a level of wit you do not exhibit. May I suggest lessons from some of the experts before you attempt it again.

  98. 98.

    kvenlander

    July 25, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    Didn’t see all of it, but I got the impression that the more softly he spoke towards the end, the more pissed off he was. He’s not the type to pound a table.

    Doubtful that it’s going to change any minds in the House though.

  99. 99.

    aisce

    July 25, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    well, that speech was curiously insubstantial. from a purely practical manner, it’s way too late to try to get a public action campaign going. not that republicans give a damn about what their constituents think right now, anyway.

    which means this was all about managing expectations and shaping the story. he looks measured and responsible. he’s gonna win politically at the expense of congress, to be sure.

    but some sort of default seems almost certain.

  100. 100.

    General Stuck

    July 25, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    That can’t be, according to John and the Obots the bully pulpit is ineffective

    The first two years, dems had a veto proof caucus, and all of the negotiations were inside the dem tent, as were the compromises. You don’t use the bully pulpit on your side. You settle your differences face to face away from the cameras.

    Now that the wingers are players again, and are trying to govern the country from one chamber of congress, and do some really dangerous and stupid shit, is the time to deploy the bully pulpit. And that is what Obama is doing.

    Next question

  101. 101.

    lacp

    July 25, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    “Fapping the drive out of our people?” Did he really say that?

  102. 102.

    Stillwater

    July 25, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    @JGabriel:

    The Teaparty : politics :: tire rims and anthrax : dinner

    I just made that up.

  103. 103.

    MikeJ

    July 25, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    @Stillwater:

    And FTFIRS

    Present company excluded. Unless that was a friendly invite that he’s interested in.

  104. 104.

    Davis X. Machina

    July 25, 2011 at 9:28 pm

    @Loviatar: Because if he did, there’d be a small-but-non-zero chance that people would stop pissing and moaning because he didn’t?

    Just a guess…

  105. 105.

    JC

    July 25, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    Well, that was interesting. Definitely a style in contrasts.

    Obama – kind statesman aproach, emphasis on compromise.
    Boehner – slurring bulldog approach, lots of blame, weird echo as well.

    Afterwards, the ‘analysis’, was much more ‘side A said X, Side B says Y – where does this go from here?”

    “Well now, it goes to the votes…”

    These guys don’t care about what’s factually true, just about the tick tock of process. Our media SUCKS.

  106. 106.

    lol

    July 25, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    @84:

    Why don’t you continue telling us about how great Reagan’s record on gay rights is compared to Obama?

  107. 107.

    MojoQuestor

    July 25, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    “Blank check.” “God bless yer fambly.” Big government small people small business whartglorblwheez… What a groaner. This situation really sucks.

  108. 108.

    Cliff in NH

    July 25, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Short the republican response, it’s working out so far…

    (Boner: what a f’n moron.. really wtf?)

  109. 109.

    RareSanity

    July 25, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Tweety: “Both sides blew it…”

    LOL

    ETA: If that isn’t prime material for a new post tag, I don’t know what is…

  110. 110.

    Poopyman

    July 25, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    @J. Michael Neal: Keep well, JMN! I’m glad you’re doing what it takes. I know folks who still think depression is a weakness.

  111. 111.

    Loviatar

    July 25, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    @106

    still waiting on your troop numbers for the Iraq war

  112. 112.

    Poopyman

    July 25, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    @Dexter: Can’t prove that.

  113. 113.

    TaMara (BHF)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:32 pm

    Just sent an email to my tea party rep, telling him it was time to stop holding America hostage. I will follow it up with a fax tomorrow. I don’t do phone calls. I doubt it will matter, but I said my peace in a formal, intelligent (hopefully) and rational manner. I don’t think I could have managed that if I spoke to his staff.

  114. 114.

    Darkrose

    July 25, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    The Giants visited the White House today. I would have loved to see him make that speech holding the signed bat the team gave him.

  115. 115.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    Obama: My esteemed opponents asked for A. We offered them A and they turned it down. This is bad. Call your congressman and tell him to accept his own original offer.

    Boehner: We spent too much, and now we who spent it dont’ want to pay for it, so there is debt. Too much debt, which is destroying jobs and making Jesus cry. Obama is to blame for the debt and the stalemate. It’s too bad we don’t have a better president. Our Cut, Cap and Baloney bill which has no chance in the Senate is the best solution and the Democrats won’t let us have it. We can pass a constitutional amendment in five days, I swear. Also, I ran a business.

    Judges: What? Who was that second guy?

  116. 116.

    Martin

    July 25, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    Obots the bully pulpit is ineffective

    No. The bully pulpit is only sometimes effective. It’s kind of like screaming at your kids – you use it when they’re about to run into traffic, not every time they run into the kitchen. I’m not saying he couldn’t use it more, but you guys would have him using it every week.

    If you’re going to declare an emergency, there better fucking be an emergency, otherwise you look like John McCain suspending his campaign.

    What was the urgent national need for the public option over what we got? What we got was better, but you think Obama should have gone to the mat for better+? How the fuck do you sell that the public?

    But I’ll chalk you down for a modified DADT justification for being pissed: “Did good, too late”. Thanks.

  117. 117.

    Reality Check

    July 25, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    Obama has seven days left to accept the House GOP Plan.

    Tick, tock, tick tock……goes the clock…..tick, tock, tick, tock….

  118. 118.

    lamh34

    July 25, 2011 at 9:34 pm

    well seeing some of the comments, here, elsewhere and on twitter, it seems that Howard Fineman was right when he said that if POTUS uses speech to “go after Tea Party” or GOP, then he makes himself seem more “partisan”, but if he does too much “the only adult in the room”, then he alienates the base.

    And here we have “David Gergen, POTUS was partisan, and here’s Joan Walsh with Obama throwing progressives principles out the window.

  119. 119.

    Stillwater

    July 25, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    @TaMara (BHF): Just sent an email to my tea party rep, telling him it was time to stop holding America hostage.

    He’ll most likely interpret that as support for shooting it.

  120. 120.

    hitchhiker

    July 25, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    open thread?

    okay, here it is . . .

    this afternoon i found myself sitting behind my desk listening to my half-witted boss expound on his 3 rules for civic duty.

    1. always vote
    2. never vote for anything that involves spending money
    3. always vote for republicans

    and i sat there thinking that i ought not to be adding my talents, such as they are, to anything that benefits this person.

    because i hate him. i hate his stupid, smug, ignorant libertarian ass.

    there, done.
    carry on.

  121. 121.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    Reality Check

    And to jam the 14th up your sorry ass.

  122. 122.

    MojoQuestor

    July 25, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    The House server needs an upgrade, also, too.

  123. 123.

    bemused

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    J. Michael Neal,

    After living all my life in a district (NE MN) that has been Democratic, I don’t even remember a republican legislator here, Chip getting Oberstar’s seat was a complete shock. I still can’t believe we now have a republican as our rep and I am thoroughly furious that we ended up with a dumb as a stump teaparty jerk.

    Best wishes to you on the therapy. Depression sucks.

  124. 124.

    The Dangerman

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    @aisce:

    …but some sort of default seems almost certain.

    No default, but checks aren’t going out next week; now, who will the people blame?

    Boehner looked like a dick to me.

  125. 125.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    the Media: “Both sides do it” — Still

    Obama:

    “Pass this bitter chalice from my lips.”

    I agree with Stuck. Big stuff is coming. He called their bluff and they said, “do it, show me what you got”

    Obama is going to “do the deed”.

    Lincoln the eve before the beg of the Civil War

  126. 126.

    Poopyman

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    @Thymezone: Hey! You do that pretty well!

    Oh boy! Here comes Joe Walsh ….

  127. 127.

    Stooleo

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    My douche bag meter just hit 11. Thanks Boehner.

  128. 128.

    Corner Stone

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    That was it?

  129. 129.

    J. Michael Neal

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Emma: Just remember: Loviatar is Lawful Evil.

  130. 130.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    @101, ‘Sapping’, not ‘Fapping’

    ‘Fapping’ would have been better. You could read some interesting meaning into it, perhaps derive an insight or two.

    But ‘sapping’. What can you say, except that others in the news recently have mentioned similar themes?

    Not critizing Boehner for the ‘sapping’ and a few other phrases. Norwegian Wood inspired so many songs and covers, not everyone had the same intentions when they harkened back to the original.

  131. 131.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    @Thymezone:

    I hear Boehner can’t even get it through the House.

  132. 132.

    TX Expat

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Hey y’all, we are in the midst of a constitutional showdown and I’m not sure that calling our reps is gonna achieve much of anything at all. Calling my teahadi, at least, is useless.

    This is the way that shifts in power occur within political systems. Someone has to act audaciously (and we’ve learned, contrary to the 2008 campaign, that it isn’t going to be the President) and to win. This is the meaning of “constitutional showdowns,” the trademarked term proffered by Vermeule and Posner. It really doesn’t matter, from their perspective–or from mine, as a detached political scientist–that the House would be acting illegitimately, in terms of our standard-theory of how our tricameral system should operate. Macht ultimate transforms existing notions of legal reality.

    I really thought that our overlords were going to pull hard on the chain but now I think that what we might be seeing is a split in the billionaire caucus with the Kochs facing off against the Warren Buffet types. But maybe Sandy is right and we’re witnessing a fierce struggle for the center of power.

  133. 133.

    GambitRF

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    I love how Boehner talked about “elected officials doing the job they were elected to do as outlined in the Constitution” in the context of deficit commissions. Where exactly in the Constitution are deficit commissions ever mentioned? Really, I can’t think of many things less Democratic than “let’s have a small group of people come up with a bunch of cuts and then we’ll all do a straight up-or-down vote on whatever they come up with without any amendments” which is how the commission would work.

  134. 134.

    SiubhanDuinne

    July 25, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    @Cain #69:

    “Hi, I’m John Boehner!”

    “And you’re not!”

    h/t Chevy Chase SNL ca. 1975

  135. 135.

    RareSanity

    July 25, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    Guess what dickhead?

    Your district doesn’t represent “large swaths of the American people”.

  136. 136.

    Reality Check

    July 25, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    @Raven

    hahahahahahhaha! Hopey Changey already ruled it out. And even if he does have the balls to do that (which he doesn’t) he’ll be facing impeachment within a month.

  137. 137.

    Davis X. Machina

    July 25, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    @hitchhiker: You cancel him out, I’m sure, and that matters. People get medals for that when it’s blowy-uppity things, and not just the ballot.

    But it’s the same idea.

  138. 138.

    BrianM

    July 25, 2011 at 9:39 pm

    J. Michael Neal: Good luck. I know it’s not easy.

  139. 139.

    licensed to kill time

    July 25, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    Obama: Compromise, balance, let’s be reasonable.

    Boner: I’ma gonna hold my breath until I’m blue in the face and the ‘Murkan people pass out. So there.

  140. 140.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    Walsh: The people who voted for me still don’t like Obama. Therefore our side is right.

    O’Donnell: Not according to Ronald Reagan.

    Walsh: Obama sounds funny quoting Reagan. What a chucker!

    O’Donnell: He quoted Reagan because he was right.

    Walsh: Oh yeah? You are a dumb Irish mick fuck.

  141. 141.

    Stillwater

    July 25, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    @MikeJ: Present company excluded.

    Of course. Absolutely! You and Yuts, and prolly some lurkers.

    Oh hell. Enough with the walk-back. I guess I’m just an IRS-ist.

  142. 142.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:41 pm

    Reality Check being impeached and being convicted are very different aren’t they you stupid motherfucker?

  143. 143.

    JC

    July 25, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    I agree that Boehner committed to the Tea Party, ‘let’s blow up the government’ stance, for the last 4 days.

    It’s apparent in this slurring, disrespectful speech, in the name of one of his bills, in the speaking in negotiations, OUTSIDE of negotiations (with Limbaugh).

    He’s doubled down.

    And currently – CURRENTLY, at least – the Dems keep backtracking. Each offer is more and more in the direction of what Boehner wants.

    Boehner – and all the Republicans – think they have this dialed in, and Obama will cave.

    That’s the only strategy that makes sense.

  144. 144.

    J. Michael Neal

    July 25, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    bemused: I can’t believe your district elected a tea partier after all of the years I’ve spent extolling the strange species of soshulist rednecks you have up there.

  145. 145.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    @GambitRF:

    I keep hearing they want smaller government. Apparently smaller in their world is the opposite of what it is in mine.

  146. 146.

    JC

    July 25, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    The other thing that can’t be stressed enough. Obama told the truth.

    Boehner didn’t. Lied and misled.

    We expect it, of course – but it bears repeating and repeating, because the MSM doesn’t care about the truth, only the entertainment value of the conflict.

  147. 147.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    You heard it here on Buffoon-Juice first:

    The GOP plan to take back the government and restore the economy is to spend next year talking about impeachment.

    Winger Blogville: If Obama doesn’t agree to our terms, impeach him for causing a default! If he ignores the debt limit and prevents a default, then REALLY impeach him hard!!

  148. 148.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    The Full House (probably operating under special floor rules set by the House Rules Committee) will debate and vote on each Article of Impeachment.

    Should any one of the Articles of Impeachment be approved by a simple majority vote, the President will be “impeached.” However, being impeached is sort of like being indicted of a crime. There still has to be a trial, which is where the US Senate comes in.

    In the Senate

    The Articles of Impeachment are received from the House.

    The Senate formulates rules and procedures for holding a trial.

    A trial will be held. The President will be represented by his lawyers. A select group of House members will serve as “prosecutors.” The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (currently John G. Roberts) will preside with all 100 Senators acting as the jury.

  149. 149.

    Ann B. Nonymous

    July 25, 2011 at 9:44 pm

    @ Reality Check

    hahahahahahhaha! Hopey Changey already ruled it out. And even if he does have the balls to do that (which he doesn’t) he’ll be facing impeachment within a month.

    Still masturbating to those pictures of dead Norwegian liberals, huh. Did you cut a hole in the photo where the bullet went through for a little better friction?

  150. 150.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 9:46 pm

    @licensed to kill time:

    Going from Orange to Blue means there’s a moment of Mauve in there somewhere, isn’t there?

  151. 151.

    chopper

    July 25, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    jesus, we really are boehned, aren’t we.

  152. 152.

    aisce

    July 25, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    @ myself

    i mean wouldn’t it have made more sense to start laying groundwork for what happens in august if a deal isn’t made? what happens when the deal isn’t made? does he come back next monday night to give another speech detailing the response?

    i don’t get the timing. it’s too late for the public to scare non-teabagger republicans into action. the senate calendar doesn’t work. this speech either had to be earlier, or on a different message.

  153. 153.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    July 25, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    @General Stuck

    I’d submit that it’s still ineffective in sofar as changing outcomes. The response across the aisle is still “No, and Hell no.” Reality Show Nation will not be bombarding their Congresscritters phone lines this week to express their anger. That’s not how they roll.

    The only value of tonight’s edition of Kabuki theater was getting the Orange One’s FAIL response in prime-time. That shit was Bobby Jindal bad.

  154. 154.

    Reality Check

    July 25, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    Obama is a giant p*ssy, he has no manhood, he can’t use the 14th.

  155. 155.

    WaterGirl

    July 25, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    @ Elie

    I agree with Stuck. Big stuff is coming. He called their bluff and they said, “do it, show me what you got”
    __
    Obama is going to “do the deed”.
    __
    Lincoln the eve before the beg of the Civil War

    Would you say more about why you think that? Because I didn’t get that from him tonight, at all.

  156. 156.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    The political PR stuff is beyond me.

    I think, in terms of altering course of events, all that makes any difference now is how strongly Obama plans to assert himself if debt ceiling not raised. And to whom, and when, he drops little hints to operators (in the worse sense of that word) like Cantor and Boehner, about how assertive he plans to be.

    If there is no debt ceiling increase, I cannot believe Obama will go all James Buchanan and let the country fall apart over several months. He will find several reasons to do what he wants to do and spend what he wants to spend. Which I think will be appropriate on several counts, including the fact that the stupid debt ceiling law is probably operationally meaningless (we have already seen half a dozen clever work arounds from the finance mavens), sitting in last place sitting duck position from a conflict of laws perspective, and arguably unconstitutional.

    So, I would guess, if House GOP really wants to go over the cliff, Obama needs as much public support as possible when he has to use extraordinary measures to keep the country going.

    Towards the end of August I would expect a calm speech asking the American people that since congress has given the Executive absurd self contradictory instructions, he, as President has to interpret the mess as best he can, and that if Congress doesn’t like it, they can pass a law that he will sign the next day. That one will be humdinger.

  157. 157.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 25, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    @suzanne: #86

    Boehner sounded like my grumpy-ass killjoy grandfather.

    I have noticed that grumpy-ass killjoys don’t get better with age, unless they have a crisis that inspires them to put a little gratitude in their lives.

    [How is the little one?]

  158. 158.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 9:51 pm

    #142 — the reason the Dems keep inching closer and closer to the plan supposedly loved by the Norquist-McConnell-Boehner-Cantor Supreme Republican Council? Because they know that the fools won’t accept their own terms because … wait for it … they never wanted agreement in the first place. They wanted a fight. The fight is their aim. They have slowly moved their goalpost from the silly to the ridiculous, and they think that this traps Obama. However, I think you will soon see that they have trapped themselves.

    As for the NMBC SRC? That’s their whole problem, they really have no leader. They have a bunch of leaders who don’t really trust each other. It’s like Obama said … Which one of you guys am I dealing with?

  159. 159.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    @Reality Check:

    Clinton was impeached too, and he won re-election afterwards. I don’t think the end result of what you’re thinking of doing is going to turn out how you think it will.

    You wrangle an impeachment proceeding on this man who your party has cornered and constantly harassed while he’s been conciliatory and trying to avert catastrophe, they will sympathize with him, not you – just like happened to Clinton.

  160. 160.

    licensed to kill time

    July 25, 2011 at 9:53 pm

    @Rome Again: A mauve boner…..

    :::mental image get thee gone:::

  161. 161.

    TaMara (BHF)

    July 25, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    Oh come on people, Reality Check isn’t even a good troll. You guys don’t need a reply button, you need an IGNORE button.

    JMN, you know we’re all in your corner here. I wish I had more than platitudes to offer, but good luck, thinking a good thought for you.

  162. 162.

    trollhattan

    July 25, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    @Reality Check:

    Oh just go ahead and say it, before you pop an embolism from your grow’d up restraint:

    “Ni**er, ni**er, ni**er, ni**er, ni**er, ni**er!”

    Then go to fucking bed.

  163. 163.

    JC

    July 25, 2011 at 9:55 pm

    The more I think about it, the bottom line of the message was:

    the President kept saying, ‘let’s compromise’, while Boehner said, ‘accept this deal’.

    pretty stark, when you think about it. My only worry is that the offers that we’ve seen keep moving in Boehner’s direction. So in terms of direction, who THINKS they are holding the cards, Boehner is more confident, and is winning.

    Now, I do hope it’s all Kabuki, and that these offers are ones that they know Boehner has to refuse, no matter what.

  164. 164.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    @Reality Check:

    Why does Reality Check hate the Constitution?

  165. 165.

    JGabriel

    July 25, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    @Reality Check:

    Obama is a giant p*ssy, he has no manhood, he can’t use the 14th.

    Tsk, tsk. Projection, RC. It’s not just a booth in the cinema.

    .

  166. 166.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    @licensed to kill time:

    LMAO

  167. 167.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    MSNBC moments ago …. Congress websites are crashing. Obama asked the people to message congress. Do we think they are sending messages that say “Just say NO to Obama?”

    I seriously doubt it.

  168. 168.

    JC

    July 25, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    Thymezone,

    Could be.

    I can’t see the 11th dimensional chess, I can only see that Boehner and company say ‘accept this or else!’, and Obama keeps saying ‘let’s compromise’, and keeps offering more and more in Boehner’s direction.

    EDIT: Thymezone,

    Couldn’t it be though, that this is the ‘madman theory’ that Rethugs are so fond of, applied to domestic politics? Boehner will push this to August 1st, extracting as much as possible, and only THEN pocket the gains?

  169. 169.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    My best to you, J Michael….lots of experience with it on my side — me and my hubby…

    Hang in there. Keep a journal of meds and reactions. Exercise as much as you can…

  170. 170.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    Rome #163 — because he is DougJ?

  171. 171.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 10:00 pm

    Idiots (that epithet does not refer to all commenters here, those who have hears to hear… etc.) should note that Obama has been quite ambiguous about his conception of the powers granted him under the debt clause of the 14 amendment.

    He has said he will not invoke as a means of resolving he issue… when? Now? Ever? Until the money runs out? Everytime I have heard him mention it, he makes clear that the situation does not have to reach to a ‘constitutional issue’. That is lawyer talk for the fact that in our philosophically conservative (in the good sense of conservative) legal constitutional tradition, you don’t use extreme measures until you have to. That don’t say that extreme measures may never be appropriate.

    All we no for sure is that he has said he won’t do no extreme remedies now.

    All sane people should understand why Obama cannot breath a word of how he plans to handle a US default, for any number of reasons. I assume Obama is sane enough to have a team of experts working on that scenario by now.

  172. 172.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 10:02 pm

    #167 — the more Obama offers Boehner what he wants, the faster Boehner runs away. Boehner straps on his Acme Rocket Shoes and runs back to the comfort and safety of his Tea Party caucus.

  173. 173.

    lol

    July 25, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    @Loviator:

    As I already posted previously (and you ignored), 100,000 already withdrawn.

    Tell us more about Reagan’s stellar gay rights record. I believe you said it was great because he was from Hollywood. Do continue.

  174. 174.

    JC

    July 25, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    Thymezone,

    Couldn’t it be though, that this is the ‘madman theory’ that Rethugs are so fond of, applied to domestic politics? Boehner will push this to August 1st, extracting as much as possible, and only THEN pocket the gains?

    (Saying this again, because I edited, and you responded while I was editing)

  175. 175.

    The Sheriff's A Ni-

    July 25, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    Tell us more about Reagan’s stellar gay rights record.

    “He had gay friends!”

  176. 176.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    Aw crap, did a DougJ spoof get me again?

    Oh well, DougJ is a mathematician, and is therefore in the process of slowly going insane.

    Been a tradition since the evil plot of set theory was hatched.

  177. 177.

    Loviatar

    July 25, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    @166 – Thymezone

    NO, NO, NO

    That can not be true. The bully pulpit does not work. I have it on faith from John and the Obots. Stop spreading lies that the president can sway public opinion on a subject that he cares about.

    Unlike Universal Healthcare.

  178. 178.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    @hitchhiker:

    1. always vote
    2. never vote for anything that involves spending money
    3. always vote for republicans

    Doing all three at the same time is impossible.

  179. 179.

    bemused

    July 25, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    J. Michael Neal,

    No, I and all my Dem friends can’t believe it either. Same old low info voters who were cranky about Oberstar for really dumb reasons and forgot everything he’s done her for decades. Then they were surprised that highway and other projects that Oberstar had been working on for a long time were in question. Well, duh, what did they think was going to happen with a freshmen rep and a republican at that. Even a couple of Dem relatives barely getting by voted for Chip and she got free dental care, new choppers, without thinking which party to thank for that.

    I do think there is buyer’s remorse burbling tho as even more sane republicans up here are realizing that Chip isn’t going to do anything for them.

  180. 180.

    Linda Featheringill

    July 25, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    By the way, Intrade figures a 30% chance of congress passing a raise-the-debt-ceiling bill by August 2.

  181. 181.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:09 pm

    @JC:

    Boehner will push this to August 1st, extracting as much as possible, and only THEN pocket the gains?

    Only one problem with that strategy: he’s already pissing off potential friends with his doubling down on Tea Party demands. If he pisses off the Tea Party, he’s not going to have any friends at the end of this, at all. He will be the friendless House Speaker soon to be kicked to the curb by Cantor.

  182. 182.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    @JC #167 — I don’t think Boehner can extract anything by waiting. He has been offered more than they asked for, and has turned it down. He will not get another debt limit vote next year, he won’t get Balanced Budget Amendment. What else is he holding out for?

    Obama will do what needs to be done. Yes, that means exactly what it sounds like. I believe the GOP is powerless to stop him. They can’t get standing to sue, and impeachment is a fool’s errand. They have squandered the political high ground. I predict that they are close to or possibly already over the line at which they lose the House next year. Time will tell.

  183. 183.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:12 pm

    @Thymezone:

    What proof do you have? I am not convinced. Sorry.

  184. 184.

    Shawn in ShowMe

    July 25, 2011 at 10:13 pm

    @JC

    Boehner already folded that hand when he walked away from negotiating table on Friday. Now you’ve only get two deals on the table, the Boehner-crafted deal that he can’t even get by his own caucus and the Reid bill which cuts payments to our Galtian overlords, which Boehner can’t get by his own caucus.

    The Orange One has already shot himself in the face, Daffy-Duck style.

  185. 185.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:14 pm

    @Thymezone:

    What else is he holding out for?

    Default and nothing less, because if he wants to keep his Speakership, the Tea Party has demanded it.

  186. 186.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    Watergirl @ 145 —

    I was “feeling” the situation. The President seemed tense, talked fast ( interpretation: lets just get on with it — gotta do what I gotta do. But I am not happy that I gotta do it — so stupid..)

    Boehner and the Repubs: Always keep thinking the black man is going to cave so they keep running it..

    Obama calls the 14th or uses the technique he feels will just take control and stop the madness — and accepts the consequences for that — the impeachment show the republicans will TRY (note try) to mount.

    I felt (emotionally in my own self), that Obama said to the Republicans “Time is Up”

  187. 187.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    @Rome — what proof are you referring to?

    edit: Oh, that. Only that the material sounds fake, and the best faker ever on this blog is uno who … and no, I do not believe him when he says he doesn’t do that any more.

  188. 188.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Hey, no disrespecting Daffy Duck here, OK?

  189. 189.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    I find it highly ironic that Ed Schultz is asking in a poll question about whether the Tea Party wants A.) Debt Reduction or B.) Obama Failure – hmmmm, I thought Ed Schultz wanted Obama failure too, no?

  190. 190.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:19 pm

    @Thymezone:

    How do you know Reality Check is a DougJ spoof?

  191. 191.

    jl

    July 25, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    Elie: the House GOP may be crazy enough to impeach him. They will try to remove him, but there will no conviction in the Senate.

    Can’t quite believe the House GOP would so butt stupid to make that kind of thing their plan, but who knows at this point?

  192. 192.

    Thymezone

    July 25, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    See my edit.

  193. 193.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:21 pm

    @Thymezone:

    All trolls are suspect with me, I don’t care if they’re spoofs. Sorry! Not attacking the argument just seems wrong to me.

  194. 194.

    Loviatar

    July 25, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    @172 – lol

    I’ll take each of your untruths separately.

    As I already posted previously (and you ignored), 100,000 already withdrawn.

    You never posted, so I didn’t have a chance to ignore. You linked to a Matt Yglegias post that anecdotally referred to a 100K reduction in troops from Iraq. I asked you to provide back information for the post, you didn’t until now.

    – 1st untruth

    100,000 already withdrawn.

    Your link doesn’t seem to say what you thinks it says. You should really read something before using it as proof.

    Your linked article says 180K troops in Afghanistan and Irag when Obama takes office. It also says Today (June 23, 2011); Roughly 150K troops in Afghanistan and Irag.

    – 2nd untruth

    Tell us more about Reagan’s stellar gay rights record

    my quote: Reagan came out of Hollywood and was quite clear in his support of Gay rights.

    half-truth

    so far you’re down to two lies and one half truth.

  195. 195.

    suzanne

    July 25, 2011 at 10:22 pm

    @Linda Featheringill:

    Little one is good, thanks. :)

    She just crawled today, actually. Baby gate is installed.

    I love that kid. :)

  196. 196.

    cbear

    July 25, 2011 at 10:24 pm

    Rome Again-

    Clinton was impeached too, and he won re-election afterwards.

    Er, hate to get in the way of an otherwise valid point, but Bill Clinton was impeached on December 19, 2008—after his re-election.

  197. 197.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 10:25 pm

    I will add this: The Republicans are going to be really mistaken if they think that impeaching THIS President — the first black President, is going to be a little fun thing for them. They had better think once, twice and three times. You think the financial markets don’t like THIS instability??

    Orange man better go sniff glue, blow coke or whatever it takes to kill the pain NOW. It all goes down from here if he thinks his white bread bubble can protect his illusions.

    What a fool. He could have retired a rich deal maker and instead he is going to be a fool — welcome only on the KKK/white supremacist rubber chicken circuit… How will he afford his spray on “man tan”?

  198. 198.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 10:28 pm

    suzanne:

    Baby girl is a Darlin’.

    thank you Linda for reminding me of this wonderful person in suzanne’s life… remember when you were about to deliver back in December?

  199. 199.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:31 pm

    @jl:

    He has said he doesn’t want to use it, but he has not said he won’t. Geithner is (as I understand it) hoping for him to use it. I am sure there is a group who are devoting time to figuring out the unveiling of this tool and how to present it.

  200. 200.

    Rome Again

    July 25, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    @cbear:

    Whoops, you’re correct – but he was not removed from office. Apologies.

  201. 201.

    WaterGirl

    July 25, 2011 at 10:49 pm

    @ J. Michael Neal

    Wow, that’s a lot of crummy stuff to have happen all at once. It seems like it’s time for you to catch a break! Maybe this therapy will be the thing that helps you do that.

    Hang in there, please.

  202. 202.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 25, 2011 at 10:50 pm

    Um, Loviatar, have you considered the possibility that Obama indeed may have just attempted to use the fabled Bully Pulpit — but it MIGHT NOT FUCKING WORK?

  203. 203.

    Maude

    July 25, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    @Elie:
    I listened to Obama on the radio. He sounded calm.
    Boehner sounded pressured.
    It’s great that people got on the phones right away.

  204. 204.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    July 25, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    @J. Michael Neal: Wishing you the best in the IOP.

  205. 205.

    Laura Clawson

    July 25, 2011 at 10:53 pm

    Has anyone used a furminator on a longhaired cat? I know John uses it on Tunch, but does it work differently on a longhair? I got a 10% off coupon for Petco and I’m thinking of giving it a shot.

  206. 206.

    Elie

    July 25, 2011 at 10:57 pm

    Maude:

    I think its me — maybe I’m not calm! (heh)

    I sure picked a hell of a day to stop sniffing glue!

  207. 207.

    lol

    July 25, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    @Loviator:

    “We’ve ended our combat mission in Iraq, with 100,000 American troops already out of that country.”

    Are you going to admit you were wrong? Or are you going to continue to be a lying sack of shit?

    Well, I see you’re walking back your claim that Reagan had a better gay rights record than Obama. Even Firebaggers aren’t that stupid.

  208. 208.

    lol

    July 25, 2011 at 11:16 pm

    @FlipYrWhig:

    You’re dealing with someone who thinks Reagan had a better record on gay rights than Obama. Even the Firebaggers stay away from weapons-grade derp like this.

  209. 209.

    burnspbesq

    July 25, 2011 at 11:50 pm

    @J. Michael Neal:

    Dude, next time put the losses on the schedule and the gains on the attachment.

  210. 210.

    burnspbesq

    July 25, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    Lessee now … the President has the obligation, under the Constitution, to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

    Congress has created a situation in which he cannot both spend the money it appropriated and observe the debt ceiling.

    The appropriations bills were passed after the last increase to the debt ceiling.

    With a limited number of exceptions, “later in time” is the rule in Supremacy Clause analysis.

    So Obama spends the money Congress appropriated.

    This is difficult?

  211. 211.

    William

    July 26, 2011 at 7:11 am

    NOT a typo. She is wickedly funny. Some of her recent postings: “The greatest prank Jesus ever played on us was making Tom Petty and Martina Navratilova be the same person. “My mom really needs to get over me posing as her on Facebook and making every status, “Just sniffin’ dicks.” For the sports fans: “If you don’t shave or wax your pubes and you wear panty hose with no underwear, your crotch looks like Vlade Divac robbing a gas station.”

  212. 212.

    crack

    July 26, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    I’m with William, pretty sure that isn’t a typo. That is classic JennyJohnsonHI5

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