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

Before Header

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

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Jesus watching the most hateful people claiming to be his followers

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

The desire to stay informed is directly at odds with the need to not be constantly enraged.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

The low info voters probably won’t even notice or remember by their next lap around the goldfish bowl.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

The willow is too close to the house.

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

Dear elected officials: Trump is temporary, dishonor is forever.

Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2012 / Wednesday Morning Open Thread

Wednesday Morning Open Thread

by Anne Laurie|  October 19, 20115:19 am| 40 Comments

This post is in: Election 2012, Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Assholes

FacebookTweetEmail


(Jeff Danziger’s website)

Per Shira Schoenberg, at the Boston Globe Political Intelligence blog, “Huntsman embraces N.H. tradition, plows into rivals“:

HOPKINTON, N.H. – Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman made it clear with the first sentence of his town hall meeting why he was not onstage tonight with his rivals at the presidential debate in Nevada: “May I say ladies and gentlemen, that I believe in the New Hampshire primary.”…
__
An event at the Hopkinton Town Hall that coincided with the debate attracted more than 150 people – many concerned with the New Hampshire primary. Katherine Morrison, a web designer and independent voter from Epping, said she was deciding between Huntsman and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Now, she’s leaning toward Huntsman, because Romney has declined so far to join the boycott.
__
“(Romney) puts on a Red Sox hat, says he’s a New Hampshire citizen, but he’s not supporting the primary process,” Morrison said. “If Romney’s going to claim he’s a New Englander, he should support the boycott.”…
__
Huntsman returned often in his speech to paying homage to the special place the New Hampshire primary hold in election tradition. It “is the window through which the rest of the country views and gets to know the candidates for the presidency of the United States,” he said.
__
Huntsman has staked his candidacy on New Hampshire, pouring almost all his resources into the state.

During the twenty-plus years I have lived in Massachusetts, it has been explained and demonstrated many times that the preeminent “New Hampshire traditions” involve parsimony (thus the state motto, Live free or die trying) and parasitism (upon its neighbors, the federal government, and its main cash crop, tourists). Leaving aside the whole Free State Project embarrassment, you’d think the Republicans would show a little respect for their spiritual fellows, but then again, the quadrennial influx of Political-Media People is a significant part of the abovementioned cash crop…

In other News of the Disreputable, the RNC has officially unveiled its 2012 convention logo, which Some People Say looks like a constipated elephant attempting to take a dump on the tattered remnants of an American flag. The NYMag Daily Intel comments are pretty entertaining, but am I the only person who wondered why Tampa Bay had thrown up a razor-wire barricade?

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Charles Pierce Forces Me to Take a Cold Shower
Next Post: More Phone Geekiness »

Reader Interactions

40Comments

  1. 1.

    amk

    October 19, 2011 at 5:49 am

    For all the disdainful, presidenting in-absentia, jonny boy isn’t crossing the 1% threshold in NH, per gopolitic, which must be causing throbbing pain for that firebagger dame.

    This extremist in moderate’s clothing must be missing his peking duck.

  2. 2.

    Jebediah

    October 19, 2011 at 5:51 am

    That sure does look like an elephant trampling the flag. Symbolically perfect, given the GOP disdain for and attempted destruction of so much of America.
    And wouldn’t you put up some razor wire if you thought it would keep the shitting elephants off your lawn?

  3. 3.

    debbie

    October 19, 2011 at 5:52 am

    I lived in NH in the early 70s, and I can still remember the glorious Mr. Loeb and the demonization of NHEA and the Timberlane teachers.

  4. 4.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 19, 2011 at 5:54 am

    That’s not a logo, that’s a postage stamp. And if the GOPer is elected, it will cost $2012 to mail a letter.

  5. 5.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    October 19, 2011 at 6:04 am

    @Jebediah: punji pits

  6. 6.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 19, 2011 at 6:10 am

    Hey, remember how everyone wanted Obama to use his bully pulpit?

    Your liberal media is concerned:

    But the increasingly caustic tone of the president’s attacks on Congress raises a question: How long can Mr. Obama continue to hammer Republicans without exhausting the patience of voters who elected him to be an alternative to Washington partisanship — and without risking the perception that he is part of the problem?

    also: There is no link for Jeff Danziger’s web site.

  7. 7.

    harlana

    October 19, 2011 at 6:22 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: considering congress’s dismal approval rating, it’s hard to see how criticizing them has much of a downside right now

  8. 8.

    amk

    October 19, 2011 at 6:28 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: concern trolling alright. 45% vs 13%. ’nuff said. These msm fuckers are afraid that Obama’s attacks will stick.

  9. 9.

    harlana

    October 19, 2011 at 6:38 am

    Has anybody seen this OTBR business over at digby’s site? somebody clue me in. who are these people? it totally stinks to me. i wouldn’t share one iota of information with these people.

  10. 10.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 19, 2011 at 6:54 am

    That flag has three stars? Wait, isn’t that the state flag of Tennessee? Maybe they want to be President of Tennessee?

    Deal! As long as we have diplomatic channels open with Nashville, those cats can play.

  11. 11.

    gene108

    October 19, 2011 at 6:56 am

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    If the media isn’t writing negatively about Dems and fluffing Reps, they would demonstrate an inexcusable liberal bias.

  12. 12.

    Ben Cisco

    October 19, 2011 at 7:00 am

    Danzinger’s pretty sharp – especially love 1) Bachmann as ankle-biter and 2) KochCain wearing the (inverted) mark of the beast.

  13. 13.

    Samara Morgan

    October 19, 2011 at 7:03 am

    Check Juan Cole out.
    Iran plot was a MEK sting that fooled the US.

    ooops! egg on our face AGAIN!
    why do we get serially-fooled by grifters like Chalabi? because we want so desperately to believe America is on the right side of history.

  14. 14.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 19, 2011 at 7:06 am

    @harlana: Weird.

    The new coalition surfaced on Saturday with the intention of delivering the messages of those who were hurt by the recession to the CEOs of top financial institutions

    I think it’s like a seance. They attempt to “communicate” with those who were ruined by the financial collapse and didn’t get bonuses, probably not very convincingly since everyone at places like Goldman Sachs knows such people are mythical and don’t really exist. Probably put on a good show and everyone winks and has fun, pays them for the diversion, and then gets on with their plunder.

  15. 15.

    Thoughtful Black Co-Citizen

    October 19, 2011 at 7:15 am

    His depiction of One L is spot on. And therefore Halloween Scary.

  16. 16.

    Joseph Nobles

    October 19, 2011 at 7:18 am

    @Samara Morgan: Actually, Cole says that might be the case, not categorically that it is.

  17. 17.

    RSA

    October 19, 2011 at 7:25 am

    Some People Say looks like a constipated elephant attempting to take a dump on the tattered remnants of an American flag.

    Hey, you kids elephant! Get off my lawn flag!

    I’m wondering about the three stars. Are the states going to merge into a few giant ones, like banks? Or do all but three secede? Or is the rising sea level going to cover every state except for three in the middle of the country? Sure, the RNC says that the stars represent equality, justice and opportunity, but it’s kind of weird that stars on the flag have stood for states for almost 250 years, and now they symbolize something different…

  18. 18.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 19, 2011 at 7:44 am

    @RSA:

    Sure, the RNC says that the stars represent equality, justice and opportunity,

    The colors on the French flag represent liberty, equality, and brotherhood; I detect foreign influence and call for a purge.

  19. 19.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 19, 2011 at 7:49 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: I thought the French flag stood for the right to liberty, equality, and frat houses?

  20. 20.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 19, 2011 at 7:53 am

    @Bill E Pilgrim: That’s Greek.

    ETA: Still foreign, and I still call for a purge.

  21. 21.

    RalfW

    October 19, 2011 at 7:55 am

    What do you wanna bet the three stars in the logo are (or will very soon be treated by the loons as) code for the Holy Trinity. The GOP is famous for dog whistles. Is this one of them?

    If not, WTF does the three stars mean? They hired a stupid graphic designer? Or, more likely, from the awful looks of the logo, they hired a family member who said “I know how to use Paint, pay ME the $300,000, I’ll do it!”

  22. 22.

    Yevgraf

    October 19, 2011 at 7:57 am

    Alice Walton got arrested again this week.

    This was fucking brilliant as a “meritocratic job creator” takedown – for facebookers, spread it if you can.

    http://www.facebook.com/onesmallbird#!/photo.php?fbid=262963687074668&set=a.241007069270330.50975.240984512605919&type=1&permPage=1

  23. 23.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 19, 2011 at 7:58 am

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    That’s Greek.

    Well, to you, maybe.

    Good point though.

  24. 24.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 19, 2011 at 8:01 am

    @RalfW: I cracked it earlier. They’re just running for President of Tennessee! We can all relax, whew.

    I knew there was something not right about all this, makes much more sense this way.

  25. 25.

    RalfW

    October 19, 2011 at 8:01 am

    @amk:

    These msm fuckers are afraid that Obama’s attacks will stick.

    Yes. Jon Stewart was awesome last night showing clips of Cantor, McConnel, etc whinging and mewling about how OWS is “divisive,” followed by a staccato burst of short clips of about a dozen brazenly divisive GOPers from floor speeches and talking head interviews.

    The SOBs cannot stand a dose of their own medicine and have probably been whinging and mewling to their “contacts” in the press. Ergo, hand-wringing in the New York Timid.

  26. 26.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 19, 2011 at 8:03 am

    @RalfW:

    The SOBs cannot stand a dose of their own medicine.

    Fundamentally, they are bullies.

  27. 27.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 19, 2011 at 8:04 am

    @RalfW et. al., from the elephant’s mouth:

    The elephant—the proud and strong symbol of the Republican Party—with his trunk pointed toward 2012 reflects the spirit, unity and strength of our Party as we plan a successful 2012 Republican National Convention that enables us to march toward victory next November,” said convention Chief Executive Officer William D. Harris.
    __
    “The waves beneath Tampa Bay represent our beautiful host city’s location on the shore of the Gulf of Mexico,” said convention Chairman Alec Poitevint. “The three stars in the flag symbolize equality, justice and opportunity—core principles of our country’s Constitution and the founding tenets of the Republican Party.”

    Like I said above, that’s a postage stamp, not a logo. And certainly not anything from post-2000 design trends.

    ETA: I am also flummoxed by the three stars. If you have to explain something on a logo, ur doin it wrong. Also, too, the elephant’s trunk is not pointing at 2012, dipshit.

  28. 28.

    RalfW

    October 19, 2011 at 8:18 am

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    And certainly not anything from post-2000 design trends.

    You nailed it. The logo is entirely for old people.

    Though I have to say, I’m pretty shocked by the return of neon color ski clothes and all the other 80s trends this fall in pop fashion.

    So maybe the GOP postage stamp is so old it’s new again. Just like all their failed policy proposals.

    ETA: I’m sticking with my Holy Trinity secret code for the stars.

  29. 29.

    keith G

    October 19, 2011 at 8:18 am

    Houseman is playing a crappy hand as best he can. Right now his chances look zippo, but there is a possibility that a Las Vegas style crash can take out the front of the pack. With media support combining with Obama hatred, he could move quickly to the front. Or so he hopes.

  30. 30.

    Strangepork

    October 19, 2011 at 8:19 am

    Anne Laurie, as a longtime NH resident I don’t really disagree with anything you’ve said, but you did leave out an ever richer NH tradition. Wishing that Massholes would stay the fuck home. ;)

  31. 31.

    Shlemizel

    October 19, 2011 at 8:32 am

    I think that logo is perfect – the elephant over the flag! The official slogan of the RNC should be: Elephant uber alles.

  32. 32.

    jayjaybear

    October 19, 2011 at 8:45 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: Yes, postage stamp was the first thing I thought of when I saw it, too.

  33. 33.

    Elizabelle

    October 19, 2011 at 8:46 am

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    That NYTimes story is ridiculous.

    Time out for them. Will spend more time with The Guardian.

  34. 34.

    keith G

    October 19, 2011 at 9:18 am

    Elizabelle, what was untrue about the article? The block selected by AWS might seem anti Obama, but it is only part of a larger neutral, if unoriginal report.

  35. 35.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 19, 2011 at 9:28 am

    @keith G: I think my problem with the article is that it’s a nontroversy masquerading as serious journalism.

    “it raises a question” is another form of “some people say.”

  36. 36.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    October 19, 2011 at 9:45 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: Thank you Mika!

  37. 37.

    scav

    October 19, 2011 at 10:15 am

    Line of Stars: Stars and Bars.

    Beyond that, that is one shit piece of graphics and TampaBay gets as high a visual billing as the party. Even the host city grifts.

  38. 38.

    DigitalSerf

    October 19, 2011 at 10:24 am

    It was pointed out during the crap-fest which was the 2008 Confederate Party Convention that the assholes have made likely that the best designers, producers, directors and stage managers–who tend to be young, liberal and yes, can be gay–won’t work for these shits. (Although the 2012 economy may make them desperate enough, I hope not.) So the 2012 convention, starting with this crap ass logo, will probably look like a tin-plated trailer park next to the Democratic one. All the better.

  39. 39.

    Judas Escargot

    October 19, 2011 at 10:27 am

    @Strangepork:

    Anne Laurie, as a longtime NH resident I don’t really disagree with anything you’ve said, but you did leave out an ever richer NH tradition. Wishing that Massholes would stay the fuck home. ;)

    If we did that, NH’s toll roads would go bankrupt.

  40. 40.

    eyelessgame

    October 19, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    @scav: First comment appears to have landed in moderation (probably because of links), but Scav has nailed it: diagonal stripes, single line of white stars on a blue background. That logo has multiple dogwhistles to the Stars and Bars.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - BarcaChicago  - Off the Gunflint Trail/Boundary Waters 8
Image by BarcaChicago (7/11/25)

World Central Kitchen

Donate

Recent Comments

  • Sister Inspired Revolver of Freedom on War for Ukraine Day 1,233: Another Day, More Russian War Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity (Jul 12, 2025 @ 2:19am)
  • Geminid on Open Thread: ‘Look, Everyone Dies’ (Jul 12, 2025 @ 2:11am)
  • Msb on Fox News Friday Open Thread (Jul 12, 2025 @ 2:11am)
  • The Republic of Stupidity on Fox News Friday Open Thread (Jul 12, 2025 @ 1:57am)
  • AlaskaReader on War for Ukraine Day 1,233: Another Day, More Russian War Crimes & Crimes Against Humanity (Jul 12, 2025 @ 1:54am)

Balloon Juice Posts

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

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
No Kings Protests June 14 2025

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

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

Calling All Jackals

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

Social Media

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

Keeping Track

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

Feeling Defeated?  If We Give Up, It's Game Over

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

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

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

Email sent!